The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue What better way to lean into a lockdown than to pick up a book about another pandemic? The story takes place in Dublin, 1918, over three days at the height of the Great Flu. It is a short, claustrophobic tale of Nurse Julia Power and the women she meets, works with and takes care of in the maternity ward at an understaffed hospital in the city centre. In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over three days, these women change each other’s lives in unexpected ways. I was more than a little bit destroyed by this one. I found it so powerful, the characters so brilliantly portrayed, and the scene and the atmosphere gave me chills. Absolutely loved it. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab In 18th century France, Addie LaRue is forced into a marriage she does not want. Willing to sacrifice anything to avoid a life in captivity, Addie makes a Faustian bargain for her freedom. Her wish is granted, …

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo I love a different feel of Fantasy, and The Chosen and the Beautiful is giving me all the right vibes. Set in the US in the 1920s, Vo’s debut is a queer, Asian-American reimagining of The Great Gatsby, with what looks like a strong focus on spirits, East Asian folklore, and the lives of magicians. I have never been a Gatsby fan, but I’m always down for a retelling, especially with elements as interesting as these: magic and jazz, drama and politics, spirits and queerness in a coming-of-age Fantasy – sign me the hell up. In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead. Need I say more? In a world where magic-wielders are assigned undead spirits to guard them—and control them, Rovan is thrown into a world of palace intrigue and deception when her spirit starts to control her. Rovan will have to start a rebellion in both …

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on 14 November 1960. When she entered the school, every other child was removed by parents. Teachers refused to have her in their classrooms. The daily threats and protests persisted. An emotional story illustrated with beautiful watercolours, featuring the brave and strong Ruby, who grew up to become a prominent civil rights activist. _ _ _ Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison A gorgeously illustrated biography of some immensely important figures in black history, each with a thoughtfully written page on their life. Fascinating and easily understood by younger readers, this is a great book to enjoy with your child – both the young and the older have things to learn from a book like this! _ All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcome. A school where …

It is a less than happy Pride month this year. Not just because of – *gestures at world* – this shit, but because a whole generation’s formerly beloved author chose Pride month to evolve into her final TERF form, spewing her transphobic hatred and breaking millions of hearts worldwide. This is your friendly reminder to stop supporting J. K. Rowling. Now, let’s move on and stop giving her any more of our energy. _ Whether you are trans, genderfluid, non-binary, or any identity of the LGBTQIA+ rainbow: you are valid, loved, and you have a place in the world. And LGBTQIA+ authors have a place in the literary world! It is my ultimate pleasure to shout and scream about the fantastic voices in the literary world, and their books I am so excited to read. Here are my most anticipated 2020 LGBTQIA+ reads in speculative fiction. _ The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska _ “A dark fairy-tale fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island city.” _ …