MJ's Reviews

Ahh, middle school: a time of growth, bullies, talking dogs, and time travel. No? Just me and David Bravo on those last two? This delightful, character-driven story of 11-year-old David is sure to entertain not only middle-grade readers but those of all ages. Mark Oshiro crafts complex characters who manage to be relatable even as they deal with a more fantastical side of life. This work touches on issues of identity, relationships, and responsibility.

—MJ

This is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I’ve seen. There are so many gorgeous photos illustrating the tantalizing and accessible recipes you can make! Follow Frankie Gaw’s personal narrative while you make the perfect Red Pepper Scallion Pancakes (my personal favorite) for your next get-together, or maybe learn a new way to fold a dumpling. First Generation covers so many aspects of cooking—not just the ingredients, but the stories we create while using them.  —MJ

I am a big fan of critical thinking; it should be a required course! Luckily, Woo-kyoung Ahn has taken the wisdom she gathered from years of experience researching and teaching a class at Yale on the topic and compiled it in Thinking 101. This book is an accessible look into our own psychology. Deeply examine your own thought processes and learn to think better and to live better by doing so.

—MJ

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Annie Proulx, best known for Brokeback Mountain and The Shipping News, has written an informative book about the history of the destruction of peatland, a wetland ecosystem found in every country in the world that provides one of the most effective means of removing some of the abundant carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. For all the environmentalists and ecologists out there—professional or amateur—Fen, Bog and Swamp is a rallying cry.

—MJ

If you’re looking for your next cozy holiday romcom, look no further. A fake engagement leads to tomfoolery as our protagonist accidentally falls for her fake beau’s sister—antics ensue! A classic setup with an LGBTQ twist, Kiss Her Once for Me had me wishing for a snow-filled window ledge to sit on, occasionally gaze out while sipping my tea and enjoying the cute, romantic, silly story.

—MJ

Lush illustrations meet masterful storytelling in this horror graphic novel by Marjorie Liu (winner of the Eisner and Hugo awards), working here as part of a power duo with artist Sana Takeda. Luckily, She Eats the Night is the first in a trilogy; I don’t think I could have lived without more of this story about twins Milly and Billy, who struggle to keep their restaurant afloat—and face a night of horrors beyond their imagination. I could spend hours admiring the colors that bring this story to life. 
—MJ

Cerebral, gorgeous, and personal, this collection is one that you might feel deep in your gut. It can be hard to believe this is the author’s debut poetry collection. Powles is an award-winning writer of many forms, and their poetry is sure to join the ranks of their other writing. Read “Night Train to Anyang,” my favorite in this collection.  
—MJ

If you like tense, atmospheric horror, you will bathe in the friction emanating from the pages of The Honeys. I found myself immersed in the character of Mars, our genderqueer narrator who must figure out what happened to their twin sister, Caroline. The shiny, bucolic veneer of the lifestyles of the rich and influential might be hiding something altogether different. This novel reads like an LGBT Pretty Little Liars meets summer camp… if that camp was Midsommar. —MJ

Parents rejoice! Our beloved cat and dog detective duo are back, this time fully illustrated. Bunnicula was one of my favorites as a child, a little spooky but mostly silly. Donkin and Gilpin do a great job adapting this 1979 classic and breathing new life into a series that stands the test of time. Amazing for any child who loves to live on the creepy side of life, even those with a low scare tolerance! —MJ

The beloved Bay Area local Michelle Tea has come back with a memoir surrounding her experiences trying to get pregnant later in life. Grab your turkey basters and settle in for a funny, witty, and ever-authentic account on the journey to parenthood. I am currently pregnant so this book hit home for me, but everyone can find something to relate to in this book; be they a parent, pregnant, or child-free. —MJ