Quaker Book of Wisdom

by Robert Lawerence Smith Format: Physical Book Genre: Memoir / Self-Help Primary Doorways: Character Robert Lawerence Smith’s book A Quaker Book of Wisdom reads more like a memoir than an overview on Quakerism. This slim quiet volume recounts Smith’s experiences growing up as a Quaker, his reasons for and involvement in World War II, and […]

The Fire, The Water, and Maudi McGinn

by Sally J Pla Format: Audiobook Genre: Literary Fiction, Middle Grade Primary Doorways: Character, Plot Sally J Pla’s award-winning middle grade novel, The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn, left me radiating rage at various points. This level of emotion is a testament to Pla’s writing who balanced writing in the voice of a young […]

I Love You, but I’ve Chosen Darkness

by Claire Vaye Watkins by Claire Vaye Watkins Format: ebook Primary Doorways: Character, Setting Genre: Autobiographical fiction Claire Vaye Watkin’s book I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness is like if the concept “The Biggest Shit in the Center of the Universe” wrote a book about itself. Following a fictionalized version of Claire, the book […]

Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs

by Kerry Howley Format: ebook Primary Doorways: Character, Plot Genre: Cultural Commentary Non-Fiction Read for: A quick tour of the surveillance state and its impacts Kerry Howley’s non-fiction book Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs runs through a quick tour of several of the most infamous whistle-blowers and deep state critics of recent years. The […]

Good Different

by Meg Eden Kuyatt Format: Audiobook Primary Doorways: Character Genre: Novel in Verse (Middle Grade) Read for: an uplifting story of self discovery A 2024 Schneider Family Book Award Honor Middle Grade winner, Meg Eden Kuyatt’s Good Different is a propulsive, uplifting novel-in-verse. Seventh-grader Selah doesn’t feel quite human (is she part-dragon) but is making […]