The Life of a Crayon (Staff Pick)

I never imagined a crayon could make me reflect deeply on my life path, purpose, or mortality...but here we are! :')
I never imagined a crayon could make me reflect deeply on my life path, purpose, or mortality...but here we are! :')
A woman who’s married to a hotshot political candidate comes home one night to find her garage on fire and her husband half-naked with a mistress. If that wasn’t traumatizing enough, a witness captures a damning photo of this moment. Unfortunately, the photo goes viral not so much for the infidelity (as you’d expect) but for the monstrous period stain on the back of our MC’s pants. What follows is an absurdly hilarious sequence of events that skewers our obsession with cancel culture and what it means to repair and redeem ourselves. #satirethathitstooclosetohome #YesWeBleed #menstruation
Loved this thoughtful depiction of Hilma as an intelligent, spiritual, resilient artist who was a pioneer of her field. Also appreciated the tidbits about different areas of science and art that related to her work, ie. atomic particles, alchemy, theosophy, etc. She's an icon, she's a legend, and she will always be the moment.
- Manasa
Love comes in many forms, and Pura Belpré exemplies the love for storytelling and community. This wonderful book illustrates the life's work and mission of NYC's first Latina librarian and continues planting the seeds her stories began sowing so many decades ago.
Imagine you're young, hot, & widowed and you get to travel all expense-paid to a beautiful island with a fine-ass man...only to fall hard for his even more fine-ass dad. Sexy. unhinged mess elevated with Emezi's fire and spark of wit.
This beautiful middle grade novel follows one family as they make the dangerous trek across newly drawn borderlands during 1947's Partition of India and Pakistan. When painfully shy Nisha is gifted a diary, she secretly begins composing nightly entries addressed to her dead mother to record events as they happen and have a safe space to speak her truth. Nisha and her loved ones will find their way into your heart, guaranteed.
Manasa
With her stunningly beautiful artwork, Manjit Thapp conveys her emotional journey through a year in seasons. What better way to start a new year than to take inspiration from nature’s cyclicality and ground yourself with awareness of what’s to come?
Manasa
I LOVED this book! It turned out to be a page-turning mix of humor, mystery, strong women taking down the patriarchy, and connection to my own culture. The heart of the novel is truly the ensemble cast of Punjabi women who congregate within Nikki's classes. Their courage in telling their stories emboldens more of the community to begin living in their truth. Pretty badass, I'd say!
Manasa
One of the most unique books I've ever read, one to be savored and felt at your core. Narrated by Death himself, The Book Thief offers a beautiful/heartbreaking picture of a German family's life during the Holocaust. If you adore exquisite figurative language and/or historical fiction from a child's perspective, this will not disappoint!!
Manasa