Confession: I love my TBR. Like, love love my to be read pile. It isn’t a literal pile– more like a list of all the titles I’m most excited to read. These books are spread between my Kindle and a stack on my desk (so perhaps I do have a literal to be read pile!). Since I’m not writing a full review this week (look out for a review of Patricia Park’s upcoming What’s Eating Jackie Oh? next week!), I thought I’d share what I’m reading now, and what’s up next that I’m excited about.

Currently reading: the aforementioned What’s Eating Jackie Oh? by Patricia Park.

Why I’m excited about it: I adored Park’s Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim (review here) and this new release sounds just as engaging. Park is an expert at voice and showing how interconnected teen lives are.

Coming up:

• When We Gather, written by Andrea Rogers and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
  • Why I’m Excited: I love Andrea Rogers and her work. I can’t wait for our shared tribal tradition to be on the page, for Cherokee kids, Native kids, and all kids to delight in experiencing whether they’ve gathered wild onions or not. I just know it’s going to be amazing. Releasing May 7, 2024. Pre-order here!
• Being Home, written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Michaela Goade
  • Why I’m Excited: The month of May has picture book releases from two Cherokee authors, so of course I’m over the moon about them both! I’m a huge fan of Goade’s art and Sorell’s stories, and seeing them paired together is sure to be enchanting. Releasing May 7, 2024. Pre-order here!
• The Strange Wonders of Roots by Evan Griffith
  • Why I’m excited: Griffith’s last middle grade novel, Manatee Summer, (review here) was incredible in its setting work and at showing a sensitive boy as a main character. I’ve already had the privilege of hearing readings from The Strange Wonders of Roots and I can’t wait to read the whole thing. Releasing May 28. Pre-order here!
• Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
  • Every summer, I look forward to MKA’s beach read. Cool characters doing interesting things with well depicted relationships, with laugh out loud situations and witty banter and probably a romance and maybe a murder? Yes, please! This year’s release comes May 7, 2024. Pre-order here!
• Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley
  • Why I’m excited: I absolutely adore Quigley’s Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series, and I can’t wait to read her debut in the middle grade realm. Releasing June 4, 2024. Pre-order here!
• Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
  • Why I’m excited: I fully expect this book to sweep readers off their feet with its mystery and suspense while still honoring the MMIW/MMIP movement. Releasing June 4. Pre-order here!
• Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood
  • Why I’m excited: My expectation is that this book will be part journey to self-acceptance, part mystery, and might just have a dash of suspense. Releasing June 4, 2024. Pre-order here!
• The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
  • Why I’m excited: Each of Center’s books are so different from each other, and yet each one ends up as a five star read for me. Incredibly well-developed characters, unique situations, and a delicate balance of humor and heart mean that I read every one of her new releases, often without even checking the description. Releasing June 11, 2024. Pre-order here!
• A Spoonful of Time by Flora Ahn
  • Why I’m excited: Magic, mystery, food, time travel, middle grade– what isn’t to like!? Available now– order here!
• The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron
  • Why I’m excited: For my own work, I’ve been studying how middle grade novels address heavy topics. The middle grade market is ages eight to twelve, and while older readers may glean details younger readers miss, the text most often needs to still be accessible to those younger readers. This story sounds intriguing, I’ve heard good things about it, and I’m looking forward to exploring it as a mentor text for this writing craft element. Available now- order here!
• The Apartment House on Poppy Hill by Nina LaCour
  • Why I’m excited: I’ve heard so many wonderful things about LaCour, but I’ve never had the opportunity to read her work. I read a blurb of this one, and it lodged in my brain. I can’t wait to dive in and learn why I was drawn to it! Available now- order here!
• Never Whistle at Night, edited by Shane Hawk and Theordore C. Van Alst Jr.
  • Why I’m excited: As a big big baby scaredy-cat, I am already afraid to read this. But I cannot resist an Indigenous authored anthology, and so I will be brave and explore this intimidating genre. Although I don’t generally read horror, while reading Man Made Monsters by Cherokee citizen Andrea Rogers I found that the scarier aspects were manageable through her incredible work. Available now- order here!
• Reminder for preorder and ordering links: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I will earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase.

There you have it: my next few months of reading! If I have time, I’ll also want to squeeze in Dan Gemeinhart’s new Coyote Lost and Found and Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being.

Other books I’ve loved so far this year include Darcie Little Badger’s Sheine Lende (review); Blue Stars Mission One the Vice Principal Problem by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Kekla Magoon, and illustrated by Molly Murakami (incredible middle grade graphic novel!); Emily Tetri’s Tiger vs. Nightmare (middle grade GN); The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly (review); Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee; Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone; and The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera.

Happy reading, friends!