Weekend Pick for August 25, 2023
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Check out our weekly suggestions!
Are your students looking for book recommendations?
Send them to browse through the picks for this or past years.
For the picks from 2022 click here
For the picks from 2021 click here
For the picks from 2020 click here.
For older picks click from 2019 click here.
For the even older picks click here.
Over My Dead Body (2022), Sweeney Boo
As the summer finally starts to wind down, and our thoughts turn to the upcoming "spooky szn", it seems the perfect time to cuddle up with a good book about magic, mysteries, and dark academia. Over My Dead Body, with words and stunning - seriously stunning - art from Sweeney Boo. In this graphic novel, "foundling" Abby Younwity, a student at the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, wakes to discover that her friend, mentee, and fellow "foundling" Noreen has disappeared into the Forbidden Forest. Though the other students are content to let the administration handle it, Abby is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and save Noreen. As Samhain approaches, Abby and her familiar, Seymour, uncover a conspiracy that threatens them all.
Given the similarities, many may be quick to compare this text to Harry Potter. After all, there are witches and mysteries and forbidden forests and a focus on found families. However, this is where the similarities end. Boo deftly avoids relying on stereotypes as characterization, and the text is filled with diverse racial representation as well as characters that are diverse in race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Though the story covers familiar territory, Sweeney Boo's unique approach and breathtakingly beautiful panels make this book a fantastic addition to the genre.
Guest Contributor Bio: Alicia Burnette Whitley
Alicia is PhD Student in Literacy and English Language Arts Education at North Carolina State University. Prior to entering the PhD program, she taught high school English (9th Grade, African-American, YA, and British Literature). Her passion is culturally relevant and critical pedagogies, with a particular interest in multimodal texts and inclusive literary practices.
As the summer finally starts to wind down, and our thoughts turn to the upcoming "spooky szn", it seems the perfect time to cuddle up with a good book about magic, mysteries, and dark academia. Over My Dead Body, with words and stunning - seriously stunning - art from Sweeney Boo. In this graphic novel, "foundling" Abby Younwity, a student at the Younwity Hidden Institute of Witchcraft, wakes to discover that her friend, mentee, and fellow "foundling" Noreen has disappeared into the Forbidden Forest. Though the other students are content to let the administration handle it, Abby is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and save Noreen. As Samhain approaches, Abby and her familiar, Seymour, uncover a conspiracy that threatens them all.
Given the similarities, many may be quick to compare this text to Harry Potter. After all, there are witches and mysteries and forbidden forests and a focus on found families. However, this is where the similarities end. Boo deftly avoids relying on stereotypes as characterization, and the text is filled with diverse racial representation as well as characters that are diverse in race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Though the story covers familiar territory, Sweeney Boo's unique approach and breathtakingly beautiful panels make this book a fantastic addition to the genre.
Guest Contributor Bio: Alicia Burnette Whitley
Alicia is PhD Student in Literacy and English Language Arts Education at North Carolina State University. Prior to entering the PhD program, she taught high school English (9th Grade, African-American, YA, and British Literature). Her passion is culturally relevant and critical pedagogies, with a particular interest in multimodal texts and inclusive literary practices.
Thank Alicia for being our August contributor for the Weekend Picks! I have four new books in my shopping card thanks to you!
Happy reading!
Nikki ❤
Happy reading!
Nikki ❤
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