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Weekend Pick for August 25, 2023

8/25/2023

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Weekend Pick for August 25, 2023

​Looking for something to read? 
​Check out our weekly suggestions!
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Send them to browse through the picks for this or past years.
 
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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.

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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 ❤
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    Curators for the Weekend Picks

    Leilya Pitre
    Leilya taught English as a foreign language in the Ukraine and ELA/English in public schools in the US. Her research interests include teacher preparation, clinical experiences, secondary school teaching, and teaching and research of Young Adult and multicultural literature. Together with her friend and colleague, Mike Cook, she co-authored a two-volume edition of Teaching Universal Themes Through Young Adult Novels (2021). ​
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    Cammie Jo Lawton
    Cammie is a current doctoral student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and serves the Center for Children and Young Adult Literature as a graduate research assistant. She is especially interested in how YA can affect readers, create empathy and possibly shift thinking. 
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    Nikki Bylina-Streets
    Nikki is a elementary librarian who just keeps reading YA literature. She is a constant advocate for reading at every level. You can also follow her through her ​Instagram account dedicated to my school library work. @thislibraryrocks
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