#r. eric thomas

[onebluebookworm]

30 Days of Literary Pride 2023 - June 19

Here For It, Or How to Save Your Soul in America - R. Eric Thomas

[bookaddict24-7]

6 YA Books by Black Authors that I Saw On Bookstagram this Month!

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1. Your Corner Dark by Desmond Hall

Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction 

“Things can change in a second: The second Frankie Green gets that scholarship letter, he has his ticket out of Jamaica. The second his longtime crush, Leah, asks him on a date, he’s in trouble. The second his father gets shot, suddenly nothing else matters. And the second Frankie joins his uncle’s gang in exchange for paying for his father’s medical bills, there’s no going back...or is there? As Frankie does things he never thought he’d be capable of, he’s forced to confront the truth of the family and future he was born into—and the ones he wants to build for himself.”

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2. Vinyl Moon by Mahogany L. Browne

Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Poetry

“When Darius told Angel he loved her, she believed him. But five weeks after the incident, Angel finds herself in Brooklyn, far from her family, from him, and from the California life she has known. Angel feels out of sync with her new neighborhood. At school, she can't shake the feeling everyone knows what happened--and how it was her fault. The only place that makes sense is Ms. G's class. There, Angel's classmates share their own stories of pain, joy, and fortitude. And as Angel becomes immersed in her revolutionary literature course, the words from novels like The Bluest Eye and Push speak to her and begin to heal the wounds of her past. This stunning novel weaves together prose, poems, and vignettes to tell the story of Angel, a young woman whose past was shaped by domestic violence but whose love of language and music and the gift of community grant her the chance to find herself again.”

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3. For All Time by Shanna Miles 

Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Time Travel

“Tamar is a headstrong slave in Mali, a high school junior with a terminal illness on a last-chance trip, a young woman struggling for independence in a segregated train car steaming her toward an arranged marriage. She is a musician, a warrior, a survivor. Fayard is a soldier that must obey all the rules set before him, a charming high school senior who wishes to give his high school sweetheart a promise ring, a lost young man who runs numbers for King Fats in Chicago. He is a con man, a pioneer, a hopeless romantic. Together, Tamar and Fayard have lived a thousand lives, seen the world go through revolutions and civil wars, and have even watched humanity take to the stars. But in each life one thing remains the same: Tamar and Fayard fall in love. Tamar and Fayard fight to be with each other. Tamar and Fayard die. Over and over again until, perhaps at last, they learn what it will take to break the cycle.”

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4. And We Rise by Erica Martin

Young Adult, Social Justice, Poetry

“In stunning verse and vivid use of white space, Erica Martin’s debut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement—from the well-documented events that shaped the nation’s treatment of Black people, beginning with the “Separate but Equal” ruling—and introduces lesser-known figures and moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation's centuries-long fight for justice and equality. A poignant, powerful, all-too-timely collection that is both a vital history lesson and much-needed conversation starter in our modern world. Complete with historical photographs, author’s note, chronology of events, research, and sources.”

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5. Kings of B’More by R. Eric Thomas 

Young Adult, LGBTQ+, Contemporary Fiction

“With junior year starting in the fall, Harrison feels like he's on the precipice of, well, everything. Standardized testing, college, and the terrifying unknowns and looming pressures of adulthood after that--it's like the future wants to eat him alive. Which is why Harrison is grateful that he and his best friend Linus will face these things together. But at the end of a shift at their summer job, Linus invites Harrison to their special spot overlooking the city to deliver devastating news: he's moving out of state at the end of the week. To keep from completely losing it--and partially inspired by a cheesy movie-night pick by his Dad--Harrison plans a send-off à la Ferris Bueller's Day Off that's worthy of his favorite person. If they won't be having all the life-expanding experiences they thought they would, Harrison will squeeze them all into their last day. They end up on a mini road trip, their first Pride, and a rooftop dance party, all while keeping their respective parents, who track them on a family location app, off their trail. Harrison and Linus make a pact to do all the things--big and small--they've been too scared to do. But nothing feels scarier than saying goodbye to someone you love.”

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6. Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera

Young Adult, LGBTQ+, Contemporary Fiction

“Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.”

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Have you read any of these titles? Would you recommend them?

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Happy reading!

[trying-to-get-somewhere-real]

R. Eric Thomas, one of my most favorite writers on the internet, coming out (to me) as a life-long Judith Light stan is only one of many wonderful things to happen to me today. Also I guess I will probably have to watch this movie?

[gingit-cake]

Winky, the Unbothered Bichon Frise, Is My New Life Coach

Winky's time to beat: 40 seconds. Winky's actual time: 100 seconds with 92 errors.

Tony from Old Rules for New Side Pieces and Winky have got to connect, @goodkwuestion

[universitybookstore]

New from Ballantine Books, Here For It:, Or, How to Save Your Soul in America: Essays, by R. Eric Thomas.

“Pop culture–obsessed, Sedaris-level laugh-out-loud funny . . . [R. Eric Thomas] is one of my favorite writers.”—Lin-Manuel Miranda.

[jomiddlemarch]

Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays [R. Eric Thomas] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. From the creator of Elle’s “Eric Reads the News, ” a heartfelt and hilarious memoir-in-essays about growing up seeing the world differently

I highly, highly recommend this book because you will smile and laugh and probably tear up. And @tessa-quayle bought me a copy as a gift because she is  amazing. Once you read it, leave a review on Amazon because R. Eric Thomas asked very nicely and he deserves everything good for all the light he’s been bringing into a dark time.

[hearthmistress]

It is truly wild that some people will frequently talk about toddlers having crushes on other toddlers or insist on putting their daughters in pink from the minute of birth or get their baby sons onesies that say "Watch out ladies!" as if they are offering them up as sacrifices to the demon of toxic masculinity, but the minute someone mentions gender or sexual orientation, they scream about their child being indoctrinated. Which is it, honey? Either your child exists in a world where gender and sexual orientation are things or they don't.

R. Eric Thomas from  “Alabama Public Television Bans Gay Rats In Love” on Elle

[jbthegift]

“Every day in this ding dang country somebody wakes up and decides to be big mad about something they'd never heard of before which doesn't affect their lives in any way.”  - R. Eric Thomas, from his newsletter and speaking nothing but truth.