March Reading Wrap-Up

It's time for my March Reading Wrap-Up! I read 5 books in March, mostly in a hybrid format (audio & print).

The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family by Kerri K. Greenidge

Unlike many other books on the Grimkes, this one depicts the family members, white & Black, as nuanced people who simultaneously fought for abolition while upholding white supremacist culture. The story of the Grimkes is one of enslavement, violence, anti-Blackness, abolition, women’s suffrage, colonialism, colorism, racism, queerness, homophobia, classism, & generational trauma. Check out my full review here!

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

Deonn did an amazing job at showing how Bree's "strength" & "resilience" became detrimental to her as a Black girl. We feel the pressure to persevere because just about every system is working against us & our ancestors worked so hard that we are afraid to seem as though we don't appreciate their struggles. I'm not sure that white folks & other BIPOC realize how much pressure there is for Black women & girls to be "excellent" or risk being nothing at all. Full review here.

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

This book is undoubtedly one of the best books I’ve read in my life. Throughout this series, Deonn explores the ways that white supremacy tries to suppress Black folks' power when they can't use us or profit off of us. I don’t want to share too much & spoil the book for anyone so if you want my full review, check it out here: Book Review: Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

The Gatekeeper’s Staff (TJ Young & The Orishas, #1) by Antoine Bandele

This is a heartwarming yet action-packed YA Fantasy championing late-bloomers. I love the themes of teamwork, honesty, connecting w/ nature, & dedication throughout the book. It was also amazing to have a story that follows someone who is Nigerian-American at a magic school w/ no basis in the usual Western deities. The cast features folks from across the African diaspora! It’s a great series, so far.

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

I really wanted to like this book. Growing up, I was obsessed w/ Ancient Egypt so when I read the 1st book in this duology, I paid no mind to Ines’s naïveté. After all, this is a YA book & Ines was a bit pampered growing up. What frustrated me was the fact that she never seemed to learn from her mistakes. The story had a steady pace & the concept of this duology was intriguing but I found the execution lacking in depth & consistency.

As always, please read the content warnings for each of these books on Storygraph!!