The world has been feeling like a grim place lately, and your "quick delights," as you call them, were a small and perhaps fleeting but very welcome antidote just now. A gentle reminder to look around me and take note of the moment I am standing in and the little wonders of life that accompany it. I think especially when traveling, it can be so easy to get frazzled, worrying about the practical things and our own discomfort, and not notice the magic that a plane ride can be -- especially if you're near the window, and can look out upon the landscape and the clouds! Keep up this practice on the rest of your vacations and trips in the future, is my advice; you'll be gleeful to come across your notes five years from now!
(While these are both middle grade books and neither of are getting banned at the moment, they’re both really well written with great messages.)
I’d recommend Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan (she’s also written Esperanza Rising and The Dreamer). It’s written from 3 (technically 4) different character’s perspectives at different times (a 12 year old boy at the beginning of the Holocaust in Germany, a 11 year old boy during the Great Depression in Philadelphia, and an 11 year old girl after Pearl Harbor in Southern California) which are all tied together by music. I absolutely love the way this is written with different pov’s and it’s one of my favorite books.
I would also recommend White Bird by R.J. Palacio (I read the novel version). This book is about a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France that has to hide to survive the Holocaust (mostly told in flashbacks), with strong messages of knowing and understanding history so it doesn’t repeat, as well as of course friendship, kindness, and courage.
Also Barnes & Noble has a list of banned/challenged books on their website!
I went through a phase where I was using my skin as a canvas every day, too! The effect was so cool, and could really speak. Do you have any plans for tattoos in the future, someday? Would you design them yourself?
There's something so poetic (I guess you're writing poetry, after all) about describing your emotions as "melting." It really does feel like that sometimes, huh? I responded to this piece in deep but such odd little ways: The candy, the scattered pens, the "let's run away together," the sea, all spoke to me distinctly but cohesively. You've produced something sparkly and dreamlike bright, but nostalgic and melancholy, all at once.
"Help" is this week's featured visual art on vtdigger.org, up now in their Life & Culture section. Everyone can check it out now, here! vtdigger.org/life-culture
"You Won't, You Can't" is this week's featured poem on vtdigger.org, up now in their Life & Culture section. Everyone can check it out now, here! vtdigger.org/life-culture
I would recommend the Grapes of Wrath (anti capitalistic message, set during the Dust Bowl/Great Depression), The Hate U Give (discusses racism in the modern day), The Color Purple (domestic abuse and some other things), and the Hunger Games series (dystopian society that makes poor children fight for the enjoyment of the rich) are all great books. Each handles some very prevalent issues and also if you're into musicals, The Color Purple has one starring Cynthia Erivo. I would also look into history books regarding Indigenous Americans and people of color because those are getting more and more restricted. Esperanza Rising (immigration and poverty) is also incredible but I'm not sure if its getting banned.
Oh, I love Adrienne Rich's work! I haven't read that one, so I'll make sure to check it out, thanks!! I totally agree with your views on limitations in politics & censorship, which is limitation in the first place. I like to write, post, read, and talk about politics and freedom, so I will keep doing what I do here on YWP and elsewhere!! <3
The world has been feeling like a grim place lately, and your "quick delights," as you call them, were a small and perhaps fleeting but very welcome antidote just now. A gentle reminder to look around me and take note of the moment I am standing in and the little wonders of life that accompany it. I think especially when traveling, it can be so easy to get frazzled, worrying about the practical things and our own discomfort, and not notice the magic that a plane ride can be -- especially if you're near the window, and can look out upon the landscape and the clouds! Keep up this practice on the rest of your vacations and trips in the future, is my advice; you'll be gleeful to come across your notes five years from now!
(While these are both middle grade books and neither of are getting banned at the moment, they’re both really well written with great messages.)
I’d recommend Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan (she’s also written Esperanza Rising and The Dreamer). It’s written from 3 (technically 4) different character’s perspectives at different times (a 12 year old boy at the beginning of the Holocaust in Germany, a 11 year old boy during the Great Depression in Philadelphia, and an 11 year old girl after Pearl Harbor in Southern California) which are all tied together by music. I absolutely love the way this is written with different pov’s and it’s one of my favorite books.
I would also recommend White Bird by R.J. Palacio (I read the novel version). This book is about a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France that has to hide to survive the Holocaust (mostly told in flashbacks), with strong messages of knowing and understanding history so it doesn’t repeat, as well as of course friendship, kindness, and courage.
Also Barnes & Noble has a list of banned/challenged books on their website!
I went through a phase where I was using my skin as a canvas every day, too! The effect was so cool, and could really speak. Do you have any plans for tattoos in the future, someday? Would you design them yourself?
There's something so poetic (I guess you're writing poetry, after all) about describing your emotions as "melting." It really does feel like that sometimes, huh? I responded to this piece in deep but such odd little ways: The candy, the scattered pens, the "let's run away together," the sea, all spoke to me distinctly but cohesively. You've produced something sparkly and dreamlike bright, but nostalgic and melancholy, all at once.
"Help" is this week's featured visual art on vtdigger.org, up now in their Life & Culture section. Everyone can check it out now, here! vtdigger.org/life-culture
"You Won't, You Can't" is this week's featured poem on vtdigger.org, up now in their Life & Culture section. Everyone can check it out now, here! vtdigger.org/life-culture
I love this so, so much! Thank you for writing something so wonderful <3
I would recommend the Grapes of Wrath (anti capitalistic message, set during the Dust Bowl/Great Depression), The Hate U Give (discusses racism in the modern day), The Color Purple (domestic abuse and some other things), and the Hunger Games series (dystopian society that makes poor children fight for the enjoyment of the rich) are all great books. Each handles some very prevalent issues and also if you're into musicals, The Color Purple has one starring Cynthia Erivo. I would also look into history books regarding Indigenous Americans and people of color because those are getting more and more restricted. Esperanza Rising (immigration and poverty) is also incredible but I'm not sure if its getting banned.
Oh, I love Adrienne Rich's work! I haven't read that one, so I'll make sure to check it out, thanks!! I totally agree with your views on limitations in politics & censorship, which is limitation in the first place. I like to write, post, read, and talk about politics and freedom, so I will keep doing what I do here on YWP and elsewhere!! <3
Thank you so much for commenting & taking the time to read my work!!!! :D