Here is my list of books that I am planning to read in 2021. I will add as a caveat that I am quite out of the loop as far as Children’s books and Young Adult titles. I am planning to remedy that and will probably start with award winners from the last few years.
Also, please excuse my formatting issues. I am still learning how to work with this new (to me) version of the editor on WordPress. I am working with the mantra that “done is better than perfect” in this case.
A study of race and my biases:
I feel like this may be quite an ambitious undertaking. I definitely feel the need to dig in and do this work, but I think it may take me a little bit longer to get through some of these books because it is uncomfortable.
Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
White Fragility by Robin DeAngelo
Not Light, But Fire by Matthew Kay
So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Open City by Teju Cole
Books about Coaching:
I learn best by reading and reflecting. I am looking forward to more learning this year as I continue to refine my craft and settle into my new role as an instructional technology coach.
Taking the Lead by Joellen Killion
The Art of Coaching by Elena Aguilar
For Entertainment:
The majority of this list comes from a list that my sister shared with me. She started an online book club and we are making our way through the list of 14 new books that you will read in one sitting. So far, the titles I have read from that list have been quick reads and intriguing, as promised.
Pendergast 14-19: I started this series in January 2020. I have stuck through it so far, so I will work to get through the rest of the series this year. These are certainly not books to read in one sitting, but they are intriguing mysteries and the character of Pendergast is certainly a unique character.
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
A Burning by Megha Majumdar
Sea Wife by Amity Gaige
Survivor Song byPaul Tremblay
It is Wood, It is Stone by Gabriella Burnham
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Luster by Raven Leilani
I set myself a goal of reading 70 books in 2021. I was able to read 59 in 2020, but I did not read many (if any) middle grade or young adult books. I am hoping that I can easily add in some of these titles and have a higher book count this year.
I also had about 6 weeks last Spring that were really slow reading weeks for me. I think the anxiety about the virus really manifested itself in my focus and concentration. I just could not lose myself in stories the way I usually do. Thank heavens, that seems to have remedied itself!
Here’s to a wonderful new year full of reading and writing! I would love to hear from you in the comments.
Hi Andrea! I’m glad to see your list & have read Stamped, a thought-filled (for me) book. White Fragility is on my shelf but I still need to read it. Your list of all the ‘one sitting’ books is intriguing. I noted a few as they were not familiar at all, but I like the idea. Happy New Year! I understand about the formatting issue. Blogger has changed, too. I wonder if they secretly collaborated? Ha! Anyway, it’s been strange, but I’m learning. . .
Happy New Year to you!
I’ve read all but two of the books on race as I have been working through many of them also. I agree that some of it is uncomfortable, but definitely worth it. I’m really interested in Not Light, But Fire. I just added it to my TBR. 🙂
I too was fighting with formatting as I switched from Goodreads to The Story Graph for tracking my reading and the images don’t cooperate as easily. I love “done is better than perfect” which is similar to what I’ve been telling myself through 2020, “good enough is good enough.”
All the best!
Yes. Thanks for the affirmation. I know the book pile is an important one and it will be worth it for sure. I haven’t heard of The Story Graph. I will have to take a look at it.
Hi Andrea! What an eclectic list! I read White Fragility and the young adult version of Stamped. There are so many antiracist books that I’d like to read too. Elena Aguilar has a coaching for equity book out now that I’d like to read as well. I love the idea of books you can read in one sitting! Ooh – I didn’t include Pull of the Stars on my list, but I wish I had. I’d love to read that this year because I love Emma Donogue. Thanks for sharing your list!
You have some interesting books on your list. I’ve seen Pizza Girl on a couple of lists today so I’ve added it to my want to read list.
I read Stamped, the version for younger readers, by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi. I have the adult version on my to read list, but don’t know if I will get to it. If I was still teaching I would add Not Light, But Fire, but I’m retired. It sounds like an important book.
I think that I will want to read both the young reader version and the adult one of Stamped, but I have heard Ibram X Kendi speak a few times and really want to read his book in his voice first.
Love looking at your list! I really like those read-in-one-sitting books! I have had Not Light, But Fire on my radar since the author was with Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher on their videos during the early pandemic days. Did you see that? Thanks for sharing your list! Happy Reading!