By Ardo Omer
This month we’re reading a book featuring creatures by a Woman of Colour. These titles offer a range of stories whether it’s a panda striving for perfection, a mermaid and their creature friends trying to save magic in their world or a young woman battling demonic creatures. What books are you reading this month?
1) Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Young Adult)
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.
A flying demon feeding on human energies.
A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.
And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.
The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.
She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.
2) Atana and the Jade Mermaid by Vivian Zhou (Middle Grade)
A mermaid, a firebird, and a witch fight to save the magic of their world before it ceases to exist in this epic conclusion to acclaimed author Vivian Zhou’s fantasy duology. Perfect for fans of Tidesongand Wingbearer!
Atana may be one step closer to discovering her past, but it didn’t come without a cost. Though the mermaid and her companions—Ren, the last known firebird, and Cosmos, a Witch Guard turned friend—narrowly escaped the Witch Queen, their world’s magic cycle is broken and the firebirds are to blame.
Ren knows she must right her flock’s wrongs, and Atana is determined to join her on this quest. But lurking deep below the seas are secrets that could destroy their last chance at restoring the balance of magic—and, if they aren’t careful, their friendship.
3) Mao Mao’s Perfectly Imperfect Day by Laan Cham (Picture Book)
A free-spirited new student helps a perfectionist panda embrace his more spontaneous side in this charming classroom story.
Mao Mao strives for everything to be absolutely, 100%…PERFECT!
But when Olivia joins his class, Mao Mao realizes that not everyone is this way. Olivia is messy. And noisy. And clumsy.
So, Mao Mao decides to teach Olivia the art of how to be *PERFECT.* How hard could it be?
With speech balloons and kawaii-influenced illustrations by Laan Cham, this relatable picture book celebrates individuality and self-expression and invites little ones to redefine what it means to be “perfect.” It also champions embracing differences and learning from one another—an important lesson for any child starting school.
