CET Writes

This 2018 Maverick List honoree and @CTXTeenComicCon guest speaker brings lush artwork and magical realism to the #WeNeedDiverseComics movement. #LibrariesRRock #RRockReviewsHS ​ #MaverickList #yartxla #CTXComicCon   |   @nidhiart ,  @01FirstSecond

In this brilliant sequel to Openly Straight, Ben finds his way, his voice, and his love as Konigsberg continues the tale with this beautifully raw and complex addition to the burgeoning body of LGBTQ YA literature. #LibrariesRRock #RRockReviewHS ​  |   @billkonigsberg ,  @AALBooks

Jones’ team of creators artfully navigates a very heavy topic in a multifaceted approach that refuses to oversimplify or reduce down to a FEW talking points. Bravo! #LibrariesRRock #RRockReviewsHS ​ #MaverickList #yartxla   |   @LEEandLOW ,  @PoetTonyMedina

In this 2019 #MaverickList honoree,  @strangelykatie creates a gentle world in which miniature dragons have more in common with house cats than beasts of destruction. Check it out to see what kind of Tea Dragon you will be!  @OniPress   |   #CETReviews #RRockReviewsMS #RRockReviewsHS

With messaging, more subtle than the original,  @MollyOstertag 's sequel to Witch Boy enriches the series premise and strengthens the characterization of the denizens--making it clear that this tale is more than a one-off.  #CETReviews #RockReviewsMS #RockReviewsHS   |   @GraphixBooks

In this 2020 #MaverickList nominee, fans of middlegrade, slice-of-life realistic fiction with female strong protagonists will find a new love in this modernization of an old classic.  #CETReviews   #RockReviewsHS   #RockReviewsMS   |   @ndgoarts ,  @littlebrown

Rarely have I read a book so real and laughed so hard! As  @JerryCraft sugar coats nothing without seeming attacking, this title is skillfully and beautifully balanced. #weneeddiversecomics #CETReviews #RRockReviewsHS #RRockReviewsMS #MaverickList   |   @HarperCollinsCh ,  @LibrariesRRock

This 2020 #MaverickList nominee, hurls the reader two years into the future, a world where the rules have changed & crush is forbidden, so hold on tight as the ride is anything but smooth.   #CETReviews   #RockReviewsHS   |   @babsdraws ,  @brendenfletcher ,  @cameronMstewart ,  @ImageComics

In volume 2,  @gracecellis and  @shaebeagle continue this fantastic paranormal romance that delightfully navigates some surprisingly heavy topics with dexterity and levity!  #CETReviews   #RockReviewsHS   |   @ImageComics ,  @LibrariesRRock  

In this 2019 #SPOTTX honoree,  @av_geiger goes beyond merely providing a good mystery. This book is fodder for some interesting thought experiments that center on mental health and social media.  #CETReviews #RockReviewsHS   |   @SourcebooksFire ,  @LibrariesRRock  

Both Abelard and Lily so deeply resonated with me that I felt like I was reading a love story between two halves of myself as I watched each struggle to find their happy. #TheLoveLettersofAbelardandLily #CETReviews #RRockReviewsHS #SPOTTX   |   @LibrariesRRock , @HMHteen

This 2019 #TayshasList honoree presents a perfect argument for social justice & restorative practices. #CETReviews #RRockreviewsHS   |   @DashkaSlater ,  @fsgbooks ,  @yartxla ,  @LibrariesRRock  

On February 9, 2023, at the fourth Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC), I had the exhilarating experience of guiding a discussion that focused on the need to connect with nerd culture and create a welcoming environment for the BIPOC fandom. The soul of this session had been several years in the making and built on countless heart-to-heart moments. So, I couldn’t imagine a better venue for seeing it actualized than my first JCLC. Furthermore, for this session, I had the honor of being in conversation with fellow nerds and comics librarians Jean Darnell and Deimosa Webber-Bey . To my eternal amazement, our talk was met with a standing room only reception, and afterward we were repeatedly regaled with tales of being turned away at the door. In hopes of capturing a small portion of that day's magic, this post grew out of that discussion. *** For the past 30 years, BIPOC nerds have existed in the cringe-worthy shadow of Urkel. What if, instead, they’d had portrayals such as ...