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2026 Reads
Picture Books about Grief
2026 Reads
Books I've read this year. They're not all 5 star reads but maybe the ones that aren't for me will be for you!
This book was so special. A few pages in and I realized I might have a new favorite author 😭. It was rich and real and *so* Black in so many ways. I really appreciated the nostalgia these characters dredged up for me. Especially concerning Deacon/Sp...
Deacon King Kong
I really enjoyed this first volume. I’ve seen the first season of the show but I always end up falling off. I’m hoping the manga will keep me engaged because I really do like it, but maybe I just need to visit it in another medium.
I loved having all 3 volumes together at once. I couldn’t imagine having to wait for the next one especially considering where each volume ends. I highly recommend the omnibus editions if you can grab them.
I loved having all 3 volumes together at once. I couldn’t imagine having to wait for the next one especially considering where each volume ends. I highly recommend the omnibus editions if you can grab them.
Attack on Titan Omnibus 1 (Vol. 1-3)
True page count is 224 pages.
The remaining pages are all notes.
With that: I really enjoyed this book. Since starting it I’ve made notes of how far things are around me and have made it a point to walk to the grocery store, the library, and Atlanta’a belt line. Especially because I live so closely to an entry poi...
Streets paired interesting history and science to back the reason each way to walk is so important for our health. I believe I’ll be leaning on this book and its resources for the rest of my life.
The remaining pages are all notes.
With that: I really enjoyed this book. Since starting it I’ve made notes of how far things are around me and have made it a point to walk to the grocery store, the library, and Atlanta’a belt line. Especially because I live so closely to an entry poi...
Streets paired interesting history and science to back the reason each way to walk is so important for our health. I believe I’ll be leaning on this book and its resources for the rest of my life.
52 Ways to Walk
Check the triggers!
This book. Phew. Questions it asked: who do you and your family become when you feed grief? What happens when grief grows up and becomes something else?
TRIGGER: Mention of Infant Loss
I’m a few years removed from the “wanna die right now” grief of my infant son dying. And truly, the only thing that’s kept me here is as Yrsa Daley Ward says, “someone [up above] taking great pity on me.” And also my husband and I’s intention to talk...
I say this to say that there were points in the story where even in loving M, the characters actively bypassed what he was and how he became. They lied by omission and the results of that was truly the terror.
This book reminded me that we must call a thing a thing. Even a tragic thing because if we don’t, it will spiral. It will always be hungry. I think this book was really well done. I recommend.
This book. Phew. Questions it asked: who do you and your family become when you feed grief? What happens when grief grows up and becomes something else?
TRIGGER: Mention of Infant Loss
I’m a few years removed from the “wanna die right now” grief of my infant son dying. And truly, the only thing that’s kept me here is as Yrsa Daley Ward says, “someone [up above] taking great pity on me.” And also my husband and I’s intention to talk...
I say this to say that there were points in the story where even in loving M, the characters actively bypassed what he was and how he became. They lied by omission and the results of that was truly the terror.
This book reminded me that we must call a thing a thing. Even a tragic thing because if we don’t, it will spiral. It will always be hungry. I think this book was really well done. I recommend.
Monstrilio
I initially read this book because I wanted to be really really smart. Wanted to hit a transphobe with facts and more. Hear me roar. Raaaarwww. Instead, reading this book softened me. I of course will have facts, but what Heyman really teaches us is ...
Heyman takes us from West Africa to early America and reveals to us that gender and sex has always moved. People have always been people and have used/relied/turned to the mobility of sex and gender to survive, to experience, to conquer, to live, and...
Heyman asked us to question our need for personal testimony and detailed the varied ways trans history is as old as time. I loved how they detailed the ways colonialism and western ideas of sex and gender limits everyone and is incredibly racist and ...
Those limited by racism/hate/transphobia/homophobia (even within the queer community) are at best uneducated and at worst, cowards and willfully ignorant. Heyman shines a light on all the ways sex and gender have been violently controlled and shows t...
There’s so much. I really fear my review doesn’t do it justice. I enjoyed the book, but there were times it read like a textbook. I searched for the audiobook and hoped it would help, but no luck in finding the audiobook at the library. It did help t...
My favorite chapters were toward the end and all of the times Heyman included personal narrative about their feelings towards the history, spirituality, and people’s ideals about the way trans history is kept/taught.
Heyman takes us from West Africa to early America and reveals to us that gender and sex has always moved. People have always been people and have used/relied/turned to the mobility of sex and gender to survive, to experience, to conquer, to live, and...
Heyman asked us to question our need for personal testimony and detailed the varied ways trans history is as old as time. I loved how they detailed the ways colonialism and western ideas of sex and gender limits everyone and is incredibly racist and ...
Those limited by racism/hate/transphobia/homophobia (even within the queer community) are at best uneducated and at worst, cowards and willfully ignorant. Heyman shines a light on all the ways sex and gender have been violently controlled and shows t...
There’s so much. I really fear my review doesn’t do it justice. I enjoyed the book, but there were times it read like a textbook. I searched for the audiobook and hoped it would help, but no luck in finding the audiobook at the library. It did help t...
My favorite chapters were toward the end and all of the times Heyman included personal narrative about their feelings towards the history, spirituality, and people’s ideals about the way trans history is kept/taught.
Before We Were Trans
This book gave me *Our Friend Martin* vibes. A movie many peoplpe in ATL have watched millions of times. Especially if you went to a predominantly Black school K-12.
And especially during Black History Month. I think *Harriet Tubman Live in Concert* would pair well with that movie because it read like it would be for high schoolers.
Once I realized this, the way the book was written was easier to deal with because there were moments where it did give after-school special lol.
Still, I thought the story was moving and very funny at times. It was a solid 3.5 read for me until I got the audiobook and got to actually *hear* the songs at the end. I really enjoyed them. (The songs are also on streaming services which I later fo...
That bumped this up to a 4 for me. I’d recommend it ☺️. Happy Pride 🏳️🌈❤️
And especially during Black History Month. I think *Harriet Tubman Live in Concert* would pair well with that movie because it read like it would be for high schoolers.
Once I realized this, the way the book was written was easier to deal with because there were moments where it did give after-school special lol.
Still, I thought the story was moving and very funny at times. It was a solid 3.5 read for me until I got the audiobook and got to actually *hear* the songs at the end. I really enjoyed them. (The songs are also on streaming services which I later fo...
That bumped this up to a 4 for me. I’d recommend it ☺️. Happy Pride 🏳️🌈❤️
Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert
My heart. I read the poems out loud first and stumbled and felt silly sometimes. But I was too moved to care. Got to the end and saw that there was a glossary. I really like that Warsan did that (I personally didn’t read the table of contents to find...
Saw translations for the words I didn’t know and re-read the poems again.
This time in my head. And just wow. My heart…
The poems that will be with me for a long time are: **Backwards**—excellently done. The poem is written backwards and then forwards and I just love how the meaning changes as it does.
**Assimilation**— a look into the heart of a refugee. Beautiful and heartbreaking.
**Home**—because, really, “no one would leave home unless home chased you”
**Bless the Qumayo** - because family gossips are the same everywhere.
**Unbearable Weight of Staying** - Sounded familiar. Beyoncé used it in *Lemonade*. This made the poem even sadder to me.
**Bless the Sharmuto** — because it had great lines like: *”Anything that leaves her mouth sounds like sex, our mother has banned her from saying God’s name.”*
**Bless this house** — I don’t want to ruin it, just trust me.
**Victoria in Illiyin**— because may her sweet soul rest in peace. The whole selection was wonderful, heart bending, sad, relatable, and on.
Saw translations for the words I didn’t know and re-read the poems again.
This time in my head. And just wow. My heart…
The poems that will be with me for a long time are: **Backwards**—excellently done. The poem is written backwards and then forwards and I just love how the meaning changes as it does.
**Assimilation**— a look into the heart of a refugee. Beautiful and heartbreaking.
**Home**—because, really, “no one would leave home unless home chased you”
**Bless the Qumayo** - because family gossips are the same everywhere.
**Unbearable Weight of Staying** - Sounded familiar. Beyoncé used it in *Lemonade*. This made the poem even sadder to me.
**Bless the Sharmuto** — because it had great lines like: *”Anything that leaves her mouth sounds like sex, our mother has banned her from saying God’s name.”*
**Bless this house** — I don’t want to ruin it, just trust me.
**Victoria in Illiyin**— because may her sweet soul rest in peace. The whole selection was wonderful, heart bending, sad, relatable, and on.
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head
This book was a RIDE. I had six days to finish it and ended up completing it in *three*.
The pacing was perfect and the story tragic. I couldn’t put it down 😭. The horror was elevated because of how the story took place during the real-life reality of COVID—especially in the earliest days and months—which made this read extra chilling. ...
Many things broke my heart, but what really did me in was how much suffering our characters endured because they were Chinese (or perceived to be). It was enraging and disgusting.
Frankly, I wish the ghosts had [redacted].
In all, kids, 10/10 recommend.
And remember: listen to your aunties when they tell you to burn joss paper, okay? 😁
The pacing was perfect and the story tragic. I couldn’t put it down 😭. The horror was elevated because of how the story took place during the real-life reality of COVID—especially in the earliest days and months—which made this read extra chilling. ...
Many things broke my heart, but what really did me in was how much suffering our characters endured because they were Chinese (or perceived to be). It was enraging and disgusting.
Frankly, I wish the ghosts had [redacted].
In all, kids, 10/10 recommend.
And remember: listen to your aunties when they tell you to burn joss paper, okay? 😁
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
Really, 3.8 stars 🌟. This book was wholesome and cozy and just what I needed after the round of books I got through in April (looking at you, *Model Home* 😂).
I expected to be a little bored with this read, yet instead I actually laughed out loud (very) often, added some books to my TBR, decided to brave it up and read books that scare me (Assata’s memoir, to start) and updated my internal manufacture sett...
Shannon is pro read what you want, when you want, how you want. She doesn’t cook much but loves reading cookbooks, and that section was *actually* interesting. Her anecdotes about our “Good Reader” rules and how they’re disturbing our peace is real (...
Just like she does. Just like so many people. Books are my thing. And it was comforting and fun to read a book where books are also someone else’s thing. I’m really happy I read this.
I expected to be a little bored with this read, yet instead I actually laughed out loud (very) often, added some books to my TBR, decided to brave it up and read books that scare me (Assata’s memoir, to start) and updated my internal manufacture sett...
Shannon is pro read what you want, when you want, how you want. She doesn’t cook much but loves reading cookbooks, and that section was *actually* interesting. Her anecdotes about our “Good Reader” rules and how they’re disturbing our peace is real (...
Just like she does. Just like so many people. Books are my thing. And it was comforting and fun to read a book where books are also someone else’s thing. I’m really happy I read this.
Why We Read
4 stars ⭐ I just Know this audiobook would have been an experience, but the print wasn’t bad at all. I learned a lot and spent the entire time captivated by what these men endured. It is WILD to me how strong and capable the human body is.
This book did take me about 50 days to get through though and I accrued a tiny overdue fine lol 🫢. I was determined to finish this though, but I wouldn’t have been upset with a few time jumps especially because they were at sea and thought dead fo...
This was a good read and I’m hoping to build my non fiction muscle to where this genre doesn’t keep taking me months to get through. I recommend this book!
Lastly: The Wager is about 250 pages the remaining 100 or so are notes.
This book did take me about 50 days to get through though and I accrued a tiny overdue fine lol 🫢. I was determined to finish this though, but I wouldn’t have been upset with a few time jumps especially because they were at sea and thought dead fo...
This was a good read and I’m hoping to build my non fiction muscle to where this genre doesn’t keep taking me months to get through. I recommend this book!
Lastly: The Wager is about 250 pages the remaining 100 or so are notes.
The Wager
4.5 stars ⭐ God this book. I think it may be one of the saddest books I’ve read. Sad in a subtle way. It’s a book that also knows it’s sad. Towards the end I was so frustrated with David. I too began to get as disgusted wth him as he was with himself...
I believe Giovanni’s Room asks us if we see now what denying ourselves does to those we love or want to love? How does self-betrayal beget death? Why are we all so afraid and bent on ruining ourselves to uphold this fear? Ugh 😩 this book was heartbr...
I also came across this Substack piece: James Baldwin Grooming and What We Don’t Talk About, Part 1 while reading this book and paired together it gave me so much to think and talk about. Phew. I’m sure I’ll cry soon.
I believe Giovanni’s Room asks us if we see now what denying ourselves does to those we love or want to love? How does self-betrayal beget death? Why are we all so afraid and bent on ruining ourselves to uphold this fear? Ugh 😩 this book was heartbr...
I also came across this Substack piece: James Baldwin Grooming and What We Don’t Talk About, Part 1 while reading this book and paired together it gave me so much to think and talk about. Phew. I’m sure I’ll cry soon.
Giovanni's Room
4 stars ⭐ Yeaarrrsss ago my mom rented a house in Stockbridge, Ga and for the first time my siblings and I had our own rooms. By the time we moved out, we had all taken to sleeping in the same room again (lmaoooo) because of the creepy shit that was ...
This is why I loved the Hacienda because Isabel Cañas GETS creepy and haunted houses. She really hit the nail on the head describing the cold, loud, and subtle ways a house is haunting.
I actually had a nightmare while reading this book and that’s a big deal because I love horror and it takes a lot to get to my subconscious. I really enjoyed it. At times the characters irritated me but it didn’t last long enough to sway me away from...
And even better news: the ending didn’t flop. I highly recommend!
This is why I loved the Hacienda because Isabel Cañas GETS creepy and haunted houses. She really hit the nail on the head describing the cold, loud, and subtle ways a house is haunting.
I actually had a nightmare while reading this book and that’s a big deal because I love horror and it takes a lot to get to my subconscious. I really enjoyed it. At times the characters irritated me but it didn’t last long enough to sway me away from...
And even better news: the ending didn’t flop. I highly recommend!
The Hacienda
4 stars ⭐
Am I losing my edge? Cause I actually enjoyed this read 😩😩😩. I think the audiobook enhanced the experience for me. I also went in blind, which is also why I liked it because my expectations were in hell. Still, there were some seriously laugh out ...
It kinda gave me Fight Club vibes with the going to stranger’s funerals and wakes to feel something, but as someone who has also been deathly afraid of living, I appreciated the story, its morbid humor, and reminders to live. Try try try try try wherever we can. And don’t get drunk and write your own obituary and post it nationwide. Please.
I lastly really enjoyed the side characters. I felt they all added to the story.
Am I losing my edge? Cause I actually enjoyed this read 😩😩😩. I think the audiobook enhanced the experience for me. I also went in blind, which is also why I liked it because my expectations were in hell. Still, there were some seriously laugh out ...
It kinda gave me Fight Club vibes with the going to stranger’s funerals and wakes to feel something, but as someone who has also been deathly afraid of living, I appreciated the story, its morbid humor, and reminders to live. Try try try try try wherever we can. And don’t get drunk and write your own obituary and post it nationwide. Please.
I lastly really enjoyed the side characters. I felt they all added to the story.
I See You've Called in Dead
5 stars ⭐ This was my first manga and it didn’t disappoint. I had so much fun. Reading from right to left and from the back to the front was a mind trip. I felt challenged and engaged in a way I haven’t been before. I finished and immediately put in ...
The story was eerie and I felt so deeply for Yoshiki who is clearly mourning his friend and feeling trapped with the knowledge that Hikaru is not Hikaru.
The graphics were amazing. I had a good time.
The story was eerie and I felt so deeply for Yoshiki who is clearly mourning his friend and feeling trapped with the knowledge that Hikaru is not Hikaru.
The graphics were amazing. I had a good time.
The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1
3 stars. ⭐ I read it but does it even matter? Does anything? It doesn’t really make a difference. Reading this book is worth just as much as not reading this book. We’re all gonna die anyway. Does God care that I read this book? The sun is in my eye.
Pow. 💥 Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. 💥 It’s absurd. I don’t have any time to talk about the things I have no time for. I’m getting frustrated. Only a few more hours until dawn. Marie? Marie. Marie.
And scene. 😂😂😂 This book was trippy. I’m glad it’s done. Idk what Albert Camus wanted from me. I’m tired. Maybe im not smart enough for this book? That’s okay. Good riddance. The narrator made this book sufferable so really the 3stars are for hi...
Pow. 💥 Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. 💥 It’s absurd. I don’t have any time to talk about the things I have no time for. I’m getting frustrated. Only a few more hours until dawn. Marie? Marie. Marie.
And scene. 😂😂😂 This book was trippy. I’m glad it’s done. Idk what Albert Camus wanted from me. I’m tired. Maybe im not smart enough for this book? That’s okay. Good riddance. The narrator made this book sufferable so really the 3stars are for hi...
The Stranger
Picture Books about Grief
On principle I tend to not count children's books as "Read" because it seems like I'm cheating. But this book was and is so good and moving and I can't stop thinking about it. I don't come across many good books about grief and dying especially for k...
Mister in the Stars