March has come like a roaring lion, bringing birthdays, soccer, broken braces brackets, and a vacation! Such is life, and I wouldn’t trade it (except for the broken bracket), but it does mean my reading shifts to accomodate the chaos.
Reading on a vacation is an interesting topic to me, because I assumed for a long time that vacation automatically meant more free time to read good books. This never seems to be the case for me. I used to picture myself lying by the pool with a paperback, but I’ve come to realize that’s just not my life. I tend to get less reading done on trips than at any other time of the year, the exception being if we’re flying somewhere. Somehow I’m able to read more on a plane than in the car—riddle me that.
But I’m curious to hear from you: do you do a lot of reading on vacation? Is it an essential part of the getaway or does it fall by the wayside until you get back?
Regardless, I have several good books to talk about from before and after our trip. Part of my reading this month is, of course, from my middle grade march stack. Keep reading to see the list!
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Just Finished:
I just finished this classic young adult book for the first time, and I can see why it’s stood the test of time. It took me a few chapters to get into it because the language and style of writing is so different from what we’re used to in more modern literature. But once I sank in, I was able to appreciate the poignant beauty of this story of love, loss, and found family as told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Ponyboy, a member of the greaser gang that is constantly in conflict with the Socs but also society at large. It’s funny in a few spots, sad in a lot of spots, and heart-jerkingly emotional pretty much all the way through.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
What a delightful, fantastical romp. I loved this no-spice romantasy about a scholar named Emily Wilde who is on a mission to collect information for the Encyclopedia of Faeries she wants to publish. She is an expert on the different varieties of fae, but nearly meets her match with the Hidden Ones who live in the wilds surrounding the village of Hrafnsvik. Complicating her mission is the obnoxiously handsome—and sometimes just obnoxious—Wendell Bambleby, who is her academic rival and who consistently highlights her weakness when it comes to relating to other people. This book is equal parts faerie lore, quirky characters, and adventure, with plenty of humor thrown in. It’s the first in a series, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next one at some point.
In Progress:
I’m not sure yet if I’d call this a mystery or a thriller, but I will say that I made it through the first 25% of the audiobook in no time. It’s about a woman whose relationship with her family is complicated, mostly because of her deceased father. When her half brother comes to her with suspicions that their father’s death wasn’t an accident, she’s skeptical at first, and hesitant to get involved. But when she travels to the cottage her father left her, which is also the scene of his death, and begins asking questions that don’t have easy answers, it quickly becomes clear that there’s more to the story. I’m reading this for my book club, and I think it’s an excellent choice for that setting because I imagine there will be many discussion points related to the plot twists and themes I’m glimpsing a shadow of just around the bend.
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
I decided to do this Middle Grade March pick as a read aloud, and we’re all enjoying it. I don’t always love silly stories, but this one seems to walk the line between silliness and serious moments nicely. It’s a fantasy story about the three Igiby siblings in a fantastical land with a lot of problems, and I believe there will be some kind of quest using gifts the children don’t know they possess yet? I honestly have no idea where it’s headed but I’m having fun on the ride. I do know there are dragons, so there’s something.
I purchased this book when it first came out a few months ago but didn’t pick it up right away because the plot sounded somewhat similar to the book I was in the middle of drafting at the time, and the last thing I want is an accidental plagiarism incident. But now that I’ve finished my first draft, I feel confident that I can enjoy this second chance love story about two pro or almost pro athletes who find themselves coaching kids. This book is by my sweet friend Leslie DeVooght and is up for a 2026 Selah Award!
Up Next:
This Middle Grade March book about a boy with Sherlockian observational skills who is recruited to work with the FBI to find stolen art is at the top of my list to start next. I like James Ponti’s blend of action, humor, and found family, which I actually have two of his books on my list this March.
This is one of my daughter’s favorite books that she has been begging me to read. It’s about a family whose children each receive an ability or “savvy” on their thirteenth birthday, and this story is about Mibs and her attempts to prepare for her savvy. I love a good young people with superpowers story, so I’m looking forward to it!
I love YA fantasy but have never read a Stephanie Garber book. Caraval, about a girl who gets an invitation to go to a mysterious performance only to be sucked into a high stakes competition, is available at my local library and features on many “favorites” lists, so I think it’s going to jump into my bag next time we make a library run.
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