As I was reading this month, I was reminded of a corny joke that asks: What sits in a corner and travels around the world? I’ll put this filler sentence here for you to read while I give you a second to think about the answer. Okay, it’s a stamp! This joke came to mind because I felt like it could be applied to me. I love that I can be sitting in one place reading and be transported to various cultures, communities, and countries within the pages of a book. For September’s selection, while all the books were all based in the US, they did show off the diversity of the country—introducing me to characters of different ethnic backgrounds, and immersing me in geographic contexts spanning the two coasts. Below are the list of titles, along with some general impressions and bulleted reflection points. These books gave plenty of food for thought, so by no means are the lists exhaustive. They’re just a little detail to provide insight and perhaps pique your interests.

Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang

As I was reading this novel, I was reminded of a moment in Dave Chapelle’s stand-up comedy special, where he said, “I was once poor. And I know that the only difference between a poor Black person and a poor White person, is that a poor White person feels like it’s not supposed to be happening to them.” Chapelle’s quote highlights the sense of entitlement that defines white privilege…and this is what Kuang brings to task in her novel. While Yellowface isn’t about poverty, it is a detailed account of white privilege and how it manifests itself in people’s pursuit of success. 

When I picked out this book, I was forewarned that it would get me riled up. Now having read it, I can confirm that you will definitely get emotionally invested. From feelings of frustration, to feelings of anger, confusion, and impatience…you are in for a ride! Without divulging the plot, here are some interesting points I found to consider:

• “Truth is fluid.” Is this quote true?
• How much is the reliability of a product dependent on the identity of the person who created/produced it? In other words, can someone create something for or about a community that they don’t originate from or belong to?
• The the inclusion and celebration of non-White people is sometimes framed as a detriment to White people who claim to experience exclusion and “reverse racism”. Is this “threat to whiteness” real or perceived? 

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

This novel is a fast paced, “beach read” that I picked up in an attempt to relish the final days of summer. As the title hints, the book is about a summer fling. While it is a cute novel that you can breeze through, it did hold some life reminders including:

• Happiness is a choice that often comes down to the decision to shift your focus and frame bad things in a positive way. 
• People will show you your place and value in their life by whether or not they make time for you.
• ”Maybe home isn’t a place. Maybe it’s a person.”

Gordo by Jaime Cortez

Adults sometimes joke that children have little to no filter and this is what made this book so endearing. Gordo is a collection of short stories. The primary narrator is a young boy who shares innocent observations of his family and others who live, work, or visit his migrant labor camp in Watsonville, California. As Gordo expresses genuine curiosity and confusion over the things he witnesses and experiences, the book uses the child’s voice to deliver powerful social commentary. It’s both amusing and humbling to read. Amusing because of the simple fact that kids do and say funny things, and humbling because it makes you reflect on gender, race, sexuality, nationality, language/ native-tongue and all the factors that influence the way we experience the world. Here are a couple of reflection points: 

• The staying and staining power of nicknames.
• Masculinity and the many ways it’s fostered and performed by men and women alike.
• The diversity of people, stories and histories that exist within the “migrant community.”

If you’ve read any of these novels, or added them to you TBR (To Be Read) list, I’d love to hear it! Comment and share your thoughts below.