Twenty Things I've Read #17

My links recap continues, after a slightly longer break this time around. (Busy time of the year!)

As mentioned in week 1, there are some sites which could quite conceivably fill this list between them EVERY WEEK as they constantly produce amazing posts - and I find it way too hard to single them out! So instead, I will just list them at the start of each post. If you're not reading the following, you are REALLY missing out.

Safe Space
Media Diversified
LGBTQ Reads
The Pool
Teen Vogue 

Addition: Given the current political climate, I would strongly suggest also reading EVERYTHING Celeste Pewter tweets; she is incredibly insightful and her tweets on US politics have helped me figure out which things going on are reasonably worrying and which are absolutely terrifying.


On that note, this thread from a mother in the USA talking about the money she'd owe without health insurance is an incredibly moving read - I hope everyone in a position to affect things reads it. (If you're in the US, call your reps please!)

For day job reasons, I have to keep relatively quiet about my own political views. However I'm really thrilled by the amount of interest younger people I talk to are taking in politics today. I've been reading the independent blogs of the main parties a lot recently - Conservative Home, Labour List and Lib Dem Voice. It's well worth checking them out - even the ones you disagree with - to be more informed. And with Parliament back in session, reading Hansard keeps me updated with what's going on and lets me see what my MP is talking about - definitely interesting to take a look at see what's being covered in debates.


A huge thanks to all involved in the Authors for Grenfell Tower auction - particularly Harriet Reuter Hapgood, Sara Barnard and Molly Ker Hawn - which has some incredible things you can bid on! If you haven't checked it out yet, please take a look; there's a couple of days left to get things including afternoon tea with David Walliams, advice from superstar agents Molly herself, Juliet Mushens and Claire Wilson (amongst others) or a book written about your child by Piers Torday! Also if you're in a position to help get some national coverage on Monday or Tuesday as the auction builds to a climax, please get in touch with Harriet.

Other bookish stuff - Asian YA is a fab new site set up by the amazing Eri celebrating the "authentic and glorious portrayal of Asian kids/teens" in YA - don't miss it!

I'm super late raving about this one because I met Sarah at a Wing Jones event at the start of the year and ADORED her fan art but didn't get her Twitter name. We finally met properly a couple of times last week - check out her gorgeous artwork of Wing, and of characters from Melinda Salisbury's stunning fantasy trilogy!

Great book haul post by Amy on her fabulous new blog.

And of course it's Indie Bookshop Week this week - don't miss their website with details of all the incredible shops taking part!



On Maximum Pop, Zoe wrote a must-read piece on living with a disability and being housebound at the age of 23.

Politico have an interesting piece on the sad death of Otto Warmbier shortly after being released by North Korea and returning to the US.

I love the Book Smuggler's Pride Month special of what's on their radar!

I know lots of people are INCREDIBLY excited for the Stripes Books anthology A Change Is Gonna Come - if you're on Netgalley, you can request it here.

Outstanding thread from the amazing @findmereading on how just because you dislike a book doesn't mean it's problematic.




A really interesting piece in the New York Times on a 12-year-old girl who came out in her Mormon church.

Another great Twitter thread, from Debbie Reese, with lots of fabulous recommendations for books by Native writers.

And Angie Thomas, as ever, wonderful talking about the need for more diverse characters.

There's a fascinating post here from teacher Ashley Booth on how he teaches whole class reading.

And for light relief after a tough week, I love this post from a brewery who tried to organise an event called A Piss Up In A Brewery - and failed!