Tableau August Reading Challenge
By Gabby Holliman-Lopez
Usually, summer is the time of “beach reads”. While a beach read means different things to different people, I think of a typical beach read as some light reading, something that you take on vacation or something that you use as a vacation.
This summer is a little bit different. First of all, most of us are can’t go to the beach. But more importantly, it has not been an easy spring, or an easy June, and as protests and news of murdered Black lives continue, the general consensus seems to be that this is not the summer for “easy” reading. This is a time for hard conversations and serious work. The internet is bursting with “anti-racist reading lists” right now, and I do encourage you to check them out, especially if you are looking to understand the systematic racism in the United States, and what you can do to dismantle it. But this challenge is not such a list. The idea behind this challenge is that we should be diversifying what we read all the time, and that Black stories, as well as stories by other people of color or queer people, should not be relegated to educational texts. The prompts are put together with more light-hearted reading in mind. Or at the very least, reading for readings sake. Reading to enjoy story and form and emotion. Also, I love a good theme, and do tend to try to match my books to whatever season it is. There’s just a summer vibe ya know? So if you’re like me, then this challenge is put together to help you diversify your reading list for the August, and keep you reading intentionally.
The Challenge
Before we begin, let’s start with some ground rules. We’re chill here at Tableau, so the philosophy for this challenge is basically “do what you want”. If you find a book that fits more than one prompt, good on you! If you want to read a different book for every prompt, go for it! The books below each prompt are simply suggestions, books that I have enjoyed or am hoping to read soon. Please find books that you are excited about to fit the prompts! The challenge starts August 1st, and officially ends August 31st. But do it whenever you want, and take however long you want. It’s supposed to be fun. We want to hear what you are reading, so use #tableauaugustreads for any TBR pics, updates and reviews!
Prompt one: A book about Black boy joy
Others have noted that a problem with anti-racist reading lists is that we should not only focus on stories of Black struggle and racism. So to kick off the our reading challenge, let’s focus on #blackboyjoy. Read a book about a Black boy shining. Celebrate Black life.
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Written in verse, the Black Flamingo is a story about a mixed race teen finding a place for himself in the world. In college, he discovers drag as a new medium of self-expression. From the synopsis of this book, I thought it took place mostly in college, but really it spans a large portion of the main character’s youth. It’s a great story about becoming more confident in your self.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
Black demi-boy joy yall. Glorious Black demi-boy joy. This book is a roller coaster of emotions and centers around a catfishing plot so you know there’s gonna be drama. But wow it is also so validating. If you’ve ever felt too different to be loved, this one is for you. Also, doesn’t this cover just scream summer? Like you know how I said summer has a vibe? This cover is it.
Prompt two: A book with Black girl magic
Chosen for the same reason as our Black boy joy prompt, this is an opportunity to read books about Black girls thriving. Chose a book with a literally magical Black girl, or just choose a book about a Black girl living her best life, but either way celebrate spectacular Black girls.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
I absolutely love Elizabeth Acevedo and really, any book by her would be a good fit for this prompt, but this one is the most upbeat. With the Fire on High follows Emoni Santiago, a young woman who makes magic in the kitchen.
This awesome fantasy series is what author Nnedi Okrafor calls Africanjujuism, so it blends together different African (especially Nigerian) traditions with fantasy for a story rooted in African heritage and experience. I especially love the system of magic in this book, its super neat!
Prompt three: A book by a Caribbean Author
Is it even summer if you don’t read a book set near an ocean? I absolutely love the water, so I am biased, but I think stories set near the sea are magical. For August, I thought it would be nice to focus on some books set on islands. Because while the beach is amazing, it is also important not to reduce islands to their beaches, and especially not to their resorts. So first up is the prompt read a book by a Caribbean author. If you need more suggestions for books by Caribbean authors check out #readcaribbean on instagram.
Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud
A story about a Trinidadian family, this book is coming out August 4th, so set your alarms or pre-order now (preferably from your local black-owned book store)! I hear that despite its sort of melancholy synopsis this book is not only emotional but funny. And most importantly, there’s descriptions of food! Shout out to @bookofcinz on insta for her review that brought this book to my attention.
How to Love A Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs
A collection of stories about being Jamaican, both on the island and as part of the diaspora. Beyond the rave reviews for this book, I’ve heard mermaids make an appearance which definitely makes we want to give it a read!
Prompt four: A book by a Pacific Islander Author
As a Puerto Rican woman, I love reading stories about the Caribbean. For this last challenge, I myself am going to focus less on Dominican and Puerto Rican authors and more on other parts of the Caribbean, and I tried to reflect that in my recommendations. But as I was thinking about books set on islands etc. I realized there is an even bigger blind spot in my reading. I have read very few books by Pacific Islander authors. So really, this is a selfish challenge, meant to remedy my own short comings.
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
This book looks super intriguing, and while I know you definitely can’t judge a book by its blurbs, it was blurbed by Marlon James AND Tommy Orange. Despite it being on a few anticipated releases or discover lists for 2020, I haven’t seen that much hype for this book on social media and I don’t know why, because the story, that focuses on a family and their chosen one son, and weaves together myth and contemporary life in Hawaii and the mainland, sounds fascinating to me.
Island of Shattered Dreams by Chantal T. Spitz, translated by Jean Anderson
While definitely not the happiest book on this list, Island of Shattered Dreams is apparently the first novel by an indigenious Tahitian author to be published, which seems insane, but clearly its important. At under two hundred pages, this short novel follows a family and a romance, and shines light on the devastation of colonialism.
Prompt five: A queer summer romance
If I’ve learned anything from Mamma Mia, it’s that summer is a time to fall in love. (Does that movie even take place during the summer? I don’t remember, but like, you get the point. Summer vibes. They’re in Greece and it’s sunny.) Of course, a summer fling, (or enduring life long romance) isn’t just for straight people. So take the time in August to read about some gays falling in loooove during the summer months. On a beach or something, maybe in Greece, I don’t know I’m just throwing ideas out here.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
If you like YA, especially queer YA, and you haven’t read this yet, what are you waiting for? Beyond being a tender romance, it is a beautiful exploration of masculinity, and a story about growing into yourself, and learning to live without shame. I really, really love it.
A romcom starring a girl in a hot dog costume, what more could you ask for in summer romance? Follow Elouise as she navigates love and friendship while working a summer job at an amusement park.
Bonus: The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters
So this book doesn’t come out until September 8th, so it is not applicable to an August reading challenge, but it also just felt weird to not include a queer book literally called The Summer of Everything on this list, so if you’re looking to keep going into September, check this one out.
…And there we have it. The five prompts for our August reading challenge. Remember to use #tableauaugustreads to share updates on how you’re doing, and enjoy!
Multi-Hue Magazine 