Welcome to Litsy!

Verse paired with art for a more complete visual experience of being black and the Covid pandemic.

#ByAuthorYourAge #NewYearNewBook @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

“...and I wonder if maybe an oxygen mask is hiding amongst the crumbs of memories caught between the cushions of this couch”

t is written in a poetic way that really captivates the image of what it was like for some families and young adults that struggled during the COVID-19 Pandemic. I would highly recommend this book for middle to high school readers.

I absolutely love this book! It is broken up into three parts, breath one, breath two, and breath three. The main boy in it is facing the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. It discusses his families struggles during this time and how it all overwhelms him.

“...and I wonder if maybe an oxygen mask is hiding amongst the crumbs of memories caught between the cushions of this couch” The illustrations in this book are amazing. It reminds me of a more “adult“ version of Eric Carle's art style.

It is written in a poetic way that really captivates the image of what it was like for some families and young adults who struggled during the COVID-19 Pandemic. I would highly recommend this book for middle to high school readers.

I absolutely love this book! It is broken up into three parts, breath one, breath two, and breath three. The main boy in it is facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. It discusses his family's struggles during this time and how it all overwhelms him.

“and I wonder if maybe an oxygen mask is hiding amongst the crumbs of memories caught between the cushions of this couch”

The illustrations in this book are amazing!

I absolutely love this book! It is broken up into three parts, breath one, breath two, and breath three. The main boy in it is facing the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. It discusses his families struggles during this time and how it all overwhelms him. I would highly recommend this book for middle to high school readers.

More a work of visual art than a work of literature, however the combination is STUNNING! In sparse words but VIVID drawings this book shares the crazy year that was 2020. GORGEOUS 😍Thank you @BarbaraBB for this beautiful book ♥️

At #alaac23 I was honored to meet the fantastic Jason Reynolds who even shook my hand, he‘s such a fantastic author, role model and human being and I cannot wait to share his latest book with my students.

Also I may have intentionally sat in line very early to make sure I could see him 🤩.

Will be sharing more great memories soon but had to post this first and foremost 🥰.

A beautiful piece of art representing the claustrophobia of quarantine and racial violence. It felt very untethered to past and future.

The print edition—which consists of a verse narrative composed in three long sentences, set within striking stylized collage artwork by Jason Griffin—was my favourite YA of 2022. It translates remarkably well to audio, with two complete performances: first by Jason Reynolds and then by a full cast. A conversation between the two Jasons about their creative collaboration is included at the end.

After reading Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds a while back, I was sure this book will be great and indeed it didn't disappoint. A pick! My December #DoubleSpin

Also, got to finish Our secret, Siri Aang by Cristina Kessler, another great read that was both my Sept #DoubleSpin and May #DoubleSpin. Another pick!

@TheAromaOfBooks - with these I finished all my spins for '22 and got a bingo - didn't think it was possible 😁 Thank you so so much!

Stunning book. Just stunning.

#12Booksof2022 @Andrew65

#AdventRecommends

I read these books for an education course recently and loved them all!!! A multimodal mashup, Ain't Burned All the Bright is a breath-taking look at what it means to be Black in America; Beauty Woke is a modern Sleeping Beauty retelling told through poetry and vibrant illustrations; and Cultivating Genius both historicizes the systemic racism in our educational system and is a master class on teaching children's hearts.

Um, WHOA. This novel in verse is amazing, and presented with such vivid art that I was blown away. It‘s a reflection on 2020 and I‘m practically speechless. All the stars.

It's hard to rate or review a book/poem/art piece like this & the fact that it's written by one person (Jason Reynolds) and the art is done by another (Jason Griffin) is striking. There are authors' notes that talk about their collaboration & how they have known each other for over 20 years, which I think you can feel. A book that speaks to the effort to survive 2020, I didn't expect the hope that it contained.
And that was very, very beautiful.

This introspective narrative poem follows the story of a young man at home during quarantine. This book uses a mix of smash-up art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is like to be Black through a journal-like story.
Awards won: Boston Globe Horn Award
Purpose of Award: Celebrates excellence in children‘s and young adult literature
Author: Jason Reynolds
Illustrator: Jason Griffin
Date of publication: 2022
Genre: Poetry

A quick read, but no less visceral for it. This entire book hit me in the chest. Try to get it in print - reading this on my phone wasn't the most convenient format! #yalit

I‘m sorry I wasn‘t able to get this fantastic graphic novel in time for #AuthorAMonth, but it is by far my favorite of his. The art is spectacular, and they do a wonderful job of capturing the claustrophobia, uncertainty, and anger of 2020. Well worth a read!

Not a whole lot I can say about this except, AMAZING. The two Jasons managed to sum up 2020 by using poetry and art and you could just tell it was a labor of love, and of necessity. Incredible. Thanks to folks posting about this, I‘m so thankful I read it.

“This book is for everyone who endured 2020. “

In hindsight it‘s even worse. It‘s George Floyd, it‘s BLM, it‘s wildfires, it‘s climate change and of course it‘s staying at home, keeping our distance from one another, it‘s too many people dying of this pandemic.

In three breaths and 300 pages of poetry and fantastic artwork this is an intense book that‘ll touch your heart.

Read @IndoorDame review and was intrigued by the mixture of poetry, artwork, and big issues. Just devoured a copy from Libby. This is so powerful and good. I bought a copy for my classroom library too. Thanks, @IndoorDame for the heads up on this small but mighty book!

It‘s pretty rare that a few pages into a library book I‘ve already decided I need to own the hardcover. This really defies genre classifications, but it‘s powerful and beautiful and I‘m beyond glad I read it. #AuthorAMonth #PopSugar2022ABookPublishedIn2022 #BBRCYeahBabyRealAsRealCanBe @Soubhiville @LibrarianRyan

I wanted to frame and quote every page. Absolutely stunning work of art. A story told in three breaths.

The first book that I read by Jason Reynolds was “A Long Way Down”. I was struck by its creativity and moved by the story. My feelings for this one are the same x 1000! When the librarian handed me my reserve,she commented on the heft of it. It is a heavy book,both in weight and message.The combination of the vibrant art with the clean,spare prose is striking. Jason Reynolds and the artist Jason Griffin are long time friends. Their souls connect.

Picked up my reserve at the Library. #authoramonth #jasonreynolds

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Jason Reynolds is a favorite of mine and this is the only book of his I hadn't read yet.

This is a powerful read. Don't let the small size fool you, it packs an emotional punch.

And the artwork has as much, if not more to say than the words.

I met Jason Reynolds for the second time on Sunday and got this beautiful book signed. It‘s an illustrated poem full of emotion, and the artwork and design are amazing, in an art journal style. I know I‘ll be reading this one and enjoying the art over and over.

#AuthoraMonth
@Soubhiville

This was a really moving read - light on actual text but not on depth or meaning. The art is memorable and I absolutely loved the use of color. I appreciated how the acknowledgments and notes at the end described the close bond between the two Jason creators (and jumped online after to learn a bit more about that). Too bad I forgot that Reynolds is July‘s #AuthorAMonth - oh well, guess I‘ll have to read more of him then - yay!

So fucking gorgeous. A glorious collaboration of something between a microstory and poetry in text with multi-media art the likes of which makes me desperately need to see more from this artist. In fact, I'll be looking up more from both Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin. The narrative told through the combined mediums of textual and visual storytelling is gripping and just hopeful enough to leave me 'room to breathe.' 😉 Read it twice, at least.

I‘ve read other books that combine poetry and art but I don‘t remember any that have done it so well as this one. Heartfelt, high impact, and healing words about living through and then moving forward from the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic. All ages.

and he‘s trying to keep the corners of his smile from cracking
trying to keep the cough from coming through
like trying to mute the blues trumpet in his throat

I managed to get about a third of the way through this book before I had to stop because I was weeping too much. Not being able to blow out birthday candles surrounded by friends… it‘s surprising how the small things about the pandemic in 2020 can hold such sadness.
@TheBookHippie

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. For so many of us 2020 was a blur, yet this clearly spells out not only what was happening, but also what we need to survive - human connection. The writing is poetry; the visual display is art; combined it is magic that spoke to my heart. I give it a 10/5 as everyone needs to read this book. Those who do will be changed for the better.

A narrative poem about a Black family which takes place in 2020, the year of pandemic, loss of jobs, death of G Floyd… I listened to this, narrated by the author and then by a cast of narrators. Jason Reynolds is so creative and talented. I‘ll love to see the hard copy as it‘s collaborated with artist Jason Griffin.

Another great library find. Another great Jason Reynolds graphic novel collab with Jason Griffin. Powerful words and art. Enjoyed their conversation at the end.

Jason Reynolds never disappoints. Love his poetry and the artwork that goes with it. A wonderful collaboration!

Nothing I can say about Ain't Burned All the Bright would do it justice. Reynolds is an amazing & creative writer that never disappoints. He is always able to represent the Black community in America in a way that invokes such deep feelings in the reader. Pairing his poetry with Griffin's artwork only intensifies this unique talent. In truly only three sentences, this book covers a wide variety of emotions from trauma to hope.

“and worry is worn like a knit sweater in summer” three beautiful (long) sentences and absolutely brilliant art. Breathe in this incredible book.

Another amazing work! Surviving the year 2020 in America for an AA boy and his family. Breathe……

I love how the MC keeps wondering why the channel won‘t change and is looking for the remote.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 I am floating existentially out of my body after the new lyrical work by Jason Reynold. This long form poem. This story is a reminder to breath. It looks at the cycle of news that never seems to stop. The way the news effects people differently, but also how it is seen through the eyes of one. The mask mandates are seen through new eyes. It is just so hard for this reader to express how fantastic this work not only read, but made one feel.

Everything about this book is superb. Three sentences, breathing past, present & future. Change the channel. This is my favorite of the COVID-19 books I've read, & it is outstanding by any measure. The illustration & poetry are flipping amazing.

Art that reminds you that connection is grand in it‘s smallness, that it is all encompassing, that all our things hold all sorts of meaning, that it‘s okay to play with what feels so heavy.