Robots vs. Fairies, edited by Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe

One of the stories in this collection was nominated for a Locus Award. I got the collection to read that story and ended up reading all of them. The collection itself was also nominated for a Locus Award.

Published: 2018

Genre: science fiction and fantasy short story collection

Length: 362 pages of stories, 373 pages total

Setting: various locations, mostly on Earth

Summary: Short version: Stories by various authors featuring either robots or fairies, and sometimes both

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Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor

I’ve been hearing about the book as a great example of science fiction by a black author and decided to pick it up. Luckily, my library had the novellas collected into a single book.

Published: 2019 as a collection, 2015-2017 as novellas

Genre: 358 pages

Setting: mostly the desert African city of Himba, and the planet Oozma Uni

Summary: Short version: Binti’s event-filled life after she’s accepted to an off-world school

Alphabetical by Michael Rosen

This was a random book find as I was browsing the library catalogue for something else. The title caught my eye.

Subtitle: How Every Letter Tells a Story

Published: 2015

Genre: nonfiction history

Length: 411 pages of text, 431 pages total

Summary: Short version: A history of letters and how we play with letters

Squire by Tamora Pierce

This is the third book in the Protector of the Small series. I needed something a bit lighter to read, and this fit the bill (and was in the house).

Published: 2001

Genre: middle grade fantasy

Length: 390 pages of story, 412 pages total

Setting: various locations in Tortall, 456-459, just after the events of Page

Summary: Short version: Kel’s adventures as squire to Lord Raoul

Mother of Invention by Nnedi Okorafor

This is the last Locus Award nominee for the 2019 short story category.

Published: February, 2018 at Slate (you can read it for free at the link provided)

Genre: science fiction

Setting: New Delta, a city in near future Nigeria

Summary: Short version: Anwuli doesn’t want to leave her house, even though a pollen storm is coming

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

This was our book club choice for June

Published: 2014

Genre: historical fiction

Length: 359 pages of story, 373 pages total

Setting: mostly Charleston, SC, but also Philadelphia, PA, 1803-1838

Summary: Short version: The life of Sarah and her slave, Handful, in 1800s Charleston

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I was looking for an audiobook and I wanted something that was enhanced by listening to rather than reading the book. I saw this book was recommended and available.

Published: 2014

Genre: nonfiction memoir

Length: 329 pages

Summary: Short version: A memoir of Amy Poehler’s life