Shades of April. Broke my book buying ban for two beauties. I got There’s Always This Year from the library but it’s dense and I need to take my time with it. I’m so curious about James and seeing all the rave reviews. Other things made me happy only one made me mad. If you’re a teacher I don’t have to tell which slide makes my blood boil. But as @sona.rukmani said so well “it’s a canon event”. Every year a child must break the sharpener by putting into a way too small pencil. I gotta say this years culprit really takes the cake. Like hoooowwww did your brain tell you this would work?! Haha. Also went on a moonlight hike. Highly recommend. Onwards to May. For my educator friends we’re almost there. Everyone else I hope you’re hanging on to something to get you through it. #teacher #teachersofinstagram #reader #moonlighthikes #books #bookstagram #losangeles #almostsummer #summerreads #bestofapril

Well, I made it. I’m ready for this summer to heal and collect my thoughts. I am ready to reflect and most importantly rest. My therapist asked me this year what is the biggest way you changed as a teacher, and I’d say I have become infinitely more compassionate and much more vocal when I don’t think things are right for the kids. There are so many chasms in our public education system as it stands, and if I sit and think about it for too long it fills me with a rage so deep that I can find it hard to breathe. I don’t know how much longer I will be a teacher, but I don’t think I am done yet. There is still so much I want to accomplish in the classroom, and there is still no greater feeling for me than filling a kid’s heart with joy. At the end of the day it is the small moments that have sustained me and although this year was total crap we truly made the most of it. Kids have so much to offer and teach us, if only more were willing to open their hearts and listen. But to all my teachers leaving the profession, I see you, I love you and I hope you are so proud of yourself. I know I will take the time and space I need to refill my soul this summer and continue learning, because next year it is f****ing on.

#TeachersofInstagram #TeachersofBookstagram #MiddleGradeLit #summer

#APIBookstagram Tour Stop

I actually started a #bookstagram page because I wanted to find more books by Filipino authors, and honestly meet more Filipino people outside my immediate family. During the pandemic I was sort of having an identity crisis. Am I Filipino enough? What does it mean to me to be Filipino? I remember searching the hashtag for #FilipinoBookstagrammer and the first person that popped up was @mpjustreading . I was so nervous when I first DmEd her! But of course Maria is literally the nicest. So I had nothing to worry about. Also gotta shout out Trish @read_tmc for also being one of the coolest Filipino bookstagrammers I reached out to in my early days.

My favorite part of this journey has been a chill little book club I’m a part of, with Amanda @enjoyjournaling and Amanda @nerdtasticnoms We were all searching for the same thing, a part of our Filipino identity and shaping it to be what we want it to be. We made it our mission to read books only by Filipino authors. I went from having read zero books by Filipino authors to now over a dozen. America is not the Heart and the Patron Saints of Nothing will always be special to me.

I used to think I wasn’t Filipino enough, but now I know that such a statement is damaging, and there is no such thing as “Filipino enough.” So now I can say it with all the pride I have in my heart, that I am Filipino. I am American. I am Californian. I’m a mom, a daughter, a wife, a friend, a writer, a reader, a teacher, a constant napper, a foodie but not a chef, a singer but only in the car or when I’ve had enough beers for karaoke, I’m a dreamer, and so much more that I have yet to uncover. Somewhere along the way over the past two years I have become more comfortable with naming my Filipino identity and how it feels to me, and I do have my wonderful bookstagram community to thank for that. So thank you for being here. Thank you for witnessing my journey and I hope I have made you proud.

Thanks to @booknerdkat for hosting! Please check out @atasteforreading and definitely don’t miss out on tomorrow’s posts from some of my absolute favorites @dogmombookworm @booksonmysidetable and @sparksinwords

Just some favorites I’ve read so far this year. I can’t believe we’re already almost done with April? The Neapolitan Quartet is so outstanding and I still think about When Crack Was King. Just counting the days till sweet sweet summer break.

#whencrackwasking #theneapolitannovels #poetry #whatwefedtothemanticore #favoritebooks #bestsofar2024 #readersofinstagram #readoutside #teacheronsummerbreaksoon #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #teacherswhoread

#lastnownext for you this rainy April morning.

I’ve been trying to read more poetry. I like that it’s bite sized and easy to pick up. I try not to overthink the “meaning” and stuff blah blah blah. Finna but Nate Marshall is so good. He is precise and purposeful with the way he plays with language. It is powerful and I think it’s a great one for those looking to dip their toes into poetry.

I am #currentlyreading The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante. It is the fourth and final book in the Neapolitan Quartet. And wow it is so so good. I’m sad to say goodbye to this series soon but I know I’ll return to it as I get older. I think part of Ferrante’s genius is her ability to weave in the political turmoil of the time into the story of Elena Greco and her community. It feels so visceral and urgent.

And finally due to my book buying ban I got There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib, from my local library. He’s a favorite around here and for good reason. He has a way of comforting his readers. Making us all feel connected and less alone. I absolutely LOVE basketball so I know I’ll probably buy a hard copy one day. I am so excited to crack this one open.

#currentlyreading #alwaysreading #poetry #fiction #nonfiction #essaycollection #greatwriting #bookstagram #booksbooksandmorebooks #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks

#Springbreak you are immaculate. Belize you have my heart.