#Monique Gray Smith

[uwmspeccoll]

Milestone Monday

Happy World Kindness Day! Observed annually on November 13th, World Kindness Day encourages us to set aside our differences and focus on recognizing and participating in good deeds and kindness throughout our communities. In recognition of the day, we are sharing You Hold Me Up Gimanaadenim written in English by Cree author Monique Gray Smith with illustrations by Canadian First Nations author and artist Danielle Daniel, and translated to Anishinaabemowin by two UW-Milwaukee-associated Ojibwe-language specialists Angela Mesic and Margaret Noodin. 

While You Hold Me Up Gimanaadenim was written to inspire children to show each other love and support, the lessons are applicable at any stage in life. Gray Smith writes that the book was written in the “spirit of Reconciliation”, coupled with Daniel’s vibrant illustrations it successfully demonstrates how to be more empathetic and build loving relationships.  

You Hold Me Up was published in English in 2017 and met with many accolades including the 2017 American Indians in Children’s Literature Best Books award and 2018 Global Read Aloud award. It went on to be translated to Anishinaabemowin in 2021. Both versions were published by Orca Book Publishers out of British Columbia who notes that the translation “has been done according to more western conventions used by speakers of Anishinaabemowin. . . and matches the lexicon found in the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary.” 

View other Milestone Monday posts.

– Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

[signal-failure]

Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories About Living Fabulously Fat

Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories About Living Fabulously Fat

Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories About Living Fabulously Fat, is edited by Cassandra Newbould, with a intro by Aubrey Gordon (from Maintenance Phase!), with short body-positive stories by Nafiza Azad, Chris Baron, Sheena Boekweg, Linda Camacho, Kelly deVos, Alex Gino, Claire Kann, amanda lovelace, Hillary Monahan, Cassandra Newbould, Francina Simone, Rebecca Sky, Monique Gray Smith, Renée…

[jasper-pagan-witch]

Everyone go read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Or the Young Adult version adapted by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt.

[richincolor]

Book Review: Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, adapted by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt

Publisher summary: Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrated how all living things—from strawberries and witch hazel to water lilies and lichen—provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. With informative sidebars, reflection questions, and art from illustrator Nicole Neidhardt, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults brings Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation.

My thoughts: I don’t know who had the idea to make this adaptation, but this book is a gift and we’re fortunate that people worked together to make this happen. Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhardt have shared Robin’s words in an extraordinary way. They managed to maintain the message of the book while also making it accessible and visually appealing to a younger audience or even adult readers who appreciate fewer words with a larger font, more blank space, and beautiful images that support the text. This book carries so much meaning and love and I’m thankful that it is in the world for young readers.

Braiding Sweetgrass is about connection and being in relationship with the earth, plants, animals, and humans. It’s an inspirational book that is part memoir, part science text, and part love letter. If you’re thinking that the text is doing a lot, you are not wrong, but it’s never chaotic. The text, colors, and images are peaceful and encourage pauses and contemplation.

Readers begin with an introduction to sweetgrass and an invitation to remember our connection to the world and the beings within it. Throughout the book, there are quotes pulled from the text that are featured within a circle of sweetgrass. The first one really sets the tone: “Imagine how less lonely the world would be if we knew and believed that we didn’t have to figure everything out by ourselves.” Another explains about that honorable harvest is “to take only what is given, to use it well, to be grateful for the gift, and to reciprocate the gift.”  There are also small boxes that include definitions of key words like reciprocity or kin. Questions are also scattered around like, “What’s your first memory of being connected to all living beings? or “In what ways can stories be medicine?”

The reader is meant to think about the concepts in the book, but action is also strongly encouraged. When Kimmerer shares about trees that collectively fruit across the state, she explains that “all flourishing is mutual.” This is followed by questions about how to apply this to social justice and the current issues in our own neighborhoods. We have a responsibility to the earth and each other and are reminded many times through these pages.

One aspect of the text is about the contrasts between Indigenous ways of knowing and scientific (what is taught in typical US academic institutions) ways of knowing. Readers see how Kimmerer struggled with this in her college years and ultimately remembered how to learn from nature in a rich way. Native scholar Greg Cajete is referenced at one point. He wrote about Indigenous ways of knowing explaining that we understand something only when we have understood it with all four aspects of our being: mind, body, emotion, and spirit. The writings and stories in Braiding Sweetgrass show how to attend to all of the aspects and find the beauty in this world.

Speaking of beauty, the illustrations definitely help to express the wonders of our world and whether it be plants, animals, humans or anything else. They don’t just teach–many communicate healing and connection. Some are simple diagrams like when there is an eye and the parts are detailed, but others are art that illustrates a story or images that speak to the heart.

Recommendation: Get it now. I recommend this for any young person especially if you are interested in science and living beings. It’s also an excellent book for anyone who is feeling isolated or who is seeking connection. I think the words in this book can bring healing to readers and lead to healing in our world.

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group

Pages: 304

Availability: On shelves now

Review copy: Purchased

Extras:

Visit the Lerner site where there is a download of the Thanksgiving Address illustration for download.

TeenLive Author Talk: Braiding Sweetgrass from The New York Public Library on Vimeo.

Watch a Kitchen Table Discussion with the authors and illustrator about the process of creating this book.

[angryrdpanda]

Banned Native-Authored Children's Books (because of MAGA zealots)

Firekeeper's Daughter written by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)

Unstoppable: How Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team Defeated Army written by Art Coulson (Cherokee); illustrated by Nick Hardcastle (not Native)

Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! written by Art Coulson (Cherokee), illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw)

Fishing on Thin Ice written by Art Coulson (Cherokee)

Lure of the Lake written by Art Coulson (Cherokee)

Sharice's Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman by Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk); illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Wasauksing)

We Still Belong by Christine Day (Upper Skagit); cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw)

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (Metis Nation of Ontario)

Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa and Tsimshian member); illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Diné)

The Storyteller by Brandon Hobson (Cherokee)

We Are Water Protectors by Michaela Goade (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe); illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit)

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger (Lipan Apache)

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis (Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde); cover art by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota/Mohegan/Muscogee)

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Maillard (Seminole); illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (not Native)

The People Shall Continue written by Simon Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo), illustrated by Sharol Graves (Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma).

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, for Young People by Debbie Reese (Nambé Owingeh) and Jean Mendoza (not Native), adapted from the original edition written by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz (not Native)

Fatty Legs written by Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton (Inuvialiut)

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker written by Robbie Robertson (Mohawk), illustrated by David Shannon (not Native)

Mary and the Trail of Tears by Andrea Rogers (Cherokee)

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith (Cree), illustrated by Danielle Daniel

Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Mvskoke), illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright (not Native) and Ying-Hwa Hu (not Native).

Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Mvskoke), cover illustration by Floyd Cooper (Mvskoke)

Thunderous written by M. L. Smoker (Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of Montana's Fort Peck Reservation) and Natalie Peeterse (not Native); illustrated by Dale Ray DeForest (Diné)

We Are Grateful written by by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Frane Lessac (not Native)

At the Mountains Base written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva, Cahuilla, Chumash, Spanish & Scottish)

"The Way of the Anigiduwagi" written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by MaryBeth Timothy (Cherokee) in The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love and Truth edited by Cheryl and Wade Hudson

Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee); illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Metis)

Powwow Day written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee); illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw)

Kapaemahu written by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Kanaka Maoli), Dean Hamer (not Native), and Joe Wilson (not Native); illustrated by Daniel Sousa

[Full List by Debbie Reese]

[wqbytop100]

WQBY (rankings)

TOP 100 for the week ending December 17, 2023

Other Boys --Marshmello, Dove Cameron -1

I'll Be There --Robin Schulz, Rita Ora, Tiago PZK-2

See You Again --Vicetone, Anna Clendenning

Spend The Night --BJ the Chicago Kid, Coco Jones

Dark Skies -- A R I Z O N A -5

Go Off --Mike Candys -7

AEIOU ---PNAU, Empire of the Sun -8

Diamond Therapy --Diplo, Walker & Royce, Channel Tres -6

Sorry Now -- A R I Z O N A -13

Summertime Friends --The Chainsmokers -9

Good Morning --Timmy Trumpet, Alle Farben, YOU -11

Strangers --Kenya Grace -10

**One On One --The Knocks, Sofi Tukker -(new)

Tied To You --Elderbrook -18

Hangin On -- A R I Z O N A -17

Dreaming --Marshmello, Pink, Sting -21

Both --Tiesto, 21 Savage, BIA -14

Living In A Haze --Milky Chance -12

One Last Dance --Imanbek, Ali Gatie -16

More Baby --Chris Lake, Aluna -15

Stress You --Lucas Estrada, SUPER Hi -23

Nevada --Vicetone, Cozi Zuchisdorff -20

Wanna Dance --Alie Farben, James Carter, VARGEN -19

Dreamteam --Galantis, Neon Trees -27

Jungle --Alok, The Chainsmokers, Mae Stephens -24

You're Hired --NEIKED, Ayra Starr -68

Save My Love ---Destiny Rogers -59

You --Svidden, Seeb -28

Ohh LaLa --Idris Elba, Sasha Gigi -22

U Miss Me --Vicetone -130

Boyfriend --USHER -31

At Your Worst --Calum Scott -29

Drums --James Hype, Kim Petras -35

One With the Wolves --Robin Schulz -25

Light On --Markus Schulz, Sarah de Warren -32

Strangely Sentimental ---Anabel Englund -26

Lost & Found --Gorgon City, DRAMA -33

Blur ---KREAM, Marlo Rex -40

What We Know --Lucas & Steve, Conor Byrne -41

Following the Sun --SUPER Hi -34

Fight My Demons --Yung Bae, Barney Bones, Leven Kali, Diamond Pistols -56

It's In My Head -- Provoker -36

Subterranean --Miss Monique, AVIRA, LUNA -44

Bigger Than The Song --Brittney Spencer -49

Body Count --Jason Derulo -39

Elevator Eyes --Tove Lo -37

Smiley Water --MIKE. -45

Bite Marks --Ari Abdul -78

On My Love --Zara Larsson, David Guetta -51

Fever --Lewis Thompkins, Punctual, Hight -52

Weird & Bizarre --Posh Choclates -54

Dress Code --Mau P -81

Vogue --NOIZE -48

Die For A Night --A R I Z O N A -42

Waiting For U --Laidback Luke, Ralphi (Jake Silva remix) -61

The Little Mushroom That Got Away --Sultan+Shepard, Lane8 -58

From This Day On --Andrew Rayel, JES -38

Moon --Locklead -46

Stranger On A Train --SUPER Hi -43

We Could Be Love --Hayden James, AR/CO -125

Waiting --LP Giobbi, Redfield, DJ Rae -30

In My Zone --S.O. GIDI -47

De Selby Part 2 --Hozier -50

Dressed For A Funeral --Groupthink, Sunday Scaries -53

All Night ---Charlie Houston -55

Down Like That --Bryson Tiller -57

The Beautiful Letdown ---Switchfoot, Jonas Brothers -60

If Only I ---Loud Luxury, Two Friends, Bebe Rexha -62

Quater Life Crises ---Baby Queen -63

Makeba --JAIN -64

Hip Trumpets --Yolando Be Cool, KVISION -65

Get Dirty ---Return Of The Jaded, Tommy Sunshine -66

Tension ---Kylie Minogue -67

Jealous --Pascal Letoublon, IZKO, Jordan Rys -69

eMtunzini --Muzi -70

Jacare --Sofi Tukker -71

Why You? -Adam Melchor -72

Heat Rising --Pete Tong, Jem Cooke, Jules Buckley -73

We Should Get Married --Dan & Shay -74

It's Euphoric --Georgia -75

Padam Padam ---Kylie Minogue -76

Champagne Shit --Janelle Monique, Latto, Quavo -77

What Do You Do? --Jess Glynne -79

Phone -MEDUZA, Em Beihold, Sam Tompkins (Lili Chan remix) -80

Just Think --Video Age -82

In The City --Charlie XCX, Sam Smith -83

Dare --Gorillaz -84

Midnight Zone --Astrality, TAPE ANGEL -85

The Tower --Future Islands -86

Run Free (Countdown) --Tiesto, R3HAB -87

Motive --Armin Van Buuren -88

The Feeling --Lost Frequencies -89

The Worst Person Alive --G Flip -90

Moonlight ---Laidback Luke, GATTUSO (Antrex remix) -91

Joy (Up the Street) --Joy Anonymous -92

Feel It (Club Edit) ---Jazzy -93

Made Up My Mind --Jonah Kaegen, Lily Meola -94

Killing Me --Conan Gray -95

Cheap Thrills --Walker & Royce, Barney Bones -96

Fall Again --Hayla -97

[bluepointcoin]

How a new adaptation of the hit book Braiding Sweetgrass delivers Indigenous wisdom to a younger generation

How a new adaptation of the hit book Braiding Sweetgrass delivers Indigenous wisdom to a younger generation

The Next Chapter20:30Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhardt on Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhardt on Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults. It took Braiding Sweetgrass nearly seven years to make it onto The New York Times bestseller list. It has been flying off shelves ever since. Now, the 2013 book by American scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer has been…

[the-final-sentence]

For that, and so much more, I was grateful.

Monique Gray Smith, from “Filling the Net”

[thatwritererinoriordan]

When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation and communicates an important message through carefully chosen words for readers of all ages. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves. Orca Book Publishers is proud to offer this picture book as a dual-language (English and Diné) edition.

[firstbooknyc]

[pages-of-horror]

It is here🙌🏽 I cannot wait to see the look on my friends face when she sees there is a book with her Daughter's name on it❤

[bookclub4m]

30 books by Indigenous authors published in the past 5 years

Since 2020, we’ve been sharing lists of books by authors of colour for every new genre we read - and with our non-genre episodes, sharing lists for the genres we covered in our early episodes. The early episode we’re creating a booklist for this month is Episode 009: Aboriginal / Indigenous / First Nations. Our booklist for this episode features works by Indigenous authors that have been published since that episode came out in 2016. All of the lists can be found here.

Fiction

Bawaajigan: Stories of Power edited by Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler

Indians on Vacation by Thomas King

There There by Tommy Orange

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead

Non-Fiction

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality by Bob Joseph

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience by Helen Knott

Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada by Chelsea Vowel

From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for A Stronger Canada by Jody Wilson-Raybould

Young Adult

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Fire Song by Adam Garnet Jones

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson

Strangers by David Alexander Robertson

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Picture Books

Bowwow Powwow : Bagosenjige-niimi'idim by Brenda J. Child, Jonathan Thunder, and Gordon Jourdain

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith and Danielle Daniel

Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock by Dallas Hunt and Amanda Strong

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal

Poetry

NDN Coping Mechanisms: Notes from the Field by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Holy Wild by Gwen Benaway

From Turtle Island to Gaza by David Groulx

it was never going to be okay by jaye simpson

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

Comics

This Place: 150 Years Retold

Dakwäkãda Warriors by Cole Pauls

Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett and Natasha Donovan

Pemmican Wars by Katherena Vermette and Scott B. Henderson

Carpe Fin: A Haida Manga by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

[richincolor]

Nature and Young Adult Lit

This may be a strange slightly rambling post, but one thing led to another. As I bicycle to work each day, there are several oak trees to pass which means that lately there are many, many acorns to dodge. Recently on Threads, author Jen Ferguson [Those Pink Mountain Nights] mentioned having a load of acorns raining down on the roof. This got me thinking about the chapter in Braiding Sweetgrass when the author's grandfather gathers up pecans during a year with an extraordinarily large crop. That story is a good one and may be found here. From there I leapt to thinking about nature and young adult lit because that's what my brain does.

Obviously, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Monique Gray Smith was the first young adult book that came to mind. It's a beautiful memoir with a look at Indigenous science and the natural world. The illustrations by Nicole Neidhardt are fantastic and make it an excellent book to pour over. See our review here.

This led me to thinking about Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. In it, the main character has learned about nature through Indigenous teachings, but also through schooling and texts. There were parallels between Kimmerer's lived experience and the fictional account of Daunis. You can learn more about the book in our Group Discussion.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert is a book that that involves the outdoors and romance. We had a Group Discussion for this one too. In that discussion, Jessica mentioned Alexis Nicole Nelson, also known as The Black Forager. Looking at the acorns around me I wondered if she had done a video about them and yup, that is a thing she's collected and talked about. I don't know if she will be writing a book for young adults anytime soon, but for now, there is an incredible amount of video content on Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube including the relatively new Crash Course Botany class.

Reflecting on nature, there is an awful lot of things that can go wrong so there are also quite a few dystopian and sci-fi books that are concerned with the environment, disasters, and climate change.

The Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation is based on Octavia E. Butler’s novel of the same name and is by Damian Duffy and John Jennings. The story follows a young girl as she navigates a world that is in severe distress. She is not only trying to survive, but she is contemplating faith and what it means to her and what it could look like for others.

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He is another survival type of story in the midst of natural disasters due to climate change. The story revolves around two sisters.

Want by Cindy Pon really digs into the economic disparities in relation to climate change and environmental issues. It's set in Taipei not too far in the future. You can read more about this awesome book in our Group Discussion.

Orleans by Sherrie L. Smith is an older title, but also delves into some of these issues of the environment and economic disparities. Here is our review.

Are there other books about nature and the environment that you think we've missed or should watch for in the future?

[dailyhistoryposts]

Here is a curated list of dozens of books by Indigenous writers about residential schools curated by Winnipeg-based Cree author David A. Robertson (@DaveAlexRoberts on Twitter).

Here is the bare list, but be sure to check the link to read summaries, commentaries, and more links! General warning for the trauma and racism of residential schools, but these books cover most age groups, including children's books.

1. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese 2. The Orange Shirt Story & Phyllis's Orange Shirt, both written by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Brock Nicol 3. Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim LaFave 4. Shin-chi's Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim LaFave 5. My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling 6. Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga 7. Dear Canada, These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens by Ruby Slipperjack 8. In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Mosionier 9. The Train by Jodie Callaghan, illustrated Georgia Lesley 10. Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes 11. I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gillian Newland 12. When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett 13. A Stranger At Home by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes 14. Porcupines and China Dolls by Robert Arthur Alexie 15. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline 16. When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard 17. Stolen Words by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard 18. The Journey Forward by Richard Van Camp & Monique Gray Smith 19. Sugar Falls by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson 20. Not My Girl by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard 21. As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie, with Constance Brissenden, illustrated by Heather Holmlund 22. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good 23. One Story, One Song by Richard Wagamese 24. The Red Files by Lisa Bird-Wilson 25. The Education of Augie Merasty by Joseph Auguste Merasty, with David Carpenter 26. Speaking Our Truth by Monique Gray Smith 27. They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellars 28. I Lost My Talk by Rita Joe & I'm Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas, both illustrated by Pauline Young 29. 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson 30. Amik Loves School by Katherena Vermette, illustrated by Irene Kuziw 31. Up Ghost River by Edmund Metatawabin, with Alexandra Shimo 32. Broken Circle by Theodore Fontaine 33. In My Own Moccasins by Helen Knott 34. The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew 35. Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson 36. The Land Is Our Storybook series by Julie-Anne Andre & Mindy Willett

[sonotthedrama]

Task #30 - SWYNRP Character Wishlist: A list of 10+ characters you’d like to see in the RP (for you to play or someone else!) I’ve also included some FC suggestions (maybe I’ll make a proper list but I really enjoyed this task).

1. Grace Tilly [x] (FC suggestions include: Eliot Salt, Nicola Coughlan & Raven Goodwin)

Love the idea of a character who has immunity against all spells and curses!

2. Monique Fox [x] (FC suggestions include: Precious Mustapha, China Anne McClain & Lexi Underwood)

Would love to have another character from the Kim Possible universe!

3. Bonnie Rockwaller [x] (FC suggestions include: Lana Condor, Camila Mendes & Alisha Boe)

Would love to have another character from the Kim Possible universe and possible school rival for Kim (seeing as they have the same gifted status)!

4.  Vidia Wind-Whistler [x] (FC suggestions include: Elisha Applebaum, Sarah Jeffrey & Savannah Lee Smith)

Would love to see this fierce and outspoken fast-flying fairy on the dash!

5. Sylvia Marpole [x] (FC suggestions include: Quinta Brunson, Troian Bellisario & Lucy Hale)

Still have a lot of love for her (even though I only played her for a little bit) and her magical artifact is so cool. Who wouldn’t love a pagemaster bookmark? I know I would!

6. Ron Stoppable [x] (FC suggestions include: Froy Gutierrez, Owen Joyner & Jacob Dudman)

Would love to have another character from the Kim Possible universe and possible connection for Kim. Plus it’s Ron!

7. Milo Thatch [x] (FC suggestions include: Matthew Gray Gubler, Andrew Garfield & Eddie Redmayne)

Still have a lot of love for Milo and maybe one day I’ll pick him up again, but I just think he has such a great story to tell!

8. Maximillian Goof [x] (FC suggestions include: Charlie Gillespie, Jonathan Daviss & Xolo Maridueña)

Love a goofball type and would love to see Max on the dash!

9.  Kovu Otieno [x] (FC suggestions include: Ncuti Gatwa, Mason Gooding & Kedar Williams-Stirling)

Would love to see this loveable rogue on the dash!

10.  Penny Wiggins [x] (FC suggestions include: Zoe Coletti, Aimee Lou Wood & Saoirse-Monica Jackson)

Would love to see her on the dash!

11.  Cornelia Hale [x] (FC suggestions: Hannah van der Westhuysen, Madelyn Cline & Emma Mackey)

Would love to see her on the dash!

12.  Ashlé Boulet [x] (FC suggestions: (Simone Ashley, Alisha Boe & Ajiona Alexus)

Would love to see her join the other Ashleys on the dash!

Now, here are some FCs I’d love to see in general! 

Arden Cho

Vanessa Morgan

Mimi Keene

Jack Quaid

Jensen Ackles

Danny Griffin

And I have many more but I’d be here forever listing them all so these will do for now!

[2021ya]

EVERY BODY SHINES

SIXTEEN STORIES ABOUT LIVING FABULOUSLY FAT

edited ​by Cassandra Newbould

(Bloomsbury, 6/8/21 5/11/21)

9781547606078

Add to Goodreads

Purchase from Bookshop

An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today's most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories. Fat girls and boys and nonbinary teens are: friends who lift each other up, heroes who rescue themselves, big bodies in space, intellects taking up space, and bodies looking and feeling beautiful. They express themselves through fashion, sports and other physical pursuits, through food, and music, and art. They are flirting and falling in love. They are loving to themselves and one another. With stories that feature fat main characters starring in a multitude of stories and genres, and written by authors who live these lives too, this is truly a unique collection that shows fat young people the representation they deserve. With a foreword by Aubry Gordon, creator of Your Fat Friend, and with stories by: Nafiza Azad, Chris Baron, Sheena Boekweg, Linda Camacho, Kelly deVos, Alex Gino, Claire Kann, amanda lovelace, Hillary Monahan, Cassandra Newbould, Francina Simone, Rebecca Sky, Monique Gray Smith, Renée Watson, Catherine Adel West, Jennifer Yen