2,178 Digitized Occult Books: Strange Treasures for Authentic Learning

In 2018, Dan Brown (yes, that Dan Brown of The Da Vinci Code) helped fund a project at Amsterdam’s Ritman Library to digitize thousands of rare, pre-1900 books on alchemy, astrology, magic, and other occult subjects. The result, cheekily titled Hermetically Open, is now live with 2,178 digitized texts—freely available in their online reading room.

At first glance, this might feel like a niche curiosity, the kind of thing best left to academics or fantasy novelists. But the truth is, these works are a goldmine for educators looking to spark authentic learning across disciplines. They’re messy, strange, multilingual (Latin, German, Dutch, French, and English), and they blur the boundaries between science, philosophy, medicine, and mysticism. And that’s exactly why they’re valuable.

Why Teachers Should Care

For a few hundred years, it was nearly impossible to separate theology, philosophy, medicine, and natural science from alchemy and astrology. Isaac Newton himself famously spent as much time on apocalyptic prophecies and alchemical experiments as he did on calculus and optics. To engage students with these texts is to remind them that knowledge has always been interdisciplinary, networked, and evolving.

That makes them perfect material for authentic learning and connectivist classrooms: students work with primary sources, make connections across fields, and grapple with how humans have always sought to explain the world.

How Different Subjects Can Use the Collection

English & Literature (HS & College):

Analyze archaic language, quirky spellings, and “long s” typography in original texts.
Compare occult poetry or allegories to Romantic and Gothic literature.
Use passages as mentor texts for student-created “modern grimoires” or magical realism writing.

History & Social Studies (MS–HS):

Trace how alchemy influenced the rise of modern chemistry.
Explore how astrology shaped political decisions in early modern Europe.
Debate the blurred lines between science and mysticism in intellectual history.

Science (HS Chemistry & Physics):

Contrast alchemical “recipes” with modern chemical equations.
Investigate how flawed models of the universe still paved the way for discovery.
Discuss how cultural context shapes what gets counted as “science.”

Art & Design (All Grades):

Study illuminated manuscripts and esoteric symbols as design inspiration.
Create modern visual interpretations of alchemical diagrams.
Explore symbolism as a universal language across time.

Philosophy & Civics (HS & College):

Debate the tension between hidden vs. open knowledge.
Compare Platonic philosophy, Christian theology, and occult traditions.
Examine how fringe ideas challenge (and sometimes advance) mainstream thinking.

Why It Matters

When students encounter these texts, they’re not just paging through dusty old curiosities. They’re stepping into a world where knowledge wasn’t siloed, where science, spirituality, and imagination lived side by side. For teachers, this is a chance to create assessments that matter—projects where students remix history, art, and science, using both ancient texts and modern tools like AI.

It’s weird. It’s wonderful. And it’s exactly the kind of resource that can make authentic learning feel alive.

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Daring Greatly: The Courage Manual You Didn’t Know You Needed

Blistering verdict: Brené Brown turns vulnerability from a punchline into a power-up. Daring Greatly isn’t self-help fluff; it’s a rigor-backed field guide for stepping into the arena when your brain is screaming, “Nope.” It reads fast, hits hard, and leaves you with language—and habits—that change how you lead, teach, parent, and show up.

Spoiler-free recap (no “cheap seats” commentary included)

Brown’s premise is simple and seismic: vulnerability is courage in action—the willingness to be seen when outcomes aren’t guaranteed. Drawing on years of qualitative research, she maps how shame (the fear of disconnection) drives perfectionism, numbing, and armor… and how shame resilience (naming what’s happening, reality-checking our stories, reaching out, and speaking it) gives us our lives back.

You’ll walk through:

Scarcity culture (“never enough”) vs. worthiness (“I’m enough, so I can risk more”).
Armor types—perfectionism, foreboding joy, cynicism—and how to set them down.
Empathy as antidote (connection > fixing).
Wholeheartedness: living with courage + compassion + connection, anchored by boundaries.

No plot twists to spoil—just a research-driven blueprint that makes bravery behavioral, not mythical.

Why this book still matters (and why your team/family/class will feel it)

It rewires the courage myth. Courage isn’t swagger; it’s risk + emotional exposure + uncertainty. That framing scales from a tough conversation to a moonshot.
It gives you a shared language. “Armor,” “scarcity,” “shame triggers,” “wholehearted”—terms your team can actually use in meetings without rolling their eyes.
It upgrades feedback culture. Vulnerability isn’t oversharing; it’s specific, boundaried honesty. That’s the backbone of psychological safety and real performance.
It’s ruthlessly practical. The book reads like a human-systems playbook: name it, normalize it, and move—together.

Sale

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Brown, Brené (Author)
English (Publication Language)
320 Pages – 04/07/2015 (Publication Date) – Avery (Publisher)

What hits different in 2025

AI & authenticity. In a world of auto-generated polish, human risk-taking is the differentiator. Vulnerability is how we build trust beyond the algorithm.
Hybrid work, thin trust. Distance amplifies story-making. Brown’s “story I’m telling myself…” move is rocket fuel for remote teams and relationships.
Schools & Gen Z. Teens live under surveillance capitalism. Teaching boundaries + worthiness beats any pep talk on resilience.

Read it like a field guide (fast, no navel-gazing required)

Skim for tools, then circle back for depth. Treat each section like a drill you can run this week.
Practice out loud. Say the scripts: “Here’s what I’m afraid of… Here’s what I need… The story I’m telling myself is…”
Pick one arena. A hard 1:1, a classroom norm, a family ritual. Ship courage in small, observable iterations.

For my fellow geeks & builders

If Neuromancer gave us cyberspace, this gives us the social API for courage. It’s the middleware between your values and your behavior under load. Think of shame as a high-latency bug; Brown gives you the observability tools to catch it in prod and roll a patch without taking the system down.

Who will love this

Leaders & coaches who care about performance and people.
Educators & parents building cultures of belonging without lowering standards.
Makers & founders whose work requires public risk and iterative failure.
Anyone tired of armoring up and ready to try brave instead of perfect.

Pair it with (next reads)

The Gifts of Imperfection (Brown) — the on-ramp to wholehearted living.
Dare to Lead (Brown) — her organizational upgrade, perfect for teams.
Crucial Conversations (Patterson et al.) — tactics for high-stakes talk, post-armor.

Final verdict

Five stars, zero hedging. Daring Greatly is the rare book that alters your behavioral defaults. It’s sticky, quotable, and wildly usable the minute you close it. If you build products, classes, teams, or families, this is the courage stack you want installed.

Ready to step into the arena? Grab Daring Greatly in paperback, hardcover, or audio—whichever format helps you practice while you read. (Some links on my site may be affiliate links, which help support this work at no extra cost to you.)

Neuromancer: The book that jailbreaks the future

Blistering verdict: Neuromancer doesn’t predict the future—it jailbreaks it. William Gibson plugs you into a neon-slick, rain-slicked world where data has gravity, money moves at the speed of light, and the line between human and machine is just another corporate asset to be negotiated. It’s fast. It’s razor-sharp. And four decades on, it still crackles like a live wire.

Spoiler-free recap (no ICE burned, promise)

Meet Case—a burned-out “console cowboy” who once rode the matrix like a god until he crossed the wrong people and lost the only thing that mattered: his ability to jack in. He’s offered a dangerous second chance by a mysterious patron with deep pockets and deeper secrets. Enter Molly, a mirror-shaded street samurai with retractable razors and zero patience for anyone’s nonsense. The job? A multilayered, globe-hopping (and orbit-hopping) heist threading megacorps, black-market biohacks, and an AI problem that’s less “glitch” and more “philosophical earthquake.”

The plot moves like a hot knife through black ice—tight, propulsive, and always one layer more ambitious than you think. Every chapter ups the stakes; every alleyway has a camera; every ally might be a contractor. You don’t need spoilers. You need a seatbelt.

Why this book still matters (and why geeks keep handing it to friends)

It gave us our mental model of the net. Gibson’s “cyberspace” isn’t just a word—it’s an interface, a mythos, a feeling. The luminous grids, the consensual hallucination of a shared data world? That’s the cultural operating system we installed long before broadband.
It forged the cyberpunk aesthetic. Street-level grit meets orbital decadence; chrome and sweat; hackers and mercenaries threading the seams of empire. If you love The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, Cyberpunk 2077, or Mr. Robot, you’re drinking from this well.
It nailed corporate power as world-building. Megacorps behaving like nations. Security as religion. Branding as surveillance. In 2025, tell me that doesn’t feel uncomfortably like a user agreement we all clicked.
It treats AI as character, not prop. Neuromancer asks the questions we’re still arguing about in boardrooms and labs: autonomy, constraint, alignment, and what “self” means when the self can be copied, merged, or monetized.
The prose is pure overclocked poetry. Gibson writes like he’s soldering language: compressed, glittering, and purpose-built. The sentences hum; the metaphors bite; the world feels legible and alien at once.

What hits different in 2025

Identity as a login. Case isn’t just locked out of systems; he’s locked out of himself. That anxiety—who are we without access?—is the backbone of our cloud-tethered lives.
The gig-hacker economy. Contractors, fixers, “teams” assembled like temporary code branches. It’s Upwork with thermoptic shades.
Biohacking & upgrade culture. From dermal mods to black-clinic tune-ups, the book treats the body like firmware—exactly how today’s wearables, implants, and nootropics culture wants you to think.
Algorithmic power. Replace “AI” with your favorite recommendation engine and the social physics hold: it watches, it optimizes, it nudges. The ethics still sting.

How to read it (and love it)

Surf the jargon. Don’t stop to define every acronym. Let the context teach you like you’re a rookie riding shotgun with veterans.
Trust the city. The settings—Chiba City, the Sprawl, orbit—are more than backdrops; they’re tutorial levels. Watch what they reward and punish.
Hear the bassline. The book is paced like a heist film. When it slows, it’s loading a bigger payload. When it sprints, hang on.

If you’re this kind of reader, this book is your jam

You love high-concept, high-velocity fiction that respects your intelligence.
You care about tech culture’s DNA—where our metaphors and nightmares came from.
You’re a world-building nerd who wants settings that feel lived-in, not wallpapered.
You’re into AI, hacking, and systems thinking and want a story that treats them as more than shiny props.

The influence blast radius

Neuromancer is ground zero for the cyberpunk sensibility: the hero is small, the system is massive, and victory looks like carving a human-sized space in a machine-sized world. Its fingerprints are everywhere—console cowboys inspiring dev culture; “ICE” as the vibe under every security audit; fashion, music, and UI design that still chase its cool. Even the way journalists write about breaches and “entering the network” leans on Gibson’s visual grammar. Read it and you’ll start seeing the code behind the cultural interface.

After you jack out: what to read next

Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive (finish the Sprawl Trilogy—richer world, expanding consequences).
Burning Chrome (short stories that sharpen the vision).
Adjacent canon: Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash (satire-powered rocket fuel), Pat Cadigan’s Synners (media and minds), and Rudy Rucker’s Ware series (weirder, wilder, wonderfully so).

Final verdict

Neuromancer is essential reading—full stop. It’s the rare novel that changed the language we use to talk about technology and remains a pulse-pounding ride. If the Internet is the city we all live in now, Gibson drew the first street map that felt true. Pick it up for the thrills; keep it on your shelf for the ideas that won’t let you go.

Ready to jack in? Grab Neuromancer in paperback, ebook, or audio—however you mainline stories—and let it rewrite your mental firmware. (Some links on my site may be affiliate links, which help support the work at no extra cost to you.)

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow… and the First Day Back

This summer, I did something radical for me: I rested. Fewer obligations, slower mornings, and a little more space to think. Somewhere in that quiet, I read Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow—a story of friendship, creativity, and the belief that no loss is permanent if you just keep playing.

That idea stuck with me.

As educators, every August is our respawn point. A fresh save file. We reset the level, rebuild the world, and invite our students to play again. Some days will be victories, others spectacular defeats, and plenty will be somewhere in between. But if we keep showing up—together—we can win.

In my first newsletter of the year, I’m blending lessons from Zevin’s novel, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and Jane McGonigal’s Reality is Broken into a hopeful reminder that “tomorrow” is always coming, and the game is worth playing.

📬 Read the full piece here

Robert Greene’s Mastery – Why It’s Great for Teachers

a close up shot of a woman molding a clay — Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Teaching can feel like sprinting through sand: every ounce of effort disappears into new mandates, fresh interruptions, and the endless pressure to prove you’re “impacting achievement.” Robert Greene’s Mastery offers a different vision—one drawn from Darwin’s notebooks, Temple Grandin’s cattle chutes, and Mozart’s late-night scales. Greene insists that anyone who treats skill-building as a deliberate, three-phase journey—Apprenticeship → Creative-Active → Mastery—will reclaim momentum and stay in the classroom long enough to matter. Below is a narrative roadmap that translates each phase into research-backed actions you can begin during pre-service week, with evidence that they work and persuasive arguments strong enough to convince even your most overwhelmed colleague to click “Add to Cart.”

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Mastery

Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
Greene, Robert (Author)
English (Publication Language)
368 Pages – 10/29/2013 (Publication Date) – Penguin Books (Publisher)

The Pain Behind the Promise

Almost half of American K-12 teachers now say they feel burned out “often or always,” a figure Gallup has tracked since 2022 and one that remains unchanged in 2025 (Devlin Peck). Surveys in Texas peg the fatigue even higher—three out of four teachers report being “exhausted,” with two-thirds eyeing the exits (Houston Chronicle). Attrition follows a cruel curve: novices leave just as their instruction could blossom, while veterans plateau when novelty fades. Greene argues that the path out is not better work-life “balance” but a conscious march toward expertise—because mastery, unlike balance, supplies its energy.

Greene’s Map in Plain English

Greene distills the biographies of history’s stand-out performers into a three-act structure. Apprentices absorb fundamentals until they become second nature; creative-actives recombine those fundamentals in bold experiments; true masters spot patterns others miss and simplify complexity (sipreads.com, Nat Eliason). In copywriting terms, the book is a “big promise” paired with a believable mechanism: you can transform your teaching, and here’s the step-by-step engine that makes it happen.

Phase 1: Apprenticeship—Winning the First 10,000 Minutes

What It Looks Like in a Classroom

Forget the romantic myth of genius; Greene says apprentices log mundane reps under watchful eyes. For teachers, this means treating high-impact moves—such as retrieval questions, spaced review, and explicit modeling—like musicians treat scales.

Retrieval practice. A 2017 meta-analysis encompassing 118 studies found that the technique consistently enhanced learning across age groups and subjects (Retrieval Practice). Start every period with two low-stakes recall prompts. Record accuracy; reteach when the class average dips below 80 percent.
Spaced practice. Neuro-education researchers conclude that revisiting content 24 hours, one week, and one month later maximizes retention for months — and the longer the interval, the longer the memory trace endures (THE EDUCATION HUB). Work those intervals into your warm-ups before adding a single new bell-ringer.
Rosenshine-style explicit instruction. Barak Rosenshine’s ten principles synthesize decades of cognitive-science evidence on how humans learn; short daily reviews and bite-sized explanations sit at the top of his list (Devlin Peck). Film a five-minute segment, then annotate where you checked for understanding.

Why It Pays Off

Feedback ranks among the highest effect sizes catalogued by John Hattie—around d = 0.70, almost double the hinge-point that separates worthwhile strategies from noise (VISIBLE LEARNING). When you wrap each retrieval sprint with “where to next” comments, you are compounding two evidence-based levers at once.

Phase 2: Creative-Active—Turning Fundamentals into Innovation

Once the basics hum automatically, Greene says the apprentice must risk “creative crimes”—small, testable departures from the script that force new neural wiring. In copywriting, this is your product’s “demonstration” moment: show the prospect the payoff.

Mash strategies. Combine retrieval with peer teaching: students quiz partners, then explain answers out loud. Cognitive science calls the blend “elaborative interrogation,” and it deepens transfer of knowledge to novel problems (Progress Learning Blog).
Prototype homework versions. Run spaced problem sets in one class, traditional packets in another, and compare quiz scores a week later. Early field experiments on spaced homework deliver significant gains over cramming (Houston Chronicle).
Document publicly. Greene notes that masters cultivate “social intelligence” by exposing ideas to critique. Weekly reflections posted in a team Google Doc turn tacit hunches into collective knowledge; professional development studies find that peer transparency accelerates skill uptake (Network for Educator Effectiveness).

Phase 3: Mastery—Seeing the Game and Guiding Others

Greene’s masters do two things novices rarely attempt: they compress complexity into elegant patterns and they mentor the next wave. Teacher research echoes him. A 108-study meta-analysis shows mastery-learning programs reliably raise exam performance, especially when experts make criteria explicit and coach students toward them (SAGE Journals).

Spot error trends. Use a simple spreadsheet or dashboard: where do misconceptions cluster? Redesign tomorrow’s mini-lesson to pre-empt those pitfalls.
Open your door. Peer observation, when low stakes and feedback-rich, improves both the observer’s and observed teacher’s practice—and even bumps student test scores in the observer’s class (Network for Educator Effectiveness |).
Coach a novice. Rigorous studies on instructional coaching show that targeted, cycles-based feedback outperforms traditional workshop PD for both teacher retention and student learning gains (Instructional Coaching Group).

Masters, Greene reminds us, aren’t superhuman. They’re relentless editors of their craft—and generosity is their sharpening stone.

A 30-Day Story You Can Tell Yourself

Day 1: choose one micro-skill—say, crafting two retrieval prompts per lesson.
Day 7: film and self-critique a five-minute segment focused solely on those prompts.
Day 14: Invite a colleague to observe for “retrieval density” and provide you with notes.
Day 21: add spaced review intervals; compare quiz data to your Day 1 baseline.
Day 30: Share the results and the film clip in your PLC.

You have now walked Greene’s first two phases, gathered real data, and leveraged peer feedback—three evidence-rich practices stitched into one micro-narrative.

Why the Book Earns a Slot in Your Tote Bag

Greene supplies what most PD skips: a compelling story that keeps teachers in the arena long enough to see evidence payoffs. Retrieval, spacing, feedback, coaching—these are not trends; they’re durable findings across hundreds of studies. Mastery ties them to a motivational arc that protects against the burnout numbers you saw earlier, giving you purpose when enthusiasm wanes.

Call to Action

Teaching is a craft you will never finish, but you can decide today whether the next 180 school days feel like wheel-spinning or measured ascent. Greene’s Mastery is the blueprint. Read the opening chapter tonight. Pick your micro-skill before the coffee brews tomorrow. And start counting progress, not just hours.

Grab the book on Amazon

Sources

Sipreads summary of Mastery phases (sipreads.com)
Nat Eliason review confirming three-phase structure (Nat Eliason)
Devlin Peck teacher-burnout statistics 2025 (Devlin Peck)
Texas AFT burnout survey via Houston Chronicle (Houston Chronicle)
Retrieval-practice meta-analysis guide (2017) (Retrieval Practice)
Spaced-practice summary, The Education Hub (THE EDUCATION HUB)
Rosenshine principles overview, Visible Learning site (Devlin Peck)
Hattie effect-size ranking list (VISIBLE LEARNING)
Instructional-coaching impact study (2024) (Instructional Coaching Group)
Peer-observation benefits article, NEE Advantage (Network for Educator Effectiveness |)
Mastery-learning meta-analysis, Review of Educational Research (SAGE Journals)
Elaborative-interrogation research on retrieval + explanation (Progress Learning Blog)

Reimagining the Classroom: The Shift to Student-Led with UDL & Blended Learning

Why This Book Should Be on Every Teacher’s Radar

If you’ve ever found yourself carrying the full weight of your classroom on your shoulders—exhausted, overextended, and wondering if your students are truly engaged—The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin R. Tucker and Katie Novak offers a powerful path forward.

By blending Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with blended learning strategies, this book helps teachers transition from being the center of the classroom to becoming learning designers and facilitators, without sacrificing structure, rigor, or accountability.

Let’s break it down 👇

Sale

The Shift to Student-Led: Reimagining Classroom Workflows with UDL and Blended Learning

Tucker, Catlin R. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
270 Pages – 11/09/2022 (Publication Date) – Impress (Publisher)

🔑 Big Ideas in The Shift to Student-Led

Empowers learners to take charge of their education through student-led workflows that build agency, motivation, and metacognition.
Aligns with UDL principles, offering multiple ways for students to access content, express learning, and stay engaged.
Supports teacher sustainability with practical tools that reduce burnout and promote shared responsibility in the classroom.
Includes ready-to-use templates and reflection tools for immediate implementation—in class or in PLCs.

What Are Student-Led Workflows?

Tucker and Novak outline 10 specific shifts that flip the script on traditional classroom practices. A few standout transformations:

From…	To…
Sit-and-get lessons	Inquiry-based discovery
Whole-group discussions	Student-facilitated conversations
Solo assignments	Projects with authentic audiences
Teacher-led feedback	Student self-assessment & reflection
Private practice	Peer-created practice tasks

Each shift includes step-by-step guides, examples, and tools to make it manageable, even in busy classrooms with diverse learners.

🎯 Why This Matters Now (More Than Ever)

Teaching is hard. Teaching after a pandemic, amid ongoing changes and rising needs? Even harder.

This book isn’t just about pedagogy—it’s about reclaiming joy in your practice and building classrooms where students are doing the work of learning. That includes:

Meeting diverse needs without creating 30 different lesson plans.
Building life-ready skills like reflection, goal-setting, and collaboration.
Creating space for student voice, choice, and autonomy.

Who This Book Is Perfect For

👩‍🏫 K–12 Teachers looking to create more student-driven classrooms
🤝 Instructional Coaches supporting PLCs or teacher growth cycles
🏫 School Leaders designing systems that promote learner agency
🎓 Pre-service Teachers & Faculty studying modern learning design

Free Resources to Get You Started

✅ Templates for Choice Boards, Self-Assessments, and Project Planning
🎯 Book Club Discussion Guide for PLCs
💻 Online Courses & Webinars with Tucker and Novak
📚 Downloadable tools embedded in each chapter for immediate use

Ready to Start Small? Here’s How 👣

Pick one workflow to try—maybe feedback or group discussions.
Invite students into the process: What helps them learn? What’s not working?
Use reflection check-ins to adjust and improve.
Celebrate growth—with student artifacts, voice recordings, or video showcases.

Classroom Scenarios That Just Work

Middle School ELA: Students run peer-led literature circles with discussion protocols
High School Science: Learners build digital flashcard decks and quiz each other
Upper Elementary: Students design mini passion projects and present them to families

Final Thoughts: Why This Shift Matters

This isn’t a silver bullet, but it is a breath of fresh air. The Shift to Student-Led gives educators the tools to create meaningful, student-centered learning without burning out. You’ll find yourself doing less of the heavy lifting and more of the inspiring.

And that’s the kind of classroom every student—and teacher—deserves.

Want to Dive Deeper?

📘 Read: The Shift to Student-Led: Reimagining Classroom Workflows with UDL and Blended Learning
🎧 Listen: Podcast Episode with Tucker & Novak
📺 Watch: Video on Small-Group Discussion Shifts
🛠️ Access Templates + Book Club Kit

SaleBestseller No. 1

Universal Design for Learning: Principles, Framework, and Practice

English (Publication Language)
204 Pages – 07/30/2024 (Publication Date) – Cast, Inc. (Publisher)

SaleBestseller No. 2

UDL Now!: A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning

Novak, Katie (Author)
English (Publication Language)
196 Pages – 05/17/2022 (Publication Date) – Cast, Inc. (Publisher)

SaleBestseller No. 3

Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice

Meyer, Anne (Author)
English (Publication Language)
238 Pages – 12/17/2013 (Publication Date) – Cast Incorporated (Publisher)

Book Review: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Of Monsters and Mainframes doesn’t so much cross genre lines as joyride over them in a monster-powered hot rod. Published on 3 June 2025 and clocking in at 424 pages (though some listings shave it down to 416–407), Barbara Truelove’s debut is a pulpy riff on classic Universal creatures, framed by a smart-mouthed sentient starship who’d rather file maintenance tickets than fight Dracula—yet finds herself doing both.

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Of Monsters and Mainframes

Truelove, Barbara (Author)
English (Publication Language)
424 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

Setting & Premise

The year is 2371; the interstellar shuttle Demeter ferries colonists between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Her problem? Passengers keep turning up exsanguinated, and the onboard medical AI, Steward, claims it’s due to “equipment failure.” The real culprit is the ancient vampire who stowed away, soon joined by a werewolf, a stitched-together engineer, a resurrected pharaoh, and an army of unnervingly cheerful spider-drones. To avoid decommissioning, Demeter assembles this motley crew into an undead A-Team and aims them straight at Dracula himself.

Themes

Underneath the schlock-horror sparkle lies an earnest meditation on who gets labeled “monster” and why. Truelove asks whether found family can form between code, corpse, and claw, and whether a construct (digital or supernatural) can claim personhood. The novel also pokes at corporate risk-management gone feral—Demeter worries less about Dracula than the bean-counters who’ll fly her into the sun to protect quarterly earnings.

Writing Style & Pacing

Imagine Murderbot’s deadpan status reports filtered through John Scalzi’s zip-bang pacing, then splattered with Hammer-horror red. Reviews consistently highlight the book’s “slightly sarcastic, dry humor” and the AI’s binary interludes that invite readers to decode hidden jokes. The opening spends a few chapters calibrating Demeter’s tech-speak against supernatural mayhem—Publishers Weekly calls the adjustment “worth it once the B-movie extravaganza kicks in.” After that, the momentum rarely dips.

Characterization

Demeter and Steward form the novel’s prickly emotional core—frenemies forced into teamwork while sniping over processor cycles. Human twins Agnes and Isaac bring heart (and the occasional well-timed stake), but it’s the monster side-characters who steal scenes: Frank, the patchwork engineer desperate for agency; Ahmose, the ex-pharaoh who bargains cosmically; and “Steve,” a mummy who hates the nickname almost as much as sunlight. Reviewers praise Truelove’s knack for giving each creature a distinct, sympathetic motive without declawing their menace.

Critique

A few caveats: the tonal cocktail—slapstick, slash-and-gore, earnest feels—won’t work for every palate. Early chapters front-load ship-system jargon that may read cold until the first body drops, and some readers find the monster-of-the-voyage structure a touch episodic—still, most critiques land in the “minor speed bumps” category rather than deal-breakers.

Verdict

If you ever wished Alien ended with Weyland-Yutani’s mainframe making snarky Dracula jokes—or if you shelve Becky Chambers, Kim Newman, and Mira Grant side-by-side—this is your jam. Truelove’s debut balances plasma-splattered set pieces with genuine warmth, leaving just enough loose cables to hint at sequels.

Recommended for

Fans of AI narrators with attitude
Readers who like their cosmic horror served with banter and found-family hugs
Anyone who can recite Van Helsing quotes and appreciate a good COBOL pun

Skip if you dislike genre mash-ups, need strictly hard-SF physics, or prefer your monsters monogamous to one mythology. Otherwise, punch your ticket and let Demeter’s haunted hull take you for a gloriously unhinged ride.

Book Review: Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Black Salt Queen is the kind of debut that announces its ambitions from page one and almost always lives up to them. Published on June 3, 2025, and weighing in at 393 pages, it launches Samantha Bansil’s new series, Letters from Maynara, with an unapologetically epic sweep.

Setting & Premise

Bansil transports us to Maynara, a lush, pre-colonial island nation where elemental magic and matriarchal politics are inseparable. Queen Hara Duja Gatdula can move mountains, but her failing strength leaves a volatile sky-wielding daughter, Laya, and a calculating rival matriarch, Imeria Kulaw, circling the throne. Power is hereditary, dangerous, and finite, giving every decision a life-or-death edge.

Black Salt Queen (Letters from Maynara Book 1)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Bansil, Samantha (Author)
English (Publication Language)
393 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

Themes

At its heart, Black Salt Queen is about the cost of power and the vulnerabilities leaders hide. Mother–daughter tension, queer desire, and dynastic betrayal intertwine, all against a defiantly anti-colonial backdrop. Readers will recognize echoes of Southeast Asian folklore and Filipino history, yet Bansil refuses to pause for Western hand-holding; immersion is mandatory and rewarding.

Writing Style & Pacing

Expect prose that luxuriates in sensory detail—salt-sprayed sea walls, ceremonial fabrics, volcanic earth—and court conversations that bristle with double meanings. Lightspeed’s reviewer compared the deliberate build-up to Game of Thrones, and the parallel is apt: the first act is dense, even daunting, but once the pieces are in place, the final third barrels ahead with ruthless momentum.

Characterization

Bansil excels at mapping the complex loyalties of formidable women. None are straightforward heroes or villains; sympathy flips scene by scene, making alliances deliciously unstable. The sapphic threads—past and present—feel organic rather than performative, enriching both emotional stakes and political ones. Male characters exist. Still, the story’s gravity belongs unapologetically to its queens, warriors, and schemers.

Critique

The very richness that makes Maynara intoxicating can also overwhelm. Titles, honorifics, and magical terminology arrive rapidly, and readers unfamiliar with pre-Hispanic Philippine cultures may need the occasional pause to orient themselves. A handful of plot beats (an arena trial, a magically enhanced tonic) resolve quickly or feel under-explained, hinting they’re seeds for later books rather than payoffs here. None of these issues breaks the spell, but they do mark Black Salt Queen as a debut still sharpening its pacing blade.

Verdict

If you gravitate toward politically charged fantasy in the vein of Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne or K.S. Villoso’s The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, Bansil’s island realm will feel like coming home—and then being promptly thrown into the surf during a typhoon. Black Salt Queen may demand patience, but it rewards that investment with sweeping stakes, morally knotted characters, and an ending that practically dares you not to preorder book two.

Recommended for

Readers who relish court intrigue steeped in non-Western histories
Fans of elemental magic systems with bodily costs
Anyone craving complex, messy sapphic relationships set against empire-shaking politics

Skip if you need instant action beats or prefer tidy moral lines. Otherwise, dive in and let Maynara’s black-salt waves pull you under.

10 Must-Read New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books for June 2025

man wearing white full face motorcycle helmet — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The heat has officially arrived here in Kentucky, and with it comes one of my favorite seasonal rituals: the Summer Reading Stack. You know the one. The books you optimistically pile up beside your hammock, or your travel bag, or your nightstand, knowing full well you won’t read them all, but determined to try anyway.

As I prepare to disappear into as many pages as possible between projects and planning, I’ve rounded up some of the June 2025 SFF releases that have piqued my curiosity, stirred my genre-loving soul, and whispered, “read me next.” This month’s picks include vampire spaceships, cursed couriers, underwater palaces, swan-based political coups, and so much more.

So pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea (or Romulan ale — I won’t judge), and dive into this list of stellar speculative fiction releases.

10 Fantastical New SFF Books for June 2025

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Out June 3 (Bindery Books)

A dying queen. An heir who can’t get it together. A rival powerful enough to tear down everything. This high-stakes island fantasy features matriarchal legacy, political power grabs, and complicated magic. It’s giving Game of Thrones meets The Green Bone Saga — and I am here for it.

Sale

Black Salt Queen (Letters from Maynara, 1)

Bansil, Samantha (Author)
English (Publication Language)
416 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Out June 3 (Bindery Books)

If you told me this book was Dracula meets Battlestar Galactica, I’d throw my credits at the nearest data terminal. Set on the spaceship Demeter (a clever nod to Stoker), this queer horror story features space vampires, interstellar travel, and a haunted AI that might need to become Blade.

Of Monsters and Mainframes

Amazon Kindle Edition
Truelove, Barbara (Author)
English (Publication Language)
407 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Bindery Books (Publisher)

The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

When the royal road trip from hell goes sideways (thanks, arrogant prince), it’s up to Elen the courier to get everyone out of a haunted town alive. This one promises political intrigue, ancient magic, and the kind of “why am I always the responsible one?” energy I feel deep in my soul.

The Witch Roads

Amazon Kindle Edition
Elliott, Kate (Author)
English (Publication Language)
439 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

Three women. Three timelines. Vampires. Schwab’s gothic sensibilities are on full display in this “toxic lesbian vampire” novel (her words, not mine), and I’m already bracing for heartbreak, blood, and beautifully written trauma.

Sale

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Hardcover Book
Schwab, V. E. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
544 Pages – 06/10/2025 (Publication Date) – Tor Books (Publisher)

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

Out June 17 (Legacy Lit)

A glamorous NYC publicist finds herself haunted — literally and figuratively — after a museum tragedy. Throw in a psychic caught in a ghostly love triangle and some deeply buried secrets, and this one sounds like The Sixth Sense meets Scandal with a Bronx twist.

Sale

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery: A Novel

Hardcover Book
Haynes, Clarence A. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
240 Pages – 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – Legacy Lit (Publisher)

Seventhblade by Tonia Laird

Out June 17 (ECW Press)

An Indigenous warrior mother seeking vengeance in a colonized city? Yes, please. Add in morally gray alliances, godlike powers, and a blood debt that could ignite a revolution, and you’ve got a fantasy epic I’m bumping to the top of the list.

Sale

Seventhblade

Laird, Tonia (Author)
English (Publication Language)
376 Pages – 06/17/2025 (Publication Date) – ECW Press (Publisher)

New SFF for Young Readers (and the Young at Heart)

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Out June 3 (Knopf Books)

Beauty and the Beast but make it a con artist with prophetic painting powers? Lim continues to blend folklore and feminism with flair. Truyan agrees to marry the Dragon King to save her family, but we all know that kind of bargain never goes according to plan…

Sale

A Forgery of Fate

Hardcover Book
Lim, Elizabeth (Author)
English (Publication Language)
480 Pages – 06/03/2025 (Publication Date) – Knopf Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman

Out June 24 (Random House)

A medieval town where freedom is earned by surviving a year and a day — until a ghost, a dragon, and a murder shake the walls. Hartman’s return promises haunting imagery and a layered coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Seraphina and The Graveyard Book.

Among Ghosts

Amazon Kindle Edition
Hartman, Rachel (Author)
English (Publication Language)
399 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara

Out June 24 (HarperCollins)

A jeweler’s apprentice finds herself in the Serpent King’s castle. To survive, she marries him — but finds herself drawn to someone else entirely. Intrigue, jewels, forbidden romance… this one’s for readers who like their fantasy a little dark and a lot twisty.

Sale

Embrace the Serpent: A Standalone Young Adult Romantasy from the Author of the Darkening Duology

Hardcover Book
Mara, Sunya (Author)
English (Publication Language)
352 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins (Publisher)

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

Out June 24 (Margaret K. McElderry Books)

Inspired by Swan Lake, this sapphic fantasy delivers palace politics, magical transformations, and a mission to restore a kingdom’s lost magic. When the king dies and blame falls on the wrong person, Odile must team up with the very person she betrayed to find the truth.

A Treachery of Swans

Amazon Kindle Edition
Poranek, A. B. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
368 Pages – 06/24/2025 (Publication Date) – Margaret K. McElderry Books (Publisher)

Bonus Picks (Because I Can’t Help Myself)

New

The Scattering Stars (I, Starship: A Space Opera Book 5)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Bartlett, Scott (Author)
English (Publication Language)
05/19/2026 (Publication Date) – Mirth Publishing (Publisher)

New

Fourth Wave (First Command Book 4)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Simon, Michael (Author)
English (Publication Language)
05/12/2026 (Publication Date) – Aethon Books (Publisher)

New

MOROS

Rogov, L.D. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
457 Pages – 07/13/2025 (Publication Date) – RoBook Publishing (Publisher)

New

Last Stand (Starship of the Ancients Book 4): A Space Opera Adventure

Amazon Kindle Edition
DuBoff, A.K. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
03/27/2026 (Publication Date) – Epic Realms Press (Publisher)

SaleNew

Red Empire: A Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International Novel: Rogue Team International Series, Book 5

Audible Audiobook
Jonathan Maberry (Author)
English (Publication Language)
03/10/2026 (Publication Date) – Macmillan Audio (Publisher)

New

The Iron Garden Sutra (The Cosmic Wheel Book 1)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Sui, A.D. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
02/24/2026 (Publication Date) – Erewhon Books (Publisher)

New

Eagle’s Ascent (Wanderer’s Ode)

Williams, W. Owen (Author)
English (Publication Language)
450 Pages – 07/04/2025 (Publication Date) – Blackbird & Company (Publisher)

New

Timequake: Lost in Time Book 3

Amazon Kindle Edition
Higgs, Steve (Author)
English (Publication Language)
02/20/2026 (Publication Date)

New

Shadow of Mars: Starship’s Mage Book Eighteen

Amazon Kindle Edition
Stewart, Glynn (Author)
English (Publication Language)
01/22/2026 (Publication Date) – Faolan’s Pen Publishing Inc. (Publisher)

New

Vampire Hunter D Omnibus: Book Ten

Kikuchi, Hideyuki (Author)
English (Publication Language)
720 Pages – 01/20/2026 (Publication Date) – Dark Horse Books (Publisher)

That’s all for now, fellow explorers of the weird and wonderful. If you pick up any of these, let me know — I’m always up for a good bookish conversation, especially if it involves morally ambiguous magic or sentient spaceships.

Until next time: read deeply, imagine wildly, and remember… the TBR pile is infinite, but your joy is the compass.

More Than a Month: Essential AAPI Reads for All Year Long

grayscale photo of woman holding fan — Photo by David Herlianto on Pexels.com

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and while I’m always up for shining a light on underrepresented voices, I have to admit: this particular grouping feels like it was assembled by someone who’s never looked at a map—or a history book. The AAPI umbrella includes a wildly diverse set of cultures, languages, and identities, from East Asia to South Asia to the islands of the Pacific, and even parts of the Middle East. That’s not a category; that’s half the globe.

Lumping all of that into one acronym? It’s reductive at best, erasure at worst. As Harmeet Kaur smartly noted in a piece for CNN, the label sticks mostly because there’s no better one. It’s a placeholder—an imperfect one—but still an opportunity to spotlight incredible writing that deserves a wider audience.

So, gripe acknowledged. Now, let’s get to the good stuff.

Here are a few books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors that I recommend not just for May, but for any time you’re looking for something smart, layered, and unforgettable.

Audition by Katie Kitamura

Genre: Literary Fiction

Kitamura excels at writing characters who drift just outside the emotional current, and Audition is no exception. The story revolves around an actress and a younger man meeting for lunch in Manhattan, but the real tension lies in the question: who are we performing for, and when do we drop the act? Whether with family, friends, lovers, or strangers, we’re always auditioning. This one’s sharp, elegant, and quietly unsettling in the best way.

Audition: A Novel

Amazon Kindle Edition
Kitamura, Katie (Author)
English (Publication Language)
205 Pages – 04/08/2025 (Publication Date) – Riverhead Books (Publisher)

Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

Genre: Sci-Fi/Heist/Cyberpunk

This book is what happens when you throw Blade Runner, Ocean’s 8, and a stack of bail bonds into a blender and hit “Hawaiian pidgin.” Edie’s just out of prison—thanks to early parole and one hell of a backstory—and now she’s got one last job that might be her ticket to real freedom (or real chaos). Fast-paced, funny, and ferocious, this is genre fiction with heart and a whole lot of grit.

Hammajang Luck: A Thrilling Science Fiction Crime Novel with a Touch of Romance, Take on the Tech God and Win Big!

Amazon Kindle Edition
Yamamoto, Makana (Author)
English (Publication Language)
356 Pages – 01/14/2025 (Publication Date) – Harper Voyager (Publisher)

Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara

Genre: Nonfiction/Technology & Identity

You might know Vara from The Immortal King Rao, but here she goes full throttle into personal essay and cultural criticism. Vara uses her viral AI-assisted piece about her sister’s death as a jumping-off point to explore how the internet—and tools like ChatGPT—reshape not just how we communicate, but how we construct identity. If you’re interested in where the digital and the deeply personal collide, this is a must-read.

Sale

Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age

Hardcover Book
Vara, Vauhini (Author)
English (Publication Language)
352 Pages – 04/08/2025 (Publication Date) – Pantheon (Publisher)

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

Genre: Gothic Fiction/Family Drama

Let’s talk drama. When trailblazing Chinese American actress Vivian Yin dies, her daughters expect to inherit her estate—but a surprise will throws everything into chaos. Think: family feud, mystery, and a possibly haunted mansion with secrets thick as fog. This is a juicy, slow-burn gothic novel with plenty of generational tension and ghostly unease.

The Manor of Dreams

Amazon Kindle Edition
Li, Christina (Author)
English (Publication Language)
352 Pages – 05/06/2025 (Publication Date) – Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (Publisher)

New

Dawn of the Axolotl: A Branches Book (Pets Rule! #9)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Tan, Susan (Author)
English (Publication Language)
08/04/2026 (Publication Date) – Scholastic Inc. (Publisher)

New

Anti Racism AAPI Support Stop Asian Hate Asian Lives Matter Tote Bag

Asian Lives Matter Shirt, support Asian American community and raise awareness against asian hate crimes? Makes a great surprise for anti asian racism supporter and activist who believes in the stop asian hate crimes movement. Show your support for AAPI
Show your support for Asian American Pacific Islander human rights with this #Asian Lives Matter Shirt, for supporters of AAPI community in the United States and to showcase that Asian lives matter. Grat gift if you, someone else supports #Stop Asian Hate.
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

New

National Asian American Pacific Islander Month AAPI Family Tote Bag

National Asian American Pacific Islander Month, Get this AAPI flag countries design outfit and celebrate AAPI heritage month, perfect gifts for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans for family gatherings & party
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Gifts for Men, Women, Girls, Boys, Kids will love this AAPI costume who loves to honor Asian American history, roots, and culture, perfect present for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, & AAPI Heritage Month cultural events
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

New

Hate Is a Virus Racial Equality Statement Tote Bag

Hate Is a Virus! Support the Asian-American Pacific Islander AAPI community and show your love with this awesome gift design.
Men, women and children can support human rights and racial equality.
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

SaleNew

Eaasty 48 Pcs Hispanic Heritage Month Sticky Notes Bulk National Latin American Party Favors National Hispanic Heritage Month Gifts Spanish Speaking Countries for Party Favor Supplies School Office

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage in Style: embrace the vibrant culture of Hispanic nations with our Hispanic Heritage Month sticky notes; Each set includes 48 sticky notes in 8 styles, featuring iconic elements like sombreros and national flags; Nice for showing pride and appreciation for rich traditions, these sticky notes serve as both practical tools and delightful celebrations of heritage
Quality Paper for a Smooth Writing Experience: crafted from quality paper, our Hispanic sticky notes bulk ensure a smooth writing experience every time; Whether jotting down reminders or crafting heartfelt messages, each note accommodates your needs without smudging or tearing; Enjoy the reliable quality that respects the significance of your thoughts and tasks
Generous Size for All Your Notes: with dimensions of 3 x 3.95 inches, these sticky notes provide ample space for your messages, to-dos, and reminders; Their optimal size makes them versatile, whether you’re at home or in the office; Capture thoughts and ideas with ease on these generously sized canvases that won’t cramp your creativity
Easy to Use Stick and Share: our sticky notes boast an adhesive back that’s easy to apply and remove, leaving no residue behind; They stay put on most surfaces without falling off, providing convenience in organizing your space; Whether marking pages or highlighting important points, these notes offer hassle-free usability
Rich in Traditional Spanish Elements: experience a visual feast with designs featuring traditional Spanish costumes, sunflowers, and more; Celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Hispanic culture through these artfully designed Hispanic Heritage Month sticky notes; Each style echoes the spirit and traditions that form this special cultural tapestry

New

AAPI Heart Asian American Heritage Month Flags Men Women Tote Bag

AAPI, Get this cool Asian American Pacific Islander heart country flags design outfit and celebrate AAPI heritage month, perfect gifts for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans for family gatherings & party
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Gifts for Men, Women, Girls, Boys, Kids will love this AAPI costume who loves to honor Asian American history, roots, and culture, perfect present for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, & AAPI Heritage Month cultural events
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

New

AAPI Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian Month Tote Bag

Asian American Native Hawaiian AAPI, Get this Asian American Pacific Islander design outfit celebrate AAPI heritage month, perfect gifts for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans for family gatherings & party
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Gifts for Men, Women, Girls, Boys, Kids will love this AAPI costume who loves to honor Asian American history, roots, and culture, perfect present for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, & AAPI Heritage Month cultural events
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

New

National Asian American Pacific Islander Month Rainbow AAPI Tote Bag

National Asian American Pacific Islander Month, Get this Asian American Pacific Islander rainbow outfit celebrate AAPI heritage month, perfect gift for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans for family gatherings & party
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Gifts for Men, Women, Girls, Boys, Kids will love this AAPI costume who loves to honor Asian American history, roots, and culture, perfect present for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, & AAPI Heritage Month cultural events
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

New

Islander Filipino Heritage Hawaiian Polynesian Pride AAPI Tote Bag

Islander, Get this cool Polynesian Hawaiian Asian American Pacific Islander design outfit and celebrate AAPI heritage month, perfect gifts for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans for family gatherings & party
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Gifts for Men, Women, Girls, Boys, Kids will love this AAPI costume who loves to honor Asian American history, roots, and culture, perfect present for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, & AAPI Heritage Month cultural events
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

New

Support AAPI Communities Asian American Heritage Month Women Tote Bag

Support AAPI Communities, Get this meaningful Asian American Pacific Islander design outfit and celebrate AAPI heritage month, perfect gifts for Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans for family gatherings & party
Asian Pacific Heritage Month Gifts for Men, Women, Girls, Boys, Kids will love this AAPI costume who loves to honor Asian American history, roots, and culture, perfect present for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, & AAPI Heritage Month cultural events
16” x 16” bag with two 14” long and 1” wide black cotton webbing strap handles.
Made of a lightweight, spun polyester canvas-like fabric.
All seams and stress points are double-stitched for durability, and the reinforced bottom flattens to fit more items and hold larger objects.

Final Thoughts

There’s no single story that can encapsulate the entire AAPI experience—and that’s the point. These books offer just a glimpse into a kaleidoscope of cultures, histories, and identities that deserve far more than a single month of attention. So read widely, read curiously, and don’t wait for someone to tell you it’s time to celebrate—just start reading.