Below are the books that I finished in April and my thoughts on each. 

I'm not doing any formal reading challenges this year, but because April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance/Appreciation Month, and it's a significant topic for me, I decided to read books with Autism representation this month.

Why is it significant for me? My son is Autistic (diagnosed), as well as my cousin's son. In fact, with the research I've done since his diagnosis, I'm sure it runs in my family. If not for the political controversies and misinformation surrounding Autism, especially during the pandemic and happening now in the country south of us, I would try to get a diagnosis for myself. But it will not help me, and I need to be able to advocate for my son. 

But, I was labeled as "gifted" in school. And for anyone who has been around a bunch of "gifted" kids and done the research into neurodiversity and autism, you'll know that "gifted" is a title given to neurodivergent children who can mask well. Hence why the majority of my class was female. While I'm not sure if everyone of us in my class were neurodivergent, I am certain at least 90% were Autistic and/or an ADHDer. The "gifted" title focused on our neurodivergent strengths, but ignored the ways we struggled, instead telling us often that we "failed to perform to our full potential." I will say that the best thing to come from my "gifted" label was my parents being told that I think differently than others. Some parents are told their "gifted" children are smarter than others, but that is misleading and can lead to many mental health issues. Being told I think differently than others has helped me cope in many situations, but I still have a hard time understanding why some can't see the logic and obvious (to me) future results of certain actions. After my son's diagnosis, it's been an eye-opening experience, not only for me, but also for many in my family. We're learning, and trying our best to find ways to understand and support each other. It's not easy, and we're not perfect, but the knowledge we gain day after day, helps us through it all.

Anyway, it was another great month of reading. I'm not focusing on a theme for May, but in June, I will read for Pride month, and in September I will read books by Indigenous Authors since September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a symbolic day in Canada that recognizes the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools.

Books with Autistic Main Characters and by Autistic Authors that I’ve read and recommend:
Something More by Jackie Khalilieh - Autistic Main Character / Autistic Author
Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White - Autistic Character / Autistic Author
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White - Autistic Main Character / Autistic Author
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - Autistic Main Character / Autistic Author
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum Edited by Bex Ollerton - comics by Autistic and Neurodivergent Authors and Artists

Books with Autistic Main Characters, many by Autistic Authors that I own but haven’t read yet:
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Somebody to Love by Mariah Ankenman
Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
Speak Up by Rebecca Burgess 
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh - pre-ordered

There are many more on my Wish List. Please feel free to share any others I haven’t included so I can make sure they are on my Wish List, too.

Chapter One
Regroup
 
He floated, weightless and naked, surrounded by a reddish light and suspended in fluid. Something connected to his mouth and wrapped around his head, like a lover’s embrace.

He used to have a name. He searched his mind for some clue to his identity. I exist, so I must be someone. Or something.

That made sense, but got him no closer to an answer. He blinked. Who am I?

There was no immediate reply.

He lifted his hand. It was encased in metal. The gauntlet. That much he remembered, though it meant nothing to him. Except… it seemed different, somehow. Thinner.

He moved his arms in the liquid, and it sparkled around him where his shifting disturbed it. The metal extended down his wrist and along his forearm, like before, but now it went farther, around his elbow and up his bicep. He touched it with his free hand.

I can feel it. It was as if the metal had become a part of him, his nerves growing through it. He held out his metallic hand and flexed his fingers. What is it?

We call it uurcaa. It’s a sacred metal—it will protect you, and if your host dies, it will collect and save your soul. He could feel the emotions she held back from him. It is the last of its kind from our homeworld. Like us.

He blinked. Then what am I?

You are my son, Iihil. The progenitor, the one who has come before and the first of many more like you. The voice was deep and comforting.

Mother. Warmth infused him at her voice, and an eagerness to please her.

Still, something wasn’t right. He was more than that. He searched his mind, running up against that stubborn blankness. Somewhere beyond it were the answers he needed.

He’d been someone else. Before.

Who was I? Memories of a face—dark hair, intense eyes that nevertheless twinkled at him. Raven.

It came flooding back to him. His mother. His life in Gullton. Training to be a guard and meeting Raven for the first time. My name is Aik.

He reached for the mask that covered his face. It was suffocating. Something was stuck in his throat, and he coughed hard, trying to force it out, whipping around and causing the liquid around him to flash red in alarm.

Calm yourself. The voice was as thick and heavy as an ix hide, and just as soft and warm.

Aik pushed back. What are you doing to me? I don’t want this! Let me out! He thrashed about, trying to force his way through the suffocating liquid. The metal crept up his shoulder. If it covered all of him, he would be lost.

Calm yourself! It was more insistent this time.

Aik stiffened as an enforced lethargy settled over him. He lost control of his limbs, falling still in his floating prison. The voice pressed against his mind. You’re safe. Be calm, my little one.

​He closed his eyes and thought of Raven, trying to stay fixed on that face. I can’t let myself forget again.
Then the world around him dissolved, and he was swept up in a torrent of memories that weren’t his own.

*Please note that If I'm not enjoying a book, I won't finish it. And I don't ever rate books that I don't finish, because while a handful are bad, most of the time, they're just not for me, but I'm sure others will enjoy them.

Here's a list of my favorite reads from 2023...

• THE MISSED CONNECTION by Denise Williams
• THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS by June Hur
• AT THE END OF EVERYTHING by Marieke Nijkamp
• HELL FOLLOWED WITH US by Andrew Joseph White
• SOMETHING MORE by Jackie Khalilieh
• MALL PRIEST by Chris Heinicke and Kate Reedwood
• THE DEEP SKY by Yume Kitasei
• BOYFRIEND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall
• HUSBAND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall
• THE KEEPSAKE by Tess Gerritsen

Currently Reading and Enjoying...

• POLARIS RISING by Jessie Mihalik