Getting right down to it:
35. The Mermaid's Voice Returns in This One (Women Are Some Kind of Magic #3) by Amanda Lovelace
Personal, powerful, healing feminist poetry, and the last of a trilogy. Review here.
34. Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading by Lucy Mangan
A UK reading memoir. Adorable, informative, and a dream for all bookworms. However, it is responsible for a lot of disappointing reads for me this year, in its book recommendations. Review here.
33. Kaiju Girl Caramelise, Vol. 1 by Spica Aoki
A cute, funny, charming and touching monster manga. Review here.
32. Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg
Too cute, clever and refreshing for words. A perfect children's rhyming picture book, Review here.
31. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole (Illustrator)
An LBGTQ picture book about real life penguins, and family. Review here.
30. Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun by Guillermo del Toro, Cornelia Funke
Lovely, macabre adult fairy tale book adaptation of one of the best fantasy films ever made. Review here.
29. Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai (Writer), Kerascoët (Illustrator)
Beautiful, brave, relevant picture book. It's about Malala Yousafzai. Enough said. Review here.
28. Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama
Magical and fantastical manga. Adorable, dramatic, and also feminist. The art is rich and gorgeous. Review here.
27. Book Love by Debbie Tung
An hilarious and adorable little anecdotal comic for book lovers everywhere. So relatable and cute. Review here.
26. Sailor Moon: Eternal Edition 1 by Naoko Takeuchi
A brand new and iridescent Sailor Moon collector's edition manga. 'Nuff said. Review here.
25. Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya
Same with Fruits Basket, my favourite manga. I'm so happy! Review here.
24. Power & Magic: The Queer Witch Comics Anthology by Joamette Gil (Editor), Various
A special graphic novel anthology all about LBGTQ POC witches. It's as great, revolutionary and important as it sounds. Read it when you get the chance. Review here.
23. The Apple-Pip Princess by Jane Ray
An absolutely gorgeous and sweet fairy tale picture book starring a POC princess, who saves her kingdom via plantation and other kinds of growth. Personal growth. Positive energy, with a tinge of melancholy and tragedy. Review here.
22. Sophie's Masterpiece: A Spider's Tale by Eileen Spinelli (Writer), Jane Dyer (Illustrator)
A beautiful, masterful picture book that will make you cry. Review here.
21. The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg
A princess and pony book based on true events. Spectacularly written children's tome. Delightful, aspiring, and inspirational. An underrated gemstone. Review here.
20. Hortense and the Shadow by Natalia O'Hara (Writer), Lauren O'Hara (Illustrator)
Another marvellous picture book. Dark, majestic, ethereal, and unique. Review here.
19. Little Red Reading Hood by Lucy Rowland (Writer), Ben Mantle (Illustrator)
Amazing. Every child should read this, and every reader should read it to every child. Review here.
18. The Burning by Laura Bates
The greatest YA book about misogyny and rape culture I never want to read again. Review here.
17. Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack (Writer), Stevie Lewis (Illustrator)
My review of this masterpiece of an all-ages picture book says it all.
16. Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass by Mariko Tamaki (Writer), Steve Pugh (Artist)
A surprising Harley Quinn YA graphic novel. So gorgeous and diverse, and it does Harley justice, even as a teenager. Ingenious plotting, character work, and action. Mariko Tamaki is a fantastic writer. Review here.
15. The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt
Digestible feminist nonfiction about the women behind Disney's animation from the very beginning. Honest, well researched, and passionate. Review here.
14. The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner
One of the most adorable and entertaining witch comics I've ever read. Its diversity and huge relevance today cannot be overstated. Review here.
13. The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag
The best, most magical and soulful and life affirming chick lit for any bookworm or creative persons, who are also feminist. I can't wait to read Menna van Praag's next magical feminist book in 2020. Review here.
12. Going Off Script by Jen Wilde
Another terrific, queer, cute, diverse-as-hell, pop culture-heavy, and geeky-as-hell YA by Jen Wilde. Exceedingly relevant in the #MeToo era. Representation matters. Review here.
11. Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker (Writer), Wendy Xu (Artist)
A fantasy graphic novel that has everything. The cuteness and the diverse rep go beyond any prism spectrum; far beyond the solar system. Get ready to fall in love. Review here.
10. I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
The cutest and frothiest damn YA book ever. Like the best dessert you've ever tasted. Such colourful passions and sweetness burst from the pages and warm the heart. Review here.
9. The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O'Neill
Speaking of heartwarming and colourful. Another exceptional and adorable little fantasy comic by Katie O'Neill. There is more diversity in her stories than ever before. The characters are fantastic and unforgettable. Lovely, warm and comforting, like the best sweet tea. So good it's almost scary. Review here.
8. Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill
My new favourite poetry collection. It is poetry written especially for me. It is exactly what it says on the tin, and what the gorgeous cover promises. Review here.
7. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o (Writer), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)
THIS should have won the Best Picture Book category on Goodreads in 2019. A stunningly beautiful, achingly enchanting, personal and relevant book for all ages about colorism. Review here.
6. The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West
A modern nonfiction feminist text that is extremely relevant. It will terrify you and make you think. Lindy West is queen. Review here.
5. On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
One of the best graphic novels I've ever read, and one of the best science fiction stories ever made. So beautiful and damn near perfect that it's scary. And it's feminist AF. It's not just a comic or a story - it's an experience. Review here.
4. Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
A new favourite book of mine, and about time too. I'm so glad I gave it another chance after a miserable school study reading. A masterpiece of writing. For children and adults. Get ready to cry. Review here.
3. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki (Writer), Rosemary Valero-O'Connell (Illustrator)
A slice-of-life graphic novel about toxic relationships, that is a glowing piece of beauty. Of LBGTQ and POC love. No one can know what true perfection is, but this might come close to it. Mariko Tamaki strikes again, creating something so heart-achingly special. Review here.
2. Heartstopper: Volume One / Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman
These two shall share a spot. It is Heartstopper by Alice Oseman - do I need to explain myself? See my reviews here and here.
1. Your Silence Will Not Protect You: Essays and Poems by Audre Lorde
I may have reached pure holiness; true enlightenment. And it is from a feminist text from the seventies. But written with rawness, passion, rage, and solidity by Audre Lorde, a black lesbian and mother.
A nonfiction text is my favourite book of 2019. It is extremely relevant. And timeless. I mean it when I say that everyone needs this - this collection of essays and poems - right now, right this second. Trust me when when I say that it will set you free. It can save all lives. It can help make the world a better place for everyone in it. It advocates for universal equality with such unapologetic, no-nonsense, and no-excuses love and passion and wisdom, that you will admire Lorde for her strength, bravery and spirit. Outstanding. A triumph in writing. Read more about it in my review here.
That's it for 2019.
I actually can't wait for 2020. It is a brand new, refreshing start to look forward to. Never looking back.
Goddesses know that I've been through some hardships this year, and bereavements. There are a great number of things to unpack and regret, both personally and on a much wider scale. But I must never stop hoping. I must never give up the good fight, and I will keep going. I aim to read a lot less (a LOT less than 230, to be sure) in 2020 - I wish to improve my social life and spend as much time as I possibly can with my family. I wish for positive, groundbreaking change in my life, and I will be the proactive heroine in my own life. I won't be lazy, scared and disillusioned, and wait around for life to happen to me anymore. I will go out there and do things myself.
At least I've got a couple of adorable kittens now, and a new baby niece in the family. Always look on the bright side, and look forward to new bright spots to come.
Carry kindness, hope and love with you at all times.
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