A Sign of Affection, Vol. 5 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 5 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #5, 164 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Yuki's life revolved around friends, fashion, her classes, and social media, until something interrupted her routine: a chance meeting with Itsuomi, a classmate-with a passion for languages, world travel, movies—and, increasingly, for Yuki. Amazed at how casually Itsuomi asked her out, Yuki couldn't help but wonder how serious this relationship was for him, but, with Itsuomi showing his devotion in little ways, every day, another thrilling thought has entered her mind: What if this new happiness could become her new normal?

My Hero Academia, Volumes 31 - 33

My Hero Academia, Volume 31 - 216 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 32 - 224 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 33 - 192 pages

Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb D. Cook (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

It's been a bit since we had a segment dedicated to developing Izuku and All Might's characters, and I honestly feel like some of this was a long time coming.  While the recent revelations concerning One For All and its users have definitely increased the amount of pressure on Izuku by a substantial amount, some of his ideologies have been foreshadowing this for some time now.  

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty | 544 pages | 2026

Three strangers’ lives are forever changed when they’re all drawn to a mysterious agency claiming to have unlocked the secret to time travel.

Anna, Teddy, and Jade are on a collision course. The Agency is the cause. It is also the solution.

On a quiet road nestled within the bustle of Sydney lies a nondescript storefront known simply as the Time Travel Agency. At once a confounding mystery and a beacon of hope, the Agency seems to attract those who need it most. Single mother Anna is in desperate need of change, and the Agency gives her the chance to begin her career—and life—anew. Teddy is a genius at salvaging businesses but needs saving himself, and he’s drawn to the Agency hoping to travel back in time to untangle his troubled childhood and his recently imploded marriage. Jade has no interest in the Agency at all, because there’s no way people are literally time traveling, right? Jade’s present is challenging enough, with her spirited, increasingly bad-tempered daughter and a deeply buried secret too painful for words. As Anna, Teddy, and Jade’s paths converge, the question of just how legitimate the Agency’s ventures into the past are becomes a mysterious, provocative, tantalising, and even heart-wrenching one to parse—but there is no denying that the ripple effects through all three of their lives are very, very real …

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The premise of this book sounded so great - magical realism, time travel, family stories, maybe a hint of romance... but the execution of this particular book just didn't work for me.

The story had some redeeming qualities in that the time travel was interesting to explore, there were some deep things to think about, and we certainly had some heartwarming moments. You explore the relationship between a teen girl and her mom, siblings brought up in toxic homes, and the nature of regret. The final part of the book pulled together in an interesting way.

Unfortunately, there was a lot that missed the mark. Most of the characters I found frustrating, especially Anna, who is thoroughly immature and insecure. It was difficult to convince myself to keep reading because I wasn't connecting well to the characters and it felt like nothing was happening through most of the book. Usually just a rinse and repeat of teen angst, parent anxiety, and "is time travel real?" I wasn't a fan of the formatting, which entirely gave up on connective tissue and just opted for page breaks, literally multiple times per page, sometimes even after each paragraph (or even a single sentence). This made for a very jarring reading experience, further adding to the confusion of the story. Certain portions were a complete jumble of randomness, quite literally, and it didn't land for me. And then once everything tumbled all over itself into a conclusion I was back to reading a terribly slow resolution and wishing it would just end.

Some folks will love this, truly. The quirkiness will be exactly what they enjoy, the family drama will be just their cup of tea, and they'll love these characters in a way I simply could not. If that sounds like your jam, please give this a try. It just wasn't my taste.

The Witch Boy by Lee Knox Ostertag

The Witch Boy by Lee Knox Ostertag

The Witch Boy #1, 224 pages

⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself.

Kristy's Great Idea: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier, Ann M. Martin

Kristy's Great Idea: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier, Ann M. Martin

The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

In this new graphic novel edition of the very first Baby-Sitters Club book, Raina Telgemeier captures all the drama of the original in warm, spunky illustrations. Witness Kristy's eureka moment, when she gets the idea for a "baby-sitters club" and enlists her best friends, shy Mary Anne and artistic Claudia, in an exciting new venture. But the baby-sitting business isn't the only thing absorbing their attention: Kristy is having a hard time accepting her stepdad-to-be, and the newest member of the gang, Stacey, seems to be hiding a secret.

1776 by David McCullough

 1776 by David McCullough-386 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

America’s beloved and distinguished historian presents, in a book of breathtaking excitement, drama, and narrative force, the stirring story of the year of our nation’s birth, 1776, interweaving, on both sides of the Atlantic, the actions and decisions that led Great Britain to undertake a war against her rebellious colonial subjects and that placed America’s survival in the hands of George Washington.

In this masterful book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence—when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color; farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known.

Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough’s 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.

Thoughts: This has been on my TBR for quite some time and I decided to finally read it for this month's challenge. I like that McCullough begins in late 1775 with the British perspective and the events in the British Parliament that lead to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. I learned some things about King George III (he had 15 children!) and his attitude toward the American colonies and the conflict that he viewed as a rebellion. I also learned that some British MPs (Members of Parliament) were more sympathetic towards the American colonists and wanted to try more conciliatory measures, but were ultimately outnumbered. This is a nuanced, even account of the first year or so of the American Revolutionary War and especially of Washington and his Continental Army. It was very bleak for Washington and the army for most of 1776. Even though the Declaration was signed on July 4, it was not looking good for the Americans for most of the year. The tides finally turned in late December, 1776 at the Battle of Trenton where the Continental Army surprised approx. 1,500 Hessians and routed them inflicting 1,100 casualties (111 dead or wounded, 900 captured). Up until that point it had been defeat after defeat. In early 1777, the Continental Army won another victory at the Battle of Princeton. If not for these two victories (especially Trenton), the American Revolutionary War may have ended quite differently. This was a really good read and I learned some things.

Spacewalking With You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

Spacewalking With You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

Kimi to Uchū wo Aruku Tame ni #1, 224 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Kobayashi just can’t focus--not on studying, not on work--and the adults in his life think he's in danger of becoming a worthless dropout. Then, one day, a strange new presence arrives in his class: an energetic and naive kid named Uno. Kobayashi saves Uno from getting scammed, and that close encounter launches a new friendship. Uno's definitely a space cadet, but Kobayashi can't help admiring the way he floats through life, and before he knows it, he might start feeling his feet lift off the ground, too...