Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss the state of social media, including new updates on the TikTok ban and Facebook, they talk about how to cope when everything feels like it's too much, and talk about Barnes & Noble under James Daunt after five years. They also talk a little bit about three books: I AM AN AMERICAN: THE WONG KIM-ARK STORY; HELLO, TREE; and PARADISE ON FIRE.
How have you been?
Grace had a lovely surprise party for Lexi at High Five Books! Little Brown is doing a promotion with indie book stores. Book stores are offering prints signed by Grace. The Eric Carle Museum started to collect some of her art for “The Art of Grace Lin: Meeting a Friend in an Unexpected Place” show there in June. Alvina has been busy with so many meetings at work. It’s been the longest year ever and it’s only January! The Newbery and Caldecott awards are upcoming. Little Brown is predicting that The Yellow Bus by Loren Long will win a sticker and they HOPE Jump For Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle and Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang will both win stickers. Grace is hoping that Touch The Sky by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic and Chris Park may win or possibly The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker.
Social Media Changes
The book friends talk about Tik Tok, Facebook, and preferences settings. Grace is going to work on more email newsletters.
How to Cope
Grace was inspired to talk about this based on an episode of The Hidden Brain podcast. It was a great episode on generally how to cope with any kind of large systemic problems we are facing today.
The book friends talk about James Daunt’s leadership at Barnes and Noble. He was one of the first leaders to get behind the “books are objects” idea and that they should be celebrated.
“Tell Me About…” Segment
Grace talks about Trumps’s executive order trying to rescind the birthright amendment. Even though we have an Asian heritage, we are very much American. Grace co-wrote a book with Martha Brockenbrough and illustrated by Julia Kuo about Wong Kim Ark who’s legal case actually established birthright citizenship in the US. Read I Am an American!
Alvina talks about two books that have to do with forest fires. The first one is Hello, Tree by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. The other book is a survival and adventure story abotu race, class, and climate change called Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Gratefuls
Jewell Parker Rhodes latest book is called Will’s Race for Home made the New York Times Bestseller list!
Grace is so grateful for the indie bookstore in her own community High Five Books!
THANK YOU!
Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram and Threads, @alvinaling on BlueSky
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Instagram and Threads, @authorgracelin on Facebook, @gracelinauthor on TikTok.
Please keep tagging and messaging us on social media using the hashtag #bookfriendsforever! OR message us on Instagram @bookfriendsforever_podcast or email us at bookfriendsforever@gmail.com! Please let us know if you have any topic ideas!
Please JOIN OUR PATREON! We would love and appreciate your support for just $1.00 a month!
