Book Recommendations – 20 Books Inspired by Mythology & Folktales (Other than Greek Mythology)

In case you’re new to the Pond’s book recommendation posts, the recommendation posts are brought to you by Varian, the Pond’s very own Toadshifter who is knowledgeable in all kinds of magic! One of Varian’s ambitions is to get better at sewing, hence why whenever Varian has come up with their latest costume, they will always recommend a few books that inspired them!

I love stories inspired by mythology. I love when mythology-inspired stories feel familiar, taking elements and ideas and motifs from stories that have stood the test of time, and telling them in a fresh, contemporary, and exciting way.

But, I’ve noticed that whenever I look for new books inspired by mythology, the lists often recommend books that are inspired by Greek mythology. Don’t get me wrong – I think Greek mythology is awesome and books inspired by Greek mythology are pretty rad. For instance, The Star-Touched Queen is a retelling of Persephone and Hades blended with Indian folklore and Promise of Shadows has a Black main character that is also a Harpy.

Book Recommendations – 20 Diverse and Modern Retellings of Old Classics

In case you’re new to the Pond’s book recommendation posts, the recommendation posts are brought to you by Varian, the Pond’s very own Toadshifter who is knowledgeable in all kinds of magic! One of Varian’s ambitions is to get better at sewing, hence why whenever Varian has come up with their latest costume, they will always recommend a few books that inspired them!

I think we can all do with some diverse retellings in our lives.

Regardless of whether you think we should be reading classics – read classics, don’t read classics – I can confidently say that I personally enjoy diverse retellings more.

Book Recommendations – Funny Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud

In case you’re new to the Pond’s book recommendation posts, the recommendation posts are brought to you by Varian, the Pond’s very own Toadshifter who is knowledgeable in all kinds of magic! One of Varian’s ambitions is to get better at sewing, hence why whenever Varian has come up with their latest costume, they will always recommend a few books that inspired them!

Sometimes, I think we can all do with a book that makes you laugh.

Nothing feels better than reading a book that is just so charming and funny that it pulls you into the character’s world – and helps you escape the rush and mess, even if it’s for a little while. I’ve had the privilege of reading some truly hilarious books this year, so I thought I would put together a list of the books that literally made me laugh out loud – a feat, since I’m actually a very stoic reader!

Book Recommendations – Middle Grade and Young Adult Books with Young Activists, Part I

In case you’re new to the Pond’s book recommendation posts, the recommendation posts are brought to you by Varian, the Pond’s very own Toadshifter who is knowledgeable in all kinds of magic! One of Varian’s ambitions is to get better at sewing, hence why whenever Varian has come up with their latest costume, they will always recommend a few books that inspired them!

With what is going on in the world right now, activism has become a salient and powerful tool for fighting against injustice. More than ever, young people are getting involved in activism. Whether it’s participating in protests, everyday resistance, or working with their communities in movements, people, including young people, are faced with confronting questions that challenge the way they perceive society, the world, and themselves.

Book Recommendations: Latinx Heritage Month Edition! 20 Latinx Books to Read All Year Round

Our Friend is Here! is a guest feature at The Quiet Pond, where authors, creatives, and fellow readers, are invited to ‘visit’ the Pond! In Our Friend is Here! guest posts, our visitors (as their very own unique character!) have a friendly conversation about anything related to books or being a reader — and become friends with Xiaolong and friends.

Our Friend is Here: Latinx Heritage Month Edition is a month-long event at The Quiet Pond, where between September 15th and October 15th, Latinx authors and bookish content creators are invited to celebrate being Latinx and Latinx books. Find the introduction post for Latinx Heritage Month at The Quiet Pond here.

Latinx Heritage Month came to an end yesterday – but it doesn’t mean that we should all stop reading Latine books! Though I made a dedicated effort to read as many Latine books as I could during Latinx Heritage Month – I managed to read eight! – I put together this book recommendation post as my last post of our Latinx Heritage Month at the Pond series to encourage myself – and all of us! – to continue reading Latine books every other month of the year.