Langley-Adams Library Recommendations

" For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F**k positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today.  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k  is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected American society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up. Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—"not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault." Manson advises us to get to

" Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack." (Goodreads.com) Dear Martin  by Nic Stone is worth the read. It sucks you in and you want to read it in one sitting. It does a great job at mirroring current events and the struggles that teens have dealing with double standards. Meghan McCabe Childr

Given (Series)   by Natsuki Kizu Genre: LBGTQ+ Romance The Given manga series  is a beautifully illustrated story about LGBTQ+ youth creating music, trying to figure out their feelings, and processing grief. I don't really read manga or watch anime but this series really drew me in. It was refreshing to not have a coming out story as the main focus. Blue Flag  (Series)   by Kaito Genre: LBGTQ+ Romance Blue Flag  is a manga series demonstrates the struggles of teen friendships, unrequited love, and figuring out one's path in life. It does a good job at addressing difficult topics in the true, self-conscious voice of teens. Our Dining Table  by Ori Mita Genre: LBGTQ+ Romance Our Dining Table  was a cute story about found families, food, and a little romance. I really enjoyed this manga. The illustrations were great, and the story was very sweet. It's a standalone manga with a satisfying ending. Be still my heart!​ Blue Period  (Series)   by Tsubasa Yamaguchi Genre: Contempora

" Nunchi  ( noon -chee):  eye measure. The subtle art of gauging other people's thoughts, and feelings in order to build trust, harmony and connection. Why did  she  get promoted? Why does the party only start when  he  walks in? And why do  they  always catch the bartender’s eye?  It sounds like they’re all experts in the art of  nunchi , even if they don’t know it. Nunchi  is the guiding principle of Korean life, but anyone can use it: it’s the art of reading a room, your way of understanding what other people are thinking and feeling, and using that to get ahead. Korean parents believe that teaching their children  nunchi  is as important as teaching them to cross the road safely. With great  nunchi , it feels like the world is on your side. Without it, you might get hit by something you never saw coming. If you’re thinking ‘not another Eastern fad, Marie Kondo already made me throw half my clothes away’, don’t worry: it’s not a fad. Koreans have been using  nunchi  to over