I know updates have been few and far between lately, but that’s because a lot has been going on in my offline life that’s demanded my attention. Last week I accepted a new job as Youth Services Librarian for Pierce County Library System (WA), starting in mid-July. I will miss my colleagues and community at San José Public Library a lot, but I think that this new opportunity will be a good fit for me. I’m very excited and very happy.

In the short term, I’m also very busy. Once I finish up at SJPL, I’ll be apartment hunting, attending the ALA Annual in DC, and then moving. So regular updates aren’t likely to resume here until summer is winding down.

I have been reading a lot of graphic novels and manga lately, though I have not had time to review them properly. Here are three that I’ve I’ve especially enjoyed. Lola: A Ghost Story by J. Torres and E. Orr is the story of a Filipino-Canadian boy who has inherited his grandmother’s ability to see ghosts; its depiction of family as both wonderful and uncomfortable feels just right. Smile by Raina Telgemeier is a memoir about the ups and downs of growing up, framed by the story of the creator’s dental trauma. I think it will resonate with all of us who have experienced the joys of orthodontia. Finally, Twin Spica 1 by Kou Yaginuma is a science fiction manga about a girl who wants to be a girl who wants to be an astronaut. I had high hopes for this one, and I wasn’t a bit disappointed. I can’t wait to get my hands on volume two!