June Books
all that I read in the month of June
Before writing was something I dreamed of, there was reading to escape with. This year to combat the lack of reading I had been practicing as a young adult, I set out with the goal to read 12 books and 5,000 pages this year. I figured with the goal of a book a month, it was doable with my life structure. As of today, I have read 19 books and 7,170 pages in the first half of 2026 alone. The books that I read in June were some of the best that I have ever dove into, so if you are looking for a new read you are in the right place!
Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas (2018)
Diving into Vargas work was jumping into a pool of life that I have never had to face. I was privileged to be born into a body with light skin, in a place that welcomes those that look like me in favor of those that don’t. Vargas is a phenomenal journalist, that has covered political news from the heart of D.C. - such as coverage of the 2016 elections. Being a queer, undocumented immigrant there were several challenges that Vargas shares in his debut book. He discusses the stigma on being a Filipino immigrant with the name Jose, the common assumption and association of the word “immigrant” with “Hispanic”, and breaking down the mental load that living a life of lies carries. Getting access to a new perspective on life, and the struggles one faces, was incredibly eye opening for me. It is hard not to find compassion for another with you are sitting face to face with their life story on the pages in front of you.
Our Migrant Souls: A meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” by Héctor Tobar (2023)
Following Dear America: Notes from an Undocumented Citizen, I wanted to further my research on the themes that were introduced by Vargas. Tobar breaks down the language that we use to describe race, and the origins of this vernacular as a whole. Exploring the meaning of Latino is the open door to explore what it means to be Black, White, or Brown. Through the perspective of Tobar’s own experiences and reflections, as well with context and lessons provided through history, both kept and oral, the reader is subject to a new world that lacks the structure of race as we define it in modern day. I feel as if I am not the one to retell these stories, as my lens holds bias due to not sharing the life experiences that both Tobar and Vargas have, however I will use my voice to advocate on the behalf of their works, and encourage others I know to read something that has nothing to do with them, but everything to do with what connects us as individuals.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (2000)
I grew up reading Stephen King, largely due to parents that adored his work and the macabre that surrounds his style. There are not many writers that have the amount of works that King does, and even of those, few that have consistently great work across the board. In his memoir, King breaks down his journey to today - his marriage, family, struggles with addiction, and a near fatal accident in which he was struck by a car. As both a reader and a writer, I often pull inspiration from my literary heros to help guide my path. Reading this was more of a conversation with a mentor, with someone who has worked their whole life trying to make it all happen. King has instilled in me a sense of hope, and perseverance to dedicate myself to the craft. I left this book feeling as if I had permission to keep trying, until “right way” came to me.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (2016)
Scythe was a book recommended (and borrowed!) to my by a friend. While this is not a book I would typically pick up on my own, I did enjoy something to breeze through while digesting the heavier reads through this month. However, even for a YA novel Scythe explores darker themes with some heavy content. In this post modern world, there are a set of Scythes that “glean” the immortal population in order to meet predetermined quotas as a form of population control. What I enjoyed about this book is not only Shusterman’s attention to world building detail, but also that after 10 years there is more to relate to with the introduction of A.I in our daily lives. It can open up some new thoughts on what it means to be human, and where we draw the lines of morality.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read over what I have to say :-)
Catch ya next time,
Allie Jo