Tour the World in 30 Books Blog Tour: Love From A to Z

Tour the World in 30 Books is a blog tour hosted by Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den in support of her local public library’s Diverse Book Drive. It’s in conjunction with a Diverse Book Drive hosted by the CCPL—a small, rural library in an area with a high poverty rate and a very homogeneous population, where people rarely have the means to travel or experience new perspectives. However, the library doesn’t believe that should stop people from learning more about the world around them, so they’re running a Diverse Book Drive through the month of September in an attempt to bring the rest of the world to the county instead. With a focus on MG and YA books, the CCPL aims to expose especially its young patrons to new and diverse perspectives and cultures.

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Book I’m highlighting

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s.

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

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10 Reasons you should read Love From A to Z

• This book is culturally diverse! Both the main characters come from diverse backgrounds and it’s something that S.K. Ali wrote so well.
• There’s chronic illness representation in this one as well.
• The Islam representation is something super close to my heart. This was the first book that I read that made me feel seen.
• There are wholesome family relationships that are guaranteed to make you soft.
• The writing will keep you hooked for the longest time. When I read this book I was so in love with the writing. I had such a hard time putting the book down because of it.
• This book is the most emotional roller coaster you will ever be on. I cried so much while reading this book. There’s no way you’ll finish this book without having shed a few tears.
• The book is written in the form of diary entries and you’ll definitely be thinking about starting your own Marvel and Oddities journal.
• The story is told from the points of view of Adam and Zayneb. Both characters are so easy to love. They each have quite different personalities. Zayneb has a very fierce personality and you’ll definitely be rooting for her throughout the book. Adam is an understanding, soft and loving characters.
• The romance was one of my favorite elements! Romance isn’t something I usually go for. The romance here was slow and sweet and it just left you with such a wholesome feeling.
• The books tackles a lot of important issues and talks about fighting for justice.

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Here’s how you can help!

CCL’s Wishlist:

You can donate books from their wishlist. Hardcover books are preferred. The book donations are used at the discretion of the library.

Amazon / Book Depository / Bookshop

Note: If you order from Bookshop, please send a message to sammie@thebookwyrmsden.com so the book can be removed to avoid duplicate purchases, as the site does not automatically remove them.

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Other ways to donate:

• Amazon book idea wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3OWBBXXOXVS2K
• Monetary donations: PayPal to orders@caseylibrary.org
• Gently used or other new book donations mailed to:
  Sammie Betler
  Casey County Public Library
  238 Middleburg St.
  Liberty, KY 42539

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The Tour:

September 1: Sammie @ The Bookwyrm’s Den – Introduction, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears || Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Dating Makes Perfect

September 2: Lauren @ Always Me – The Epic Crush of Genie Lo

September 3: Toya @ The Reading Chemist – Felix Ever After

September 4: Michelle @ Carry A Big Book – Sharks in the Time of Saviors

September 5: Shenwei @ READING (AS)(I)AN (AM)ERICA – The Astonishing Color of After

September 6: Maria @ A Daughter of Parchment and Paper – Patron Saints of Nothing

September 7: Bri @ Bri’s Book Nook – True Friends (Carmen Browne)

September 8: Bec @ bec&books – Lobizona || Jorie @ Jorie Loves A Story – diverse TTT

September 9: Sienna @ Daydreaming Book Lover – Loveless

September 10: Kerri @ Kerri McBookNerd – Raybearer

September 11: Noly @ The Artsy Reader – The Name Jar

September 12: Jacob @ The Writer’s Alley – Forest of Souls

September 13: Keri @ Are You My Book – The Tea Dragon Society

September 14: Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight – The Space Between Worlds

September 15: Melissa @ Ramblings of a Jedi Librarian – Girl in Translation

September 16: Livy @ Shelves of Starlight – Clap When You Land

September 17: Crystal @ Lost in Storyland – American Born Chinese

September 18: Lili @ Lili’s Blissful Pages – A Wish in the Dark

September 19: Leslie @ Books Are The New Black – The Poppy War

September 20: Noura @ The Perks of Being Noura – Love From A to Z

September 21: Crini @ Crini’s – A Pale Light in the Black

September 22: Rachelle @ Rae’s Reads and Reviews – Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

September 23: Dini @ DiniPandaReads – Wicked As You Wish

September 24: Madeline @ Mad’s Books – Spin the Dawn

September 25: Tessa @ Narratess – Brace Yourself

September 26: Kimberly @ My Bookish Bliss – Truly Madly Royally

September 27: Rena @ Bookflirting 101 – Anna K: A Love Story

September 28: Susan @ Novel Lives – Burn the Dark

September 29: Arina @ The Bookwyrm’s Guide to the Galaxy – A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

September 30: Maya @ http://mybookishbliss.com/ – Jackpot

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