My May 2026 Round Up

- what I did this month -

Hello, friends! I can’t believe it’s already the end of May. The end of the school year goes by so fast, and a lot happened this month, so let’s get into it!

What I’ve Been Reading Recently:

Finding Fortune by Delia Ray

Quick Plot Summary: Whenever Ren feels like her life is out of control, she takes her bike and rides over to the nearby ghost town of Fortune. Recently her life seems to be taking a turn for the worst, so Ren decides to rent a room at the old Fortune schoolhouse, where the owner, Hildy, is trying to put together a button museum about the lost history of Fortune. But if Hildy can’t convince the local historical society to fund the exhibit, there may be no place for Ren to stay and help, and all the work they’ve put into the school will all be for nothing.

I remembered this book during a family discussion about the Mississippi River, so I immediately put it on hold at our local library and reread it! I really recommend this book for anyone interested in low-stakes middle grade fiction with lots of found family (my favorite trope!)

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Quick Plot Summary: After Bree moves from New York to Florida, she can’t wait to join the Math Puzzles team at her new school — she’s great at math, after all. But when the only elective left over is Swim Team 101, Bree must face her fears of swimming and work together with her team to try to win the local championship. But what if their team is already falling apart before they even begin?

I read this book in one sitting — I think this graphic novel sends a powerful message about community and facing your fears. I’d recommend this one as well!

What I’ve Been Listening To Recently:

“Into The Wardrobe” by Priscilla Sab is one of my new favorite songs of this month. It ties into her previous single, “Susan and Lucy”, which I highlighted a few months ago!

“Cosmic Sonata” by Ruth Long is a fun song that I feel like belongs in a Disney movie. Some of the lyrics kind of remind me of Jo and Laurie from Little Women!

A Writing Update:

I don’t know if I mentioned this a few months ago, but I’m only four chapters away from finishing the first half of my second draft, which will soon become its own book! While I was hoping to have the entire draft done by the end of this school year, I think half is incredible, especially with everything else that’s been going on!

A Life Update:

I baked a final batch of cookies for a class I was taking (they turned out super yummy!), and I’ve been reading a really interesting biography about the history of musicals. I’ve been watching the Cinderella musicals — the original 1965 version was so well done, and I was very impressed!

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