Everything I Read in February, 2026

February:

18. Star-Spangled Jesus by April Ajoy - April Ajoy grew up the daughter of an evangelical minister who traveled to spread the Word of God to other countries and by RV in the United States before settling into the Dallas area to lead a large church. Like myself, she was a pious little thing, raised to believe that any little sin could end up causing her to be cast into Hell and therefore trying her best to be perfect. But, in spite of the fact that she was mostly homeschooled or taught in private schools, she had questions. And, there weren't always good answers. On January 6 of 2021, she and her Christian husband (they are both still Christians) watched the Insurrection and recognized people they knew. That was when it dawned on her that she was a Christian Nationalist. 

Star-Spangled Jesus describes growing up fully indoctrinated in the God-Guns-Patriotism of Christian Nationalism, what exactly Ajoy grew up believing, what changed her mind, and what it's like being a Christian who no longer is a nationalist. Of particular note are the facts that Christian Nationalists consider everything they don't believe "demonic" (something I've heard or seen a lot coming from certain personalities, lately), including voting for Democrats. I was lucky not to be so completely indoctrinated as to believe that everyone else was going to Hell but us Southern Baptists (although I knew people who thought that). But, as Ajoy described, I had a lot of irrational fears and it took me literal decades to deconstruct. The tone is slightly silly and sometimes she's a bit repetitive, but I think Star-Spangled Jesus is worth reading if you're curious about Christian Nationalism and what exactly is going through the heads of people who bizarrely say they're pro-life and then blow off solutions to things like gun control and abortion that don't put people in danger, who support the most braggarty sinner America has ever vomited up, and then go around referring to everyone they disagree with as a demon. A very interesting read. 

19. Poetry: January/February, 2026 - I've never even seen this journal, as far as I know. Maybe I just ignored it in the past, but I was in Barnes & Noble after an errand and decided to give it a go. Like short story anthologies, a journal of poetry is always going to have some you like, some you don't. And, that was definitely the case but I found enough favorites that I latched onto a couple of authors whose books I plan to hunt down and one I'll be stalking till he gets a book published (Andy Chen). There were two featured poets who were introduced with nice bios, both of whom intrigued me. And, I closed the journal thinking, "Hmm. I might want to get a subscription." 

20. A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich - I would not be surprised if my mother was a fan of Bess Streeter Aldrich when she was alive because she loved reading about Pioneers and was from Nebraska. Bess had Pioneer ancestors (or, maybe even close relatives) and the beginning of A Lantern in Her Hand is based on her own grandmother's story, she being an Irish peasant who married into the aristocracy, lost everything, came to the U.S., and then moved West. Abbie Mackenzie Deal, the main character whose ancestry mimics the author's, knows about her family history and has been promised one of the few treasures salvaged when the Mackenzie wealth was lost. Her greatest desire is to sing and to one day look as classy as the painting of her great-grandmother that she's heard described. But, when she falls for a farmer named Will Deal and they move west to the Nebraska territory, instead of becoming a great singer she ends up living in a sod house, raising children, and working the exhausting job of a Pioneer farmer's wife. As the years go by, Abbie experiences disaster and joy, success and loss. The story is bookended nicely by the story of her death, which begins and ends the novel. I particularly loved reading about the most challenging years in the sod home, before the family moved into a house. The only time I was briefly bored was when Abbie became elderly and started spending a lot of time reflecting on the past. But, I found A Lantern in Her Hand almost impossible to put down, so I gave it a 4.5/5 rating and I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.

21. Source: Poems by Mark Doty - Mark Doty was one of the poets recommended when I asked people on Threads to recommend accessible poets and I would say . . . most of the time, yes. There were moments I didn't follow but I think if you read his poetry aloud (or in your head like you're reading to an audience), doing so clarifies the natural rhythm. I had a few particular favorites but only wrote down two of them. "Essay: The Love of Old Houses" is one (the title reflects the content). The other is about a shop parrot who spends half his time hanging upside down, speaks to customers and has a sign on his cage warning that he bites. One of Doty's poems appears to be about men dealing with AIDS during the early years and is incredibly moving. His poems tend to be very long, pages long so that I didn't feel like there was anything I could photograph to share with friends. But, they don't feel so long when you're reading them to your audience (the cat) and really getting into it. 

22. The Cay by Theodore Taylor - In The Cay, it's 1944. Phillip has lived on the island of Curaçao for 4 years and is now 11. His mother hates island life and wants to return to Virginia but Phillip loves his life and his friends. When U-boats start blowing up fuel ships in the area, Phillip's mother decides that she and Phillip must return home; his father must stay for work. Disaster strikes and Phillip ends up on a raft with Timothy, an older black man, their ride to Miami blown out of the water. Phillip was hit on the head during the disaster and has lost his sight, but Timothy is strong-willed. When they reach a small island, he refuses to let Phillip mope and puts him to work. Blind people can work, too, he says. With WWII raging and no rescue in sight, will Timothy and Phillip survive? An adventurous read that I've reread many times since my elementary school librarian read it aloud in class. Rereading it now, I can see why it's the kind of book that restores interest in reading, as it did for both my sons during their aversion to reading phases. I read an extra copy that I bought at the library sale for my grandkids. I can't part with my own.

23. Proverbs of Limbo: Poems by Robert Pinsky - My general feeling about the poetry in Proverbs of Limbo is "too much effort". Also, I frequently agreed with one Goodreads reviewer whose review was a mere three words: "What the f***?" In other words, Pinsky's writing is difficult and inscrutable, so it requires effort to unravel what he's trying to say. I like straightforward, accessible poetry. I don't want to read a maze. Having said that, I had a few favorite poems from this collection but I wanted to get the book over with so I didn't mark them and then I couldn't remember which poems I actually liked. Bottom line: I probably will not read Pinsky again, in spite of occasionally liking a poem. 

24. Class Act by Jerry Craft - A companion book to New Kid, a Newbery-winning graphic novel that has been frequently banned, I happened across Class Act and decided it would be worth reading on. Drew has a nice circle of friends as he starts a new school year. Drew still feels a little self-conscious about the fact that he's a scholarship kid in his fancy school. When Drew and his friend Jordan are invited to friend Liam's house, which is extremely large and even has a heated swimming pool, Drew is thrown off-kilter. Additionally, there are reminders at school that he's Black all the time — people wanting to touch his hair, micro-aggressions. He knows he'll have to work harder to get by in life and the size of Liam's house feels like having that thrown in his face. Will he be able to continue being friends with Liam? 

Basically, I think the best way to describe this book is "an everyday look at life in an exclusive private school with glimpses of racism and its effects." The scene I liked best is one in which two kids are getting a ride from one of the Black fathers when he's pulled over for a broken light. The father is utterly terrified. The scene screams, "What we know can happen to a person during a traffic stop, merely because of skin color." And, it's extremely effective. Overall, an enjoyable and meaningful read. I like the fearless portrayal of racism, the sweet friendships, the humorous background details, and the budding romance. Has Class Act been banned? Briefly, because some Katy, Texas parents complained that it had "CRT" content. It was eventually returned to the shelf. 

25. The Android's Dream by John Scalzi - One of the better Scalzi titles I've read in recent years, The Android's Dream takes place in a future time when Earth has ambassadors from other planets and distant space travel is common. The story begins with trade negotiations in which someone from Earth at the table bears an old grudge against one of the Nidu ambassadors. An incident takes place and sets in motion the potential for regime change on Nidu. But, a Nidu coronation must involve a particular form of sheep. This sets off a hunt for the sheep, the result of which feels like a big, bad spoiler. A lot of hacking of computer systems, murder, attempted murder, escape, and a big furry thing called a Takk eating people leads to the final and very clever Human vs. Nidu negotiations and the ceremony. All of which is rather twisty and spoilery, so I guess I don't feel like I can say much about this book apart from: I liked it; I really really liked it. I have had this book on my shelf for a year or two but read it because of the challenge I mentioned in January. I didn't know who created it but I've found the source. It's the Massachusetts Center for the Book 2026 Reading Challenge. I spun the genre wheel at their site and got sci-fi for my February read. Lucky spin. I definitely recommend The Android's Dream. I keep telling myself I'm going to ditch any challenge that doesn't work for me but here I am, planning my March read. 

26. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower - Emma will soon inherit her birthright, Lapis Lazuli House, a 4-story London townhouse previously owned by her deceased father and inhabited by Cousin Archibald, related only by marriage and not a fan of Emma due to past events. Emma has been acting as companion to elderly Mathilde and is waiting for her pay for 3 years' work while Archibald has relegated her to the garret and is refusing to pay her allowance. Completely without funds, she does her best to make the garret look cheery and livable but Cousin Archibald has been up to no good. When Emma finds out, she takes charge in the only way she knows how. I read The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion for book group discussion. The first handful of pages didn't grab me but were pleasant enough that I was pleased when the story really began to unfold and it even became a bit addictive. However, at just over 100 pages, the series is a bit too expensive so I'm having to listen to the second book via Hoopla. Have I ever told you what a terrible listener I am? Also, earbuds hurt my ears. So, I have to hold a phone or prop it nearby on a pillow to listen. Well. We'll see how that goes, but I did love the first book and I'll keep pinching myself so I don't fall asleep through the second. 

27. On Drawing and Painting by Paul A. Landry - An older book (1977) on the basics of value, intensity, color mixing, perspective, supplies, etc., with walk-throughs of the steps made to create each of several paintings, On Drawing and Painting is for novices. While I've painted for years, I have mostly taken online follow-the-leader classes (where you copy the steps in a specific project) and lack some basic knowledge, so I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone already knowledgable about beginning art essentials. I personally liked the way Landry starts with very basic concepts and works his way up to showing how he creates a realistic painting. He describes oil painting, but the generalities of building a work of art still apply and he's given me some ideas for completing a pastel landscape. So, it was worth my time. On Drawing and Painting was a library sale purchase. 

Well, goodness, not my best month but there were a few jewels. I loved The Android's Dream, especially the clever way Scalzi pulled everything together in the end. I got some good basic information from the drawing and painting book. And, I am totally hooked on The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (but I still can't stay awake reading audiobooks so I'll be looking for paper copies at the library). Star-Spangled Jesus hit close to home but also contained some interesting information and I was relieved to be reminded that I wasn't indoctrinated into some of the worst of Christianity, although my childhood indoctrination was bad enough. 

A Lantern in Her Hand was excellent and I'm certain I will not forget the characters for a long time. Class Act was a good choice for Black History Month as it tackles racism head-on. And, I was pleased to find that The Cay still holds up well. This month's poetry choices all had some poems I loved but I discovered that Robert Pinsky is not for me. At least one of the poets who had more than one poem in the Poetry journal was so exciting that I feel like he should really hurry up and publish a book. And, I feel like it will be worth it to read more by Mark Doty. 

So, overall, I'm pleased with what I read in spite of not reading a great quantity. Also, my year of poetry is going very well with 6 books and one poetry journal completed. For the Massachusetts Center for the Book Challenge, March's prompt is, "A book featuring an unlikely friendship." I had to look online for suggestions and found James by Percival Everett, which several friends have been encouraging me to read. I doubled up and made it the book choice for my WhatsApp book group, so hopefully it'll both work for the prompt and be a fun discussion book. We shall see. 

Happy Reading and Happy St. Patrick's Day (a wee bit early)!

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