Week 1: Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

I got this school year rolling with a thin, sweet, and incredibly moving piece. Rainbow Rowell, author of Fangirl, Carry On, and other fantastic books about modern geekhood and emotions, has outdone herself with this 62-page novelette, written for World Book Day 2017. I never knew I could feel so many feels after knowing the characters for such a small amount of time. Kindred Spirits is about Elena, a Star Wars superfan who decides she ought to celebrate The Force Awakens' release by camping in line at the theater. She's seen pictures and read accounts of how people filled block after block when the previous films came out, and so even though it's winter in Omaha, she's sure she'll find a community of peers who care just as much as she does for Luke, Leia, Han, and their galaxy far away. Instead she finds she's one of only 3 people willing to line up in advance... but Star Wars means so much to her that she stays anyway and has a truly unique experience, getting to know herself and her two fellow liners over the few days they camp out.

I cried about three times reading this book, and my head is still buzzing with thoughts of the characters, the themes, the incredible turns of phrase, and my own Star Wars geekery. This was the perfect book to read the week before I went off to a convention dressed as Padme Amidala. But honestly? I think it's the perfect book to read any week. Highly recommended!