True or False is an easy-to-digest nonfiction look at fake news, how to spot modern fake news, and what the reader can do about it. The first half of True or False is an easy-to-digest nonfiction look at fake news, how to spot modern fake news, and what the reader can do about it. The first half of the book looks at fake news in a historical perspective, starting with Jack the Ripper and ending with Pizzagate. Each example reveals who started the fake news, who furthered the news, and how it impacted society at the time. The second half reviews how to determine fact from opinion, individual bias, media bias, spotting fake news articles, polling, fake photos and video, spotting fake news on social media, and how to investigate breaking news as it is happening.
The examples for each section are well explained and provide historical documents to back up claims. Once more modern examples come into play, the author provides screen captures from the internet. It is incredible how much influence each instance of “mainstream� fake news had on individuals and the financial gains the instigators were able to obtain.
I highly recommend this book to teens wanting to know more about fake news and/or who are just interested in the spread of rumors and far fetched tales.
The reading level for this book would make it accessible to students as early as 7th grade, though the content and concepts mentioned, while easily researched online and mostly public knowledge to anyone paying attention, are not the most savory for younger readers. This book should be considered for any students 10th grade and up. High School English, Political Science, and Journalism teachers should all consider this book for curriculum and discussion. The second portion of the book does include short observation activities that could encourage students to write in their copies, so offer photocopies of these short sections if you plan to distribute copies over several years. ...more
Three teens of color working for a local indie bookseller discover the shop is about to go out of business. Told from three points of view over the coThree teens of color working for a local indie bookseller discover the shop is about to go out of business. Told from three points of view over the course of one day, the three are determined to find a way to save the shop (of course). Naturally, there's romantic feelings and quirky bookstore customers involved, plus a dose of poetry. While it follows the usual rom-com tropes, the bookstore premise and diverse characters give it a fresh narrative (even if the BIPOC references feel a bit forced at times). A thoroughly fun read with a satisfying ending you can hand to book-loving teens of all ages. ...more
Skye Shin has always dreamed about being a K-pop star, but has been told her whole life that fat girls shouldn’t dance, wear bright colors, or draw atSkye Shin has always dreamed about being a K-pop star, but has been told her whole life that fat girls shouldn’t dance, wear bright colors, or draw attention to themselves. However Skye is done listening and has decided to audition for a K-pop competition reality show. The winner will go to South Korea and be trained to become a real K-pop star. When she makes it onto the show, she’s caught up in a whirlwind of competition, where she’ll have to deal with fat-phobia and an unexpected romance.
Lyla Lee’s I’ll Be the One is an adorable, swoon-worthy, contemporary novel that deals with body image, fat-positivity, family, and identity. Skye is a fat, bisexual, Korean-American girl who is not going to apologize for taking up space. She is confident, but has to deal with body-shaming from competitors and judges, social media, and her mother. The relationship between Skye and her mother is complex, and her mother is often unintentionally fat-shaming her out of “concern.� Many readers will relate to this complicated mother-daughter relationship.
Skye finds an unexpected romantic interest in a fellow competitor, Henry, who is a well-known model and is social media famous. I loved that I’ll Be the One portrayed a fat protagonist having a happy, healthy, swoon-worthy romance where her size is not treated as a “problem.� The romance between these two characters was sweet and heart-warming.
Teens who love K-pop will absolutely adore this novel, but readers not familiar with the musical genre will still enjoy it. I’ll Be the One will also be a big hit with readers who enjoy rom-coms and competition tropes. In terms of diversity, many of the central characters (including Skye and Henry) are Korean-American; there are numerous other BIPOC characters. Skye and Henry are both bisexual, and there are several other LGBTQ+ characters. I’ll be recommending I’ll Be the One to fans of Maurene Goo and Julie Murphy, as well as readers who’ve enjoyed Lyla Lee’s middle grade books. ...more
As an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, Manu and her mother try their best to go unnoticed in Miami. Manu has never met her father, whom her mothAs an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, Manu and her mother try their best to go unnoticed in Miami. Manu has never met her father, whom her mother tells her is from a dangerous crime-family. One day, Manu’s mother is picked up by ICE. While Manu tries to stay safe, she begins to trace her heritage—and finds a hidden school of brujas and lobizones (witches & werewolves). What’s even more shocking: she is one of them.
Lobizona is a beautifully written novel about an undocumented Argentine immigrant who discovers she’s a lobizona—a female werewolf. While uncovering secrets about her father’s lineage, she discovers that she is half human and half werewolf. According to tradition, only girls are witches and boys are werewolves. Manu not only has to grapple with the newfound realization that she isn’t human, but also that she isn’t supposed to exist. Her existence as a lobizona mirrors her existence as an undocumented immigrant. This was a creative and unique way to explore identity and the undocumented experience.
Lobizona is heavily inspired by Argentine folklore and has #OwnVoices Argentine representation. The novel follows Manu as she joins a school for brujas and lobizones. While there, she tries to find out the truth about her mysterious father, her heritage, and her powers. Meanwhile, she is desperately trying to figure out how to rescue her mother from ICE. There’s a lot going on in Lobizona, but Romina Garber handles these complex themes with care and attention. This novel also normalizes menstruation, which is wonderful to see in a YA novel.
The first in a series, Lobizona is a lush, beautiful YA novel that balances contemporary with magic. It touches on family, gender, identity, first love, culture, and so much more. It has a romantic subplot and contains some violence and suspense. The cast is almost entirely Latinx, and there are several queer characters. Lobizona is perfect for teen readers who enjoy magical school settings and are looking for a newer, more diverse series to fall in love with. I’ll also recommend it to fans of Anna-Marie McLemore and Zoraida Cordova. ...more
Yadriel’s traditional Latinx family has struggled to accept his identity as a trans guy. In his family of brujx, teen boys perform a ritual as they coYadriel’s traditional Latinx family has struggled to accept his identity as a trans guy. In his family of brujx, teen boys perform a ritual as they come of age, but his father has refused to let Yadriel move forward with it. Determined to make his family see his identity, Yadriel performs the ritual himself—and accidentally summons a ghost. The ghost he’s summoned is that of Julian Diaz, local bad boy, and Yadriel has no choice but to hide Julian while he figures out how to get rid of him. As they spend more time together, Yadriel begins to realize he doesn’t want Julian to disappear.
Debut author Aiden Thomas has easily become a new favorite of mine with this absolutely perfect YA paranormal romance. The cemetery setting is perfectly atmospheric, and the novel is rich with Latinx culture. The trans and Latinx representation are #OwnVoices; the cast is almost entirely Latinx, and has a variety of queer and trans characters. The romance between Yadriel and Julian is absolutely swoon-worthy and this ghost love interest wonderfully reminded me of Meg Cabot’s Mediator series.
Cemetery Boys also has a hefty dose of mystery: strange things are happening in the cemetery where Yadriel’s family lives, and he must figure out where these dark forces are coming from. This plotline will keep readers guessing and turning page after page. This novel also touches on complex themes like grief (Yadriel has recently lost his mother), identity, gendered expectations, friendship, and family (both blood and chosen).
Kelly Jensen (host of the "Hey YA" podcast and editor of two previous YA anthologies on feminism and mental health) is out with a new anthology that dKelly Jensen (host of the "Hey YA" podcast and editor of two previous YA anthologies on feminism and mental health) is out with a new anthology that dives into all things bodies. I'm typically wary of body-oriented books that tend to only promote the "love your body" ethos and center cis, able, white bodies. This book goes way beyond merely focusing on body size to offering a window into a diversity of bodies through the lived experience of its 37 contributors, including several popular young adult novelists, athletes, and activists. From living with a degenerative neurological condition to gender dysphoria to excessive facial hair, the collection addresses the realities of living in different kinds of bodies. Interspersed with the essays are short FAQ-like pages that provide accurate, and helpful information, breaking down terms like body positivity and disability terminology.
This book is a must-purchase for public and school libraries alike. Content is appropriate for most middle school students and older teens will get a more nuanced understanding from the collection. It's an outstanding springboard for discussion and to promote greater appreciation and empathy for all bodies. Adults and teens alike can learn so much from this collection, as well as get inspired to dive into more work from its many talented contributors....more
Nicholas Cox and Seiji Katayama have devoted their lives to fencing. Both are talented, but only one has had any training and that's Seiji, the #2 ranNicholas Cox and Seiji Katayama have devoted their lives to fencing. Both are talented, but only one has had any training and that's Seiji, the #2 ranked fencer in his age division. But that disparity does not stop Nicholas from going toe-to-toe with him at a local tournament. He doesn't win but he does catch the eye of a coach from Kings Row Boys School, a boys boarding school with an ambitious fencing team. When both athletes end up at the school as freshmen seeking a spot on the three-person fencing team, it is clear an epic rivalry has begun! But not all the drama happens on the piste as these two are forced to be roommates and the competition with last year's team and other up-and-comers is as intense as the flirtations between players.
This is a true comics-manga mashup. It's formatted like an American comic with four volumes so far that are roughly the same size and shape as a Marvel or DC release. Full-color illustrations and western panel styles will frame readers expectations. But this series is clearly inspired by sports manga, and has many elements of that format. Much of the illustration is richly detailed and evocative in the ways that American Comics often are. But there are plenty of cut shots with cartoonish renderings of the characters with heart eyes, cheek blushes, sparkle stars and other iconic manga expressions. The story is also much like sports manga unfolding in excruciating detail from match to match. It takes a full three volumes for the fencing team even to be formed. Which leaves open the possibility for a large number of volumes, especially since the two protagonists are still high school freshmen. The good news is these first four volumes have plenty of action and establish relationships and characters really well. There is enough here to hand to a reader to get them hooked. And the fourth volume ends at a place where there is clearly more story coming but no frustrating cliffhanger. There is plenty of action on the piste, and sports fans will recognize the tension and drama as the competition escalates and the team comes together. It is not necessary for readers to know anything about fencing, before starting. There is sufficient exposition designed to help readers come to understand the sport and world of fencing. But there is also lots of drama off the piste, too with relationships, rivalries, romances and friendships blooming. There is racial diversity among the characters including a black team captain, Asian protagonist, black female coach, and characters with names and skin tones and facial features that come from all over the globe. There is also diversity in gender and gender expression as well as sexuality.
Bottom line: this is a fun and fast read about personal growth and teamwork and overcoming challenges. And with volumes still arriving, this is a title I can book talk over and over. No drinking or drugs or violence and limited references to off-page sex means I will be handing this to middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults! ...more
On a very terrible day during which Bea ruins her best friend and little sister's life, she is killed in a car accident while wearing her least favoriOn a very terrible day during which Bea ruins her best friend and little sister's life, she is killed in a car accident while wearing her least favorite pair of jeans. Good people go to heaven, bad people go to hell, but what about all those people who were somewhere in between? It turns out they end up at The Airport, a kind of purgatory where everything is just as bad as in real airports. The food is all suspended in jello, the only music anywhere is the last song you heard while alive, but rendered in various forms of muzak, and the uniforms are polyester. So what is Bea doing here? Apparently she’s atoning for the ways she intentionally made people miserable on earth which she does by helping thousands of unresolved souls get to heaven using the Memstractor 3000. But wouldn't you know it? The third soul she's expected to help is Caleb, the boy who killed her when his car ran into hers because he also died in the accident that killed her. What's the right answer in this kind of situation? Forgiveness? Confusion? Revenge? Or no, it couldn't possibly, could it...be love?
Purgatory is ripe for satire, especially when mixed with just enough emotion to keep it from being slapstick. Noone has created a very funny in-between place and filled it with witty characters. The story is told by Bea herself alternating between her time at the airport and reflecting on her last days on earth. The focus is on her self-actualization as she is forced to confront how she behaved to her family and classmates while alive, while also deciding how she's going to be in death. All of this makes her an interestingly complicated character. The secondary characters (Sadie, her mentor, Jenna, her roommate, Caleb, the boy who killed her/love interest) also have their own complications. That's another side benefit of placing a story in purgatory where nobody is entirely good or bad. The relationships between characters help to fill out a relatively quick story. It takes place over a short period of time in a very specific place, and there are not a particularly large number of characters. Caleb is the only identified non-white character and his mixed-race Mexican lineage plays into the story in a few interesting ways. The real interest in this book is the mix of sweetness and saltiness, the philosophical musings about the nature of the afterlife (if you have a stroke while applying lipstick, does it stay on your teeth forever?,) and the quirky rom-com vibe. No sex, no drugs, no swearing, and a healthy dose of snarky humor make this appropriate for nearly all teens. Fall in love with Bea and Caleb. Or don't. Either way, The Airport is a setting that will stick with readers....more
Liz Lighty is the least likely prom queen in Campbell County Indiana. She is queer, black, poor, and completely uninterested in fashion or popularity.Liz Lighty is the least likely prom queen in Campbell County Indiana. She is queer, black, poor, and completely uninterested in fashion or popularity. The only reason she even wants to be prom queen is for the full ride scholarship students win when they are crowned queen or king in this prom-obsessed school. Liz has earned a spot at prestigious Pennington College which is her dream school for music, but she did not earn the scholarship she hoped for. There is no way she's going to let her grandparents know because otherwise they would sell the house where she and her brother have lived with them ever since their mother died of sickle cell anemia. So as unlikely as it seems, Liz and her friends hatch a plan to make her the prom queen. That is how she meets Mac, another girl running for prom queen whose incredible eyes set Liz's heart on fire. Between the pom-bots (do not confuse them for cheerleaders) and jacket jocks working to sabotage her, keeping secrets from her devoted grandparents, drama among friends as ambition and loyalty collide, the complications of starting a relationship when being out would ruin her chances at a crown, and trying to manage her own panic attack,s as well as her younger brother's sickle cell...let's just say Liz has a lot on her plate. Still she keeps up her determination because that's the Lighty way! Does she have what it takes to make it onto the stage as the prom queen? And if so, will she have anyone left in her corner by the time she gets there?
This is such a fun and uplifting story about a determined teen going after their goal, even when their goal is unexpected. Liz is a great character because she's honest about what she wants and why she wants it. Even when she feels like she can't tell the people who care about her what is going on, she thinks critically about why that is and isn't afraid to re-evaluate her choices and change her mind. In the end she ends up changing not just what it means to be prom queen for her and her friends, but for the whole school. In a setting that is all stereotypes, Liz breaks right through and shows that you can have your prom and your principles too. An empowering, diverse, effervescent rom-com of a book with no swearing or drinking or sex, this is the perfect book for any teen who has thought about prom and wondered if there maybe isn't more to it than what an 80s movies shows. This is the sweet prom romance even I could get behind! ...more
This book is exactly what the subtitle says it is: a collection of stories of hope and black girl magic. It is a wonderfully diverse collection of stoThis book is exactly what the subtitle says it is: a collection of stories of hope and black girl magic. It is a wonderfully diverse collection of stories that center protagonists who are black girls, women, or non-binary people. Besides that, the stories have almost nothing in common. There are all sorts of genres represented: fantasy; science-fiction; historical; mythology, and romance. The characters represent much of the gender and LGBTQ+ spectrum. There are some big name authors (Ibi Zoboi, Justina Ireland, Elizabeth Acevedo), but also some authors I had not heard of before, all writing uplifting own voices stories.
Diversity in ability is represented in a narrator who has an audible lisp. At first listen, I wondered whether the lisp would be distracting. But no, it took my ears about half a story to adjust to their voice and then I settled in just fine. Though it did make me wonder: how hard is it for this talented narrator to get work? And why? I am going to go look for anything else they have read because I really appreciated what it meant for me as a reader to so easily become accustomed to a diverse speaking voice representing diverse authorial voices. It was an apt metaphor for me about taking a little time to adjust to something new and let it open new worlds. Which is exactly what these stories did: opened new worlds!
As for the stories themselves, these would be suitable for middle school readers and up, without swearing or sex or much violence. These are stories of black experience which means that sometimes the context they are set in is hard. In other stories the context is black joy, and in all cases the stories take a hopeful perspective and are not bleak or harsh. With mermaids and scientists, triumphing protagonists, and smoldering romances there's something for just about everyone in here. Highly recommended for its inventive, engaging stories taken individually and for the way the stories come together in one big celebration of black girl magic. ...more
Being a teenager isn't easy, even if your parents are actually gods. For Isadora, ordinary teenage difficulties are compounded when she learns that, uBeing a teenager isn't easy, even if your parents are actually gods. For Isadora, ordinary teenage difficulties are compounded when she learns that, unlike her parents Osiris and Isis, she is not immortal. She needs to get away and figure out who she really is and what her life is going to be like. Meanwhile her usually over-protective parents need to get Isadora out of Egypt because they sense impending danger. It's a win-win situation when they pack her up and send her off to live with her older brother Cyrus in San Diego. It's only for a few months until her mother, pregnant again, safely delivers Isadora's newest sibling and can gather her strength again. Yet when Isadora arrives in San Diego, she must contend with a job at a museum setting up an exhibit honoring her family, making new friends, resisting the temptation of the unbearably handsome Ry, and also the unsettling feeling that things may not be as safe here as her parents thought.
This book has such a promising premise: a contemporary romance mythology mashup with the daughter of Isis and Osiris as the protagonist. I really enjoyed the beginning and the setup in Egypt where readers are introduced to the characters (most of them gods) and get to know them as people. The dynamics of family become so real even in this enormous, mythic setting. Then the story moves to San Diego and it takes on a beachy romp feel which was a bit jarring. Isadora's sheltered upbringing results in an odd mix of things that she knows and doesn't know, some of which are hard to explain. At times it feels like whether she knows something or doesn't is only there to move the plot along. And it is a plot that needs moving along: a family revenge drama that plays out as a thriller set in a museum.
There was a promising theme through the majority of the book with a strong female protagonist who refuses romance and motherhood. That was unfortunately spoiled when the escalation of the tension leads Isadora to completely fall apart and rely on the love interest she has been fastidiously denying throughout the book. I was similarly disappointed by a number of unfortunate references to bodies and body-shape that are not particularly body-positive and some scenes (like one where Isadora takes off her shirt for no necessary reason and runs through the rest of the scene in a sports bra) that feel like they are written specifically for a feature film. There are definitely things to like about this book including the way it centers a strong women protagonist and the way it weaves ancient mythologies into contemporary storytelling. There are also some charming swear word alternatives like "floods!" and with no sex, no drinking, and relatively little violence, this makes for a safe recommendation for middle school as well as high school readers. This isn't my first choice, but you could certainly hand it to readers of tension-filled romances who like an infusion of mythology or atmosphere. ...more
Ridley and Jubilee are unlikely romantic heroes. He's the anxiety-suffering, oft-overlooked son of a comic book mega-legend. She's a hyper-focused celRidley and Jubilee are unlikely romantic heroes. He's the anxiety-suffering, oft-overlooked son of a comic book mega-legend. She's a hyper-focused cello prodigy whose mom is an indie comics writer and owner of a struggling comic book shop. Going to the comic prom is definitely not what they would ordinarily consider a good time. Yet here they are, awkwardly meeting in the elevator, not yet knowing they are the children of sworn enemies, and inevitably falling for each other. When Ridley figures out what is going on he is determined to find a way to stay in contact with this amazing girl in spite of their families. But will the feud between their families prevent them from a happy ever after?
This book is a sort of a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in a comic book shop. It’s also partially a contemporary romance between two kids with problems of their own. I wish it had decided which one it wanted to be because there was too much plot and too much manufactured drama for such underdeveloped characters. Ridley ends up being not much more than anxiety and a skateboard with terrible parents. Jubilee ends up simply a cello player with two parents and two best friends who are super-concerned about her while she's super-concerned about her sexuality.
There are definitely things to like about this book. The racial and queer diversity of the characters is a highlight. Jubilee is eloquent in her exploration of sexuality across the gender and sexuality spectrum, and this is neither an add-on nor a distraction from the plot so much as an authentic unfolding of a young person's burgeoning sexuality. Descriptions of Ridley's anxiety and the ways it impacts the life of others is also well done. I appreciated the energy that went into describing the details of his anxiety and how it played out. I only wish other features of these characters and their lives were as fully explored. My main complaint with this book is it built up manufactured drama and situations. By the time the authentic conflict arrives toward the end of the book I had nearly given up on anything real happening. So the ending came as a bit of a shock. If Dugan could have infused the first two-third of the book with some of that same emotional depth, it would have been a more balanced book.
Even so, this is a story of star-crossed lovers set in the comic book world and so some teens are really going to eat this up. There is no cursing and no on-page romance that goes further than kissing. There is one reference to a make-out session that gets handsy, but that's it. There is significant discussion of mental health issues including frank discussions of self-harm, though little o- page violence and a hopeful ending. All of which suggests this book would be suitable for middle school as well as high school readers....more
Nineteen short stories, all romances, most with queer protagonists that explore the sweet, sad and steamy sides of young adult love all along the gendNineteen short stories, all romances, most with queer protagonists that explore the sweet, sad and steamy sides of young adult love all along the gender and sexuality spectrums. Some of these stories are light-hearted or silly, some are sweetly sad and nostalgic. Some are autobiographical, and it's really fun to hear David Levithan reminisce about his own relationships decades later. Others are fiction and bear Levithan's trademark clever sensitivity to the trials of coming of age. Have a return visit with A from Every Day or the protagonists of Two Boys Kissing. Or encounter new teens falling in love at a quiz bowl competition or in a gender bending take on the iconic quarterback and cheerleader story. You never know who you'll meet and fall for in a collection like this!
This is a charming, but somewhat disjointed collection of short stories. They were each written by David Levithan as part of his Valentine's Day tradition to write a love story and send it to his friends. Because they were written years apart and not intended as a collection (this is the first time they have been brought together), they have a little trouble hanging together in a coherent narrative. They are clearly thematically linked, but the way they jump around between fiction and memoir, spanning from the 1990s to day, makes it difficult to keep in the flow. The characters are wonderfully quirky and their choices and thought processes ring true. There is the question throughout of which characters were David Levithan himself, which were semi-autobiographical and which were complete fiction, and his fans will enjoy that aspect. Plus for library and book-loving readers in general there are nods and winks and appreciations from the author throughout. The whole last story is a gratitude for libraries and English teachers and book lovers everywhere!
As with others of Levithan's books, these are romantic stories with limited cursing, violence, drug use, or alcohol. The only thing that makes me hesitate to recommend it to middle school readers is how much of this feels like it was written by adults for adults. High school readers probably will be able to manage it, but middle schoolers might have more difficulty switching back and forth between David Levithan the author and David Levithan the memoirist. Still each story was genuinely enjoyable and I recommend this book to fans of contemporary romances, especially queer contemporary romances. In particular, I recommend it to readers looking for something easy to stop and start or at least recommend that readers enjoy each of the parts on their own without getting hung up looking for a cohesiveness from it. ...more
I cannot recommend this five-star read highly enough. The story is a sequel to Stone's 2017 book: Dear Martin, but you can absolutely read this story I cannot recommend this five-star read highly enough. The story is a sequel to Stone's 2017 book: Dear Martin, but you can absolutely read this story without having read the first book or if it’s been awhile . This book is told from the perspective of Quan, in a series of letters to Justyce (the protagonist of Dear Martin). Quan recounts the circumstances that led to his incarceration for a crime he didn't commit. This book takes a searing look at systemic racism, the imperativeness of having someone in your life looking out for you, hope, and redemption.
This book covers a lot of heavier topics and mature themes, so it's one to give older high school students, though it is timely and moving reading for any adult too. ...more
This book is a terrific coming of age, young adult novel. It joins the number of current young adult novels set in the 1990s. In this case, it is 1992This book is a terrific coming of age, young adult novel. It joins the number of current young adult novels set in the 1990s. In this case, it is 1992 Los Angeles amidst the Rodney King riots. Hammonds Lee deftly explores the myriad of ways micro- and not-so-micro-racial aggressions play out in the life of a black teen. Fans of The Hate You Give will see a lot of parallels, though this book goes more in-depth to the interior world of the protagonist. I wish there had been further character and plot development, but found the book compelling throughout.
I found The Black Kids to be extremely timely given the current racial unrest, and a searing critique of how we've evolved (or in many ways, not changed at all) as far as race in American society. The cover also is gorgeous. It is definitely a title to add to your library collection, hand to your older teens, and would make for a thoughtful book club pick....more
The year is 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria, when the story opens on twins, Bibike and Ariyike and their two younger brothers, Peter and Andrew. Their family iThe year is 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria, when the story opens on twins, Bibike and Ariyike and their two younger brothers, Peter and Andrew. Their family is stable: a mother with a good government job; a father who is a risk taker, and all of their lives are held tightly together in spite of difficulties. But when their mother loses her job and father makes a bad gamble, the family is forced apart, and all four are set onto very specific trajectories. The boys are destined for a military boarding school that grows them up in the kinds of toxic masculinity and brutality stereotypical of such schools. The girls are torn between a grounding in a charismatic church and their desire for secular life that includes education or stardom. None of them are on an easy path and the hard turns their lives take are like blows. Readers are left to watch as they face these challenges and work to maintain connections to each other even as the absence of their parents haunts them.
Debut novelist, Abraham has written a beautiful and devastating story with rotating narrators in a true ensemble cast of unforgettable characters. It is a family story and a story of self-identification filled with heartbreak, violence and destruction. There are some relationships and some romances, but that is not what forms the core of the story. Neither do friendships, religion, war, or poverty, though certainly all of these things are in the universe of these four protagonists. What is at the core is family, and for one sister it is about what it means to be a twin seeking separation. For another, it is about a younger brother following behind his older brother so he can keep an eye on him ensuring he won't be abandoned. For all of them, it is about trying to find a way inevitably forward after family tragedy and separation. This is a beautifully written book that shifts tempo and tone with sections that are more and less comic or lyrical. To be sure, it is a hard story in many ways and particularly for women as there is a lot of sexual violence. I would not recommend it to less mature readers for this reason. Still as a reader who never been to Lagos, and likely never will, this was an unbelievable #ownvoices window book for me. ...more
Olivia is a biracial Japanese and white figure skater trying to adjust to regular schooling after a terrible crash and burn on her last performance. TOlivia is a biracial Japanese and white figure skater trying to adjust to regular schooling after a terrible crash and burn on her last performance. That fall was devastating, but if she's being realistic, that was probably the last skate of her career anyway since her partner has gone off to college. Olivia's trying to make friends and get good grades while also working at the skating rink owned by her famous Olympian parents. Meanwhile, Jonah is the new kid in town, a biracial Korean and white, short track speed skater whose family is paying top dollar to use the rink. He has a one-in-a-million talent, the kind Olivia used to think she had. The two end up at the same lunch table at school and suddenly they have to figure out how to fit in skating, friendships, school, family, and maybe even a little bit of love. But between huge aspirations for their skating careers and drama within their families nothing is guaranteed.
This is a cute contemporary romance with a sporty twist. Nearly the entire cast is Asian and the book takes on stereotypes about Asian teens and biracial teens very directly. I was surprised to see such a direct approach from a white author, though as the writer is a mother of biracial children it makes sense. The characters are not as fully dimensional as I might have liked and one can forgive their narrow focus because they are world-class athletes. The ensemble cast does include roller derby skaters, interesting family dynamics, and some less extraordinary teens to offset the superstar power of the protagonists. It is a relatively tame book with no cursing, drinking or drugs, and no more romance then some heavy petting. With a sweet romance and positive messages about balancing your dreams against reality and trying to identify what you really want in life, this book will be at home in collections for middle or high school readers. ...more
The golden boys of the St. Andrews Prep lacrosse team have it all. But when they try to have it their way with Jade on the night of her 16th birthday,The golden boys of the St. Andrews Prep lacrosse team have it all. But when they try to have it their way with Jade on the night of her 16th birthday, they get more than they bargained for. Jade, Jenny, Mads and Summer are not just sparkling best friends, they wield a power that once infused with vengeance is unstoppable, and their goal is to upend the entire power structure at St. Andrews Prep. All they need is a way in, and that's where practically perfect Mack, an ambitious teammate comes in. Mack will be the last man standing after Jade has done away with all the other boys one by one because Jade is going to take the brutality of the attack against her and use it to fuel a violent revenge streak unlike any St. Andrews has seen before. If this all seems Shakespearean in scale that's because it is!
This is an amazingly juicy retelling of MacBeth set in a stereotypical prep school where the witches are mean girls and Lacrosse players are royalty. The resulting book is part Pretty Little Liars and part literary magic. It has the out-sized scope and drama of a Shakespearean play and if it weren't so clearly a Shakespearean retelling it would be almost too dark and violent to be accepted. Since it is Shakespeare, holding back on any of the gore or drama would do a disservice to the original story. This contemporary retelling has kept the characters, the place names, and the plot points, but updated to contemporary times. It has also incorporated diverse characters with both trans and gay characters among Jade's best friends and set it all in a #metoo story with the bloody revenge motivated by a gang rape at a party. Between the sexual violence, drinking, pot smoking, off-page consensual sex and murders, it is not for timid readers. Yet try handing this to pop-culture loving teens who can't believe they *have* to read Shakespeare and see if they come away convinced that this kind of high stakes, high drama plotting might be worth the work. I know it makes me want to read more Shakespeare!" ...more
The senior class president and a previously home-schooled 10th grader aren't supposed to even meet, let alone become life changing friends. But David'The senior class president and a previously home-schooled 10th grader aren't supposed to even meet, let alone become life changing friends. But David's in the hospital where Jamie spends most of her after-school hours either volunteering or hanging out with her mom. So as unlikely as it would have seemed to them, a friendship does blossom over old classic movies and origami. If medical histories, families and friends don't get too far in the way it may turn into something more. In fact they might find more than just each other - they may even find themselves!
This is a sweetly romantic book with positive messages about taking care of yourself and what healthy relationships involve. David and Jamie are appropriately confused and conflicted about their own lives and the relationships they have to each other, their families, and to their friends. Through each other they learn that there are lots of ways to suffer and lots of ways to hide. They also learn there are lots of ways to be friends and lots of ways to be your authentic self. Each has complicated health histories (physical and mental) but there is no real drinking, drugs, violence, or cursing, making this an appropriate title for both middle school and high school audiences. These characters use some decidedly mixed-up teen logic, and there are plot imperfections that pump up the drama, still all of it is grounded in the reality of these two likeably imperfect protagonists. A lack of diversity in the characters (both protagonists are presumed white and straight) is my only complaint, but I will still recommend this to fans of John Green or Jennifer Niven. ...more
Sierra and the whole house of Shadow and Light are at war. At the end of Book #2, Shadowhouse Fall, they got physically separated - some in jail, someSierra and the whole house of Shadow and Light are at war. At the end of Book #2, Shadowhouse Fall, they got physically separated - some in jail, some in hiding, relationships tested or severed. Now the hierophant wildcards have come into play, things are heating up and threats are escalating. And with a spy in their ranks, the stakes have never been higher. Sierra is empowered by a deal her ancestors made with death; ancestors whose stories intertwine with Sierra's own imminent battles. Can she protect the shadowshapers and those they love? What powers do the cards hold? Will Sierra be able to harness the powers of her legacy to bring about a satisfying conclusion to this epic urban fantasy trilogy?
The Shadowshaper trilogy concludes in this mythic, relationship and battle-filled fast-paced book. Readers of the first two books will be all-too ready to uncover the historic underpinnings of the magic in this world and watch the epic battles of the story's finale. All the familiar characters are here, along with new characters who have only been alluded to in earlier books. The battles are bigger (though with less shaping) and the stakes higher as the book moves from familiar settings in Brooklyn and New Jersey all the way out to Puerto Rico where Sierra's legacy was born. This book is more complex in that it weaves together intergenerational family stories and shifts back and forth in time. Still it retains the feel of the earlier two with a firm grounding in social justice narrative, romances that are less drama and more mutual support, family connections that are reinforced, a few awful sadnesses, and many triumphs. This book rounds out the whole story into a wholeness and a conclusion that was not what I was expecting but was thoroughly satisfying. There is some rough language and contextual violence. Readers who have not read the earlier books will likely have difficulty catching up with the story. For readers who have read the first two books, this one will not disappoint! ...more
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