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Secondary Titles
You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture.
Just get people to stop reading them.
- Ray Bradbury
How to be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
By Sy Montgomery
7-Up, Memoir
Houghten Mifflin Harcourt, 2018
Lexile: 1000L
Tags: Animals; Autobiography
In this illustrated memoir, Sy Montgomey reflects on 13 animal friends and their impact on her life. With each animal, Sy connects and transforms while exploring different themes such as compassion, empathy and coping with loss. Her overall message is how to be a good creature in our world.
A heart-warming story that speaks to readers of all ages.
Reviewed by
Amanda Samland
Library Services
Added 4/16
The Traitor's Ruin
By Erin Beaty
Young Adult, Fantasy
Imprint, 2018
Lexile: 800L
Tags: Adventure; Politics; Intrigue.
Captain Alex Quinn has been given command of an elite fighting unit and is to lead them on a secret mission to uncover an invasion plot by the Kimisar. Sage, having just been reunited with Alex, does not want to be separated again. She uses her standing with the queen as tutor to the young prince to manipulate being included on the expedition. Alex's anger at the subterfuge and fear for Sage's safety drives a wedge between the couple. But when the prince and Sage are captured by the enemy, Alex will do anything to get her back.
This sequel to the The Traitor's Kiss has Alex and Sage again struggling with issues of trust, while running headlong into danger. Teens will enjoy the smoldering romance, but will be caught up in the intrigue and action. Sage is a strong, capable protagonist that is every bit the Captain's equal.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Added 4/16
Geekerella
By Ashley Poston
8-12, Romance
Quirk Books, 2018
Lexile: HL660
Tags: Fairy Tale retelling; LGBTQ+, Humor
All the requisite pieces for a sassy retelling of Cinderella are here: young girl (Elle, of course) mourning the unexpected loss of her beloved father; nasty, self-important step-mother; two distasteful step-sisters; handsome prince; fairy godmother-like friend. Even the pumpkin and the glass slippers make an unorthodox appearance. But bring it into a modern love story by adding a cosplay convention (and ball), the filming of the much-anticipated sequel of a science fiction cult classic and all the accessories of today's tech-savvy teens.
With humor, a brisk pace, a sweet LGBTQ+ friendship and a feminist-strong ending, this is a fun, enjoyable read. This one will fly off the shelves.
Reviewed by
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
Added 4/16
Storm-wake
By Lucy Christopher
Young Adult, Fantasy
Chicken House/Scholastic Inc., 2018
Lexile: HL550
Tags: Classic retelling; Islands; Magic.
Moss lives with her father on an island. He tells her that the earth has been flooded and damaged by people who do not care for it. His life's work is to use the magic of the stormflowers and the raging storms to reclaim the land from the sea. The arrival of a horse and then a young boy washed from the ocean begins to change how Moss perceives her world. But it is as Moss's reaches her teen years that the infirmities and weaknesses of her father become ever more apparent that she begins to doubt him. She begins to look more and more away from her home and across the sea. When a storm washes a shipwrecked survivor onto the island, Moss realizes she may soon gain the answers she seeks.
This simplified retelling of The Tempest is lyrical, complicated, and magical. It is focused on the loss of faith and restlessness that often accompany the transition into adulthood. A strange and moving tale that will drawn a more sophisticated reader.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Added 4/16
Superman: Dawnbreaker
By Matt de la Peña
8-Up, Action/Adventure
Random House, 2019
Lexile: HL710
Tags: Adventure; Superhero:
This is part four of the DC Icons series written by four popular young adult authors. For Clark Kent, growing up in Smallville was ideal. He was always strong but as he reaches into his teen years, he must try harder to cover up his strange abilities, which are suddenly unpredictable and stronger. One day he hears a girl sobbing from across the school campus. When he goes looking, he finds Gloria Alvarez, a girl he admires, crying. She tells him that her people - immigrants and migrant workers with brown skin - are disappearing. At the same time, Smallville is considering a stop and frisk law that will allow officers to stop anyone they want and search them for any reason. Everyone knows it is a law aimed straight at the immigrant population and backed by big money corporations moving into town.
This is a compelling mystery as well as an action-packed adventure. It will be a quick read for competent but reluctant readers.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Added 4/16
Miles Morales, Spider-Man
By Jason Reynolds
Young Adult, Action/Adventure
Publisher: Marvel Press, 2017
Lexile: HL710L
Tags: Adventure; Fantasy; Superheroes; African American; Hispanic American.
Sixteen-year-old Miles Morales is Spider-Man. He is also Black, Puerto Rican, and from a Brooklyn "neighborhood of nobodies". Miles finds himself at a crossroads as he tackles solidifying his identity, marginalization, and his own growing self-understanding. As Miles tries to balance the stresses and changes of teenage life, he uncovers a larger plot involving his blatantly racist teacher and an ancient, malicious entity espousing the benefits of slavery, white supremacy, and the modern school-to-prison pipeline. The fight quickly becomes personal for Miles. Miles' daily life as a Black Latino prep student is juxtaposed with intense action sequences centered on his role as Spiderman facing a villain who embodies all the systemic challenges Miles faces both in and out of his suit.
As he does in all of his work, Reynolds makes Miles a complex, authentic character, whose inner conflict throughout the story feeds into a developing sense of purpose. The story is told in a warm, clever, genuine narrative voice. This book will appeal to young readers who are interested in relatable, small-scale superhero stories, #ownvoices literature, and character-driven stories that tackle difficult topics.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Added 4/16
The Handsome Girl & Her Beautiful Boy
By B.T. Gottfred
Young Adult, Romance
Henry Holt and Co., 2018
Lexile: HL730
Tags: Realistic Fiction; LGBTQ+:
First impressions aren't always the right impression, but sometimes the second one isn't either. For Zee, most people think she is a lesbian because of her wardrobe of t-shirts and cargo pants, and the fact that she is brutal at cross-fit. But the truth is she has been crushing on the high school football star, Cam, for as long as she can remember. Art, on the other hand, is just a beautiful boy. He loves nice clothes and always dresses to impress. When Art meets Zee, he is certain he has met the perfect girl. Both Zee and Art are having problems at home, Art's dad sits on the couch and drinks all day and Zee's mother has died, leaving her with her mother's boyfriend and a father she has never met. Zee and Art form a friendship and later a sexual relationship.
Because this relationship is fairly graphic, this book will be best with mature audiences in high school.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Added 4/16
Lovely, Dark, and Deep
By Justina Chen
Young Adult, Romance
Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic Inc., 2018
Lexile: HL740L
Tags: Asian Americans; Diseases and illnesses; Photosensitivity disorders; Activism.
Viola has big dreams for her future. She plans on being accepted to NYU Abu Dhabi, obtain a degree in journalism, and then become embedded in the Middle East as a foreign correspondent. But during a bake sale fundraiser for charity, Viola suddenly becomes violently ill. The diagnosis? Photosensitivity or a toxic allergy to the sun. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to cope with unfashionable UV blocking clothes, shuttered windows, and her world cast in darkness.
Readers will be drawn into this story on page one. Viola is an engaging, quirky, relatable protagonist. Teens will sympathize with her plight, while admiring her for her fresh voice and unique views as she struggles to come to terms with a new reality.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Added 4/16
Moonrise
By Sarah Crossan
Young Adult, Realistic
Bloomsbury, 2018
Lexile: HL650
Tags: Novels in verse; Capital punishment; Prisoners' families.
Seventeen-year-old Joe is in Texas for the summer to visit his brother Ed. It has been ten years since Ed went away. This is the last chance Joe will ever have to see his brother. Ed is on death row and scheduled to be executed in a month. Ed insists he did not commit the crime for which he has been sentenced. Joe is not sure what is true. The only thing that he is certain about is that he needs to be there for his brother no matter what.
Moonrise provides a deeply affecting look at the prison system and the ethics surrounding the death penalty. Told in verse, Crossan eloquently explores the toll incarceration takes on the families of those imprisoned. Recommended for older readers, as the topic's heavy nature may be triggering for some.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Added 4/16
A Curse so Dark and Lonely
By Brigid Kemmerer
Young Adult, Fantasy
Bloomsbury, 2019
Tags: Fairy Tales; Strong Female;
Harper is keeping watch for her brother, who is shaking someone down in order to pay the debt his father owes to a loan shark. As she watches in the dark, she sees a man trying to kidnap a woman and she intervenes. Suddenly, she is whisked to the kingdom of Emberfall, where she and Commander Grey land at the feet of Prince Rhen. Emberfall is under the curse of the witch Lilith, who has sentenced Rhen to become a monster until a woman falls in love with him. He transforms into the monster on the eve of his eighteenth birthday, which comes every three months. At the castle, Ironrose, the season is always fall, leading to winter. Each season after the monster has ravaged the castle, the countryside or the surrounding towns, the season resets and Commander Grey goes to the otherside to find a woman who may learn to love Rhen and break the curse.
This novel is a page turner and a different take on "The Beauty and the Beast" tale. While Harper is supposed to be challenged by cerebral palsy, she is in fact not slowed down much. But disability or not, she is a force to be reckoned with. Give this book to avid readers who enjoy fairytale retellings or even just a great fantasy.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble, CEC Early College
Added 3/25
Hey, Kiddo
by Jarrett J Krosoczka
7-12; Graphic Novel
Graphix, 2018
Lexile: HL510L
Tags: Substance Abuse; Memoir; Family
The author and illustrator of many books, including the popular Lunch Lady series, recounts his troubled childhood in this graphic memoir. With his mother in and out of rehab for heroin addiction, and his father’s identity unknown to him until he was a teenager, Jarrett grows up with his alcoholic but loving grandparents. His grandfather nurtures his interest in drawing and offers to send him to art camp at age 13. Jarrett credits his art in helping him get through these rocky years and eventually accept his untraditional upbringing.
This is a heart-wrenching but hopeful story that deals frankly with issues of family substance abuse and should be given to older students.
Reviewed by
Lori Micho
Library Services
Added 3/25
Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution.
By E.E. Charlton-Trujillo
Young Adult; Realistic
Candlewick Press, 2019
Lexile: 660L
Tags: Strong Female: LGBTQ+; Bullying
"Best friends don't date someone who hurts the other best friend. It's a rule-not-rule, but still a rule," Angie tells her best friend Jake, who is dating mean girl Stacy Ann. And so begins Sophomore year! Angie's older sister died in Iraq and her mother is staging an over-the-top statue presentation and memorial. Angie suffers from panic attacks and her mom is threatening to send her to a treatment center. Then the school bully attacks her but tells everyone Angie attacked him, so she is suspended. What else could happen? Well, a soldier at the memorial hands her a letter that her sister never got to send. It is the itinerary for a road trip the two of them were supposed to go on when she was back from Iraq. From the depths of despair, Angie decides to go on the road trip and do all the things her sister wanted her to do. Angie falls into company with a very random crew of misfits and they load up an old RV and take off. Hopefully, along the way, Angie will find both herself and peace around the death of her sister.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble, CEC Early College
Added 3/25
American Panda
By Gloria Chao
Young Adult, Realistic
Simon Pulse, 2018
Lexile: 780L
Tags: Asian American; Taiwanese American; Diversity and Multiculturalism; Family; Humor.
Mei Lu's parents have a life plan for her: enter MIT by the age of seventeen, become a doctor, marry a good Taiwanese boy of their choosing, have lots of baby boys. But Mei is a germophobe and prefers to dance rather than study biology. She has also met a boy she really likes. He is Japanese. How does she tell her parents that they have her all wrong without disrespecting them or becoming disowned like her brother?
The universal theme of determining one's place, while learning to achieve independence from family, gives this novel steeped in Chinese tradition a familiarity for which readers will be able to relate. The Mandarin language is woven throughout this vibrant and complex title. American Panda provides a reading experience rich in humor and self-discovery.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
Added 3/15/19
The Astonishing Color of After
By Emily X.R. Pan
Young Adult, Magical Realism
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2018
Lexile: HL670
Tags: Grief; Taiwanese American; Suicide
Leigh, a teenage American girl, is overwhelmed with heart-wrenching grief over the recent suicide of her Taiwanese mother. Her father, moving through his own deep despair, brings Leigh to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. Though filled with trepidation about the visit, Leigh is convinced her mother is now a beautiful bird, leading her to the ancient Asian land to help her find solace and understanding.
The Astonishing Color of After is lyrical and lovely, filled with powerful imagery and emotion. Exploring the impact of suicide, especially the suicide of a parent, is handled with a gentle yet compelling hand .
Reviewed by
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
Added 3/15/19
Before I Let Go
By Marieke Nijkamp
9-12, Mystery Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire, 2018
Lexile: 630
Tags: Death; Grief; Mental illness; Friendship; Alaska
When Corey left her small Alaskan town to attend school, she promised her best friend she would be back. Corey never imagined that her return to Lost Creek would include attending Kyra’s memorial. Devastated by the loss of her friend and hoping to make sense of the tragedy, Corey begins to ask questions. What she finds is a once familiar, but now hostile community that seems to be hiding disturbing secrets.
This atmospheric, haunting tale digs into the tragic way the mentally ill are often viewed and treated. Themes of isolation, homecomings, friendship, and grief will provide readers an abundance of discussion topics.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
added 3/15/19
Supermoon
By H.A. Swain
Young Adult, Science Fiction
Feiwel and Friends, 2018
Lexile: HL750
Tags: Interpersonal Relationships; Consumerism; Moon Colony; LBGTQ.
Uma's family immigrated to the moon colony to provide her with a better life, but fitting in has been difficult. The only thing making life tolerable has been the prospect of a month long visit to earth prior to the Life Work Assignments event. When her trip request is denied, Uma stows away on an earthbound shuttle. On Earth and on the run, Uma meets Earthgirl Talitha. The pair quickly realize that in each other they have found the missing piece in their lives. But nothing is ever simple. To keep loved ones safe, they will need to trust each other and may need to sacrifice personal happiness, even if that means Uma's return to the moon.
This intriguing title includes worldbuilding that incorporates sensory chips, hi tech implants, and focuses on one society that harvests bodies as a means to gain a workforce, while another is willfully destroying the earth through rampant consumerism. Although the ending is a bit too neat, the fast-paced, suspenseful narrative will engage readers as it touches on complicated issues in this unique tale.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
Added 3/6/19
Ransacker
By Emmy Laybourne
Young Adult, Fantasy
Feiwel and Friends, 2018
Tags: Historical Fiction; Supernatural;
The Hemstads all possess magical powers, gifts from the old Norse Gods, except for Sissel. Sissel is the youngest of the four children, and at sixteen, she is sickly and crippled. She feels this makes her a burden to her older brothers and sister. When fire destroys their crop and home, the siblings must split up in order to earn enough money to survive. Stieg and Sissel move to town, where Stieg teachers school. Knut goes to work on a farm a days' walk away. Hanne and her fiance join a cattle drive. Suddenly, Sissel discovers her Nytte, or her magical power. She is a ransacker, the first in several generations. She has the ability to draw metal to her. What none of the Hemstads realize is that a dark power from Norway has been tracking them. James, who is courting Sissel, is really a Pinkerton spy keeping track of the family. As it turns out, having the ability to find gold and other precious metals is a hard secret to keep, and now trouble is coming to the Hemstads and they are not together to face it.
This novel is a fascinating meld of the American West and supernatural powers from the old gods of Norway.
Reviewed by Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Added 3/6/19
Sea Witch
By Sarah Henning
Young Adult, Fantasy
Katherine Tegen Books, HCP, 2018
Lexile: 790L
Tags: Friendship; Magic; Mermaids; Witches; Fractured Fairy tale.
Everyone knows the story of the Little Mermaid. But few know what came before. This is the story of a friendship between a prince and the village outcast, Evie, who must hide her magical abilities as a witch. Despite her friendship with Nic, Evie finds she can never shake the sadness caused by the drowning of her friend Anna years before. While walking along the shore one day, Evie comes across a mysterious girl resembling Anna. Evie is sure the sea has returned her friend. To keep her friend close, Evie will have to risk revealing herself and losing all she holds dear.
Sea Witch examines the difficulty in crossing class boundaries in a story that explores the traditions of a Danish culture governed by the providence and mercurial moods of the sea. The vivid setting and many twists and turns of this fractured fairy tale will keep readers engaged and reading. The surprise ending will provide a realization that things are not always as they seem.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
Added 3/6/19
Wrong in All the Right Ways : A Novel
By Tiffany Brownlee
Young Adult, Romance
Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Co., 2018
Lexile: 780L
Tags: Realistic Fiction; Foster Care; High School Fiction
Emma Ellenburg has spent the first three years of high school waiting to leave it. She didn't make friends, have a boyfriend or focus on anything social. Instead, she studied and made sure she would graduate valedictorian of her school. Everything changed when her parents decided to foster a child, but instead of an eight-year-old, 16 year-old Dylan shows up. Against their better judgement, Emma and Dylan fall for each other, ensuring Emma's senior year is way more fun and a lot more complicated than she expected.
Wrong in All the Right Ways is, at its core, a story of identity; its characters struggle to figure out who they are and who they want to become. There are a lot of teenage issues that surface as well as some adult ones (Dylan's family history is a tragic story in and of itself), but the book reads mostly like a teeter totter of Emma's emotions. There is a significant reference to the book Wuthering Heights for fans of Emily Bronte. Fun read!
Reviewed by
Julie Malek
McAullife at Manuel
Added 2/21/19
American Road Trip
By Patrick Flores-Scott
Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Co., 2018
Lexile: HL550L
Tags: Latino; Empathy Building:
Teodoro, his sister Xochitl and their parents have only been half-living since T's older brother, Manny, went to Iraq. After being deployed again, Manny is finally on his way home. While having Manny home is the best thing ever for the family, he comes home with a terrible case of PTSD. How does a family remain intact when one of the key members is so terribly ill? Xochitl hatches a plan, a road trip plan, and drags her reluctant brothers along in an attempt to heal their family before it is irreparably damaged. There is humor and there are tears and sometimes fear so dark and deep it is impossible to imagine coming out the other side.
This is a road trip well worth taking. Though the trip is often dark, this book will work for mature middle school readers as well as high school. At the end of the novel there are lists of resources for people fighting PTSD and resources for family members living with someone battling PTSD.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Added 2/21/19
As You Wish
By Chelsea Sedoti
9-12, Fantasy Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire, 2017
Lexile: 610
Tags: Magic; Wishes; Family; Relationships; Choices
In just 25 days, Eldon will turn eighteen. On that special day, he will enter the wishing cave and be granted one wish. Eldon should be excited, but he just cannot decide on what wish to make. His mother wants him to wish for money, his friends for a way out of their small Nevada town. But Eldon has seen the consequences of poorly conceived wishes. So he begins a quest to learn the story behind other people’s wishes in the hopes he will in time know what wish to make for himself.
As You Wish is thought-provoking, humorous, and heart-breaking. This coming-of-age tale touches on friendships, romance, grief, and redemption, while focusing on the uncertainties and choices young adults face as they move toward adulthood.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
Added 2/21/19
A Court of Frost and Starlight
By Sarah J. Maas
Young Adult, Fantasy
Bloomsbury, 2018
Lexile: 760L
Tags: Fairies; Solstice; Relationships; Romance.
This is the fourth installment of the series Court of Thorns and Roses. After the hard fought battles, the Night Court is in the process of rebuilding and solidifying relationships with the other courts. With the Winter Solstice close at hand, Feyre and Rhys look forward to spending time with friends and family. And maybe between the shopping, festivities, and the lull in the action, the scars of the past will begin to heal.
This title is an extended epilogue that serves as a bridge between the action of the first trilogy and the rise of the new. Maas alludes to the coming action and tension, but uses this title to fill in characters' backstory and slow the pace.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
Date added: 2/19/19
Unpresidented : a Biography of Donald Trump
By Martha Brockenbrough
Young Adult, Nonfiction
Feiwel and Friends, 2018
Tags: Narrative Nonfiction: Biography
The author has taken all the facts from public records starting with Donald Trump's grandfather, Friedrich Trumpf, who left Germany to avoid the mandatory three year term in the military. She continues to follow Donald's father and then Donald himself via public records. The book opens thirty-two days before the election that made him president and ends after about his first year in office. The book is fascinating, very well written and impeccably researched. End matter includes, among other things, a list of notable players in the drama, extensive notes and a timeline.
While this book is touted as Young Adult, it is the rare teen that will venture into this tome. Any who dare, though, will find faultless reporting and a very readable narrative.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Date added: 2/19/19
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Unpunished Murder : Massacre at Colfax and the Quest for Justice
By Lawrence Goldstone
Young Adult, Narrative Nonfiction
Scholastic Focus, 2018
Lexile: 1260L
Tags: African American; Social justice: Human Rights
On Easter Sunday in 1873, in Grant Parish, Louisiana, between 100 and 400 unarmed black freedmen were burned out of their courthouse and systematically slaughtered by white supremacists. None of the perpetrators were ever convicted of the crime. The Constitution of the United States was used against the black men, and the ensuing injustice has lasted to this day. This gripping story is well researched. Old photographs, cartoons and news clippings help to illustrate the book. The back matter includes a glossary, bibliography, source notes and index.
This virtually unknown piece of American history deserves to be read by a wide audience.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Date added: 2/19/19
The Opposite of Here
By Tara Altebrando
Young Adult, Mystery/Suspense
Bloomsbury, 2018
Tags: Relationships; Grief; Realistic Fiction
Natalie is turning seventeen. What better way to celebrate than on a cruise with family and best friends? Nine months ago, Natalie's boyfriend died in a car accident. She hasn't been able to move on. Being stuck on a cruise with a lot of people is not all that appealing, until she meets a mysterious, irreverent guy to whom she is instantly drawn. But then he disappears, leaving behind a few cryptic clues that has Natalie feeling uneasy. Her search for answers unveils a broader mystery, while forcing her to confront her past.
The emotionally distant Natalie is not an exceptionally likable protagonist, but many teens will be able to identify with her angst. While this title is more teen drama than thriller, it does allude to Hitchcock films to guide the action. `Two-line' movie scene scripts are scattered throughout the story to provide additional insight and background. A quick read that will keep readers guessing until the twist at the very end.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
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Shadow State
By Elyse Brayden
Young Adult, Mystery/Suspense
Imprint, 2018
Lexile: HL670L
Tags: Thriller; Contemporary Fiction
Brynn doesn't remember too much of last summer. There was a bad breakup and crippling depression afterwards. Now she is back on track; a thoughtful new boyfriend and a chance to bring her terrible grades back up to the standard she expects of herself. Even though Brynn is feeling better, every once in a while she has a flashback or a nightmare that leads her to believe she is missing a part of her life. And then the text messages start. Text messages that sound like a countdown to something horrible.
While this book is sometimes confusing, it presents an interesting topic: a medical breakthrough that can be used for great good, or for terrorism. This book will be fine with mature (because it is confusing at times) readers in middle school.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Illegal
By Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
6-8, Graphoc Novel
Sourcebooks, 2018
Lexile: GN490L
Tags: Refugees; Immigration; Survival
Twelve-year old Ebo has been left alone. His parents are dead, his uncle is always drunk and both his sister and brother have disappeared. With nothing left to keep him in his tiny village, Ebo sets out to find his brother, Kwame, and a better life in Europe. His journey takes him from Ghana to Niger, across the parched Sahara desert to the dangerous city of Tripoli, and then on a treacherous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. Ebo’s journey illustrates the horrors witnessed and perils faced by many refugees seeking asylum in other countries.
Gripping and heartbreaking, it is a realistic tale of one boy’s hope for a better future. It would be a great addition to any lesson on immigration.
Reviwed by
Lori Micho
Library Services
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Mary's Monster : Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
By Lita Judge
Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Roaring Brook Press, 2018
Lexile: 1070L
Tags: Biographical Fiction; Novels in Verse; Strong Female;
Mary Shelley was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, a writer with radical ideas for her time. Young Mary was very well-read, thanks to her parents. When Mary's father remarried after the death of Mary Wollstonecraft, life was much harder for both her father and Mary. At sixteen, she ran off with a married man, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her life was difficult and very sad: she lost a baby, and they lived in desperate poverty. Shelley's touch with reality began to slip. Another baby died, Mary's sister committed suicide; death and sadness seemed to follow her. When her friends challenged each other to write the scariest story, Mary had a lot of feelings and experiences from which to draw.
This beautiful book is written in verse and each page is illustrated with a monochromatic watercolor: a different take on the graphic novel. This book will be best in high school though mature upper middle school readers could also access, though there are some tough subjects.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Queen of Air and Darkness
By Cassandra Clare
Young Adult, Supernatural
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2018
Lexile: HL740L
Tags: Paranormal; Strong Female
This is the final installment in The Dark Artifices series. This action packed novel follows the paths of different characters. After the death of Livia Blackthorn, the rest of the family goes home to Los Angeles to work on a cure for the blight that is covering the land and killing the warlocks. Julian and Emma, however, go to Fairie to attempt to recover the black book. Unknown to the rest of the Blackthorn's, Ty refuses to accept that Livvy is gone forever and he and Kit begin to gather the materials they need to bring her back to life. The Clave has been taken over by a power-hungry faction and is attempting to require the registration of any Downworlders. The cast of characters that we have come to care about all have their part to play in the attempt to restore the balance of the world of the Nephilim and Downworlders.
Followers of Cassandra Clare will not be disappointed. Readers new to the series would be best served by starting at the beginning.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Optimists Die First
By Susan Nielsen-Fernlund
Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books, 2017
Lexile: HL580L
Tags: Grief and Loss; Friendship
Petula is the epitome of a pessimist. She blames herself for the death of her baby sister in a freak accident. Petula keeps a scrapbook of freak accidents that she finds on the internet. Then Jacob shows up in her art therapy class. Jacob was in an accident and lost one of his arms. When the two of them are teamed up for a class project, Jacob starts to draw Petula out. He helps her walk by the construction site and not worry about blocks of concrete falling on her, helps her learn to shake hands and not worry about germs of strange and rare illnesses, and many other things that have become a routine part of her life. The other members of the art therapy class are all struggling with their own demons. Jacob, with his film making skills, starts to help each member of the class recognize and overcome their problems. In the end, it seems that Jacob may need more help than anyone.
The characters are all well developed and have realistic issues. There is some laughing and some crying as the characters wander toward wellness. A little bit of mature content, but nothing graphic. This book will be fine with mature upper middle school readers.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Labyrinth Lost
By Zoraida Córdova
Young Adult, Fantasy
Sourcebooks Fire, 2016
Lexile: HL630L
Tags: Supernatural; Latino
Alex Mortiz is the middle sister in a family of brujas (witches). Her older sister is a healer and her younger sister was born with the power to commune with the dead. Now Alex is preparing for her Deathday ceremony, the ceremony where she and her family will celebrate her coming into her power. Power is the last thing that Alex wants and so, during the ceremony, she tries to cast a spell, or canto, that will take her power away. Instead the canto backfires and sends her entire family, including ancestors, to Los Lagos, a purgatory-type place, where an evil power awaits to steal their souls. Now Alex and Nova, a hot, brujo boy she happens to meet, and her best friend Rishi must travel to Los Lagos to save her family.
This is a fun adventure and will be fine for middle school students as well as high school.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Love Me, Love Me Not
By S.M. Koz
Young Adult, Romance
Swoon Reads, 2018
Tags: Romance; Foster care
Hailey is seventeen when she is finally removed from her drug addicted, abusive and neglectful mother and placed in foster care. After two failed placements, Hailey is placed with the Campbell's, an upper middle class couple with a teenage son. Hailey has a hard time adjusting to living in a safe and loving family. She can't believe they want to give her an allowance, money for her personal use with no strings attached. She has a manipulative ex-boyfriend who doesn't want to let her go and is also trying to figure out how to make the most of the Campbell's wealth. As Hailey tries to adjust to her new life, she finds herself attracted to Brad, the Campbell's son. She knows she can't get involved with him if she wants to finish high school, continue to live with the Campbell's and get away from her mother.
This book will be best in high school for fairly graphic sex scenes.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Bruja Born
By Zoraida Córdova
Young Adult, Fantasy
Sourcebooks Fire, 2018
Lexile: HL680L
Tags: Supernatural; Latino
Lula Mortiz, oldest of the Mortiz sisters, is a healer. Ever since she came back from Los Lagos, she hasn't been feeling all that great. Luckily, she has her amazing, patient boyfriend Maks to help her. On the way to the championship soccer tournament, their school bus is in a serious accident. Lula's family heals her and then Lula insists that her sisters help her heal Maks. The healing brings Maks back but not as the sweet, loving boyfriend he had been. The healing also brings back all the other students who died in the crash. But worse than all the zombie-like students roaming Brooklyn, is the fact that the Queen of Death has lost her spear and is stuck between worlds and she is expecting Lula to find her spear and get her back where she belongs.
Due to a fair amount of gore, this book should probably stay in the upper grades.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
Renegades
By Marissa Meyer
8 & Up, Science Fiction
Square Fish, 2018
Lexile: 860L
Tags: Action and Adventure; Social Justice.
Nova lives underground in an abandoned subway station with a band of villainous misfits who adopted her after the death of her parents. With them, she plots revenge on the Renegades. The Renegades, champions of justice and rulers of the city, were not there as promised when she needed them. So Nova decides to join them and work her vengeance from within their ranks. But circumstances are not always as simple as they appear.
Intricate world-building, multifaceted characters, plot twists, and pages filled with superheroes will keep readers enthralled to the very end. Themes of good vs. evil and all that falls between allow readers to dig deeper as relationships are explored throughout the storyline. Meyer's latest series starter is complex, action-packed, exciting, and a must read.
Reviewed by
Michelle Jensen
George Washington High School
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Beast : A Tale of Love and Revenge
By Lisa Jensen
Young Adult, Fantasy
Candlewick Press, 2018
Lexile: HL920L
Tags: Fairy Tale Retelling; Magic
Young Lucie leaves her home in hopes of finding a position in the Chateau. She does find a position there and the Chevalier de Beaumont is the the most handsome man she has ever seen. Lucie is enamored of him right up until the time he rapes her. There is nothing for a serving girl who is with her master's child, so she sets off to drown herself in the nearby river. She is saved from drowning by the wisewoman Mere Sophie, who agrees something must be done about the Chevalier. One day, a beautiful woman arrives unannounced at the Chateau seeking a place for the night. When the Chevalier attempts to coerce her, she changes into Mere Sophie and turns him into the beast on the outside that he is on the inside. She changes Lucie into a candlestick in order for her to witness the Chevalier's downfall and seek her revenge in that.
If anyone has ever wondered why Beauty fell in love with a beast and then ended up with a prince who has a bad reputation, then, perhaps, this book is for you. This is a lyrical retelling of the story with a satisfying ending. While the rape scene is not graphic, it is disturbing, and hence, this book will best remain in high school.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Kiss Me in Paris
By Catherine Rider
Young Adult, Romance
Kids Can Press, 2018
Lexile: 880L
Tags: Relationships; Tourist Fiction
Serena Fuentes is on a mission. She wants to see all the places her parents visited on their honeymoon twenty five years ago. She has one day to do it and an itinerary that would break the heart and resolve of anyone else. She is determined to make this work in order to create a scrapbook as a memento to honor her father, who has just died. When her mom and sister both bail out on their trip, she finds herself in Paris with her sister's boyfriend's friend. Jean-Luc has a completely different idea about how to see Paris. The two of them somehow manage to fight, make-up, laugh and feel overwhelmingly frustrated with each other in quick succession, over and over again. As Serena's departure time gets closer and closer, she starts to realize that she was so busy with her mission that she simply forgot to enjoy Paris.
Give this journey with a life-lesson to girls looking for a romantic adventure.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Pride
By Ibi Zoboi
9-12, Realistic Fiction
Balzer and Bray, 2018
Lexile: 760L
Tags: Classic retelling; Family; Multicultural
Oh, this book! Imagine re-telling Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice as a gritty American love story. Include a Brooklyn Bushwick Avenue setting, add issues of urban gentrification, race and class, mix in a fantastic voice in the form of the sassy and confident protagonist, Zuri Benitez, and don't forget the Darcy family. Street sounds, teen relationships, the power of sisterhood and the rich blend of Haitian, Dominican and New York cultures leap off the pages.
Hand this clever and creative book to anyone who enjoys the Jane Austen version or who clamors for a fast-paced contemporary story, and then stand back. This book is just plain fun.
Reviewed by
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
This is How We Roll
By Natasha Friend
6-12, Realistic Fiction.
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018
Lexile: HL 570
Tags: Disabilities; Friendship
When Quinn has a chance to become someone new, she uses “Guinevere”, a long strawberry blonde wig to cover her baldness. Her new persona also allows her to separate 8th grade in Colorado, a year filled with harassment and shame, from her bright and popular freshman year in Massachusetts. Wearing a wig helps Quinn feel closer to normal, but when she sees a classmate who doesn’t have such an easy way to hide his suffering and anger, she wants to help. Nick lost both of his legs in an accident and doesn’t want Quinn’s sympathy or friendship. Can these genuine characters learn to trust other people and believe in themselves again?
Authentic treatment of characters with alopecia, autism and serious injury demonstrate that no one is defined by a single facet. This heartwarming book is an uplifting tale of self-discovery and love.
Review by
Denver Public Library
Best and Brightest, 2018
Darius the Great is Not Okay
By Adib Khorram
8-12, Realistic Fiction
Dial Books, 2018
Lexile: 710L
Tags: Depression: American-Iranian Fiction; Friendship
Darius, an awkward teenager dealing with depression and a fraught relationship with his father, is nervous about his first trip to Iran. While there, he meets his mother’s family and their neighbor, Sohrab, who becomes his first friend and a catalyst for major change. Iran itself comes alive with superb descriptions of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Darius’ awareness of himself, his culture and the world grows as the story progresses. The evolution of characters feels realistic and inspired, and his family members are especially complex.
This story will resonate with teens struggling with depression, as well as anyone who has felt out of place in one’s own family, school and culture
Reviewed by
Denver Public Library
Best and Brightest, 2018
2019 Morris Award Winner
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Unclaimed Baggage
By Jen Dol
Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018
Lexile: 800L
Tags: Romance; Friendship
Doris has been working at Unclaimed Baggage, a store where luggage from airports eventual finds a place, for three summers. She loves the quiet of the vast warehouse and the camaraderie of the others who work there. She loves to escape from the conservatism of the small southern town where she doesn't fit in. Nell just moved to town from the Chicago suburbs where she had to leave her boyfriend and Grant is the town football hero who is quietly falling out of grace with the team and coach. Nell takes a job at Unclaimed Baggage to forget her sorrow, Grant takes the job to have something to do besides drink. Even though Doris has her doubts, the three become fast friends.
Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, this is a readable book with a great voice.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
A Blade So Black
By L.L. McKinney
Young Adult, Urban Fiction
Publisher: Imprint, 2018
Lexile: HL660
Tags: Classic retellings; African American; Action & adventure
Combine Alice in Wonderland with a good versus evil battle and add a super cool black heroine and you have A Blade So Black. The story is a major twist from the original Alice but has "Wonderland" references you'll recognize throughout. Essentially, humans in the normal world create nightmares that become real creatures to battle in both the fantasy and real worlds--and the battles are epic. Following the loss of her father, this new Alice is trained to fight nightmares but she has trouble balancing her life in the real world with her job in Wonderland.
A Blade So Black is a fantasy book with a well-developed plot and interesting characters. Alice is so real in both worlds; her emotional struggles in dealing with the loss of her dad are sensitively and beautifully drawn. The plot is fast paced and engaging. A good read and seems like a sequel may be coming....
Reviewed by
Julie Malek
McAuliffe Manual Middle School
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The Poet X
By Elizabeth Acavedo
Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
HarperTeen, 2018
Lexile: 800L
Tags: Novels in verse; Hispanic American; Family
Brutal, hopeful and honest, this beautiful collection of poems narrates the life of Xiomara Barista, a 15-year-old Dominican girl living in Harlem. She is struggling to find her own voice, torn between the expectations of her rigid, religious mother, the caustic streets of the city, her new-found love of poetry and her first serious romantic relationship. Xiomara is aware of the pain, hope and contradictions all around her; she uses poetry to try to make sense of it all. The empathy and awareness she displays, especially toward her twin brother who harbors a deep secret, adds a rich depth to her character.
Like other recent novel-in-verse additions, this short book uses words and imagery with exceptional power. Use this book as starting point to explore the power of narrative poetry.
Reviewed by
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
2019 Pura Belpre Award Winner
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Girls Can't Hit
By Tom Easton
8th Grade; 9-12 Realistic Fiction
Feiwel and Friends, 2018
Lexile HL 670
Tags: Sports; Gender roles; Individuality
A teenage girl, encouraged by her feminist friend, signs up for a boxing class to protest the gender limitations the gym places on the classes. Fleur struggles through the physical and emotional tests she faces both in the gym and at home. She enjoys her new physical fitness, and her changed outlook on life due to boxing. Her mom worries she will get hurt, her boyfriend is not a fan of her new muscles and attitude, and her friends question why she keeps boxing.
This book explores family relationships and friendship with plenty of humor and British references.
Reviewed by
Shae Patnoe
McAuliffe International School
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Ski Soldier
By Louise Borden
6-8, Historic Fiction
Calkins Creek, 2017
Lexile: 1060
Tags: Biography; Skiing: WWII; 10th Mountain Division, Vail Resort
Written in verse, this unusual biography tells the story of Peter Seibert, a former Army soldier of the 10th Mountain Division and the man who went on to build Vail ski resort. The biography covers Peter’s life from his childhood in New Hampshire, where he developed a love for skiing, through World War II, where he fought the Germans and was badly injured on Riva Ridge, to his post-war years, where he made the US Olympic Ski Team despite disabilities and eventually opened Vail ski resort.
Sparse text and lots of white space makes this a very accessible read. The book includes a number of archival photos of skiing and military operations that will surely interest sports and adventure enthusiasts and a lengthy bibliography of resources that will aid researchers. A great addition to middle school collections.
Reviewed by
Lori Micho
Library Services
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Confusion is Nothing New
By Paul Acampora
5-8, Realistic Fiction
Scholastic Press, 2018
Tags: Humor; Friendship
Ellie lives a pretty normal middle school life, even though she and her father were abandoned by her mother when she was little. Ellie still wishes to reunite with her mother until she learns her mother has died. As she learns more about her mom, Ellie's friends and father try to help her make sense of her feelings.
This book is thoughtful, yet funny and full of 80s music references. This is a nice middle grade book, exploring conflict, relationships and grief.
Reviewed by
Shae Patnoe
McAuliffe International School
The Belles
By Dhonielle Clayton
9-12, Fantasy
Freeform Books, 2018
Lexile: HL650L
Tags: Beauty; Diverse;
The God of the Sky and the Goddess of Beauty fell in love, married and had the Children of Orleans. As time went on, Beauty spent all of her time with the Children and refused to come home. Sky sent a curse to the Children, giving them gray skin, blood-colored eyes, hair like moldering straw and sorrow that led to madness. The Goddess of Beauty then gave the Children The Belles to bring beauty back to the Children. A few Belles are born each year. They are raised and trained to use their power to make the Children of Orleans beautiful - for a price. Camellia is one of the six Belles to be presented at court this year. She wants more then anything to be named the Favorite; the most talented of the new Belles. When she does become the favorite, she is bound to do the bidding of Princess Sophia who desires to be the queen, against her mother's wishes. Regardless of the queen's desires, Princess Sophia will stop at nothing to be the queen of Orleans.
The author has created a cast of dark skinned beauties who are not only beautiful, but strong and smart. This book cries out for a sequel.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
HYDRA
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Catwoman : Soulstealer
By Sarah J. Maas
7-12, Adventure
Random House, 2018
Lexile: 770L
Tags: Adventure; Superheroes; Diversity
Selina Kyle grew up hard and poor trying to take care of her little sister, who was terribly ill and needed medication. She supported them by stealing and fighting. Her fighting brings her to the attention of the League of Assassins who train her for two years. She slips away from the League and returns to Gotham as Holly Vanderhees, a billionaire heiress who goes to all the best parties and galas. By night, she becomes Catwoman, a high end thief. She falls into company with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn and the three of them fall afoul of Batwing; a protege of Batman. Batwing wants Catwoman in jail and the League wants her dead. It is a race to see who will get there first. Page turning action and a hint of romance will engage readers regardless of whether they are DC fans or not. This is the third of four books each by a different, top-notch author.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
SANTORINI
Killers of the Flower Moon : the Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
By David Grann
11-Adult, Narrative Nonfiction
Doubleday, 2017
Lexile: 1160L
Tags: Native American; Mystery
In the early 1900's, members of the Osage tribe were among the wealthiest people in the nation. Wisely, they managed to keep the rights to the oil and other minerals that were under their land. Because they were Native Americans, it was assumed that they were unable to manage their own money so they had white overseers who managed their assets. When the land was allotted the Osage, they bargained to be allotted 657 acres instead of the usual 160, which could only be passed down or inherited by relatives. When the Osage started being quietly murdered, years passed before anyone investigated. Eventually investigations uncovered over 20 murders, all quietly orchestrated to bring unimaginable wealth to a few white men. This smoothly narrated story is chilling and disturbing. Photographs from a wide range of sources add visual credence to the story. Back matter includes archival sources as well as an extensive bibliography and source notes.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
MYKONOS
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Dear Evan Hansen
By Val Emmich
9-12, Realistic Fiction
Poppy/Little, Brown and Company, 2018
Lexile: HL 590
Tags: Coming of age; Suicide; Popularity
Inspired by the award winning Broadway musical, this is the story of Evan Hansen, a lonely and anxiety-ridden high school student. Under the direction of his therapist, Evan writes affirmative notes to himself every day. When a classmate discovers one of the letters and days later commits suicide, the boy's parents mistakenly believe that Evan was his best friend. Evan’s denial of the claim eventually provides him with the popularity and acceptance he longs for, but as the lie builds with the help of social media, Evan’s guilt forces him to tell the truth.
This is an emotional and timely coming-of-age story about isolation and acceptance in the age of social media. Most teens (and adults) will be able to relate. Highly recommended for high school libraries.
Reviewed by
Lori Micho
Library Services
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Meant to Be
By Julie Halpern
9-12, Science Fiction
Feiwel and Friends, 2017
Lexile: 820
Tags: Science fiction; Romance
Do you believe in fate? Agatha isn't sure she does, but her best friend Lish is all in. When a person turns eighteen, a name appears tattooed on their chest. This person is supposed to be one's soul mate (or meant-to-be). Lish immediately seeks out her MTB and he moves into her parents' house with her until they can be married. Agatha refuses to even think about her MTB and instead starts a steamy affair with a coworker at the amusement park.
The underlying question around decision or destiny is an interesting thought exercise. The reader doesn't know what the end for Agatha is going to be. This book will be best in high school based on fairly graphic sexual content.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Surviving Adam Meade
By Shannon Klare
8-12, Realistic Fiction
Swoon Reads, 2018
Tags: Romance;
Clare just wants to survive her senior year in a new school and then head off to college. Adam is the star quarterback and Clare's dad is the new football coach. As much as she doesn't want to have anything to do with chick-magnet Adam, they are tossed together constantly. Clare is still reeling from a bad break-up with the football star at her last school, so Adam doesn't interest her. Until he actually does. As their lives start to entwine, questions about long distance relationships and whether to change college plans to be with each other start to raise their heads. This quick reading romance will entertain readers looking for an engaging, light book.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Chasing King's Killer: the Hunt for Martin Luther King Jr.'s Assassin
By James Swanson
6-8, 9-12 Law & Crime
Scholastic, 2018
Lexile 1010
Tags: Narrative Nonfiction, Social Justice
This is not just the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his assassination, but the story of an era. Readers can follow important moments of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the race to the moon and the counterculture that arose out of the times. This is a look at the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and the feeling of the country.
The story follows Mr. King as well as James Earl Ray, his assassin, in alternating chapters. The story is compelling and salted with photos of the era. The back matter is extensive. There are over a hundred pages of bibliographic information, source notes, places to visit and information for further study and much more. A great read for students who enjoy nonfiction that reads like fiction.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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The Stars Beneath Our Feet
By David Barclay Moore
6-8, Realistic Fiction
Alfred A. Knopf, 2017
Lexile: 650
Tags: Urban Fiction; African American; Grief
Lolly is trying to deal with the death of his brother, who was a “street corner pharmacist” shot by a rival crew. Without Jermaine, Lolly is doing his best to figure out life. When the crew members try to recruit him, he needs some solid answers for what he wants. Lolly finds support from Mr. Ali at the community center and, surprisingly, from Big Rose (who hates to be called big) and from a couple bags of loose Lego blocks his mom’s girlfriend gives him.
Lolly copes with the death of his brother by building fantastical cities of Legos. Along the journey he meets Rose who is autistic. The two of them form a bond that supports both of them. A great book for focusing on unexpected friendships.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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The Incredible Magic of Being
By Katheryn Erskine
6-8, Realistic Fiction
Scholastic Press, 2017
Lexile: 740
Tags: Family Fiction; Different Abilities
Julian loves to look at the stars, in fact he is convinced that his death is near and when he dies he will travel to the “dog star”, sirius, and watch over his moms and sister. He wants to show them where the dog star is in the night sky so they can see where he is but everyone is always much too busy to stop and look, plus his sister has turned into a black hole and is sucking the energy out of everyone. Then he meets their new neighbor, Mr. X, who Julian realizes is also in need of some saving.
Alternatingly poignant and funny, the author deals with alternative families (two moms), fourteen year-old sisters, moving to new places, grumpy neighbors, and debilitating fear. This engaging read will work best with middle school readers as well as readers who are fans of Kathryn Erskine’s other novels.
Reviewed by
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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The Truth about Happily Ever After
By Karole Cozzo
9-12, Contemporary Fiction
Swoon Reads, 2017
Lexile HL740
Tags: Love & Romance; Social norms
Alyssa loves her job as Cinderella at a theme park. It is actually a grueling job that requires she is in top shape every day. There are frequent "body checks" to make sure the girls are staying slim, eating right and staying fit. Is this job really worth the hours in the gym or the constant diet? The excitement the children show when she comes around, the hundreds of pictures she takes with sticky, tired children and the relief parents show when she is approachable makes her think it is. Jake, Alyssa's boyfriend, is training to be a first responder. He doesn't care about the smiles of the children, only his job, which is just a job for him. Can the two of them find a way to each other around their jobs which take so much of their time?
While this novel is "just a romance", it does offer some interesting thought topics. Do princesses have to be thin and fit? Are children with disabilities still just children at heart? Should a job be fun, or just a job? Does a boyfriend have to be a prince to be the best boyfriend ever? This book will be best in high school.
Reviewed by;
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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Sweet Black Waves
By Kristina Pérez
9-12, Fantasy
Imprint, 2018
Lexile: HL710
Tags: Magic; Relationships
Two countries have been at war for many years: Iveriu and Kernyv. Branwen was orphaned by the Kernyveu and raised by her uncle and aunt, the king and queen of Iveriu, side by side with their own daughter, Princess Eseult. Essy and Branny are best friends even though someday Essy will be a pawn in the marriage game in order to strengthen the kingdom. One day, Branwen is lead by the Old Ones to rescue a man who washes up on the shore. His name is Tristan and he is from Kernyv. Branwen saves him and falls in love with him. Eventually there is a tournament for the hand of Princess Eseult which Tristan wins for his uncle, King Marc of Kernyv. Branwen has fallen more and more under the magic of the Old Ones and realizes that the union between Eseult and Marc will bring peace and strength to both kingdoms. She is hoping for peace for the land.
While most readers will not know the story of Tristan and Iseult, this, first in a trilogy, will stand on its own.
Reviewed by;
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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The Heartbeats of Wing Jones
By Katherine Webber
9-12, Realistic Fiction
Delacorte, 2017
Lexile: 800L
Tags: Realistic fiction; Family; Emotional problems
Marcus is everything that his little sister, Wing, is not. He is charming and athletic and popular, until he gets behind the wheel of a car while drunk and kills two people. As he lies in a coma, the rest of his family catches the fallout from his actions. The medical bills mount and they are in danger of losing their house. Wing needs to escape the house and the grief and the disappointment in her older brother and all the trouble he has brought so, in the middle of the night, she goes to the track and runs. She runs for hours with her grandmother's' spirit animals for company: a dragon for her Asian grandmother, a lion for her African grandmother.
Wing's voice realistically recounts the grief Wing, her mother and two grandmothers have after the accident that leaves Marcus alive but in a lot of trouble. The mixed feelings of guilt and relief they have that he is alive while the other two victims died. There is also a bit of romance as Wing and her brother's best friend Aaron start to spend more and more time together.
Reviewed by;
Chris Coble
CEC Early College
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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
By Erika L. Sanchez
9-12, Realistic Fiction
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2017
Lexile: 730L
Tags: Family tragedy; Depression; Suicide attempt; Self-discovery
Julia Reyes is an angst-ridden Latina in Chicago. Her older sister - the good daughter - has died in an accident for which Julia feels responsible; her parents might blame her as well. She is also trying to establish her authentic independent personality. This gritty novel throws in just about every emotional brick available: loss, depression, pregnancy, abortion, LGBTQ, suicide, family struggles and coming-of-age realism and also adds in the challenge of undocumented parents and DACA children while lauding Mexican culture. It is an ambitious work but the solidly-developed characters and well-paced action make it successful. Despite it's heavy topics, it also resonates with hope and spunk.
This book's larger purpose, according to the author, is to highlight depression, mental illness and the many resources available for those contemplating suicide. It shines a positive light on therapy and counseling and plays to the 'every teen' theater.
Reviewed by:
Terri Faulkner
Library Services
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The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
By: Benjamin Alire Saenz
9-12, Realistic Fiction
Clarion Books, 2017
Lexile: HL450
Tags: Adoption; Identity; LGBTQ; Hispanic Americans; Death and dying; High-low text
Sal was born to a white family but adopted by a gay Mexican-American man at the age of three. As he begins the transition into adulthood during his senior year of high school, the calm, controlled boy he once was seems to be slipping away as he suddenly finds himself dealing with problems by using his fists. To complicate matters, his grandmother's cancer has returned. Sal starts questioning everything; his history, his place, himself.
This sensitive, thoughtful title delves into the complexities of relationships, while dealing with issues of grief, acceptance, and what it means to be a man. A must read for young adults.
Reviewed by:
Michelle Jensen
George Washington H.S.
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Shadow of Liberty
9-12, Non-Fiction
By Kenneth C. Davis
Henry Holt, 2016
Lexile:1110
Tags: Slavery, Presidents, Historical events
In the early days of our country's development, owning slaves was a common practice. Many of our most famous founding fathers were among those that owned enslaved people. There are five enslaved persons that had a part in our history whose names were not known until now. This is an interesting look at a part of our history that focuses on five enslaved persons that played a part in our American History.
The book includes the stories of these five people along with photographs, authentic documents, and timelines. This is a good resource for those who are interested in this part of our history. It would be a good resource for a high school American history course as well as adults.
Reviewed by:
Karen Burns
Place Bridge Academy