Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Guest post and book trailer by Rutvi (8th Grade)

The book, Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds, is an intense and astonishing book that showed me the effects of violence. It opened my eyes to the world of violence and the chain reaction of pulling a trigger. The main character is a nineteen-year-old boy called Will. When his brother is murdered in a shooting, Will knows he must do what “THE RULES” say: take care of it. He leaves his apartment, determined to find his brother’s killer and take vengeance. The elevator ride down, however, is a really eventful one. On each floor, the elevator stops, allowing a new person to board. Each of these new characters is a ghost, murdered through the belief of “blood for blood.” And each offers Will advice on what he is about to do. More than half of the book is the one minute it takes for him to go down. The book’s main idea is about revenge and whether it is worth it. The story is spell-binding as you hurt and ache for Will as he takes on a gruesome task and has to decide something that would most-likely change his life forever, and for the worse not the better. Will wants to do what’s right for his brother, even if it is a misguided attempt. He is distraught and angry over the death of his brother. In his neighborhood, there is nothing you can do other than follow “THE RULES”. The book makes you feel EXACTLY what Will is feeling and puts you in his shoes as he experiences sadness, grief, confusion and anger. It takes you on an emotional roller-coaster. The author expresses the emotions, thoughts and feelings of Will in a way which is mind-blowing and astonishing. The book is also novel in verse. The novel in verse format engaged me, and the author, Jason Reynolds, writes it perfectly by giving the reader exactly what we need to build the story in our own minds. I’d rate this book a 5/5 stars and I definitely recommend it.

This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston

This Is Our Story is a thrilling mystery set in the small Lousianna town of Belle Terre. Here, five high school friends the "River Point Boys": Grant, Logan, John Michael, Henry, and Shep go out hunting but only four come back alive. Was Grant’s death an accident or murder? Kate, a senior in high school who works at the District Attorney's office, is a perceptive photographer who is asked to help the sight impared prosecutor prepare a case for the grand jury. However, her own involvement with the boys causes problems, and every lead she uncovers becomes a dead end. Could she be in love with a murderer? Filled with suspense, readers will want to read until the end to find out what happens.

Although this story is very different from my life, I was easily able to connect with the story through the emotions of Kate. I have experienced times when it was difficult to trust someone and to let my feeling for the person cloud my judgment. In this way I can empathaize with her and understand the internal conflict she feels. Did you know reading fiction and making connections helps people develop empathy, emotional awareness of others, and critical thinking. Can you connect with this story? How?

The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

Gordon Korman has a special place in my heart. His book, This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall published in 1978, was the first book I truly enjoyed reading. It is still unbelievable to me that he wrote this for a 7th Grade English project. Furthermore, it looks like my 15 year old son is following in my footsteps as his first favorite book was Masterminds, also by Gordon Korman. Looking for a humorous book, I decided to see if Mr. Korman had any new books out and came across this one.

The Unteachables is a story about a group of students who for various reasons end up in a “Self-Contained Special Eighth-Grade Class” where they spend the day isolated instead of changing classes like the rest of the school. To say this group of students is eccentric is kind. Mr. Kermit, the teacher assigned to this class, has lost his passion for teaching and just wants to make it through the year so he can retire.

As you might guess, the book’s humor comes from the various situations, actions and pranks these students and their teacher find themselves in throughout the year. What you might not expect is how these characters find a soft spot in your heart. Told from multiple character viewpoints in classic Gordon Korman style, it is a book anyone in the American public school system can relate to. To learn more about Gordon Korman and his books, check out his website.

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

When I found out the author of the Legend series and writer of over 20 books released her first historical fiction story about Nannerl and Wolfgang Mozart, I was intrigued and decided it would be the next book I read.

In the Kingdom of Back, Nannerl Mozart is the main character, and the story is told in first person from her eyes. What struck me most while reading this story was how sorry I felt for women who lived in a time when they were not treated as anything more than then objects to serve men. Imagine what our world could be like today if women had always been treated equally to men. What artistic and scientific discoveries are missing from our lives because women were told that these kinds of things were reserved for men? Check out this article I found on Classic FM. Was Mozart’s sister actually the most talented musician in the family?

Nannerl is jealous of her brother and frustrated with how she is treated differently. The idea that only men should be able to compose, why she should have to wear tight fitting clothes that hinder her movements and ability to play the clavier (what the piano was called during this time period) while her brother does not, as well as the fact that Wolfgang can flirt with the audience while she cannot even speak to men are just a few of the ways.

Nannerl’s greatest desire is to be remembered. Yet in her world, she is expected to give up performing, get married, have children, and take care of her family. How then, can she possibly fulfill this desire? This is where a fantasy / magical element enters the story. Her intense yearning to not be forgotten transports her to the Kingdom of Back. In this magical world her guardian, princeling Hyacinth, promises to fulfill her dreams if she in turn fulfills his. She must be willing to compromise her ethics and do things that are not only difficult, but perhaps even condemnable.

How does the story play out? You’ll have to read it to find out. If you do read this, let me know what you think the Kingdom of Back symbolizes and I’ll share my ideas.

Ready Player One By Ernest Cline

So my next book review was going to be a historical fiction book. Then, I learned Ready Player Two was coming out on November 24, 2020. Ready Player One, was one of those unexpected gems that makes you stay up all night reading. While I remembered the plot, and how much I enjoyed it, was I really familiar enough with the book to appreciate the sequel to the fullest? Was it even necessary to have read the first book?

Moment of truth - I hardly ever read the whole series of a book. I feel as a media specialist trying to create a culture of reading at my school, I had to read as many different types of books as possible hoping one would interest that student who claimed he or she hated to read. I didn’t have the time or the luxury of reading the rest of the series. Either my students liked the idea behind this book or they didn’t. I had to move on.

Why then did I even consider reading the sequel to Ready Player One - and more absurdly think I should reread this book? Maybe because while the book was 10 times better than the movie, the movie version was actually good. (Mind you it was very different from the book.) Or maybe, given the current state of the world in the midst of a pandemic, I wanted the comfort of a story I knew would transport me from my current life into another world with different problems? I’m not entirely sure, but like your favorite comfort food when you are feeling down, I gave myself permission to just take a break and enjoy an excellent story.

Do you reread stories? It’s interesting to think you are actually never really rereading a story as you have changed since the last time you read the book. You are a different person with different life experiences, so different ideas in the story might affect you differently…. no? Regardless, I could think of many different excuses as to why I needed to spend my precious time rereading this book, so I did.

Rereading this novel, I was immediately struck with two thoughts. One, the beginning of the book was quite depressing. Set in the year 2044, the world was in dire circumstances. Earth was not an ideal place to be, and ‘The Oasis’ was where people went to escape the harsh realities of life. Two, the main character, Wade, had a pessimistic view of the world that might put some readers off - enough to abandon the book.

Next, I was forced to acknowledge just how much detail the book contained. Usually, a lot of detail makes me skeptical of holding my students’ attention. I know the majority of kids today expect instant gratification. If too much non-essential information which does not keep the storyline moving is involved, a lot of kids might become bored and again abandon the book. In this case, the 80’s references to movies, music and video games might be a bit overdone. (Perhaps this is why the movie version was so successful.)

I also noticed the book contains a lot of mature content. As a media specialist, I am not into censorship. However, I also don’t enjoy defending my position and students should know what to expect. Therefore, I made a mental note to make sure this book contained a ‘yellow sticker’ on the back to protect myself and my library patrons.

Despite these reasons, I still believe it is an excellent book. It contains elements of adventure, suspense, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. James Halliday, the billionaire computer developer (I picture Bill Gates or Steve Jobs) has died and will leave his entire fortune and control of the OASIS, the virtual platform which students attend school and the world uses to escape from reality, to the person who finds a magical Easter egg. Alliances have been formed, but Wade (the underdog) is on his own competing against Innovative Online Solutions - (the giant) which has 1000’s of employees working together to find the egg. If you like video games, anything or everything 80’s, difficult quests and non-stop action this story is for you.

Lord Loss by Darren Shan (The first book in the Demonata Series)

Like recommending funny books, I have difficulty recommending scary books. Growing up, I shared a room with my older sister. She loved reading scary stories and would often tell me about them before I went to sleep. This made it hard for me to fall asleep and gave me nightmares. Thus, I do not like scary stories. However, since I feel obligated to recommend different genres, I bit the bullet and read this book in our horror section. Why this one? Well, the cover was falling off, and it had either been well loved or poorly mistreated. I wanted to know if I should replace it, or just delete it from our catalog.

Like my sister, Grubbs Grady the main character of this story enjoys tormenting his sister. After his sister gets him in trouble, he pulls an extremely disgusting prank on her that is 10 times worse than anything my sister ever did. This prank gets Grubbs confined to his room after school for a month. However 11 days before his punishment ends, his sister buys him an expensive present and his parents release him from his punishment. Weird right? Even Grubbs is suspicious. This is where the story gets gruesome. I will spare you the gory details, but if blood and guts are not your thing, you should not read this book.

Grubb’s mother, father and sister are all killed by demons. Grubbs is institutionalized. Months pass and no one believes Grubbs. Then, Dervish, his uncle appears, showing Grubbs pictures of the demons saying Grubbs can come and live with him if he lies to everyone about the demons.

The next part of the book sets the scene for the series. We learn about Dervish’s house, his fortune, and the fact he has secrets. At this point Grubb has convinced himself his uncle is a werewolf? Is he? What about the demon master Lord Loss? Why was Grubb’s family murdered? And what does the game of chess have to do with all this?

Surprisingly enough these mysteries actually make this into a good story, and I am able to overlook the gore. Will I read all 10 books in the series? No, but I did enjoy this one.

If you enjoy horror stories check out Lord Loss today.

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibbs

I have always enjoyed Stewart Gibbs’ books. They are not deep like a Jason Reynolds book, but they are entertaining. Knowing this and learning the book was about spies, I knew it would be fun to read. Growing up watching James Bond movies, I always wanted to be a spy. It seemed like a glamorous profession in which everyday was filled with danger, suspense, and intrigue. Do kids today have this fantasy, or do they realize a lot of spy work is tedious and boring?

In this book, Charlie Thorne is a brilliant 12-year old girl with questionable priorities. She just wants to have fun while biding her time until she can get away from her parents. She’s waiting to spend the money she embezzled from a shady company that refused to pay her for a computer program she created. Unfortunately for Charlie, the fate of the world is at stake. Albert Einstein is believed to have created an easy way to produce and use nuclear energy. Until now, no one has been successful in finding the “missing” equation. However, a terrorist group is believed to know where it is located.

Given the seriousness of the situation and the time pressure the CIA is under to find this equation, Agent Garcia was given the authorization to bring in his half sister, Charlie, to help. However, Charlie doesn’t want to help, and she certainly doesn’t want the CIA getting their hands on an equation that would allow them to easily create nuclear bombs and weaponry.

Like James Bond movies, you have to be willing to accept the hero, or heroin in this case, being able to do impossible, unrealistic things. If you can, you will be rewarded with an action packed story with several twists and turns. My only annoyance with the story occurs when this incredibly mature girl reverts to childlike taunting. I think Mr. Gibbs does this to remind us she is just a 12-year-old girl, but for me it just seems very out of character.

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

Recommending funny books is difficult for me. It’s not that I don’t have a sense of humor, I do. I just don’t usually laugh at the things others do. The Simpsons and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are two shows my family loves that I just can’t get into. Yes, I can see how the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is popular, but with a library full of books would one of those be one of my favorites - no. Books like The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill and The Phantom Tollbooth are more my speed. So when author Jason Reynolds, who I greatly admire, came out with a “wickedly funny” book, I just had to read it.

The first chapter/first story was about boogers - a little more gross than funny in my opinion, but the characters' friendship was endearing. The second chapter brought tears to my eyes. Chapters 3 and 4 were confusing, as they didn’t connect to the previous chapters, and they didn’t have an ending. They just left you hanging - wondering. Chapter 5 introduced new characters, and did relate to something in chapter 4. The last 5 chapters followed the same pattern as the first 5 chapters.

What did I think of the book overall? Well, I definitely wouldn’t call it wickedly funny. Yes, there were some funny parts like how Gregory put vapor rub on his lips to impress a girl. However, overall, I feel humor was used to soften the hard realities the characters in the book face. In this way, it reminded me of the way Jordan Sonnenblick uses humor in his books.

The short stories were good, but intense. I’d love to be able to discuss these with a class of students to see how they viewed the stories and learn what resonated with them. I also felt for the most part, the stories were just getting started when they abruptly ended. I’d like for Jason Reynolds to write 10 full length books about each of these short stories.

Finally, I’m confused about “the school bus falling from the sky” metaphor. What does this symbolize to you? Tell me your thoughts, and I will share mine.

To learn more about Jason Reynolds and his books check out his website.

The Infinite in Between by Carolyn Mackler

When I read the inside flap of this book, I was excited. I love books told from multiple character viewpoints. Having lived through high school myself and now watching my 15-year-old sophomore in high school grow and develop as a person, I can testify to the premise of how much an individual changes during the four years of high school. Furthermore, according to the website Understood, “There are huge changes in social and emotional skills between ages 14 and 18. The emotional maturity of a high school freshman is very different from that of a graduating senior.” Based on these reasons I was anxious to learn how the five characters in this book changed over the course of their four years of high school.

Set in Hankinson, NY and told in the 3rd person, this book is about five relative strangers who are grouped together during freshmen orientation and decide to write letters to their future selves which they will open on graduation as their ice breaker activity. The five main characters include Gregor - a quiet cello player with a crush on Whitney, Whitney - an outgoing biracial girl whose parents are separating, Jake - a gay boy who gives up playing football and student council after his sexuality is made public without his consent, Zoe - the daughter of a famous movie star who is in rehab for a drinking problem, and Mia - a shy girl whose parents are never around and feels invisible to her teachers.

Unfortunately, my high hopes for this book started to shatter after reading about their freshman year. The characters’ were one dimensional, and no major plot twists grabbed my attention. I kept reading to the end of their sophomore year which was when I decided to abandon the book. Do you think it is OK to abandon a book, or do you think you have to read it until the end before forming an opinion? My thought is there is a difference between reading for a purpose and reading for pleasure. If the book is something you have to read for a class or project, then yes, you need to finish the book. However, if it is a book you picked to read just for pleasure, and you don’t like it, then why not abandon it and find something else you might enjoy? I’m interested in your thoughts about this. Also, if you have read this book, and disagree with me - let me know. I'm curious about your opinion.

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

When I am planning on reviewing a book for this blog, I try not to read any other reviews on the book as I want my review/opinion of the book to be original and not influenced by others. So while I knew this book had received several awards, I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading.

First, this is a true story. It is a biography about two teenagers, Sasha and Richard, and the story was created from interviews, documents, letters, videos, diaries, social media posts, and public records. Second, the research on this story is remarkable. The time and energy spent on making sure the story was told correctly in context must have been enormous.

The story itself is about how Richard, a 16-year old African American, sets Sasha, a white A gender teen, on fire one day while taking the bus home from school. However, the book contains so much more than just this one encounter and the events leading up to it. Detailed explanations on terms related to gender, sex, sexuality, and romance, help the reader to understand just how multilayered these concepts are. Explanations of law practices and decisions to prosecute minors as adults is also discussed and analyzed. Finally, the empathy Sasha and Sasha’s family displays for Richard is surprising and inspiring.

While the book contains mature themes, I highly recommend it to students and adults alike who want to know more about gender nonconforming people, as well as, how the judicial system works and doesn’t work for minorities.

SYLO by D.J. MacHale

SYLO by D.J. MacHale (The first book of 3 in The SYLO Chronicles Book Series)
Unsure if anyone else feels this way, but during this time of Covid-19, I can’t get enough of stories about mysterious viruses. Maybe I’m looking for coping strategies, or at least reassurance that things are not that bad and could be much worse. This compulsion drove me to read Sylo.

In this book, a mysterious virus that is killing people has been found on Pemberwick Island. Occupants here do not need to wear masks or isolate themselves in their homes, but they cannot leave the island or communicate with the outside world. A branch of the US Navy, called Sylo, has taken over the island and is prepared to kill anyone who refuses to cooperate.

Told in the first person, the story revolves around Tucker Pierce, a high school freshman who plays football. A series of events - his teammate dropping dead on the football field of no known cause, the appearance of a mysterious shadow emitting music and exploding “like a massive Fourth of July skyrocket”, and a strange man named Fight trying to get Tucker to take a mysterious red ruby substance to improve his performance on the football field - make Tucker and his friends suspicious of what they are being told and who to believe. Is there really a virus? Or could it be something a lot more dangerous that is keeping residents of Pemberwick Island contained? Read this book to find out.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (The first book of 3 in Chaos Walking Series)

“If one of us falls we all fall”- again and again signpost.

Imagine a world where you can hear everyone’s thoughts, and they can hear yours. Welcome to Prentisstown, the setting of this book. Todd Hewitt is the last boy in this town becoming a man on his 13th birthday in 28 days. Told through Todd’s perspective, 1st person, it is a suspenseful coming of age story.

Todd, an angry, foulmouthed, confused, but deep down kindhearted 12 year-old has grown up on the planet, New Hope, where there are 146 men and no women. Confused when he finds a girl in the woods, and details are revealed that force him to flee his home. Told with a unique, authentic voice, the book is full of questions that keeps readers reading to find out. Questions like, what is the ritual that makes a boy become a man, and why is Todd so important to the men of Prentisstown? The book is entertaining unless you have a hard time with words like ain’t and effing.


SPOILER ALERT - Animal lovers beware.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The first book of 6 in the Lunar Chronicles) Ok, I’m not going to lie. I’ve read more than 20 different versions of Cinderella, many from different cultures, and being a feminist, I don’t like the idea of a Prince having to save me. I want to save myself. However, a student in a recent class claimed she loves this series. While I still haven’t read the Twilight series, I have come to appreciate Marissa Meyer’s writing and while not a big superheroes fan, I did love her book Renegades, so why not give this series a try. Set in the future, this story is told in 3rd person. Major characters include, Cinder - a cyborg with a mysterious past, Kai - the Prince of New Beijing, Peony - Cinder’s stepsister, Dr. Erland - the scientist/doctor trying to find a cure for Letumosis (the blue fever), and Queen Levana - the Queen of Luna. The story revolves around Linh Cinder. Cinder was adopted after suffering an accident she can’t remember when she was 11. Her stepfather died not long after, and Cinder was treated like a slave by the family. Not only does she work as a full-service mechanic in the weekly market, but also does most of the chores around the house. When Kai visits Cinder’s mechanic shop it sets off a series of events in which the two become intertwined. While not powerful in society like Kai, Cinder has her own unique abilities which make readers wonder who will save who. While not my favorite read, I can see how people can get lost in this futuristic Cinderella tale. Furthermore, reading this during the Covid-19 pandemic, it doesn’t take much of an imagination to sympathize with this make believe world in the midst of a plague.

Payback Time by Carl Deuker

Set in Seattle, Washington this story is about a boy named Daniel True, also known as Mitch, in his senior year of highschool. Mitch is obsessed with becoming a reporter. He dreams of going to college at Columbia University, living in New York City, and becoming a writer for a famous newspaper. Convinced he will be the editor and lead writer for his high school newspaper, Mitch is devastated when Alyssa Hanson is elected and tasks him with covering sports. Mitch almost quits the school newspaper, but decides to stick it out and is actually great in this new position. It also allows him to get his reporting in local newspapers and earn money. Things get even more exciting for Mitch when he uncovers a mystery surrounding a new player on the team. With the help of newspaper photographer, Kimi Yon, they begin to unravel the truth. However, the truth is more dangerous than either of them realized. Will Mitch uncover the truth and have his big story, or will he mess up the one thing he has always been good at - or worse yet, get himself killed. While filled with lots of football, you don’t have to like football to love this book. A suspenseful story that captures your attention on page one, I recommend it to both sports and mystery fans.

Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton

Before I begin my review, I’d like to mention this is definitely a “yellow sticker” book which means it is only meant for a mature audience. There is a lot of bad language - starting with the second sentence. There are also references to sex, drugs and alcohol. And, the main character has lost his brother to suicide. Therefore, please think twice before checking out this book, and understand these elements are part of the story. This being said, it actually is a great book that highlights how humans need purpose to evolve, open the “Door of Life”, and see what is on the other side.

Cliff Hubbard, also known as Neanderthal because of his sheer size, lives in a trailer park in Happy Valley, a small town in Montana, with his alcoholic father, his loving but issued mother, and the ghost of his brother Shane.

Cliff doesn’t like high school and has three rules to live by to survive. #1. It’s all bull…. #2. People Suck #3. Fists speak louder than words

Cliff is in a physically and mentally bad place, which is why the transformation of his character over the course of the book is story worthy. Reader’s fall in love with Cliff, even though he is far from perfect. Cliff’s transformation begins when he agrees to help his nemesis, Aaron - the captain of the football team make Happy Valley High School a better place. Filled with lots of sarcastic humor, connections to Jim Carey’s movies, Quentin Tarantino, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, it is an intense book with plenty of metaphors and similes helping to put the reader into the story. I highly recommend it to mature readers hoping to open the door to the universe.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Set just after the U.S. Civil War, this story has something for everyone to enjoy. Jane, a Negro girl, born to a white plantation owner was sent to be trained as a Attendent at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore, Maryland. Combat schools are necessary, as soldiers from the Civil War have risen from the dead and attack the living. Once bitten, humans turn into “shamblers”. Jane, having accepted the necessity of learning to fight against these creatures, makes the most of her training while still dreaming of returning to her mother’s plantation, Rose Hall.

However, before graduating, Jane learns of nefarious activity perpetrated by the Mayor. While the North won the Civil War and slavery was made illegal, a group of people know as Suvivalists still believe Negros are inferior and should serve white folks. When Jane is caught snooping in the Mayor’s office, she is shipped to a settlement in Kansas known as Summerland.

Jane spends her days in Summerland protecting the wall, a barrier to keep the shamblers away from the people. With not enough to eat and desperate to find answers, Jane decides she can either “die peacefully or survive by any means necessary”. An interesting take on the zombie pop culture phenomena. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever felt powerless, but doesn’t give up trying to right the wrongs of the past.

The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, told from Mason’s point of view, it is a book about friendship and the power of a positive disposition. Mason is the largest boy in 7th grade. He has dyslexia, diaphoresis, and synesthesia. The dyslexia makes it hard for Mason to read and write. The diaphoresis makes Mason sweat a lot; so much that he has to change shirts throughout the day. And, the synesthesia makes him see colors with emotions in his mind. If this wasn’t enough, Mason’s mother, grandfather and best friend, Benny, have all died. To make matters worse, the police don’t think Benny’s death was an accident and continue to question Mason about the events leading to his death. Mason’s luck seems to change when he makes a new friend, Calvin, but unfortunately, Calvin too almost dies. The book reminds me of Freak the Mighty with a mystery, the death of Benny, mixed into the story. A great read for those who enjoy putting themselves in another person's shoes.

Refugee by Alan Gratz

This book reminds me of a more advanced version of the popular “I Survived” series. If you enjoy learning about history in a short fast-based story, this book is for you.

Refugee is a historical fiction novel about three 12-year-olds who leave their homes because of civil unrest. Josef is Jewish living in 1930’s Nazi Germany. Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994 under the reign of Fidel Castro. And, Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015 living through a civil war.

Josef’s family leaves Germany after his father is released from a concentration camp. They make it on a voyage to Cuba aboard a ship called the St. Louis only to encounter difficulties upon reaching Cuba.

Isabel’s family leaves Cuba for Miami, Florida, in a small boat with gas bought from selling Isabel’s most prized possession, a trumpet.

Mahmouds’s family travels by car, bus, and raft from Syria hoping to get to Germany after their house is bombed.

Along each of the journeys the kids encounter many obstacles, adversity, and tragedy. Do they make it to their destinations? And if they defy the odds, was the cost and sacrifice worth it? Read this great book to find out.

Symptoms of being human by Jeff Garvin

Symptoms of being Human is a realistic novel about a 16 year old gender fluid high school student named Riley. No one except Riley’s therapist knows about Riley’s gender fluid orientation. Some days Riley wakes “up feeling more ‘boy’, some days Riley wakes up feeling more ‘girl’, and some days Riley wakes up feeling somewhere in between”. Keeping these feelings hidden is taking its toll on Riley’s social and emotional health and it doesn’t help that Riley’s father is a conservitive senator for the state of California in the middle of a re-election campaign. Dr. Ann, Riley’s therapist, suggests Riley start an anonymous blog so Riley can interact with like minded individuals in a risk -free environment. The blog does help as there are far more positive reactions to it than negative remarks. However, when the blog starts to gain traction, and a lot of followers, Riley begins to become nervous about people finding out who is the author of the blog. An excellent story of what it is like to be a teenager with a secret, readers are sure to find something they can relate to. I highly recommend it to anyone who seeks to understand people different from themselves or those questioning their own identity.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

The Belles is a fantasy novel about a group of women, the Belles. Set in Orleans, a series of islands, all the people are born with gray skin, cherry red eyes, and straw like hair. People here hate the way they look, and are willing to spend a lot of money to make themselves beautiful. However, the only way they can change how they look is by visiting a Belle who can use their special powers called arcana to transform a person’s features. Belles are separated from society while they train, and when they turn 16 are given positions at different beauty houses around the country. The most prestigious position for the Belles is to be the one who is chosen by the Queen, lives at the royal palace and is given the title of “the favorite”. The main character, Camellia a 16 year-old Belle, wants more than anything to be the favorite and while she doesn’t always follow the rules, she strives to be the best. When the new Belles get their positions, it becomes obvious that being a Belle is not what the young women thought it would be. Overworked, and demanded to perform transformations that tax their ethics and abilities, the new Belles must work together if they stand a chance at changing their future. A story of friendship, glamor, intrigue, and drama, The Belles is an excellent read for anyone who likes to question and understand what they are taught to believe.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater is a supernatural mystery story about a group of 17 year-old teenagers looking for a leyland,a invisible line with mysterious power. They believe this leyline will lead them to the grave of a knight named Glendower. Legend has it that whoever finds and awakens Glendower will be given incredible powever. Main characters include Blue, Gansley, Adam, Ronan and Noah. Blue is a girl who comes from a family of psychics and is the only resident of her house to lack this ability. Gansey is a student who attends Aglionby Academy and is the leader of the Raven Boys. Adam is a scholarship student at Aglionby whose lack of family wealth haunts him. Ronan is an orphan whose father was murdered and is forbidden to see his comatose mother. And, Noah is a quiet and introverted boy who hides a tragic secret. Set in Henrietta, Virginia it is an extremely suspenseful story with many plot twists and surprises that will keep you engaged. I highly recommend it.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver is a science fiction novel about a dystopian world in which love is considered a deadly disease people must be vaccinated against. Set in the future in Portland, OR, it is a story about a 17 year-old girl named Lena. Lena can’t wait until she has been given the cure for love on her 18th birthday. She can’t wait to feel pure and clean. Living with her Aunt Carol, Lena has had to carry around her mother’s shame of never being cured her whole life. However, the summer before she turns 18 she meets a boy named Alex and with him a series of events occurs that make her question everything about her life. Is she strong enough to go against everything she has been taught and the stability and security she’s always wanted and run away to the Wild risking being caught by the regulators and thrown in the crypts? Or, will she accept a life of mediocrity and lies? Read it today to find out.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is a realistic fiction novel about a 16 year old girl named Jessica. A track star in the 400-meter, Jessica trains diligently hoping to acquire a scholarship to college. Life changes dramatically when a tragic bus accident on the way home from a track meet leaves Jessica without a leg. Devastated by her change in circumstance, Jessica falls into a deep depression haunted by the fact she may never run again. Her best friend Fiona is amazing, but it is ultimately a new friend, Rosa, who has Cerebral Palsy who inspires her to try and achieve the impossible. A coming of age story about courage, friendship, and hope, it is a must read for anyone dealing with unfair circumstances. Winner of the teen book Schneider Family Book Award, it reminds me of books like Wonder and Out of My Mind.

La Linea by Ann Jaramillo

La Linea by Ann Jaramillo, Square Fish (an imprint of Macmillan), 2006, is a realistic fictional novel about a brother and sister trying to cross the border into America. The story starts in a small village near San Jacinto, Mexico. There Miguel,a fifteen year old boy, lives with his grandmother and younger sister Elena. Miguel and Elena’s parents went to California to try a make a better life for their family.They had promised to send for the kids when they had saved enough money. When Miguel finally gets the letter from his papa telling him to come, he is overjoyed. However, his sister Elena must wait to come and she is jealous. As Miguel sets off on the journey things don’t go as planned. Instead of going alone as he is supposed to, his sister sneaks along, making the trip even harder than it already was. Due to more unforeseen factors, readers are kept on the edge of their seats wondering if they will survive. Told in the first person, it is extremely suspenseful and difficult to put down. Readers cannot help but connect to the characters and feel as though they are on this horrific adventure. I highly recommend this book!

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014, is a novel in verse about two 12 year old twin brothers, Josh and Jordan Bell. Winner of the 2015 Newbery Award and Coretta Scott King Honor Award Winner it is story about basketball, growing up, family, and what is truly important in life. Told in a unique blend of free verse and hip-hop rap style poetry it is probably different from anything you’ve read before. Told in the first person from Josh’s perspective, it is full of drama. I highly recommend this amazing coming of age story.

Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland

Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland is a fantasy story about 5 dragonets who have been raised in a secret cave. These dragons are part of a secret movement called the Talons of Peace which is determined to bring an end to the war that has been going on for generations among the 7 dragon tribes. The story takes place in the fantasy world of Pyrrhia. Main characters include Clay - a Mudwing, Tsunami - a Seawing, Glory - a Rainwing, Sunny - a Sandwing, and Starflight a Nightwing. The first book of this series is told from Clay’s point of view, while subsequent books in the series are told from different dragons’ viewpoints. Full suspense and adventure readers empathize with the dragons and their plight to make their world safe again.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

El Deafo by Cece Bell, Amulet Books 2014, is a graphic novel about a girl named Cece. Based on the author’s life, it is a touching memoir about growing up deaf. The story starts in a large city, but continues with Cece growing up in a small town in Virginia. Other main characters include Cece’s family and friends. Told in the first person, it is a story about a girl who has to navigate growing up different from those around her. While she longs to be “normal” she also realizes that the Phonic Ear she has to wear gives her special powers. Full of humor, readers can relate with Cece in that all she really wants is a good friend who will accept her for who she is. Beautiful illustrations, vibrantly colored (color by David Lasky) add context and significance taking the story to the next level. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever felt different.

Serafina and the black cloak by Robert Beatty

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a scary, mystery novel about a 12 year-old girl who lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate. The story takes place in Asheville, North Carolina in the year 1899. Other main characters include: Pa – the only family Serafina has ever known, Braeden Vanderbilt – an orphan and the nephew of the owners of the estate, and the Man in the Black Cloak – a mysterious entity responsible for the disappearance of several children. Told in the third person, it is a story about a girl who is told to keep herself hidden from everyone. She sleeps during the day and wanders the huge estate at night catching rats until she witnesses a horrible event. Disobeying Pa’s wishes, she is determined to learn the true identity of this horrifying entity, as well as, her own true identity. Full of magic and suspense, I highly recommend it to students in 5th-8th grade.