I was hoping this would be some good climate fiction but it turns out to just be good fiction that deals with loss and grief.

So far, this is a sweet love story and excellent insight into life with severe anxiety.

What happens to the family members left behind after a school shooter takes action? What an incredible perspective and a powerful story of how the brother of a school shooter tries to move on.

Red this. Immediately. Even if you think you know all there is to know about racism in the US, you‘re wrong. My mind was blown and my eyes are even more wide open.

An adorable middle grade book about family, friendships, owning mistakes, and growing up.

The twist?!? 🤯

Read it and prepare for your jaw to hit the floor and then prepare to read it all over again.

Well this graphic novel is making it into my 6th grade English curriculum next year. Easy as that. It was a powerful story of two boys trying to leave sub-Saharan Africa for Europe. It is the perfect complement to Refugee by Alan Gatz.

Although this was billed as a thriller, it was more about growing up with loss and what it means to move on from tragedy in childhood.

I especially loved the ending because everything was not neat and tidy, kinda like real life.

Less plot driven and more character driven, this book gave insight into adolescence in general and being of blended (or as Darius says, fractional) heritage.

Even if you don‘t normally drink tea, you will want a steaming cup of Oolong while you watch Darius grow.

Two authors + two protagonists = one excellent story about race, class, high school, violence, “love”, and friendship.

This quick read brings up insightful and, I think, accurate misunderstandings centered on race. The single night the protagonists spend together reveals so much about their identities.

Highly recommend this YA novel.

This graphic memoir was a National Book Award Finalist and for good reason. The story is raw and honest and the author‘s notes at the end were what clinched this as an excellent book for me.

The author deals with family and drug addiction and friendship in a refreshingly honest way that is, by turns, bittersweet and then frustrating and, finally, uplifting.

I am into this book and can‘t stop thinking about when I can get back to it!

The author uses (fictional) transcripts, log entries, and traditional narrative to show how the protagonist tries to investigate a murder in her high school.

Ok-gotta get back to reading now!

I wanted to like this book about a non-binary kid coming out to their parents so much but it felt like nothing was happening and it was moving too slowly for me to stick with it.

The beginning was painful and helped me see what a family may experience when a child comes out but the rest fell apart and I couldn‘t stick with it.

This YA novel is a lighter version of Naomi Alderman‘s The Power and it will keep you guessing!

Finally got around to reading this one. I wasn‘t totally blown away but appreciated its importance when it was written.

Melinda was a good character who likely reflected some realistic details about sexual assault survivors. I will probably read her other work but I‘m not chomping at the bit to do so.

The power of “if” as opposed to “when”.

Starting a novel with “But...”?!? I‘m hooked already! What a way to grab the reader, raise questions, and keep us reading.

This will definitely become a mentor sentence in my classroom!

I know I‘m in the minority here, but I didn‘t love this one. Green‘s writing is not my favorite as it sounds like someone trying really hard to be authentic...and that obviously doesn‘t work. At least for me.

We will discuss this in our teacher book club so I am very eager to hear everyone‘s reactions and if they differ from mine.

Sitting on the couch next to my son was exactly where I needed to be as I read one of Mahmoud‘s chapters 😭

So far, this book has not disappointed and I totally get why it‘s been all over my IG feed.

Aven was born without arms and the stories she makes up to explain her “unarmed” adventures are hilarious. Unfortunately, the writing is just okay and the plot is flimsy.

Aven is a cool character and her friendships with other middle school outcasts is heart warming. I won‘t teach this in my curriculum but I don‘t regret reading it.

Warning: Unless you want dreams filled with violence and attempts to survive, don‘t read this at bedtime.

You could really tell the author did her research regarding bugs, snakes, birds, and other creatures in the Amazon. Eek! This strong female protagonist takes the lead in this survival tale and it‘s literally jaw dropping.

Above my feet, I see every possible shade of green made from clusters of leaves.

I love how she‘s described this scene so slowly to make the reader realize the character is hanging upside down, suspended mid-air.

Cry if you need to because this came from her posthumous collection of essays and stories.

Silence and space are my words for 2020. Both mental and physical silence and space because that is where the mind rests and ideas awaken.

This book has definitely helped me see that.

How have I never read this until now?? YA dystopia is my jam and I am obsessed with this series.

The characters are strong, the setting feels so real and intricate, the concept is thought-provoking, and the plot is heart pounding.

This was the thought percolating in my mind as I read this book that is aimed at adolescents living in the #metoo world. As an educator, it reminds me that there is work to be done to help girls find their voice and make boys know their place in regards to touching or talking about girls‘ bodies.

As for the writing, something was not quite on target for me but the plot and message were on point.