Book Review - I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

by Erika L. Sanchez

            Julia (pronounced who - lee – uh) and her older sister Olga are complete opposites. Olga is polite, helps around the house, respects her parents, and takes on traditional Mexican values. Julia wants to be more like her other American born peers and not follow so many rules. In other words, Olga is the perfect Mexican daughter, while Julia is not. When Olga dies suddenly, Julia makes the discovery that her sister kept secrets and may not have been so perfect after all. She sets out to discover these secrets all while struggling with her parent's expectations that seem to have grown since her sister’s death.

            When it comes to stories of being first-generation American/children of immigrants, Julia’s is not one to be missed. Julia is dealing with a lot over the course of this book and readers are likely to find themselves sympathizing and/or empathizing with her at various points. Her parents, particularly her mother, are not parents readers will be longing for but the reasoning behind how they treat their daughters is explained over time causing readers to understand them a bit more.     

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Book Review - Squint

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Squint

by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown

            Flint Minett is nicknamed Squint due to having to squint because of his eye disease. Even though his vision isn’t the best, he is determined to write and draw his own comic in time to enter it in a big contest. Spending most of his time alone or with his grandparents who raised him, Squint’s world shifts when new girl McKell Panganiban takes a seat at his lunch table and introduces him to new experiences.

            Squint is a likable character with an intriguing story. This story covers the topic of bullying, making new friends, accepting yourself, and following your dreams. A great read, especially if you are looking for a standalone book that is realistic fiction with a male protagonist that isn’t sports-related. 

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Weekly Wednesday Quote

Time to Geek Out

If you haven't already checked out this awesome video of some of the Avengers: End Game cast singing a Marvel themed version of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" with Jimmy Fallon then you should.

Book Review - Lucky Penny

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Lucky Penny

by Ananth Hirsh

            When it comes to luck, the only kind Penny Brighton has is bad luck. Already having to vacate her apartment, Penny loses her job on moving day to boot. Her luck looks up a little when her friend Helen finds her a new place to live and a new job at her family’s laundromat. The new pad is Helen’s not empty storage unit and Penny’s new boss is Helen’s 12-year-old brother. Even when things start to look up again when Penny finds a love interest, things are likely to go south for this rather unlucky girl.

            Originally a webcomic, fans of Penny are likely to be happy about this print story. I, on the other hand, found the story a little bizarre at times (especially the end) and not just because I couldn’t get past a 12-year-old boss. This story does have some fun parts if you give it a try. If you are looking to get into graphic novels, I don’t recommend starting here though. 

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Book Review - All American Boys

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

All American Boys

by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Sixteen-year-old Rashad was trying to buy a bag of chips, but then a white cop accuses him of stealing, and the next thing he knows, he is on the ground in handcuffs being harassed. Quinn witnesses the incident and is a shock to see the officer is his best friend’s brother, who has been a role model to him. This story follows these two young men and how this one incident affects both of them the following week.  

            While it came out in 2015, this book is sadly still relevant today. While the main characters are black and white, and some areas of this book are, there are also some gray areas. When it comes to Rashad, readers will find themselves supporting him but with Quinn, readers may be conflicted with their feelings of his handling of what is going on. Reynolds and Kiely did a wonderful job of creating Rashad and Quinn and bringing their story to life. While this book may alternate between both boys’ perspectives, it is without a doubt one story. All American Boys is truly a must-read.

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Teen Book Talk

Check out the first episode of Teen Book Talk,

our new Vlog hosted by Miss. Amanda

Weekly Wednesday Quote

Book Review - My Real Name is Hanna

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

My Real Name is Hanna

by Tara Lynn Masih

            Hanna Slivka is a teenage girl living in Ukraine when World War II breaks out. She is also Jewish. The time comes when she and her family must leave their home in order to survive, and bringing nothing but the essentials, the Silvka’s, along with other family and friends, go into hiding as it is too late to flee the country.

            Although this book deals with the serious topic of being Jewish in Nazi-occupied Europe it is a lighter book on the topic. Hanna is a likable character and her story is a moving one. Readers will feel for her and the others as they struggle to keep safe and stay alive. While Hanna’s story is fictional, it is inspired by the story of Esther Stermer and her family.

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Book Review - Speak: The Graphic Novel

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Speak: The Graphic Novel

by Laurie Halse Anderson

            Everybody knows Melinda is the one who called the cops at the party over the summer, but only Melinda knows why. She didn’t want what happened between her and Andy to happen, and her attempt to call the cops on him has landed her as the school pariah. Melinda is without any friends, unless you count the clueless new girl, and only has her art as an outlet. Despite her falling grades, the images in her art, and the choice of refraining from talking nobody seems to know Melinda is actually crying out for help. Will Melinda find her voice and the courage to speak about what happened to her?

            Originally published in 1999 this is a fantastic updated version in graphic novel format. The black and white illustrations help tell Melinda’s story in a new and refreshing way. While not graphic in content, this story does deal with the topic of sexual violence and those who are uncomfortable with that for whatever reason should avoid it. For those who can handle the subject matter, it is not a story to be missed.

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Book Review - The Wicked King

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

The Wicked King

by Holly Black

            It’s been five months since the events that took place at the end of The Cruel Prince where Jude learned that Oak is an heir of faery and has placed Carden on the throne till Oak is older. Jude may have Carden’s allegiance for seven more months but that doesn’t mean things will go smoothly in the land of faery. The Queen of the Undersea has her own plans and Jude is finding herself betrayed by those she thought she could trust.

            While some series and trilogies fall flat with their second book, this one does not. The Wicked King is as wonderful and entertaining as The Cruel Prince. Readers will enjoy Jude and Carden’s humorous interactions. This book has a few twists and turns that will keep you wondering what happens next. The ending will have readers anxiously awaiting the third book due out in 2020.

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Book Review - Black Enough

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America
edited by Ibi Zoboi

            What does it mean to be a black teen in America? This book brings together many short stories that answer that question. From dreaming up the perfect sandwich to buy from the bodega, dealing with naked selfies, and dealing with dating outside your race, this book contains a diverse look with a common thread.

            Some of the short stories in this anthology aren’t the best, but some are truly wonderful. Readers are likely to find a story where they can find themselves and/or their friends in one of the characters. Contributors to Black Enough include Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Jay Coles, Liara Tamani, and its editor Ibi Zoboi.

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National Library Week

Happy National Library Week! Remember..

Book Review - Unclaimed Baggage

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Unclaimed Baggage

by Jen Doll

            One summer Doris, Nell, and Grant all come together at Unclaimed Baggage, a store that sells luggage that was never collected at airports. Doris has been working in the store for some time already, Nell is new in town, and Grant is a former football star forced to get a job after he gets himself in trouble. As the three sort through the lost luggage, they start to bond and form a friendship that goes beyond the storage room. The trio discovers that they may just be what one another needs that summer.

            A fun story that also tackles some serious elements. This story takes place in a small Alabama town where racism still heavily exists, as seen when Nell’s boyfriend comes to visit. Grant is an alcoholic and it’s his trouble with drinking that lands him home for the summer and not football camp with his friends and teammates. Doris has a family secret regarding her late aunt and takes issues with the church she grew up in, mainly one Youth Group leader. Despite its serious elements, this book is a lot of fun and readers will find humor in some of what they discover in the luggage. 

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Teen Space Program

with Miss. Amanda

"Do you have any candy?" This is probably the #1 refernece question we get asked in Teen Space. Those who visit Teen Space know we have a jar that will sometimes have candy it. For March's Craft-rageous Saturday I decided it was time to provide some teens with their own candy jar complete with their first candy filling.

Not to make the candy dish boring, they were to be inspired by an old fashioned gumball machine. Teens had fun painting a flower pot that would serve as the base of their candy dish. Next, the painted the circle that would serve as the lid. Once the paint dried we hot glued the candy dish (already filled with candy) to the base. Teens also chose if they wanted a rolled pipe cleaner or pom-pom to serve as the handle.

 

Each teens had an awesome candy dish to take home, though most of the candy didn't make it out of the library in it.

[📸credit: Miss. Amanda]

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Book Review - Fierce

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Fierce

by Aly Raisman

            Two time Olympian Aly Raisman shares journey to becoming an elite gymnast, her time at the 2012 Olympics including her thoughts on her All-Around time, her journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the time in between. In addition to the positives in her life, Raisman talks about dealing with the haters, the mental pressure she opposes upon herself, and also touches upon the scandal with the former team doctor.

            Fans of Aly Raisman and gymnastics should NOT miss her wonderful memoir. Raisman is a positive role model and her story can help young women and men even if gymnastics is not their sport. 

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