Book Review - Rise to the Sun

  📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Rise to the Sun

by Leah Johnson

It's the weekend of the Farmland Music and Arts Festival. Olivia and Toni both have their reasons for attending this year's festival. Olivia's last break-up left her an outcast back home, and she could use a weekend of fun with her best (and only) friend Imani. Toni has been attending the music festival since she was a kid, and this year hopes to get her big break in the talent competition, just like her dad once did. When these two girls meet by chance, they discover they may need the other's help to get what they want. As the two spend time together, sparks also start to fly.

The story takes place throughout a single weekend and is broken down into three sections, one for each day. Olivia and Toni alternate as narrators allowing for insight into both of them individually and as a pair. Readers are likely to find themselves alternating between liking and not liking each of them as well. While a Queer Romance, this book is also about self-discovery and growth. Even

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Book Review - Little & Lion

 📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Little & Lion

by Brandy Colbert

Suzette returns home to L.A. after spending the year at boarding school in New England. Between the fact that L.A. is where her friends and family are and an incident that occurred right before heading home, she isn't sure she wants to return to boarding school in the fall. Her stepbrother Lionel also needs her support, having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Things get complicated when Suzette finds herself not only crushing on her old friend Emil but on this new girl she met. This girl is the same one who Lionel is also crushing on.

Little and Lion is an excellent portrayal of how mental health often affects a person's living life and their loved ones. This book covers many aspects of diversity regarding race, religion, ability, and sexual orientation. While's mental illness is a significant plot point, the other is Suzette coming to terms with her sexual identity. The story's main plot takes place over the summer, but there are flashback chapters included that are important to the story.

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Book Review - Be Dazzled

 📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Be Dazzled

by Ryan La Sala

Raphael “Raffy” Odom loves cosplay and views each new costume he creates as a work of art. Even if his mother disagrees, he is willing to do whatever it takes to win Boston’s Controverse Champion-ship of Cosplay with his best friend, Mae. His partner was supposed to be his once-boyfriend Luca, but he broke Raffy’s heart, and now they are competing against each other. When things start to unravel, Raffy may have nobody but Luca to turn to for help.

Alternating between the weekend of the convention and the months leading up to Raffy and Luca’s break-up, this book is a must-read. The characters are likable, and those that aren’t are ones you will love to hate. There are many references to anime and fandoms, but one’s lack of knowledge of them won’t take away from the story. At times the book slips into too much crafting detail, but the boring part can be easily overlooked. Heavy topics are balanced with fun and humor, and ultimately a great message.

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Book Review - You Don't Live Here

 📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

You Don't Live Here

by Robyn Schneider

A massive earthquake in California results in the death of Sasha's mother. With her mother gone and father not in the picture, Sasha moves to Orange County to live with her conservative grandparents. Now responsible for Sasha's upbringing, her grandparents want what they view as best for her. This means taking advanced classes, joining mock trial, avoiding art, and getting involved with their friend's grandson Cole. Sasha wants to take classes she can handle, take art, avoid mock trial, and spend time with Lily. The problem, she also wants to please her grandparents. Sasha has to struggle with losing her mother, being someplace new, her grandparents' expectations, and trying to figure out who she is.

If you are sensitive to books dealing with parental death, skipping this book is recommended. One of Sasha's conflicts is her sexual identity, which is a significant issue with her conservative parents, which could be a sensitive topic for some readers. For those who can handle a book with those topics, this is an intriguing book about self-discovery worth reading. The pacing of the book is slow but still engaging. Sasha is white, but her friends feature some racially diverse characters, including Lily, who is Chinese-American. Mini spoiler, there is some minor sexual content between Cole and Lily, but it stops before anything gets too bad.

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Book Review - Darius the Great Deserves Better

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Darius the Great Deserves Better

by Adib Khorram

Darius Kellner from Darius is the Great Is Not Okay is back in Darius the Great Deserves Better. A lot has changed since returning from his trip to Iran, and it’s all looking good. But is it really? Darius soon finds that not everything is what he thought. His dad is traveling for work resulting in his grandmothers coming to stay. His relationship with Landon is getting complicated, and his friendship with Chip may have something to do with it.

Though a sequel, this book can also stand on its own if you’re not interested in its predecessor. The first title is more about Darius and his dealings with his mental health, cultural identity, and family relationships. While the second also deals with family relationships, it also focuses more on his sexual identity and romantic relationship. Oh, and both books have a heavy focus on his love of tea. Most of the characters from the first are back in the sequel and some great, and so no great additions. 

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Book Review - I'll Be The One

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

I’ll Be The One

by Lyla Lee

For most of her life, Skye Shin has been told she couldn't do certain things because she was fat, with her mother being her harshest critic. Skye's dream is to be a K-Pop star, and she secretly auditions for You're My Shining Star for both singing and dancing. Turns out, auditioning was the easy part. Sky has to deal not just with the other contestants, but a fat-shaming judge, negative media attention, and the fact that her dance partner is famous Henry Cho. Skye isn't about to let anybody get in her way.

An inspiring read for all readers who have ever been told they can't do something. This book may be a romantic comedy to some, but it's got tons of drama too. While the story is about Skye's journey to become a K-Pop star, you don't have to know or like K-Pop to enjoy this. Skye truly is a fantastic character and readers won't be able to help falling in love with her or her journey.

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Audio-books - LGBT+ Characters

• Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

• The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

• Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

• They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

E-books - LGBT+ Characters

• What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

• The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

• The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey (Tween Friendly)

• Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

• Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Book Review - Drama

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier

Callie may not sing well enough to be in her school’s musical, but that doesn’t stop her from being a part of the production by doing stage crew. As the cast and crew get ready for Moon over Mississippi, the drama unfolds both on and off stage. Even Callie is involved with romantic excitement involving a long-time crush, and twin brothers who are new to the school.

Fun and entertaining this story will keep you guessing what will happen until the very end. The author has filled the book with so many likable characters, with Callie at the heart of the story. There are some awkward moments throughout the story, but it makes the story feel more realistic. Delightful illustrations help tell the excellent story. Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s other works, who won’t be turned away by the LGBT+ characters, should be sure to read this book.

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Book Review - Fresh Ink

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Fresh Ink

edited by Lamer Giles

A collection of diverse short stories written by young adult authors including Jason Reynolds, Melissa De La Cruz, Nicola Yoon, and its editor Lamer Giles. These stories are diverse in genre (realistic fiction, historical fiction, etc.), protagonists (various races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations), and style (prose, graphic novel and play).

For those who enjoy reading, but find themselves too busy with school to read a full length novel, this collection of short stories is one to pick up. Readers can read the entire collection or only those that interest them. Some readers may want to skip certain stories if they are uncomfortable with the topic as well. Every reader though is likely to find a story they find wonderful and enjoyable.

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Book Review - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Aristotle and Dante

Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Saenz

            Aristotle “Ari” Mendoza is a fifteen-year-old loner. After meeting Dante while swimming at the pool one summer, the two form a fast and fierce friendship. Having Dante in his life causes Ari to break out of his shell and find the confidence to question things he has kept to himself, such as why his parents act as if his older brother in prison never existed. Over the course of a year and a half these two boys are just what the other needed and may find that there is more to their relationship.

            This story is narrated by and ultimately Ari’s story of growth with Dante being a key person in it. LGBTQ+ elements do take place in this story and while there is an important moment involving one, this story is so much more than that. Meaning nobody should be turned away because characters are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

P.S. Lin Manuel Miranda does the audio if you are interested.

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Book Review - Bloom

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Bloom

by Kevin Panetta

            Ari does not want to be a baker like his parents. He wants to move to the city and be a musician. Despite this, the summer after senior year finds him working in his family’s bakery. In order to make his leaving easier for his parents, Ari decides to help hire a new worker who can take over his tasks when he leaves. Enter Hector, new in town, and a talented baker himself. As Hector and Ari spend time in the kitchen together, the pair get to know each other and something may be blooming as they grow closer.

            With simple but beautiful illustrations this is a sweet graphic novel. Ari and Hector’s relationship is an adorable one that takes place slowly over the course of the summer. Although a little slow-paced, especially in the beginning, this book is definitely worth a read. 

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Weekly Wednesday Quote

Weekly Wednesday Quote

Weekly Wednesday Quote

Peer Book Review - The Prince and the Dressmaker

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

The Prince and the Dressmaker

by Jen Wang
Reviewed by 8th Grader Kimberly R.

Prince Sebastian has been hiding a secret from everyone except Francis. His parents have been looking for a bride for him while he puts on dresses, pretending to be a girl to sweep through Paris.

The Prince and the Dressmaker was an amazing book because the book was trying to teach that whatever gender you are, you are still able to wear anything you want. 

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Read Ms. Amanda' review here

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Book Review - They Both Die at the End

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

They Both Die at the End

by Adam Silvera

In a near-future people get a phone call from Death-Cast on the day they are going to die, informing them that it will be their last day. Mateo and Rufus both get these phone calls on the same night. Having nobody they can or want to spend their last day with, the pair meet via an app called Last Friend. Together they tackle the challenge of living a lifetime in a day.

An intriguing story with the refreshing aspect of knowing that both of the main characters will die come to the end of the book. Mateo and Rufus aren’t the most likable characters but their story is enjoyable, though sad, one. Fans of Adam Silvera should not miss this one. 

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Book Review - I Have Lost My Way

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

I Have Lost My Way

by Gayle Forman

Harmun was just walking through Central Park when he sees Freya accidentally fall off a pedestrian bridge and onto Nathaniel. This chance encounter leads these teens, who all feel lost in their own life, on an adventurous trip throughout NYC.

This whole story takes place in less than 24 hours. Harmun, Freya, and Nathaniel are three very different characters but their stories (told in alternating narration) come together beautifully. 

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Book Review - The Great American Whatever

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖 

The Great American Whatever

by Tim Federline

            After the death of his sister Annabelle, aspiring screenwriter Quinn stopped going to school and rarely even leaves his room. Now, with the encouragement of his friend Geoff, Quinn not only leaves his room, but he re-enters society, where things seem to look up. He meets a cute guy who may actually like him back, but there are other secrets that could bring him down again. As hard as he tries, Quinn's life may be one screenplay he can't write the way he wants.

            In a lot of ways Quinn seems old for his age, but also young and vulnerable at the same time as a result of his sister’s sudden death. Quinn’s grief is only one layer of this though. His budding romance, friendship with Geoff, screenwriting dreams, along with his grief, all tell his story. Throughout the book, Quinn makes numerous film references but one does not need to be a movie buff to enjoy them. 

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