Book Review - Fat Chance Charlie Vega

  📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Fat Chance Charlie Vega

by Crystal Maldonado

Charlie Vega is a fat brown girl in a predominantly white suburban town. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how she should look, including her mom, who constantly leaves her weight loss shakes. It doesn’t help that her best friend Amelia is gorgeous, and people often overlook Charlie for her. When Charlie starts spending time with her classmate and co-worker Brian, things begin to look up. However, when Charlie learns that Brian asked Amelia out first, she can’t help but wonder what it means.

Charlie is a great role model because she tries to love her body and herself for who she is. However, she is still human and does have plenty of doubts as well. Brian is a swoon-worthy book boyfriend that readers may find themselves wishing to be real. While a romance, this is also a story of self-love, friendship, and mother-daughter relationships.

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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 - Not So Pure and Simple

 📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Not So Pure and Simple

by Lamar Giles

When his finally available longtime crush Kiera volunteers for a church group, Del is right behind her. That's how he accidentally finds himself in the purity pledge group. Not wanting to lose his shot at Kiera, Del sticks with it. Lucky for him, there's Jameer, a fellow pledger and Kiera's best friend. The two make a deal; Jameer helps Del with Kiera, and Del gets answers from his Healthy living class that Jameer isn't allowed to take for him.

Honestly, besides being a little longer than it probably needed to, this is an enjoyable book. The characters are realistic and relatable, as well as entertaining. This story covers many hot topics. These include the debate of the type of sexual education taught in school, the different ways teen mothers are treated versus teen fathers, and masculinity. If any of these topics aren't right for you, skip this read. If you're good with them, this is worth the read.

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Book Review - A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

 📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

by Laura Taylor Namey

After a trifecta of events causing her life to fall apart, Lila's parents send her to England to spend the summer with her mom's cousin at her inn. Lila is reluctant to go, wanting to stay home and work in her family's Cuban bakery. In England, though, she finds solace in the inn's kitchen mixing English food with a Cuban flair. There is also Orion, a tea shop clerk with troubles of his own, who appoints himself Lila's official guide. As the two spend the summer together, Lila begins to feel England may not be so bad, and there may be a different future than the one who watched disappear.

The characters in this book were all excellent and well written. While romance is a part of the story, this isn't some mushy gushy romance. It's more about Lila and her growth over the summer. The only real issue with this book is that it may make you long for the yummy sounding desserts and things Lila makes. Recommended for fans of Sarah Dessen.

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Book Review - Girl, Unframed

   📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Girl, Unframed

by Deb Caletti

Even before she got on the plane, Sydney had a bad feeling about heading to San Francisco to spend the summer with her mother. It doesn't help that her mother is a famous actress Lila Shore. Meeting Lila's new boyfriend, Jake, doesn't ease Sydney's worries. Jake's an art dealer who seems nice, except when he's not.

"Girl, Unframed" is a fantastic YA thriller that will keep you hooked. Sydney is not the most likable character, but readers are likely to feel for her and her situation. Honestly, the only appealing character is the dog, Max. Readers know some crime has been committed and will have to figure out what happened as Sydney unravels her tale. There are fun hints at the start of each chapter in the form of notes of the evidence exhibits.

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Book Review - You Should See Me in a Crown

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

You Should See Me In A Crown

by Leah Johnson

Unable to pay for college, Liz decides to run for Prom Queen in hopes of winning more the scholarship that comes with winning than the actual crown. The problem is Liz isn’t your typical Prom Queen contender, being too awkward, poor, and Black. Liz isn’t thrilled about running, and the only thing that makes it less painful is the cute new girl Mack.

A truly amazing story about an equally amazingly inspiring teen. The book is broken down into each week of events leading up to and including Prom allowing readers to have the easy option of reading a week at a time. Readers will quickly find more than one character they love in this book. While there are some stereotypes found throughout the story, readers will also find characters and events that break them. Whether you read it now or wait till Prom season, this is a book worth the read.

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Book Review - Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

After her school presentation goes horribly wrong, Alaine is suspended from school. Her parents decide to send her to Haiti, where her mom has been living since her on-air explosion. While in Haiti, Alaine is to spend her time interning at her aunt's non-profit and learning about the local culture and her family's heritage. A heritage that includes a curse that Alaine feels explains what is happening to her mother.

The story is told in multiple formats, including e-mails, postcards, texts, and diary entries, which excellently presents the story. Alaine is a smart and witty teen, who readers will come to love if they don't do so from the beginning. While Alaine and her family are fictional, readers will get an intriguing look into Haiti and its culture.

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Book Review - Patron Saints of Nothing

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Patron Saints of Nothing
by Randy Ribay
It’s been years since Jay stopped writing his Filipino cousin Jun and even longer since he saw him in person. Upon learning of Jun’s death in connection to the drug war in the Philippines, Jay decides to change his spring break plans. Instead of staying home in the states playing video games, Jay, feeling there is more to the story of Jun’s death, decides to travel back to his country of birth to figure it out. Despite being born in the Philippines, he is viewed as an outsider due to being raised in the states. This causes him to face many roadblocks in his journey for truth.
Though Jay’s story is one of fiction, the Philippine Drug War is an actual event that started in 2016 and continues today. Those interested can do research on the topic for a better understanding. Jay’s story is realistic and messy, with Jun’s actions before his death, causing issues within his family that continue after his passing. Readers will sympathize with Jay’s hope that his cousin’s death wasn’t the result of him using drugs but rather a horrible mistake. The author wonderfully weaves Jun’s letters to Jay, as well as memories of Jay’s last visit, into the story to help show why Jay feels the way he does about Jun’s death. A heartbreaking story about family and personal growth with a bit of mystery and education.

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Book Review - Before I Let Go

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Before I Let Go

by Marieke Nijkamp

Shortly before Corey is set to return to the small Alaskan town she once called home, she learns that her best friend Kyra has drowned. Corey returns to attend Kyra's funeral, where she discovers the town she once knew has changed. The people there also seem to think that Kyra's death was meant to be.

Alternating between chapters of the present and before, this story is one you have to pay attention to. Readers will find themselves just as puzzled as Corey as to what is going on in the place she called home for so long and the people who still live there. Nijkamp also brilliantly set this story in a remote town, as any other location would not give this story the same feeling.

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Peer Book Review - Black Swan Green

📖Recommend for Grades 11 and up📖

Black Swan Green
by David Mitchell
Reviewed by 9th Graders Kayla C.
This book is about Jason Taylor who is a teenager that is facing any challenges. Some of these challenges are smoking, stammering problems, and low self-esteem. One of Jason's friends had to remind him that "do not let people decide who you will be." This quote meant to me, don't put down yourself for the things you like, be proud of yourself, and believe in yourself.
I rate this novel a five star because teenagers like myself can relate to this novel in so many ways. Jason and I face similar challenges. The author made this novel to inspire kids and make them feel confident in themselves.

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Please note UPL does not currently own this book but those interested can inter-loan a copy from another library.

Book Review - Summer of ’69

📖Recommend for Grades 11 and up📖

Summer of ’69

by Todd Strasser

            It’s the summer after senior year and despite his girlfriend, Robin being off at camp in Canada, Lucas Baker plans to enjoy this summer. This includes spending time with his friends, counting down until his trip to visit Robin, and heading up to a music festival in Upstate NY come August. But there are complications at home with his parents and brother. Also, Lucas finds out he didn’t get into college and now risks being drafted and sent overseas to fight in Vietnam. Anti-war and peace-loving Lucas must figure out a way to escape the draft and deal with his family situations.

            While this is YA, younger YA readers should be aware of the language and that there is some sexual content in this book. Todd Strasser drew on his own teenage years as inspiration for this book. Those who do pick up this book may enjoy reading this and then asking family members who were around in 1969 what it was like at the time. Lucas is an intriguing character, as are many in this book. The majority of this book takes place on Long Island, so readers will recognize a lot of places mentioned.

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Book Review - The Rest of the Story

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

The Rest of the Story

by Sarah Dessen

A change of plans means Emma Saylor Payne will be spending the summer at her late mother’s home of North Lake, where she hasn’t been since she was a little girl. Emma doesn’t remember her mother’s side of the family and everyone there knows her as Saylor. The lake is split between the working class on the North Lake side and the wealthy on the Lake North side and she finds herself stuck between both worlds, as her father used to spend time at North Lake. Despite this, she chooses to be Saylor. While at the lake, Saylor hopes to learn more about her mother and the family she hasn’t seen.

Sarah Dessen leaves behind her familiar settings of Colby and Lakeview (though Saylor is from Lakeview) to take us to a new location of North Lake. In some ways, this book feels a little older than Dessen’s previous works but the same wonderful feeling is there even if the comfortable setting isn’t. The characters aren’t as memorable as her previous books either but will be overall delightful while you read.

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Book Review - Opposite of Always

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Opposite of Always

by Justin A. Reynolds

            While visiting the college he plans to attend, Jack meets Kate and the pair spend the night bonding. Over the course of a few months, their relationship is met with ups and downs that end with Kate dying. Then Jack falls downs the stairs at home and wakes up on a different set of stairs, the same stairs he was sitting on when he met Kate. Jack has another chance to get the girl, but with the same ending. Jack finds himself repeating his months spent with Kate until he can get it right.

            A time-traveling love story readers with either love or be bored with. While Jack and Kate are both black, their race is often lost and easily forgotten in the story. Jack can be whiney and annoying at times and isn’t the best leading male, which some readers may understand, but others are likely to get frustrated with. Ultimately, this is a book you need to make your own decisions about.

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Book Review: 2 for 1 - Just Listen and What Happened To Goodbye

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Just Listen
by Sarah Dessen

            Annabel returns to school after summer break not knowing what to expect. The party at the end of the previous school year ended her friendship with Sophie, and the cause of that, made Annabel decides to spend her summer in isolation. Turns out, everybody believes Sophie so now Annabel is truly ostracized. That is until she meets music-obsessed Owen with his own troubled past. Owen’s passion for music and brutal honesty help Annabel deal with her troubles and come to terms with everything going on in her life.

            This book being from 2006 may make some of the aspects of this story seem a bit dated (Owen gives Annabel mix CDs to listen to) but the overall message transcends time. Annabel and Owen are both brilliant, though slightly flawed, characters. Fans of Sarah Dessen will recognize the familiar setting of Lakeview and other aspects of Dessen’s previous and future works.

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📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖 

What Happened to Goodbye
by Sarah Dessen

            After her parent's divorce, McLean (pronounced Ma-ca-lane) Elizabeth Sweet opted to live with her dad and move whenever his restaurant consulting job takes him to a new place, over living at home with her mom and step-dad (aka the reason for divorce). With each move, McLean takes on a new identity, complete with a new name and personality. Perky cheerleader Eliza in Montford Falls, drama club Lizbet in Petree, and Student Council/all-around joiner Beth in Westcott. The latest move lands McLean and her dad in Lakeview, with her dad taking over Luna Blu. McLean’s plan is to be Liz (personality to be determined) but after nearly getting caught by the cops evacuating her neighbor’s party and a run-in with her neighbor Dave on the other side, she finds herself having to be McLean. What does it mean to be McLean? Well, she is going to find out.

            A Sarah Dessen novel not to be missed. Those who have read previous works by the author will find familiar faces and places in this novel, but it does stand on its own. McLean is an intriguing character who interacts with a delightful restaurant staff at Luna Blu, a mismatched group of friends, a busy but great dad, and an annoying (at least to McLean) mom.

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Book Review - With the Fire on High

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

With the Fire on High

by Elizabeth Acevedo

            Emoni Santiago is a high school senior who loves to cook. She was raised by her paternal grandmother, as her mother died when she was a baby and her father decided to move back to Puerto Rico when he realized he couldn’t actively be a single father. Emoni is herself a single mother, balancing raising her daughter with going to school and working. When a new culinary arts elective opens up at her school, Emoni is thrilled at the opportunity and hopes to be able to attend the class trip to Spain over Spring Break. However, when you’re a single mother with little income, things aren’t that easy.

            A beautiful story featuring a delightful Afro-Latinx character. Emoni’s struggles as a single teen mom are wonderfully presented and not sugar-coated by any means. Readers may be annoyed at Emoni constantly referring to her daughter as “babygirl”, (I know I was) but that is such a minor point and doesn’t take away from this delightful story.   

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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 - Darius the Great Is Not Okay

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

by Adib Khorram

            Darius Kellner is a bi-racial (his mother is Persian and his father white), clinically depressed, bullied teen who only has one friend. Also, unlike his little sister, only understands a few words in Farsi making it difficult to communicate with his maternal family in Iran. Upon learning that his grandfather is dying, Darius, his sister, and their parents travel to Iran to spend time with him. While at first unsure about the trip, Darius finds his idea of it changing upon meeting his grandparent’s neighbor Sohrab, who also helps him grow during his time in Iran.

            A truly moving and wonderful story, readers will enjoy getting some insight into Persian culture through the eyes of a character who isn’t fully part of it. At times readers may be bothered by Darius’ behavior but most of it is understandable. His depression is a part of his story (there is a big stigma against mental illness in Iran) but not his whole story. The supporting characters wonderfully help shape Darius and his journey throughout the book.

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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 - Down & Across

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Down & Across

by Arvin Ahmadi

            Saaket "Scott" Ferdowsi was supposed to be spending his summer at an internship his parents arranged for him. Instead, he takes advantage of their trip back to Iran to head to D.C. in search of a professor and author to discuss her book about grit. This trip also leads him to crossword-obsessed Fiora, who gets Scott to break-out of his comfort zone and becomes a part of his eye-opening trip.

            While Scott and Fiora’s relationship is an important factor in this story, this is not a romance and simply about Scott growing up and changing his ways. Scott’s obsession with grit and Fiora’s obsession with crosswords may be confusing to some readers but one does not need to really understand it to enjoy this book.

            A crossword is included in the back of the book for readers to solve but please make a copy and DO NOT write in the book. 

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Book Review - 2 for 1 - This Is Our Story and The Lying Woods

📖Both Books Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

This is Our Story

by Ashley Elston

            Five boys go hunting in the woods but only four make it out alive. While only the shooter knows who killed Grant, they all make a pact to keep quiet. Kate is devastated when she finds that the boy she has been texting is dead, but she can help get him justice through her internship. The deeper she digs, however, the more she discovers she may not have known Grant as well as she thought.

            This mystery will suck you in with the first few pages. The chapters from Kate’s perspective are wonderfully supported by the unknown killer in a way that is full of information, but leave no hint of his identity. Readers will be turning the page to find out just who shot Grant. The only flaw in this book is the idea of Kate being so involved in this case is completely unrealistic.

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The Lying Woods

by Ashley Elston

When Owen Foster’s mom shows up at his elite boarding school, his world is turned upside down. Turns out, his privileged life has been funded with stolen money, and now his father has disappeared, leaving Owen and his mother with nothing. The business his father owned employed many people in the town, leaving them with no jobs or money and hate towards Owen and his mom. The only place Owen can find solace is at a pecan orchard where his father once worked and the man running the place is willing to take a chance on him.

            A riveting story that will keep readers on their toes. The story alternates between Owen’s story in the present and the summer of ’99 when his parents met. Although Owen may irritate readers at times, he is ultimately a likable character and readers will feel for his and his mother’s situation.

        

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