Book Review - Ghost

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Ghost

by Jason Reynolds
Castle Cranshaw, also known as Ghost, is no stranger when it comes to running. He’s never run for a track team, though. One day he stumbles upon a track team practice and challenges one of the runners to a race. Seeing his natural talent, the coach allows him to join the team. Ghost has more than a natural talent for running, though. He also has a lot of anger inside, and he doesn’t know how to deal with it.
A mix of humor and some serious stuff, Ghost is a must-read. The character Ghost is flawed but likable, and readers will be rooting for him despite his faults. This book is the first in Jason’s Reynolds’ Track series, and readers will follow the runners they meet in the three books that follow.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio 

Book Review - Concrete Rose

  📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Concrete Rose

by Angie Thomas

Seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter is the son of the former gang leader for the Kings Lords in Garden Heights. He himself joined them for protection and used the gang's connections to help take care of his mom while his dad is in prison. His life isn't perfect, but it works, and it helps to have a fly girlfriend. Maverick's world is turned upside down when he finds out that the three-month-old baby he thought was his buddy King's son is actually his. With his son's mother leaving the baby in his care, now Maverick finds himself with a kid to take care of on top of everything else. Can Maverick juggle taking care of his family, school, work, and his friends? Can he also handle the other curve balls life is going to throw his way?

Concrete Rose is a can't miss prequel to Angie Thomas' award-winning novel The Hate U Give. While The Hate U Give is about Starr Carter, Concrete Rose goes back to when her dad Maverick learns that Seven is his son. The books can be read in either order as the prequel won't really spoil the original story. Those who read the first book will love returning to Garden Heights and seeing familiar characters when they were younger. The characters, both familiar and not, are all great and well developed. Maverick needs to tackle a lot throughout this story. Readers will enjoy following his journey and seeing what choices he makes. Teens should be aware book handles many heavy topics. These topics include violence, death, gangs, drug dealing, parents in prison, sex, and teen pregnancy and parenting. 

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - From the Desk of Zoe Washington

   📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

by Janae Marks

On her twelfth birthday, Zoe Washington receives a letter from her estranged father, Marcus. Without her mother's permission, Zoe responds to Marcus, but what do you say to a man who has been in prison your whole life for murder? As the two correspond, Marcus shares with Zoe that he is innocent. With her friend and neighbor Trevor's help, she sets out to prove her father's innocence. Trying to help Marcus means putting a lot of the line. This includes jeopardizing the possibility of her mom and step-dad, allowing her to audition for a baking show.

This book is a fantastic read with an equally excellent main character. Zoe is Black and does face some microaggressions. Readers get an age-appropriate look at wondering if Marcus would have been treated differently if white. This book is a beautiful story encompassing racism, family, friendship, and a love of baking. A fun element of this book is that in each letter, Zoe's father includes a song for her to listen to, so readers will have a playlist of songs themselves by the end of the book. As previously mentioned, Zoe is a huge fan of baking, and the book involves a lot of cupcake talk, so be prepared to be craving them.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - 10 Things I Hate About Pinky

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

10 Things I Hate About Pinky

by Sandhya Menon

Pinky Kumar and Samir Jha, who readers met in There’s Something About Sweetie, are back in their own story in the When Dimple Met Rishi universe.

When it comes to social causes, Pink is a crusader. She also enjoys pushing the buttons of her conservative parents. Samir is somebody Pinky’s parents would love with his carefully scheduled day and dreams of becoming a lawyer. When Samir’s summer internship falls through, he doesn’t know what to do. Then he gets a text from Pinky inviting him to her summer home where she needs him to be her fake boyfriend, as she suddenly finds herself needing to prove something to her parents. Having not always gotten along in the past, and conflicting personalities, they are both in for one exciting summer.

Told in the alternating viewpoints of Pinky and Samir, this is a fun read with amusing characters. This book tackles several topics but not in a messy jumbled way. These topics are Pinky and Samir’s fake relationship, Pinky’s parental issues, a social justice project they find themselves involved in, and the growth of the main characters throughout the story. Fans of the previous books in this series and/or fake dating troupes should not miss this book. If you haven’t read the previous books, it’s okay, as this story stands on its own.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Peer Book Review - So Done

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

So Done
by Paula Chase

Reviewed by THMS 8th Grader Briana M.

The book So Done is very interesting. It has two points of view from best friends. This book involves secrets, life in middle school, and dance auditions. These best friends were separated during the summer, which ruined their friendship. 

So Done is perfect for kids like me. The book has many relating events; in fact, I relate with this book. Needless to say, but I believe that Paula Chase is a very creative author, and with this book, she connects with the reader. 

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Check me out an Audio-book on Hoopla

Book Review - Allegedly

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

Allegedly

by Tiffany Jackson

When she was nine-years-old, Mary B. Addison killed a three-month-old baby, allegedly. As she wasn’t saying much, the media filled in the blanks and blasted the main piece of news, a black girl killed a white baby while under the care of the black girl’s mother. Convicted by the jury, Mary was sent to Juvie then released to a group home. Now at sixteen, Mary finds herself pregnant. Upon hearing that there is a good chance her child will be taken from her once born, Mary decides it may be time to speak up and tell the truth about what happened that night. However, she doesn’t know what to do when her fate lies in the hands of somebody who can’t be trusted, her mother.

A compelling read that will have readers wondering what’s going to happen next. Jackson wonderfully writes Mary in a way where readers will be indecisive. They won’t know if they should feel for her and her situation or believe she did it and that she is getting what she deserves. Despite everything, Mary is an inspiring character in that she isn’t trying to let her situation keep her down. Readers should be aware that there are some sensitive topics, as well as content they may find inappropriate for them and foul language throughout the book.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - The Poppy War

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Book Review from the Bookster

Title: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang & Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

Book Edition: Audiobook (Physical Copy Available)

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, & War. (Magic Realism)

Warnings: Violence, drugs, and child soldiers.

Series: Yes. Book 1 of 2 of the Poppy War.

The Poppy War is a dark read with a focus on religion, social class, and politics. The book reads like a pseudo history book based in Asia and when ruling families still controlled the empire. When the religion was polytheistic and changed regionally so that these gods were brought to life by what the region focused on the most (a fishing region has a god specific in help of fishing that they prayed and gave tribute too). The origin stories of the gods and heroes are a major part of the world and where the possible magic realism comes in. As the main character discovers through meditation and spiritual awakening the world of the gods. Although, her actions do have real world effect it’s not the majority belief that magic or the god’s ability are real. (Similar to the Boxer rebellion were they trained themselves spirtualy to be able to fight against those that where conquering their land. Read-Alike: Boxer by Gene Luen Yang.)

The main character Rin lived in the country side as a war orphan putting her in the lowest of the social scale in a society where upward progression is pretty much a fantasy that the nobles use to keep the lower class from rebelling. By scoring high on the Keju she becomes an enemy to the social order and is dragged in to politics of the land.      

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio
*Please note UPL does not currently own this title but those interested are encouraged to ask about inter-loaning it from another library. Also, Bookster listened to this on a different platform and it is not currently available through Nassau Digital Library.

Book Review - Love From A to Z

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Love From A to Z

by S.K. Ali

After getting suspended from school for confronting her racist teacher, Zayneb heads early to visit her aunt in Doha for spring break. Adam is also flying home to Doha, Qatar for spring break, with the secret that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. When Zayneb is boarding the plane, Adam notices that she has a marvel and oddity journal just like him. The pair run into each other again when it turns out Zayneb’s aunt is friends with Adam’s family. Their chance encounter on the plane and seeing each other again is both a marvel and an oddity for each of them.

Zayneb and Adam’s perspectives are alternated to tell this tale. The format is unusual, as it is supposed to be a transcribed version of their journals with their marvel or oddity as the chapter heading. While both Zayneb and Adam can be intriguing at times, Adam’s sister easily steals the scenes she appears in. Some of the other characters are forgettable and may be confusing to keep track of. Zayneb is Muslim and of Middle Eastern descent, which causes her to deal a lot with various forms of racism throughout the book and her inability to stand for it is inspiring even if her direct actions aren’t the wisest.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - A Blade So Black

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

A Blade So Black

by L.L. McKinney

Seventeen-year-old Alice Kingston is a Dreamwalker: fighting nightmares in Wonderland before they can cross the veil into the human world. Her mission began the night her father died and she was saved from a Nightmare that crossed over by Addison Hatta. Addison's job is to find people like Alice and train them to fight the Nightmares. For Alice, it isn’t so much the fighting that is challenging, but that her mother watches her like a hawk. When a mysterious person shows up claiming to be The Black Knight and poisons Addison, Alice finds herself on a life or death adventure to save him.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland mixed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this book, which is the first in a series, is one you’re likely to love or hate. Fans of Alice and her Wonderland adventures will love the Wonderland setting and nods to the original story. While some references may be lost on those unfamiliar with it, the story itself will be unaffected. This Alice is a rebellious, kick-butt, strong-willed black girl whom readers will root for.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - There's Something About Sweetie

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

There's Something About Sweetie

by Sandhya Menon

            Ashish Patel has found himself in a funk since his girlfriend dumped him. After getting advice from a friend, he decides to ask his parents to set him up with an Indian girl. Sweetie is a track star and talented singer who also happens to be overweight. When Ashish’s mother presents the idea of the pair dating to Sweetie’s mother she says no because of Sweetie’s weight even though Mrs. Patel assures her that is a non-issue for Ashish. Deciding to go against her mother’s orders, Sweetie meets Ashish and the two decide to date in secret. Over the course of their time together the pair find more than the truth they were trying to prove.

This is a companion novel to When Dimple Met Rishi. While you don’t have to read the first book, those who did would have met Ashish Patel and saw the start of his relationship with Celia (who they also would have met). Ashish may come across as slightly unrealistic to some, but it won’t take away from what a wonderful character he is. Sweetie is truly a remarkable and inspiring character who loves herself despite how society (and her mother) say she should look.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - Let Me Hear a Rhyme

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

by Tiffany Jackson

            Steph is gone. Killed before he could have the music career he dreamed of, that his two best friends and sister feel he should have had. But who says the world can’t hear Steph’s music? Using tracks Steph recorded before his death, Quadir and Jarrell hatch a plan to share and promote the songs under the alias The Architect. They enlist Steph’s sister Jasmine to help and before they know it Steph’s music is circling the neighborhood. As time goes on, the three realize that keeping their secret may not be so easy.

            Set in the ’90s not long after the death of Tupac and Biggie Smalls, this book is a love letter to Brooklyn and Rap Music. The story alternates between Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine’s narration as well as insights from Steph’s perspective prior to his death. Readers won’t know where the story is going and what will happen with the secret our main trio is keeping. This book is a must-read for many.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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.   

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - New Kid

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

New Kid

by Jerry Craft

            Jordan Banks is disappointed that his parents won’t let him attend art school but a prestigious academic school instead. It’s hard enough being a new kid and being a mixed-race kid from Washington Heights, in a predominately white school, doesn’t seem to help matters. As he spends more time in school, Jordan finds himself torn between two worlds and struggles with fitting into both.

            Jordan may be the new kid in school, but anybody who feels or ever felt out of place can find themselves relating to him. The cast of characters in this book is a great mix, and readers are likely to have a favorite. Each chapter title is a fun pun that just adds to the feel of the book. While everyone should give this graphic novel a try, those entering middle school or starting school as the new kid should especially read this.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - For Every One

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

For Every One

by Jason Reynolds

This isn’t a made-up story, or a book of facts; it’s a poem. Jason Reynolds originally performed this poem at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers. It’s about dreams and dreamers; Reynolds’ own dreams, and what he thought his life would be like at various ages he has since surpassed. Despite where it was performed and that it is a YA book, this poem is as its name states: for everyone.

            A wonderful and quick read. This is a poem you may want to read over and over again. Jason Reynolds performs the audio version of it and it is worth the 20-30 minute listen as well. Fans of poetry, Jason Reynolds, and/or inspiring works should not miss this.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Peer Book Review - Bud,Not Buddy

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Cutis

Reviewed by 8th Grader Kimberly R.

            Bud was a child who had no mother and did not know who his father was. So he went on an adventure, his momma had left him. Clues for him to find his father.

            Bud, Not Buddy was an amazing book because the character Bud played an amazing role by being an African Child slave in order to find his father.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio