I had heard about this book months before it came out after hearing an interview with the two authors and was just itching to read it and then one day opened my mail and there it was all shiny and new. I sat down and read and read and read and before I knew it, I was on the very last page. i loved the truth that was written and drawn. This is a powerful book written in verse about a young black teen who is wrongfully incarcerated for an altercation that happened in a gentrified white neighborhood. His only hope is that the boy who was beaten will wake up and tell the truth about what really happened. I would love to hear this book on audio because I truly think these words are meant to be heard.

I have been a fan of Elizabeth Acevedo since she spoke at a conference I attended years ago. Clap Where You Land allows Acevedo to show off what she does best - write poetry. This story is about loss and healing and the attempts to move forward. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic and her sister Yahaira lives in New York. They know nothing of each other until their father is killed in a plane crash. Their father hid his double life and secrets and now that he is dead the skeletons are tumbling out of the closet. I really enjoyed the character development that unfolded in the two perspectives - the story is relatable and really deep.

Thanks to Riveted by Simon Teen , I got this free download. So far so good - one death down - I will let you know what I think...check back soon....

Honestly this is 2 out of 5 star book....

The 57 bus is a ripped from the headlines book about how a crime changes the lives of 2 teens forever. This book had me hooked right from the get go. It delves into sensitive topics without sensationalizing it It is the story of two teenagers whose lives intersect on the the 57 bus for just 8 minutes each day as they make their way home from opposite ends of Oakland. It is a story of stupid prank that changed two kids and their families lives forever. Sasha, born Luke, is a non binary teenager and identifies as genderqueer. Richard is an African American boy, slightly goofy and smart but a bit troubled. One day on the bus, Sasha had fallen asleep and Richard lit his skirt lit on fire. the rest of the book in the aftermath of the crime is tangled complexities of gender, race, crime, justice and hope.

A MUST READ

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to hear the authors talk about their book. Before that night, I only heard of Stamped. Honestly I went to the show because I have heard Jason Reynolds talk before with Brendan Kiely about their book, "All American Boys" and I was seriously crushing on the way he writes. Stamped is important, I can't say it enough. This book is important for every person- black, white, young, old, male, female and everyone mixed and/or in-between. It was mind-blowing. It was uncomfortable for my privileged white self but eye-opening beyond words and life-changing.

This is Not a Love Letter by kim Purcell

Speak originally came out in in 1999 and quickly became a classic because of its timeless content and its ability to speak to teens including myself. Speak is a wonderful book about date rape, bullying, friendship, trauma and healing. Melinda's witty, pain voice resonates with both adult and teen readers, thanks to Laurie Halse Anderson's near perfect prose. It is a tale of learning to use your voice when you previously believed it did not matter. The message is one I think all can benefit from. I read it in 1999 and read it again earlier this year when we received the graphic novel in the library. The grayscale artwork perfectly depicts the starkness of Melinda's depression.

I enjoyed the fairy tale-like story featuring a genderfluid prince and a talented female dressmaker who is career-oriented. This was a gorgeously drawn heartwarming story. There's a lot to love here. It’s like Project Runway meets Versailles with a twist of Cinderella. I will definitely be on the look out for more of Jen Wang's stories

I love books that leave you guessing til the end on what exactly happened to one of the characters. This a well written book with mutiple layers intwined. You learn as you go, bits of information about the characters come out as you read on trying to figure out what the end is going to be. Chris is missing. He went missing Friday after a run during the time him and his girlfriend Jessie were on a "break". They went on a break because graduation was less than a week away and Jessie thought they needed to get perspective about what was going to happen after graduation. Police think he ran away but Jessie thinks there is something more to it. Did he drown in the river where they used to go down to all the time? Was he murdered? That last option seems a bit wild to believe but it comes out that he was beat up by a bunch of his white classmates that was anger and racially motivated a few weeks back. She is absolutely distraught - her heart is shattering and her mind is reeling and to keep things together she keeps a running letter to him in her mind and in her heart. She tells of her secrets, times they shared, emotions they shared and what she has been left with since he disappeared. This book will make you think long after it is done. I applaud the author for using subjects of diversity and mental health woven in this storyline.