Books I Have Read and Loved

When Scoob gets a chance to go on a road trip with his grandmother in her "sweet new ride" (a Winnebago RV) he realizes there are a lot of things he doesn't know about his G'Ma or even his own father. Mixed with humor and some serious parts, this book delivers for almost everyone.

An oldie but a goodie. Most of you have heard of this series (and all the ones that come after it) but this is one of my all-time favorites. Percy Jackson discovers that his father is none other than Poseidon, the Greek god. When Zeus' lightning bolt goes missing, Percy must travel to the Underworld to stop a war among the Gods and safe his mother if he is lucky.

A recent favorite, this story by Jacqueline Woodson shows how strong the bond between father and son is. All his life ZJ has looked up to his father, a professional tight end. Recently however his father has been changing; horrible headaches, mood swings, forgetting things, and trembling hands. With the help of his friends, ZJ learns how to cope with his father's changes and learn to live in the ever after.

Starr Carter balances two different lives: one in her poor neighborhood and the other at her fancy suburban prep school. When her childhood friend is shot by a police officer, Starr's world is turned upside down. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this powerful book takes a highly important, present-day issue and asks the reader, "What would you do?" (Summary paraphrased from Angie Thomas's website)

A dystopian novel based in a not so far off future in Los Angeles, CA readers are introduced to June and Day. June, born into the social elite, and Day, the country's most wanted criminal, are initial enemies after June's brother is killed. However, they both start to discover that things aren't what they seem and the government is keeping a deadly secret. This is book one is a 3 book series, or trilogy.

Again, this one shouldn't be surprising to most of you. Harry Potter has been one of my favorites for a very long time and if I get a chance to talk about it, I will. On Harry's 11th birthday he is told that he's a wizard. While at Hogwarts, school of magic and witchcraft, he discovers there is more to his parents' deaths than he's been told. 7 books long, this series will entertain you for days and open up the world of magic.

Three tales, one book. This is the story of Jin Wang, a first generation child of immigrants, but also of the legendary Monkey King and a white American boy named Danny. While the tales feel separate at first, readers will see how they intertwine to form the complete story of Jin Wang.

What if you could only use 500 words for the rest of your life? You can't use any other word ever again, otherwise you will have to pay the consequences. In Ark, the last safe place on Earth, language has to be limited or else be destroyed. Letta, the only person who doesn't have to speak List, is faced with a deadly choice when the leader demands she shorten the list more: sit by or fight back.

This book was one of the first Graphic Novels that I truly loved and couldn't put down! Jordan loves to draw cartoons about his life. He thought he would be able to attend art school but his parents send him to a very expensive private school known for their academics instead. Being one of the few students of color, he has to learn how to navigate this new school while staying true to himself and keeping his neighborhood friends. Check out the companion book Class Act about his friend Drew!

Set in 1986, the year the space shuttle Challenger is to launch, readers are introduced to Cash, Finch, and Bird, siblings who exist in separate orbits, circling around a tense house. Each has their own personal anxieties that they are dealing with but when the fateful day of the launch comes, will these siblings be able to overcome their differences and support one another? This is a longer read with more drama than action but dealing with the important themes of friendship, family, and learning to adapt to change.

When the heart gets lost, let the music find you. Blade never asked to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, washed up rock star and drug addict. Embarrassed by his father at his graduation, Blade decides that he's done being in this family who's known for failure and lost potential. When a family secret comes to light, Blade is taken on the journey of his life and finds out there is more to his father, just like there's more to himself. Written in verse like his other books, Solo is perfect for those who are trying to figure out where they belong.

A book that will pull you in quickly and keep you entertained the whole time! Kiki has always escaped into her drawings when her worries become too loud. Did she lock the front door? Is the oven off? Why is her mom late? Did something happen? Her sketchbook, full of doodles and drawings of Indian mythological figures, starts bringing her characters to life and she is eventually sucked into the world she created. To stop the evil that she created in this world from creeping into her own, she will need to face her worries head on and become the person she was always drawing.