Bonnie's Rocket by Emeline Lee

Evergreen by Matthew Cordell

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla tells the story of Maudie who was looking forward to a peaceful and safe summer with her dad in California while her mother and stepfather are on a cruise. But instead, a wildfire forced them both to retreat south, to the small beach town where her father grew up. While he looks for work, Maudie was introduced to the sport of surfing, to which she immediately fell in love. She decides to enter a contest to win money to help her father. She also hopes that this will show her mother and stepfather that she is capable of great things, and isn’t in fact, useless. 

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow is a beautifully written novel that adds a touch of humor to an important timely topic. After a traumatic event, Simon and his family move to a new town where there is no internet, cell phones, or television. Simon has to overcome his trauma before he can take courage to move forward. Be prepared to laugh out loud while reading this remarkable book.

Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole is a beautiful novel in verse. Alicia Rivers is used to the whispers and stares that follow her as she walks through the halls of her high school. She is used to the cat calls, the late-night texts, and the random hookups. She is used to being considered a monster, like the mythical Medusa, instead of a victim because she would rather that than let people know that she was a victim of sexual abuse. Her best friend shunned her, she quit the track team, and she attempted to remain as invisible as possible so that they wouldn’t know. 

Hidden Systems by Dan Nott is an informative graphic novel which explains how water, electricity, and the internet work. There is a hidden history for each utility we use on a daily basis. Hidden Systems is full of diagrams and maps which explain some of the most complicated systems in a simplistic way so every reader can learn something new. 

Some Kind of Hate by Sarah Darer Littman presents a contemporary dual narrative shedding light on the perilous world of online radicalization and white supremacy. Declan's promising baseball career ends abruptly due to an injury, leading him down a path of anger and radicalization. As Declan distances himself from his best friend and teammate Jake, who finds solace in his synagogue community, the novel navigates the complexities of friendship and extremism. Though the first-person narrative of this subject can be difficult to read at times, Littman's exploration of fear, hatred, and the journey towards forgiveness offers a timely and thought-provoking narrative.