INFO 5420 Young Adult Book Reviews

Xiomara Batista is a teenager going through the emotions that come with growing up and learning who you want to be. She uses a notebook to record her thoughts; the things she can't say out loud, especially to her very religious mother who desperately tries to get Xiomara to get confirmation through the church and her quiet father. She has a twin brother, but they are as opposite as opposite can be. As she is experiencing the complexities of growing up, she becomes a member of a slam group hosted by her English teacher. Struggles and conflict ensue as one day her mother discovers some secrets, and Xiomara must confront her actions as well as share her feelings.

Justification:

Throughout the story, she details her daily life which is relatable to anyone who is a teenager, has ever been a teenager, has ever felt invisible, or has had family issues. It is no wonder that this book has received so many awards, nominations, and honorable mentions/reviews. This selection chronicles a relatable issue(s) that come with growing up.

Reader's Response:

While reading this text, I couldn't help but wish I had read it/had it when I was growing up. My mom wasn't religious by any means, but there was lots of conflict between my mother and me during my teen years, and feeling like I couldn't confide in my family or express my feelings to them. "I just needed someone to help me escape from all the silence,"

(Acevedo, 2018 p. 82). Her outlet of listening to music lyrics and writing poems was so relatable because I think as we are growing up we are searching for that belonging, questioning boundaries, and exploring and doubting things that our families value. Writing was also an escape for me. Not so much poetry, but just recording my thoughts and struggles without having anyone judge. This novel had me enthralled from the beginning of the story to the end. Throughout the story, I could feel Xiomena's words resonating with a younger version of me and how much I was holding my breath as I read about her mom finding her notebook. The story is beautifully written: "I don't know what an asthma attack feels like. But it has to be like this: like claws reaching into your chest and snatching sharply every bit of air-leaving you breathless," (p. 301). It captures and pulls on human emotion, that teenagers and adults can relate to.

References:

Acevedo, E. (2018). The poet x. HarperCollins Publishing.

Wikipedia. (n.d.) The Poet X. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 30, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poet_X#Reception_and_awards

Clap when you land

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo

Reviews/Awards:

Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal

Booklist

Genre: Novel in Verse

Summary:

Yahaira and Camino are two girls living very differently. Yahaira is a chess champion and city girl, living in New York City, while Camino lives in the Dominican Republic in a rural area. But there is a dark secret that will forever change their lives-they have the same father and he has been juggling two different families. Told through these two girls' perspectives, everything comes to light when Papi dies from a plane accident.

Justification:

Anyone who has a family or has felt some sort of betrayal from someone they cared about can identify with these characters in this novel. The novel is told in verse and through verse we learn the plot, the feelings, and grapple with the characters as they deal with real-world problems. Families are not perfect and can be complicated. This novel not only tells the story in a beautiful, engaging way but is rooted in a way that readers can identify with.

Readers' Response:

This novel has so much to unpack. I couldn't help but feel a connection to this novel as I had a similar experience-secrets have a way of coming to light; even family secrets. When I was 18, my father passed away from a heart attack and I learned that I had an older half-brother.

“My father was married to my mother. But there was a wife in the Dominican Republic, too. A daughter. A whole other life he lived when he wasn’t with us. He had two lives. Two families. And now he is gone, leaving us to carry the truth of this," (Acevedo, 2022). That resonated with me wholeheartedly as I was so young and had always been "the oldest." It was hard knowing that my dad had had this whole other life at one point that I didn't even know about. It was a struggle to come to terms with and I felt myself empathizing with both girls as they navigated their feelings.

Reference:

Acevedo, E. (2020). Clap when you land. Quill Tree Books.

Children of Blood and Bone

Author: Tomi Adeyemi

Reviews/Awards:

#1 New York Times bestseller

TIME Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time

A New York Times Notable Children's Book

A Kirkus Prize Finalist

Genre: Walter Honor Award in 2019 in the Young Adult category

Summary:

Zélie and her family live in a place called Orisha, which used to be flourishing with magic; her mother even had it! However, long ago magic was taken forcefully by a corrupt king known as the Raid: leaving magic drained and Zélie's mother killed. But, the tides of change are quick once Amari (the king's daughter) steals a magical scroll and teams up with Zélie and her brother Tzain to go on a quest to restore magic, take down her father, and save diviners (survivors of the Raid). This journey is not for the faint of heart and the ending leaves the reader hoping for more!

Justification:

This novel has adventure and mystery, and has you cheering for the main character from the very beginning. The elements throughout the novel of right and wrong, identity are perfect for readers who feel the same when they are struggling to know where they fit in the world and how to fix injustices in their world.

Reader Response:

I don't consider myself to be a fantasy reader, yet I couldn't put this book down! The main character Zélie got on my nerves at first as everything she does or touches seems to end up not working out, which then made me feel sorry for her when learning that her mother had been murdered in the Raid. Then, I was rooting for her the rest of the way! I felt for her as her determination and resilience to bring magic back had me just out of sorts. Her responsibility to bring back magic is a burden she carries throughout the tale and is powerful for her character development. While I never give away the ending, I will say I was not prepared for the cliffhanger and didn't realize this was a series and now I'm just going to have to move on to the next to see how this all ends!

Reference:

Adeyemi, T. (2018). Children of blood and bone. Square Fish.

One of us is lying

Author: Karen M. McManus

Reviews:

School Library Journal

Kirkus Reviews

Booklist

Genre: YALSA (Quick pick for reluctant Young adult readers: teens' top ten; Great Graphic Novels for Teens)

Summary:

A murder has taken place during detention and four students called the Bayview Four are the prime suspects. Simon, creator of a gossip app was just about to release details about each of the suspects the day after his death. While the school community and police question each of the students, secrets come to light, secrets are hidden, and someone must have killed Simon. But, who?

Justification:

"I know what it’s like to tell yourself a lie so often that it becomes the truth," (McManus, 2017). In the story, each student struggles with a secret, and Cooper is no different. He has a secret about his identity that I think students can easily identify with as growing up is a challenge anyway, but wondering if you fit in or going against your family and society is worth it? I think students can each see themselves in each of the characters in this story as they navigate scrutiny from the cops and the school and learn who they can trust.

Readers Response:

Who doesn't love a good mystery and who has done it type book? "Bronwyn Rojas: The Brain. Nate Macauley: The Criminal. Addy Prentiss: The Princess. Cooper Clay: The Jock. It’s a good opening line, I’ll give them that. But it’s not the whole story," (McManus, 2017). I see why my friend said it was like an updated version of The Breakfast Club; but with a murder. I enjoyed each of the characters and how everything wasn't as it seemed until the twist when it was revealed who the killer was and the motive behind the murder. It's so good, I can see why it's turned into a series. I haven't seen it, but maybe over Christmas break. Then, I can compare the series and the book. I'm sure the book is better 😀

Reference:

McManus, K. M. (2017). One of us is lying. Delacorte Press.

Once upon a broken Heart

Author: Stephanie Garber

Reviews:

School Library Journal

Kirkus Review

Genre: Romance

Summary:

This story takes place in an enchanted land with magic named Valenda. Evangeline Fox is our main character who is in love with her stepsisters betrothed-Luc. She turns to the Prince of Hearts: who is known to be quite the character and sneaky in his ways, to help her get her happily ever after. However, a deal with the Prince of Hearts comes with a price- 3 kisses of his choosing. Evangeline agrees. Will Evangeline get her happily ever after?

Justification:

Fairy tale and fairytale-inspired stories are perfect for all types of readers. There are lessons to be learned, adventure, some romance, and learning about yourself along the way. Also, there are usually epic battles between good and evil where characters learn something about the world around them which is inspiring as well.

Reader Response:

I love, love, love these new fairytale-inspired stories! Stephanie Garber is an author who has been on my radar since she wrote the trilogy, Caraval. I haven't read that series, but the setting and land are the same for this book so now I must go and not only finish this series (why do I keep picking the first of the series?!!) 😄but begin that trilogy as well! My poor to-be-read list keeps growing! Evangeline seems like a typical main character; her parents die and she lives with her stepmother and stepsister. She pines for Luc, her stepsisters' betrothed. “Every story has the potential for a happy ending, even a broken one," (Garber, 2021). She's so optimistic which is nice but I love that her character has depth and that she's able to make mistakes and be redeemable. But, I'm a girl who loves her fairy tales, so there's lots of bias there. Looking forward to the next part and seeing if Evangeline will get her happily ever after and will be with Jacks? Possibly. I'm rooting for it.

Reference:

Garber, S. (2021). Once upon a broken heart. Flatiron Books.

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