wonderstruckreader

[wonderstruckreader]

Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes (2019)

Beautiful. I am such a sucker for novels in verse. I don’t know why, but I always get more of a sense as to how an author is trying to say something when it’s in verse. Grimes’ memoir explores issues such as mental illness, drug addiction, sexual abuse and drug/alcohol addiction. Her writing reminded me of Laurie Halse Anderson, because she uses vivid imagery to convey her personal stories as well - making them all the more powerful. Like Anderson, she too discovers healing within words. This memoir is moving, painful, and inspiring. I know that words gets thrown around a lot, but it’s the only other one that I can think of other than hope - and it does give me hope that people can survive the most tragic of events and still come out okay. This was a very therapeutic read for me and I will forever recommend this novel to both patrons and educators so that others may find hope and healing as I have.

TW: domestic abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, mental illness, sexual abuse

[wonderstruckreader]

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse (2016)

I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of historical fiction, but this one drew me in for its element of mystery. In the midst of World War II, a young Dutch girl has been tasked with finding a Jewish teenager that has disappeared without a trace. Although I thought the ending to be a bit confusing, I thoroughly enjoyed figuring out clues with Hanneke. Hesse’s character development was spot on and I came to care for each realistically depicted individual. This gripping novel was so intense that I stayed up all night finishing it. Hesse’s vivid imagery made me feel like I was immersed in the chaos of WWII. This novel would be a great pairing with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Night. This novel could also be used in social studies classes because of its historical accuracy (to my knowledge) regarding events that took place during this time. Additionally, I will be using this book for my historical fiction displays and recommending it to those who enjoy WWII fiction.

TW: death, war violence

[wonderstruckreader]

Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein (2019)

Books like this always end the same way - me sobbing alone at 3 am because I chose to keep reading instead of going to sleep. Silverstein paints both an insightful and painful picture of living life with a chronic disease like juvenile arthritis. Although I thought that the novel was slow to start, I eventually fell in love with Ricky’s character and developed an understanding of what day-to-day life would be like in the eyes of someone disabled in this way. I couldn’t imagine suffering like this, especially so young, so Silverstein’s writing allowed me to imagine this as a reader. Like Ricky, I found myself wanting to stop my feet and yell out to the world that this wasn’t fair, but ultimately is an unfortunate reality for many people. Silverstein’s writing is simple and could be used in middle school classrooms, although this novel is very heavy in terms of expletives. Like many other novels that I have read this semester, I want to pitch this one to my local ELA teachers because I think that this novel would be a good fit to teach adversity from a point-of-view that many students do not often acknowledge. 

[wonderstruckreader]

Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash (2015)

Thinking that this summer will be uneventful, Maggie attends the same summer camp that her mother and grandmother did. She unexpectedly finds herself falling for a camp counselor, also a young woman. I almost couldn’t even look past the awful illustrations in order to read the actual story, which made me sad because I was excited to read an LGBTQIA+ coming-of-age story. This might work for others, but I needed more facial details for expressions in order to like the artwork. It just didn’t work for me. The story itself is quite beautiful and well-paced. I love that the ending isn’t a “happily ever-after” because many first loves aren’t. Even if the reader isn’t gay, I feel like Maggie’s character is still relatable and realistic in that she’s trying to figure out who she is and how to be that person in the world. This is a great graphic novel to add to an LGBTQIA+ display, collection, or for reader’s advisory.

[wonderstruckreader]

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater (2017)

Like a few others, this too has sat on my shelf unread for a few years until this course coaxed me into reading it. This is a story of two teens - one white, non-binary young man with Aspergers named Sasha and an African-American male teenager from a rough area in Oakland named Richard. One day, Richard holds a lit lighter to Sasha’s skirt on the bus - attempting to make his friends laugh. A joke quickly turns into a nightmare and Sasha suffers from severe burns as a result of this prank. I enjoyed how Slater chose to tell this story in choppy chapters and as if it were fiction. I feel that it makes it a more enticing read to those that are hesitant to read nonfiction and view it as overwhelming to read. Slater takes a look past the media’s portrayal of criminals and victims and takes a look at the actual person - revealing the complexities of these cases when the media portrays their own narrative. I think that this would be a great addition to a classroom library to be interwoven into the curriculum. This novel has the potential to reinforce lessons of having empathy for individuals different from yourself. I’ll definitely be using this novel for my LGBTQIA+ display in June and pitching it to the ELA teachers in my partner district.

TW: bullying, hate crime

[wonderstruckreader]

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Vol. 1 by Roberto Aguirre (2016)

I chose this comic because of both the hype that the netflix series has gotten and because I watched Sabrina, The Teenage Witch growing up. As we all know, or should by now, this is absolutely NOTHING like the sitcom we all know and love. This is much, much darker and from what I understand, the original intent of the story. Here, we have a newly 16 year-old Sabrina who now has to choose between her current “normal” life and becoming an immortal witch. I have never been a huge fan of Archie comics, but they are incredibly popular due to the Netflix series and the CW’s Riverdale. I didn't care for the constant gore and Aguirre’s writing style, but I know some other people really enjoy the kind of writing where tons of detail is packed into one small bubble. It’s like reading Charles Dickens with his excessive wordiness, but in bite-sized pieces. I like to create displays and collections of books that have become shows or movies and I think this would be a popular title to include. I’ve made a Netflix board before and I’ll likely include this comic in it.

TW: death, gore

[wonderstruckreader]

Death Note Vol. 1 by Tsugami Ohba (2005)

I’ll be perfectly honest - I am not a fan of manga unless it’s Sailor Moon. There’s usually a cringiness in the dialogue that I don’t care for, but I’ll say that this wasn’t too much of an issue in this one. I was initially drawn in by the manga’s description: Light finds the Death Note, a notebook where any person dies if their name is written in it. I knew that this would likely be pretty dark and after reading it, it honestly scared me. The illustration of Ryuk’s character is TERRIFYING. He was the worst part of the entire thing, but considering that he is supposed to be this way, I guess Ohba and Obata did their jobs right. I liked that the writing makes the reader question if it’s justifiable to kill someone - like a criminal - if it meant that the world might be a better place. Do we have the right to determine when another human being dies? I think this would be a great lead in to class discussion of the death penalty. While I think the artwork isn’t for everyone, I think the overall work is quite captivating and thoughtful. I’ll likely bring this one up with my ELA teachers in my partner district.  

TW: death, unsettling images

[wonderstruckreader]

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (2012)

What a beautiful read this was. This is perfect for realistic fiction and romance lovers who want to recapture the feelings of falling in love for the first time. Seemingly far from similar, Eleanor and Park find comfort in one another while facing separate hardships - Eleanor with her hostile home situation and Park struggling to live up to his parents’ expectations because of the high bar set by his brother. Rowell portrays everything that a first love is supposed to be - warm, vibrant, nerve-wracking, confusing, painful, ugly, and beautiful. I can definitely see the hype behind this novel. Fans of romance will enjoy this read and I have it down to use for my Valentine’s Day display this upcoming year.

TW: domestic abuse, drug/alcohol use, bullying

[wonderstruckreader]

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Ericka Sánchez (2017)

This book has sat on my shelf for sooooooo long and SLIS 757 is what brought me to finally sit down and read it and I DO NOT regret it at all. I am honestly mad at myself for taking this long to read it. After her sister, Olga unexpectedly dies, Julia is left in her shadow - wishing that her family would accept her as her own person all while trying to figure out exactly who Olga was while she was alive. I loved that I learned about Mexican culture and - you know me - I enjoyed the mystery infused into this drama. I look forward to including this novel in my Hispanic Heritage month displays and pitching to the ELA teachers in my partner district so that they might consider having this one in their classrooms and even for book clubs. This would be great for a multicultural unit even if a teacher used part of it or for a book club project. I was impressed with Sanchez’s ability to pull me into the drama and mystery, while educating me by showing readers the culture of the home and not simply saying it.

TW: self-harm, suicide, rape

[wonderstruckreader]

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth (2012)

This one took me a while to get through, not because it was boring, but because I think it hit me so personally. Following the death of her parents, Cameron must live with her aunt and grandmother - both of whom disapprove of her sexual awakening and orientation. It honestly hurt me to read about Cam’s family disapproving of who she is and trying to “cure” her of her sexuality while calling that love. It was disgusting to read, but even though I feel that way, it’s necessary for me to understand that this is a reality that individuals faced and unfortunately still face today. The only complaint that I have about this novel is the lack of confronting Coley for her actions, but I can see why Danforth left it out considering this journey is about Cam’s acceptance of herself - not anyone else’s. While the actions of the authoritative figures around Cam repulsed me, it felt like sunshine watching her come to terms with who she is and accepting it as normal. I plan to use this novel for my LGBTQIA+ displays and programming in the future and recommending it to patrons looking for representation and/or understanding in their reading material.

TW: conversion therapy, drug/alcohol use

[wonderstruckreader]

This is My America by Kim Johnson (2020)

*Cue Childish Gambino’s “This is America.” 

One word: Phenomenal. 

This book reminded me so much of The Hate U Give and Dear Martin. In fact, once I read the description, those connections are what made me want to read it. Already struggling with her father’s wrongful death row sentence, Tracy’s brother is now accused of killing a teenage white girl - a case where there seems to be less investigating/reasoning and more accusations. I think that this book should be used in classrooms and I will be pitching this one to the ELA teachers in my partner district. I think that this novel can be a gateway to the heavy discussions of racism, police brutality, white supremacy, and if our justice system is truly just or not. The extra “whodunit” component is icing on the cake on top of an already strong read.

Additionally, I listened to the audiobook version and Bahni Turpin ALWAYS delivers. Her performances alone will make me download an audiobook.

TW: racism, white supremacy, lynching

[wonderstruckreader]

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (2016)

This book was intriguing for sure. Shusterman develops a conceivable future that drew me in very quickly.  In this world, only about 25 years in the future, death is avoidable and only Scythes have the power to permanently end life - an idea both fascinating and terrifying. This quick paced and eventful story kept me hooked and would be great for readers who have difficulty committing to a book since it is so action-packed. Fans of the dystopian series, The Hunger Games and Divergent would likely enjoy this series. Additionally, this novel would create interesting discussion regarding government control and exactly how much power they should be allowed to wield. Perfect for dystopian displays in libraries and pairings with Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 in the classroom. 

TW: death - tons of death

[wonderstruckreader]

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour (2017)

I didn’t care much for this book until the last few pages. Once I got towards the end that I truly appreciated this novel for what it is. At the end, I finally understood that the author was trying to convey Marin’s doubt and depression. Since she was obviously suffering from loss and abandonment, it makes sense that the book would read in the same way. I read Hold Still a long time ago and had to stop reading it because it was so content heavy, so it would seem that LaCour is used to writing about tough subjects. By the ending, I found the book to be therapeutic once I understood the plot structure. This book would be a great way to address loss, grief, and coming to terms with one’s sexuality. 

TW: death

[wonderstruckreader]

Shout! by Laurie Halse Anderson (2018)

This memoir was so flipping incredible. The experience was even better after hearing Anderson read it in verse. Her imagery is INCREDIBLE and telling of why she uses the same imagery in her other stories. Her allusions to mythology were insightful since she also uses them in her novels. It gave us much insight as to how she wrote Speak and what the imagery and allusions meant to begin with. I love how she shares not only her personal stories, but those of her readers - making the memoir that much more relatable, empowering, and reassuring her readers that we are never alone in our tragedies albeit may seem that way sometimes. It’s pretty quick-paced as a whole. This would be great to teach imagery and to start discussions about sexual assault. I would even go as far as saying that this should be a must read for young adults because productive discussion could be brought out among teens of all genders. A subject that many tend to shy away from is one that NEEDS to be talked about more - especially with young people.

TW: sexual assault, rape, and domestic abuse

[wonderstruckreader]

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (2014)

Ugh. I wanted to like this book so much - especially because it gets so much hype. Honestly I would have enjoyed this book more had I not figured out the ending about a third of the way into the book. I liked how the chapters of memories were strewn about the novel, just like Cadence’s memory was and it was thrilling to unravel her memories alongside her, yet heartbreaking to confirm the truth by the end. Even though I was disappointed by the lack of surprise with the twist, I did enjoy Lockhart’s character development and plot structure. I wanted to cry actual tears for the characters by the end, but I couldn’t because I already knew the twist before I even got there. I guess that is more of a “me” problem rather than Lockhart’s though. More of a psychological thriller/drama than a mystery, I would still recommend it to patrons and use it for popular displays. I am finding that I don’t even have to display it because it continually flies off the shelf on its own. I believe that this novel could also be therapeutic to anyone who has suffered loss and struggled with grieving.

[wonderstruckreader]

Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher (2012)

This novel opens with the main character, Zoe, confessing to a murder in a series of letters that she writes to a man on death row. This was enough to make me want to read the book and I started to like the book about halfway through when the main character finally started focusing on the actual murder. I understand that the author was trying to set us up for the family dysfunction that occurs within the main family, but it got boring in some parts because I wanted more information about the murder and less about the family issues. I LOVED the formatting. The concept of this girl confessing her crimes to a man who literally has to take her secrets to the grave was so captivating and made me want to read it. My only issue was the book being slow to start. Other than that, I would still recommend this novel to patrons that enjoy mysteries, psychological thrillers, and betrayals within romance. This is a great one to use for Halloween/spooky reads recommendations.

[wonderstruckreader]

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (2020)

Man, Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing is just so captivating and rhythmic. I love everything she writes because her writing always has the ability to make me just as angry or sad as her characters feel in her novels. I felt Yahaira’s anger because of her father’s betrayal and Camino’s sense of abandonment. Aside from the heart wrenching, familial drama, Acevedo paints an insightful picture as to why some immigrants flee their troublesome countries. To anyone that argues against immigration in the U.S. - I just want to throw this book at them so that they can develop empathy for Camino’s situation. While her character is fictional, her circumstances are very much real. As a librarian for young adults, I could see myself using this book as a means of discussion for immigration and for displays of the same subject.