This was an adorable middle grade graphic novel. Stay tuned for a full review to come next Monday!

 Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! I loved Tahereh Mafi's last foray into contemporary, and I was super excited for this one. As expected, it was a very emotional journey with a lot to unpack.

Every time I read a book by Mafi, I'm always in awe of her prose. It feels so poetic, and that shines in this book. Her prose lends itself to the emotions in this book, bringing them to life. Shadi is hurting, and you can feel it through the pages of this book. She misses her brother, she misses her friends, and she's angry with her father. An Emotion of Great Delight is such a fitting title for this book, and definitely the strength of the story.

This book is also a great study in character. We learn a lot about Shadi throughout the book, as it flips between before and after her brother's death. The landscape for Muslim people right after 9/11 is so realistic in this book. Mafi's books definitely stand out in this regard, as I don't think I can think of any other books that deal specifically with that time period. You feel Shadi's desire to hide, to blend in. This is definitely an emotional, character driven book.

The only complaint I really have is the ending. Overall, the book is on the shorter side for YA, and the ending comes kind of abruptly. At least, it felt abrupt for me. There's a little resolution in Shadi's situation, but I never really felt like Shadi herself had a resolution. While I normally don't mind open endings, I just wanted a little more from the ending in this book that was so incredibly emotional.

All in all, if you're looking for an emotion driven book with poetic prose, this is the book for you! Plus, that cover is just gorgeous. 

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Wow, this ends so abruptly. Mafi's prose is so poetic and emotional, I'm just confused by the ending of this book. More to come in a review next week!

I grew up in Michigan, and I'm ashamed that I never learned any of this in school. I didn't even know who Vincent Chin was until I listened to this. Asian American rights are glossed over in school when talking about Civil Rights, and they definitely shouldn't be.

Yoo does a great job breaking down what happened and the environment surrounding Chin's murder. There's so much I didn't know going into this book, and I'm glad to have learned. This should definitely be required reading in high school classrooms.

It took me a bit to get into this, but I think that won't be a problem come the next volume. Now, I've been introduced to the characters and there was that ending! I'm hooked now. I have to see what happens next. Plus, there's sure to be some more drama in the next volumes to come!

There's something for everyone in this series of short stories. All of the stories in here are surrounding a powwow at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and I loved seeing characters in some stories showing up in others. Kids who are fans of short stories will definitely love this!

Ireland is excellent at writing alternative history. Ophie sees ghosts, and when her and her mom start working at a house in the 1920s filled with ghosts, Ophie wants to help them. I enjoyed the way that Ireland works the ghosts into a story about Ophie's own grief after her father is killed. You're pulled into Ophie's story from the beginning, and the mystery behind the ghosts at the manner really drives the story forward.

Plus, the narrator of the audiobook was amazing. I would say that Ireland's foray into middle grade was definitely a success!

The next season of the show is going to cover this book and man, I'm about to be an emotional mess. I honestly can't wait to see how they deal with it in the show, and praise Alice Oseman for her ability to write something heavy without it feeling too heavy.
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As the most recent addition, this is obviously the volume I've read the least, but the way that Oseman deals with mental illness in this book is just so important. Especially since we get to see it from both Nick and Charlie's perspectives. Charlie is afraid to get help because he thinks that his parents won't believe him. It's hard asking for help, for anyone, but I think especially for teens. Nick's support in Charlie getting the help he needs is such a crucial depiction in YA literature.

Nick really wants to help Charlie but doesn't really know how. His conversation with his mom about figuring out the best ways forward is such an important conversation to have in light of mental illness. Because Nick can't cure Charlie, but he can be there to support him every step of the way. I could keep going about how much I love this representation, but I'll stop there. And I absolutely cannot wait to see this adapted on screen.
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I read this too quickly, but I'm not even sorry about it. Oseman deals with mental health gracefully. There are some great conversations about it here. I already want to read it again. 

 Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for sending me an advanced copy of this to review! I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised going into this. I didn’t know much about it, but I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters. Plus, the world Boekweg has created is intriguing!

This is a historical fiction book with a bit of a twist. It feels a little like The Handmaid’s Tale and a little like The Selection. Elsie is a strong main character, sure in her beliefs and confident in her appearance. There are a lot of great conversations between her and her friends about body acceptance and things like that that really stood out to me. Those elements aren’t included nearly enough in YA books.

There is also queer representation that feels effortless. One of Elsie’s friends realizes that she might be asexual, and their discussion about this validates her feelings. The main group of girls are also so supportive of each other, even though they are all competing for the same man. Yes, Elsie slips at times, but they always make up and keep their friendship strong. As someone always looking for these strong friendships in YA, this was probably my favorite aspect of the book.

My only complaint might be the pacing of the book. It felt a little uneven throughout, and I wanted a little more breathing room for the ending. Despite this, Boekweg ends on a powerful note (no spoilers), but it made me love Elsie even more.

All in all, if you like books like The Selection, this is definitely one that you’ll want to pick up! 

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This is kind of an alternate history book with <i>The Selection</i> vibes. There's a lot of great stuff here, especially the way all the girls support each other even though they're in a competition. Stay tuned for a full review coming soon!

Apparently, heavy books are the theme of my recent picks. Because man, this was another heavy book. But also so well done. After the death of their parents, Alex has been doing his best to take care of himself and his brother Isaiah. That's hard though, when he gets visions of everything he touches. Everything changes when he gets a vision of Isaiah's death.

This is a book about Black boys who have to grow up too fast and white people who don't think they're racist. Morris's take with the visions felt really unique and added to the overall discussions happening in the book. My only complaint is that at times, Alex's explanations of his visions felt a little repetitive. But everything else was spot on.

Everyone I've talked to have said that this is the best one of the bunch, and I'd have to agree. I love the way everything builds to this final volume, and the discussions of identity all feel so authentic. This is an emotional ending, but definitely one worthy of the rest of the story.