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librarybonanza
Age: High school-college
Seventeen-year-old Kiera *needs* an escape from being the token black girl at her high school. With her whip-smart math and programming skills, she develops SLAY an online gaming world to celebrate black culture and provide a safe space to be an authentic version of your black self, in whatever way that may mean. While proud of the game, she refuses to share her accomplishments with her friends and family--even her boyfriend. When a teen is murdered over a dispute in the game and the press demand a response, Kiera's giant secret threatens to be revealed to those she loves.
An action-packed read with a tantalizing mystery will hook gamer kids and fans of realistic fiction to the very end. There's been a lot of recent books about "the black kid at the predominately white prep school" but Morris' focus on celebrating and navigating various forms of black culture really pushes SLAY to the forefront in terms of accessibility for black readers.
Seventeen-year-old Kiera *needs* an escape from being the token black girl at her high school. With her whip-smart math and programming skills, she develops SLAY an online gaming world to celebrate black culture and provide a safe space to be an authentic version of your black self, in whatever way that may mean. While proud of the game, she refuses to share her accomplishments with her friends and family--even her boyfriend. When a teen is murdered over a dispute in the game and the press demand a response, Kiera's giant secret threatens to be revealed to those she loves.
An action-packed read with a tantalizing mystery will hook gamer kids and fans of realistic fiction to the very end. There's been a lot of recent books about "the black kid at the predominately white prep school" but Morris' focus on celebrating and navigating various forms of black culture really pushes SLAY to the forefront in terms of accessibility for black readers.
Age: High School
Identity: Afro-Boricua (Puerto Rican)
Tough Issues: Teen motherhood
First lines: "Babygirl doesn't even cry when I suck my teeth and undo her braid for the fourth time. If anything, I'm the one on the verge of tears, since at this rate we're both going to be late."
Each component of Emoni's life was fascinating and honest, especially the growth throughout her senior year. Emoni's maturity emerges throughout the book as her intellect and natural talent clash with the real-world lessons given to her by a new teacher. The beautifully written love that she has for her 2-year-old daughter and her grandmother may hold her back from typical high school experiences and lifelong goals but Emoni manages to grapple her life's complexities for a satisfying end. And the romance? Slow, affirming, and respectful.
Short chapters, several integrated side characters and sub plots, and dialogue heavy text make this perfect for slow readers, even though the size may be daunting.
Identity: Afro-Boricua (Puerto Rican)
Tough Issues: Teen motherhood
Spoiler
Location: School trip to SpainFirst lines: "Babygirl doesn't even cry when I suck my teeth and undo her braid for the fourth time. If anything, I'm the one on the verge of tears, since at this rate we're both going to be late."
Each component of Emoni's life was fascinating and honest, especially the growth throughout her senior year. Emoni's maturity emerges throughout the book as her intellect and natural talent clash with the real-world lessons given to her by a new teacher. The beautifully written love that she has for her 2-year-old daughter and her grandmother may hold her back from typical high school experiences and lifelong goals but Emoni manages to grapple her life's complexities for a satisfying end. And the romance? Slow, affirming, and respectful.
Short chapters, several integrated side characters and sub plots, and dialogue heavy text make this perfect for slow readers, even though the size may be daunting.
Age: 4th-7th grade
Animals: Foxes
Award: 2020 Newbery Honor
It's so refreshing to see a scary story get national recognition--probably due to the incredible writing. Heidicker holds no bars with this creepy, action-packed horror story, treating his designated audience with the maturity they crave. Fans of Goosebumps and A Series of Unfortunate Events will wolf this down. Non-horror fans should stay away.
Animals: Foxes
Award: 2020 Newbery Honor
It's so refreshing to see a scary story get national recognition--probably due to the incredible writing. Heidicker holds no bars with this creepy, action-packed horror story, treating his designated audience with the maturity they crave. Fans of Goosebumps and A Series of Unfortunate Events will wolf this down. Non-horror fans should stay away.
Age: High School
Art: Poetry
LGBTQ: Gay brother
Identity: Dominican American
Tough Issues: Sexual stigmatization, religiously intolerant mother
Acevedo has an impeccable way of writing for her teenage audience. She doesn't shy away from romantic realities and captures teen angst without it being grating.
Watching Xiomara's confidence brighten and bolden as she publicly shares her poetry is extremely heartwarming. And Acevedo's poetry throughout the book is incredible: balanced with diverse styles, not overly complex, and believable.
The power of art is real--lest we forget it as we encourage children to pursue practical careers.
Art: Poetry
LGBTQ: Gay brother
Identity: Dominican American
Tough Issues: Sexual stigmatization, religiously intolerant mother
Acevedo has an impeccable way of writing for her teenage audience. She doesn't shy away from romantic realities and captures teen angst without it being grating.
Watching Xiomara's confidence brighten and bolden as she publicly shares her poetry is extremely heartwarming. And Acevedo's poetry throughout the book is incredible: balanced with diverse styles, not overly complex, and believable.
The power of art is real--lest we forget it as we encourage children to pursue practical careers.
Age: 3rd-5th grade
Avid realistic fiction readers will enjoy this unique twist on friendship, adversity, and community from the perspective of a tree.
Avid realistic fiction readers will enjoy this unique twist on friendship, adversity, and community from the perspective of a tree.
Age: 4th-7th grade
Activism: Wrongful incarceration, Innocence Project
Food: Avid baker
Tough Issue: Imprisoned father
All set to apply for a national baking show competition, Zoe's life takes a sudden turn when she finds a letter addressed to her from her imprisoned father. Marks expertly approaches the stigmatization of black people in the justice system through the lens of a 12-year-old. While the subject matter is heavy, Marks keeps her audience in mind, incorporating friendship troubles, family clashes, and a tantalizing mystery--is Zoe's father truly innocent and how can Zoe help?
Activism: Wrongful incarceration, Innocence Project
Food: Avid baker
Tough Issue: Imprisoned father
All set to apply for a national baking show competition, Zoe's life takes a sudden turn when she finds a letter addressed to her from her imprisoned father. Marks expertly approaches the stigmatization of black people in the justice system through the lens of a 12-year-old. While the subject matter is heavy, Marks keeps her audience in mind, incorporating friendship troubles, family clashes, and a tantalizing mystery--is Zoe's father truly innocent and how can Zoe help?
Age: Middle school-high school
LGBTQ: Pansexual, nonbinary
The story was fine (not entirely gripping) and I adored Loki's pansexuality but I could not follow his transformation into the god of mischief and chaos (which comes to fruition on the last 3 pages). A fine read, just not my favorite.
LGBTQ: Pansexual, nonbinary
The story was fine (not entirely gripping) and I adored Loki's pansexuality but I could not follow his transformation into the god of mischief and chaos (which comes to fruition on the last 3 pages). A fine read, just not my favorite.