felt way too similar to the 2019 college admission's scandal even if it wasn't trying to be 

I really enjoyed Angie's sophomore novel and how it dives into the world of hip-hop and drug abuse. Bri's viral song makes people start talking and believe that she really believes the things she says in her songs. She's judged by her community and family members and really grows in this book from start to finish. I loved how Bri sounded just like a teen and was a huge gamer and nerd! I really enjoyed reading her character and the audiobook was amazing. I would highly recommend reading this on audio because the narrator does a phenomenal job with voicing each character and rapping Bri's lyrics. 

Fantastic read about living as a transgender and genderqueer person. Chella's experience living in conservative Pennsylvania is very relatable to mine as someone who grew up in PA and I just loved reading his story. I personally related so much to the parts about his life pre-transition and before discovering his trans identity. The lines about conforming to feminity when you don't have the words and are being dismissed are so real. I really resonated with Chella's story a lot especially in the parts about their childhood, their relationship with clothes and depression. Highly recommend to read this book about intersectionality. 

My authenticity has never been a burden. It is my superpower. 

This quickly became my favorite book as I sobbed reading this. I advocate for trans people in sports very hard and I really saw myself in Leo's story as a trans man who's childhood and teenage years were spent watching my male friends skateboard. I'd pull all-nighters watching MTV's Scarred until 6 am at the age of 12. I had always consumed the skating culture even if I hadn't picked it up myself. The closest I came to being on a skateboard was Tony Hawk Pro Skater and playing with Tech Decks on the tabletops of the school cafeteria in middle school. 

Leo's story really spoke to me and made me feel very seen as a fellow skater boi. They talked so much about trying to find a space for themselves in a sport that's made for the binary and mainly cis-men. They talk about how unfairly paid the women in the pro skating industry were (the men were given a $200k prize whereas the women got $30k *eye roll*). Leo's story is SO IMPORTANT. If you want to learn more about trans people in sports, read their stories. I would recommend starting with Leo's.  

Out June 1st. Thank you to #PenguinTeen for sending me a digital copy of SKATE FOR YOUR LIFE. #PocketChangeCollective

Loved this book. It was an emotional rollercoaster discussing the hard topics of being a Bangdelshi girl who is a closed lesbian at school and the emotional turmoil she faces with racism and homophobia when she starts a henna business for a school project and another girl culturally appropriates her and does the same thing. This was a spectacular debut YA contemporary novel. Highly recommend 

I am BIG SAD that this is over. It's one of my favorite series and I wish I had more time with it. However, I really enjoyed the final conclusion in the series and I loved being reunited with the characters again. Although it was resolved/challenged at the end, I didn't like how Charlie's friends and girlfriend treated her about her mental health instead of being there for her. Nicole is my favorite character, so I did really enjoy getting to see more of her story. But, I feel like there's still more to this story! I'm disappointed it's ending at this volume. 

I loved how educational this was and the illustrations from each illustrator were very unique. I learned a lot about significant figures in Indigenous Canadian history. I really liked the foreword before every story and the timeline. I really think this is a book everyone should read and it should be taught in schools. 

Great, quick read about a boy learning to dance and get more in touch with his Cree heritage while going through typical teens struggles of bullying, managing sports, and friends while making time to go to dance classes at the Native Community Center. John was a great character and I loved how he could talk to his parents about things. There was a great family dynamic. It also touches on the privilege John has as he looks more Irish than Cree. Although, it's a struggle he faces when the boys at his dance class assume he is a white kid trying to culturally appropriate.