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I read this with an eye toward booktalking for the junior high kids, and I really didn't expect to enjoy it... I really don't do zombies, but I know a lot of kids do, and so I figured I'd force myself to read this zombie book so I could tell kids about it, since they will surely enjoy it.

But I did really like it! I still don't really care about zombies but I'm super invested in YA critiques of CAFO farming and US treatment of undocumented workers, and I loveddd how this is a very reasonable critique of those things without being an Issue Book. It's a Zombie Book, about kids whose lives are impacted by those real issues.

Also, it's pretty funny. YAY

I loved this! Tina's nerdy pretentiousness/soul-searching really resonated with my memories of teen Renata. The art was a cool, rambling way to illustrate her thoughts.

I picked this up and thought maybe it could be one to share with the junior high kids I booktalk to, but I really think it's probably best for actual high school and up kids. Like, very early on, Tina's friend asks something like "What do you think anal sex feels like?" totally legit great teen dialogue; not something I want to share with every 8th grader in town.

oh and I forgot to say, it's a good diverse book--Tina sorts through her Indian-American identity and various religious traditions along with existentialism and teen dating and other concerns.

This was a really fun, light fantasy. Mildly annoying love triangle, mildly nonsensical fantasy elements, but EHH who cares, it was super fun.

I think this one is good for tweens--as she narrates the story, Harper cleans everyone's language up because she doesn't care for such foulness, and there's no sex... just some makeouts.

AHH I loved this!! Super cute, funny, and insightful. NOT didactic but also a really useful way for hearing children to think about deafness and treating their deaf peers.

Definitely a great readalike for [b:Smile|6393631|Smile (Smile, #1)|Raina Telgemeier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1256154174s/6393631.jpg|6582125]. And like Smile, I think it could have a wide appeal, from older elementary kids probably up through junior high or so. (And adults too, of course!)

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-07-rush-revere-and-the-brave-pilgrims/

This is a great work of nonfiction and an infuriating story--especially since I listened to it in the wake of the Ferguson decision. The story of these brave black sailors and the conditions they went through just ARGHHHH so inpsiring/annoying!! America!! what the hell!! what the hell!!

Anyway the audiobook was fine, but probably a print book would be preferable because I assume it has some pictures? I will have to check that out to confirm.

anyway, a well-researched, important story that hasn't been widely told. but also WHAT THE HELL AMERICA

A great read (listen)! Basically all I know about this era of Russian history is, humiliatingly enough, from the animated movie Anastasia, so I spent the whole book being like, but where's the talking bat??? j/k. I mean for real there's no talking bat in this book, but it's a very compelling historical narrative with great use of primary source documents. I liked that the audio version had other readers for the letters and journals. It kinda spiced things up.

It's also a great combination of humanizing the Romanov family and understanding how and why they were so cut off from the world, but also of how desperate the peasants were.

also MURDER.

nooo it's too scaryyy

I picked this up to see about booktalking it for 7th and 8th graders, and I think it will be a big hit with a lot of the scary-story-lovers. Kind of like [b:Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark|1325218|Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Scary Stories #1)|Alvin Schwartz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338762802s/1325218.jpg|145600] but for a slightly older audience, and with gorgeous creepy artwork.

THAT SAID for me personally I'm glad I mostly read this in the well-lit library during daytime because WAH IT'S SCARY

MESSY CRYING FOREVER

Loved it. I loved [b:The Sky is Everywhere|6604794|The Sky is Everywhere|Jandy Nelson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348272658s/6604794.jpg|6798696] too but I think this has more nuance to it, and the time jumps kept me engaged in both 13 y/o Noah's story and 16 y/o Jude's. Just a really lovely exploration of family, love, art, grief. A mess.

I've seen comments that the kids are too fancy-talking/pretentious but a) as you might know, I love a pretentious fictional teen b) ugh they go to ART SCHOOL in CALIFORNIA, they probably aren't pretentious ENOUGH.

A great one for fans of A. S. King I think--the magical realism/daydreams/ambigious imagery reminded me of her work, as well as David Levithan. And yes, fine, sure, if you liked TFIOS you might like this too. If you like CRYING you might like this.