This is one that I'll definitely re-read, because I feel like I can find something different in it over several reads. I love books that that. Marie Lu has created some amazing characters and their interactions feel genuine.
My students love this book, and now I do too!

So many authors try so hard to get their book to have this beautiful, nicely wrapped up message about life, especially when that book involves a character death. This book doesn't try for any of that, and in fact, outright rejects such a premise. It may be somewhat nihilistic, but I found Greg's emotions, actions, and thoughts to be very realistic.

Greg met Rachel when they were both in Hebrew school at the synagogue, in middle school. They had an organic semi-friendship that fizzled out awkwardly because Greg simply doesn't want to get close to people. He even describes his one friend, Earl, as more of a coworker than a friend. However, when Rachel gets diagnosed with cancer, Greg's mother forces the two to resume their friendship. Understandably, this is fairly awkward. The fact that Rachel is dying is also awkward. Greg doesn't know how to be a good friend. He tries to cheer Rachel up because that's what he's supposed to do. This does make for some raunchy high school boy humor that ten years ago, I would have snort-chortled (snortled?) over. As an adult, I don't really see it as funny. I didn't mind that, though.

Rachel's illness is almost a subplot to this book. It isn't the focus. If you don't want to read The Fault in Our Stars because it'll make you cry, that's no reason to stay away from this book. I shed no tears in this one, and I'm a relatively easy crier thanks to repeated exposure to Sarah McLaughlin's animal commercials. Instead, I took away that life happens and whatever you feel or don't feel about it is valid. It's also hard to get to really know people, but we can't get to know others until we open up to allowing ourselves to be known. We can go through the motions and speak to people, but we won't have any fulfilling interactions until we open ourselves up to being vulnerable.

With that said, this one won't be going in my classroom library (due to all the language and sexual references), but I may hold onto my copy of it to give to the right kid if the situation calls for it.

Not as good as Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda, but still worth 5 stars.

Finally, a fat girl who isn't insecure. Finally, a bisexual main character.

Now, don't get me wrong. This is all high school drama trash, but it's necessary high school drama trash. Teenagers deal with so many of these issues, whether separately, in part, or all jumbled together like in this book. It's wildly realistic. I think so many young adults need to see characters like themselves who deal with the same issues they are dealing with, and I just don't know any other books that fit that need as well as this one.

Plus, Leah's a huge Harry Potter fan and goes on a crusade against dog-earring pages in books, so you just have to love her.

This has less profanity than Simon's book, but still a few f-bombs. There are no overly sexual references, so I'm debating putting this one on my shelf for older readers, but I'll probably just wait to see if anyone asks for it or if it's already in the high school library.

In a word, this book is POWERFUL.

I can't wait to read it with my students on Marin Luther King Jr. Day this coming year.

This book focuses on the Memphis Sanitation Worker's Strike and Martin's involvement with that movement in the last couple of months of his life. This poetic requiem ties in the childhood nursery rhyme of Henny Penny playing the role of fate, questioning if Martin foresaw his end and what happens to a movement when the "sky falls".

Simply beautiful. The artwork and imagery of Coretta marching with her children on the day before Martin's funeral had me in tears. I'm sure I'll cry reading it to my students too, but it will be worth every tear.

Be sure not to miss the author's and illustrator's notes at the back of the book, as well as a brief history of the Sanitation Worker's movement.

This would be perfect for a unit on poetry, a literature circle study, or a classroom read aloud. There are SO many teaching tools in these poems and the possibilities are truly endless.

This was cute, and I love talking it up to my reluctant readers. But, to me it lacks in a few areas. I was stymied by his parents' relationship and felt like I wanted to see Nick express more shock and confusion over the plot twist there. I also didn't like the last page (not spoiling it). I understand why the author chose to end the book that way, but that's why I'm leaving a 4 star rating instead of 5.

I think I liked the flow of Booked better than The Crossover, but I liked the story of this book much better. I felt like Nick acted out of character in Booked and that Josh was more believable. I guess I've read Kwame's books all out of order because I started with Solo earlier this year. Call me late to the party, I suppose. Still, it's a pretty good party to be at.

The author creates such beautiful and realistic imagery with so few words. His poetry really is a masterpiece, and even though the subject isn't going to grab my heart like it does for others, I can certainly recognize the craftsmanship.

I love book-talking this and I doubt there's a boy in my classroom who hasn't read this book. So, thank you Kwame for making my kids (especially the boys) want to read and for presenting black male characters who are articulate and smart without sacrificing their blackness and who they are.

Absolutely. Lovely.