All Roads Lead to Lawrence by Craig Leener

Craig Leener's novel All Roads Lead to Lawrence is the exciting sequel to his debut novel, This Was Never About Basketball.  And this story was just as fun and riveting as the first.  With all the references to KU, this was a great read as a Jayhawk fan.  Lawrence is a fast paced read about finding your place in the world while dealing with tragedy.  It is about resilience and our ability to survive when we think we may fall apart.



From Amazon:

In this sequel to THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT BASKETBALL, a few months have passed since Zeke Archer saved basketball from extinction after the 7th Dimension—the otherworldly entity that brought the game to Earth in 1891—tried to take it away for good. Now Zeke is settling into life after high school, leading his team and running the point at Jefferson Community College. And there, on his home court, is where this strange tale begins . . . Tragedy strikes close to Zeke’s heart, and his world slowly begins to crumble around him. But when he receives a mysterious message that could only have originated from another realm, Zeke begins a journey like no other. Flanked by his trusted friend Lawrence—a math whiz who might have just discovered a top-secret inter-dimensional portal—Zeke crosses paths with a drop-kicking rugby aficionado, a sage and telepathic sea creature, and the possible inventor of basketball, all in the quest to find the true meaning of love, loss, and friendship, on and off the court.

This Was Never About Basketball by Craig Leener

This Was Never About Basketball by Craig Leener was such a fun read.  As a KU fan, it was even better.  Having your favorite team play a role in a novel like this makes it even more enjoyable.   But even with out that element to the story, this one would have been a fantastic read.  And this book, like the title suggest, is not really about basketball.  That doesn't mean that the game doesn't play an important role, because it does.  But this story is about so much more than that.  It is a coming of age story about redemption, acceptance, family, and friendship.  It was such a fun ride.

This Was Never About Basketball is the story of Ezekiel Archer, a standout basketball player who is heading to the University of Kansas to continue his playing career after high school.  But when his temper gets the best of him during the city championship game, his scholarship to KU is taken away.  But even worse than that, the game of basketball is slowly being taken away from all of humanity by an otherworldly entity that first introduced the game to us over one hundred years ago.  Now Ezekiel must travel to the KU campus with his new sidekick, Lawrence, in order to try and save the game he loves so much.  With the inevitable bumps in the road, Zeke has a chance to learn from his past and find a path to redemption in his future. 

From Amazon:

In this coming-of-age novel, seventeen-year-old high school basketball star Ezekiel “Zeke” Archer has it all: a sweet jump shot, a full-ride scholarship to a Midwestern basketball powerhouse, and the brightest future. But when Zeke’s temper gets the better of him in the city championship, he is expelled from school, has to forfeit his scholarship, and is left to ponder his once-hopeful future.While finishing his final high school days in the California educational system’s version of purgatory, Zeke makes a stunning discovery. With the help of a young autistic classmate Zeke befriends, he learns that the mysterious 7th Dimension, which brought basketball to Earth more than a century ago, has decided to take the game away for good — all because of the ugly event Zeke set into motion in his final game!As he embarks on the ultimate cross-country road trip to save basketball, Zeke must confront his unsettled past — including a father he’s not heard from in years and a brother fighting in a war half a world away — in order to set his life on the right path and rescue the game he loves.

Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley

Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley is such an intense and engaging novel.  It grabs your attention from the first pages and doesn't let go until Nate tells us his whole story.  This is a story that deals with so many important topics like identity, self-acceptance, friendship, family, and trauma.  Smedley has given us a unique story that will leave you gasping as the truth is finally revealed.

Nate has been stabbed.  Cam was arrested and charged with the crime.  But the story of these best friends and what led to the events is far from clear.  Now Nate must tell his story in a deposition for the case.  As he goes back to the beginning of his friendship with Cam, he gives us the details of their friendship, their love, and most often their arguments.  But in telling his story, Nate starts to come to grips with his reality and what it means to accept who he really is.  

From Amazon:


For sixteen years, Nate was the perfect son―the product of a no-nonsense upbringing and deep spiritual faith. Then he met Cam, who pushed him to break rules, dream, and accept himself. Conflicted, Nate began to push back. With each push, the boys became more entangled in each others' worlds...but they also spiraled closer to their breaking points. And now all of it has fallen apart after a fistfight-turned-near-fatal-incident―one that's left Nate with a stab wound and Cam in jail.

Now Nate is being ordered to give a statement, under oath, that will send his best friend to prison. The problem is, the real story of what happened between them isn't as simple as anyone thinks. With all eyes on him, Nate must make his confessions about what led up to that night with Cam...and in doing so, risk tearing both of their lives apart.

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

In Look Both Ways we get another fantastic story from Jason Reynolds.  As you would expect from Reynolds, he gives us a story that is both entertaining and thought provoking.  Look Both Ways is told in a unique way, which is not surprising from a risk-taker like Reynolds.  This one is told in a series of different stories, one block at a time.  Told as school is let out for the day, we meet all kinds of different characters and get a peek in to each of their lives.  We see the distractions they each face in their lives as they navigate their way home.  And through the difficulties they each face, the reader is also able to revel in their triumphs.  We get to see the good they are each putting in to a world that often seems against them.  As a reader, we get to see each one of them answer the question, "How you gon' change the world?"

From Amazon:

A National Book Award Finalist!

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019!

From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a novel told in ten blocks, showing all the different directions a walk home can take.

This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy—

Talking about boogers.
Stealing pocket change.
Skateboarding.
Wiping out.
Braving up.
Executing complicated handshakes.
Planning an escape.
Making jokes.
Lotioning up.
Finding comfort.
But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life.

The Year We Fell From Space by Amy Sarig King

If you have read any of my posts before, I'm sure you are well aware of my deep admiration for Amy Sarig King (A.S. King).  She is an incredible author and even better person.  She writes the stories that people, especially young people, really need.  She isn't afraid to hit on the hard topics and finds a place where readers can really connect.  Her newest middle grade novel, The Year We Fell From Space, is no exception.

King has given us a beautiful story about loss and grief, mental health, hope, and self discovery.  She has shown us that we don't always have to look at things the way we are told.  We can discover new pictures in the map of our lives.  We can create our own stories and don't always have to follow what others expect of us.  Liberty Johansen shows us that we all have the ability to own our lives and create of them beautiful pictures.  

From Amazon:

Liberty Johansen is going to change the way we look at the night sky. Most people see the old constellations, the things they've been told to see. But Liberty sees new patterns, pictures, and possibilities. She's an exception.

Some other exceptions:

Her dad, who gave her the stars. Who moved out months ago and hasn't talked to her since.

Her mom, who's happier since he left, even though everyone thinks she should be sad and lonely.

And her sister, who won't go outside their house.

Liberty feels like her whole world is falling from space. Can she map a new life for herself and her family before they spin too far out of reach?

The Devil and Winnie Flynn by Micol Ostow and David Ostow

The Devil and Winnie Flynn written by Micol Ostow and illustrated by David Ostow, was such a fun read.  If you are looking for an engaging and entertaining horror story, you can't go wrong with this one.  This story hits on so many of the classic horror tropes, while being self-aware that it is doing just that.  This one was lots of fun.

The Devil and Winnie Flynn tells the story of a young girl who has recently lost her mother to suicide.  Her estranged Aunt Maggie swoops in soon after the death and takes Winnie away to New Jersey so that she can assist in Maggie's horror reality TV show, Fantastic, Fearsome.  Winnie doesn't believe in ghost or the supernatural, but the people involved in the show are determined to change her mind, especially Maggie.

As the show focuses on the history of the Jersey Devil, Winnie's family history starts to reveal itself to her.  And what she discovers is that her family is more closely entwined with the lore of the Jersey Devil than she ever could have imagined.  As she learns more about her secret history, she starts to realize her mother's death may not have been what everyone thought it was.  Accepting her place in the legends may be the only thing that helps her escape New Jersey alive.  

From Amazon:

"A love letter to all your favorite horror movie classics . . . Micol Ostow's razor sharp writing and David Ostow's wonderful illustrations combine for an unforgettable reading experience."
—Courtney Summers, author of This Is Not a Test and All the Rage

Winnie Flynn doesn’t believe in ghosts. (Though she wouldn’t mind a visit from her mom, explaining why she took her own life.) When her mysterious aunt Maggie, a high-profile TV producer, recruits Winnie to spend a summer working as a production assistant on her current reality hit, Fantastic, Fearsome, she suddenly finds herself in the one place her mother would never go: New Jersey.

New Jersey’s famous Devil makes perfect fodder for Maggie’s show. But as the filming progresses, Winnie sees and hears things that make her think that the Devil might not be totally fake after all. Things that involve her and her family. Things about her mother’s death that might explain why she’s never met Aunt Maggie until now.

Winnie soon discovers her family’s history is deeply entwined with the Devil’s. If she’s going to make it out of the Pine Barrens alive, she might have to start believing in what her aunt is telling her—and find out what she isn’t.

Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Gae Polisner's upcoming novel, Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me.  As I am sure you know, I am a huge fan of Gae and her work.  She has written some incredible stuff, and this story is no different.

JL Markham, 15 years old, has her whole life in front of her.  But these first 15 have not always been easy.  Her once unbreakable friendship with Aubrey has fallen apart, her father has been in California for work for way longer than he was supposed to, and her mom is suffering from a sometimes debilitating mental illness in his absence.  The bright spot in her life is Max Gordon, her nineteen-year-old boyfriend.  A senior at 19, Max is often misjudged, but JL feels like she knows the real Max, a kindhearted, smart, and well-read kid.  But Max is graduating and he is leaving for California.  JL now has to decide if she is going with him.  With her dad already there, her mom spiraling deeper into her illness, and no real relationship with Aubrey, what does she have keeping her home?  JL must figure out who she is and what she wants out of this life.  And in the end she may discover she isn't as fragile as she once believed she was.

Gae Polisner has given us a beautiful coming of age story about friendship, love, self-discovery, and probably most important, resilience.   In JL's character, we have a young girl who is trying to navigate a world where she has lost her closest friend, but has also fallen in love for the first time.  A girl trying to find a balance between her boyfriend and her crumbling family.  A girl who discovers the strength that has been hiding deep inside.  We see a character who eventually realizes that she can withstand much more than she ever thought possible.  I think this is a story that will stick with the reader long after the last page has been turned. 

From Amazon:

"Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me is an absolutely real, raw and emotional read, and it's a book that touched my heart with every page." - Katie McGarry, critically acclaimed author of Only a Breath Apart

Fifteen-year-old JL Markham’s life used to be filled with carnival nights and hot summer days spent giggling with her forever best friend Aubrey about their families and boys. Together, they were unstoppable. But they aren’t the friends they once were.

With JL’s father gone on long term business, and her mother suffering from dissociative disorder, JL takes solace in the tropical butterflies she raises, and in her new, older boyfriend, Max Gordon. Max may be rough on the outside, but he has the soul of a poet (something Aubrey will never understand). Only, Max is about to graduate, and he's going to hit the road - with or without JL.

JL can't bear being left behind again. But what if devoting herself to Max not only means betraying her parents, but permanently losing the love of her best friend? What becomes of loyalty, when no one is loyal to you?

Gae Polisner’s Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me is a story about the fragility of female friendship, of falling in love and wondering if you are ready for more, and of the glimmers of hope we find by taking stock in ourselves.

The Benefits of Being an Ocotpus by Ann Braden

Zoey is a middle-schooler who has more on her plate than any 12 year old should.  She is taking care of her three young siblings while her mom works as a waitress at the Pizza Pit.  They may not have much, but they have a roof over their heads thanks to Lenny, mom's newest boyfriend.  As Zoey begins to slowly come out of her shell at school, she starts to find her voice and take action.  She no longer wants to see her mom abused by Lenny, even if he does give them a place to stay.  And when her best friend Fuchsia needs her, Zoey is there for her.  She learns that just below the surface is a strength that we all have that allows us to do what is right in the face of adversity. 

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden was a wonderful novel dealing with the difficulties of poverty, the effects of domestic violence, and most importantly finding your voice and strength when things are hard.  It is a story about finding that strength that lives just below the surface, the strength to do what is right, even when it is the hardest thing in the world to do.  

From Amazon:

NPR Best Book of 2018, Bank Street List for Best Children's Books of 2019, Named to the Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher List, Maine's Student Book Award List, Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award List, Rhode Island Middle School Book Award 2020 List, 2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nominee

Some people can do their homework. Some people get to have crushes on boys. Some people have other things they've got to do.

Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer.

At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them.

Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses.

Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?

This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.

Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson

I was fortunate enough to do another review for ALAN Picks.  The following is my review of Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson:


After the death of their older brother, Adam Moynihan and his brother Jeremy find themselves dealing with not only that loss, but also the separation of their parents.  Their mom and dad couldn’t deal with the grief associated with Greg’s death and have decided to deal with it separately.  Now Adam is staying with his dad every other weekend and he isn’t pleased.  But when he visits his dad’s apartment for the first time, he meets Jolene, a girl who is also on the every other weekend plan with her dad.  Jolene is witty, spunky, creative, and passionate, but unfortunately is stuck in the middle of a nasty relationship between her parents.  But Adam and Jolene have found each other amid the chaos.  Their friendship is sometimes the only thing holding Jolene together as she struggles to find the self confidence to pursue her dream.  As Adam’s family begins to heal, Jolene worries what will happen to her friendship if he is no longer visiting the apartment twice a month.  Through the bond they have built, Adam is able to help her through her worries and save her when she most needs saving.  Can the future they have envisioned have a chance to become reality? 

Every Other Weekend is a beautiful novel about the healing power of friendship and love.  It reminds us that there is someone there for us, even when loneliness seems overwhelming.  It is a novel that will touch the reader’s heart as they navigate the immediate friendship and growing love between Adam and Jolene.  This story will have you wishing for a continued future for these two characters as they deal with the grief and tragedy that these two have already encountered.  And most importantly it will fill the reader with hope in the belief that these two are well on their way to a beautiful life.  
 


From Amazon:

Adam Moynihan’s life used to be awesome. Straight As, close friends and a home life so perfect that it could have been a TV show straight out of the 50s. Then his oldest brother died. Now his fun-loving mom cries constantly, he and his remaining brother can’t talk without fighting, and the father he always admired proved himself a coward by moving out when they needed him most.

Jolene Timber’s life is nothing like the movies she loves—not the happy ones anyway. As an aspiring director, she should know, because she’s been reimagining her life as a film ever since she was a kid. With her divorced parents at each other’s throats and using her as a pawn, no amount of mental reediting will give her the love she’s starving for.

Forced to spend every other weekend in the same apartment building, the boy who thinks forgiveness makes him weak and the girl who thinks love is for fools begin an unlikely friendship. The weekends he dreaded and she endured soon become the best part of their lives. But when one’s life begins to mend while the other’s spirals out of control, they realize that falling in love while surrounded by its demise means nothing is ever guaranteed.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

Wow!  This book!  I'm really just glad that I was alone when I finished this book.  The tears were flowing, but it such a great way.  This story is about hope and perseverance and acceptance and family and friendship and so many other incredible things.  This one is several years old and I am just sad that it took me this long to discover it.  If you want a story that will fill you with hope, go pick up The Running Dream. 

The Running Dream is the story of Jessica, a star runner on her high school's track team.  Shortly after breaking the league record for the 400m, she is in a terrible accident, an accident that claims the life of one of her teammates along with Jessica's leg.  Now instead of dreaming about breaking records, she has to wonder if she will ever walk again.  But with the help of her coach, her teammates, her parents and friends, and a new found friendship with a classmate, Jessica can once again think about the future.  She can now see a future where she sees people for who they really are.  She can see a future where she runs again.  She can once again see a future where she steps up to the starting line.   

From Amazon:

When Jessica is told she’ll never run again, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. The acclaimed author of Flipped delivers a powerful and healing story.

Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She’s not comforted by the news that she’ll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?

As she struggles to cope, Jessica feels that she’s both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don’t know what to say act like she’s not there. Jessica’s embarrassed to realize that she’s done the same to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she’s missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.

With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that’s not enough for her now. She doesn’t just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her.

“Inspirational. The pace of Van Draanen’s prose matches Jessica’s at her swiftest. Readers will zoom through the book just as Jessica blazes around the track. A lively and lovely story.” —Kirkus Reviews

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Wow!  It is so hard to put in to words the beauty of this novel.  The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is such a powerful and compelling story of not only race and discrimination, but the horrible atrocities that happened in a Florida reform school. 

Based on the experience of way too many boys at the all too real Dozier School for Boys, Whitehead tells us about it with the experience of Elwood Turner, a boy with a bright future who unfortunately ends up in reform school.  We see how these boys endure the physical and sexual abuse of those in charge, while at the same time hearing how not all boys were lucky enough to make it out alive.

This novel is powerful and heartbreaking.  It is maddening to know that this abuse went on for over a century while our country overlooked the atrocities that so many suffered.  While this is a fictional account, it is based on the real lives of so many boys who "attended" this institution in Marianna, Florida.  It should serve as a memorial not only for those whose lives were taken from them, but also for all of those who were fortunate enough to survive the cruel hands of those they were entrusted to. 



From Amazon:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In this bravura follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead brilliantly dramatizes another strand of American history through the story of two boys sentenced to a hellish reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida.

As the Civil Rights movement begins to reach the black enclave of Frenchtown in segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis takes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King to heart: He is "as good as anyone." Abandoned by his parents, but kept on the straight and narrow by his grandmother, Elwood is about to enroll in the local black college. But for a black boy in the Jim Crow South of the early 1960s, one innocent mistake is enough to destroy the future. Elwood is sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, whose mission statement says it provides "physical, intellectual and moral training" so the delinquent boys in their charge can become "honorable and honest men."

In reality, the Nickel Academy is a grotesque chamber of horrors where the sadistic staff beats and sexually abuses the students, corrupt officials and locals steal food and supplies, and any boy who resists is likely to disappear "out back." Stunned to find himself in such a vicious environment, Elwood tries to hold onto Dr. King's ringing assertion "Throw us in jail and we will still love you." His friend Turner thinks Elwood is worse than naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble.

The tension between Elwood's ideals and Turner's skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades. Formed in the crucible of the evils Jim Crow wrought, the boys' fates will be determined by what they endured at the Nickel Academy.

Based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative that showcases a great American novelist writing at the height of his powers.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Wilder Girls by Rory Power was an intense and captivating story.  It will keep you on the edge of your seat as you cheer on Hetty and the other girls who have been trapped at their private school.  This is a book about friendship and the lengths you will go to save it.  It is a story about resilience, and power, and the fight you have when everything seems to be against you.  Wilder Girls is a unique story that will have you turning the page faster and faster as the story goes on.  

From Amazon:

"Celebrates the resilience of girls and the earthshaking power of their friendships. An eerie, unforgettable triumph." --Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn

"Wilder Girls is so sharp and packs so much emotion in such wise ways. I'm convinced we're about to witness the emergence of a major new literary star." --Jeff VanderMeer, New York Times bestselling author of Annihilation

A feminist Lord of the Flies about three best friends living in quarantine at their island boarding school, and the lengths they go to uncover the truth of their confinement when one disappears. This fresh, new debut is a mind-bending novel unlike anything you've read before.

It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty's life out from under her.

It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don't dare wander outside the school's fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.

But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there's more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.

Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton

Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton is an exceptional read.  It is such a fun and funny read, but also touching, emotional, and thought-provoking.  It is a story about figuring out your place in the world while trying to make it a better place.  It is about taking the risk to try and change the status quo, even when everything seems to be working against you.  I really can't say enough good things about this book.  

From Amazon:

Cliff Hubbard is a huge loser. Literally. His nickname at Happy Valley High School is Neanderthal because he's so enormous-6'6" and 250 pounds to be exact. He has nobody at school, and life in his trailer-park home has gone from bad to worse ever since his older brother's suicide.

There's no one Cliff hates more than the nauseatingly cool quarterback Aaron Zimmerman. Then Aaron returns to school after a near-death experience with a bizarre claim: while he was unconscious he saw God, who gave him a list of things to do to make Happy Valley High suck less. And God said there's only one person who can help: Neanderthal.

To his own surprise, Cliff says he's in. As he and Aaron make their way through the List, which involves a vindictive English teacher, a mysterious computer hacker, a decidedly unchristian cult of Jesus Teens, the local drug dealers, and the meanest bully at HVHS, Cliff feels like he's part of something for the first time since losing his brother. But fixing a broken school isn't as simple as it seems, and just when Cliff thinks they've completed the List, he realizes their mission hits closer to home than he ever imagined.

Razor sharp, moving, and outrageously funny, Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe is an unforgettable story of finding your place in an imperfect world.

Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson

The second novel from Natalie C. Anderson, Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday, is a powerful and intriguing story about love, family, sacrifice, terrorism, and hope.  From the very beginning, this novel will grip you with Abdi's tale.  It is exciting and tense and will keep you flipping the pages as you root for this young boy who has tried so hard to save his family.  As a reader, you get a glimpse into the terrorism and crime that grips Somalia and the lengths that some will go to in order to escape this terrible fate.  Doomsday is another fantastic read from this exceptional storyteller.  

From Amazon:

Forced to become a child soldier, a sixteen-year-old Somali refugee must confront his painful past in this haunting, thrilling tale of loss and redemption for fans of A Long Way Gone and What is the What
,
When Abdi's family is kidnapped, he's forced to do the unthinkable: become a child soldier with the ruthless jihadi group Al Shabaab. In order to save the lives of those he loves, and earn their freedom, Abdi agrees to be embedded as a spy within the militia's ranks and to send dispatches on their plans to the Americans. The jihadists trust Abdi immediately because his older brother, Dahir, is already one of them, protégé to General Idris, aka the Butcher. If Abdi's duplicity is discovered, he will be killed.

For weeks, Abdi trains with them, witnessing atrocity after atrocity, becoming a monster himself, wondering if he's even pretending anymore. He only escapes after he is forced into a suicide bomber's vest, which still leaves him stumps where two of his fingers used to be and his brother near death. Eventually, he finds himself on the streets of Sangui City, Kenya, stealing what he can find to get by, sleeping nights in empty alleyways, wondering what's become of the family that was stolen from him. But everything changes when Abdi's picked up for a petty theft, which sets into motion a chain reaction that forces him to reckon with a past he's been trying to forget.

In this riveting, unflinching tale of sacrifice and hope, critically-acclaimed author Natalie C. Anderson delivers another tour-de-force that will leave readers at the edge of their seats.

The Haunted by Danielle Vega

I always enjoy a good horror story and The Haunted by Danielle Vega fit the bill.  When it comes to YA horror, there aren't too many that do it better than her.  This one was a fun ride from beginning to end.  Vega does a fantastic job of creating situations that give the reader chills and keeps them in suspense.  If you are looking for a fun and entertaining read, this is definitely a book for you!

The Haunted is the story of Hendricks, a teen girl who has moved to the small town of Drearford, hoping to start her life with a clean slate.  Her parents have purchased and are renovating Steele House, a home with a notorious and creepy past.  As Hendricks seems to find her place in school, things start to unravel at home.  Weird things happen and Hendricks is uneasy in the house.  With the help of the outcast neighbor boy, Eddie, she starts to understand more of Steele House's history.  This history includes the deaths of Eddie's sister and brother in the house.  But his family's history at Steele House may go much deeper than anyone ever knew and Hendricks may be the only one who can put all of the pieces together.  

From Amazon:

ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S "BIGGEST AND BEST YA BOOKS OF THE SUMMER"

From Danielle Vega, YA's answer to Stephen King, comes a new paranormal novel about dark family secrets, deep-seated vengeance, and the horrifying truth that evil often lurks in the unlikeliest of places.

Clean slate. That's what Hendricks Becker-O'Malley's parents said when they moved their family to the tiny town of Drearfield, New York. Hendricks wants to lay low and forget her dark, traumatic past. Forget him. But things don't go as planned.

Hendricks learns from new friends at school that Steele House--the fixer upper her parents are so excited about--is notorious in town. Local legend says it's haunted. But Hendricks isn't sure if it's the demons of her past haunting her ...or of the present. Voices whisper in her ear as she lays in bed. Doors lock on their own. And, then, one night, things take a violent turn.

With help from the mysterious boy next door, Hendricks makes it her mission to take down the ghosts . . . if they don't take her first.

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay is a novel I have been anticipating for a long time.  I really enjoyed Ribay's last book After the Shot Drops, so I had really been looking forward to this one.  It was everything I hoped it would be.  This story is one that will stick with me for a long time.  It is a story about family and the past they share.  It is about discovering yourself and the role those around you share in doing that.  It is about grief and learning how to handle it.  It is about speaking up, even when it is the hard thing to do.  And it is a story about how to remember the good in people while at the same time reconciling the bad.  It is a phenomenal novel!

Patron Saints of Nothing is the story of Jay, a soon to be high school graduate.  Jay was born in the Philippines, but moved to the United STates after just one year of life.  It has been nearly eight years since he has been back to the island, but the death of a cousin, Jun, has made him desire to go back.  Jun and Jay were close growing up, often sending letters back and forth.  But Jay stopped writing a few years back and things went south for Jun.  When Jay hears about his cousin's death, a result of the president's drug war in the Philippines, something doesn't sit right with him. 

Jay convinces his parents to let him visit over Spring Break.  He is determined to discover what Jun was up to during his last few years of life and uncover the true story behind his death.  While doing so, Jay begins to learn about the life he left behind and struggles with how he can change things in a world that is often okay with the status quo.  He must figure out how to operate in a time that is filled with good and bad, while at the same time come to grips with the fact that it is okay to sometimes rock the boat.   

From Amazon:

"Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heartbreaking and soul-healing." --Laurie Halse Anderson, author of SHOUT 

"A singular voice in the world of literature." --Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down

A powerful coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder.

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.

As gripping as it is lyrical, Patron Saints of Nothing is a page-turning portrayal of the struggle to reconcile faith, family, and immigrant identity.

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach is an intense and important novel about concussions and the role of high school sports.  But it is also about the support systems we have around us and the trust we put in them to support us in the right way.  It is about forging our own path while at the same time relying on those closest to us to help guide us in the right direction.  Herbach hits on some tough issues in this novel, but delivers them in a way that makes us think deeply about each topic.

This is the story of Isaiah, a kid with a deeply troubled past, that discovers football when he begins high school.  The rush of the game, along with the camaraderie he feels with his teammates and coaches, has helped Isaiah move on from a past that includes run-ins with the law, his sister's tragic death, and his grandfather's murder.  He has become a star player for his high school, but when another traumatic concussion threatens to end his playing career, Isaiah has to fight the voice that tries to draw him back to his past.  With the help of friends and family, he is given a chance to fight for a future that he never dreamed was possible.  Isaiah's story will keep you cheering from the sidelines as you watch him navigate a life that has the potential for great things.   

From Amazon:

Friday Night Lights meets Concussion in this powerful and important novel by Geoff Herbach, author of the Stupid Fast series, exploring the dangerous concussion crisis in football through the eyes of a high school team captain.

Isaiah loves football. In fact, football saved Isaiah’s life, giving him structure and discipline after his sister’s death tore his family apart. But when Isaiah gets knocked out cold on the field, he learns there’s a lot more to lose than football.

While recovering from a concussion, Isaiah wonders what his life would look like without the game. All his friends are on the team, and Isaiah knows they can’t win without him. The scholarship offer from Cornell is only on the table if he keeps playing.

And without football, what would keep his family together? What would prevent him from sliding back into the habits that nearly destroyed him?

Isaiah must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice for the sport that gave him everything, even if playing football threatens to take away his future.

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman is such a beautifully told story about finding your true self and learning to love who you are.  It is about gaining self-confidence and using that confidence to follow your dreams.  The writing in this novel is fantastic and it is no wonder it was a Morris Award Finalist.  I'm just disappointed it took me so long to finally read this book.

Starfish is the story of Kiko Himura, a 17 year old girl who is half Japanese, but knows very little about this heritage.  In large part this is due to a mother who has always been distant and unsupportive.  Since Kiko and her two brothers don't look like their mom, blonde hair and blue eyes, she has spent most of their lives very hands-off.  Since her parents' divorce, Kiko has had to live with the belief that it was largely her fault, while also dealing with a mother who is more obsessed with herself than she will ever be with her kids.

When Kiko does not get accepted into the art school of her dreams, she wonders if she will be stuck in an unhappy life forever.  But a chance meeting with a childhood best friend sets her on a path of truth and self-acceptance.  Kiko begins to learn that she can be the one in charge of her own happiness.  And when she finally discovers her own worth, her future becomes full of the stars she has always dreamed of.  

From Amazon:

A William C. Morris Award Finalist
A New York Public Library 2017 Best Book for Teens

“Dazzling.” —Bustle
“One of the most compelling reads of the year.” —Paste Magazine
“This book is a gem.” —BookRiot

A gorgeous and emotionally resonant debut novel about a half-Japanese teen who grapples with social anxiety and her narcissist mother in the wake of a crushing rejection from art school.

Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.

But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.

From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves.

After the Fire by Will Hill

I have a fascination with books about cults and After the Fire by Will Hill fit in perfectly.  It was a really intense read, but one that kept me turning the pages.  It is a story that portrays many of the terrifying aspects of life inside a cult, but really is about the survivors and the hope that resides in their future.  While there are many disturbing details throughout the story, this is a beautiful tale about one girl's life after the fire that destroyed the only reality she has ever known.

Moonbeam was born into the Lord's Legion and has never lived outside it's fences.  But as she grows, she starts to see their leader, Father John, for what he really is.  When outside authorities finally converge on the compound, the grounds go up in flames and gunfire erupts.  Only a handful of children survive, thanks in large part to Moonbeam.  With the help of Doctor Hernandez and FBI Agent Carlyle, Moonbeam is able to come to grips with her truth and finally giver herself a chance at a normal life.  

From Amazon:

An Edgar Award Finalist!
 
An Amazon Best Book of 2018!!

The things I've seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.

Before, she lived inside the fence. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. Because Father John controlled everything―and Father John liked rules. Disobeying Father John came with terrible consequences.
But there are lies behind Father John's words. Outside, there are different truths.

Then came the fire.

"Genuinely different...thrilling and spellbinding!"―Patrick Ness, #1 New York Times bestelling author

"The gripping story of survival and escape...It will keep you up late until you get to the very end."―Maureen Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Truly Devious