Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I've been doing lots of reading of YA books this summer, and they have all been realistic fiction that has been more appropriate for older students.  I decided I needed to go back to my favourite genre- dystopian novels.  So I did a little searching to find out what I've been missing and this series kept coming up. 

In this dystopian novel the world is split into those with red blood and those with silver blood.  Silver blooded people are the aristocrats who rule the world.  Many of them have special powers and they are used to keep the red blooded people down.  Mare Barrow's is a red blood- her and her family and struggling to survive in the world where those with the wrong type of blood are limited to the worst, most dangerous jobs.  Mare knows that once she turns 18, she will be sent off to war to fight for the silver blooded royalty.  There is no choice in this, like her brother's before her, she has to report to war.  But when a chance encounter with someone changes her future, she soon discovers that even though she is of red blood - she also possesses special abilities.  This makes her a threat to the Silver's way of life and puts her life at risk as she tries to navigate living in the Silver world, while staying true to her Red family.

This is a great book!  Lots of action and excitement.  The only problem is, when you finish one book, you have to race to Chapters to buy the next one! 

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

This book has been getting a lot of notice on twitter and since it was described as the book version of The Breakfast Club  I knew I had to pick it up and I'm glad I did.

One of Us Is Lying starts off in a typical after-school detention with five students suffering through the punishment.  But while five students start off in detention, in a few short minutes, only four students walk out alive, one is dead.  The students thought that detention was the worst thing that could happen, but they soon realize that one of them is going to be blamed for this death. 

Simon, the boy who died, was not very well liked, as he was the owner of an app that spilled gossip and secrets about the other students at the school.  He was set to press 'submit' on an entry that would spill the deepest secrets of the other four students in detention that day.  These students were:

• Bronwyn- the over-achiever who has her sights set on going to Yale
• Cooper- the athlete whose pitch is going to lead him right to the Major league 
• Nate- the rebel who already has a police record
• Addy- the popular beauty queen who works very hard at always being perfect.

But each of these students has a secret they don't want revealed and so all have a motive for killing Simon.  The rest of the school population is very happy to throw all suspicion their way. But who had the biggest motive of all and killed Simon?  

This book was really enjoyable.  It was a great mystery novel as it kept me guessing right up until the end.  I really enjoyed the glimpse into what is hidden behind the exterior these students presented to the rest of the school community.  

There is some mature content in this, but it is appropriate and not something that would stop me from putting this in my Intermediate classroom.  The fact that the story is told from all four perspectives makes it a book that would be enjoyed by all students.  

Someone I Used to Know by Patty Blount

Last week, I read a tweet by Patty Blount talking about her new release- and I pre-ordered it right that minute.  Last night, I went to my mailbox, and there it was...I started it immediately, and finished it this morning (I sure do love my summers!).  Back in 2014, I read her first novel- Some Boys Are, and loved it, and this book was just the same.

Someone I Used to Know isn't your typical sexual assault story.  Typically those books deal with the immediate year after a sexual assault and how the victim deals with the fallout.  This book is actually two years after the assault and shows not only what the victim has to deal with, but also how family and friends are affected.

In grade 9, Ashley is raped by one of her brother's football teammates to score points for a game.  The result of the trial is a lighter sentence of sexual assault because the judge believed that he just got carried away and his life shouldn't be ruined for one mistake.  For Ashley however, her life has changed in so many ways through his actions.   Even though she is the victim, the school community blame her for getting the football program cancelled, her brother blames her for joining the dance team for the school and her parents blame her for drinking with her rapist.  Ashely suffers from anxiety, loneliness and struggles to get through her days at school.  However she isn't the only one who is suffering.  Her brother Derek is also struggling.  He is angry at his former teammate for not respecting his sister, but is more angry with himself for not protecting Ashely.  As he slowly learns that rape is not just an issue for women, he starts to recognize that he also plays a role in the way society view women, use sex to sell products and the way athletes and other powerful men are protected.  As Ashely learns to cope with her new normal, Derek also needs to learn how to cope with all of his feelings and emotions and learn to forgive and be there for each other.

This book, like Some Boys Are was amazing!  I could not put it down.  It is so interesting, painful and insightful to read how rape affects the family as well.  It makes me realize that there are some conversations I need to have with my own boys still in order for them to understand the role they play in ensuring all people are safe, respected and treated with dignity.

I also really appreciate the fact that Blount calls it like it is- I have trouble with the term sexual assault rather than rape.  As Ashley describes in this story, the word rape is hard to hear, and hard to say.  The phrase sexual assault seems to lessen the severity of action- the word rape is as ugly as the act itself.

Because of the subject of this story, I would hesitate to give this to elementary students.  However, at the secondary level- I think everyone should read it.

When by Victoria Laurie

Imagine looking at someone, in real life, on TV or in an image and seeing the date of their death.  It doesn't matter if it is someone you love, someone you've just met, or a complete stranger.  This is what life is like for Maddie- everywhere she looks, she sees deathdates.  After her father dies, Maddie's mother tries to profit off of her abilities by doing 'readings' for people to let them know when they, or someone they love will die.  The ability means that many people are afraid of her, and don't want to be around her. But at school, Maddie has her best friend Stubby and that is enough. 

However, when young people with a connection to Maddie start turning up dead, things take a turn for the worst.  The police of course don't believe in her ability, and this makes both her and Stubby a suspect in these murders.

I enjoyed reading this story- it actually reads like an adult mystery.  There is really just one part that would give me pause about giving this to students in grade 7 and 8- the police do describe the murder scenes in a bit of detail.  It didn't bother me, but sensitive students might find it a bit much.  It is really only one small part of the book though. 

The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith

At the beginning of summer, my friend Becky told me about this website:  Book Outlet which is a great place to buy books- I love that you can search for just YA books.  I ordered about 8 YA books for just under $50 and the shipping was free.  The Way I Used To Be was one of those books. 

I really loved this book - although it was quite painful to read.  In the first chapter (well really, the first page) 13 year old Eden is raped by her brother's best friend in her own room.  What follows is how Eden learns to deal with this incident.  After telling nobody, she has to suffer on her own and figure out how to survive.  It was so difficult to read about all the choices Eden made in an effort to deal with the shame, embarrassment and horror of that night.  Like Speak, The Mockingbirds, and Some Girls Are- it is so raw reading about the effects of sexual assault, but so important to bring to light.  What makes this book stand out is how it is told.  Eden's story is not wrapped-up in a single year of high school.  Instead, we live with Eden as she navigates 4 years of high school while trying to deal with one harmful act. 

I am not sure I would put this in my elementary classroom- again, it is a mature book, dealing with mature themes.  I would be very careful about who I gave this book too- maybe closer to the end of the year in grade 8.  But it was a powerful read.

The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young

The Fragile Ordinary caught my eye a few weeks ago at Chapters.  Samantha Young is a new author for me- you can check out her website here.  I know I'm planning on ordering more of her books, although it looks like you have to be careful if you are buying these for teen readers.  Samantha Young reminds me of a cross between Sarah Dessen and John Green.

In The Fragile Ordinary, we meet Comet- yes her name is Comet- although as she says early on, her name really doesn't fit her.  Comet is a shy young women living in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Comet is really just putting in time at her high school, waiting until she can leave her town and leave her family behind for school in the States.  Comet is not your average teenager, she avoids social media and parties, preferring instead to spend her time with her books.  But then in walks Tobias to her classes- he is a brash, athletic American and is unlike anyone Comet has met.  As Tobias and Comet's friendship starts to grow, so too does her feelings for Comet.  But she doesn't like the way Tobias's life is heading- he is hanging out with trouble makers and Comet tries to stop her feelings for Tobias.  As Comet and Tobias find their way towards one another, they are faced with issues at their school that seem determined to keep them apart. 

I loved this story.  I loved Comet- she is such a unique character.  Quiet, bookish, but an outlandish dresser.  She has no support from home, but is determined to succeed in her life and has strong morals and a sense of right and wrong.  Tobias is also a complex character who is struggling with his own demons.  There is a bit of mature content in this book, much like The Fault in Our Stars, these two young people are experiencing first love, but it is beautiful and respectful.  I can see this being very popular with high school students, but I would also not hesitate to give this to grade 8 students as well. 

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Amal Unbound caught my attention when it was announced as one of the Global Read Aloud books for 2018.

Amal Unbound is the story of Amal- a 12 year old Pakistani girl who dreams of becoming a teacher.  She loves school and learning.  But when she insults a very important man who demands her punishment, Amal is taken away from every thing and everyone she loves.   As Amal learns to live in this new life, she meets new people and is exposed to life as a servant.  But Amal's love of learning helps her both navigate this tense situation, it also helps her make changes for her whole community.

Amal Unbound is a quick read- I read it in about an hour.  There is a lot to unpack in this book with kids.  I think it would make a great literature circle or read aloud.  If you are thinking about using this- you have to check out this hyperdoc about the unit.