Broken Strings by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I love all books by Eric Walters, so when I saw this new one, I had to order it.  I read it in one sitting and as I was reading it I was already thinking about who I would recommend it to. 

This book is set in 2002, just 5 months after 9/11 and the main character is Shirli Berman.  Shirli is a grade 8 student who loves dancing, singing and acting and has just auditioned for a part in Fiddler on the Roof, a story about a Jewish family living in Russia in 1905.  As Shirli's own family is Jewish, she seeks the advice of her beloved grandfather - Zayde.  He has always been very quiet about his past.  Throughout the story, Shirli's life revolves around practices, boys, rivals and friends, she also starts learning about the history of Zayde and what he and his family went through during World War 2.   The secrets Zayde shares comes as a real surprise to Shirli and her family, but does explain a few things about her grandfather and helps Shirli better understand the role she is playing.

This story was absolutely brilliant, weaving in the way Jews have been treated throughout history, the terrorist attacks in New York and how Muslim people were treated in the aftermath of that event as well.    I loved the relationship between Zayde and Shirli, reminding me a great deal of my own relationship with my grandfather, who was also very silent about the role he played in World War 2. 

With November coming up soon, this book would make a perfect read aloud for grades 6-8. 

OCDaniel by Wesley King

One of the teachers at my school has talked to me about this book a few times, he reads it aloud to his Grade 8's each year.  I hadn't read (or heard about it) before he mentioned it.  Last week I was sharing a book I'd just finished and he suggested we swap books.  So as soon as he finished reading this book with his class, he gave it to me to read. 

OCDaniel is about a boy in 8th grade named Daniel.  Daniel is not one of the popular boys, but he is friends with one of the popular boys.  Daniel isn't good at sports, and he really isn't very good at math, but he is a nice guy, with a big crush on a girl who he is sure will never like him.  But Daniel also is hiding a big secret- he has OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  It takes him hours to fall asleep because he has a certain ritual he has to perform precisely before he can fall asleep.  He also has certain numbers that he really struggles with when he has to write them (or even perform them- like taking 5 steps to the bathroom).  He hides these feelings from everyone, his friends and his family.  But when Sara, a girl he has known forever, but has never spoken with because she doesn't speak to anyone starts seeking his attention, she starts to learn a bit more about Daniel and what he is dealing with every day.  Sara and Daniel are both young adults dealing with a mental illness and have to learn how to survive school, family and life in general. 

I really liked this story.  Daniel is such a loveable character.  I love his wit and his running commentary about the other boys in his school- the more athletic boys who seem to thrive at everything.  Daniel really reminds me of so many kids at my school.  I totally understand why teachers would read this book aloud- there is so much here to discuss and share with students.  I learned a great deal about how people struggle with OCD, and how some kids are battling some real challenges when they come to school.

I'd strongly suggest all teachers read this book. 

Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

Over the summer I was reading about this book on Twitter.  Many people were talking about how this is a book that everyone who works with middle school / Intermediate students needs to read.  I pre-ordered it this summer and it just arrived this week.  This book is one that is going to stay with me and is going to have an impact on how I approach situations with the students I work with.  

Maybe He Just Likes You deals with the issues of teasing/ bullying /harassing / "it was just a joke"/ "you are being too sensitive" that I see every day at school.    The subtle words and actions that some students use to 'tease' other students can often go unnoticed by adults and other students.  What I loved about this book was the idea that when it feels wrong in your gut- it is wrong.  

This book is about Mila- a 7th grade student who has a nice core group of friends, she plays in a band and is worried about her family financial situation and the relationship between her divorced parents.  She is a very relatable character, as I was reading this book, I was picturing students I know who are just like her.  

At school, things start to get a bit weird when boys in her class start hugging her and making off side comments that feel wrong to Mila.  When she mentions it to her friends, she is told that the boys are just flirting with her.  Even when she speaks to a Guidance Councillor, he also brushes it off and makes a comment about boys being boys and that ignoring them is the best way to deal with things.  But Mila knows that it is more than that - she asks the boys to stop, and they don't.  

This book is all about those subtle jabs, comments, and inappropriate touching that I think many young women deal with.  But is is also about empowering girls to listen to their gut, or their inner voice when something feels off.  I'm really hoping that many teachers read this book with their students and engage in conversations with the young adults they are working with.  I think we can all learn from this book.  I will be talking it up with as many educators as I can.

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Last March, I read the book Dr. Martin by Nic Stone and really loved it.   When I was searching for a book to read this summer, I looked at the other books by Nic Stone and saw this one.  I'm so glad I read it! 

Odd One Out is the story of three friends, two who have been best friends and next-door neighbours for years.  Jupe lives with her two dads and has known forever that she is gay. Coop lives with his mom and has known forever that he is attracted to Jupe. The two of them are inseparable.  Then Rae moves to town and quickly becomes a part of their friend group.  Rae feels attracted to Coop, but also to Jupe.  When Rae and Coop start dating, Jupe is confused about her feelings for both of her friends
as well. 
I know that synopsis of the book is a bit confusing, however this book was incredible.  I finished it about 4 days ago, and still find myself thinking about all the characters.  I loved the friendship between Jupe and Coop, I also loved the young man that Coop is.  He is kind and caring and really seems to break the stereotype of what boys who play basketball are like with both their own friends and towards girls.  Coop is the young man I hope all boys can inspire to be like. 

I also liked reading how all three of these characters question their sexuality, but in very age appropriate ways.   I think many young women need to read this book.  I so often have students that I talk to who are grappling with who they are, and I think having a book to read that explores this topic is very important. 

There are some mature parts to this book, again, very age appropriate, but I would be a bit cautious giving this to some Intermediate students, however there are several students who I know would benefit from reading this book. 

Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone

This summer I discovered a new author- Tamara Ireland Stone  and have now read a few books by her.  I really like her writing style.  While the first two books Every Last Word and Little Do We Know are heavier books that deal with big issues, this one is a bit lighter, however it still deals with important issues. 

Click'd is the story of Allie- a 7th grader who has just spent the summer at a Girls Coding Camp where she created her very own app- Click'd.  Allie is very proud of her app, she wanted to create an app that would help her meet friends who shared similar interests.  She is thrilled when her computer science teacher recommends her for a huge coding competition that is coming up soon.  Allie is very excited to share her new app.  After showing it to her friends, Allie is convinced to open it up to her school. Suddenly the whole school has Click'd fever and her app is reaching epic proportions.  But when she discovers a glitch in her app that has the potential to leak personal data and information, Allie is torn between allowing her success to continue and doing the right thing. 

I thought this book was great- the grade 7 students in this book are similar to grade 7's at my school.  Interested in their phone, the latest app and their friends.  Allie is a great character, I loved reading about a female who is passionate about coding, but also interested in soccer and her friends.  I think this book would make a great read aloud and would allow opportunities for discussions about coding, friendship, perseverance and other topics that are interesting to students in grade 7 and 8. 

 

The Secrets we Keep by Trisha Leaver

I'm not sure where this book came from...it was just sitting on my shelf waiting to be read.  But boy was it a good one!

The story is about two sisters, Ella and Maddy, identical twins who may look alike, but couldn't be more different in personality.  Ella lives in Maddy's shadow, she's the quieter one, the smarter one, the one with a few close friends.  Maddy is the popular one with the boyfriend, a group of friends that she can always rely on for a good party and is co-captain of the field hockey team. 

One night, after a terrible argument, Maddy and Ella get in a car accident that leaves Maddy dead and Ella confused as to her identity.  When everyone assumes that Ella is Maddy, Ella figures that it is because everyone wants Maddy alive, and not her.  Ella feels she owes it to her sister to live the life she was meant to live, and Ella decides to give up her dreams and her life.  But it isn't easy being someone else, even if that someone is the person you should know the best in the world. 

Ella is such a wonderful character, you really get the sense of the struggle she is facing after not only the death of her sister, but learning the truth behind the person her sister had become. 

I can't wait to give this book to a few of the kids at school in September. 

If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say by Leila Sales

Back in the spring, I read a book This Song Will Save Your Life and I really liked it.  I ordered this book because it was written by the same author.  I've been in a bit of YA book slump trying to find a book to catch and keep my interest. This morning I had a bit of time on my hands, so I grabbed this book and it was just what I needed. 

If you don't have anything nice to say digs into what happens when mistakes are made in today's world of social media.  Winter, is a 17 year old senior.  She is a smart girl who has her future completely mapped out for her.  Then one night she sends out a tweet as a joke that goes viral and suddenly the whole world is mad at her.  She loses her friends, has hurt her family and has no idea what to do next.  The rest of the story explores how Winter deals with the fallout of one mistake that could happen to anyone. 

I thought this story was brilliant from many different angles.  The idea for kids to realize that what you post online stays there forever, and that when you comment or criticize someone, you don't always have the whole story.  I so often see the impacts of words exchanged online, I think people forget that behind the keyboard is a real person.  Hopefully this book will help people realize that their words do have power and can hurt. 

I think this is a book that could be read aloud in an Intermediate classroom for sure- I would suggest you read this one for yourself. 

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone

This book arrived a bit unexpected (this seems to happen a lot!), but then I realized I finished Every Last Word a few weeks ago and this is by the same author.    I loved this book as much as I loved Every Last Word. 

Hannah and Emory have been best friends for their whole life, they are both very different girls.  Hannah is the daughter of a pastor, and she is committed to her church and the preaching of her father. Hannah has been waiting to go to Boston for University for ever, but dreading leaving her best friend.   Emory is the daughter of a single mother who has recently found love and is currently planning her wedding. Emory is an actress and is in love with her boyfriend Luke, but preparing for their inevitable parting when they head off to different schools. 

Three months ago, Hannah and Emory got into a terrible fight, both of them saying things they didn't mean and they haven't spoken since.  Both miss each other, but can't quite find the way back to their friendship.  One night Hannah finds Luke slumped over the wheel in his car barely alive.  This draws the three of them together as they struggle to come to terms with what happened and how to move forward after the accident. 

I loved the way this story was told from both Hannah and Emory's perspective.  Luke, is the perfect boyfriend- funny, sweet, kind, but also realistic.  I was worried that Hannah's commitment to her religion would be hard to read, but I loved how she was grappling with her faith, and how she wanted to handle religion and faith outside of how her parents handled it.  I loved the glimpses of friendship between Hannah and Emory before the fight and how the girls supported each other even though they were totally different. 

This story does have a bit of mature content, Emory and Luke are a serious dating couple, but it is done in a really sensitive, vague way that leaves me knowing that it would be ok in an Intermediate library.  It reminded me a bit of The Fault in Our Stars - teenagers in love, but committed to each other.   

I'm going to go and order the rest of the books that Tamara Ireland Stone has written, even though I have a shelf full of books to be read! 

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Coming home from Italy a few weeks ago, the flight was 8 hours long which gave me lots of time to watch movies.  One of the movies I watched was Dumplin' starring Jennifer Aniston.  I LOVED the movie, just one of a few times I cried on the flight home.  When I got home I decided I had better read the book and I'm so glad I did.  I thought the book was even better than the movie. 

Dumplin' is the story of Willowdean Dickson from Texas.  Willowdean is a 16 year old who is mostly comfortable in her plus size body.  However it is not easy being her, Willowdean's mother is a former winner of the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant and each year she runs, organizes and hosts this prestigious event.  Willowdean has never felt the need to compete in the beauty pageant, but this year, something has changed for her.  Willowdean now sees the pageant as a way to show the world that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.  But it isn't easy for her because she isn't always as confident as she seems on the outside.  As Willowdean learns about love, friendship and death, she questions her ability to compete with the traditional beauty queens. 

Willowdean is an amazing character.  She is sassy and funny and a typical teenager.  I just loved her as a character.  There are a few mature parts to this story, I would be careful about the Intermediate students I gave this to, but Willowdean's attitude towards life is something that everyone needs to read. 

All Eyes on Us by Kit Frick

One look at Amanda and Carter and you know they are the golden couple.  They have all the right clothes, cars and friends. Their future is set- they will be the golden couple for years to come.   But if you look a little deeper, things aren't quite as they seem. 

Amanda is having doubts about Carter, but she knows her parents expect her to marry him so that her family will be financially stable.  Carter is dating Rosalie behind Amanda's back. 

Then there is Rosalie.  Her family are fundamental Christians who believe in conversion therapy and have used it to ensure that Rosalie follows the traditional path and finds a man to marry.  However, Rosalie is gay, and wants nothing more than to spend her life with her girlfriend Pauline, but Carter helps her convince her parents she is 'cured'.

When Amanda and Rosalie start receiving strange texts from someone, it seems that all of their secrets are about to be spilled.  It seems that there is someone who wants to see Carter go from the American boy to having his heart broken.  Amanda and Rosalie, unlikely allies, come together to solve this mystery and try to keep all of their secrets safe. 

I enjoyed reading this book. Rosalie is a great character who I felt a great deal of sympathy for.  On the surface, Amanda seems like a typical rich girl who gets everything she wants, however she is also struggling to live a life that she wants, not what her parents want. 

This book does have some mature content, but it would be fine to be in a grade 7 & 8 classroom /library. 

Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens

Back in May I read the book Faking Normal  and immediately looked online to see what else she had written, and that's when I ordered Dress Codes for  Small Towns. 

This is a really interesting book- lots to discover below the surface of the story.  The story is set in Kentucky, and the main character is Billie, a teenager whose father is the town preacher.  Having a father in this role is very difficult for Billie.  She is a tomboy who, with her group of friends "the Hexagons" stir up lots of trouble whenever they are together.  Billie is also discovering love, she's not sure if she loves her best friend Woods, or her other best friend, Janie Lee.  She is questioning her sexuality, her faith and what it means to love.  Throughout all of this, Billie is fiercely loyal to her friends,  and her community. 

This book is complex, the things Billie is grappling with are things I see in many students in my school.  It does deal with mature concepts, but I also think it is an important book for kids to read.  I'm looking forward to sharing it with some of the kids at school. 

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

I have no idea where I found this book, I ordered it Thursday and it arrived Saturday morning.  When I opened up the box will all the books, this one stood out as what I need to read next.  I've not read anything by Tamara Ireland Stone before, but you can be sure my Amazon cart currently has more of her books in it. 

This story is about Samantha - a 16 year old who on the surface has it all.  She is popular, is friends with all the right girls, does well in school, has a great family and is on track for a college scholarship in swimming.  But Samantha is hiding a mental illness, Samantha has OCD and she struggles to turn off her brain when it starts to worry about something. 

Samantha is secure with her friends, but she also knows that one small slip up and she will be shunned by them all, and that scares her a lot.  But then Sam meets Caroline who introduces her to Poet's Corner, a secret group of kids from her school who aren't like her regular friends.  As Sam gets to know these other students, she is drawn to AJ more and more, and she starts to feel like she is a normal teenager.  However, what Sam needs to learn is that normal is different for everyone. 

I LOVED this book- I read it in about 3 hours straight.  As I was reading it I was thinking about a few kids in my school who struggle with anxiety and mental health.  Sam reminds me so much of one of my girls- a girl who like Sam thinks she is weak and different and broken and yet like Sam, she is stronger than anyone I know.  I'm really hoping this student will read this book, but I'm not sure I can convince her of that. 

There is one mature scene in this story, however it is gentle enough that this book still belongs in an Intermediate classroom.  I can't wait to read more books by Tamara Ireland Stone. 

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

I was looking for a book that would grab me right away yesterday to take to an appointment.  I grabbed this one off my shelf having no idea why I had it, but it was the perfect book.  I couldn't put it down until I finished it last night. 

Holding up the Universe is the story of two characters, Jack and Libby.  The story is told in alternative chapters from each characters perspective.  If you only looked at these characters from the outside, Jack is smart, confident and popular. Libby is overweight, uncertain and shy.  But appearances aren't everything.   Both of these young adults are struggling with personal demons, but how they deal with these issues are very different.  Neither one of these two seem like they belong together, but when they are together, they feel stronger, powerful and right with their place in the world. 

I LOVED this story, I could not stop reading it.  Libby was such an interesting character, filled with confidence and kindness that I wish all kids would have.  Jack is a typical teenage boy on the surface, but below that bravado lies a young man struggling with his own issues.  Together, Libby and Jack make this wonderful friendship, but they have to overcome what their friends think and feel. 

There is a bit of mature conversation in this book, but it is appropriate and nothing that would worry me about giving it to one of my grade 7 & 8 students.  I can't wait to give a few students at school this book, I've already got a few in mind for September. 

Jennifer Niven has also written a book called All the Bright Places, which I'm sure I've read, but didn't blog about, so I've just ordered it to read next. 

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

Last week I was talking with a few junior teachers about books to read with our students for the upcoming school year.  A Long Walk to Water came up as a great read, so I ordered it right away.

A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan in 1985 coupled with a young girl's story in 2008.  Salva is an 11 year old boy at the start of the story, who is separated from his family when war comes to Sudan.  He is forced to walk across Africa in order to escape the war and look for safety.  Nya is a young girl who has to walk 8 hours each day in order to get water for her family.  Both stories share what it is like living in Sudan and trying to survive each day.

This book was a quick, but very informative read.  I can see teachers and students in grade 6 reading this story to learn about life in other parts of the world and what some children deal with.  I will be putting this in my 'Children Around the World' box for sure.

The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

The Nowhere Girls is a book I read about on Twitter (I'd love to know how often I actually find my books on twitter!), it sounded a lot like the book Moxie, which I loved. 

The Nowhere Girls is a book about three misfits in a high school where misogyny runs deep.  The three main characters are Grace, who has just moved to this school, Rosina, an angry young women who has a lot on her plate, and Erin who is autistic and knows she doesn't fit in.  These girls find themselves together discussing another student Lucy who was run out of town the year before after accusing some football players of rape.  Grace, Rosina and Lucy decide they need to do something about these boys and the attitude of the community around how men treat women.  They call this group The Nowhere Girls, and through it, they discover the power they have together to not only support each other, but also to stand up against many of the males they are at school with. 

I enjoyed reading this book - I loved how strong these three girls are together.  However, the book was also very mature for grade 7 & 8 students.  I would not give it to anyone in that grade, the topic is an important one, but there are parts that are just too mature for Intermediate students.  This one will be sent off to one of my friends who teaches secondary. 

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

Last week I was talking with a few Junior teachers and we were talking about the Global Read Aloud project and the book selections. I did some searching and saw that The Bridge Home was the book for grade 6-8 students, so of course I ordered it right away. 

The Bridge Home is the story of two sisters, Viji and Rukku who have runaway from their home because their father beats them.  As they learn about what it means to live life on the street, they have to worry about food, shelter and staying safe from adults who want to hurt them.  Along the way, they meet Muthi and Arul, two boys who are also homeless.  The four kids form a family and work together to survive. 

This story was a simple story of life for homeless or poor children in India.  It will be interesting to see how students feel about this book.  The one part of this book that made me a little hesitant to share it with students was the references to Christianity and the Bible, I'm not sure how that will go over in a public school classroom.  I'd love to hear what others think about that. 

Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined by Danielle Younge-Ullman

My friend Becky tweeted about this book over the weekend sharing a quote from it and tagged me in the tweet.  Apparently she knows me very well since I placed an order for it (and a few others) the same day.  It arrived yesterday and I started it immediately ( I do love summer!)

Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined is about Ingrid, a grade 11 student who has led an interesting life to date.  Her early years were spent with her mother who toured the world singing opera.  Ingrid loved this transient life with just her and her mother traveling where the jobs took them.  But life with her mother was not easy, there were times when Ingrid was left on her own when her mother 'took to her bed' and stayed there for many days.  But Ingrid was tough.  Once they settled down, Ingrid learned how to be herself, but not too much of herself, only what her mother approved of.   Ingrid is sent on a wilderness/ survival trip where she is exposed to the elements of nature, leadership and dealing with all sorts of people.  Along the way, Ingrid and her mother's story is told leading to Ingrid learning that she can't not follow her own path, even if it doesn't meet with her mother's approval. 

I LOVED this story, I could not put it down. I've not read anything by Younge-Ullman before, but you can bet I've just ordered her other two books.  You can check out her blog here.    I loved the way this story was told in both flashbacks and in present tense.  Ingrid is an amazingly strong, but complicated character. 

There are a few parts that discuss mature bits, but it is not anything that would stop me from giving it to students in grade 7 & 8, however I would caution teachers to read it before sending it home with students. 

I already know a few students who are getting this book in September!

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

I love anything that Sarah Dessen writes.  They are such great books to dive into.  This weekend I was struggling to get into a book, and then I noticed The Rest of the Story on my 'to-be-read' shelf.  I knew it was destined to be the first book of summer!

True to form, this book was easy to jump right into with characters who are believable and interesting.  The story is about Emma Saylor, for her whole life, her father and friends have always called her Emma- she has a nice life at home living with her grandma and dad.  Her dad has recently been married and when they set off on their honeymoon, Emma has to have a place to stay for a few weeks.  She ends up at the lake where her parents met and where her deceased mom's family still lives.  Emma knows nothing about the lake, or any of her family.  At the lake, everyone knows her as Saylor, the name her mom always called her.   As Saylor gets to know her family, she starts discovering things about her past and her mother's past that finally answer some questions she didn't even know she had.   

This setting of this story was perfect for me, there were so many connections between living on the lake, working for a living while others vacationed, boating, partying etc. I could picture everything that was happening.   Saylor, her new friends and family were wonderfully rich, flawed characters.  Unlike many Dessen books, these teens weren't 'Disney versions'.  They were more typical teenagers who drank, partied, stayed out late, broke curfew, got their hearts broken, etc. But in a very respectful, realistic way.

I'd highly recommend this book.  It would be great for any classroom after grade 7.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

I've been reading a lot about Jandy Nelson lately on Twitter.  I bought a few of her books the other day and this is the first one I picked up. 

I really, really enjoyed reading this book.  All weekend I was supposed to be doing work, and I couldn't do anything until I finished this book. 

The Sky is Everywhere is the story of Lennie who is dealing with the after affects of her sister's sudden death.  Lennie doesn't know how to be without her older sister.  She is also torn between two boys, one who helps her deal with her sister's death by reminding her of who her sister was, and the other who helps her deal by reminding her that there is still life to live. But deciding who she wants to be with is difficult.  It feels awful to forget her sister, to laugh, to live and experience new things.  But living in the past and wallowing in grief is also challenging. 

This story is part love-story, part dealing with grief and loss.  Lennie is an amazing character, whose choices and feelings she is dealing with are heart breaking.  Lennie and her family and still lingering in my mind, even a few days later. 

There are a few mature bits to the story, but nothing I wouldn't have in a grade 7 or 8 classroom.

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

After finishing a great book yesterday, I picked up two new books and neither one of them caught my attention, so this afternoon I tried this one.  It definitely caught my attention!  I'm not even sure where I got it from, or why I picked it out, but I'm so glad I did. 

This Song Will Save Your Life is about Elise, a 16 year old who has no friends at her school.  She is lonely and feels unliked and unloved.  One night while wandering the streets, she bumps into some girls who invite her to an after-hours Dance Club.  There she starts learning how to put her love of music to good use as well as learning what it means to have friends.  But school is still school, nobody there wants to spend any time with her, or even believe she has anything to offer.  However being part of an after-hours club means lying to her parents and things get quickly out of hand for her. 

I thought this book was great.  It was a bit mature, but nothing I wouldn't have in an Intermediate school.  Elise is a wonderful character, I would love to know her, and it really made me wonder why she had no friends, and why there are sometimes just people like that.  I know that Elise will live on in my mind now that I've finished the book. 

Faking Normal by Courtney Stevens

I discovered this new author the way I seem to always find new authors these days...on Twitter.  I ordered this book right away and I'm so glad I did. 

Faking Normal is not an easy read, Faking Normal is the story of Alexi, a young girl living with the secret of what happened between her and a boy by her pool over a year ago. Alexi has told nobody, and nobody seems to understand why she has changed so much.  But when Bodee, a social outcast at school moves in with her family, Alexi starts to discover that living with her secret is slowly killing her.  But how can she learn to trust again?  And is Bodee really the person she can trust? 

I loved this book, it is a bit mature- I actually called the mom of a girl in grade 8 when I thought she might like to read it to let her know about the content.  Even with the mature bits, it is such a great story.  I loved both Alexi and Bodee and their stories continue to live with me. 

The Lies about Truth by Courtney Stevens

I've found a new favourite author- Courtney Stevens writes books that are so well written and so believable that I start one of her books and cannot put it down until I finish it!  I read Faking Normal a few weeks ago (and apparently didn't blog about it) and ordered The Lies About Truth immediately.  I started it last night before bed and finished it this morning- it was that good! 

The Lies About Truth is the story of Sadie Kingston who is trying to find her way after a devastating accident that left her scarred and living without her best friend who died in the same car accident.  Sadie is such a wonderful character, Courtney Stevens describes her anguish and issues in such a way that makes the read not only root for her, but feel her pain at the same time.  Sadie is stuck in the feelings of guilt and anger towards her friends who were with her during the accident and trying to live with her new normal of how she looks.  The only person who really seems to understand her is her best friends younger brother Max.  But Max moved out of the country a month after the accident, and while they grew really close by email, now that he is moving back, Sadie is afraid of how he will feel when he sees her.  Sadie has a list of seemingly impossible things to accomplish before she can move on with her life.  Things like: drive a car again, wear a tank top that will show her scars, forgive Gina and Gray and kiss someone without flinching.  Sadie has a big job ahead of her, but only by accomplishing things on the list can she really start to live again. 

Loved this book!  I can't wait to share it with kids at my school. 

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

I picked this book up at Chapters a few weeks ago. I really like buying hardcover books that are on sale.  I find they do that just before the book is going to be released into paperback.  Hardcover books just last a little bit longer than paperback books. 

I actually felt the whole time I was reading this book that I had read it before, but not enough to know what was going to happen. 

In this book, three friends, Alice, Teddy and Leo have been friends forever.  The night of Teddy's 18th birthday, Alice buys him a lottery ticket as a joke- something you can only do as an adult.  To everyone's surprise, the numbers come up as the winner. This means that Teddy, whose mother has tried to make ends meet ever since Teddy's father left them, has more money than he ever thought possible.  For most people, having that much money all at once would come with it's own challenges, for an 18 year old, this is even more true.  As Teddy learns how to handle all of the pressure of that much money, he makes mistakes along the way.  His friends Alice and Leo are at time frustrated with him, sad that he is changing and worried about his future, all the while trying to figure out what they want out of life as well. 

I loved this book, it was a nice quick read, with some really great lessons. Even though all the characters are 18, this book has no mature parts that would be of concern to give to Intermediate students. 

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis

I've seen this book being talked about on Twitter, and even looked at it at Chapters one night.  But last week when I saw one of the girls at school reading it, and when I asked her how she was liking it, she raved about the book.  I asked her if I could borrow it when she was done (thanks Olivia!) and she gave it to me last week.  I'm so glad she did! 

Five Feet Apart, which has just been made into a movie is the story of teenagers living with Cystic Fibrosis - a fatal genetic disease that attacks the lungs and digestive system.  The main characters in this story are Stella, a young girl who is determined to follow all the rules and is convinced that that will let her beat the odds at surviving CF.  Poe, her best friend in the hospital who also tries following all the rules, but also wants to experience life.  Then there is Will- he has recently been diagnosed with B. cepacia a complication of CF that has no cure and is certain to end his life sooner than later.  Will is determined to live his last few years of life, really live. 

Stella and Will meet and they must stay five feet apart in order to protect each other from spreading their disease and making things worse for each other.  Of course when two people with very different views of how to live a life come together, sparks are going to fly. 

This is a great story, not only in informing readers about CF, but also about how important it is to live your life to the fullest, no matter how long you have left.  I really enjoyed all the characters in this story, everyone could see themselves in one of these characters.  I can see why the girls are loving this book, I know it is one I will put on my book shelf as well. 

Internment by Samira Ahmed

Another twitter find, I remember the days when I had to go to the bookstore to find out what was new in the YA book section, now I just scroll through Twitter to find out what people are talking about.  It's hard on my credit card, but I don't think it's any harder than when I went right to the bookstore, just more convenient.  

Internment was a fabulous read.  It is set about 15 minutes into the future in the United States.  It is so close to many of the worries based on the political division in the US (and starting in Canada).  This idea of us vs. them is very scary.  

Internment is the story of 17 year old Layla Amin.  Ever since her family checked off the Muslim box on the census, life has slowly started to change for her.  She is no longer able to go to school, can't see her boyfriend, her parents have lost their jobs and now, her and her family are forced into leaving their homes and taken to an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.   Her parents are worried about so many things, but mostly they are worried for Layla's safety.  But Layla isn't going to take this forced camp laying down.  Her and her fellow teenage allies, Layla looks for ways to fight for her freedom and the freedom of all Muslim's.  

I can't say enough of this book, it was a great read.  I am cautious about who I would give it to though, it is political enough and could be frightening for some students to read about what could happen.   I would strongly suggest people read it first before giving it to any students.  

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

I reread this one today- trying to see if it would work for a read aloud for grade 7 & 8's.  It was a great book, and I know why so many kids enjoyed reading it- but unfortunately it isn't going to work as a read aloud for my kids. 

This is the review I wrote on March 31, 2019: Last week when I ordered On The Come Up through Amazon, this book came up as a recommendation.  I'd read about it on Twitter and heard good things, but I didn't order it until last week.  I read it last night and I'm so glad I did.  I could not put it down!

Dear Martin is the story of 17 year old Justyce, who is smart, focussed, polite and has a clear path in front of him.  But when he is arrested for helping his girlfriend, suddenly all the things he's been hearing on the new about young black men being shot by police man start to feel much to real for him.  Now Justyce is starting to question how racism applies to him, his white friends off-side comments start hitting him when he realizes that people don't have any idea of what it is like to be young, black and male.  As Justyce tries to figure out how to deal with these issues, he relies on the teachings of Martin Luther King to help guide him and writes letters to him as a way of grappling with his experiences and conflicting ideas of who he is and how he wants to live in this world.

I LOVED this book!  It was so well written and so believable.  There is a small bit of language in the book, but nothing that would stop me from giving it to anyone in grade 7 or 8.  It is a book that will make people think and I have a feeling that Justyce's story will stay with me for a long time.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

I read this book about a year ago on my Kindle, but just reread it in order to blog about it.  I wanted to buy it for some of the girls at my school because they need to read it! 

Moxie is the story of Vivian, who is a student in grade 11.  At her high school, the football team rule the school.  The boys on this team get away with anything, and Vivian is done with this.  These boys wear rude shirts, insult girls and subject girls to sexual harassment in the hallway.  But Vivian is a quiet girl who likes to be unnoticed.  When digging through her mom's memorabilia from the 90's, she finds inspiration and decides to take a stand.  Vivian creates an anonymous zine (short for magazine) for her classmates that encourages them to stand together and stand up against not only the high school boys, but also the administration.  As the zine starts to gather momentum, the males at school also start feeling uncomfortable and push back trying to silence the girls.  But these girls will not back down! 

I loved this book both the first time I read it and again today when I read it.  Vivian is such a believable character, she is uncertain, shy and doesn't know how to make a difference, but she also won't stop- which I love about her.  This book has some mature concepts, there are references to sexual harassment, but I wouldn't hesitate to have students in grade 7 & 8 read it.  There is nothing in this book that they haven't seen or heard at school or in movies.  If you are worried about giving it to a younger student, I would suggest reading it first.  High school teachers- I would go out and buy this book immediately. 

Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

One of the grade 7 girls at school comes to me regularly (like every other day) to ask me what she should read next.  Since I've lost a great deal of my library when I left it behind at my old school, I'm having to find new books for her.  This has been great (although expensive) because it means I'm looking for new books for both of us to read.  She recently read all of The Program series, reading more than I did.  Last week I was reading Twitter and a new book by Suzanne Young was announced - Girl With Sticks, after reading the blurb on Amazon, I knew both of us would love this book. 

 Girl with Sharp Sticks is such an interesting book.  In some ways it is like The Uglies, and like The Handmaids Tale as well.   The main character is Mena - she is a young adult who goes to the Innovation Academy.  Here, beautiful young women are taught how to behave in the world. They are taught how to be the best wife any man could ask.  At this school they are supervised by Doctors, an Analyst and their Guardian, nothing is left to chance for them.  They are kept at school except during highly supervised field trips.  But when Mena meets a boy from the outside world and starts to question what she has been taught, her and her friends discover that all is not what it is seems in their world. 

This was a great read, I started it last night and finished it this morning.  There are certainly similarities between The Program series, but it is unique and the plot twists are surprising and I could not stop reading it. 
I can't wait to give it to a few students next week. 

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

On the Come Up has been getting a lot of buzz on Twitter.  It is the second book written by Angie Thomas.  The first was The Hate U Give- which I loved, but read on my kindle so I apparently didn't blog about it.  I've read ordered it since the movie came out, many of the kids at school want to read it. 

On the Come Up is a bit more edgy than The Hate U Give- I am a bit concerned about giving it to students in grade 7 & 8 because there is a LOT of swearing.  However, the swearing in it is very natural and very appropriate to the dialogue, so I'm on the fence about giving the book out. 

On the Come Up is about 16 year old Bri- she wants nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of her father and be a rapper.  She drops some really amazing rhymes at home and is really hoping she can start her career in 'the ring' where she will battle it out with other would-be rappers.   But Bri has more to worry about than just how she will perform in the ring.  She is living up against her father's reputation, her father who was killed in front of her by a local gang just before he made it big.  She has to worry about having enough money for food, heat, clothing and her mother staying off drugs.  She also has to worry about school and the attitude many teachers and security have towards her just because of the colour of her skin. 

I loved this book!  I could not put it down.  It was sometimes tough reading because of the slang and the way life Bri lives.  It was an amazing insight into a different genre of music as well.  I think readers of The Hate U Give will love this book, but others will love it too.  Hopefully parents won't mind all of the swearing. 
I would strongly suggest any adults read this book before giving it to students. 

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

If you knew you were going to die in the next 24 hours...how would you live your life?  This idea is what Silvera explores in the book They Both Die at the End.  

Just after midnight, Mateo and Rufus, total strangers, receive a call from Death-Cast informing them that this is their last day to live.  Mateo, who has spent his last several years avoiding really living, is determined to change how he lives his last 24 hours.  Rufus is still dealing with the loss of his family a few months ago and is determined to spend the last of his time with his new family.  However, both boys decide to use an app called Last Friend that hooks people up for their final day together.  Mateo and Rufus end up creating a life time of memories in their last day on earth.  

I thought this book was amazing!  I loved the story of both boys.  Silvera creates a world much like our own, but with the only difference that people are informed when they are going to die.  It explores the different ways people choose to live out their last days.  I really cared for these two characters, both boys showed courage and vulnerability as they got to know each other and spend time wrapping things up in their life.  

I would totally recommend this book.  There is a bit of swearing and mature content, but nothing that would stop me from sharing it with students in grade 7 and 8.    I would suggest reading it yourself to make sure you are comfortable with the content.