Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

 Here's to Us is the sequel to 'What if it is Us?' that I read this summer.  This book picks up two years after Ben and Arthur last saw each other at the end of What if it is Us.  

In Here's to Us, we catch up with Ben who has spent his first year of college in a creative writing class with Mario, who may or may not be his boyfriend.  Arthur is back in New York for the first time in two years working at his dream job being an intern in an off-Broadway play.  But back home, his boyfriend Mickey is waiting for him to return and trying not to worry that Arthur is in close proximity to Ben.   

Ben and Arthur are trying to remain friends, but both are grappling with see the other person with someone new while dealing with their feelings for each other.  Their friends are also trying to support them as they try and figure things out.  

I thought this book was great, I really enjoyed reading it - I read it on my Kindle- which is not something I usually do for YA books, however, I know that I won't be able to give this to any student in elementary school.  Ben and Arthur are in college, and are in mature relationships - even though the sexual content is a minimum, it wouldn't be appropriate to give to younger students.  However, secondary students who fell in love with Ben and Arthur (and Dylan and Samantha too) will love catching up with them and seeing where their life has taken them.  

Firefly by Philippa Dowding

 As I work my way through reading the Red Maple books this Winter Break, this was the first one I started to read.  

Firefly is the story of Fifi, aka Firefly who has just come to live with her Aunt Gayle after a traumatic event with her mom.  Aunt Gayle owns The Corseted Lady, a costume shop that hosts over 7 million pieces to choose from.  When Firefly has to start grade 9 at a school where she knows nobody, she decides to dress up in a different costume everyday- the options are unlimited.  But dressing up doesn't stop her from reliving the events that led up to moving in with Aunt Gayle.  Firefly needs to come to terms with her relationship with her mother while also learning about herself and meeting new friends and starting to trust others.  

I enjoyed this story.  Firefly's strength and determination reminds me so much of the students I come in contact with everyday, and it serves as a good reminder that we don't know what other people are dealing with.  

Houston, Is there a Problem? By Eric Walters

 Anyone who knows me, knows I love all books by Eric Walters and this one is no different!  It was my first YA read of Christmas 2021 holidays and what a great way to kick off two weeks of reading!  

Houston is a boy who has just graduated grade 8, he is a strong student who loves all things to do with space. What makes Houston unique is that he lives with his aunt, uncle and two nephews because his parents passed away in a car accident.  Houston is excited about grade 9, but nervous too.  He is looking forward to spending the summer working with his uncle and making a bit of money.  A surprise envelope in the mail is an all-expenses paid trip to a NASA Space Camp which leads to Houston meeting other teenagers with the same passion as him.  But this camp is only the beginning of exciting adventures for Houston, as he finds himself involved in a top-secret mission with NASA.  

I could not put this book down- Houston is a great character who reminds me of many students I've known over the years.  The other two main teenagers; Ashley and Teal are also very real, believable characters.  The story line was exciting, I loved learning about Houston's training and the dream of NASA astronauts.  The ending of this story gave me chills and I can't wait to read the next one.  

Any teacher (or student) in grade 6 needs to connect this book to their Space curriculum unit - I can see so many kids loving this story while learning about space and astronauts.  

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

 I can't believe how long it has been since I've read a YA book.  This past summer I read a lot of adult books, but not many YA books.  This week, I picked up Ground Zero because one of my students at school was telling me he was reading it and really liked it.  He thought I might like it as well.  I have also read Ban This Book by Gratz and really liked it.  

Ground Zero is the story of two kids- 9 year old Brandon who on September 11, 2001 went with his father to work on the top floor of the World Trade Centre.  Brandon is in the North Tower when the first plane hit on 9/11 and he needs to find a way to escape the fire, power outages and fear of the unknown.   

The other story is of Reshmina who on September 11, 2019 lives in a village in Afghanistan that is in the middle of American troops and the Taliban.  Reshmina finds a wounded solider and she must decide if she should risk her, her family and her villages safety to help him.  

This story was very hard to read.  In both cases, the kids are in impossible situations. Brandon is confused and afraid and has no idea if he will survive and why anyone would want to attack New York.  Reshmina has been living through a long war in Afghanistan, she has dreams for the future which may not be possible if the Taliban win, and yet her twin brother wants nothing more than for the enemy American soldiers to leave the country and let the Taliban rule.   

It was a compelling read, but I would be very careful who I gave this book to.  There is a lot to unpack in both stories. 

  

What if It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

 One of my friends gave me this book to read a few weeks ago.  One of the author's wrote the story "They Both Die At The End", which even with that big spoiler, I quite liked! 

What If It's Us is the story of Arthur and Ben, both of who are trying to figure out their life.  Arthur is in New York City just for the summer and is hoping to find romance.  Ben has been born and raised in New York and is a bit more jaded, he has just ended a relationship that also took away a friend group.  When Ben and Arthur meet at the Post Office, sparks fly for both of them.  While Arthur is optimistic about not only finding Ben after they get separated, but also sees the potential for love.  Ben thinks about Arthur, but has a hard time believing that even if they meet again, that anything will come of it.  

Throughout the story, Ben and Arthur explore what it means when you are in a relationship with someone who has very different outlooks on life.  

I thought this story was great!  I loved both Ben and Arthur. There were parts in the book where I laughed out loud with some of the situations and thoughts both of them had.  I also loved the fact that this book is about two boys in a relationship, it was refreshing to read a story about two people looking for love and they just happened to be boys.  

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

 This book has been sitting on my shelf for a while now.  I remember picking it up and starting it, and not being able to get into it.  I decided to give it another go yesterday and I am SO GLAD I DID!  (This is a good time to remind people that sometimes when books don't grab you right away, come back to them).  I read this book yesterday and could not put it down, I couldn't sleep until I finished it!

I'll Give You the Sun is the story of Jude and Noah, twins who were as close as could be, but also as different as could be.  When they were 13, Noah was sky, quiet and very unsure of himself.  Jude was outgoing, popular and brave.  Yet at 16, they seem to have switched roles, now Noah is the popular one and Jude is the introvert and they rarely speak to each other.  The story is about how that rift came about and the challenges they have living without the support of one another.  

The story is told from both Jude and Noah's perspective and also alternates between their life at 13 and their life at 16.  It is a really interesting way to tell the story.  

I honestly loved this book so much!  Jude and Noah's story broke my heart- watching siblings fall away from one another was hard to read.  The challenges they faced in their lives also made me so sad.  But throughout the story, you could sense the love that had for one another and for their family- as shattered as it was.  

This story has some mature parts in it, but nothing that I wouldn't give to an Intermediate student.  

Zara Hossain is here by Sabina Khan

 A few weeks ago I read The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan, and I knew I needed to read her first book- Zara Hossian is Here.  Today was the first really nice day of the spring, and so it was a great excuse to sit outside and finish this book.  

Zara Hossian is Here is the story of Zara, a 17 year old Muslim girl who is living in Texas.  She has been there since her family moved there from Pakistan when she was 3 years old.  Her father is a doctor whose hospital has been sponsoring the families green card application so that they can become citizens of the United States.  So far, the family has been waiting for over 8 years for this to happen.  At her high school, Zara is the only Muslim girl and she faces constant racist comments from Tyler- the hero of the football team.  But when Tyler takes things too far one day, suddenly Zara's whole future is put in jeopardy.  

I found this story to be really interesting.  I loved the description of the food Zara's mother makes for her. I have decided I want to learn to make my own chai because of how often it was mentioned in this story.  Zara's family is really just working to live their best life and to be contributing members of society.  Zara is also a great character.  I love that her best friend is the boy next door and that she doesn't back down when faced with a challenging situation. The racist comments she deals with on a daily basis is heart breaking.  Even though Zara is 17, this book is very appropriate for kids in grade 7 and 8.  

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali

 Last week I read Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali and loved it so much, so I ordered her first one- Saints and Misfits and I enjoyed it as much!  

Saints and Misfits is the story of Janna, a Muslim teenager who is struggling to fit in and struggling to figure out who she wants to be and who she can trust.  There are times when she feels like a misfit- mostly when she is trying to figure out how she wants to represent herself as a Muslim.  She knows that wearing a hijab is important to her mother, but her father doesn't like it.  Or when she has a crush on a boy who doesn't follow her faith, one of her friends disapproves, but her other friend thinks it is great.   Janna sees others as Saints, like the girl her brother wants to get to know better.  On the surface she seems perfect and Janna has a hard time seeing past that.  Then, there is the Monster, the boy who seems perfect to the outside world, but Janna knows his secret and it scares her.  This story is really about how Janna tries to figure out how all the Saints, Misfits and Monster fit together in her world. 

This was another great story for me to read.  I loved Janna's story and her take on the world.  I can see lots of kids enjoying this book.  The book does deal with a mature topic (the monster is really a monster) but it is addressed in a very sensitive way.  I wouldn't hesitate to give this book to anyone in grade 7 or 8.  

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

 This book was recommended to me this week by another teacher and I ordered it right away and read it in one sitting.  This book was somewhat like Love from A to Z that I read yesterday in that it deals with teenagers of Muslim faith who are navigating relationships.  

This story is about Rukhsana, a 17 year old who lives with her younger brother, mother and father.  Her parents are conservative Muslims living in Seattle.  They are very concerned with appearances and how Rukhsana is living her life.  Her younger brother gets away with more because he is the male of the family.  Rukhsana is just trying to hold out until the end of high school when she can escape and pursue her dream of going to school at Caltech.  Rukhsana needs to hide much of her life from her parents, from going to parties, to wearing makeup to the fact that she has a girlfriend.  Keeping the relationship with Ariana secret from her parents is hard, but she knows that her parents will never accept her lifestyle.  When her mother catches Ariana and her together, Rukhsana is taken quickly away to Bangladesh, where her extended family lives.  Once there, Rukhsana is thrown into a much more traditional way of life, and in a place where loving Ariana is seen as a sin.  Rukhsana needs to figure out how to be the person she wants to be, and how to help her parents understand what she needs out of life.  

This story was amazing!  Rukhsana's story was heartbreaking to read.  She is a very smart young girl with a bright future ahead of her.  Her love for her family makes it very challenging to go a different way from what her parents want and reading as she struggles with that was hard at times.  

Even though the main character is 17, this book is very appropriate for grade 7 and up. I love the fact that Sabina Khan is Canadian, I love reading Canadian Authors!

Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali

 I have no idea where I picked up this book.  I've had it sitting on my shelf for about a year, and one of my goals for Spring Break was to clear some of the books off my book shelf, so that I can buy more books of course!  

Love from A to Z is the story of Adam and Zayneb, two teenagers who have a chance meeting that changes the course of their life.  Zayneb is flying to meet her aunt in Doha, Qatar after being suspended from school because she spoke out against her teacher who was reminding her class that Muslims are 'bad'.  Adam is also flying to his family in Doha, Qatar after receiving the news that he has multiple sclerosis, the same disease the his mother had.  On the plane, Adam happens to notice that Zayneb keeps a journal like his- recording marvels and oddities and feels compelled to get to know her.  

But Zayneb is struggling how to deal with the anger she feels towards all the incidents of islamophobia that she faces.  Adam is struggling with coming to terms with his diagnosis and the impact this will have on his little sister and his father who are still dealing with the death of his mother.  

As Zayneb and Adam find themselves together more and more often, they are drawn to each other.  However the challenges they are facing make it difficult to get closer to one another.  Using their journals, they are able to share their inner feelings and wishes, and the reader is taken on the journey with them.  

I am so glad that I picked up this one yesterday.  I devoured it in one sitting, I couldn't stop reading it.  Zayneb is an amazing character, she is independent and determined to make a change in the world.  Adam is kind, caring and creative.  Together they are a fun couple.  I loved learning more about what it means to be Muslim and how relationships develop for devote Muslim's.  I also loved the fact that the story was set in Qatar, a country I know nothing about.  I thought this book had so many interesting discussion points.  I can't wait to give it to kids to read.  I also love the fact that the author S.K. Ali is Canadian, and that she has more books for me to order and read-after I clear my shelf a bit more, I've already placed some of them on my wish list!  While the main characters in this story are 17, the book is very appropriate for Intermediate and up. 

Ciel by Sophie Labelle

 Ciel was given to me by one of the teachers at school who had been given this book and thought it might be a bit too mature for his class.  I picked it up yesterday to read and couldn't put it down.  

Ciel is the story of Ciel, a student ready to start high school.  But as a gender, non-conforming transgender kid, things are a bit confusing.  Ciel is pretty shy, has one best friend, Stephie, a trans girl who has decided this year that she doesn't want anyone to know she is trans. Ciel worries about accidentally outing Stephie by being themselves.  So Ceil tries to dress in colours that are boring and will help them blend in and not stand out.  As both Stephie and Ceil navigate high school, they are faced with meeting new friends, trying to determine who they want to be and confronted with bias and unkind people.  

I really enjoyed reading this story.  It helped me have a better understanding of what it is like for students who are questioning their gender and what pronouns they want to use. Both Ciel and Stephie are really interesting and believable characters.  I can see several students at school enjoying this book. 

Rick by Alex Gino

 This is the second book I've read by Alex Gino after asking on Twitter for books that would support the LGBTQ+ community.  I really enjoy Gino's stories, they are filled with interesting characters and deal with the uncertainty that can plague many students before high school.  One of the things I like about these books is the fact that they are written at an appropriate level for students in grade 6 and up, the situation the kids find themselves in seem very believable and relevant to the lives of students today.  

Like George in the first book, Rick is questioning who he is and who he might be when he gets older. His best friend and father often talk about girls and question Rick about which girls he likes.  The only problem is, Rick doesn't look at girls that way.  He also doesn't look at boys that way.  At this point, Rick does not feel romantically interested in either sex.  

When starting at a new middle school (grade 6-8), there is a Rainbow Spectrum club that  interests him, but he is worried.  Rick is not only worried about what he will find inside the club,  but he is also worried about what his best friend Jeff will say.   Rick has started to realize that although Jeff is a great kid to hang around with when it is just the two of them, when Jeff is with other kids, he can be quite mean.  This book is really an exploration of how Rick deals with growing up and being uncertain about things.  

I am really enjoying these stories, one of the things I loved about this book was that the Rainbow Spectrum Club decides to raise money to purchase books that feature LGBTQ+ characters and issues.  This is something that I am also trying to do. I wish at the end there was a list of more books like this one! 

 

The Unquiet Past by Kelley Armstrong

 I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan as an adult reader, and so when I saw this YA book sitting in one of my teachers classrooms, I had to grab it.  Then, when I realized it was part of Eric Walter's Secret series, (see my blog post on his book Innocent)  I was even more excited to read it. 

In this story, Tess has been living at the Orphanage for as long as she can remember.  She has also been plagued with visions and nightmares her whole life. She has only ever told one person, her best friend about this because she is worried about how people will react.  When the orphanage burns down, Tess is set free since she is close to her 18th birthday.  Before she leaves, she is given a clue to her past.  This clue leads her to a mystery that she needs to solve to learn not only where she comes from, but where she might go next in her life.  Along the way, she meets both kind and frightening people, some of whom try to help, some of whom want to hurt her and stop her from discovering their secrets and her own.  

This was a quick read, but an enjoyable one.  Tess is a great character- strong, determined, and smart.  Even though this story is set in the 1960's, she is independent and willing to take risks to meet her goals.  I really enjoyed her character as well as the others we meet along through her adventure.  I can see many girls enjoying this story.  

 

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

 This book popped up on my twitter feed last week and it was quite intriguing.  So I ordered it and started it yesterday.   I've read a few books by Neal Shusterman and have always found them very interesting and unusual.  They are often quite complex and leave me thinking about the book long after I've finished it, Unwind was like that for me, I still think about one scene in that story.  I think Game Changer will be a book that will live with me too.  

It's a bit hard to describe the plot of Game Changer - the story is about Ash, who is a tackle on his high school football team.  He has some good friends and seems to have a moral compass that helps him accept others.  One Friday night, Ash is hit during the football game and something feels 'off'.  He can't quite figure out what it is, but slowly he realizes that he is an alternative universe, where things are similar, but not quite the same as the one he left.  As Ash tries to revert his life back to what it was, he experiences different situations that cause him to question what he has always believed.  Everything from LGBTQ rights, to racism, to sexism.  Ash is forced to figure out what he really believes and who he wants to be, if he can get the world to right itself again.  

I found that I could not put this book down when I was reading it.  It was fascinating, although there were times when the idea of alternative universes was hard to follow.  The story however was really interesting.  Living with Ash as he tried to navigate new realities and watching him being forced to experience the way others are treated made him question his own life and his own privilege.  I think this book would be great to use in a literature circle since it would be a good to have a conversation with students as they read it.  There are some mature bits to this story, but nothing I wouldn't share with Intermediate students.  

Sara and the Search for Normal by Wesley King

 This book was given to me to read by one of the teachers at my school.  It is the prequel to the book OCDaniel that I borrowed from him a few years ago.  Sara and the Search for Normal is another book dealing with mental health issues that are faced by so many students.  

In this story, all 12 year old Sara wants is to be 'normal', in fact she wants it so much that she has a list of over 100 rules that will help her be normal. Some of the items on her list are things like:  stop having panic attacks,  get back into a regular classroom and stop taking pills.  In her weekly therapy sessions with her doctor, he constantly reminds her that there is no normal, and that she needs to learn to like herself, but Sara has a hard time believing that.  When her doctor recommends group therapy, Sara meets Erin, another girl who has her own issues and who handles her anxiety by pulling out her hair.  Erin becomes Sara's first friend and together they learn that nobody is normal, but lots of people are good at pretending they are.  

I thought this book was amazing!  I could not put it down.  As I was reading it I was thinking about so many kids who need the messages found in this book - learning to accept yourself, flaws and all is so hard for students, and for students who struggle with mental health, it is even harder.  I can see so many students learning from this.  Once again, Wesley King has dealt with a serious issue that impacts so many kids in a way that opens the door for conversation, but most importantly for acceptance.   I will be buying my own copy of this book!

 

Unravel by Sharon Jennings

 I'm not actually sure where I saw this book- but it arrived yesterday and since it is Good Friday and I am planning on reading all weekend long, it was a good first choice.  I'm not sure I've read one of Sharon Jennings books before, but I really enjoyed this book.  

The story starts out with the chapter title "The Day that was the Beginning of the End" and the mystery goes from there.  Rebecca is an eleven year old girl who lives an odd life.  She doesn't go to school, but is homeschooled by her dad.  Her and her dad move often, her dad Joe makes them move whenever strangers get too close and ask too many questions.  At the start of the story, Rebecca is comfortable living in their most recent apartment, she has lots of adults looking after her, teaching her things like cooking, math and other life skills.  Rebecca is well liked and feels loved by the adults in her life.  However she is starting to question things in her life like what happened to her mom, why don't they have any other family, why won't her father allow her to choose her own clothes and reading materials.  As Rebecca starts to question more and more, her father becomes more and more angry with her.  

Then Rebecca meets Phoebe, a mysterious women from their new apartment building.  As Rebecca continues to question her life, Phoebe is there to help her learn the truth about her life.  

This story was a quick read, but mostly because I couldn't put it down.  Rebecca is such a smart, resourceful, strong young women.  I loved all of the references to the books she reads, and I also loved how this story was set in Toronto.  I can see lots of students enjoying this story!

George by Alex Gino

 A few weeks ago I put out a call on Twitter for books that would help support LGBTQ+ students.  I wanted to expand my library so that everyone could find a book that they could see themselves in if that is what they were looking for.  Alex Gino was recommended to me as an author that might work for middle grade students, he is a new author to me, and I'm really glad I found him.  

George is the story of a 10 year old boy who identifies as a girl, however, she hasn't told anyone yet.  When the school decides to put on the play Charlotte's Web, the only part George wants to play is Charlotte, but George isn't sure what the rest of the school or her classmates will accept that.  George's best friend Kelly is a great support, but George is afraid to tell her as well.  

In this story, George has to worry about the reaction of his mother and brother, his classmates- especially the two class bullies and his friend.  I really liked how Alex Gino dealt with the issue of someone who is transgender and the complex emotions and reactions that come from different people.  Even though the main characters are in grade 4, I think this book would be of interest to students in older grades.  I'm looking forward to showcasing this book in some way.  

The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson

 On Thursday, Pernille Ripp announced the next book for her Global Read Aloud for middle school students.  I had just said that my new focus was going to be on reading books by and about Indigenous authors and then this book came up on my feed.  I ordered it right away and it was at my house the next day.   

I could not put this book down!  The Barren Grounds is the story of two Indigenous youth who are living in foster care in Winnipeg.  Morgan is in grade 8 and she has been living in an endless series of foster home, and is not only unhappy herself, but ends up making everyone around her unhappy as well.  Eli is in grade 7 and has just entered the foster care system.  He is trying to adjust to his new reality, while missing his home.  

Morgan and Eli find a secret room in the attic of their home and are surprised to discover that it leads to a portal that takes them into a different reality.   This new land is a place where it is always winter, and when the pair meet up with Ochek, who is the only hunter in his village desperate to find a way to keep his people alive they join him in his fight for survival.  Ochek recognizes that the children are needed to end the endless winter and as he teaches them the traditional ways of living off the land, they set out on a dangerous mission to bring food and warmth back to the community.  

I understand why this book was selected for the Global Read Aloud, I am so amazed that it is a Canadian author and set in Winnipeg.  What a wonderful connection for our students.  I cannot wait to introduce this to teachers and students! 

 

What Kind of Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel

 What Kind of Girl is a book that arrived at my house last week.  I must have preordered it, but it was a nice surprise to see in my mailbox!  

What Kind of Girl is a very interesting story that deals with domestic violence and the impact that has on the victim / romantic partner, friends and family.  There are some mature parts to this story, but the message is a very important one, I think it would be appropriate for  mature grade 8 students and secondary students.  

The story begins when the most popular student and track star - Mike Parker's girlfriend tells the Principal that Mike has hit her and she has the bruise to prove it.    But the rest of the school is confused.  Why would she stay with him if he was hitting her?  Why didn't she go to the police?  Will this have an impact on Mike's scholarship potential?  How could such a great guy do something like this.  As a result of this, the school becomes divided.  Some of the girls want him expelled from school, his friends are defending him and accusing his girlfriend of lying.  And his girlfriend?  She is conflicted as well, why did she stay?  What will she do without him?  How will she move forward from this?  What kind of girl does this make her? 

I really enjoyed reading this story.  Sheinmel has a really interesting way of writing these different characters and I like how complex the story was.  The characters seemed so real and interesting, and they are not perfect.  They are all dealing with flaws and the stress of being a teenager.    

Just as a warning, this story does deal with mental health issues such as: bulimia, self-harm (cutting) drug use.  I think it is a great book, I would just be aware of the audience who is reading it.  

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

 I've read all of Angie Thomas's books, and when Concrete Rose came out, I knew I would need to read it.  Then, when one of my students asked me if I have read it yet, I had to order it!  

Concrete Rose is the prequel to The Hate U Give where we learn about Star's parents, but mostly where we learn about her dad Maverick.  We meet 17 year old Maverick at a time when his life is just about to change forever.  Once you've read The Hate U Give, you know what is going to happen, but while reading it, I was hoping for a different outcome.  

This story is about how Maverick needs to determine the way his life is going to be.  Maverick needs to decide if he is going to continue to be part of the gang that landed his father in jail and his uncle dead, or if he is going to become a man of honour and who makes an honest living.  It isn't easy for Maverick, he is faced with decisions about school, making money and living up to the expectations of his friends who are all part of the gang.  Maverick has a great support system, but the reality of his life means he needs to make some very difficult choices.  

 This story was so compelling, I found myself hoping the story would go a different way because I knew how challenging Maverick's life was going to be. I loved learning about Maverick and Lisa's relationship and about Maverick's relationship with his friends and other family members as well.  

I heard an interview last week with Angie Thomas and the interviewer mentioned that she wanted to give 17 year old Maverick a copy of the Hate U Give so that he knew that his choices would work out.  It makes me think of conversations I have with kids often, the idea that challenges you face seem huge and life altering when you are young, but pushing through and making the right choice can have a long lasting impact on not only you, but others as well.  

I hope Angie Thomas is not done with these characters yet. There is still so much story to tell between the end of Concrete Rose and the beginning of The Hate U Give.  Now the big decision is when people have not read either book, which one do you give them first?  I feel like Concrete Rose is the place to start now that it is out....but I would love to be convinced otherwise.