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.