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.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

There are some authors who you pick up and are immediately swept away into the story.  Since I've been away from reading YA books for a few years, it is so great to be able to order books by some of these authors.  Sarah Dessen is one of those authors for me.  I love her books! 

Saint Anything is the story of Sydney whose whole world turned upside down when her brother her someone in an accident.  Now, her parents lives revolve around him and his needs.  But Sydney feels guilt, anger, and lonely now.  When Sydney starts at a new school for a fresh start, she meets a whole new group of friends.  She is a great kid, but her parents are very worried she will follow the path her brother took and so they keep her on a very short leash.  Sydney needs to learn how to live with the results of her brothers actions, and figure out how she can move forward. 

This story, like so many of Sarah Dessen's books are so great for students.  This one has a few mature bits in it, references to drinking, but nothing that is too extreme.  I would not hesitate to have this book on my grade 7 shelf for kids to read. 

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

I stumbled on this book on twitter and knew I had to buy it.   If you teach Junior grades- stop reading this blog and just go and order it- it is a book that packs a big punch. 

Ban This Book is the story of fourth grader Amy Anne whose favourite book is From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, she has read it several times and is always annoyed when she has to return it to the library for five days before she can check it out again.  When Amy Anne goes to check it out one day, the librarian tells her that the book has been removed because one of the parents thinks it has wrong morals that aren't appropriate for kids to read.  This is shocking to Amy Anne because she doesn't see anything wrong with the book.  So Amy Anne and her friends decide to track down all of the banned books and start their own library filled with banned books, but run out of their locker. 
The interesting thing about Amy Anne is that she is someone who rarely says what she thinks or feels, she thinks nobody is interested in listening to what she has to say, so it is challenging for her to stand up for what she believes is right. 

I LOVED this book!  It would make a great read aloud.  I loved Amy Anne (anyone who loves to read Little House on the Prairie is ok with me!)- she is a great character.  I love how she recognizes that books can help heal and connect people.  She is just so interesting.  My only concern with this is the fact that she is in grade 4- but the issues she is dealing with is perfect for Junior / Intermediate students.  If I was reading this to students in grade 6 or up, I would just change the one or two spots where they mention what grade she is in. Other than that there is no indication that she is just in grade 4.  This would be a great book to kick off Banned Books week - Sept 23-29. 

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Tell Me Three Things is another one of those books that I picked up from Chapters a few weeks ago. 
It is a lovely romantic story about fifteen year old Jessie.  We first meet Jessie during her second week of starting a new high school.  Her mother passed away almost two years ago, her father has remarried and relocated the two of them  from Chicago to L.A.  Jessie doesn't feel comfortable anywhere- not at home (which she refers to as Rachel's house- her stepmother), and certainly not at school.  This private school is home to many stereotypical teenagers, the girl drama is high and Jessie is trying to learn the background of kids who have been together since Kindergarten.  Jessie is determined to survive long enough to get through high school and move back home. 

However, Jessie is sent an email by "Somebody/ Nobody" welcoming her to the school and giving her advice on how to fit in.  As the relationship between Jessie and her anonymous friend starts to grow, and Jessie starts meeting other friends, she is still working to navigate the dangerous world that is high school while learning how to live in this new world she finds herself in.

I really enjoyed this story.  I liked the mystery of who is "Somebody/ Nobody" and watching Jessie learn to stand on her own after her world is torn apart by her mother's death.  There are some mature bits in this book, I would be hesitate to give it to a grade 7 student, but certainly at the high school level it would be fine. 

I also am planning on ordering her next book "What to Say Next" because I really liked the easy read of Julie Buxbaum's style.