Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson (Best Fiction for Young Adults, Amelia Bloomer list, and Coretta Scott King Author Award as well as Newbery Honor)
Impressive and realistic story about a regular girl in a school where she doesn't quite fit. Also, tackles issues of race, privilege, police brutality and how anyone can make a difference in today's world. I like how Maxine is not perfect, how Jade's mom has a complex personality and reaction to the Woman to Woman program, how EJ both has it together and totally doesn't. Jade is conflicted and sure of herself, confident and shy, hopeful and hopeless; like all teens she is actively trying to discover who she is and how she fits in her world. Definitely deserves it's Newbery Honor.
My Brother's Husband volume 1 by Gengoroh Tagame (Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten)
I love this! The art is gorgeous; the story is so relatable and realistic and my experience of it was so visceral. I adore Kana and think Mike and Yaichi are people I would love to meet. The scene where the neighborhood boy finally tells them why he is hanging out around their house was very well done and made me cry. One of the best graphic novels of 2017 for sure!
The ABC's of LGBT+ by Ashely Mardell (Rainbow List)
A good guide to the complex worlds of sex, gender, sexuality, romantic attraction and everything in between. I really like the diagrams and other visuals and the personal experiences of contributors.
Brave by Svetlana Chmakova (Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten)
Chmakova returns to Berrybrook Middle School for the story of Jenson, a lonely dreamer with bullying issues. Jenson dreams of being an astronaut, but has trouble with math. He longs to make friends but doesn't recognize that some of those he consider friends are really mistreating him. Slowly he discovers how to be brave and still be himself while making friends.
Looking for Red by Angela Johnson (Edwards Award)
I spent the first part of this book wondering if Red just ran away or was dead. Once the ghost parts kick in, things cleared up a bit. The atmosphere grabs you and so clearly inhabits the pain of unexpected loss that it takes your breath. An almost perfect story of how a teen deals with the death of a sibling.
The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell; narrated by David Tennant (Odyssey Award)
"You have to listen to the stories, for stories always mean something."
With shades of the Tempest and a touch of Harry Potter, Cowell has created another world full of magic, sarcasm, and adventure. The fairy tale tone is spot on and the plot pulls you along for a wild ride. I can't wait for the next one!
And David Tennant does all the voices so well. It is a pleasure to listen to this story.
Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time by Tanya Lee Stone (Amelia Bloomer List)
Inspiring and illuminating stories of girls who have been saved from slavery around the world and are beginning to heal and become awesome women.
Flying Lessons and Other Stories by Various authors; edited by Ellen Oh and narrated by Various Readers (Amazing Audiobooks for Teens)
An inspiring collection of diverse short stories read by a fabulous variety of voice actors. I especially liked Sol Painting and Flying Lessons.
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