YALSA Hub Challenge Part 3

So since the last post, I have finished 3 more books from the Challenge. Officially this means it is complete, but I'll probably try to read a few more, if I can.



The Book of Dust vol. 1: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman; read by Michael Sheen (Odyssey Award)

In a prequel to the original Mortal Instruments series, we learn how Lyra came to Jordan College and meet some people who influenced her very, very early life. She is an infant here, so the story primarily concerns two young teens who help her survive a flood and a dangerous man, Malcolm and Alice. The narrator for the book is quite good. I like this every bit as much as The Golden Compass. I didn't think I would be sucked back into the world but I truly was. Can't wait for the next book.



Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery; read by Damaras Obi (Amazing Audiobooks for Teens)

Moving first-hand account of a turbulent time in American history (one we sadly seem to be repeating). The reader was amazing, esp. when she sang the songs at the beginning and end. The appendix that details significant people that the author encountered during the march was well researched and appropriately detailed.



I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez (National Book Award)

Technically this one wasn't included in the Hub Challenge, but it should be.

Julia's perfect older sister dies unexpectedly and now her parent's seem to think she should take her place in their home. But Julia is not her sister and she suspects that her sister wasn't as perfect as she appeared to be.

At times Julia seems a bit whiny but this seems authentic to her age, situation and mental illness. I was surprised several times near the end and moved by the life experiences of many of the characters.

YALSA's Hub Challenge Part 2.5

Well, I finally got back to finishing my update for the challenge. Sorry for the long wait!


Sandwiches!: More Than You've Ever Wanted to Know about Making and Eating America's Favorite Food by Alison Deering; illustrated by Bob Lentz (Quick Picks for Young Adults)

What a fun and useful book! I loved all the history bits about the different challenges and how the book is divided up by "levels" based on what kind of equipment you need to make the sandwiches. The challenge parts were a bit gross, but what teen wouldn't love this book?!



They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (Rainbow List)

This was an interesting one--sad and happy at turns. It really makes you think about how you are living your life and how you would live it if you knew when you would die. The romance kind of reminded me of The Sun is Also a Star. I'll be thinking about this one for a while. I listened to it and really enjoyed the telling.



Roughneck by Jeff Lemire (Alex Award)

I wasn't sure about this one at the beginning but by the end I was pretty moved. I really like Lemire for his ability to write very Canadian protagonists, stories, and settings. This one is all about family and identity and people who often feel displaced by society. Even the limited palate is very well suited.



Jonesy vol. 3 by Sam Humphries; illustrated by Caitlyn Rose Boyle (Great Graphic Novels for Teens)

I had read the first two volumes before the awards were announced, so I can't count them. However, I have loved them all. I love the art style, the characters and most definitely the message that being different is okay. This final volume pull it all together nicely, using lots of anime references and a true punk rock feel.



Bird by Angela Johnson (Edwards Award)

I didn't like this one quite as much as I liked Looking for Red. The atmosphere and the interwoven stories worked but the ending was very abrupt.



#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy (Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults and Amelia Bloomer List)

Touching, impactful and sadly necessary. I wish I could give this book to so many people. I am so glad this was compiled. I would love to see even more books like this one.



The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas; audiobook read by Bahni Turpin (Printz, Odyssey, Morris, Amazing Audiobooks, Best Fiction, Quick Picks, Coretta Scott King)

This was pretty much the YA book of 2018.  So well written and authentic voice. I caught myself singing along and picturing things that were referenced. I could hear these characters and feel their true emotions while reading. Having Bahni Turpin read it again to me just made it even better.



Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash; full cast audiobook (Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults)

Originally I read this one when I was on the Great Graphic Novels for Young Adults committee. I was impressed by it then. Very real to my experience of camp and exploring your sexuality in a somewhat oppressive environment. Maggie’s story is moving and so true. I like how when Maggie feels really isolated a single panel is alone on a page. I'm not usually a fan of graphic novels as audiobooks, but the full cast and sound effects really work well.

Well, that's all for now. I should have one more update for the #hubchallenge for this year. Probably not going to try to read all of them, just 25 or so.

YALSA's Hub Reading Challenge Part 2

Whew! Got 16 of these read since I posted last. So I'll break this into two posts.



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.

YALSA's Hub Reading Challenge

I am participating for the sixth year in YALSA's Hub Reading Challenge. The point of the challenge is to read 25 of the young adult titles that won Youth Media Awards this year by June 30, 2018. Or you can up the challenge and try to read all 84!

Anyone is welcome to join; all you have to do is comment on the above post and follow the discussions on the Hub blog. Since I've already read quite a few of the eligible titles, I will try to review only those I read during the challenge here.



I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, illustrated by John Jennings and Stacey Robinson (Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten)

Alfonso is a regular guy trying out for the school play (Hamlet, of course), working up the courage to tell his best friend he likes her as more than a friend, and polishing his poetry. After his dad is exonerated and due to be released from prison, Alfonso decides to buy a new suit. However, the security guard thinks his hanger is a gun and kills him. Now he's on a train with other ghosts who were killed for the color of their skin.

Affecting and resonant in our current climate, while also showing that this kind of treatment is not new to the African-American community. I like how it mirrors Hamlet and how the author worked in the stories of real Americans, which is spelled out in the back matter.



Trombone Shorty by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, illustrated by Brian Collier, read by Dion Graham (Odyssey Honor book)

Details the early life of the author in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. From very young, Andrews loved jazz music and wanted to play and start his own band. With a beat up trombone and a lot of determination, he achieves his goal.

I read the picture book a few years back when it won a Caldecott honor, but I really love this new audio version. It was great to hear the author's music throughout and the reader was expressive and a real storyteller. Andrews has a new book due out this year.



Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, read by the author (National Book Award nominee, Newbery Honor book, Edgar Award nominee, Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Odyssey Honor and Printz Honor book)

Will grabs his brother's gun and heads downstairs to take out the guy he believes killed his brother. But as the elevator descends, a series of strange people get on, all with a connection to Will. Written in poems, this book pulls you in so you can share Will's strange elevator ride.

This was another reread for me. I was so impressed the first time that I read it in one sitting. Listening to Reynolds reading it and explaining the inspiration at the end gave me chills.



The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (Stonewall Book Award Honor)

Monty starts out on his last great trip across Europe with his best friend, Percy, and his sister, Felicity. After this he has to take over the family business, become a responsible Lord, and behave. But when he takes something worth way more than he realizes, the three find themselves embroiled in a grand adventure spanning across the Continent. And Monty has one last chance to let Percy know how he really feels.

I love, love, love this. Monty's voice feels so authentic, funny and heartbreaking all at once. And the crazy adventure highlights the absurdity of his father's expectations and forces Monty to deal with who he is and what he truly wants out of life. Percy and Felicity are far more than just side characters, too. Can't wait to read about Felicity's adventures in The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy due out in October!



The Backstagers vol. 1 by James Tynion IV, illustrated by Rian Sigh (Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten)

Jory does not like his new school but when he joins the stage crew, he discovers a strange new world where he fits in perfectly. Now if he can just survive the strange monsters and other wild things that exist in the backstage area!

Okay, so I love LumberJanes. And this, this is the boy version! If you like boys who don't fit the traditional mold, read this. If you like alternate dimensions in the back (and underground) of schools, read this! If you like creepy stories of students lost and somewhat forgotten, read this!

I'll bring you more reviews of the YALSA Hub books as I read them. Join me in the challenge, won't you?!