It’s the summer of 1977 and it’s a dark time for New York. The city is on edge due to the Son of Sam serial killer, and a 25-hour blackout brings out looters and arsonists. Recent high school grad Nora López is trying to make plans for the future and leave her troubled home life […]
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There are so many great books out this month, and one book you should keep an eye out for is Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt. This YA Contemporary debut features a star-crossed romance and also concerns the important topic of immigration. In Dream Things True, Alma is an undocumented immigrant and her Georgia town is cracking down on many undocumented individuals in […]
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I listened to Jason Reynolds‘ debut book When I Was the Greatest earlier this year and was eager to dive into his next book The Boy in the Black Suit. In The Boy in the Black Suit we meet Brooklynite Matt Miller on his first day back at high school following his mother’s death. This […]
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In The Carnival at Bray, Maggie moves from Chicago to a small town in Ireland when her mother remarries. It’s 1993 and the height of grunge, and Maggie is obsessed with Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Pearl Jam thanks to her beloved uncle’s influence. Now she’s on her own in a new country and trying to […]
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In The Secret Sky, a forbidden love affair tears one Afghan community apart. This book is Romeo & Juliet-esque and as suspenseful as an episode of Homeland. Debut author Atia Abawi doesn’t pull any punches in this riveting story of family, friendship, faith, love and war. Samiullah and Fatima are in different ethnic groups – […]
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It’s a shame that the first time this book got my attention is during banned book week, when both this title and Eleanor & Park were in the news. Regardless, I’m happy that the book challenge put Yaqui on my radar so I could read this unforgettable book about a bullied girl. Yaqui Delgado Wants […]
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