Saturday, December 2, 2017

December #diversekidlit

Welcome to #DiverseKidLit ! Please join us in sharing your diverse children's book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations.

What Is #DiverseKidLit?


Diverse Children's Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children's books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.

We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.

DiverseKidLit

We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors! Our next linkup will be Saturday, January 6th and the first Saturday of each month.

Most Clicked Post from Last Time



The most-clicked post from the previous #diversekidlit was on Diverse Female Superheroes and in Children's Books ... and Why We Need Them by author Sonia Panigrahy. She shares about her own diverse female superhero as well as some important thoughts about the need to share and promote books like this for all children. Thank so much to Bethany at Biracial Bookworms for sharing this great interview!

#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:


Katie @ The Logonauts
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

Becky @ Franticmommmy
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Bethany @ Biracial Bookworms
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads

Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

Gauri @ Kitaab World
an online bookstore for South Asian children's books, toys and games
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / PinterestInstagram

Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Myra @ Gathering Books
Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
Blog / Twitter / Facebook


Want to be notified when the next #diversekidlit linkup goes live?

Receive an email reminder for each new #diversekidlit linkup





Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact katie at thelogonauts.com.

(Never participated in a linkup before? Please click here for a more detailed step-by-step.)

Get #DiverseKidLit Recommendations on Pinterest!


Our Pinterest board highlights a wide range of amazing posts and resources for Diverse Children's Books. Please consider following the board for even more great books!


Share Your Link Below




Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Middle School Favorites: magical realism

My middle school students are using Kidblog to share posts and book recommendations with each other, and I would like to share some of their favorites more widely. (Please note that my seventh graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for seventh graders.) Click on the middle school tag for more. (You can also check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.)


Middle School Favorites: magical realism


Magical realism can be a difficult genre to explain, but I am grouping these two books together because both take place mainly in our modern world but with just a little bit of something special thrown in ...

Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

Recommended by Gabby


** Early spoilers **

Maybe A Fox, by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee, is a wonderful read, that pulls at your heartstrings. I would say that the genre is fantasy mixed in with magical realism, with strong themes of family evident throughout the book. After Jules' sister, Sylvie doesn't return from the woods one day, everything turns around. Jules is living in an 'after Sylvie' world, staying in her house, not going to school or doing homework, hardly doing anything she loves at all. Jules becomes determined to find out the end of Sylvie's wish, the reason why she died. All Jules knows is what Sylvie would tell her, To run faster so that... One day when Jules plucks up the courage to go out into the woods, by the dark underwater cavern they call the slip, the very same slip that stole her sister, she finds an answer to her question. Sylvie wants to run faster so that...

If you like stories about family, that make you cry, this whimsical, mystical tale is right for you! I would rate this 5/5 stars!

[This is also a book club discussion book choice in our classroom.]

Holes by Louis Sachar

Recommended by Andrew


Holes, by Louis Sachar, Mostly Realistic Fantasy. Stanley Yelnat has a family curse, and now he is sent to Camp Green Lake, where bad kids each dig a hole five feet wide and five feet deep once a day. Stanley tries to find why they dig up holes in this evil camp in the middle of nowhere.

If you like other books by this author, or like books with a Newberry Medal, this book is for you. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Want more book reviews? Click on the middle school tag for more middle schooler recommendations or check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.

Monday, November 13, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/13/17


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



Recent Posts


Middle Grade



Forest World (2017) by Margarita Engle. This middle grade novel-in-verse is set in modern Cuba and told in the alternating perspectives of two siblings separated as toddlers: Edver taken to the US with his mom and Luza stated in Cuba with their dad. At its heart, this is a story of family and endangered species but seemed to skate over some issues (like not telling Edver he had a sister).

Young Adult



Long Way Down (2017) by Jason Reynolds. Jason Reynolds came to speak in Madison last week, so I knew I wanted to catch up on his latest book before hearing him. He is an incredible speaker - I highly recommend seeking him out! (I am looking forward to hearing him again this week at NCTE.)

This is a novel-in-verse narrated by a 15-year-old boy, William, whose brother Shawn was just shot and killed in the opening of the book. I don't want to give too much about the way about the rest of the book or its structure, so just believe me when I say read it. Immediately. It will be well worth your time (and as a verse novel, it's quick). Powerful.

Happy Reading! Anyone else going to NCTE? Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Middle School Favorites: dystopias

My middle school students are using Kidblog to share posts and book recommendations with each other, and I would like to share some of their favorites more widely. (Please note that my seventh graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for seventh graders.) Click on the middle school tag for more. (You can also check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.)




Middle School Favorites: dystopia


The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Recommended by Brynn


The Hunger Games books are dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins, author of The Underland Chronicles. You should read this series if you like adventure, dystopia, and a bit of sadness in books. Readers of the Divergent and Cinder series will also enjoy. In the first book, Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself to be a tribute in the Hunger Games, a sport held in the capital of Panem every year, where two children from each of the twelve districts are pitted against each other to the death, in order to save her younger sister from being sacrificed. When the other tribute from her district declares his undying love for her, she must create a story that will enthrall the viewers of the Hunger Games in order to win the favor of the Gamekeepers, the ones who can arrange for tributes to die, and the games.

I rated this book 4.5/5 stars. It was amazing, but the series has yet to win the spot of my favorite book. This might have to do with the fact of my sister telling me that xxxxxxxx dies, which is completely ruining the second book for me.


Legend by Marie Lu

Recommended by Luka


My book that i am recommending is called Legend by Marie Lu and I think it is a fantasy / dystopia / adventure genre.

Day, criminal mastermind is trying to get medicine for his brother Eden who has come down with the plague, as he is escaping from his heist, Mattias a high ranking republic soldier stops him. Day throws a knife at Mattias making him fall to the ground. Day than proceeds to escape into the sewers. June Iparis, Mattias's younger sister is now on the case to find the republics most wanted criminal, Day.

If you liked The Maze Runner by James Dasher you will love this book!
*****- five stars

Want more book reviews? Click on the middle school tag for more middle schooler recommendations or check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

November #diversekidlit

Welcome to #DiverseKidLit ! Please join us in sharing your diverse children's book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations.

What Is #DiverseKidLit?


Diverse Children's Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children's books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.

We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.

DiverseKidLit

We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors! Our next linkup will be Saturday, December 2nd and the first Saturday of each month.

Most Clicked Post from Last Time



The most-clicked post from the previous #diversekidlit was Svenja's incredible resource: 37 children's books to help talk about racism and discrimination. This list is helpfully divided into books for elementary, middle, and high school ages and includes a brief description of each along with the cover image. Definitely one to bookmark and come back to again and again!

#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:


Katie @ The Logonauts
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

Becky @ Franticmommmy
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Bethany @ Biracial Bookworms
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads

Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

Gauri @ Kitaab World
an online bookstore for South Asian children's books, toys and games
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / PinterestInstagram

Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Myra @ Gathering Books
Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
Blog / Twitter / Facebook


Want to be notified when the next #diversekidlit linkup goes live?

Receive an email reminder for each new #diversekidlit linkup





Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact katie at thelogonauts.com.

(Never participated in a linkup before? Please click here for a more detailed step-by-step.)

Get #DiverseKidLit Recommendations on Pinterest!


Our Pinterest board highlights a wide range of amazing posts and resources for Diverse Children's Books. Please consider following the board for even more great books!


Share Your Link Below




Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Middle School favorites: fantasy

As one of our early "getting to know you" style activities, I asked my seventh graders to share about a favorite book that other classmates might like. (Please note that my students read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for seventh graders.) Click on the middle school tag for more. (You can also check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.)

Middle School Favorites: fantasy


The Percy Jackson series (first series) by Rick Riordan

Recommended by Brynn


The Percy Jackson series is about a young boy who has troubles in school because of his ADHD and dyslexia. When he finds out that he is a half-blood, he must escape his school to go to Camp Half-Blood, where over the course of years he must endure multiple quests.

Recommendation: if you love Harry Potter, you will love these books! Rating: five stars. Recommended for grades 4-8 (broad audience).

The City of Ember by Jeanne du Prau

Recommended by Liv


The City of Ember. After the world ended, an underground sanctuary was crated to house the remaining survivors. Directions on how to exit the city were to be passed down by the leaders until the time came to return above ground. 241 years later, as the city is dying and supplies are running out, the instructions are destroyed in an act of selfishness.

Can one girl save the last of humanity on her own and lead them out of darkness?

This book was very good and arguably my favorite of the series. The characters and plot are well-written and made for an exciting and interesting book. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. [This is the first in a series.]


Heartless by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles 

Recommended by Akasha


Heartless. All Lady Catherine Pinkerton wants is to start her own bakery with her friend, Mary Ann. But all her parents want is for her to marry the foolish King of Hearts. Although Catherine is not happy with this path set out for her, she expects it. It's normal. But everything changes when, on the King's birthday, a new court joker named Jest arrives, bringing with him an adventure that will change Catherine Pinkerton's life forever.

Rating: five out of five stars.

Incarceron by Catherine Fischer

Recommended by Carson


Incarceron. The great prison. Outsiders believe it to be paradise. But it is a different story for those inside. The prison is alive, and it is vengeful. Incarceron kills without warning, recycling bodies to create new prisoners to destroy.

Then a prisoner finds a key. The key allows contact with an outsider holding the other copy. They attempt to escape. But the prison values its captives ...

I give this 5 stars. [This is the first in a series.]

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Recommended by Hannah


From talking cats to evil beasts to magic books, Storybound has it all. When Una Fairchild is brought to the world of story, she is forced into adventure and peril, all to find out more about the mysterious Muses, who wreaked havoc on the land of story in the past.

I give this 3.5 out of 5 stars. [This is the first in a series.]

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Reviewed by Oliver


The book I am recommending is called The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann. It is about kids who live in a society named Quill. No one is allowed to be creative, and if you are, you get an infraction. Those with three or more infractions are sent to their deaths at age thirteen in the Great Lake of Boiling Oil on the day of the Purge, the one holiday. The story follows a thirteen-year old boy named Alex who is condemned to death, but things don't always happen the way they should … [This is the first in a series.]


Want more book reviews? Click on the middle school tag for more middle schooler recommendations or check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.

Monday, October 16, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/16/17


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



Recent Posts


Middle Grade



The Way to Bea (2017) by Kat Yeh. Seventh grader Bea is frustrated. She's been dumped by her best friend and getting increasingly stressed about school. This is a cute and engaging story about being yourself and accepting yourself and others.

Young Adult



The Epic Crush of Genie Lo (2017) by F. C. Yee. High school sophomore Genie is confused by new student Quentin's sudden interest in her and doesn't understand his explanation that he is Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, or that she is ... [spoiler removed]. Soon they are off on a wild adventure to save California from the demons of Chinese literature. YA due to some kissing and scattered language.

Happy Reading!

Monday, October 9, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 10/09/17


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



Recent Posts


Middle Grade



All's Faire in Middle School (2017) by Victoria Jamieson. This great new graphic novel offering from the author of the Newbery-Honor winning Roller Girl, features endearing Imogene who has decided to leaves her homeschool / Renn Faire life for ... middle school! Focuses on issues of friendship, mean girls, and more (and has already vanished off the shelves of my classroom library).

Young Adult



Noggin (2014) by John Corey Whaley [National Book Award finalist]. In this not-to-distant science fiction future, Travis has just woken up to find out that his cryogenic experiment worked: his head has been successfully reattached to another body and only five years have passed since he nearly died of cancer. So ... now what? This is an interesting story about growing up (and dealing with others who have grown up more than you have), but I felt like the second half dragged out after the intriguing beginning.

Happy Reading!

Saturday, October 7, 2017

October #diversekidlit

Our theme for this #DiverseKidLit is #ownvoices. The #ownvoices hashtag was created to draw attention to diverse authors and illustrators who are creating books that honor their own heritage and experiences. (As always, the theme is only a suggestion. Diverse posts on alternate topics are always welcome.)

What Is #DiverseKidLit?


Diverse Children's Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children's books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.

We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.

DiverseKidLit

We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors! Our next linkup will be Saturday, November 4th and the first Saturday of each month.

Upcoming Theme


Themes are a suggestion only; all diverse book posts are welcome. Do you have a suggestion for a future theme? Share your ideas with us at katie at thelogonauts dot com.

    Most Clicked Post from Last Time



    The most-clicked post from the previous #diversekidlit was Myra's linkup post about Remembering Auschwitz through a picture book and a graphic novel. This post shares two powerful resources about the Holocaust in general, and Auschwitz specifically, as well as links to other sources. Thank you for sharing, Myra.

    Welcome, Bethany!



    #diversekidlit is excited to welcome new host, Bethany, of Biracial Bookworms. Bethany is an educator, blogger, world traveler, wife, and mom to two wonderful girls who inspired her web site. You can read more about her and her family here. We are thrilled to have Bethany joining our community as a host and advocate! Please follow here online: Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads.

    #DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:


    Katie @ The Logonauts
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

    Becky @ Franticmommmy
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

    Bethany @ Biracial Bookworms
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads

    Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

    Gauri @ Kitaab World
    an online bookstore for South Asian children's books, toys and games
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / PinterestInstagram

    Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+

    Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

    Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

    Myra @ Gathering Books
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook

    Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
    Blog / Twitter / Facebook


    Want to be notified when the next #diversekidlit linkup goes live?

    Receive an email reminder for each new #diversekidlit linkup





    Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact katie at thelogonauts.com.

    (Never participated in a linkup before? Please click here for a more detailed step-by-step.)

    Get #DiverseKidLit Recommendations on Pinterest!


    Our Pinterest board highlights a wide range of amazing posts and resources for Diverse Children's Books. Please consider following the board for even more great books!


    Share Your Link Below




    Wednesday, October 4, 2017

    Middle School Favorites: graphic novels

    As one of our early "getting to know you" style activities, I asked my seventh graders to share about a favorite book that other classmates might like. (Please note that my students read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for seventh graders.) Click on the middle school tag for more. (You can also check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.)

    Middle School Favorites: graphic novels


    The graphic novel format is always a big hit among middle schoolers, but what I love are the diversity of titles, topics, and content available in the graphic novel format. These are just a few that my students recommend.

    Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

    Recommended by Andrew


    Roller Girl is about someone who decides to do roller derby (and is pretty bad at it), and her friend goes to a different camp, which causes drama between them.

    I recommend this book for people who like graphic novels, such as Smile, Drama, and Sisters. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

    The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks

    Recommended by Jordan


    The Nameless City is a graphic novel that follows the life of a kid that moves to "The Great City" to become a Dao solider. He meets a homeless girl that teaches him how to survive in the real world.

    This book is recommended by 5 out of 5 people that recommend things (and by Zan, but he hasn't read it). I would give this book a solid 76 stars. [There is also a sequel: The Stone Heart.]

    Sunny Side Up

    Recommended by Zan


    Sunny Side Up: this comic book is set in 1976 and the protagonist is a young girl named Sunny Lewin. She goes on vacation to Florida to see her grandpa and expects to have a fun time, but then she realizes that there are no kids there. She is also devastated because she finds out that her brother does drugs. Her vacation is going terribly so far but then she befriends a nice boy, and they read comics and eat candy together.

    Will Sunny somehow find a way to turn her terrible summer around? I would recommend this book to people who like friendship and a little bit of adventure. Five stars. [There is also a sequel: Swing It, Sunny.]

    Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang

    Recommended by Will


    Boxers and Saints is a two-book graphic novel series that includes beliefs, religions, action, fighting, lots of violence (some content may be too gory for younger children), friendship, betrayal, magic, and a great story line that concludes with a crazy ending.

    I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be amazed. The story is set in 1890-1900s China and includes both a girl and a boy's look at what is going on. Oh, it also has enchanting sparkles of love and romance. Oooh, aaah. I'd give it a 24.5 out of 10 stars.

    Want more book reviews? Click on the middle school tag for more middle schooler recommendations or check out #3rdfor3rd for book recommendations from my third graders.

    Monday, September 4, 2017

    It's Monday! What Have You Been Reading? #IMWAYR 09/04/17


    It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.



    Recent Posts


    The "Catching Up from Summer" Edition


    I read a ton this summer, which led to me getting very, very far behind in my blogging about my reading. To that end, I am giving myself permission to simplify the sharing process and just dump my quick notes, rather than longer, coherent reviews. So, here we go!

    Middle Grade


    Posted. (2017) by John David Anderson, p. 380. With cell phones banned, middle schoolers turn to sticky notes with wiggly escalating messages of meanness. About friendship, fitting in, and being true to yourself.

    Forever, or a Long, Long Time (2017) by Caela Carter, p. 310. Adopted siblings Flora and Julian do not think that they were born, they somehow just appeared. To try and help them (and to find the missing details of their past) they take a mini road trip with their mom. A moving story about trauma, but I have questions about the author's authority. She wrote the story while starting her foster parent journey. I would be very curious to hear the opinions of foster and adoptive parents on this one. (Also, the kids and their step-dad are "incidentally" black or Latino. It's mentioned in their physical descriptions but does not come into the story.)

    Our Story Begins: Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids (2017) edited by Elissa Brent Weissman, p. 200. Stories and illustrations from when authors were kids. Really fun as mentor texts and inspiration for your budding authors and artists.

    Nevermoor: the trails of Morrigan Crow. (2017 ARC) by Jessica Townsend, p. 420. Fantasy series about a cursed girl who finds another world attached to her own when she receives an invitation to join the Wundrous Society. Inventive but long and fairly predictable.

    Tumble and Blue. (2017 ARC) by Cassie Beasley, p. 400. Two families have been alternately blessed and cursed from a 200-year old meeting with a golden alligator. Blue is cursed to lose and Tumble is a damsel-in-distress. Can you guess what happens? Yes, you can. This one seemed really long to be this predictable.

    Orphan Island. (2017) by Laurel Snyder, p. 290. Magical realism novel about nine kids on an island - each year another arrives and the oldest leaves. Some hints about the outside world - books, but otherwise isolated.

    Thornhill. (Arc 2017) by Pam Smy, p. 550. Story told in alternating voices - a girl's journal from 1982 and illustrations of a girl in 2017. Like a less-well done Brian Selznick book. Supposedly creepy but really isn't. Predictable.


    Young Adult


    Saints and Misfits. (2017) by S.K. Ali, p. 330. YA about a Muslim teenager, Janna, who is nearly assaulted/raped by a respected boy from her mosque (and her friend's cousin). This is a story about friendship and learning to stand up to others.

    If I Was Your Girl. (2016) by Meredith Russo, p. 280. Amanda is a MTF trans person who moves in with her divorced father after her transition caused problems in her hometown. She finds a group of friends and a boyfriend but worries how/when/what to tell them. Incredible writing and story. The author is herself a trans woman.

    Poe: Stories and Poems (2017 ARC) illustrated by Gareth Hinds, p. 120. Graphic novel of several short stories and poems. Something about seeing Poe makes these even more creepy (if such a thing were possible).

    Revolution. (2014) by Deborah Wiles, p. 530. [Listened to first half as audio book.] Story of Freedom Summer of 1964, told mainly in 12-year old Sunny's (white) point-of-view but with some chapters of 15-year old Raymond (black) and a few about her step-brother, Gillette. Also interspersed with a bunch of nonfiction material: quotes, photographs, and news entries. The format didn't really work for me, the story was slow, slow, slow (6 hours of listening for half the book), and Raymond, in particular, was a type, not a character.

    Solo (2017 ARC) by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, p. 320. Novel in verse from the perspective of 17-year old Blade, oldest son of a drug-addicted, fading rock star. A story about love, loss, family, and belonging. (Spoiler: it gets sprung on him rather roughly that he's actually adopted, leading him to jump on a plane to Ghana to find his birth mother.) Also I'm not sure there was ever physical description to confirm his race. YA but minimal YA content (Dad's drug addiction, girlfriend who is waiting for marriage). I've heard the playlists that accompany the book are fantastic.

    When Dimple Met Rishi. (2017) by Sandhya Menon, p. 380. Cute romantic story in two perspectives as Indian-American Rishi heads to coding camp to meet his future-wife, Dimple, whose parents neglected to mention him to her. Cue awkwardness! I thoroughly enjoyed this nerd-out of a story.

    Happy Reading!