Dealing with Dragons

Dealing with Dragons
by Patricia C. Wrede
Point, 1992. 212 p. Young Adult

Princess Cimorene no longer wants to be a princess. Princesses are not allowed to do interesting things they cannot learn to fence, cook, or Latin. When her parents try to marry her off to a prince who has no intelligence to speak of that is the last straw and Princess Cimorene runs away to live with a dragon. Where she chases off knights and catalogs magical objects, and helps deal with pesky wizards.

This is one of my favorite stories. It is a short series with only 4 books and it is absolutely delightful. I love Cimorene I love Kazul who is a wonderful character. It is just a fun light read and I love the message that you don’t necessarily have to be what everyone expects you to be.

 MH

Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass

Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass
By Lilah Sturges
Boom! Box, 2018. 141 Pages. Young Adult.

This story follows the girls of the Roanoke cabin at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. When the girls start to go missing during an orienteering activity, Molly knows something is wrong. Maybe her creepy glowing compass has something to do with it? Molly's insecurities grow with each disappearance until she's left all alone.

This book is a great starter for those wanting to dip their toes in the graphic novel genre. The writing and art styles pair well together to present an entertaining and concise read. . The gradual presentation of Molly's fears was beautifully executed and didn't dominate the story. I was impressed with how easily I connected with each of the diverse characters in such a short narrative. I would recommend this book to new and veteran graphic novel readers.

HS

Autoboyography

Autoboyography
By Christina Lauren
Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2017. 407 pages. Young Adult

Tanner was open about his bisexuality while living in California, but hides it after his family moves to Utah. When he starts to fall for Sebastian, the mentor in his high school writing seminar, Tanner watches from a distance, knowing Sebastian is a bishop’s son. However, when Tanner starts getting signals that perhaps this faithful, church-going guy is interested in him, both of their worlds will take a drastic turn.

I didn’t realize when I picked this book up that it took place in Provo, and then I became hyper critical, seeing if the author got the setting just right. It was surprisingly accurate, and the Provo City Library even makes a cameo!

Aside from the “love at first sight” trope, I felt the characters of Tanner and Sebastian were really well done. It had a bit of a Romeo and Juliet feel between the socially liberal and socially conservative, which was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Really, this book was an emotional roller-coaster (which I loved!), and it strongly resonates with many LGBTQ+ youth in socially conservative communities.

For more great books about LGBTQ+ youth, check out our booklist.

ACS

Dear Martin

Dear Martin
By Nic Stone
Crown, 2017. 210 pages. Young Adult

Justyce is a college bound, African American teen attending a predominantly white high school. When he’s accepted into a college that denied another classmate, a discussion starts about Affirmative Action, assumptions, prejudice, and racism. Then a run in with a retired, white police officer turns violent and Justyce must come to terms with what it means to be black. His journal-like letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. show his desire to be a good example of peacefully standing up for what right, while pressures from all sides weighs him down.

I’ve read several books recently that address a variety of social issues, and I love how this one addressed the issue of racism head on. Justyce is a well-developed character, and when he comes face to face with unacknowledged racism, his reactions and responses felt real and genuine. I would definitely recommend this to fans of THE HATE U GIVE.

ACS

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc
by David Elliott
HMH Books for Young Readers, 2019. 208 pgs. Young Adult

Joan of Arc was called by angels to support Charles VII in recovering France from English rule. This book of poems tells her story through people she knew as well as inanimate objects that she interacted with. It details her beginning and ultimately her end.

I know hardly anything about Joan of Arc, so this was a really interesting introduction to her story. The author uses a mix of modern poetry and poetry formats that were popular at the time of Joan of Arc. I felt like I was learning about both history and poetry at the same time! Overall, I thought the poems were well-written and it was especially interesting to get the perspectives of inanimate objects like Joan’s dress or sword. I would recommend this for people who like short collections of poetry (especially older forms) or anyone who wants a good, brief introduction to Joan of Arc.

AU

The Vanishing Stair

The Vanishing Stair
by Maureen Johnson
Katherine Tegen Books, 2019. 373 pgs. Young Adult

Following the death of a classmate, Stevie Bell is pulled from Ellingham Academy, but she will do just about anything to return. When the opportunity arises, she returns and immediately starts investigating the Ellingham kidnappings and murders. But strange things start happening, and just when Stevie thinks she has everything figured out, disaster comes to Ellingham Academy again, not once, but twice.

An intricate story is woven where all the little things are needed to create the final reveal. Some of the mysteries from book one are solved, but more arise with not one, but three new deaths. The emotions, relationships, and reactions feel authentic and interesting. The clues are there for anyone to solve, which makes the story more exciting. It will be a hard wait until the release of book 3.
TT

Tortilla Flat

Tortilla Flat
by John Steinbeck
New York, N.Y. : Penguin Books, 1986, c1935. 207 p. Fiction.

Adopting the structure and themes of the Arthurian legend, John Steinbeck created a “Camelot” on a shabby hillside above the town of Monterey, California, and peopled it with a colorful band of knights. At the center of the tale is Danny, whose house, like Arthur’s castle, becomes a gathering place for men looking for adventure, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging—men who fiercely resist the corrupting tide of honest toil and civil rectitude.
 
As Nobel Prize winner Steinbeck chronicles their deeds—their multiple lovers, their wonderful brawls, their Rabelaisian wine-drinking—he spins a tale as compelling and ultimately as touched by sorrow as the famous legends of the Round Table, which inspired him.

I'm a huge fan of John Steinbeck and his signature writing style, but this book didn't pull me in like his other works did. Once again, he paints us a beautiful picture of the scenery (Monterey, California) and introduces the challenges of the time (Prohibition, Great Depression Era) in a subtle way. I find issue with the characters. I had a difficult time establishing a connection with them. Perhaps it is because this book isn't full of many serious, life-altering scenes. The book itself feels more casual than, say, The Grapes of Wrath. Even still, I would recommend this book (along with any John Steinbeck) book to anyone looking to be immersed in a new place and a different time. 

NS

Truly Devious

Truly Devious 
by Maureen Johnson
Katherine Tegen Books, 2018. 420 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Ellingham Academy was opened by a rich family as a school for gifted youth in the 1930s. The place was soon riddled by a high profile disappearance and series of crimes that have been unsolved to this day. The only real clues left behind were haunting riddles and letters signed “Truly, Devious”. Today, Stevie Bell is fascinated by this mystery and as an Ellingham student, she is determined to solve the decades old crime as her final project for her graduation. When her classmates start going missing, and new crimes take place as she delves into her investigation, she wonders if “Truly, Devious” may well be tied to the current day mystery, too.

This book is two mysteries woven artfully into one; both the 1930s disappearance and a string of new crimes as Stevie inches closer to the truth twist and weave their way together in unexpected ways. The story is fast-paced and leaves the reader guessing right up to the very last pages (and beyond!). I loved that it’s the kind of mystery that gives enough clues that readers can attempt to solve the caper right along with the sleuth. Be warned that you’ll want to have book two, The Vanishing Stair, on-hand to begin right as you finish this first book in enthralling series!

RC

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler
By John Hendrix
Amulet Books, 2018, 175 pages, Young Adult Biography

Tells the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor known for speaking out against the suffering caused by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. Convinced that it was better to stand up for what he believed than to do nothing, Bonhoeffer became a spy who was involved in at least three different attempts to kill Hitler.

This book is a sort of melding of the traditional biography format with that of a graphic novel. While it’s the words on the page that drive the story, each page also features a large picture that interacts with the text.  A great example of this can be seen in the cover art. I found this to be a very effective method for telling this story.  It enhanced the key points of Bonhoeffer’s beliefs, and highlighted the atrocities of the Nazis. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading inspiring stories of real-life people who stand up for what they believe in, even when it is hard to do so.

MB

The Poisonwood Bible

The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver

New York : Harper Flamingo, 1998. 546 p. Fiction.

The family of a fierce evangelical Baptist missionary--Nathan Price, his wife, and his four daughters--begins to unravel after they embark on a 1959 mission to the Belgian Congo, where they find their lives forever transformed over the course of three decades by the political and social upheaval of Africa.

In the past, I received so many positive recommendations about Barbara Kingsolver and this book in particular, and I'm so glad I finally decided to pick it up this and read it. The storyline offers the reader a glimpse into colonialism and postcolonialism and is made even more unique as it is told from the perspectives of the four Price daughters and Nathan Price's wife, Orleanna. The daughters' perspectives bring a nice touch of innocence and humor to mature themes (colonialism, religious conflict, racism, sexism). This book has a bit of a slow pace, but I welcomed that fact because it gave me a chance to think about what I was reading. I would recommend this book to those interested in historical fiction and those looking to settle in for a long read (it is 600+ pages long).

NS 

Bloom

Bloom

by Kevin Panetta

First Second, 2019. 368 pgs. Young Adult Comics

Now that Ari has finished high school, he is ready to move to the big city with his hip band. But first, he needs to convince his dad to let him quit his job at the family’s struggling bakery. He used to love working there as a kid, but now he will do about anything to escape. While interviewing his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari hates it. As they spend the summer together in the bakery, love starts to bloom, as long as Ari doesn’t ruin everything.

I enjoyed the story and depth of the characters. The story flowed well, and the monochromatic colors fit the tone of the story. Ari and Hector felt fresh and relatable, and their relationship developed in authentic ways. This was a sweet story about love and how the people who love us will be there as we grow and learn and make terrible mistakes.

TT

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness
By Ingrid Fetell Lee
Little, Brown Spark, 2018. 359 pages. Nonfiction

Designer and TED star Ingrid Fetell Lee explains why balloons make us smile, why orange creamsicles and sunsets make us happy, and why baby animals make us coo. Using groundbreaking research, Lee shows how even small changes in our lives, like a round pillow or a splash of blue paint can change our physiology. Lee argues that the physical world has a huge impact on our happiness and that we can bring elements of it into our homes to change how we feel for the better.

This book was fascinating. The research ranges from psychology to neuroscience to internal medicine. I knew that nature could affect my mood, but I didn’t realize that bringing elements like shapes, textures, and colors in from outside could change my happiness level and even my blood pressure. Lee's hope is that people can use these techniques to find more joyfulness in their lives. I can't wait to get started.

AG

What If It’s Us?

What If It’s Us?
by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
HarperTeen 2018, 437 Pages. Young Adult Fiction.

Arthur is an intern at a NYC law firm where his mother is working for the summer. Ben is a recently heartbroken New York native who is struggling through summer school in order to finish high school on time. The two connect through a chance encounter at the post office and each of them regrets not exchanging phone numbers, but through the magic of internet stalking research, they find each other and believe that the universe is pulling them together. Their time together has expiration date- as Arthur will return to Georgia at the end of the summer, but after a series of “do-over” first dates, they finally start to let their guard down and fall for each other just as their deadline creeps up on them.

This is a charming coming of age romance with plenty to love. Written by two popular YA novelists, each author writes one boy’s perspective, giving them unique voices, and the story unfolds in chapters that alternate between the two character’s viewpoints. I enjoyed the pop culture references, Arthur’s obsession with Broadway musicals, and total dorkiness. Ben’s fantasy writing, SIMS playing, well-meaning but underachieving personality make him feel familiar as well, and either could stand in for kids from many high schools across the country. This book’s portrayal of the power of friendship, the butterflies and nervousness when exploring a new relationship, and trumps and tribulations when finding your way in the world is timeless and uplifting, while leaving room for unexpected magic to unfold.  

RC  

Women of the Blue and Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies

Women of the Blue and Gray: True Civil War Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies
by Marianne Monson
Shadow Mountain, 2018, 230 pgs., Nonfiction

Monson brings to light the incredible stories of women from the Civil War, whether they be from the North, or from the South. The women in these micro biographies were wives, mothers, sisters and friends whose purposes ranged from supporting husbands and sons during wartime to counseling President Lincoln on strategy.

If you enjoyed Monson’s other collection of micro biographies, Frontier Grit, you know to expect fascinating stories of interesting women whose contributions to the human story have been mostly lost to time. Women of the Blue and Gray spends less time editorializing on the lessons to be learned from each woman’s life, and instead focuses on trying to give as many viewpoints as possible on the topic of the Civil War.

I especially enjoyed learning about Virginia Mason McLean, whose homes just happened to be the places where both one of the first and one of the last encounters of the Civil War occurred. I was also fascinated by the efforts of Clara Barton and the Red Cross after the war to reunite lost loved ones.

This is a book that will make you amazed at the courage and fortitude of the people who lived during one of America’s most tumultuous times, and it might inspire you to document some of the bigger moments of your own life.

MB

Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918

Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 
by Albert Marrin
Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. 198 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

With the help of World War I, the 1918 influenza quickly spread across the globe creating the worst pandemic in recorded history. Not even the black plague of the Middle Ages hits close to the number of deaths of the 1918 flu. This book presents a full picture of what is known about the 1918 flu pandemic from the social, medical, and political contexts of the time, to a brief but thorough explanation of viruses and how they spread. Intended for a teen audience the information is very accessible without being watered-down.

 I was absolutely astounded by the information in this book, I learned so much about the flu pandemic that I never knew before. The thing I like best about this book is how it perfectly blends the different academic disciplines of history, medicine, and science as it discusses the advancement of the disease throughout the world. I’d definitely recommend it to teen readers, but adults will still find it informative and engaging.

ER

The Library Book
by Susan Orlean
Simon Schuster, 2018. 310 pgs. Non-Fiction.

On April 28, 1986 the LA Public Library caught fire. The fire reached a temperature of 2,000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage and destroying or damaging more than a million books. It took years for the library to recover and rebuild, but with the support of the community, many volunteers, and generous donors they were able to.

This book is one part true crime, one part history of the LA Public Library, and one part love letter to the modern library. I really enjoyed the way that Orlean wove the three narratives together and I didn’t find one more engaging than the others. She starts each chapter off with a few book titles that relate to the chapter and their call numbers which I thought was a nice touch. I would recommend this for anyone who likes light true crime, LA, or libraries.

AU

The Brides of Rollrock Island

The Brides of Rollrock Island 
by Margo Lanagan
Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. 305 pgs. Young Adult Fiction 

On remote Rollrock Island the men make their living, and fetch their wives, from the sea.

The sea witch Misskaela will call the girl out of a seal for anyone, for a price of course. Pay the witch, hide the seal skin, and keep an enchantingly beautiful woman forever. At least, that is what the men of Rollrock Island tell themselves. But the magic costs more than money given to the witch, and everyone on the island pays that price.

This book was so thought-provoking! The men of Rollrock Island didn’t always get their wives from the sea, and watching that transition unfold was both heartbreaking and fascinating. I really appreciated how the book plays out the consequences of their decision. It didn’t leave the problems with taking sea-wives unaddressed. I think this book would be a good one for a group discussion.

ER

Ginny Moon

Ginny Moon
By Benjamin Ludwig
Park Row Books, 2017. 360 pgs. Young Adult

After bouncing around in foster care, Ginny Moon finally has a forever family. However, her new mom is expecting and it’s bringing up worries from her past that Ginny has a hard time expressing. Ginny is autistic, so what’s important to her, how she sees the world, and how she reacts to things, tend to be a little different. She’s constantly worrying about the “baby doll” she hid when CPS took her away from her abusive mother, and she’s willing to do anything, including be kidnapped, to make sure her baby doll is okay.

 I love reading books where the main character has a different view and experience of the world than I do, and seeing things through the eyes of someone with autism was illuminating. Ginny is smart and determined, and because the adults in her life don’t understand what she’s trying to tell them, she must take matters into her own hands to get closure. They kept trying to convince Ginny of one thing or another, trying to get her to understand their view, while not giving serious consideration to Ginny’s view. The frustration I felt for Ginny made me more aware of my own interactions with people with autism. I loved this book for the characters and story, but also for the way it made me look at myself. Would highly recommend.

ACS

The Librarian of Auschwitz

The Librarian of Auschwitz
By Antonio Iturbe
Godwin Books, 2017. 423 pages. Young Adult

Fourteen-year-old Dita was sent to Auschwitz with her family when Nazis took over Prague. They were placed in the “Family Camp,” built under the pretense that Auschwitz wasn’t actually an extermination camp. In the children’s block Fredy Hirsch ran a small school to help bring a sense of normality to the children’s lives. When Dita becomes one of his assistants she is honored to be chosen to protect a secret stash of books. However, life is hard and brutal in the camp and Dita must use all of her ingenuity to protect the books, her friends, and her family.

This book is only semi-fictional and is based on real people and events. Dita is clever and observant, and her story is heartbreaking and powerful. Much has already been written about the struggle to survive in Nazi concentration camps, but this takes a relatively unknown story and brings it to light. I would easily recommend this if you liked Markus Zusak’s THE BOOK THIEF, Elie Wiesel’s NIGHT, or THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.

 ACS

How Dare the Sun Rise

How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child
by Sandra Uwiringiyimana, Abigail Pesta
Katherine Tegen Books, 2017. 304 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

Sandra Uwiringyimana's biography opens with the moving retelling of a massacre at a refugee camp where her family was staying when she was ten years old.  She goes on to tell about her life as a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, playing with her siblings and exploring her neighborhood, then of the growing tension and troubles facing her people and their eventual flight, including their fear and uncertainty after the massacre in the refugee camp.  When her family is accepted as refugees to the United States, what seems like a promising new start instead turns into an ordeal of culture shock and racism.  Sandra sees the racism in the United States through an outsider's eyes, lending a fresh perspective to a pervasive problem.  As she grows older, she becomes involved in activism and works to transform her life and rise up and become a voice of her people and others with similar struggles.

Uwiringyimana's biography is a stunning story and I would heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a new perspective or a story of rising above adversity.  So much of her tale dealt with grief, and anyone who has personally experienced it will find echoes of their own pain in her words.  I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Uwiringyimana, who does a fantastic job and has a lovely voice.  This is also a great pick fans of I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.

BHG

The Cross of Lead

The Cross of Lead
by Avi
Hyperion Books For Children, 2002. pgs 262, Young Adult

On the day of his mother’s funeral a 14th century peasant boy called Asta’s Son is accused of murder and must flee his village never to return. On his path to avoid detection from the village enforcer he comes across a juggler and together they begin an adventure of a life time.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I really enjoyed the plot and the process of Crispin discovering his name and what that meant to him. This is one of the few books I would not recommend listening to. It was voiced by an older man and his tones and pace did not fit the story. So if you tried listening to it and his voice got in the way I would totally recommend trying again and just reading the book because at that point I really enjoyed the story and taking a step back in time which is very different from the world I have experienced.

MH

The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear To Faith

The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear To Faith
By Gabrielle Bernstein
Hay House Inc., 2016. 200 pages. Nonfiction.

This is a short guide to setting intentions and shifting your energy from its natural state of fear and bringing it to the higher frequency of faith. Bernstein uses kundalini yoga meditations and principles from A Course In Miracles to empower readers to find their universal assignments and embrace the idea that the universe really does have their back.

This is a self-help book that uses the principles of positive self-talk, visualization, affirmations, prayer, and meditation to unlock personal growth. The book is easy to understand and Bernstein writes in a personal and compelling way. There is extra material available on Berenstein's website like singing mantras and meditations that compliment her curriculum. She also has some fun ideas for vision boards and vision statements on the site.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
By Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown and Co., 2005. 277 pgs. Nonfiction

In this book, Malcolm Gladwell examines how we think without thinking. Often we seem to make a choice in the blink of an eye, but it's really not that simple. He also examines why some people are so good at these gut decisions while others struggle and end up making horrible choices. He uses the examples of a renowned psychologist who is able to predict the success of a marriage by observing a few minutes of conversation, the art experts who can recognize a fake after a brief glance, and the tragic shooting of Amadou Diallo by police.

Malcolm Gladwell's books are guaranteed to make you think differently about life. I had never really thought much about why and how I make decisions. It was fascinating to learn how quickly our brains can interpret fleeting facial expression and also how much of our choices are based on quick judgements and predetermined stereotypes.

AL

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen 
by Val Emmich and Steven Levenson
Poppy, Little, Brown and Company, 2018. 358 pages. Young Adult Fiction.

Evan Hansen is not a popular kid at school; in fact, he doesn’t really have friends at all and feels mostly invisible. He struggles with depression and his therapist recommends he write letters to himself to work through his feelings, they start “Dear Evan Hansen”, and contain his deepest, sometimes darkest secrets and emotions. When a troubled classmate, Connor Murphy, commits suicide and one of Evan’s letters is found and mistaken for a suicide note, a chain of well-meaning lies and exaggerations digs Evan into a hole that just gets deeper and deeper the more he attempts to cover up the mistake without hurting anyone.

This book is a novelization of the hit Broadway musical by the same name. I listened to the audio book, which I’d recommend because it incorporates a few songs from the musical into the story. I enjoyed learning more about both Connor and Evan’s backstories; it felt like the novel was a good opportunity to get to know the characters in a more meaningful way than you get with only the play. This book stands alone well without knowing anything about the play, too, and explores the topics of grief, teen suicide, and depression in an approachable and hopeful way.

RC

A Defense of Honor

A Defense of Honor 

By Kristi Ann Hunter

Bethany House, 2018. 376 pgs. Romance

Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert had to make the hard choice of turning her back on London society. She never planned on setting foot in a ballroom again. Business has her return to London and soon she is forced to run for her life. She finds herself hiding behind a potted plant in a glamorous ballroom. Lord Wharton, Graham, is intrigued by the woman hiding behind the plant and decides to meet her. Kit can not give him much information about herself  because she has too many people depending on her. Kit has dedicated her life to helping women who have been ruined. She hides them away until they have their babies and can return to society. She then raises the children at Haven Manor, a remote estate away from the eyes of society, and prepares them for the future. To make ends meet she has found a clever way to blackmail the fathers into providing funds for their children. Kit never expects to see Graham again, but he stumbles across Haven Manor when he is trying to help a friend find his missing sister. Kit tries to hide the truth from Graham for as long as possible but soon they must decide if they can trust each other enough to find a future together. 

I read a lot of Regency romance and that's what I was expecting. This book was totally different, it didn't focus on the ballrooms and glamour, instead it showed the life and struggles of those who aren't accepted into high society. The characters were fantastic; Kit, Graham, the children, and the other women who help at Haven Manor all worked their way into my heart. This is the first in the Haven Manor series and I look forward to seeing what happens with all the characters in future books. 

AL

Just Mercy: (adapted for young adults) A True Story of the Fight for Justice

Just Mercy: (adapted for young adults) A True Story of the Fight for Justice

by Bryan Stevenson

Delacorte Press, 2018. 277 pages. Young Adult Non-Fiction

Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer who established the Equal Justice Initiative (EIJ), an organization working on behalf of the marginalized, the poor, and those discriminated against due to race or ability who have been wrongly convicted, or unfairly or harshly punished by the justice system. In this book, he uses cases he’s worked on, including capital punishment cases, to shine light on the injustices and inequalities that exist and points out the flaws, corruption, and biases within the system that have led to cruel convictions, imprisonment of the innocent, and deterioration of mental health in inmates.  

Although I was largely infuriated throughout, this is a compelling and eye opening read that I didn’t want to put down. This version of the book has been adapted for young readers, and while criminal justice and mass incarceration may seem a strange topic for a book aimed at teens, the message presented and the feelings evoked by the accounts Stevenson shares are applicable to those of most any age in our society. Stories such as these can make a person feel powerless, but knowing that there are “Bryan Stevensons” in the world fighting for justice that is more equal, fair, and right, shines a hopeful light on the heavy topic.

RC

And the Ocean was Our Sky

And the Ocean was Our Sky

by Patrick Ness

HarperTeen, 2018. 158 pgs. Young Adult Fiction

For centuries, whales and men have been at war with each other. Bathsheba is an apprentice under the formidable Captain Alexandra, and they hunt to protect and provide for their pod. During an attack on what appears to be easy prey, they find the trail of a mythical monster. Following their unrelenting Captain, Bathsheba and her fellow apprentices must each come to terms with fate, prophecy, and prejudice as they face the upcoming battle.

I found this book intrigue and thought provoking, although the plot was slow at times. The illustrations by Rovina Cai are absolutely gorgeous and enhance the story.  The topics of fate and prejudice are highly relevant today and Ness’s writing encourages deeper exploration of your own thoughts and feelings. The references to Moby Dick are fairly minor, and I do not feel that it is necessary to have read it beforehand. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys illustrated stories or lyrical writing.

TT

Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico

Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico
by David Bowles
Cinco Puntos Press, 2018. 300 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction.

The stories in Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky trace the history of the world from its beginnings in the dreams of the dual god Ometeotl, to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico and the fall of the great city Tenochtitlan. In the course of that history we learn about the Creator Twins, Feathered Serpent, and Dark Heart of Sky, and how they built the world on a leviathan’s back; of the shape-shifting nahualli; and the aluxes—elfish beings known to help out the occasional wanderer. And finally, we read Aztec tales about the arrival of the blonde strangers from across the sea, the strangers who seek to upend the rule of Motecuhzoma and destroy the very stories we are reading.

Ask yourself- can you think of one Mexican myth? If you can, would you feel comfortable telling said myth to a friend? If you’re like me you probably answered no to both questions and have now possibly come to the realization that your public school system did you a great disservice by focusing all too much on Greco-Roman mythology and all too little on Mesoamerican mythology. To you, I recommend starting with this book, “Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico” by David Bowles. In it the myths of Mexico are presented in chronological order starting with the creation of the earth and its people and ending with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. I personally enjoyed the fusion of history, religion, and mythology as it gives the book less of a textbook feel and more of what I call a sit-down-storytime feel. The book also includes a pronunciation guide and glossary of people and places which is extremely helpful. One negative is that there are a few errors that were not caught before publishing that were a bit distracting. Even still, I’d recommend this book to those interested in mythology, folklore, and history. 

NS

How to Win Friends and Influence People

How to Win Friends and Influence People
By Dale Carnegie
Simon and Schuster, 1936. 299 pgs. Nonfiction

Have you ever wondered why you get passed up for promotions? Or why your relationships aren't improving? Carnegie gives techniques and advice to help the reader improve their relationships with others, which influences all other aspects of life. You can succeed when you know how to connect and interact with others.

Though most people would say Carnegie's advice is common sense, not very many people actually apply the principles he outlines. I like that he explained the principles and gave examples of how they look in practice. This makes application easier for the reader. His methods of dealing with conflict and building relationships are techniques I've seen in my favorite managers, friends, and former boyfriends. This is a book that one should read at least once and then periodically reread sections to refresh the knowledge of interpersonal skills. This book is a good choice for those who:
1) Want to improve their relationships
2) Want to respond instead of react to stressful situations
3) Want to gain good management skills

HS

On a Sunbeam

On a Sunbeam
by Tillie Walden
First Second, 2018. 533 pgs. Young Adult Graphic Novel.

Mia is a new member of a team that travels through space repairing broken-down structures. As she gets to know the other members of her team, she opens up about her time at a boarding school and the girl she fell in love with while there.

The art throughout this book is amazing. The artist chose to only use colors in blue and red hues and I feel like that helps to bring the reader into an outer space type of atmosphere. One thing that is difficult is that the world isn’t explained super well. It appears that this world (universe?) is entirely populated by women, but that’s not necessarily immediately apparent. I did enjoy the slight whimsical touches that the author included throughout; like that their ships were all shaped like fish and basically every part of The Staircase. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a more diverse graphic novel or those who have already read and enjoyed other books by this author.

AU