Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi

Adeyemi, T. (2018). Children of blood and bone. NY: Henry Holt and Company

Summary: Zelie is 17 years old and lives in the country of Orisha. Eleven years ago, the king banished and killed all magic be committing genocide on all of the Maji. After this he set up a system of slavery and indentured servitude that all future Maji would be enslaved to the King's army. While Zelie is in the city with her brother Tzain, she runs into the the Princess who claims that her father just killed her maid and best friend in order to prove that scroll could do Maji magic. The two girls flee and a Prince named Inan has been tasked to find the thief of the scroll but the girls are able to make their way away from him. The girls ask Mama Agba for help as she is one of the only living adult Maji. She tells them that they must go to a mountain and take the scroll to an island where they will rebond the magical connection. They make it to a temple where Inan catches up but is not able to cross a bridge which is cut. He walks around trying to find his way but realizes he has magic and is horrified. The trio make it a Maji city and enter a competition to get the last artifact they need to awaken the magic. Zelie wins the competition and wins the sunstone but then the village is attacked by the King's men and Zelie is attacked. Inan and his sister kill the king and Zelie performs the magical ritual that reawakens magic and gives magic to everyone.


Strengths:  This book's strength is the fresh take is has on the fantasy genre. Set in Africa and featuring and All-Black cast is a fresh, breathe of air in the Fantasy genre world. Adeyemi takes old Fantasy tropes and changes the up with her fierce writing and characters. Reading this books felt like reading something new and different all the while maintaining everything that I love about epic fantasy. 

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuXbnhxoqA

Similar Books:

• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Other books by Toni Adeyemi:

• Children of Virtue and Vengeance

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: New York Times Bestseller

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Fey, T. (2015). Bossypants. NY: Little, Brown

Summary: Tina Fey was born in 1970 in a Philadelphia suburb. She recounts loving her childhood and enjoying growing up with her family and her fondness for her Dad who was firm but loving to her. Tina worked summers at an acting camp and quickly learned here that women should support other women not hurt or put each other down. After she graduated college she moved to she moved to Chicago where became a part of the Second City improv group. She was forced, through improv, to become a better comedian and actor due to the rigor of improv acting. This is where she met her husband Jeff. From here, she was hired to work on Saturday Night Live where she met her best friend Amy Poehler. This is where she ained the idea for her TV show 30 Rock which she wrote and then pitched to NBC and was given the green light. As the book progresses, Tine talks about the struggle to be a mom in the industry and questions whether or not she would want to have more kids. 

Strengths:  This books showcases hilarious sketch comedy like stories of Tina Fey's life that explain some of the actor's history. The real strength of this book shows the politics and backstage life of a Saturday Night Live sketch comedian and writer. I think this book will help with anyone who is in need of a laugh or someone who is looking to break in to the comedy sketch world.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6QQzG01U9Y

Similar Books:

• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
• Yes Please by Amy Poelher
• The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

Other books by Tina Fey:

• Bossypants is the only book written by Tina Fey

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Outstanding Books for the Collegebound

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

Jamieson, V. (2017). All's faire in middle school. NY: Dial Books

Summary: Imogene or Impy as her family and friends calls her lives at the Renaissance Faire where her mother and father work. Her mother works in a shop and her father is the "evil knight" in the joust. This summer, Impy has been promoted to squire and is able to help in the joust on her own. Impy takes her role as squire very seriously and wants to try to go to publc school for the first time for her 6th grade year. Impy meets a boy whom she develops a crush on and becomes friends with some of the mean girls at the school. She also becomes friends with a girl named Anita who warns her that the groups she has been hanging out with are mean girls. Impy has a hard time at school since she has always been home schooled. Mika and the other mean girls begin to make fun of Impy for being poor and living in a small apartment. Impy becomes angry and draws mean pictures of everyone that she believes has done her wrong and eventually alienates herself from all of her friends and family. Impy feels terrible and eventually realizes that a true knight makes amends fro their wrongdoings and asks for forgiveness. Impy eventually beings to handle middle school with a little more ease. 

Strengths:  This book's strenght lies in the author's storytelling. It is heartfelt and funny as it weaves through the life of middle school students. It explains the complexities of family, friends, tough decisions and the longing to fit in with others.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxTjBaBK3A

Similar Books:

• The Cardboard Kingdom by Katie Schenkel
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez
• Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson

Other books by Victoria Jamieson:

• Roller Girl

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Great Graphic Novels for Teens List

Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History by Karen Blumenthal

Blumenthal, K. (2018). Hillary Rodham Clinton: A woman living history. NY: Feiwel & Friends

Summary: Hillary Rodham was born and raise din Arkansas by her mother and father. She grew up in a suburban town and lived with her middle class parents in the 1950's. She attended Park Ridge School and was a great student. She was always interested in academic endeavors and did well in School. After she graduated she went on to study pre-law at Wellesley and attained her law degree from Yale. After her schooling at Yale she met her now husband, George Clinton. Her memoirs go through being the wife of a governor to the wife of a president. All throughout this times, Hillary shares her stories of her life and what happened while her husband was running for president. Her husband's presidency is chronicled as well from winning the election to going through impeachment issues because of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Her run for senator and her impending presidential race are also detailed in the book. 

Strengths:  This book shows the true life of Hillary Clinton. From her life in the White House as First Lady to her own run for President. It shows the life she has led and how she planned on bringin all of her accomplishments to the White House. This books does a great job of showing her strengths, her failures and all of her life experiences in between.

Book Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfaXkujFfbU

Similar Books:

• Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton
• Celebrating Change by Barack Obama
• In the Shadow of Liberty: The Hidden History of Slavery, Four Presidents, and Five Black Lives Kenneth C. Davis  by Kenneth C. Davis

Other books by Karen Blumenthal:

• Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend 
• Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different: A Biography

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Yoon, N. (2016). The sun is also a star. NY: Delacorte Press

Summary: Both Natasha and Daniel live in New York City. Natasha is a Jamaican girl who lives in a one bedroom apartment with her family. She and her family are undocumented illegal immigrants and Daniel lives in a modest but comfortable with his middle class parents. Natasha is on her way to see an immigration lawyer to get papers to stay in the US while Daniel is on his way to a Yale interview even though he does not wish to go. Daniel is initially very open towards a relationship with Natasha after they meet but Natasha is more logical and says love i nothing but science. They agree to spend the day together as long as they are completing a science experiment where they have to ask each other a series of questions that are proven to make someone scientifically fall in love. They continue their day together and Natasha finds out her attorney got into a wreck and won't make their appointment and Daniel fight and part ways for a while. They eventually come back together after they realize they have changed each other's lives. Unfortunately Natasha's case is not won and her family will have to go back to Jamaica. Daniel goes back with her to her home an helps her pack hearing her father promise that they will be a better family when they get back to Jamaica. Daniel takes Natasha to the airport and they part ways eventually growing apart from the distance. 10 years later Natasha and Daniel are on the same plane and they meet a woman from the immigration agency who thought she would take her life but Natasha's kindness changed her mind. 

Strengths:  This book's strength lies in the way that it portrays young love in the face of insurmountable problems. The main character of the book is about to be deported back to her home country of Jamaica when she falls in love with Daniel. Both young people have to get past all that is holding the back to really see what the future holds for each of them.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JfO5sxYulY

Similar Books: 

• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nivens
• The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Other books by Nicola Yoon:

• Everything, Everything

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Printz List

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

McManus, K. (2017). One of us is lying. NY: Delacorte Press

Summary: Bronwyn, Nate, Addy, Simon and Cooper are serving detention one day after school for having their phone out in class. Each claims the phone is not theirs. While in detention, there is a car accident in the parking lot that distracts the teens. While their teacher is out investigating, Simon drinks a cup of water, falls over and dies; paramedics not arriving in time to save him. All of the remaining students become suspects when the police find a blog post that Simon was planning to publish outing all of the students for various things such as cheating on a test, doing drugs and cheating on a boyfriend. All of them have their own secrets which make look equally as guilty as they are being questioned by the police. After the initial aftermath form Simon's death all of the students face hardships and difficulties. A national crime show picks up Simon's story and criticize the police for not investigating more people since Simon had clearly made many enemies. Throughout the case we find that Simon acted out of jealousy for each of the students in the detention that day and had an accomplice that would publish his Tumblr posts for him. We also find out that Jake was working for Simon and that Addy was supposed to take the fall for killing Simon. Jake confonts and tries to kill Addy but the police are waiting and arrest him. 

Strengths:  This books does a great job of taking the "breakfast club" idea and making it something thrilling and unique. The students in this book all have something to hide which will resonate with many young readers. Also the mystery "whodunit" atmosphere will pull young, reluctant readers in. According to online reviews, this book will definitely appeal to Riverdale fans, which a is a huge cultural phenomenon with teenagers in 2019. 

Book Trailer:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKUIKbkmarw

Similar Books: 

• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
• Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
• There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephenie Perkins
• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Other books by Karen McManus:

• Two Can Keep a Secret
• One of Us is Next

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Quick Picks List

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Moon

Moon, S. (2017). When dimple met rishi. NY: Simon Pulse

Summary: Dimple is a very self-assured 18 year old Indian girls who knows exactly what she wants. She wants to go to Stanford and eventually work in the technology world. Her mother sees college as an easy way for Dimple to find a husband. Dimple asks her parents if she can go to a summer camp camp called Insomnia Con and she is very surprised when they say yes. Rishi is in a similar situation, he wants to draw comics and is upset when is parents send him to Insomnia Con as well. Each of their parents know each other and see this as a way to get their children into an arranged marriage. Dimple does not know of this bu Rishi does. When Rishi first sees Dimple, he calls her his wife which causes her to be started and dump her drink on his head. Eventually Rishi meets Dimple again and tells her what is going on. When the conventions starts, Dimple and Rishi are placed together in a competition that if they won, they get to meet Jennifer Lindt who is a tech celebrity. As time goes on, they agree to go on dates and start to like eachother. Rishi assures Dimple that he is not going to pressure her for marriage and that they can take their time. They both find that they are falling in love with eachother. Dimple finds out that they don't win the competition which crushes her and she retreats away even from Rishi. They eventually go home and cease communication. Finally, Dimple and Rishi meet back at SFSU where they first met and get back together. 

Strengths:  This book examines respect for family and culture as well as questioning what to do with your life. Both Dimple and Rishi have very specific plans for their life which clash with their family's plan. This books does a great job of handling heavy subjects such as arranged marriages between teenagers lightly and delicately while still maintaining respect for the practice. 

Book Trailer:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VirrcM3d3o0

Similar Books:

• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephenie Perkins
• My Life Next Door By Huntley Fitzpatrick
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Other books by Sandhya Moon:

• There's Something About Sweetie
• From Twinkle, With Love
• As Kismet Would Have it 

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Best Young Adult Fiction List

Losers Bracket by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, C. (2018). Losers bracket. NY: Greenwillow Press

Summary: Annie Boots is a great basketball player who loves the game but feels down and out with her family. While she is skilled in basketball, she has many issues with her family. Annie's father is absent from her life, her mother is a drug-addict, her sister is a 19 year old mother who has a 5 year old son who is very difficult to handle and has behavior issues. Annie is quickly placed in foster care with a wealthy family that provides her all that she needs. Her faster father, Pops, is reliving his glory days through Annie having been a ball player himself. Annie cares for her foster parents but gives them trouble when she refuses to stop helping and not giving up on her real family. Annie' nephew turns up missing from a swim meet one day and Annie tries to solve the mystery of where is went and who took him. Eventually the family finds out that Frankie was taken away from her sister and placed in foster care. The goal is to steal Frankie back from his placement. 

Strengths: Losers Bracket handles foster families really well. He explain the relationships between the members of the family and how they can work together or maintain conflict. Annie struggle throughout the book to handle the relationship between her real family and her foster family as well as dealing with her missing nephew. 

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx3BEWIYyIk

Similar Books:

• Second impact by David Klass
• The Moment by T.C. Anderson
• Pieces of Me by Darlene Ryan
• After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay

Other books by Chris Crutcher:

• Period 8 
• King of the Mild Frontier
• The Sledding Hill
• Chinese Handcuffs
• Running Loose

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Read a book by Chris Crutcher

Winger by Andrew Smith

Smith, A. (2013). Winger. NY: Simon & Schuster

Summary: Ryan Dean attends a prestigious school in Oregon called Pine Mountain boarding school. Ryan Dean is only 14 and has skipped two grade because if his intellect. He is assigned to the O-Block which is a dorm for the trouble makers at the school. Ryan Dean meets Chas whom he does not get along with. Chas forced Ryan Dean to play a game in which Ryan Dean has to drink his first beer. which gets him in trouble with his girlfriend Annie. After this, Ryan Dean meets Chas' girlfriend Megan and they make out. Chas suspects there is something up between them and threatens to beat Ryan Dean up but Ryan Dean's friend, Joey, steps in and threatens to kill Chas is he beats him up. During a trip, Ryan Dean meets Annie in deserted Sawmill and they share a kiss but Annie reveals that she can not love him but during the drive home, Ryan Dean finds himself in a love triangle with Annie and Megan. During a Halloween dare, Ryan Dean admits to has that he involved with Megan and Chas gets upset and leaves the group. After this, Ryan Dean breaks up with Megan telling her that he does so because their relationship with hurt Annie and Ryan Dean comes to terms with Casey and Joey who Ryan Dean previously outed. After the Schoo dance, Joey disappears and is found beaten and killed int he woods which cause a lot grief for all the students at the school. The book ends with Ryan Dean coming to terms with all that has happened during the year. 

Strengths: The hand drawn infographics are what really make this book unique. They help the reader understand the experiences that main character is going through. The pictures are striking and create depictions of the teenager experience while allowing the reader to see the true emotion of the scene.

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYeQ5HpdApM

Similar Books: 

• I'm With Stupid by Geoff Herbach
• Reality Boy by A.S. King
• Boy 21 by Matthew Quick
• Noggin by John Corey Whaley

Other books by Andrew Smith:

• Stand Off
• 100 Sideways Miles
• Grasshopper Jungle
• The Marbury Lens
• The Alex Crow

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Read a book by Andrew Smith

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos

Summary: Gabi is a young Mexican-American girl who is dealing with many issues such as her pregnant friend and her drug addicted father. Gabi is a senior in high school and is finding it hard to deal with all of these situations and questions her belonging to her Mexican culture. At the end of summer Gabi realizes she wants summer to last longer so that she can continue to eat Pepe's chicken wings. She finds out her friend Cindy is pregnant and her friend Sebastian is kicked out of his house after his parents find out he is gay. When School starts Gabi begins dating a boy named Eric even though Gabi frequently believes she is not worthy because she is over weight. This relationship does not last long after Gabi finds Eric kissing another girl at a party. After this she ends up in relationship with a boy named Martin who shares her loves of poetry. Gabi's father continues to struggle with substance abuse; quitting and returning to drugs several times. During this time Gabi's mother becomes pregnant and Gabi is concerned for her family. Her father dies of an overdose and Gabi's mother and Cindi have their babies. Gabi finds out that father of Cindi's baby raped Cindi which is how she ended up pregnant. Gabi confronts German and slaps him causing her to get suspended from school. At the end of the book Gabi graduates high school and realizes that everything will be okay. 

Strengths: This deals with a Mexican-American girl who is constantly at war with who she is and where she fits in the world. Gabi deals with many prevalent and timely issues such as drug addiction, eating disorders, sex, cultural norms and many other things that young readers will identify with. 

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_Iwrzy2-Y

Similar Books: 

• How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
• Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
• Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
• Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

Other books by Isabel Quintero:

• Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide
• Mi Papi Has a Motorcycle
• Ugly Cat and Pablo

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Read Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press

Summary: Todd is the last boy in his home of Prentisstown. In his village, boys become men when they are 13 and Todd is almost 13. Todd lives on a planet called New World where there are only men and all of them have been afflicted by a Noise germ, a germ that allows all of the men to hear what each other are thinking, that was released by an alien population. Todd goes out on a walk one day and comes upon a place where there is no noise and he meets a girl named Viola. He returns home and tells his parents that he has stumbled upon this and they force him to leave home for his own safety. Todd leaves with his dog Manchee and his parents are killed for sending him away. As Todd travels with Viola he learns that everything he has been told is a lie and that his village is looked down upon for starting a war with an alien race and believe that they are an army of god. Todd and Viola visit a mixed gendered city called Farbranch that is quickly over taked by the Prentisstown army forcing Todd and Viola to run away in search of Haven. They eventually make it to Haven only to find out that Prentisstown has over taken the city and Todd surrenders in order to help Viola who was shot by Aaron, a man who was tracking Viola and Todd. 

Strengths: This books does a great job of showing the psychological and sociological impacts of hearing other's thought and what happens when you find out a secret that shatters your world view. 

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPIhj9hVARM

Similar Books: 

• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
• Matched by Allie Condie
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Other books by Patrick Ness:

• The Ask and the Answer
• Monsters of Men
• More Than This
• The Rest of us Just Live Here

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Read the Knife of Never Letting Go

It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris

Harris, R. (2009). It’s perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press

Summary: It's Perfectly Normal is an informative book about sex, sexual health and changing bodies. This books does not sugar coat any of the information that it covers. The text is knowledgeable, to the point and accurate. Pictures and diagrams are provided for the reader to truly grasp the concepts. The book is separated into sections such as: What is Sex?, Our Bodies, Puberty, Families and Babies, Decisions and Staying Healthy. 

Strengths: This books handles sexual health and sexual issues while respecting the young readers that will use this book. This book provides up-to-date answers and explanations on contraceptives, STDs and puberty. This book does a great job of providing information and health facts that will truly benefit young people without treating them like children. 

Robie Harris Interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE4jT48_2uo

Similar Books: 

• Let's Talk About Sex by Michael Emberley
• What's Happening to My Body by Lynda Madaras
• Where Did I Come From?: Peter Mayle
• The Care and Keeping of You by Kara Natters

Other books by Robie H. Harris:

• It's So Amazing
• It's Not The Stork
• Who's In My Family?
• Who Has What? All About Girl's Bodies and Boy's Bodies

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Read It's Perfectly Normal

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. NY: Delacorte. 

Summary: Lily and Dunkin are both kids who are very different form their peers. Lily is a boy who identifies with being a girl. She wants so badly to be accepted by her peers and is often made fun of or harassed by her classmates. Lily is very kind and treats everyone nicely. Although Lily wants to keep a low profile, she can't wait for the day when she is able to legally change her name from Timmy to Lily. Lily's day doe snot accept Lily and makes her life more difficult. Dunkin is a young boy is facing struggles with Bipolar Disorder. Dunkin has a hard time making friends as he just recently moved into town. Unfortunately the only boys who are his friends are the ones who give Lily a hard time. Dunkin in turn believes that this isn't right but he does not want to be alone and friendless, so he stays friends with the boys. Both students face many issues along their way. Lily asks for hormone replacement therapy but her dad refuses to allow it. Lily's friend Dare become distant and Lily believes that she is a lesbian, which she is but isn't ready to admit it to Lily. Lily also still dresses like Tim when she is at school and dresses as Lily outside of school. Eventually Dunkin meets Lily outside of school and does not recognize that she is Tim from school. Lily tells Dunkin who she is and accepts her for who she is. They both begin to truly understand each other and tell each other to accept them for who they are. Dunkin joins the basketball team and is told to dump Lily and Dunkin refuses accepting the fact that they are who they are and he likes her. 

Strengths: Lily and Dunkin deal with themes that are extremely prevalent in the time we are living in now. Lily is a transgender girl and Dunkin is dealing with Bipolar Disorder and other mental illness. The books does a great job of showing the struggle that can come with being different and how these young people navigate through life and friendships. 

Author Book Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07KniLJp7q4

Similar Books: 

• The Other Boy by M.G. Hennesey
• Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky
• Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick

Other books by Donna Gephart:

• In Your Shoes
• Death by Toilet Paper
• How to Survive Middle School
• Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen
• The Project Paris

LSSL 5385 Requirement Met: Read Lily and Dunkin