Review: No True Believers

No True Believers
by Rabiah York Lumbard

Publisher: Crown Books For Young Readers
Publication Date: February 11th, 2020

Salma Bakkioui is a Muslim girl living in a predominantly white community. A terrorist bombing in Washington, D.C. and rising Islamophobia turns Salma’s life upside down when she is framed for a crime she never committed. Rabiah York Lumbard’s No True Believers is captivating from the very first page. The story is full of plot twists and fast-paced adventure. It’s the type of book that will have you promising yourself “just one more chapter” (even though you know you’ll be reading late into the night). Lumbard also manages to tackle weighty issues like bigotry and Islamophobia. No True Believers is riveting and powerful.

Review: Dear Martin

Dear Martin
by Nic Stone

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 17, 2017

DEAR MARTIN by Nic Stone is a powerful, emotional story about the realities of entrenched racism in American society. The novel deals with themes of police brutality, privilege, and gang culture as protagonist Justyce McAllister struggles to come to terms with the ignorance in his community. I personally thought that this book was very eye-opening; the subject matter is incredibly relevant in today’s increasingly polarized society.

I was extremely emotionally invested in Justyce’s story; there were definitely some tear-jerking moments. I absolutely loved the character of Sarah Jane, Justyce’s outspoken, insanely intelligent debate partner who exemplifies allyship. This book felt extremely truthful and real, the writing was superb, and I honestly cannot think of a single friend I would not recommend this to. Derogatory racial slurs are used in this novel; there are also themes of violence and substance abuse, so I would recommend it for older teens.

Review: Missing

Missing
by Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 18, 2017

MISSING by Kelley Armstrong is a chilling mystery novel set in Reeve’s End, a destitute small town in rural Kentucky. College-bound Winter Crane is eager to follow in the footsteps of countless other teenagers who have left Reeve’s End seeking a better life elsewhere, but when she discovers Lennon, a teenager assaulted and abandoned in the woods, she finds herself thrust into an intense game of cat-and-mouse with Lennon’s attacker. The mystery only escalates when Lennon suddenly goes missing, his brother Jude shows up asking questions, and Winter is drawn into the boys’ complicated family life. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel; it did an excellent job at balancing page-turning suspense with character development. I found Winter particularly likeable as a character, she is intelligent, compassionate, and incredibly resourceful. I would highly recommend this novel to fans of THE NATURALS.

Review: Goodbye Days

Goodbye Days
by Jeff Zentner

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 7, 2017

GOODBYE DAYS, Jeff Zentner's sophomore novel, takes a look at the ramifications of sorrow, loss, and how to move on. Carver, Eli, Blake, and Mars had been thick as thieves since they were barely teenagers; they formed an inseparable group entitled the "Sauce Crew" by the members themselves. Yet, when three of the foursome meet their untimely end the summer before senior year due to a car crash, Carver, the lone survivor, is faced with the blame. Mere moments before the crash, Carver texted Mars, the driver of the car, asking where they were since he was waiting to be picked up by the other three, and that text was found open on Mars's phone at the wreck. Facing a legal battle brought on by the judge father of one of his friends and struggling with his own grief, Carver finds support in his family and what few friends he has left, including the former girlfriend of one of the victims, and tries to make peace with the loss of his friends through a series of memorial "Goodbye Days".

This book was a bit unusual to me; it had a strange mix of beautifully crafted and powerful sentences next to choppy and awkwardly phrased dialogue, but it still managed to get its point across. While I couldn't understand exactly why Carver was being blamed for the accident, rather than Mars who was actually driving the car, his struggle with his losses and mental health felt raw and honest. The goodbye days, while emotional, felt a bit cheesy and unrealistic, but they were the main way that the perspectives and backstories of both the victims and their families was introduced into the story, and for me, that was the best part of the novel. Overall, I enjoyed this book for its dynamic character relationships and fresh take on the classic YA friend/family death trope. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys books like LOOKING FOR ALASKA or 13 REASONS WHY.

Review: As Red As Blood

As Red As Blood
by Salla Simukka

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 17, 2017

AS RED AS BLOOD by Salla Simukka is about a girl named Lumikki. She finds herself caught up in criminal activities when she finds a ton of money in the school's darkroom. She finds herself getting pursued by criminals who want her dead. She has to get to the bottom of the mystery while keeping herself alive. I really enjoyed the book; the constant action kept the pages turning. It had a fast plot with plot twists at every turn. I really enjoyed the writing style. I can't wait for the next book.