Review: The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid

The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid
by Kate Hattemer

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 18th, 2020

The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid by Kate Hattemer is a funny, witty, and an all-around great read. The book centers around Jemima Kincaid, a high school senior completely centered around feminism. Following Jemima’s friends, sexist school traditions, and romances, this is a funny, eye-opening, and socially aware book. Hattemer excellently incorporates and challenges the biases that we have in our own minds and the misogyny that is perpetrated in our everyday lives. While this is a young adult novel, there is use of profanity and several sexual scenes and in light of that, I recommend this book to people 15 and older. A short and quick read, I really enjoyed The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid and recommend it.

Review: When You Know What I Know

When You Know What I Know
by Sonja K. Solter

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 24th, 2020

After school, on the couch in the basement, Tori’s uncle does something bad. Tori tells her mother, but she doesn't believe Tori. The aftermath of sexual abuse is filled with so many emotions; fear, anger, shame. Solter captures these emotions in her book When You Know What I Know.

When You Know What I Know is written from the point of view of the main character, “10-almost-11” year old Tori. The book follows her in the wake of violation. Written in verse, Solter’s book is beautifully articulated. Tori’s character is perfectly evolved throughout the novel and her conflicting sentiments are composed accurately. This book covers important but mature subject matter, I recommend it for ages 11+

Review: Yes No Maybe So

Yes No Maybe So
by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: February 4th, 2020

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed brings together cultures and traditions through love and political activism in a moving story that follows a local election in Georgia. Maya and Jamie are canvassing together, fighting to turn a solidly red district blue. From their shared love of donuts and The Office, the two become extremely close. The book is a great representation of how people’s everyday lives are affected because of the political views of people in power. I loved this book because it shows young people that our voice does matter, and we can make a difference. Albertalli and Saeed weave together words and cultures in a way that perfectly expresses what it feels like to be a teenager in today’s political climate.

Review: Furious Thing

Furious Thing
by Jenny Downham

Publisher: David Fickling Books
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020

Furious Thing by Jenny Downham is a story about growing, loving, and most of all- anger management. Fifteen-year-old Lexi has a complicated life- she’s in love with her stepbrother, not getting along with her stepfather, and not doing too well in school. But most of all- Lexi is angry- really really angry. Follow her as she navigates life and learns how to harness her anger.Through her use of vivid imagery, Downham makes the city of London appear before the reader’s eyes. Downham also conveys strong underlying themes of feminism, helping women find their inner power, and most of all, showing that humans are allowed to be angry.  I highly recommend this book to an older teen who is comfortable with curse words and scenes with sexuality.

                                                            

Review: Three Things I Know Are True

Three Things I Know Are True
by Betty Culley

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 7th, 2020

In Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley, everything changes after Liv’s brother, Jonah, accidentally shoots himself with his friend Clay’s father’s gun. Now he requires 24/7 care to stay alive. When their mother decides to sue Clay’s family, Liv becomes torn between her love for her brother and her friendship with Clay. Written in verse, Three Things I Know Are True is a poetic gem. It grippingly displays the aftermath and misery of a gun accident. Liv’s character is beautifully developed throughout the novel, encouraging the reader to root for her through every step. Three Things I Know Are True is truly unique and highly recommended.

                                                                      

Review: Not So Pure and Simple

Not So Pure And Simple
by Lamar Giles

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 21th, 2020

This book is so compelling, natural, and accurate that I literally couldn’t put it down; it’s definitely a good-sized book, but it’s a quick read. The characters are so fully real and relatable that there was no question in my mind that they are real people whose world I was allowed to enter. Excellently written, extremely relevant, and non-forcibly dealing with some very important subjects, I would highly recommend this book to any teenager or young adult.

                                                                      

Review: What I Carry

What I Carry
by Jennifer Longo

Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: January 21th, 2020

Growing up in foster care, Muiriel has two unbreakable rules: 1) When packing, only bring what is absolutely necessary, and 2) avoid attachment. Unlike socks and toothpaste, the people you care about can’t be packed into a suitcase. They get left behind. Everything changes when Muiriel meets Kira, Sean, and Francine, three people who just might be worth breaking the rules for. Jennifer Longo’s What I Carry is an enduring tale of friendship and love. It’s witty, thoughtful, and tear-jerking all at once. Foster care is a topic not often addressed in young adult novels, and rarely is it addressed with such sincerity. The writing is vivid; the characters jump off the page. Ultimately, the novel speaks to the courage it takes to fall in love. Friendship, for Muriel, has always been a dangerous, delicate thing. What I Carry makes the message clear: the hairbrush and floss in your suitcase are not the true essentials. Infinitely more important are the relationships you build. 

                                                                 

Review: Hide With Me

Hide With Me
by Sorboni Banerjee

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: November 6, 2018

HIDE WITH ME by Sorboni Banerjee is about a seventeen year old named Cade who finds a badly injured girl in the fields behind his house. She is clearly dying and she asks Cade to hide her. Throughout her recovery we find out about her life and how she got to this point. I had a fun time reading this book. The plot was entertaining and fast moving. The development of the connection between Cade and the girl (who is referred to as Jane Doe) was written very well. I liked the fact that the book was written from the perspective of Cade and Jane Doe. It added different layers to the book that I enjoyed a lot.

Review: The Fall of Innocence

The Fall of Innocence

by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: June 12, 2018

When 16-year-old Emilia was a child, she suffered a traumatic attack. In the years since, she's done her best to relegate her memory of those terrifying hours to a forbidden corner of her mind. Recently, she's found it harder and harder to ignore her pain. And when new information about the attack comes to light, she's forced to reconsider everything she thought she knew. 

THE FALL OF INNOCENCE is a heavy, unflinching journey into the depths of a girl's emotional turmoil. The author's tone is reflective and almost distanced. It's as if she wanted to give the reader time to contemplate. Ultimately, her beautiful, haunting prose does the brutal subject matter justice. 

Review: We'll Fly Away

We'll Fly Away
by Bryan Bliss

Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: May 8, 2018

WE'LL FLY AWAY by Bryan Bliss is the story of two best friends, Luke and Toby, and their senior year of high school. With the promise of a college wrestling scholarship for Luke, the two boys make their plans to leave their town, Toby’s abusive father, and Luke’s distant mother at the end of the school year. Carefully woven within the story of the boys’ year are Luke’s letters to Toby from death row. 

These letters ultimately allow readers to piece together the events leading up to Luke’s incarceration and complimented the other aspects of the novel well. However, the best part of reading WE'LL FLY AWAY was the vulnerability of each of the two main characters. This, along with the strength of the boys’ friendship made reading the novel and their growth apart from one another especially heartbreaking. 


Warnings: physical abuse 

Review: Someday, Somewhere

Someday, Somewhere
by Lindsay Champion

Publisher: KCP Loft
Publication Date: April 3, 2018

SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERE is about two cool teens takin’ on New York. Their names are Dominique and Ben, and they both appreciate jazz. Ben is a violinist. An amazing, high-strung, mischievously sexy violinist. Dominique wants to be a dancer. She danced when she was young, he played when he was even younger. She stopped for financial and social reasons, he didn’t. Dominique lives in Jersey, Ben, in the most "high-life" part of New York. She does something worthy of an episode of Crazy Ex-Gilfriend. She gets on the train–-the A Train, to be exact-–and tracks this boy down, a boy who she only met once before. She does not tell him where she comes from, or why she’s not seen around there often. He does something in return that is equally wildly romantic. I’m not going to tell you what it is, though. It’ll ruin the surprise. Trust me, it’s worth it. Even though the whole of “New York Dominique” is a lie, Ben isn’t picture perfect either, and his secret could be the one that tears them--not to mention him--apart.       

SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERE is a really good book. Every single book that I review happens to be good enough that I’ll buy it when it comes out-–or after if I’m lazy--to have in my own home library, and force my future adopted kids to read it. But especially this book. Dominique and Ben are the two of the most sympathetic protagonists I’ve read in a long time. And the book taught me something: privilege never leaves. It is everywhere. Unlike Dominique, I have never once heard from my parents that I cannot do exactly what I want to, for any reason. My plan in life is to own a chain of bed-and-breakfasts and be a writer. I’ve heard, and I am very well aware, that it will require 99% of my passion and time to have one bed-and-breakfast, not to mention a chain. I’ve heard that it will be hard. But I’ve never heard my least favorite word… "Impossible." I am a young white lady-appearing agender chicken nugget living in one of the most liberal cities in the U.S. I have a lot of privilege. It won’t get me all the way to my goals, but at least I’m in a position where I can have (slightly) feasible, actual goals, and not just pipe dreams. I’ve never heard, "You can’t. Not because I don’t want you to…we just can’t do it." Dominique has. You get used to what you’re given, I guess, so that could explain why, in general, Dominique is easy-going and joyous. She is critical of life, and for good reason, but she’s held onto her dream for this long, in her heart, in the back of her heart, and that is only something someone with a strong resolution can do. Ben is also strong, but in a completely different way – they match well. I put myself in his shoes with ease. I haven’t been through anything like he has, but y'know, everybody’s got somethin'. I empathize with him because he looks for art in the dark…and maybe that keeps him in the dark…but he is a shining light. Not all the way. But enough to be. Not "be happy," or "be perfect." Just…be.

Review: The Last to Let Go

The Last to Let Go
by Amber Smith

Publisher: Margaret K McElderry Books
Publication Date: February 6, 2018

When 16-year-old Brooke Winter arrives home from school one day to see her abusive father dead and her mother holding the murder weapon, she cannot begin to fathom all the ways her life is about to spiral out of control. Over the next year, she struggles to come to terms with her father’s death and her mother’s involvement in it. But she must also deal with all the problems, big and small, that characterize the life of your average 16-year-old: first kisses, first loves, breakups, schoolwork, friends. But she is not, and will never be, your average 16-year-old. For how long can she keep up the charade? 

Despite the dark subject matter, THE LAST TO LET GO is not a depressing read. It is funny, sweet, and ultimately hopeful. The author, Amber Smith, ensures the plot is not overshadowed by violence and despair. Brooke is a well-drawn character, complicated and multidimensional. She makes decisions that are so frustrating you will find it hard to keep reading, but you’ll also be so invested in her that you’ll force yourself to turn the pages. Smith’s prose flows easily. THE LAST TO LET GO is a completely worthwhile read.

Review: All We Can Do Is Wait

All We Can Do Is Wait
by Richard Lawson

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: February 6, 2018

ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT by Richard Lawson follows the different perspectives of a group of teenagers in the aftermath of a horrible tragedy. In a hospital waiting room in Boston, five strangers wait to hear news of their loved ones, and find solace in each other. Though taking course over a single night, their diverse pasts are explored, leading to realizations and breakthroughs on behalf of the characters. More than just a disaster story, ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT sheds a light on the effect of the relationships we have with others and the idea of unity in the face of catastrophe.

Lawson brings energy and excitement into each page, yet is able to keep the narrative grounded in reality. Each character is vastly different and allows for a multitude of experiences to be shown, and are all relatable in their own ways. The revelations that occur throughout the story are done in the most realistic and effective ways, creating dimensional portrayals of characters rather than used simply for dramatic effect. However, all the events are merely a backdrop to the connections they create with each other, the real star of the story. I loved this book and the way it conveyed emotions and relationships, and would highly recommend it!

Review: A Taxonomy of Love

A Taxonomy of Love
by Rachael Allen

Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: January 9, 2018

A TAXONOMY OF LOVE by Rachael Allen follows the blooming romance between Spencer, a young boy with Tourette’s who seeks to explain life through various scientific diagrams (taxonomies), and Hope, the girl who moves in next door. Told through time-jumps, we catch a glimpse of various points in their lives, and see them truly grow throughout the book. Despite how much time is covered in the novel, there’s a certain intimacy between the reader and the characters that’s often hard to achieve in novels with this sort of style; however, Allen manages it brilliantly. If you’re looking for a cute romance with quirky storytelling, be sure to give A TAXONOMY OF LOVE a read!

Review: Husky

Husky
by Justin Sayre

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Publication Date: September 22, 2015

In Justin Sayre’s debut novel HUSKY, Davis is a teen who’s in the final days of his last summer before high school, and worries about what he'll be perceived as (if he'll be known as “husky”), as well as whether the friendships he’s had since he was young will hold strong as they grow up. Davis loves opera, his mom, and by the end of the novel, you’ll love Davis. He feels like a genuine kid you’d want to be friends with, and protect at all costs. The humor in HUSKY stems from Davis’ one-hundred-percent authentic voice, which makes you feel like you’re being told a story by a close friend, rather than reading a novel. If you’re looking for a sweet, coming-of-age story, and a protagonist that you’ll want to root for the entire time, HUSKY is right up your alley.

Review: Pretty

Pretty
by Justin Sayre

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Publication Date: July 4, 2017

PRETTY by Justin Sayre discusses the meaning behind true beauty and true friendship. Sophie, the heroine of our story, struggles to balance her life at school as a popular, social girl and her life at home where she hides from her mother's alcohol addiction and abuse. Sophie is constantly being called “pretty”-- whether it's a compliment from a school friend or an insult from her mother-- but she doesn’t understand what the word means. Sophie’s social life becomes harder and harder to maintain. She has trouble interacting with her friends, her secrets increasingly drawing a rift between them. When her aunt comes to take care of her while her mother is away, Sophie begins to learn about her family’s past. Her aunt helps Sophie to express herself and do the things she loves. Sophie also realizes who her true friends are and is able to bridge the gap by opening up to them. With the help of her aunt and eventually her friends, Sophie is able to define herself: not as pretty, but as beautiful.

As a high school student, I read this and found it very enjoyable. Despite it being targeted towards a younger audience, I think it has a valuable message a person of any age can appreciate. The words used are simple and easy to understand but impactful, and the story is interesting and captivating. I recommend this book to kids in middle school but encourage older kids who are interested to enjoy this wonderful story as well.

Review: Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down
by John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young People
Publication Date: October 10, 2017

John Green has done what I thought was impossible: he has out-John Greened himself. This is TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN in a nutshell: an emotional tale riddled with obscure literary references that only someone who has read an entire library would understand, the quirky best friend(TM), and too many internal monologues to count ...and I loved every second of it. More than just a romance, or a look at teenage friendship, or a coming of age adventure, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN is about personal struggles with mental health and the inescapability of one's own mind. Aza, the main character, tries to live her life and not be controlled by her "thought spirals", but is held back by the very thing only she has control of: herself.

This book was a bit different from some of Green's other books, in that it was less plot based and more based on the internal emotions of the main character, but I think that he was really able to convey true and raw depth of the characters, especially Aza. His own personal experiences with mental health are visible through Aza; her struggles don't seem fake or exaggerated and are grounded in the roots of John Green's own fight. This is not a book to read passively; it demands a deep connection from the reader to actively root for and against the characters, often at the same time. Following the publication of this book, there is likely to be a trend in YA focusing on mental health, as seen in the effect of Green's other books after their releases, yet I doubt any of them will be able to match the caliber and power of TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. There were definitely some problems, don't get me wrong. The freedom of these 16 to 17 year olds to do whatever they wanted is highly implausible, and the lack of any actively responsible parental figures is a bit strange, but these are commonly overlooked in YA fiction, whether it be a misunderstanding of the lives of modern teens or the need to further the plot, but it doesn't have too much of a negative effect on the novel as a whole. I was really impressed at this book overall, and hope that John Green doesn't take as long to write his next one. 

Review: Once and for All

Once and for All
by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 6, 2017

Does true love only happen once? Sarah Dessen is back with ONCE AND FOR ALL, another well-crafted, heart-touching novel that seeks to answer just this question. Louna’s family has been in the wedding planning business for as long as she can remember, and somehow the romance of getting married just isn’t captivating when you’re the wizard behind the curtain. Plus, Louna is still recovering from the losing Ethan, the unquestionable love of her life. She thinks her story is over until Ambrose- a hyperactive, polysyllabic playboy- tries to convince her otherwise.

While the synopsis sounds cheesy, this book is anything but. The writing is beautifully exquisite, the characters rich and deeper than expected for a summer romance novel. The detail in the setting and plot is impeccable, and it’s impossible not to be drawn into Dessen’s world. Dessen does a unique job of addressing a stage of loss not often talked about: not grieving, but moving on.


 

Review: Words in Deep Blue

Words in Deep Blue
by Cath Crowley

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 6, 2017

WORDS IN DEEP BLUE by Cath Crowley is a delightfully John Green-esque narrative exploring the relationship between two recently reunited teenagers, Rachel and Henry, and the world surrounding them and the Howling Books bookstore. Once close childhood friends, a misunderstanding led them to lose touch when Rachel moved away. However, a personal tragedy causes her to return to the city, and to Henry as well. As both Henry and Rachel struggle with the chaos happening in their lives, their friendship slowly begins to piece back together, reigniting some long lost feelings and conflicts.

This book was a great read to kick off the summer, finding a perfect balance between lighthearted fluff and deep raw emotions, packed with genuine surprises and developed characters. Some of the best moments were not between Henry and Rachel, and actually came from side characters like Henry's sister and father. The story was realistic enough to not seem like a cheesy fairytale, but with just enough idealism to avoid becoming bleak. Crowley's tale is a refreshing jaunt from the stale YA romance hallmarks that are becoming cliche and boring, and was such a delight to read. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new take on classic YA storylines, or anyone who just wants a good book to enjoy.

 

Review: The Whole Thing Together

The Whole Thing Together
by Ann Brashares

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: April 25, 2017

Ray and Sasha live in the same house, share the same room, and sleep in the same bed...but they've never even met each other. Sasha's dad was once married to Ray's mom, but a bitter divorce has left the families splitting the same beachfront property (on alternating weekends) and three older daughters, but not much else. Their older daughters are determined to change this and bring the families back together, and Sasha and Ray are caught in the tidal wave of change that follows.

Back after her acclaimed SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS series, Ann Brashares pens a beautifully poignant novel about family, sorrow, and forgiveness in THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER. Each character is unique and well-crafted, every interaction powerful and distinct. While reflective and incredibly rich in both detail and depth, this novel still manages to be bright, funny, and engaging, making it unquestionably one of the best books of this year.