Mariam Sharma Hits the Road
by Sheba Karim
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
MARIAM SHARMA HITS THE ROAD by Sheba Karim is a profound, thoughtful, and above all, fun trek through the American south as three Pakistani-American teenagers go on the road trip of a lifetime. One is a passionate environmentalist trying to make peace with a father who abandoned her, one is a devout Muslim struggling to accept his own homosexuality, and one is an atheist thrown out of her house by Muslim parents after a scandalous photo of her makes its way to Times Square. Together, they are three emotionally messed up teenagers who are coming to terms with their lives and choices, all while on an often hilarious, always exciting trip from New Jersey to New Orleans. At its heart, MARIAM SHARMA HITS THE ROAD is a book addressing important issues such as Islamophobia, homophobia, parents, growing up, and being grateful for what you have.
A Lite Too Bright
by Samuel Miller
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 8, 2018
A LITE TOO BRIGHT by Samuel Miller is the story of Arthur Louis Pullman the Third. Arthur’s grandfather was an author and his only book became one of the most famous books ever written. But five years before Arthur the Third’s story takes place, his famous grandfather, severely disabled by dementia, sets off on a bizarre trip across the United States and turns up dead two thousand miles from where he began. At the beginning of the novel, Arthur Louis Pullman the Third discovers a clue left for him by his grandfather and begins on an adventure that would finally teach him the truth behind his grandfather’s life.
Miller’s debut novel was a delight; equal parts charming, intriguing, thrilling, and puzzling. Arthur’s journey is fast-paced and exciting, and Miller’s writing is extraordinary. Often incorporating bits of writing from the style of Arthur’s grandfather, Miller’s skillful writing pulled me in and kept me interested. The settings of the places Arthur visits are described so vividly, I felt like I was there with him. A LITE TOO BRIGHT is a figurative journey inside a literal journey, and Miller executes the story to perfection. In addition, the themes discussed in this novel are powerful and immensely meaningful, such as loss, healing, family, friendship. For any readers interested in mysteries, adventure, or just really good writing, A LITE TOO BRIGHT is a must read!
And She Was
by Jessica Verdi
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
AND SHE WAS is very much a traditional “go on life changing road trip with best friend who you may or may not have feelings for” book, but it is also so much more. Dara Baker is a very passionate tennis player who doesn’t have time for much other than being a very passionate tennis player, and spending time with her mom and apparently only friend, Sam. This is the guy who she goes on the life changing road trip with. Dara learns more about others than she does herself on this road trip, which is prompted by learning that her mom is transgender.
AND SHE WAS is one of the best books I’ve ever read – and for a good third of it, I hated the main character. This started on page 200 for me and didn’t really stop until Dara came all the way back home. When she was throwing up in the hotel… Serves you right. When she was thinking about how she couldn’t deal with her mother’s suicidal thoughts… Wow, someone else’s really hard time must be such a burden for you (sarcastic). Why am I such an unwavering critic of our adorable protagonist here? Because I agree with her friend Sam-- she is selfish, immature, and definitely unraveling.
Dara keeps saying her anger with her mother isn’t about “the trans thing,” oh, but it is. Contradictory to my dislike of the “hero,” I actually have extremely high levels of sympathy. I am a sensitive soul. I care. For Mellie, and Sam. (And Bob.) I am nonbinary. Trans issues are very important to me. Dysphoria, mental health, the will to sacrifice your money when you shouldn’t have to, parents and friends having varying levels of acceptance and otherwise, all of it. I don’t like Dara much because she seems unwilling to grasp true fear, to really understand, to listen, even just enough to actually care. When she says this herself in the last few chapters, I sigh with relief. Finally.
This book touched me so deeply, it made me cry. I love Mellie. There are too many Mellies in this world, and way too many Daras and Ruths. My mother is a wonderful, liberal, tries-really-hard-to-accept version of Ruth. “Honestly, we were thrilled,” Ruth says on page 235, “We thought Marcus was a lovely boy…” My mother, and Ruth, both have no problems with “the trans community” to its face, but will ask, “C’mon. Why is all that necessary?” Why? “Isn’t is better to accept yourself?” Isn’t it? “Aren’t you proud of being a boy/girl?” I’m not not proud! Imagine being the thing people constantly question. Jessica Verdi gets it. She gets it enough to write about it. I love this book. Read this book.
Stranger Than Fanfiction
by Chris Colfer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
STRANGER THAN FANFICTION by
Chris Colfer is a coming-of-age novel that makes deeper connections
to friendship, sexuality, and the true meaning of fame. The story
follows four friends obsessed with Wiz Kids, a hit television series
starring actor Cash Carter. As a joke, the friends invite Carter on a
road trip, but when he accepts, they find themselves immersed in a
narrative that reveals hidden truths about Carter and each other.
While I thought that this novel was well-written overall, I felt that
some of the characters could have used more development. The
storyline incorporated a diverse cast of characters in terms of race
and sexuality, but it did sometimes feel as if certain stereotypes
were reinforced rather than disproved. Overall, though, this was a
book with a light plot and some more rich insights. I would caution
readers that it contains repeated, explicit references to alcohol,
sex, and drug use, so it is probably most appropriate for more mature readers.
