Exit West
by Mohsin Hamid
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Publication Date: March 7, 2017
I have never read another book quite like Mohsin Hamid’s novel EXIT WEST. In a magical realism style, Hamid skillfully paints the picture of a country in the midst of a brutal civil war and the plight of two refugees to escape their country. The novel centers around Nadia and Saeed, two people who could not be more different. Nadia is wild and unrestrained, riding a motorcycle and smoking pot on her balcony. Saeed is gentle and kind. As the unlikely duo begin a whirlwind relationship, refugees across the world discover “doors” that, when walked through, transport them to a different place in the world. A beautifully clever metaphor for the struggles of refugees, these doors start to become international news and some “nicer” countries begin to place guards in front of them to prevent people from entering their country. As Saeed and Nadia’s story intersects that of the magical doors, all is to be revealed and much is to be learned. EXIT WEST is a wonderfully original book that will stick in the minds of any reader for weeks after.
Hope and Other Punchlines
by Julie Buxbaum
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Julie Buxbaum’s newest novel, HOPE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES, tells the tale of resilient Abbi Goldstein. Abbi is fifteen years old and is desperately trying to get out of the shadow of the “Baby Hope” photo, taken of her on her first birthday, September 11th, as the Twin Towers collapsed in the background. The photograph, invented by the author, became very famous and was seen as a portrait of hope in times of despair. In an attempt to shake off this legacy that has become too much to bear, Abbi decides to be a summer camp counselor where she hopes no one will recognize her. Alas, her summer might not go the way she wanted. Medical concerns, family trouble, blackmail, turbulent friendships, and a boy all stand between her and her perfect summer of anonymity.
This book was a very quick read for me. The dual perspectives of Abbi and fellow camp counselor Noah keep things moving and provide alternate outlooks on the same events. Buxbaum does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life in a very realistic way, and I found myself truly caring about what happened to them. All together, HOPE AND OTHER PUNCH LINES is a poignant and meaningful novel about moving on, accepting your legacy, and the importance of hope. While this was not my favorite book, there is a lot to like about it.
White Rose
by Kip Wilson
Publisher: Versify
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Author Kip Wilson has created a beautiful portrait of resistance in the face of grave danger with WHITE ROSE. Written in verse, this novel is a brilliant retelling of the boldness displayed by a young group of German students who put their lives on the line in order to fight for what they believed in. Told from the point of view of Sophie Scholl, the only known girl in the White Rose Nazi resistance group, the novel explores the concept of freedom and what the consequences of passivity are.
If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this book. While I am typically wary of books that are not in prose form, I could not have been more pleased with the way WHITE ROSE was written. The poetry and negative space lend themselves so well to the telling of this story that, at times, I forgot I was reading poetry at all. Not only is WHITE ROSE a heartbreaking true story, the message it conveys also feels eerily modern. Sophie is constantly preaching the importance of standing out in the face of injustice. I was both deeply moved and deeply disturbed by this novel, and sincerely encourage any reader to give it a chance. After all, you might just finish it feeling inspired to spark change - much like Sophie Scholl.
XL
by Scott Brown
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 26, 2019
In his moving new novel, Scott Brown tells the story of 4’11” Will Daughtry. With best friend and stepbrother Drew and longtime crush Monica at his side, Will is set to conquer the world in spite of his short stature. But on the day of his sixteenth birthday, nothing goes right for Will and he is left wondering if he is destined to be invisible for the rest of his life. Then, against all odds, Will starts to grow. And grow. And grow. Suddenly, he’s no longer invisible. But that comes with its own set of problems, problems that Will must overcome with the help of his best friends. XL is a heartwarming novel about what a pain it is to grow up and how to embrace change.
It felt somewhat ironic that I, a 6’3” sixteen year old, was reading this book. I’ve never had to deal with the problem of being short, and so my eyes were really opened by Will’s strife. Throughout XL, I was rapt, each chapter leaving me more engaged with the story and yearning to find out more. The book’s only downfall was an ending that left me wanting just a bit more. Despite this, XL was a fantastic book, filled with humor, intelligence, and irrefutable truths. Let’s just say that the next book I read will have some big shoes to fill.
Internment
by Samira Ahmed
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 19, 2019
Samira Ahmed, author of LOVE, HATE, AND OTHER FILTERS, follows up her bestselling novel with a hard-hitting, startling dystopian thriller. INTERNMENT is the story of a society that has begun to detain Muslim citizens and place them in an internment camp. As horrible as that sounds, the description of the book describes it as just “in the near future.” INTERNMENT follows the reaction of a young girl, Layla, to the horribly Islamophobic times in which she is stuck. In this internment camp, Layla teams up with a group of unlikely heroes in an attempt to expose the camp to the entire nation. Along the way, she learns a lot about faith, identity, and what it means to stand up for yourself in times of strife.
This was a deeply impactful novel. Ahmed does not hold back in her description of the atrocities committed by the internment camp, and because of this, I found myself rooting for the characters more than most books I read. I feel like INTERNMENT was such an emotional novel because even though it was dystopian, it built itself upon a realistic base. Layla’s situation is much like one that could be on the news today. Even more so, I was alerted to my own passivity through Layla’s representation of the American people standing idly in their own positions of privilege, only caring about an event for a news cycle or two. In the end, INTERNMENT was incredibly successful in baring some very deep truths all the while giving the reader a character to root for with whom they can identify.
The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried
by Shaun David Hutchinson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 19, 2019
Shaun David Hutchinson’s newest novel, THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED, is a stunning portrait of friendship and love in the face of loss. There are many things that can be said about this novel, but one thing you cannot say is that it is a young adult trope. In an age where it feels every YA book has the same plot, this novel is a delightful exception. A young adult, aptly named Dino, is working at his family’s funeral home when his ex-best friend July, who died, suddenly comes back to life in front of him. In a whirlwind of a night, Dino and July must come to terms with their hatred of each other and learn to value the important things in life.
This was the first Hutchinson book I’ve read, and upon finishing it, I immediately went searching for another book of his to read. He has an inexplicable talent for storytelling and not for a second did I want to put this book down. It was a thrilling read that kept me interested throughout while expanding on the relationship between Dino and July in a fascinating manner. Hutchinson writes with such emotional precision that I never doubt for a second that the characters are real, despite the unlikelihood of someone rising from the dead. In the end, THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED is a wonderful book with a wildly original concept that is a must-read for lovers of young adult fiction.
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
by Ben Philippe
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
In Ben Philippe’s sharp-tongued and witty debut, we follow the misadventures of Canadian-turned-Texan Norris Kaplan as he careens throughout life, work, and love. Norris has just been displaced from his native city of Montreal and is forced to adapt to life in the sweltering heat of Austin, Texas. It is by no means an easy transition, and Norris records his musings and snide remarks in a notebook given to him by the school guidance counselor. In no time at all, Norris has a best friend, a part-time job, and a love interest. But how long before he screws it all up?
This charming debut has the heart and fast pacing to land itself on the bookshelves of teens across the country. Norris is a quirky and relatable teen who, despite being unlikable on occasion, is fully capable of carrying this novel. The other characters are fully defined and interesting, with no shortage of internal conflicts. The place where this novel comes up a bit short in is originality - it falls into quite a few cliches, especially those surrounding high school and love triangles. In the end, THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE NORTH AMERICAN TEENAGER is a fun and enjoyable read.
Your Own Worst Enemy
by Gordon Jack
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
It’s election season, and three candidates are putting everything on the line to win student body president in the charming new novel by Gordon Jack, author of THE BOOMERANG EFFECT. There is Stacey, the goody two shoes, overly-confident, and compost-friendly candidate, who, until recently, thought she was running unopposed. That’s when Julia Romero comes in, the rebellious new girl from Canada whose last-minute decision to run has caused a major flurry amongst the school. Finally, there’s Tony, the voice of the little guy. When he’s not stoned, he’s actively campaigning to bring back his favorite chocolate milk to the school cafeteria. What’s going to happen next? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out.
YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY is a delightful and hilarious take on high school politics. Not only is it laugh out loud funny, at times it eerily reflects the politics of today. I finished this 400+ page novel in just under a week, wrapped up in the lives of the characters and desperate to find out how they would get themselves out of each well set up disaster. YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY is a light and easy read that, while sometimes falling into YA cliches, keeps itself set apart from the crowd with wit and humor that we could all use a bit more of in politics.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea
by Taherah Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Tahereh Mafi’s stunning new novel A VERY LARGE EXPANSE OF SEA chronicles the story of high schooler Shirin, a strong young woman whose life has never been easy due to her family’s constant moving and her daily choice to wear a hijab. It’s 2002, one year after 9/11, and Shirin is constantly being bullied, stared at, threatened, or worse. Enter Ocean. The seemingly perfect love interest is the first person in a long time who really wants to get to know Shirin. It’s through Ocean’s kindness and her love of breakdancing that Shirin is able to make it through another year.
A VERY LARGE EXPANSE OF SEA is a beautiful novel, with addictive prose from Shatter Me series author Tahereh Mafi and irresistibly lovable characters. This book has such soul and such heart, that it is near impossible to put down. I encourage you to pick up this book and jump into a whirlwind story of love, hate, and everything in between that will leave you feeling that there is some good left in the world.
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree
by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: September 4th, 2018
BURIED BENEATH THE BAOBAB TREE is an extremely relevant novel, stirring up feelings and opinions on an important story rarely given attention. The heinous group of terrorists known as Boko Haram has been forcing its radical views of the Islamic religion onto Nigerian citizens since 2002. This sets up the premise of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s outstanding debut novel. The protagonist and narrator of BURIED BENEATH THE BAOBAB TREE is a young Nigerian girl who values nothing more than her family and her education. When her village is taken by Boko Haram, she is torn away from everyone and everything she loves, except her best friend, who is taken alongside her.
Nwaubani’s striking tale of what happened following the kidnapping left me awestruck and to be honest, horrified. I will say that I have never been more shocked by the meaning of a novel’s title. In all, BURIED BENEATH THE BAOBAB TREE is an important and extremely well-written novel. Split into very short and easy to read chapters, the flow of the novel is smooth and quick. I recommend this novel to readers 14 and over, due to mature themes and graphic content.
I Am Still Alive
by Kate Marshall
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 24, 2018
I AM STILL ALIVE is a masterfully constructed novel following the life of teenage girl Jess after a series of disastrous events started by the murder of her father leave her stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness. Jess must survive in a foreign land with nothing except a few tools and an ever faithful dog at her side. But Jess is also focused on surviving so that she can enact a revenge plot against the murderer of her father. A survival story plus a revenge plot plus a strong female protagonist. What’s not to like?
With her debut novel, author Kate Marshall is sure to have created a thriller novel that sets the tone for the rest of her career. Jess’s rollercoaster ride of trials and errors kept me fascinated throughout the entirety of the book, and oftentimes I became so entranced with the intricately woven story that I would forget it wasn’t real. The emotions Jess goes through are reflected on the reader, leaving me at times breathless, and at other times, heartbroken. I recommend I AM STILL ALIVE to readers teenaged and older, due to graphic content.
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.
We Are All That's Left
by Carrie Arcos
Publisher: Philomel
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
WE ARE ALL THAT’S LEFT by Carrie Arcos is an unflinching look at the terror of war and in contrast, the lasting power of love. The story switches back and forth between the life of Zara in present-day Rhode Island and the childhood of her mom, Nadja, in the midst of the Bosnian War two decades prior. After a terror attack at a local farmer’s market leaves Zara injured and her mom in a coma, Zara races to find out more about her mom’s hidden past and to rebuild her life on an unstable foundation.
In WE ARE ALL THAT’S LEFT, Arcos has intricately woven together two unique but related storylines. The characters are believable and the plot is set at an excitingly rapid pace, keeping the story going while still advancing the character development. The story and writing of WE ARE ALL THAT’S LEFT make it into a thrilling, remarkable novel with a powerful message of love and all of the forms it can come in. I recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction, gripping storylines, or strong heroines.
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!
MUNMUN
by Jesse Andrews
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: April 3, 2018
Jesse Andrews’ latest novel, MUNMUN, delves into a dystopian world where a person’s height directly corresponds to their wealth, or “munmun.” The richest in the world stand at skyscraper height while the poorest are the size of mere rats. Warner and his sister, Prayer, are littlepoors, the very smallest of the citizens. After the accidental murder of their father, Warner and Prayer set off to try and find Prayer a wealthy husband who will share his wealth and “scale up” Warner’s family. And so begins an epic adventure of hope, humor, and important motifs that are far more serious than how they are presented.
Personally, I enjoyed MUNMUN. Andrews describes this made up world with such precision that I began to believe that it really existed. The roller-coaster ride of Warner and Prayer kept me on the edge of my seat--well, bed--and kept me happily turning the page. The syntax of this book is unique in that many words are pushed together, all acronyms are spelled out phonetically, and more. While it is hard to get used to at first, this style of writing perfectly encapsulates the narrator, Warner. Despite having an ending that left much to be desired, MUNMUN is a well-written, passionate book about the struggles of the poor that I recommend to any interested readers.
Here So Far Away
by Hadley Dyer
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: March 20, 2018
Meet George. Her real name is Frances, but no one calls her that. George is your typical high school senior; she drinks, she parties, she stresses out about college. However, when George gets isolated from her best friends after a sudden falling out, her life is dramatically changed. After being estranged from her friends, George goes to work for a benign 82-year-old and his messy house, farm, and pet pig. Through this work, George becomes closer to the town’s newcomer, Francis. Their bond grows past their shared name, which eventually raises many issues, such as a large age gap and the fact that Francis works for George’s father. With a second half full of twists and turns, HERE SO FAR AWAY by Hadley Dyer is a very enjoyable and exciting book.
Despite her reliance on young adult book cliches, Dyer manages to turn a somewhat plain storyline into something that rises above similar books. Through strong writing, addictive subplots, and down to earth characters, HERE SO FAR AWAY is a book that would definitely be enjoyed by most. With a strong sense of nostalgia throughout, Dyer roped me in from the get-go. Despite originally being hesitant about its less-than-original premise, I was thoroughly surprised and even impressed by this roller coaster tale of redemption, unrequited love, grief, and ultimately, the power of friendship.
When Light Left Us
by Leah Thomas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: February 13, 2018
WHEN LIGHT LEFT US by Leah Thomas is a thrilling, contemporary novel that is incredibly hard to put down. When the father of Milo, Ana, and Hank Vasquez inexplicably deserted his family, the three siblings were suddenly left with a gaping hole in their lives. But in the darkness of their backyard one summer night, that hole was filled. A foreign, shimmering light entered into the three bodies of the Vasquez children and slowly took control of their actions. After doing irreversible damage on the three children, this light abandons them, much like their father. When the light left them, the children were forced them to embrace the things that made them human and learn to live again without the alien presence that they had become so familiar with.
WHEN LIGHT LEFT US took my breath away. Leah Thomas brilliantly captured the separate thoughts and personalities of three very different children while characterizing them in such a way that I forgot they weren’t actually real. The setting was designed in a way that made me feel like I too was in rural New Mexico. At its heart, WHEN LIGHT LEFT US is not an alien book, it is a coming-of-age story about how an alien presence forever changed the perspectives of a family. In the end, this is an utterly engrossing story that I never wanted to end.
A Land of Permanent Goodbyes
by Atia Abawi
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: January 23, 2018
A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES by Atia Abawi is more than just a historical fiction book - it’s a journey. Narrated by the omniscient ‘Destiny’, A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES chronicles the riveting journey of Syrian teenager Tareq, starting from the moment when everything he knows and loves literally implodes around him. From that point on, he becomes a refugee from the war torn country he loves so much. Alongside his father and little sister, the only surviving members of his family, Tareq must put his life in danger time and time again in an attempt to find refuge for himself and his family in Europe.
From the very first chapter, I fell in love with A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES. It is undoubtedly the kind of book that will rip your heart out, stomp on it, and yet still leave you begging for the story not to end. Throughout the course of Tareq’s journey, I was enthralled with the colorful and beautifully realistic array of characters Abawi described, stunned by the honest scenes of hopelessness and desperation, and hypnotized by the kindness shown by some as well as the hatred shown by others. Tareq’s journey was incredibly moving and difficult to put down due to the authors suspenseful writing and smooth transitions. Ultimately, A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES was a captivating novel that was written with such precision and emotion that it will likely become a bar for all future historical fiction novels for me.
Millard Salter's Last Day
by Jacob M. Appel
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: November 7, 2017
It’s psychiatrist Millard Salter’s 75th birthday, and he’s got big plans. He is going to hang himself. Not because he’s depressed or ill--simply because he feels that he is at an age where he has lived his life to the fullest and doesn’t want to face the frailty and isolation that comes hand in hand with old age. In MILLARD SALTER'S LAST DAY, Jacob M. Appel brings readers along on the whirlwind of an adventure that Millard’s final day turns into. While tying up the loose ends of his long life, Millard encounters a wild lynx, a myriad of cumbersome coworkers, a good for nothing son, and much more. Millard’s day culminates in an event that may just make him change his mind about how it will end.
I loved this book. The characters are very realistic and by the end of the book, I cared about them all. Taking place all in one day, MILLARD SALTER'S LAST DAY was incredibly hard to put down as it moved fast and kept me on the edge of my seat. While the author frequently went on rants unrelated to the storyline and added some unnecessary backstories, his ideas and thoughts about how a 75-year-old man would think and act on his last day is fascinating. All in all, this book is a thought-provoking coming of age novel as well as an ode to how valuable life is.
Satellite
by Nick Lake
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
SATELLITE by Nick Lake follows the narrative of 15-year-old Leo and his friends Orion and Libra as they make the transition from living in space to going ‘home’ to Earth for the first time. Having been born on a satellite that orbits Earth, the trio is forced to navigate the challenges of living on an unfamiliar planet that turns out to be much less welcoming than they’d hoped.
While this book was emotionally compelling and had plenty of depth, it was written in ‘text-speak’ which replaces words like “you”, “see”, or “someone” with “u”, “c”, and “some1”. This is certainly unique, but it makes the book frustrating to read and made me feel like I was reading the text messages of a kid who hadn’t learned how to spell out full words yet. The author also uses lots of complicated space terms without ever explaining what they are, leaving the reader feeling out of the loop. However, SATELLITE’s concept was very interesting and it felt so much deeper than lots of other Sci-Fi books I’ve read. In all, this book has the potential to be something truly amazing for people that aren’t bothered by lack of complete words. I recommended this book for ages 14 and above due to inappropriate language.
