A heart-wrenching middle grade novel in verse about a genderqueer tween who loves the ocean and is forced to move when a hurricane destroys their homeA heart-wrenching middle grade novel in verse about a genderqueer tween who loves the ocean and is forced to move when a hurricane destroys their home. Taken in by relatives that live further inland, Murray misses the water and the magic they feel when they are close to it.
This book deals with homophobia, parental abandonment, climate change, displacement and more and may be heavy for some readers. Sadly many queer youth have to live in households with toxic caregivers who want to change them or don't accept them for who they are.
Luckily Murray's cousin and extended family are much more supportive, especially when the they both want to participate in a roller drag show. I loved the friendship, found family and queer rep in this book and thought it was great on audio narrated by Sarah Beth Pfeifer.
Recommended for fans of authors like Ronnie Riley, Robin Gow, Lisa Fipps or Kyle Lukoff. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
The latest book from a fav author, this was an incredibly moving and tender middle grade novel in verse about a young boy living with food and housingThe latest book from a fav author, this was an incredibly moving and tender middle grade novel in verse about a young boy living with food and housing insecurity who loses his grandmother and is then abandoned by his mother forced to survive on his own and rely on the kindness of strangers and teachers to get by. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like No fixed address by Susin Nielsen. HIGHLY recommended!!...more
A moving YA dual POV novel in verse that follows a young teen boy with extreme anxiety with a service dog who falls for a homeless Cuban American girlA moving YA dual POV novel in verse that follows a young teen boy with extreme anxiety with a service dog who falls for a homeless Cuban American girl. This book tackles some heavy issues including mental health, the death of a parent in the past, eco-activism and the life of being unhoused. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Wings in the wild (another great title by this author)!...more
This was a beautiful novel in verse YA coming of age story about two trans boys finding love and acceptance the year they graduate high school. Both bThis was a beautiful novel in verse YA coming of age story about two trans boys finding love and acceptance the year they graduate high school. Both boys also find inspiration and bond over learning there might have been two trans soldiers in the Civil war and adopt their names, Aaron and Oliver as their own. I absolutely loved this book about friendship, family, trans joy and so much with a great dose of American queer history to boot. Highly recommended, especially for fans of authors like Jonny Garza Villa or Tobly McSmith....more
A moving middle grade novel in verse about a young girl dealing with an absentee mother suffering from depression who decides to be the youngest persoA moving middle grade novel in verse about a young girl dealing with an absentee mother suffering from depression who decides to be the youngest person to finish a 12 mile open water swim in under six hours. Moving with great mental health rep this was another hit from a fav author that was also great on audio narrated by Caitlin Kelly!...more
An extremely heartfelt #ownvoices middle grade story in verse about a 13 year old boy struggling with anorexia, depression, anxiety, OCD and negative An extremely heartfelt #ownvoices middle grade story in verse about a 13 year old boy struggling with anorexia, depression, anxiety, OCD and negative self thoughts. Told as a series of journal entries as Jake enters a treatment facility and tries to get help in a clinical setting through group therapy and medication. This was raw and at times hard to read but such a necessary book and I really enjoyed that it looked at eating disorders from a male perspective and illustrated how it's an up and down journey to recovery that can take a lifetime. Great on audio and highly recommended!!...more
A moving YA coming of age novel in verse featuring a Sudanese American teen girl and her struggles to be a 'good daughter' while also wanting to do thA moving YA coming of age novel in verse featuring a Sudanese American teen girl and her struggles to be a 'good daughter' while also wanting to do the things average teen girls do. Things like hanging out with her friends (including boys), wearing what she wants and pursuing poetry as a career option. Things get complicated when one of her friend's mothers 'out' her to her own mother and she gets put under even stricter rules. Then she meets an older poet online and becomes involved with him only to start taking credit for her work. Full of strong emotions and hard life lessons, this is perfect for fans of authors like Elizabeth Acevedo and excellent on audio narrated by the author herself. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
An incredibly moving, debut coming of age #ownvoices YA story featuring a queer Cambodian American teen girl whose life gets turned upside down when hAn incredibly moving, debut coming of age #ownvoices YA story featuring a queer Cambodian American teen girl whose life gets turned upside down when her father is deported back to Cambodia and her mother goes with him, leaving her with her older sister who is busy planning her wedding.
Soma finds her voice in slam poetry and prepares to compete in her school's spoken word contest but her family life is stressful and navigating her sexuality is also complicated coming from a strictly religious family. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Elizabeth Acevado and Angie Thomas.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This was a standout debut and I look forward to reading more by this author!!
A powerful YA novel in verse about being Black and queer in America today. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Angie Thomas. Many thanA powerful YA novel in verse about being Black and queer in America today. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Angie Thomas. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review....more
What a HEARTWARMING middle grade novel in verse about a magical bookshop that selects the perfect book for the people who need them.
Told from the POVWhat a HEARTWARMING middle grade novel in verse about a magical bookshop that selects the perfect book for the people who need them.
Told from the POV of Annie, we experience her struggles with anxiety and worry for her two mothers who are concerned the store might need to close. Things get extra stressful when one book doesn't get picked up by the person it's been chosen for and the store starts 'acting out'.
Full of a great cast of queer characters (with an emphasis on a young non-binary child finding the courage to come out to their family), excellent mental health and disability rep (Annie has selective mutism, which manifests at times because of her anxiety) and a lovely magical realism element. I adored this book and know it will be a special one for young readers questioning their identities.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book by Meg Grehan and definitely won't be my last. I also really enjoyed the author interview included at the end, in which she discusses her own anxiety (particularly during the pandemic and her selective mutism experience)....more
A moving middle grade novel in verse about a young gymnast who struggles with her dyslexia and having a mother that doesn't want her to get tested or A moving middle grade novel in verse about a young gymnast who struggles with her dyslexia and having a mother that doesn't want her to get tested or admit her daughter might have a learning disability.
Great on audio and recommended for fans of books like Fish in a tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!...more
A moving middle grade novel about Drew and Mia, two twelve-year-olds who spend the summer running together as they cope with family challenges. I realA moving middle grade novel about Drew and Mia, two twelve-year-olds who spend the summer running together as they cope with family challenges. I really enjoyed the unique format of this book - told in alternating POVs between two friends with Drew's sections written in prose and Mia's sections written in verse. The story tackles tough topics (dying family members, money struggles, etc) and celebrates the power of friendship and finding the strength to persevere through difficult times. Good on audio too narrated by Mark Sanderlin and Charley Flyte. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
This was a really great middle grade novel in verse about two twin sisters who share a love of music but one suffers from extreme anxiety and self-harThis was a really great middle grade novel in verse about two twin sisters who share a love of music but one suffers from extreme anxiety and self-harming. I loved how the story switched between each sister's POV and thought the mental health rep was excellent. Highly recommended and great on audio!...more
Another moving #ownvoices middle grade novel in verse from the author of Inside out and back again. Told in journal entries over the course of a year,Another moving #ownvoices middle grade novel in verse from the author of Inside out and back again. Told in journal entries over the course of a year, the story picks up two years after Hà and her family settled in Alabama as refugees the Viet Nam war. In this book, the family moves again to Texas for her father's work and Hà has to make new friends and find a way to fit in. Great on audio and recommended for fans of Kelly Yang or Jane Kuo....more
A moving middle grade novel in verse about a young Taiwanese immigrant girl who came to America with her family and is finding it difficult to fit in A moving middle grade novel in verse about a young Taiwanese immigrant girl who came to America with her family and is finding it difficult to fit in or feel like she belongs. Great on audio and perfect for fans of Kelly Yang's Finally seen. I'm excited for the next companion volume coming out in June!...more
Loading...
