The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson – New YA Fiction JACKSON When Springville residents–at least the ones still alive–are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation . . . Maddy did it. An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. Think Stephen […]
Contrary to popular belief, Hanukkah is NOT the most important holiday in Judaism. Going by importance rankings, Rosh Hashanah (9/25-9/27) and Yom Kippur (10/4-10/5) are the big holidays for Jews — like how Christmas and Easter are the big holidays for Christians. Jewish public school students do not get Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur off from school in the same […]
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo she can’t trust, but who may be Alex’s only chance […]
Read for a Lifetime is a statewide reading program from the Illinois Center for the Book that targets high school students. This initiative promotes the enjoyment of reading by encouraging students to read both classic and contemporary literature, and rewards them for their efforts. By participating in the program, students develop a love of books and reading that will last […]
The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimmons 15-year-old Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother, and a David Beckham in training. He’s also transgender. After transitioning at his old school leads to a year of isolation and bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio. At Oakley, Spencer seems to have […]
It’s a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories by various authors From stories of confronting their relationships with Judaism to rom-coms with a side of bagels and lox, It’s a Whole Spiel features one story after another that says yes, we are Jewish, but we are also queer, and disabled, and creative, and political, and adventurous, and anything […]
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings: 15 Retellings of Asian Myths and Legends by Various Authors Fifteen authors of Asian descent reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia, in short stories ranging from fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge. The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui An intimate […]
A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi After their home in Syria is bombed, Tareq, his father, and his younger sister seek refuge, first with extended family in Raqqa, a stronghold for the militant group, Daesh, and then abroad. I Remember Beirut by Zeina Abirached Zeina Abirached was born in Lebanon in 1981. She grew up […]
Teen Books The Chosen One: A First Generation Ivy League Odyssey by Echo Brown There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn’t keep. The campus […]
Traitor by Amanda McCrina In 1944, the Polish city of Lwów has been liberated from Germany but is caught among the insurgent armies of several countries and its resistance fighter; in this city, loyalty comes second to self-preservation. In order to eat, Tolya joins the Red Army but is rescued by Ukrainian freedom fighters after he murders a Soviet officer in […]
