Week 14: Nutritious Books!

I think there are many books out there that could be used in the classroom because of how rich and thought-provoking they are. A lot of historical fiction books are like that, which is why I enjoy the genre so much. Here are some YA books I found this week that I think could work well in a classroom.

Title: The Librarian of Auschwitz
Author: Antonio Iturbe
Summary: Dita Kraus is a fourteen-year-old girl imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II, there she witnesses the horrors of the concentration camp but also takes part in protecting eight books that become the library of Auschwitz.
Where the book was found: Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library
Why you chose it to be highlighted: There are many books that tell the horrific story of the Holocaust either through fiction such as The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or through non-fiction such as Night by Elie Wiesel. This book is a mixture of both. Dita Kraus is a real person who actually was imprisoned in Auswchwitz when she was a young girl. The author interviewed Dita and researched more about the topic to create story that is fictional but is based on Dita's real experiences in the concentration camp. I think this would be a great book for students to read because of the descriptions of the camp and the horrifying things that occurred there. A lot of research went into this book and I think a class could have a discussion about the Holocaust.

Title: The Night Diary
Author: Veera Hiranandani
Summary: Nisha is twelve-years-old girl who is half-Hindu and half-Muslim living in what was India in 1947. The country has been split into two countries India and Pakistan and Nisha struggles with knowing where she belongs.
Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble
Why you chose it to be highlighted: I came across this book at the store and didn't really know what it was about before I read a little bit. I think there certain periods in history that are written about a lot, while others may be not written about as much. This book takes place two years after World War II when imperialism is starting to come to an end. Britain gives India its independence and a result of this is is the creation of two separate countries, India and Pakistan. Nisha is living through this new division and I think her story is a different point of view to read about. This sounds like it could a be a really good book to include in a history class that is discussing the end of World War II and the results from the war.

Title: Refugee 
Author: Alan Gratz
Summary: Told in three different perspectives from three different time periods, this story describes the hardships three kids who seek refuge from their homelands.
Where the book was found: Cabot Street Books
Why you chose it to be highlighted: I visited a local bookstore this weekend and this is one of the books I had to purchase. I have seen this book in the store I work at and it has been flying off the shelf. This is a story about three kids leaving their homes because of the unrest or persecution they face there. One boy, Josef, is living in Nazi Germany and must escape because he is Jewish and is faced with the possible threat of being sent to a concentration camp. Then there's Isabel who is living in Cuba in 1994 when civil unrest is occurring and she must flee to find a home that is more stable. And finally in 2015 there is the perspective of Mahmoud who is living in Syria in 2015 who is facing war and destruction in his country. I think immigration and helping those seeking refuge is a major current event. This would be a great book to address the topic of immigration and what it means for people.


Title: The 57 Bus
Author: Dashka Slater
Summary:This book tells the true story of two teenagers, Sasha and Richard, living in Oakland, CA. They come from two different communities and have two different lives. Sasha is lit on fire on the bus and this book chronicles the events leading up to it and the events after.
Where the book was found: My bookshelf
Why you chose it to be highlighted: I just started reading this book this weekend because I have seen it on Goodreads and I saw that it won the Stonewall Book Award. This book is non-fiction but I definitely think it could be considered a "nutritious" book because of the discussion of gender identity, class, race, and so many other topics. I think gender identity is a big theme that isn't really talked about and this book could start a really good conversation about it.

Week 13: Scary Books!

This week has made me realize I read a lot of scary books. I read lot of fantasy books that could be considered scary because of some the situations with zombies or demons, but I also read a lot realistic fiction that deal with tough issues. I tried to find a mix of scary books at the library this week.

Title: Girl in Pieces

Author: Kathleen Glasgow

Summary: 17-year-old Charlotte (Charlie) is in the process of recovering from years of abuse, which eventually led to her self-harm and attempting to kill herself. 

Where the book was found: Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library 

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I heard about this book when it first came out but never got around to reading it. I've actually started to read a little bit of it today and I'm already sucked in. Charlie has gone through a lot of trauma in her life and she tried to deal with it by cutting. However, the cutting soon wasn't enough and Charlie attempted to commit suicide. When the story begins the Charlie is in some sort of recovery center that is trying to help her understand and deal with the trauma that she has gone through. I think self-harm is a major problem with teens and it is hard to approach the subject. Self-harm is also an act that can be hidden well but having books that contain stories about it could be really beneficial to teens. A book like this could help teens speak out about their trauma and perhaps get help.

Title: The Hazel Wood 

Author: Melissa Albert

Summary: Alice is a 17-year-old girl who has always lived on the road with her mother to avoid the bad luck that always finds them. Alice's grandmother is an author of some dark fairy tales and these stories seem to come to life once her grandmother dies and her mother is kidnapped. 

Where the book was found: Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library 

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I found this book on the new releases cart and I have seen is on Goodreads as well. I finally read the inside cover and a few pages and was really intrigued. The story isn't as creepy in the beginning but once you get to some of the stories that Alice's grandmother wrote you feel the creepiness. I think this would be a good book to include in a library because some fantasy books can be considered scary and this is one of them. This seems like a fun book mixed with a little horror that teens could enjoy. 

Title: Teach Me To Forget

Author: Erica M. Chapman

Summary: Ellery is a teenage girl that has decided to commit suicide. She tries to shoot herself in the head but the gun jams, ruining her plan.

Where the book was found: Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library 

Why you chose it to be highlighted: Young adult books that deal with suicide and depression are tough to read at times. However, these books can be beneficial to teens who are going through the same problems. In this book Ellery was set to kill herself and at the last moment her plan was ruined. It is scary to read about someone who has reached the point where they want to end it all but it is also important to include books like this in your library. Teens who feel like this may read them and relate to the stories or teens who don't feel like this can perhaps understand what some of their peers may be fighting against. 

Title: All The Rage

Author: Courtney Summers

Summary: Romy Grey is a teenage girl who lives in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Romy was raped by the "golden boy" in town a year ago and no one believed her. Throughout the book she deals with her trauma and the bullying she faces from her community.

Where the book was found: My bookshelf.

Why you chose it to be highlighted: When I read the articles this week and understood what scary books could be my mind instantly went to All the Rage. This is a really horrifying and gut-wrenching book about a young girl's trauma after being raped by her town's golden boy, the sheriff's son. Romy deals with her trauma by trying to forget and move on from all that she went through. But her thoughts still stick around. Her feelings are hard to read at times and the way people treat her is just horrible. This is a powerful book about sexual assault and rape and would be beneficial for a library. 

Week 12: Geeky Books!

I have loved science fiction and fantasy for a very long time. I haven't been reading as much from these genres because it came to the point where I just needed a break. I think we all go through different genre moods, and my fantasy/sci-fi mood has lasted for the past four years. Time for change! But I was glad to revisit these books this weeks because I was reminded why I liked these genres so much. I took a look around my library and Barnes and Noble again to look at some titles in fantasy/sci-fi that I haven't read or knew much about yet! Here they are! 

Title: Children of Blood and Bone

Author: Tomi Adeyemi

Summary: Zélie Adebola is a young girl living in Orïsha where magic has disappeared and king turned dictator has taken control. Zélie is on a quest to restore magic to the land and must fight against the monarchy to do this. 

Where the book was found: Ipswich High/Middle School Library

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I have been seeing this book all over Goodreads for the past month. Last week my boss gave me a stack of books to put dust jackets on and this was one of them! I decided to read the inside cover and some reviews online. The book is a blend of fantasy and West-African mythology and follows a young girl named Zélie  in her quest to restore magic to her country. The plot sounds a little similar to Throne of Glass but I think the influence of West African mythology and folklore sets it apart from other fantasy books. I think it's a great addition to a high school library because we don't see a lot of YA books that contain African mythology. I am definitely going to read this soon! 

Title: The Astonishing Color of After

Author: Emily X.R. Pan

Summary: Leigh's mother has recently committed suicide and has turned into a bird. Leigh travels to Taiwan to meet and learn more about her mother's family. 

Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I haven't heard that much about this book but I picked it up at the store to take a look at it. This is another YA fantasy book that includes elements from different mythologies and folktales. This book could be categorized as magical realism, which I find to be different from other fantasy books. Magical realism is a genre where a story has some fantasy elements but also has a lot of realistic fiction elements as well. Another major point in it is Leigh's mother's suicide, which is a difficult topic to touch on. This seems like a really important and emotional book that mixes both themes of mental health and mythology that creates a powerful story.

Title: Munmun

Author: Jesse Andrews

Summary: Warner and his sister live in world where your physical size and height is determined from your wealth. They have no money and must figure out how to acquire wealth to grow. 

Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I was taking down a display that included this book and it immediately interested me because I saw it was by Jesse Andrews who wrote Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl. However, this book seems like it's written by a completely different author. It always interests me when an author who usually writes realistic fiction writes a fantasy novel because it seems so out of their comfort zone. However, I think this is a good thing because it expands Andrew's audience and pulls people in who haven't really give the fantasy genre a try. The concept of the book is interesting and from the small blurb I read Andrews' humor is definitely present in the book. I think this would be a good book to include in a school library because the combination of humor and fantasy could draw teens in who may be a little reluctant to read a fantasy book.

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Summary: Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's Assasin, is an eighteen-year-old girl who has been imprisoned because of the betrayal of her master. She is released from Endovier so that she can compete in a competetion to become the King of Adarlan's personal assassin. 

Where the book was found: My Bookshelf. 

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I really couldn't get through this post without including Throne of Glass. I think this is an amazing book series that everyone should take the time to read. There is action, adventure, romance, and just an amazing group of characters that you fall in love with. Every book in the series something happens that you don't expect, this series keeps you on your toes. I recommend this book to teens and adults who are looking for a fantasy book or just a great book series to read. I think the books touches on some major themes like different social issues and traumas that readers could relate to. The last book comes out in October, which will be both a happy and sad day. I don't want this series to end! 

Week 11: Romantic Books

I had to work at Barnes and Noble today so I decided to take a look at the YA Romance section before I left for the day. I have always been very familiar with the YA section, but I did find a couple teen romance books that I hadn't heard of. I definitely want to read these soon! 

Title: Girl Out of Water

Author: Laura Silverman

Summary: Anise Sawyer has lived in Santa Cruz, California for her whole life but after he aunt gets in an accident she must move to Nebraska to help take care of her and her three cousins. It is there that Anise will learn more about her absent mother and develop a relationship with a boy named Lincoln. 

Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I had never heard of this book before I saw it today, hidden on a bottom shelf. While the book does have a romance between Anise and Lincoln, there is more going on. Anise has to move away from the place she's lived her entire life to somewhere very different. She had the freedom to act like a typical teenager in California but when she moves to Nebraska she must take on the role of parent to help take care of her cousins. Along with this, Anise also has to deal with living in the house where her mother grew up, who hasn't had a stable and prominent part in Anise's life. I think a lot of teens that have family issues or have had a role in raising their siblings could benefit from reading this book. The romance is apart of this story as well but I think there are a lot of other issues that are going in this book that would be beneficial for teens to read. In some ways this books reminds me of The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. I really want to read this soon!

Title: Literally

Author: Lucy Keating

Summary: Annabelle is a teenage girl who learns that she is a character in a book and deals with knowing she isn't in control of her life and who she falls in love with.

Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I hadn't heard of this book before I saw it today. I read a few pages and it seemed like a cute and funny story. I think the concept is interesting with the author writing herself into her own book and telling Annabelle that she is in control of where the story goes. I think this would be a good romance book for teens because it is very different from other YA romance books. A lot of reviewers on Goodreads weren't crazy about this book because it is a bit awkward for an author to write themselves into their own book. I also read that it contains a love triangle, which can be a turn off for people. 

Title: The Both Die at the End

Author: Adam Silvera

Summary: Mateo and Rufus live in a world where a thing called Death-Cast calls people on the day they are supposed to die. To help with dealing with their last day on Earth Mateo and Rufus use the app Last Friend so they can meet someone and enjoy their "End Day."

Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I have heard of this book, but I never really researched what it was about. The story features diverse characters, Mateo is Puerto Rican and Rufus is Cuban-American and bisexual. LGBTQ books are important to include in a school library and this book can be beneficial to teenagers. I think what's important to note about this book it is not just a love story or a coming out a story. It is a story that features two boys who are living in this real interesting fantasy world who just happen to either be gay or bisexual. These are the types  books we need more of in YA romance. 

Title: The Program

Author: Suzanne Young

Summary: Sloane lives in a world where suicide is a major issue and to solve this "The Program" is created so that teens can be sent there to be rid of their depression. James is Sloan's love interest in this book and he vows to keep her out of "The Program." 

Where the book was found: Barnes and Noble

Why you chose it to be highlighted: I have always wanted to read this book and when I found it today I knew I wanted to mention it in this post. The idea is so interesting to me because suicide is a major issue in our world, and to see it portrayed in this dystopian world is important. I think this would be a good book to include in a library because it touches on mental health, especially in teenagers. Many teenagers deal with depression, OCD, anxiety, or some other type of mental illness and this could be a good book that could relate to their struggles.