Bad Boy: A Memoir

 

Ratings: 4 for a middle grade memoir to be used with his books/author study

My Thoughts:

I remember standing in one of those infamous NCTE lines in the exhibit hall for Walter Dean Myers back in the early 2000s. NCTE is the National Council for Teachers of English. This national organization has the most fabulous exhibit hall full of publishers who bring their YA and children's authors to sign ARCs, advanced reader's copy of books. When there is a line, someone fabulous is at the end of it. It is how I have met Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt de La Pena, Gary Paulsen, Angeline Boulley, Gene Luen Yang and Walter Dean Myers.  He was already an established author, a tall, slightly stooped gentleman. Nothing like what is in this book, buth if you have read his YA novels, Somewhere in the Darkness, Scorpions, Monster, you will relook at this memoir as a tale to English teachers about the importance of finding student gifts and overlooking bad behavior for boredom. Often the students that act out are highly intelligent and need to be challenged to find their passion. This is a boy who was too smart for school. He was too energetic for walls that feel like cages. He continued in his career to write about these boys/men on the liminal edge. I read this and listened to the audiobook narrated by actor Joe Morton. 

From the Publisher:

As a boy, Myers was quick-tempered and physically strong, always ready for a fight. He also read voraciously—he would check out books from the library and carry them home, hidden in brown paper bags in order to avoid other boys' teasing. He aspired to be a writer (and he eventually succeeded).

But as his hope for a successful future diminished, the values he had been taught at home, in school, and in his community seemed worthless, and he turned to the streets and to his books for comfort.

Publication Information:

Author: Walter Dean Myers

Publisher: Harper Collins (October 6, 2009)

Audiobook narrator: Joe Morton

Heart of the Sun Warrior, book 2

 

Rating:  4 stars for a fantasy, romance that does not play into the happy ending, "riding into the sunset" trope. 

My Thoughts:

This is the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess. Xingyin is back on the moon, and after all the excitement, love triangle, and betrayal, the moon life is a bit dull and irritating for her even though her mother is no longer a prisoner. The new plot threads and battles are unexpected and very complex, so I was afraid that this would end in a lame way just to get to the end, however, Tan takes her time to unravel each plot line to the end, and the letting go of one path to love ends in a way that as a reader I was satisfied, even if she did not get her happy ending, per se. 

The only negative was that at 472 pages, this was a hefty read, and the stubborn, uncompromising voice of Xingyin is a lot to take for almost 500 pages until she starts getting to know herself more. Through these two books, she makes so many mistkes and needs to be saved by others, and yet she does not seem to learn or be able to humble herself until it is too late. I think in book one, I called her petulant, and yes, she still is. However, I still think that fantasy readers will want to get to the end and just stick it out. 

From the Publishers:

After winning her mother’s freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation—to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love . . . even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

Publication Information:

Author: Suelynn Tann

Publisher: Harper Voyager (November 15, 2022)

Print length: 472 pages

Clap When You Land

 

Rating: 5 for the ability to use this in the English classroom and for a solid novel in verse

My Thoughts:

Elizabeth Acevedo, author of The Poet X, and With the Fire on High is a distinctive voice in the YA market. In this novel in two voices with distinct styles of poetry for the two main characters,  Acevedo takes the real plane crash of American Airlines flight 587 that went down in November of 2021and creates a novel of grief and secrets with two daughters of one of the victims.  Camino, in the Dominican Republic, and Yahira, in New York City are only children who are used to Papi being in New York during the school year and in the Dominican Republic during the summer. Both girls have very special relationships with their fathers, but until their father dies, they do not know about each other. 

If using this in the classroom, Harper Collins has a teacher's guide that will guide discussion, including if teachers want to use this and The Poet X  as a paired reading.

As a mentor text, students can analyze craft on voice, alternate perspectives, and tone. (high school common core standards RC.3 and RC.13. In addition Teaching Books also has some ideas for using this book in the classroom. 

From the Publisher:

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other. 

Publication Information:

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo

Publisher: Quill Tree Books (May 5, 2020)

Book length: 432 pages

Grade level: 9-12

Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology Book 2)

 

Rating: 4 for diverse, queer normative fantasy duology

My Thoughts:

As a pushback to the 4+ fantasy series trend, more authors, especially divers fantasy authors are leaning into the duology. I am so here for that. I feel like as a long time YA fantasy reader, the second book in a duology is more crave worthy because I know that the story will come to an end at book 2. It makes the anticipation between book 1 and 2 even more luscious. I remember the characters more when I just need to wait a year and then say goodbye. If it is a longer series, I sometimes will wait until the final one comes out before going to book 2. 

But back to this particular book. Teo, our Jade semidiose hero, his sassy best friend and Gold semidiose strong girl Niya, as well as huge crush and hottie Aurelio must literally save the world from darkness and monsters brought on by Teo's act of humanity and compassion. 

As they work together to try and save the other gold semidioses being held captive by the Obsidians, we readers are also hopeful that Xio will remember the love and friendship shown to them by their family and new friends Teo and Niya. 

Besides seeing the more humane side of the captured gold semidioses, this second book also gets into the social justice aspect of the role of the gods, the adults in charge, to actually break a system that is wrong. The gods must learn from their own children that they have the power to change an unjust system. Teo also calls them out on the idea of what protecting humans versus just lording over them actually means.

Finally, this is a queer normative series. What that means is that we do not have to talk about it. It just is. Enjoy the story as a story full of drama, fighting, romance, sacrifice and love.

From the Publisher:

Teo never thought he could be a Hero. Now, he doesn’t have a choice.

The sun is gone, the Obsidian gods have been released from their prison, and chaos and destruction are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. All because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiós during the Sunbearer Trials.

With the world plunged into perpetual night, Teo, his crush Aurelio, and his best friend Niya must journey to the dark wilderness of Los Restos, battling vicious monsters while dealing with guilt, trauma, and a (very distracting) burgeoning romance between Teo and Aurelio. Determined to rescue the captured semidioses and retrieve the Sol Stone, the trio races against the clock to return Sol and their protective light. With it, order can be restored.

The future of the whole world is in their hands.

Publication Information:

Author: Aiden Thomas

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (September 3, 2024)

Print length: 415 pages

The Downstairs Girl (Audiobook)

Rating: 4 stars  for a diverse, historical period piece set in Atlanta in the 1800's

My Thoughts:

Stacey Lee is also author of Under a Painted Sky  which is about a Chinese girl in Missouri and an escaped slave girl in 1849. They  dress up as boys and head west on the Oregon trail. In The Downstairs Girl, Lee again puts her young Chinese character in 1800s America, this time in Atlanta.

Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for a nasty young debutante, but she and her adopted father also secretly live under a newspaper publisher's house where she grows her vocabulary and listens in on the latest news from the family upstairs.  When her Lady Whistledown moment comes up, she sends a teaser article anonymously to the family upstairs which helps to keep the newspaper afloat.

There are Bridgerton moments with more realistic American racism, but also a mystery around her parentage and multiple forbidden love stories. Jo's spunk and tenacity are endearing and refreshing. I love these diverse characters that can be put squarely into American society and refuse to let the society victimize them. Hooray for diverse stories of courage and spunk.

As an audiobook, the narrator is easy to listen to. Emily Woo Zeller makes the 10 hour listen time go by quickly. 

From the Publisher:

From the critically-acclaimed author of Under a Painted Sky and Outrun the Moon and founding member of We Need Diverse Books comes a powerful novel about identity, betrayal, and the meaning of family.

By day, 17-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie". When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender.

While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light.

With prose that is witty, insightful, and at times heartbreaking, Stacey Lee masterfully crafts an extraordinary social drama set in the New South.

Publication Information:

Author: Stacey Lee

Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller

Publisher: Tantor Audio (August 13, 2019)

Listening length: 10 hours 22 minutes

 

Hands

 

My Thoughts:

This book for middle level males is a great choice for struggling male readers because Maldonado, a teacher himself,  really understands the young, urban male voice. This is an engaging, fast read. It is both poetic and complex in its simplicity. When students need a fast read for SURF (silent uninterrupted reading for fun), this is a great book that can pull reluctant readers in for those short 10 minute stints in class. Students will want to read more than just their ten minutes, but this will be a sought after read. The chapters are short, about 2-5 pages per chapter, and the dialogue pushes the action along.

The protagonist Trev has always been told that he has "promise" but he has his own self-inflicted promises to keep that put extra responsibility on him. He really cannot plan for the future when his present is so uncertain. Readers will root for Trev and the people who step forward for him. 

From the Publisher:

Trev would do anything to protect his mom and sisters, especially from his stepdad. But his stepdad’s return stresses Trev—because when he left, he threatened Trev’s mom. Rather than live scared, Trev takes matters into his own hands, literally. He starts learning to box to handle his stepdad. But everyone isn’t a fan of his plan, because Trev’s a talented artist, and his hands could actually help him build a better future. And they’re letting him know. But their advice for some distant future feels useless in his reality right now. Ultimately, Trev knows his future is in his hands, and his hands are his own, and he has to choose how to use them.

Publication Information:

Author: Torrey Maldonado

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (January 24, 2023)

Grade Level: 5-6

The Battle Drum

 

My Thoughts:

This is book 2 of the Ending Fire Trilogy. The first book The Final Strife had so much potential, but the problem with trilogies is that the second book has to act like a bridge so basically nothing really happens except building the bridge between the first and last book. 

It bring in new elements, new worlds, new issues. There is death, murder, separation, large surprises, but Sylah and Jond are the main characters. Without Sylah, Anoor as a character cannot hold the story line with the people left behind. Those characters that are left behind, minus Anoor (specifically Kwame, the Wife and Hassan) really kept me invested in the Empire. This book could have done without Anoor, although she promises to be a large part in book three. I hope as a character she becomes more investment-worthy, but I really do not see the relationship with Sylah as anything beyond lust. Even Sylah's last decision in this book is disappointing and immature. 

If like me, you really understand the deep love and hurt between Sylah and Jond, then Battle Drum keeps things exciting for a little bit. It has nothing to do with the non-cis, gender or pronoun issue, although there is a glossary of pronouns for characters at the end of this book.  It really has to do with the maturity of the relationship. For example, I think the relationship between Loot and his husband Fayl was very deep. Loot's actions may be messed up, however, it is Fayl's compassion as well as his fierce loyalty despite his own misgivings that gives depth to this relationship. 

If I were to "sell" this book to students, I will probably wait until the last one comes out. This book cannot be a stand alone and it does not end in a way that would sustain reluctant readers to wait for the third book. 

From the Publisher:

Anoor is the first blue-blooded ruler of the Wardens’ Empire. But when she is accused of a murder she didn’t commit, her reign is thrown into turmoil. She must solve the mystery and clear her name without the support of her beloved, Sylah.

Sylah braves new lands to find a solution for the hurricane that threatens to destroy her home. But in finding answers, she must make a decision: Should she sacrifice her old life in order to raise up her sword once more?

Hassa’s web of secrets grows ever thicker as she finds herself on the trail of crimes in the city. Her search uncovers the extent of the atrocities of the empire’s past and present. Now she must guard both her heart and her land.

The three women find their answers, but not the answers they wanted. The drumbeat of change thrums throughout the world.

And it sings a song of war.

Ready we will be, when the Ending Fire comes,
When the Child of Fire brings the Battle Drum,
The Battle Drum,
The Battle Drum.
Ready we will be, for war will come.

Publication Information:

Author: Saara El-Arifi

Publisher: Del Ray (May 23, 2023)

Bio: Saara El-Arifi is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife, the first part of a trilogy inspired by her Ghanaian and Sudanese heritage. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs and owned many more cats. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Over the years she has perfected her tall tales into epic ones. She currently resides in London, UK, as a full-time procrastinator.

The Wild Ones

 

My Thoughts:

This fantasy, just released this month, is more than a girl power YA fantasy book. This is a feminist roar. These characters, including the boy with stars in his eyes, come together in brokenness and betrayal, apoplectic fury.  But still they are trying to be strong for each other. They are eager to be kind. They are hungry for love. Magic, international travel, chase, corruption, power, food. This book for older teens has it all. It is about resilience and power. It is about love, is love, is love. 

In the end, there is no happy ending, per se, and that is what makes this story so memorable.

From the end:

Who knows what the future holds? What we have is our anger and each other. Aren't you angry, sisters? At being treated the way we are? At having to pick up the pieces of what remains after the world is through with us? At being silenced and abused? At being denied our dignity, our bodies, our voices, and our right to justice? Aren't you angry? Embrace this anger. Let it fuel your everydays. Defy everyone who tells you that you can't. Be wild.

From the Publisher: 

We are the Wild Ones, and we will not be silenced.

We are girls who have tasted the worst this world can offer. Our story begins with Paheli, who was once betrayed by her mother, sold to a man in exchange for a favor. When Paheli escaped, she ran headlong into Taraana—a boy with stars in his eyes, a boy as battered as she was. He tossed Paheli a box of stars before disappearing. With the stars, Paheli gained access to the Between, a place of pure magic and mystery. Now, Paheli collects girls like us, and we use our magic to travel the world, helping to save other girls from our pain, our scars.

When Taraana reappears, he asks for our help. Dangerous magical forces are chasing him, and they will destroy him to get his powers. We will do everything to save him—if we can. For if Taraana is no longer safe and free, neither are the Wild Ones. And that...is a fate that we refuse to accept. Ever again.