Youngblood

 

My Thoughts:

There's conspiracy, there's Mean Girls Action, queer love, bullying, classism, Vampire(racism), secrets, lies, boarding life, high school drama and mystery. 

Don't let the cover turn you off. It really is much deeper than it seems. The conflicts are more complex than teen drama and bullying. Thereʻs a little bit of Harry Potter feel to it because the adults are also not as they outwardly seem. The social justice aspect gives it a nice twist. 

The main character, Kat, knows she is a vampire, but she has been raised with humans. She is able to kee her secret because unlike vampires of old, humans are suffering from a blood pandemic that can kill vampires so vampires have stopped feeding on humans. However, the Hema, a lab created blood substitute is expensive and Kat and her mom struggle to eat. The alternative is to buy Hema from the black market because she has already lost her dad who was starting and died during the plague from infected human blood. 

When Kat gets into the elite vampire school and an anonymous donor pays for everything, she thinks she is finally making a better life for herself and her mom. She is so wrong. 

From the Publisher:

Kat Finn and her mother can barely make ends meet living among humans. Like all vampires, they must drink Hema, an expensive synthetic blood substitute, to survive, as nearly all of humanity has been infected by a virus that’s fatal to vampires. Kat isn’t looking forward to an immortal life of barely scraping by, but when she learns she’s been accepted to the Harcote School, a prestigious prep school that’s secretly vampires-only, she knows her fortune is about to change.
 
Taylor Sanger has grown up in the wealthy vampire world, but she’s tired of its backward, conservative values—especially when it comes to sexuality, since she’s an out-and-proud lesbian. She only has to suffer through a two more years of Harcote before she’s free. But when she discovers her new roommate is Kat Finn, she’s horrified. Because she and Kat used to be best friends, a long time ago, and it didn’t end well.
 
When Taylor stumbles upon the dead body of a vampire, and Kat makes a shocking discovery in the school’s archives, the two realize that there are deep secrets at Harcote—secrets that link them to the most powerful figures in Vampirdom and to the synthetic blood they all rely on.

Publication Information:

Author: Sasha Laurens

Publisher: Raxorbill (July 19, 2022)

The Henna Wars (audiobook)

 

My Thoughts:

The audiobook is pleasant enough, but I also have the physical book to give away so I wanted to plow through the audiobook before I give away the book. In a way, this is like Cafe Con Lychee but with lesbian teens. This book takes place in Ireland, although Ireland feels a lot like anywhere on the continent USA. 

If students want to read about social justice issues, standing above bullying, stepping forward in culture, and coming of age LGBTQ romance, this book is for them. Like Cafe, one character sees the other as the enemy but the other character (in this case Flávia vs. Gabi) is really just misunderstood or perhaps misunderstands. The process of Flávia better understanding Nishat helps Flávia to be brave enough to be honest with herself and her family. It is the same with Gabi.

From the Publisher:

Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled―but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.

As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.

Café Con Lychee

 

My Thoughts:

Theo Mori feels like he is the disappointing second son and carries the pressure to help save his family's failing Asian American café, as well as give his high school soccer team at least one win in a winless season. Never mind that he seems to be the only openly gay student in his high school. Never mind that unlike his older "golden boy" brother, his grades are so low that college seems impossible. Never mind that Gabi Moreno continues to literally knock him down in soccer practice and is the only son of the rival Puerto Rican bakery, the only other ethnic business in town. When a fusion café opened by white owners opens up and steals customers from both businesses, Theo has to let go of his anger toward his parents, towards his brother and especially towards Gabi in order to find love, happiness, and a solution to the family problems.

You know that Theo and Gabi are going to get together (once Gabi is able to come out of the closet). Just look at the cute cover. It's inevitable and is not a spoiler at all. What is a surprise is how long it takes the characters to realize what we as readers already know. Just kiss the boy already!

This is a cute romcom first love LGBTQ YA novel. and a good mix to shake up our shelves.

From the Publisher:

From the author of Meet Cute Diary comes a delectable rom-com that’s brimming with zest and a sprinkle of sweetness. A must-read for fans of Casey McQuiston and Julian Winters.

Theo Mori and Gabriel Moreno have always been at odds. Their parents own rival businesses—an Asian American café and a Puerto Rican bakery—and Gabi’s lack of coordination has cost their soccer team too many games to count.

Stuck in the closet and scared to pursue his own dreams, Gabi sees his parents’ shop as his future. Stuck under the weight of his parents’ expectations, Theo’s best shot at leaving Vermont means first ensuring his parents’ livelihood is secure. 

So when a new fusion café threatens both shops, Theo and Gabi realize an unfortunate truth—they can only achieve their goals by working together to cook up an underground bakery operation and win back their customers. But can they put aside their differences long enough to save their parents’ shops or will the new feelings between them boil over?

Author: Emery Lee

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Publication date: May 10, 2022

Girl Haven

 

Oni Press

Lilah Sturges (author), Meaghan Carter (illustrator), Joamette Gil (cartoonist)

My Thoughts:

Graphic novels, comics, manga, have always been gender fluid and Girl Haven is no exception with the main character, Ash, being at the brink of a personal realization that he is a trans girl even if others see him as a boy. It is not shocking to bring this type of resource into a middle school classroom. What I know for sure is that comics, especially manga have androgynous and even feminine male characters with big eyes and high cheekbones. It never was a shock and I have been reading manga (in Japanese and in Japan) since the mid 1970s. 

What is different about this book, though, is the note about identity at the end of the book. It makes it more obvious that this is for a younger audience who would like some questions answered around gender identity, gender expression and sexuality. When the stories put characters in a fantasy world to work out issues around fears, gender and the power of love, we are able to get away from the trauma around social "norms" that haunt our children who are targeted as "different," "abnormal," and "queer."

This is another have in the classroom and let it wait for the right child kind of book. Thanks to Oni Press for continuing to allow stories to unfold like this without plastering LGBTQIA and queer youth on the cover or in the merchandising, which sometimes scares the curious reader who just wants to learn more, but also enjoy an adventure. 

From the Publisher:

Full of wonder, humor, and heart, Girl Haven is the newest original story from the author of Lumberjanes.

Three years ago, Ash’s mom left home and never returned, leaving behind a husband and child and a shed full of mystical curiosities related to the all-girl fantasy world she’d created as a child—Koretris. One day Ash invites a new group of friends from Pride Club over, and they try one of the spells to enter Koretris. To their amazement, they’re all transported to a magical realm filled with human-sized talking animals who are fiercely protective of their world and are ready to fight to protect it. But if Koretris is real, why is Ash there? Everyone has always called Ash a boy—shouldn’t the spell have kept Ash out? And what does it mean if it let Ash in? 

The Witch King (The Witch King Duology Book 1)

 

My Thoughts:

From the Pride Month TBR list, this novel combines LGBTQIA characters with fantasy (fae and wtiches) as well as social justice issues. 

I have noticed that  BIPOC and AAPI YA novels have started to shift in content and context. For example,  instead of being about culture and the challenges of culture or the stereotypes based on culture (urban black youth in the inner city battling gangs, drugs, cops, for example), the new BIPOC and AAPI books either play with other types of genre or context, or the content is not centered on culture. For example, being Asian and dating a non-Asian is not the center of the novel's conflict. 

The Witch King, by switching to fantasy and fae culture is also able to acknowledge the trauma of queer youth when they are not accepted by their own parents and community, but the author actually focuses on Wyatt being a witch in a family of fae as the major issue rather than being trans. In fact, once Wyatt returns to Asalin, he sees that not only is the prince, his fiancee not fazed by his identity but that the issue has nothing to do with Wyatt being trans at all (again, it is the witch thing). 

Finally, since I do not want to give too much away, like all good YA fantasy novels, it ends before you are ready. 

This is a YA, maybe 9th grade, based on the book I just reviewed on Growing Up Trans, trans youth identify earlier than 9th grade, so some issues to acknowledge if book talking this to younger middles: some violence, abuse, and assault, murder by magic and fire, heavy making out, but no explicit sex. I think when teachers read the books themselves, then they can make the decision on who to book talk this book to. It really is not about the presence or absence of any of these things, but really about whether the abuse is gratuitous or not. In this case, it is not. For example, when Wyatt's sister Tessa is able to acknowledge the abuse of his parents toward him as a witch born of fae parents, and how she was complacent in not standing up for him, the abuse is used as a way to heal for both of them. If people do not read something because it has sexual assault and physical abuse, then they miss the opportunity to see the characters grow. 

From the Publisher:

To save a fae kingdom, a trans witch must face his traumatic past and the royal fiancé he left behind. This debut YA fantasy will leave you spellbound.

Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.

In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft…don’t. Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.

Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what’s more important—his people or his freedom.

Growing Up Trans: In Our Own Words

 

Publication date: August 17, 2021 by Orca Book Publishers

My Thoughts:

This collection of stories, poems and artwork by transgender and other gender-diverse teens, from 12 - 18 range in emotion from heartbreaking to hopeful and everything in between. It started as a conversation by the two editors to quiet the voice of cisgender adults talking about trans youth and step aside to let the youth tell their own stories.  Herriot and Fry coordinated three writing retreats in Canadian communities as a way to amplify the strong voices in this anthology.

They divide the pieces by certain large themes like childhood, bodies, mental health and acceptance which makes it easier for readers to both read this through as well as read for specific insight. What also makes this such a powerful resource in the classroom is that each section ends with a What Can I Do Now? section written by adult professionals in a way that does not preach but offers up small nuggets of advice and actionable suggestions for both youth and adults. 

Finally, what will keep me coming back to this book as a resource is the part after each section that asks "What Can I Read Next?" I like that in each section if offers up picture book references, YA and graphic novels as well as General Audience items. 

A diverse bookshelf in a middle and secondary classroom library needs this resource. Books can heal and having this anthology in your classroom means that it will find that student that needs this book for a little inspiration, understanding and healing. 

In their own voices: Butterflies by Maisie Bodrug, age 13

We are done concealing our true identities/We fly high and free, and feel warm sun in our wings

But we butterflies are sensitive/An insult causes us to wilt and fall/So be kind to us, and cherish us/For we do not last forever

 

From the Publisher:

What does it mean to be young and transgender today? Growing Up Trans shares stories, essays, art and poetry created by trans youth aged 11 to 18. In their own words, the works illustrate the trans experience through childhood, family and daily life, school, their bodies and mental health. Together the collection is a story of the challenges, big and small, of being a young trans person. At the same time, it’s a toolkit for all young people, transgender or not, about what understanding, acceptance and support for the trans community looks like. In addition to the contributed works, there are questions and tips from experts in the field of transgender studies to challenge the reader on how to be a trans ally. 

 

 

 

 

The Power of Style

 

Publication Date: April 27, 2021

The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures is by Vogue contributing fashion journalist Christian Allaire, an Ojibwe who is offering this book to those people who have felt a lack of representation in the fashion and beauty industries. This is more than just a fashion book. Starting with his mom and aunties creating his adult ribbon shirt, Allaire tries to showcase designers and fashion influencers who "are using fashion and beauty to promote cultural activism, empowerment, diversity, and inclusivity" (Introduction letter, p. 1).

I think this is a beautifully slick and appealing book that will call to males and females who maybe feel different. This is an empowering hug to say we are all beautiful and powerful and unashamed. I hope that this reaches those teens who feel like they are misunderstood. In fact, I hope it gets to them in time. 

From the Publisher

As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he looked to for inspiration. Now the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is
working to change that—because clothes are never just clothes. Men’s heels are a statement of pride in the face of LGTBQ+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honor Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. Allaire takes the reader through boldly designed chapters to discuss additional topics like cosplay, make up, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice.

Black Wings Beating

From the Publisher:

The people of Uztar have long looked to the sky with hope and wonder. Nothing in their world is more revered than the birds of prey and no one more honored than the falconers who call them to their fists.

Brysen strives to be a great falconer—while his twin sister, Kylee, rejects her ancient gifts for the sport and wishes to be free of falconry. She’s nearly made it out, too, but a war is rolling toward their home in the Six Villages, and no bird or falconer will be safe.

Together the twins must journey into the treacherous mountains to trap the Ghost Eagle, the greatest of the Uztari birds and a solitary killer. Brysen goes for the boy he loves and the glory he's long craved, and Kylee to atone for her past and to protect her brother's future. But both are hunted by those who seek one thing: power.

In this first young-adult fantasy novel in a trilogy, Alex London launches a soaring saga about the memories that haunt us, the histories that hunt us, and the bonds of blood between us.

My Thoughts: 

This book has been on my "read later" list on my Kindle for months and yet when I finally decided to read it, I just devoured it. It is my kind of book with fantasy types of quests, as well as YA characters who must try and save their communities with help from other YA characters and despite their present but not present parents (or dead and still haunting them). I know YA  researchers have looked into the different ways that parents are not present in many YA books, and I don't want to go into another essay on that, but it seems to be a formula that YA readers look for and expect in this category of fiction. The post modernist social constructs of "family" and the immense agency that YA characters are given in these books (Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders) seem normalized now and readers want to suspend their disbelief. It is one of the charms of being a YA fiction reader. This also has an LGBTQ character and love triangle, but that too seems normalized, so although it is labeled as LGBTQ, like multicultural YA couples, it's not a thing. Love is love. 

What makes this one interesting is the concept of the raptor birds who almost take the place of "dragons" in this genre in that they are elusive, they are the key to winning and the best trainer is best because of some ancient and as yet untapped ability to connect and communicate with the animal (in this case, birds).

I also enjoyed the complicated relationship between the twins, mostly because I have twin grandkids. The dynamic between twins is always unique even over mere siblings and this book captured it well. Add to that adventure, love interests, betrayal and just the first leg in the journey (the hunt for the ghost eagle) and London has done a great job of reeling in and engaging the reader. 

So why did it take so long for me to pick this book up? After all, this is my preferred genre, it is fast paced and grabbed me right away (once I started reading). 

I did not pick this book up because I don't like the cover. It looks more like a horror cover, even a psychological thriller cover than a YA girl power, fantasy/romance/adventure novel. The cover for me conjures plague, Hitchcock's The Birds, Amityville Horror (the scene with the flies) and for some reason ebola. Maybe the whole plague, bird mites horror for me. It is just personal past trauma, but I am sad that I did not get beyond the cover because I was missing out on a great read.

Red Skies Falling, book 2 in this series comes out in the beginning of September 2019, so it will definitely go on my TBR list, even though I still do not like this next cover. 

A digital copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.