Category Archives: Young Adult

MG/YA – Our Solar System (Series NF)

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Our Solar System. BrightPoint Press, 2023. $33.05 ea. $198.30 set of 6, 64 p. Grades 6-12. 

Fraiser, Carolyn Bennett. Moons. 978-1-678-20406-8.
LaPierre, Yvette. The Asteroid Belt. 978-1-678-20402-0.
Mitchell, KS. The Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 978-1-678-20404-4.
Terp, Gail. Pluto and the Dwarf Planets. 978-1-678-20408-2.
Thacher, Meg. The Terrestrial Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. 978-1-678-20412-9.
Wolny, Philip. The Sun. 978-1-678-20410-5.

This reviewer evaluated the titles The Sun and Moons. Each of the series titles is organized in a similar fashion, with a two-page ‘at a glance’ summary preceding the books’ longer introduction and chapters. An index, source notes, and a bibliography is included for students to use in further research of the topic. In The Sun, Wolny includes information about the Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018 to gather new information about Earth’s relationship with the Sun. The book also contains information about heliocentric and geocentric models, and it covers civilization’s historical understanding of the Sun. Moons contains a multitude of information about not just Earth’s moon but the many other moons present in the solar system. In each book, the authors take care to place vocabulary words in bold font, and they include clear text features with extra information on missions and locations. Pictures are varied and contain captions that do not distract from the chapters’ text.

THOUGHTS: These new hi-lo solar system nonfiction titles will be great primers in all things outer space for interested students in both middle and high school. The up-to-date information offered in this collection will be a welcome addition for libraries that may be living with an otherwise aged natural science nonfiction collection. One thing I particularly liked about this series is its inclusion of carefully curated source notes and bibliography. The authors include credible online sources (as well as books), so students easily can look up additional bits of information as needed. These series books are short but mighty at 64 pages each, and this series makes great resource material for young scientists!

500 Science

YA – Charisma’s Turn: A Story of Girls and Their Gifts

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Couvson, Monique. Charisma’s Turn: A Story of Girls and Their Gifts. Illustrated by Amanda Jones. The New Press, 2023. 978-1-620-97401-8. 126 p. $19.99. Grades 6-12.

During her senior year, Charisma doesn’t get much sleep or time to herself. Instead, she helps her single mother take care of Charisma’s little brother, Khalil. Fueled by lack of sleep and lack of time, Charisma’s temper is short. It’s not long before she gets involved in yet another physical fight at school. Instead of doling out another purely punitive suspension, Principal Lopez brings in a school counselor, Ms. Anderson, to try to help Charisma using a different method: the restorative approach. Not only does Ms. Anderson help Charisma to start controlling her temper and outbursts, but she also empowers Charisma to be a positive, strong student leader. Charisma begins to pursue her passions with the help of an after-school social justice student roundtable. With Ms. Anderson at the helm, Charisma jumps in and truly starts to thrive.

THOUGHTS: This graphic novel is a powerful window into a girl’s thoughts, dreams, and passions. Charisma is a realistic and layered character who isn’t perfect but has so much potential; thankfully, in this novel, that potential is realized by school leaders and nurtured. Toni Morrison and other Black women make inspiring appearances in Charisma’s dreams. The illustrations in this graphic novel are bright, nuanced, and beautiful to see. I loved to see a book that highlights restorative methods and organizing student roundtables as empowering tools for peer leadership. All characters present as BIPOC. Uplifting, accessible, and real—a great addition to diverse middle and high school library graphic novel collections.

Graphic Novel

YA – Stars and Smoke

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Lu, Marie. Stars and Smoke. Roaring Brook Press, 2023. 978-1-250-85281-6. $19.99. 336 p. Grades 9-12.

Winter Young is the world’s most famous pop superstar. At 19, he has the world at his feet. Everyone wants to attend one of his concerts, and although he has worked hard to get where he is, he’s still not completely happy with his life and can’t shake the feeling that he should be doing something more. When Winter is recruited into a mission to take down a notorious crime boss by performing at his daughter’s birthday party, he accepts and finds himself paired up with Sydney Cossette, a spy who will be acting as his bodyguard. Sydney has no time for Winter’s stardom or charm, but as the mission becomes more dangerous, they must work together to achieve their goal, and soon, Sydney begins to realize there is a lot more to Winter Young than his fame and looks.

THOUGHTS: This was certainly a change from Marie Lu’s typical science fiction novels. I’m a huge fan of her books, and although I liked this one, I felt like it wasn’t enough story for me, and maybe that was done on purpose to make sure I pick up book two (which I will be doing!). I’d recommend this one to readers who like realistic fiction, love stories, and pop music since the main character, Winter Young, is the world’s biggest superstar. The espionage and action will keep readers hooked along with the slow burn romance between the two main characters. It would be a great addition to any Taylor Swift displays as well!

Realistic Fiction   

YA – When You Wish Upon a Lantern

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Chao, Gloria. When You Wish Upon a Lantern. Viking Press, 2023. 978-0-593-46435-9. 340 p. $18.99. Grades 7-12.

Liya and Kai have been best friends ever since they could remember. Unfortunately, a huge misunderstanding occurred between the two, and they have been avoiding one another. Fortunately, they are brought back together with a mission to help save Liya’s family’s lantern store in Chinatown in Chicago. What follows is a delightful story of two friends who bring their community and culture to life by organizing a traditional celebration involving wishing lanterns. The two work together to make their fellow community members’ wishes come true.  Through it all, they discover something that has been in front of them the whole time – something stronger than money.

THOUGHTS: A lovely and delightful book filled with enchanting characters, this is a story of family, friendship, tradition, and romance.

Romance

YA – Plan A

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Caletti, Deb. Plan A. Labyrinth Road, 2023. 978-0-593-48555-2. 416 p. $21.99. Grades 9-12.

Ivy DeVries has a lot of opinions just like the other women in her family. Living in Paris, Texas, however, her opinions do not always align with the political and religious landscape of the town. When Ivy becomes pregnant after an encounter she refers to as “The Uglies,” she is stunned to learn that abortions are illegal in Texas. But Ivy has a life and a future ahead of her, so she makes the choice to get an abortion. Her mother, brother, and boyfriend Lorenzo (who is not the father) are completely supportive of her decision even if her friends and neighbors are not. She embarks on a road trip with Lorenzo with an end destination of her grandmother’s beach house in Oregon where she can safely and legally get the healthcare she needs. Along the way, Lorenzo and Ivy decide to stop at all the places around the world within the western United States: Lima, Florence, Rome, and more. Along the way, Ivy stays with different relatives and friends of the family only to find out that every woman she knows has some kind of story about the choices (or lack of choices) they had to make regarding their bodies. Throughout her journey, Ivy realizes the strength she has within herself to do what is right for HER.

THOUGHTS: Although this topic is a bit controversial, especially for a school library, the story is one that is absolutely necessary to tell. Caletti handles the topic with sensitivity and honesty while leaving out any graphic details. This book is so powerful and should be in high school libraries with supportive communities.

Realistic Fiction

YA – One of Us Is Back

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McManus, Karen. One of Us Is Back. Delacorte Press, 2023. 978-0-593-48501-9. 358 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

The final book in this ever popular series by McManus is here! In this book, the original Bayview Four has expanded to the Bayview Crew also known by others in the community as the Murder Squad. They are known to be better detectives than the local police department. Together they have been accused of crimes, have been the victims of crimes, and eventually they have been the ones to find the true culprit to the deadly games that have been played. A billboard lights up in town with the message “Time for a New Game” and immediately everyone is on high alert. In addition, one of the original characters from the first book is back and making everyone quite nervous. And then one of the four goes missing. It seems that someone is not quite done with the town of Bayview.

THOUGHTS: This is definitely geared for grades 9-12. The characters are getting older, and there seems to be more mature themes. The story line moves quickly and keeps the reader turning pages.

Mystery

MG/YA – Media Bias: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

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Marcovitz, Hal. Media Bias: What Is It and Why Does It Matter? ReferencePoint Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05. Grades 6-12.

Beginning with an introduction that discusses that national news coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, Media Bias: What Is It and Why Does It Matter? shows readers how members of the media “can provide vastly different views of the same event” (7). Four short chapters follow and provide researchers and with a wealth of information about news, news consumption, bias, and perception. Chapter one (News, Opinion, and Bias: How Do They Differ?) provides information on objective reporting, editorials and columns, going for shock value, many forms of bias, bias on the right, bias on the left, bias at the supermarket, and the hallmarks of fair and unbiased reporting. The shock value call out focuses on Meghan Markle as a popular target of sensationalism after her marriage to Prince Harry. Chapter two focuses on bias’s impact on news consumers and addresses vaccine decisions, presidential elections, localized and national crises, sports reporting, and the impact of media on people’s lives. Social media, fake news, historical issues (Franklin purchasing the the Pennsylvania Gazette to advocate revolution against the British) and current issues (COVID-19 and the January 6, riot at the US Capitol) are addressed. Color photos and text boxes enhance information presented throughout the book. This title concludes with source notes, for further research, recognizing bias, and an index.

THOUGHTS: ReferencePoint Press’s single titles series will enhance secondary library collections looking to update their current issues collections for student research. Depending on student research needs, this title is appropriate for middle and high school collections.

302.23 Media

MG/YA – Pandemic Aftereffects: The Surge in Teen Eating Disorders

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Sharp, Katie. Pandemic Aftereffects: The Surge in Teen Eating Disorders. ReferencePoint Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05. Grades 6-12.
Teenagers have a lot to say about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. In Pandemic Aftereffects: The Surge in Teen Eating Disorders, an introduction and four short chapters provide researchers and readers with a wealth of information about the rise in teen eating disorders as a result of the pandemic. In the introduction four teens  – two with preexisting eating disorders and two who develop eating disorders during the pandemic – are briefly profiled. Four chapters follow, covering What are eating disorders, Why the pandemic triggered eating disorders, getting treatment, and coping with an eating disorder during a pandemic. The chapter on what are eating disorders provides general information as well as sections on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder. Each disorder includes specific anecdotal situations to help readers better understand from the point of view of someone who has experienced it. This chapter also includes a section on Black people and eating disorders, other underdiagnosed groups, how eating disorders affect the body, an explanation of how complex disordered eating is, and a section on risk factors. The chapter on getting treatment provides hope for those who may be personally impacted by disordered eating or those who are trying to help a friend or loved one. Color photos and text boxes enhance the heavy information presented throughout the book. This title concludes with additional source notes, organizations and websites, for further research, and an index.
THOUGHTS: ReferencePoint Press’s single titles series will enhance secondary library collections looking to update their current issues collections for student research. Depending on student research needs, this title is appropriate for middle and high school collections.
616.85 Eating Disorders

MG/YA – Dealing with Addiction (Series NF)

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Dealing with Addiction. BrightPoint Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05 ea. $$165.25 Set of 5. Grades 6-12.

Kaiser, Emma. Smartphone Addiction. 978-1-678-20380-7.
Llanas, Sheila Griffin. Drug and Alcohol Addiction. 978-1-678-20374-0.
Miller, Marie-Therese. Social Media Addiction. 978-1-678-20378-8.
Roberts, Kizzi. Gaming Addiction. 978-1-678-20376-9.
Voss, Elizabeth Hobbs. Vaping Addiction. 978-1-678-20382-5.

This reviewer evaluated Gaming Addiction and Smartphone Addiction. Each title in this series begins with At a Glance which provides readers with a quick, bulleted overview of the topic addressed. Statistics like “Researchers think between 1 and 10 percent of gamers become addicted” (Roberts 4) easily could be incorporated into basic student research or utilized for a lesson on summarizing research. The introduction gives readers an anecdote regarding the topic. In Gaming Addiction, Ben loses interest in activities with his friends, instead opting to beat his high score. Ben’s friends confront changes they’ve noticed in him. In Smartphone Addiction Riley realizes she needs help after hardly hearing her friends while she checks social media notifications on her phone and earning a poor grade on an English essay. Four chapters include What is ___?, The science of ___, The effects of ___, and Treating the ___ (___ = addiction the title addresses). Frequent color photos, charts, text box highlights, and bold-faced vocabulary words make this series highly accessible to secondary researchers. Each book concludes with a glossary, source notes, for further research, and an index.

THOUGHTS: Marketed as hi-lo YA nonfiction, the titles in this series are best suited to middle and high school libraries and would be a great update to addiction collections or for use with health classes.

616.85 Mental Disorders 
616.86 Substance Abuse

YA – Work With What You Got: A Memoir

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Clark, Zion, and James S. Hirsch. Work With What You Got: A Memoir. Candlewick Press, 2023. 978-1-536-22421-4. 232 p. $18.99. Grades 7-12.

Born in prison with a rare congenital condition that left him without legs, and given up by his drug-addicted mother, Zion Clark faced a lifetime of bias and underestimation.  However, he maintains that negative stereotypes of being African American and being part of the foster care system were also large obstacles in his life.  The instability and the lack of training and oversight are two problems plaguing the foster care system, where the reality is, “who’s going to listen to a ten-year-old?” He acknowledges the help of some amazing people as he grew up: his first two foster families, his wrestling coach, and his adoptive mom. Their combined messages supporting his self-worth; determination; and hard work; combined with the outlets of music, athletics and faith, led Clark away from a gang and crime. Clark became a formidable athlete, first in wrestling, then in wheelchair road racing. Now a motivational speaker, Clark inspires others with his life story and overcomer attitude.

THOUGHTS: This honest memoir is riveting reading, appropriate for middle and high school.        

Biography