Tag Archives: Realistic Fiction

YA – Gone Wolf

Posted on by
Reply

McBride, Amber. Gone Wolf. Fiewel and Friends, 2023. 978-1-250-85049-2. 348 p. $17.99. Grades 6-10.

Inmate Eleven has never seen the sun. She is a Blue living in post-pandemic 2111. She is held alongside her wolf-dog, Ira, in a small room within the tall walls of Elite, the capital of Bible Boot—a future, isolationist portion of the United States post-Second Civil War. Inmate Eleven is given tests and bloodwork with frequency. She has been told through a series of Bible Boot-issued flashcards that Blues are racially inferior, hate is illegal, and Clones are irrefutably kind. Larkin, a white Clone, begins to meet with Inmate Eleven, and Inmate Eleven feels empowered to choose a new name for herself: Imogen. Unfortunately, Larkin’s father also happens to be the powerful, racist leader of Elite. Soon, Larkin and Imogen realize they must escape the walls of Elite where slavery has been fully re-instituted, and both Black and Blue people are enduring torturous treatment. But…who is Imogen, really, and what year is it…truly? Imogen is living two disjointed realities, and she’s fighting to go wolf in both.

THOUGHTS: Many aspects of this book are heartbreaking. The way McBride weaves this story together is poignant and unique. Without giving too many spoilers, this is a book that brings to light concepts of generational and racial trauma in the United States. The book’s underlying commentary regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, racial violence, and political polarization will also be highly relatable to middle school students. Big twists and turns, compounded by sad events, caused myself as reader to question where the story was going at first, but not in a negative way. Then, pieces clicked masterfully into place. Because the story is told from a first person limited perspective, McBride uses ends of each chapter to offer clarifying bits of information that will help all readers access the underlying themes and nuance of the story. The powerful messaging of Black resilience and a new lens of trauma will stick with readers for a long time. As an adult reader, I found myself thinking of Octavia Butler and Toni Morrison’s stories. An essential addition to middle school and even high school fiction collections.

Science Fiction

MG – The Beautiful Something Else

Posted on by
Reply

Van Otterloo, Ash. The Beautiful Something Else. Scholastic Press, 2023. 978-1-338-84322-4. 288 p. $17.99. Grades 3-7.

Sparrow Malone, who’s birth name is Magnolia Grace, realizes they don’t quite tick any one gender box in this middle grade novel about family, identity, and growing up. Sparrow’s mom, Abigail, is very protective and insists Sparrow dons dresses and frills, but Abigail is also dealing with her own addiction to opioids. After a car accident, mom is sent to rehabilitation, and Sparrow is sent to live with her Aunt Mags. Aunt Mags lives on the grounds of Windy Hill, the huge estate where Sparrow’s mother also grew up. However, Aunt Mags has transformed Windy Hill into a rainbow-colored safe haven for gardeners, college students, and professors from a nearby university. While meeting friends, neighbors, and family, Sparrow begins to form a new understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community that Abigail seems to fear. Sparrow soon realizes they aren’t quite fitting the mold that Abigail desires in a daughter. The question is: will Sparrow feel empowered enough to tell their mom how they feel? Or anyone else?

THOUGHTS: The Beautiful Something Else is a great addition to diverse middle grade library collections. The characters in this book are layered and diverse, and the feelings Sparrow experiences are written realistically as they realize their nonbinary identity. A “shadow” (think: Peter Pan) is introduced throughout the book as a fantastical character that causes Sparrow to explore their identity and own their feelings. Otherwise, the book is wholly realistic fiction. While the book would be equally as strong without its “shadow,” this element is a good metaphor for readers to realize there is something itching at Sparrow and following them around. In this case, it’s simply the need for Sparrow to be true to themself. Written with care for middle grade audiences.

Realistic Fiction

MG – Eb & Flow

Posted on by
Reply

Baptist, Kelly J. Eb & Flow. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-42913-6. 212 p. $16.99. Grades 4-8.

This realistic novel in verse begins after Ebony and De’Kari (who go by the nicknames Eb and Flow) are suspended for fighting at school. First, Eb poured sauce on Flow’s sneakers, and then, Flow called her a name. A physical fight followed and was recorded by other students. Flow is ashamed he “hit a girl,” and that notion is repeated again and again by his family members. Ebony, in turn, knows her ‘joke’ of fake-pouring sauce onto Flow’s shoes went terribly wrong. The book takes place over the course of the next ten days while both seventh graders serve their out-of-school suspension. Told in verse with alternating perspectives, the story follows what happens to each student during their time out of school. While peers and even some family members fuel the ongoing fight, Eb and Flow have to overcome their frustrated, angry feelings about each other and work to get back to school. While the story ‘ebbs and flows,’ the two characters learn they have way more in common than they think.

THOUGHTS: This story opens a window to the emotions and motivations of two seventh grade students as they serve a suspension for fighting. Eb and Flow’s two families also are written with complexity, and readers get to see a window into the heart of their family dynamics. This creates an enormous amount of empathy for the two main characters, and I found myself constantly hoping Eb and Flow wouldn’t let the escalation between friend groups or family members pull them back down into a cyclical or violent fight. It took me a little bit to catch on to the constant back-and-forth between the two character perspectives, but this might be because Kelly J. Baptist includes so many parallels between their two lives. This is done purposefully and creatively to show how enemies might not be so different after all. This story touches on a number of issues such as older siblings with issues, deployed parents, poverty, and the potential impact of gang involvement on families. All characters present as BIPOC. 

Realistic Fiction

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

MG – Maid for It

Posted on by
Reply

Sumner, Jamie. Maid for It. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-665-90577-0. 232 p. $17.99. Grades 4-7.

Sixth-grade Franny makes daily lists and breathes deeply to keep herself calm. It’s not easy: Franny worries a lot. Franny lives with her single mom, Julia, in a tiny apartment above a laundromat. It’s a fresh start for them: They moved there just after Franny’s mom got sober. One day, Franny is called to the school office: Franny’s mom was involved in a car accident. While not at fault, Julia’s car is totaled, and she has a fractured femur. After this event, Franny begins to worry constantly about her mom’s potential to relapse into substance abuse. Because her injured mom is unable to continue work as an Uber driver or house cleaner, Franny decides to take over the latter. Without telling her mother, Franny takes over the cleaning schedule after school each day. Franny tries to keep up with the new work schedule, school, and taking care of her mother. It’s a struggle. A deal with a classmate trying to stay out of trouble brings Franny some unexpected help—and an unexpected new friendship. With the assistance of friends and her mother’s sponsor, Mimi, Franny works tirelessly to overcome her own fears while her mother recovers.

THOUGHTS: The difficult topics of parental substance abuse and sobriety are handled thoughtfully in this middle grade story. Franny’s anxieties about a potential relapse feel very realistic, and Franny’s actions—including her takeover of mom’s house cleaning jobs—are almost all driven by the overwhelming fear that her mother may begin to use drugs again. Readers will empathize deeply with Franny over her desire to seek normalcy and academic success while continuing to keep a watchful eye over her own mother. Franny’s mother is portrayed as realistic, loving, tough, and yet ultimately vulnerable at the same time. Maid for It focuses on the long term impacts of substance abuse on users and their families. While Franny and Julia are given an uplifting ending, ongoing issues with substance abuse among minor characters are still present.

Realistic Fiction

YA – Stars and Smoke

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Elem. – Stink, Superhero Superfan

Posted on by
Reply

McDonald, Megan. Stink, Superhero Superfan. Candlewick Press, 2023. 978-1-536-21507-6. 148 p. $14.99. Grades 1-4. 

Stink Moody has superheroes on the brain. He’s exploring superhero science at Saturday Science Club, and as he’s helping his family prepare for a yard sale when he discovers a box of old comic books in the garage. The comics feature a superhero Stink’s never heard of before: Super Gecko. The Super Gecko comics originally belonged to Grandma Lou, then Stink’s Dad, and once he starts reading, Stink is hooked too. As Stink and his friends are trying to catch a real-life gecko, they discover a mysterious note from Super Gecko himself. Stink must use his powers of deduction to figure out Super Gecko’s secret identity and how to get his hands on the first comic of the brand new Super Gecko series that debuts soon.

THOUGHTS: This is the thirteenth book featuring Stink Moody, and fans of the previous titles in the series will not be disappointed. Share this latest installment with superhero fans as well as animal lovers and mystery buffs.

Realistic Fiction

YA – Kismat Connection

Posted on by
Reply

Devarajan, Ananya. Kismat Connection. Inkyard Press, 2023. 978-1-335-45368-6 304 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12. 

Madhuri Iyer and Arjun Mehta have been friends all their lives. They know just about everything there is to know about each other, and now they’re facing their senior year together. Vedic astrological foretelling is Madhuri’s aunt’s strength, and in the first chapter, she foretells Arjun’s and Madhuri’s futures. For Arjun, “your hard work will be rewarded in the fields of education, athletics and love,” and for Madhuri, “expect mediocre grades, misunderstood emotions, and failed relationships.” The negative horoscope and the ‘family curse’ of women marrying the first man with whom they fall in love infuriates Madhuri, who has never met a challenge she hasn’t overcome. She devises a plan to foil kismat (fate) and the curse: dating the one person she’s sure she wouldn’t fall in love with: Arjun. Unknown to her, Arjun has been in love with her since they were 13. He agrees to her scheme, and Auntie Iyer’s predictions begin to come true: Arjun finds success in all he attempts whether scholastically, socially or athletically, while Madhuri faces trials and, worst of all, fails to gain acceptance at Stanford, her dream school. Meanwhile, Arjun faces a chronically absent mother who has placed her career above him since his father’s death, and Madhuri finds it difficult to reconcile her once-loved Indian heritage with the mockery of her American classmates. Madhuri’s being drawn to Arjun, but she’s determined to be the master of her own destiny, and that means ending their relationship. What will become of these two best friends?

THOUGHTS: Devarajan presents a fun romantic story with strong cultural roots and real relational problems for her characters.

Romance