YA – Invisible Son

Posted on February 2, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Johnson, Kim. Invisible Son. Random House, 2023. 978-0-593-48210-0. 394 p. $18.99. Grades 7-12.

Andre Jackson has just returned from his time at a juvenile detention center for a crime he didn’t commit, but one he copped to in order to save a friend. Matched with an eager, well-intentioned probation officer, Marcus Smith, Andre’s re-entry to his grandparents’ home, one of the only African American families left in a gentrified neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, is made even more difficult with the rumors of a new kind of virus people are catching. The well-to-do Whitakers across the street have two biological children, Brian and Kate, and three adopted ones, Sierra, Eric, and Luis. When the police fingered Andre for possession of stolen items, the imposing and politically ambitious Mr. Whitaker offered his own lawyer for Andre’s defense. Now, two months later, Andre views the seemingly perfect Whitaker family with suspicion. Sierra, his former girlfriend, never visited him in prison. Her brother Eric has run away without a word to anyone, including Sierra. Mr. Whitaker’s superficially kind gestures may hide some ugly secrets while his wife’s aloofness may mask her real feelings about Andre and her adopted African American and Mexican children. In addition, Andre has to grapple with the biased former probation officer, Cowboy Jim Adkins, following him and threatening him. Andre knows he was set up for the crime, but doesn’t know how to prove it. When Andre comes across information that indicates that Eric may not be a runaway, Andre believes finding Eric is the key to his real freedom. If working out why he was framed while still keeping on the straight and narrow wasn’t stressful enough, Andre tackles the world of COVID with its casualties and the protests following George Floyd’s killing. Author Kim Johnson finds an authentic voice in the character of Andre Jackson and develops an intricate plot of a young Black teen searching for justice during the beginning stages of the pandemic. An added bonus is that each chapter has a musical score, and Andre’s playlist is included.

THOUGHTS: This novel unearths several current issues: gentrification, racism, transracial adoption, and the recent pandemic. There are many layers at work, too: the shame Andre’s family feels about this good son being imprisoned; the facade of the white Whitaker family as the do-gooders; the contrast between the two different probation officers; and Andre’s own conflict in his inability to defend himself properly despite his innocence. Setting the story during the pandemic also brings up recent memories of being confined, lack of resources, and, of course, the strain on the health system and the deaths of many. I believe this book is a good title for class reading in a literature circle or summer reading assignment. Much to discuss here, especially as we go into another election cycle, perhaps with the candidate that denied the existence of the virus at the start.

Realistic Fiction

MG – Imagine a Garden: Stories of Courage Changing the World

Posted on January 10, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Singh, Rina. Imagine a Garden: Stories of Courage Changing the World. Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi. Greystone Kids, 2023. 978-1-771-64713-7. Unpaged. $18.95. Grades 3-6.

Thoughtful, detailed illustrations of paper overlays accompany author Rina Singh’s verses extolling the ingenuity, compassion, and hopefulness of seven global figures who are lights burning in dark times. In an afterword, she names each one and explains in prose how their acts of selflessness helped less fortunate people; but in the body of the book, Singh weaves a verse tale about their actions and Hadadi describes it in her art. The Palestinian mother who uses grenades to hold flowers in memory of her son; the Brazilian dancer who had to forgo a promising career but opened a free ballet school; the would-be engineer who turned his talents toward teaching children in India; the South African man who shared his love of soccer with poor boys in his township; the Canadian Anishinaabe water activist advocating for clean water for indigenous peoples; the Mexican artist who melts down and transforms guns into beautiful art; the Greek restaurant owner who opened her doors to hungry Syrian refugees.This book would be difficult for younger students to read independently. It requires an awareness of suffering and a broad worldview. The relative obscurity of the book’s heroes paves the way for readers to look for their own hidden heroes. Students can extend the book through biographical searches, ideas for service learning projects, interpretation of facts into verse, or depiction of scenes of people doing good works in the paper medium. Teachers can use this book in lessons highlighting peace and social justice.

THOUGHTS: This book is beautiful to behold; the illustrations tell a story on their own. The true stories of the featured people following the verses may need to be read first for young readers to comprehend the verse’s meaning. Creative teachers can link current events to these varied geographical, contemporary settings. A specialized addition to a school library collection.

302 Social Communities

YA – Rise Up and Sing: Power, Protest, and Activism in Music

Posted on December 1, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Warner, Andrea. Rise Up and Sing: Power, Protest, and Activism in Music. Greystone Kids, 2023. 978-1-77164-898-1. 299 p. $19.95. Grades 6-12.

This book is a collection of musicians as role models through highlighting the power of music to help change the world. Some of the artists featured are: Bob Dylan, Billie Elish, Beyonce, Lil Nas X, Lady Gaga, Bob Marley, and more. The book covers the social and environmental issues that each artist has brought to the attention of their fans. Climate change, the environment, decolonization, indigenous rights, civil rights, racial justice, disability rights, feminism, gender equality, nonbinary folks, anti-war movement, and human rights are all discussed through the artists’ lyrics and dedication to bring these issues to the forefront of their listeners.

THOUGHTS: An impressive collection of artists and their quest to bring awareness and justice to the world we live in are shared in this title.

781.64 Western Popular Music

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

Posted on October 12, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

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 – Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel

Posted on September 7, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Reynolds, Jason. Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel. Atheneum, 2023. 978-1-665-91846-6. 303 p. $19.99. Grades 7-12.

Miles Morales, a teen hiding secret spider super-man powers, uncovers a villainous plot after he receives in-school-suspension (ISS) at his school, Brooklyn Visions Academy. After a blow-up with a racist teacher, Miles is set to serve his ISS day quietly by completing a large packet of work from each of his teachers. As the day progresses, Miles begins to notice there is something a little ‘off’ in the ISS room—and something weird going on with one of his classmates, Tobin. Tobin is in trouble for stealing (and allegedly eating) library books. His ‘spidey-sense’ keeps prickling, and Miles is not quite sure why. Then, Miles thinks he sees a termite crawl across Tobin’s desk…and directly into his ear. Miles ultimately discovers that Tobin is part of a larger plot. Miles must face off against this enemy in order to restore justice—and the freedom to read.

THOUGHTS: Jason Reynolds masterfully weaves together verse and prose to create a layered, complex novel; Suspended could be read and enjoyed by a middle schooler right up to a senior in high school. Reynolds keeps Spider-man cool and relevant to 2023; the book tackles topics of school library censorship and contains social justice themes while still including all of the elements of a classic superhero story. Miles himself is a realistic and nuanced character who grapples with familial and cultural identity, seeing patterns, and understanding consequences. Although this book is technically a sequel to Miles Morales, Spider-man (2018), readers can enjoy Suspended on its own as well.

Fantasy

MG -The Jump

Posted on July 10, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Morris, Brittney. The Jump. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-6659-0398-1. 248 p. $19.99. Grades 7-9.

Team JERICHO has always worked together to be the best digital scavenger-hunting team in Seattle. Each member brings a unique skill to the team: Jax is the puzzler, Han is the master of maps and locations, Spider is the hacker, and Yas is the parkourist, and together they have been unstoppable. They have had little competition that is until The Order posts a new challenge. A challenge that guarantees a reward of power. The Order is a mysterious group whose agenda is to stop big oil from taking over part of the city. All four members of JERICHO will see their families’ lives displaced if this oil refinery is built. This new challenge would give JERICHO the power to save their families, but then enter TEAM ROYAL, and they are bent on taking down JERICHO, and will take extreme measures to stop them. Will JERICHO be able to win this ultimate challenge? And what exactly is this reward of power?

THOUGHTS: Social Issues and social justice are paramount in this book. The characters are relatable, and readers will become invested in them. Middle grade readers will enjoy this action-packed adventure.

Adventure

MG – The First Rule of Climate Club

Posted on April 4, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Firestone, Carrie. The First Rule of Climate Club. G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books, 2023. 978-1-51604-213-5. 469 p. $22.99. Grades 5-8.

Mary Kate Murphy has always loved nature. Luckily enough she lives next to a beautiful nature sanctuary that becomes a special place for her and Lucy, her best friend, to hang out. She is thrilled that she is chosen to be in the first ever climate change science class along with Lucy. Under the guidance of Mr. Lu, the class decides to do a composting project. They apply for a grant that would give them enough money to start the project, but their application is rejected by the mayor who has troubling racist views. The climate class decides to host a fun fest to raise funds for the project. To raise awareness for the fest (and also expose the mayor’s problematic views), they start a climate change podcast. One of their guests includes Miss Charlotte Lane, their English teacher and the candidate running against the mayor in the upcoming election. Meanwhile, Lucy is battling an unknown illness which weighs on Mary Kate’s mind. Fortunately, she has her friends in the climate club, and with their help, Mary Kate sets out to educate her community about climate change and prove that a group of determined kids can do anything.

THOUGHTS: While this is a stand-alone novel, fans will be delighted to see the return of some beloved characters from Dress Coded. This book is fast-paced, funny, and realistically portrays middle schoolers in a modern world. This is a fantastic read for any middle school students, especially those with an interest in activism.

Realistic Fiction

YA – One of the Good Ones

Posted on October 27, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Moulite, Maika, and Maritza Moulite. One of the Good Ones. Inkyard Press, 2021. 978-1-335-14580-2. 384 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12.

Teen YouTube activist and influencer Kezi Smith dies under police custody following her arrest at a social justice rally on her eighteenth birthday. Instantly immortalized as a martyr in the fight against police brutality, Kezi’s family is devastated by loss. While her pastor parents want to preserve and protect Kezi’s memory, sisters Happi and Genny look for a unique way to honor her. Embarking on the trip Kezi planned to take following an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book, the sisters and friends Ximena (Kezi’s girlfriend) and Derek go on a journey to reconnect with the Smith’s African American family history and remember Kezi. Tormented by her broken relationship with Kezi, the trip is an opportunity for Happi to understand her older sister, who she feels like she didn’t truly know. Together they will learn more about Kezi, each other, and their family’s history. A surprising twist won’t shock careful readers, but the alternate time periods may challenge struggling readers.

THOUGHTS: This title examines what it means to be remembered and who gets to be called “one of the good ones.” Recommended for high school collections where social justice and social issue titles are popular.

Realistic Fiction Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

YA – Kneel

Posted on September 14, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Buford, Candace. Kneel. Inkyard Press, 2021. 978-1-335-40251-6. 320 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12.

Kneel follows Russell who is a talented football player from a small town looking for a full ride scholarship to escape. However, Russell’s teammate and best friend, Marion is unfairly arrested and then benched for the rest of the season, Russell decides to take a stand. In doing so, Russell sets off a chain of events that he never saw coming and refuses to back down from. In the end, will Russell be able to enact the social change that his community desperately needs, or will he have to pick between social justice and football?

THOUGHTS: This was amazingly written, and felt extremely realistic. I enjoyed that each character felt unique to me, in how they dealt with racism as well as how they interacted with each other. This wasn’t too technical with football, which I appreciated as someone who isn’t familiar with football. I would highly recommend this for a high school collection, and feel this would also make a great book to teach in a high school literature class.

Realistic Fiction Mary Hyson, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

When practice runs late, Russell and Marion know that breaking down on the parish line between Monroe (their side of town) and Westmond (the wealthier side of town) is not the best spot to be. A few weeks ago the untimely death of teen Dante Maynard, who was killed by a white police officer for “looking suspicious,” rocked the local black community. The fact that Russell’s car could draw unwanted attention for its condition doesn’t add to his limited options as darkness approaches. Instead of the cops, though, Bradley Simmons, a varsity football player from Westmond, pulls up in a shiny BMW, and he taunts Russell and Marion about last year’s playoff whipping which ended with Marion being seriously injured and jeopardizing his football future. The pent up frustration doesn’t end, and animosity explodes when Monroe meets Westmond at center field for the coin toss. Unfair, one-sided refereeing leaves Russell injured. To make matters even worse, the cop that killed Dante Maynard is on game security, and he takes Marion off the field in cuffs. Though Russell promises Marion he’ll “handle this,” the deck is stacked against the boys, their team, and their community. Due to his pending charges, Marion is benched and barred from the team until his situation is resolved. In an instant, his only way out disappears. Russell realizes the only way to take a stand is to take a knee, and the repercussions of his action are more than he imagined. If the only way out of his situation is through a Division I football scholarship, what lengths will Russell go to in order to earn his spot, and will he have to give up his beliefs to make it happen?

THOUGHTS: Timely and thoughtful, Kneel transports readers right into the racial tensions. Readers will feel for Russell and be angered by the actions and the lack of action from local authorities. A must have for high school collections, this title also would pair well with classics and other contemporary titles dealing with similar topics.

Realistic Fiction Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

YA – Punching the Air

Posted on November 12, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Zoboi, Ibi and Yusef Salaam. Punching the Air. Balzar + Bray, 2020. 978-0-062-99648-0. 400 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Punching the Air follows Amal Shahid, a talented art student who is seen as disruptive in a prestigious school based on the color of his skin. Early in the book, you learn that he has been caught up in an altercation with other boys, and he ends up being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to jail. Amal turns to words to convey what he’s feeling, even if he doesn’t understand what he’s feeling. This novel is told through poetry which makes it feel so much more powerful than if it was told in a regular novel format. Readers feel so much empathy for Amal and his situation, and there were many points where readers will want to reach through the book and hug him. The lyrical writing gives insight into how young people feel in our justice system: the hopelessness, the fear, as well as the anger.

THOUGHTS: This is a must read and a must own for every upper middle and high school library. Just be aware of the themes of racism, as well as the descriptions and discussion of jail.

Novel in verse Mary Hyson, Lehigh Valley Charter Academy

The name Amal means hope, and hope is exactly what Amal needs after he is convicted of aggravated assault and battery of a white boy. Although Amal knows the truth, that he might have thrown the first punch but not the last, his hope lies in Jeremy Mathis waking up from his coma and telling the truth. But, Amal is more than just anger or a black boy living up to the path laid out for him – for boys from his neighborhood. Amal is art and poetry; he is creative and spiritual; loving, a son, a cousin, a friend. But in prison, Amal must turn parts of himself off; he must be cold, quiet, and suspicious to survive the beatings and cruelty from guards and other inmates. He must contain his anger, so he can flourish in poetry and art and grow from his experiences to find the window back to the world that was and will be forever changed.

THOUGHTS: Punching the Air is a phenomenal story about wrongful incarceration and the cruelty of the justice system. Although Zoboi and Salaam share much hope through Amal, they also present the harsh realities of a broken system, a system that sent Salaam to prison as one of the now Exonerated Five. This novel-in-verse is eloquent and honest; it stabs the reader again and again, but then heals her over and over. Amal is a hero while the justice system is the villain. He continually is beaten down, and yet he rises. This is a must have for all high school collections. On a final note, many of the poems and lines resonate with readers, but for me, this verse says it all. “The bookshelves here / are not walls / They’re closed windows / and all I have to do / is pull out one book / to make these windows / wide open” (“Booked II”).

Novel-in-Verse Erin Bechdel, Beaver Area SD
Realistic Fiction