This is an adaptation of a Netflix series based on the Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego? story, and reminiscent of the video game by the same name popular in the 1980’s and 90’s. This adaptation tells Carmen’s backstory and the reader learns much more about WHO Carmen Sandiego really is.
Author Archives: SSBRC Former Member
Normal: One Kid’s Extraordinary Journey by Magdalena & Nathaniel Newman
Born with craniofacial syndrome, the same condition August has in the book “Wonder,” Nathaniel Newman, and his mother, Magda, share the hardships of growing up with this condition. Nathaniel faced sixty-seven surgeries before the age of fifteen, needing surgeries to help him breathe (tracheotomy), eat, to stretch his chin wider, to hear, and more. Told in alternating voice, this is a true story of a mother’s love for her special needs son, the amazing doctors who have worked with him, the courage and humorous spirit of Nathaniel, and the challenge by the author to redefine “normal.”
Nathaniel is a very funny kid with many laugh-out-loud comments. The book is touching in places, such as when Nathaniel, in one of his many doctor appointments, was asked the question, “Have you ever thought about hurting yourself” replied:
“That might be the stupidest question I’ve heard in my life” …..”I have an awesome mom and dad and brother. I have a dog named Smokey. Why would I hurt myself? My life is awesome.” (page 162)
Drawings throughout the book give it an elementary feel, though I know it would be enjoyed by middle school grades as well. My favorite drawing was of Nathaniel reading the book “Wonder” by P. J. Palacio. A fun fact about the Newman family is that they became friends with P. J. and Nathaniel even tried out for the part of August for the movie “Wonder.” Although he wasn’t cast, the book and the movie were both appreciated by the Newman family as they saw a general shift in how the public viewed Nathaniel.
Something Like Gravity
Chris, a transgender boy nearly hits Maria with a car, and that’s how they meet. He’s visiting her town for the summer to get a break from his family and to try to recover from an assault he experienced at school after coming out as trans. Maria is grieving from the sudden death of her older sister. Without intending to, Chris and Maria find themselves tossed together over and over, and before long, start to fall in love.
The storyline is fine but it is somewhat unrealistic that Chris passes 100% of the time as a male. As far as the reader can tell, Chris has not had surgery or undergone extensive hormone treatments, etc., so it just isn’t really plausible that everyone would accept him as a male. That issue aside, readers who enjoyed Love, Simon or Simon and Eleanor may enjoy this book.
The Grief Keeper
This is an immigration story, a family drama, an LGBTQ romance, with a sci-fi plot, all in one YA novel. Marisol, the teenaged protagonist, flees El Salvador after her brother is killed and her sister is threatened. While escaping to the US fulfills a longtime dream of hers, the trade she has to make, taking on the grief and trauma of another girl, is the where the sci-fi plot comes in.
This is an intriguing, sad yet bitter sweet story.
Pretend She’s Here
Best selling author LuAnne Rice usually writes adult fiction but Pretend She’s Here is a venture into YA. The story, although featuring a teen protagonist, does verge on adult fiction given the seriousness of the plot, this psychological thriller is most suitable for mature high schoolers.
The story begins with Emily grieving the death from cancer of her best friend Lizzie. It’s been a year now but Emily just cannot accept that Lizzie is gone. She is happy when Lizzie’s parents and sister return to her town for a visit, but things take a dark and dangerous twist when Emily realizes how desperately they miss Lizzie, and to what extremes they will go to.
This page turner will leave the reader with a racing heart.
There Will Come A Darkness
A fantasy set in Greco-Roman times is told from five distinctive points of view from the five primary characters: A prince exiled from his kingdom, a ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand, a once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart, a reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone, and a dying girl on the verge of giving up. These characters are living in the chaos of the Age of Darkness that falls upon them after the Seven Prophets, who have guided humanity for generations, have disappeared.
Some readers may struggle with the multiple points of view and the parallel plots.
There Will Come a Darkness is the first book in the Age of Darkness series, followed by As the Shadow Rises, and concluding with Into the Dying Light. This series may appeal to fans of Throne of Glass, Children of Blood and Bone, and similar epic fantasies.
I Wish You All The Best
Ben De Backer’s plan to comes out to their parents as nonbinary on their eighteenth birthday result in devastating results: they are thrown out of the house and stumble barefoot looking for a phonebooth to call an estranged older sister. Surprisingly, the sister and her husband welcome Ben to come live with them, and Ben sets out to build a new life with the help of a therapist. Trying to overcome anxiety disorder and keeping a low profile at school to avoid confrontation, Ben’s days drag and the reader feels this slow drag in the writing. But then Ben draws the attention of outgoing and attractive Nathan. As Ben’s spirits improve, a zest for live builds and the writing reflects the accelerated pace.
This is a powerful coming of age story.
Stolen Justice: The Struggle For American Voting Rights
Goldstone, author of Unpunished Murder: Massacre at Colfax and the Quest for Justice, sets tells the history of African American voting, beginning with the Constitutional Convention and continuing through two Constitutional Amendments, two Reconstruction Acts, two Civil Rights Acts, three Enforcement Acts, and continues into the second decade of the 21st century with voter suppression efforts in several southern states. Written for a younger audience, with short chapters and an approachable narrative, make this an accessible book for school aged readers, as well as adults.
The book contains a detailed table of contents, primary source documents and photographs, a glossary, bibliography, extensive source notes, and an index. I recommend this book for middle and high school libraries.
Curse of the Divine
Curse of the Divine in the final book in duology Ink in the Blood. The reader returns to the world of inklings, tattoo magic, and the evil deities Celia and Anya faced earlier. Now guilt ridden and saddened to live without Anya, Celia’s quest is to stop Diavala once and for all. When Celia learns that Diavala is now threatening Griffin, the plague doctor, pledges not to lose another person she loves to the evil deity.
The fantasy world Kim Smejkal created in The Ink in the Blood is explored with more depth in Curse of the Divine. This macabre YA fantasy may appeal to fans of The Young Elites series by Marie Lu.
Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal
This dark YA fantasy weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and theater. The main characters Celia and Anya are inkings for the religion of Profeta, and they use magic to tattoo followers with lovely images that are meant to represent the will of the Divine and lead the followers in the path that the Divine has for them. But as the years go by, the girls learn the truth about Profeta; that it is a false religion and that the lovely tattoos they have made take the freedom away from the followers. The young women set out on a journey to escape the oppressive religious sect and join a traveling performing company called Rabble Mob.
The two girls have a strong bond of friendship and they look out for one another as the story progresses. There are elements of LGBTQ, found family, and perseverance.
The book reminds me of another new YA fantasy, Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell, and also Carnaval by