Viral takes a brutally honest look at the AIDS epidemic in the United States. Bausum sets the stage starting shortly after the Stonewall Riots. “Life before Stonewall had been filled with oppression, and life after Stonewall, for many gay men overflowed with liberation. But that was before what came next. And what came next was AIDS.” Viral tracks how the disease spread and the immense struggle to fund research and treatments for HIV and AIDS. It took decades, multiple presidential changes and tons of advocacy efforts to finally get AIDS the funding it so dearly needed. Viral is a must read not just for teens, but for adults too. This book paints a very hard and honest picture of the AIDS epidemic in the United States.
Archives: Book Reviews
More to the Story
A terrific update of Little Women by a Pakistani American, More to the Story is about Jameela Mirza or just Jam (Jo March) who lives in Atlanta and writes for her middle school newspaper and her relationships with her mom, dad, 3 sisters, and one handsome family friend. Be part of a warm loving Muslim American home by living with the Mirza family. If you are familiar with Little Women, it’s fun to catch how the author is updating the classic; if you are not familiar with Little Women, you will love this contemporary story of family illness, journalism ethics, and sisterhood!
Captain Rosalie
Captain Rosalie is the heartbreaking story of one girl’s experience of World War I. It is told from a 5 year old’s point of view and it was originally a short story, now expanded to a very short novel by brilliant illustrator Isabelle Arsenault. But don’t be fooled. Although the text is short & simple and the protagonist is young, this is a war novel appropriate for ages 10 – 14 year olds. Adults smart enough to listen to a child’s voice will not be disappointed. Devastating.
A Place to Belong
So devastating and yet so gorgeous. This book takes a unique approach to the story of Japanese Internment. The story opens when the World War II is over. Hanako’s parents have agreed to renounce their US Citizenship and move to Japan to live with her grandparents. Jiichan (grandfather) and Baachan (grandmother) are tenant subsistence farmers near Hiroshima. One of the characters is a boy who was bombed in that city and lost his ear and has a scarred back due to the bomb, a starving street boy. With Hanako, you experience everything a sensitive pre-teen would notice about post war Japan. Kadohata has this “slice of life” narrative style that seems tailor made for this story. This was the book Kadohata was born to write (she’s been working on it for 10 years) and it was just nominated for the National Book Award. Strongly recommended for 5th grade and up to adult. (Read this first before your 3rd or 4th grader attempts it or perhaps read it together.)
“This is a book to sink deep into.” Horn Book Magazine, starred review
The Girl in Red
Intense, violent, dystopian thriller about — Little Red Riding Hood? Actually, Red is a survivor of a shocking new pandemic and she’s avoiding being picked up for quarantine by the police by cutting through the woods to yes, her grandma’s cabin. But there are others out looking to exploit the crisis for their own ends…does Red even stand a chance? and what happened to the rest of her family?
Really engrossing and in the end, touching, this is a book to devour. (I read it in one sitting!)
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
The prestigious Ellingham Academy only accepts the best. You don’t just have to be bright; you have be exceptional. The school was created by Albert Ellingham in his remote Vermont mansion. He strongly believed that learning should be a game and developed a school that reflected his beliefs. Tragedy struck in the early days of the school when Albert Ellingham’s wife and daughter were kidnapped and later found dead. The kidnapper left taunting clues and seemed to be playing a twisted game of their own. The Ellingham became one of the great mysteries of the 20th century.
Fast forward to present day and Stevie Bell is going to Ellingham Academy. Her main motivation for even applying to the academy is to solve this cold case, but Stevie gets more than she bargained for. Death has come back to Ellingham Academy and Stevie has another mystery to solve.
The mysteries of “Truly Devious” are told in alternating chapters. The story switches between flashbacks to the Ellingham kidnapping and present day. Both stories are gripping and fresh. I was concerned they might be disjointed switching back and forth, but Maureen Johnson weaves them together flawlessly.
“Truly Devious” is fantastic YA mystery, especially you enjoy true crime. It hits all the right notes from a diverse cast of characters to an engrossing story. Highly recommended.
The True History of Lyndie B Hawkins
Terrific Middle Grade debut about a young girl growing up in 1970’s Tennessee who wonders if everyone tells lies all the time. “I just never realized, even when i was bobbing like a cork in an ocean of falsehoods.” Lyndie is living with some hard realities: her dad went to Vietnam and never fully recovered. When he loses his job, then they lose their home. Her Grandma believes in keeping up appearances even if reality is really scary. But eventually, Lyndie learns that redemption is worth fighting for, even if it means telling some hard truths. Lyndie’s first person voice is what carries this novel and endears her to you. By the end, you are wishing there was some way to hang out longer with Lyndie and her friends.
Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir & Sarah Andersen
What an absolute treat! This unlikely pair of Andy Weir (The Martian) and Sarah Andersen – better known for her often viral Sarah Scribbles comics – creates a fun and beautiful romp through all of your favorite childhood books.
Wendy Darling, Alice Liddell, and Dorothy Gale have all experienced madcap adventures in fantastical lands throughout their childhoods. But who would believe such ridiculous stories? Certainly not their parents, who have shipped them from asylum to asylum until the three find themselves as roommates in a very special boarding school.
This graphic novel is riddled with references to cherished classics and mixed with Weir’s trademark humor. The unexpectedly lovely illustrations by Andersen pull everything together and really show how extensively talented she is. It’s delightfully bawdy and great for both teens and adults – with an opening letter by Weir which is not to be skipped!
Fear of Missing Out by Kate McGovern
Astrid’s almost in her final year of high school, but that’s something she’s not focusing on at all. Astrid has a brain tumor. A few years ago the tumor showed up and with treatment it went away, but now it’s back with a vengeance. Astrid’s mom, really wants her to sign up for a new experimental treatment, but Astrid isn’t sure that’s the best option for her. Astrid knows deep down she’s not going to make it this time. Astrid starts exploring her treatment options and she learns about cryopreservation. The chance of waking up some time in the future when there’s a cure available for her tumor is appealing. In order to learn more and seize control of her life Astrid, her boyfriend Mohit and her best friend Chloe go on a life changing road trip to the cryopreservation research center. Fear of Missing Out is great realistic fiction that looks closely at death and decisions surrounding it.
Contagion by Erin Bowman
“Contagion” is a very fast-paced, horror sci-fi novel with…wait for it…space zombies! Interested?
After receiving a distress signal from a distant mining colony, a team is quickly assembled to investigate why the mining colony sent the distress signal and why it went silent shortly after. Upon arriving, the rescue team quickly realizes something went very wrong and can’t find anyone still alive except for a teen boy who is clearly hiding something. His answers to the rescue team’s questions don’t quite add up. They continue to dig into the mystery of what happened to the miners and things only get worse for the crew of the Odyssey. It’s a race against time as the rescuers fight to save themselves.
Highly recommended for anyone in the mood for a sci-fi, horror read with a lot of action and thriller elements.