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  • Yes She Can

    Courtesy YesSheCanBook.com

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Yes She Can 

    Editor: Molly Dillon

    ISBN: 978-1984848451

    Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

    Copyright Date: 2019

    Genre: Nonfiction, politics, essays

    Format: Print book

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 12+

    Plot Summary: This collection of essays written by young women staffers in Obama’s White House is an inspiring look at the nuts and bolts of government. Each woman shares her background and path into government, and the experience of growing into the job. Many are women of color who never expected to see themselves in positions of power, but found meaning in Obama’s election in 2008 that propelled them into a life of public service. While the Trump years may have take the shine off of the assumption that progress was an uninterrupted arc, these essays stake a claim. By sharing their experiences, the authors show the world that young women can absolutely make a difference. Whether organizing events to shine a light on foster care, writing policy about human trafficking, or owning up to mistakes in the halls of power, these stories are funny, insightful, and full of generosity. 

    Courtesy YesSheCanBook.com

    Author Background: The ten women who contributed essays come from a range of backgrounds, and worked in a range of positions in the Obama White House. From Vivian Graubard, who graduated from American University and cofounded the United States Digital Service, to Andrea Flores, who was the first latinx student body president at Harvard and became a political appointee at U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, to Kalisha Dessources Figures, who went from being a high school math and science teacher to a Policy Advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls, they worked in every corner of government. They all share a passion for public service. 

    Critical Evaluation: These essays had me in tears multiple times. Powerful, well-written, and shimmering with hope and conviction, this book is both inspiration and practical road map for anyone who’s interested in public service. The essays are an intimate look at the work day, which must be particularly interesting for teens still in high school, as well as clear explanations for the iterative work of career building. Rather than giving into what must have been an intimidating experience for anyone, these women share their experiences in an inclusive and welcoming way. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: This seems like a good opportunity for a resume-writing workshop. Have teens think about which life experiences can show off their talents and start to build a resume for internships, job applications, and other opportunities. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: Ever wondered what it’s like to work in the White House? The answer is a lot of late nights, and a lot of M&Ms, but also knowing you’re making a difference. These essays offer a glimpse behind the scenes in public service.  

    Reason for Inclusion: While the audience is surely not only women and girls, the fact that the writers are all women can only be empowering to teen girls. The women represented are racially diverse and come from many economic backgrounds, truly shining a light on what inclusive government can look like.

    Want more? A number of the contributors spoke on a panel at the Aspen Institute:

    References

    Kirkus (February 15, 2019). Yes She Can [review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/molly-dillon/yes-she-can-dillon/

    Oldenburg, Don (2019). Yes She Can [review]. Retrieved from https://www.parentschoice.org/product/yes-she-can/

    Publishers Weekly (n.d.). Yes She Can [review]. https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781984848468

  • Let’s Make Ramen!

    Courtesy Penguin Random House

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Let’s Make Ramen!

    Author: Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan

    ISBN: 9780399581991

    Publisher: Ten Speed Press

    Copyright Date: 2019

    Genre: Nonfiction, cooking, Japanese culture

    Format: Graphic novel

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 10+ (based on my judgement)

    Awards and Honors: Long listed for the Best Art of Eating Prize, one of YALSA’s Great Comic Books for Teens, Goodreads Choice Award nominee for food and cookbooks

    Plot Summary: This is more than just a cookbook; it’s a passionate ode to ramen. It begins with a history of ramen, explores the necessary equipment and ingredients the savvy ramen chef has in their kitchen, talks about Japanese culture, explains how to make proper broths, noodles, meat and vegetable accompaniments, as well as various shortcuts those of us with less time and space can take, using pre-made ingredients or pressure cookers. The book finishes with classic recipes as well as “riffs” on ramen like curry ramen and shrimp and roasted tomato ramen. 

    Courtesy Hugh Amano
    Courtesy Sarah Becan

    Author Backgrounds: Hugh Tadashi Amano was raised by an American mother and Japanese father in Colorado. He has traveled the world, learning about food; he graduated from the New England Culinary Institute and was the opening sous chef at Chicago’s Fat Rice restaurant (Amano, n.d.). Sarah Becan collaborated with him on The Adventures of Fat Rice, and their partnership began. Sarah loves to draw food; she has written and illustrated numerous graphic novels as well as illustrating for many publications including Saveur, Eater.com, and Tasting Table (Becan, n.d.). She has twice been nominated for an Ignatz award and lives in Chicago. 

    Critical Evaluation: When researching ramen for my 13-year-old son, this was one of the most frequently recommended cookbooks for aficionados and it’s easy to see why. This book is a joy to read. Conversational and fascinating, the book assumes its readers are intelligent and interested. No detail is too small or obscure, and Amano explains nuance with clarity and a dash of fun. Becan’s illustrations are vivid and luscious; you’ll be drooling just a few pages in. Her work is meticulous but also playful; noodles loop around text and full-page spreads alternate with orderly frames. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Cooking workshop! While full-scale ramen is a day’s-long enterprise, with pre-made broths and hot plates teens can make a passable ramen they can customize with their preferred toppings, such as boiled eggs, pre-made noodles, chopped green onions and mushrooms, etc. If they enjoy the process, they can borrow the book and make the whole thing from scratch! 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: Ramen is more than just those little packets in plastic wrap everyone has at the back of their pantry. Learn about ramen’s long history as well as the details you will need to make world-class ramen in your own home.  

    Reason for Inclusion: All the teens I know love to cook and watch cooking videos on YouTube and TikTok, so I felt I had to include a cookbook on my list! This is a fabulous one; more than just a cookbook, it’s a history book, cultural and kitchen primer, and mouth-watering temptation all in one. 

    Want more? Here’s “A Day in the Life of a Japanese Ramen Chef”:

    References

    Amano, H. (n.d.) About. Retrieved from https://www.hughamano.com/

    Becan, S. (n.d.) About Sarah. Retrieved from https://sarahbecan.com/about/

    Publishers Weekly (n.d.). Let’s Make Ramen! [starred review] https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780399581991

    Rachelbookgirl (September 22, 2021). Let’s make ramen! By Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan. Retrieved from https://theyalibrarian.com/2020/09/22/lets-make-ramen-by-hugh-amano-and-sarah-becan/

     

  • Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

    Courtesy Simon and Schuster

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

    Author: Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff

    ISBN: 9781534444966

    Publisher: Atheneum/ Simon and Schuster

    Copyright Date: 2020

    Genre: Realistic fiction, verse 

    Format: Graphic novel

    Awards or Honors: Original book: Walter Dean Myers Award winner, Printz Award Honor book, Newbery Honor book, National Book Award longlist, Edgar Allen Poe Award winner

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 12+

    Plot Summary: Will’s brother is shot right in front of him, and he knows what he has to do: not cry, not snitch, and put whoever killed Shawn in a body bag. He’s never even shot a gun before, but he finds a pistol in Shawn’s drawer, and after a bitter, heartbroken night, heads out to kill the person he is sure killed his brother. 

    But as he heads down in the elevator, someone gets in on each floor, someone with a message for him about violence, revenge, and what it means to be a man. As the elevator fills up with smoke and regret, Will has a decision to make. 

    Courtesy Danica Novgorodoff

    Author Background: I’ve written about Jason Reynolds here. Danica Novgorodoff is a Brooklyn-based artist and writer who has been a fellow at the McDowell Colony, the New York Foundation of the Arts, and a writer in residence at Sarabande books. She has written multiple graphic novels as well as collaborating with authors to illustrate their work in book form as well as illustrating articles in publications such as Esquire, Slate, and ArtForum. She is currently working on a graphic novel about climate change. 

    Critical Evaluation: While the original is a treasure, this graphic novel adaptation is well worth reading itself. Novgorodoff has slimmed down the text, carefully chosen, and illustrated with exquisite watercolors. No other medium can express the bloom of blood across a shirt or smoke filling an elevator like breath quite as well. Even the bite of the watercolor paper is perfectly captured, giving each page a weightiness it deserves. Text is carefully placed for maximum impact and clarity, and Reynolds’ words are pure poetry. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Inspired by Novgorodoff’s beautiful paintings, host a watercolor workshop for young poets. A local artist can teach watercolor basics, and participants can pair images with their poems for artworks that can be displayed in the library. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: Will has to avenge his brother’s death. But as he takes the long way down in an elevator, his spirits—and his gun—start to weigh heavy on him. Can Will escape his history?

    Reason for Inclusion: Jason Reynolds is such a powerful writer, and this grapples with some serious issues (gun violence, the echoes of trauma, and toxic masculinity) in a way that can draw in even the most reluctant reader. Offering it in graphic novel form will make it even more engaging for readers, and adding layers for those who are already fans of the book. It’s also a relatively rare YA book featuring a Black, male protagonist. 

    Want more? Here’s Jason Reynolds reading the first part of the book:

    References

    Berry, M. (n.d.). Long way down: The graphic novel [review]. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/long-way-down-the-graphic-novel

    Kirkus (September 1, 2020). Long way down: The graphic novel [review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jason-reynolds/long-way-down-graphic-novel/

    Novgorodoff, D. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from https://www.danicanovgorodoff.com/about

  • Growing Up

    Courtesy the Linda Lindas

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Growing Up

    Creator: The Linda Lindas (Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza, and Mila de la Garza)

    Label: Epitaph Records 

    Copyright Date: 2022

    Genre: Punk

    Format: CD/MP3/LP

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 10+

    Courtesy the Linda Lindas

    Artists’ Background: The Linda Lindas rocketed to fame after a song they played at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral on YouTube, called “Racist, Sexist Boy” (Gottrich, 2021). But they’d been playing together for some time (they’re two sisters, their cousin, and a close friend) and were more than ready for their close-up. They performed in Amy Poehler’s Moxie and a documentary about the Babysitter’s Club character Claudia Kishi (they wrote a song about her), and were soon signed for a record deal.

    Critical Evaluation: Growing Up is a mix of original songs and covers. It’s unabashedly loud and grungy, reveling in punk influences like Bikini Kill. While not all the performances are polished, they’re pretty darn good considering they’re still in their early to mid teens. The lyrics bring me to proud tears, hopeful for everything their generation will achieve, and the garbage they refuse to put up with. As they say in the song that made them famous, “we rebuild what you destroy” (Linda Lindas, n.d.). 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Um, surely there’s a local girls’ band that would love to play at the library! Hopefully a local music teacher or school will have a suggestion. To complement the performance, have an activity station for making cut-out collage art inspired by the album cover. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: You might have seen the Linda Lindas in their viral performance at the library. But their album is even better; it’s empowerment through both cute cats and political statements. 

    Reason for Inclusion: I absolutely love their confidence and take-no-prisoners attitude. It’s inspiring for teens to see other teens creating (the Linda Lindas range in age from 11 to 17), especially teens of color, so this album is a great addition to any collection. (Also, they love libraries!)

    Want more? Here’s the video that made them famous:

    And here’s one of the music videos from their album:

    References

    Gottrich, L. (May 21, 2021). What’s more punk than teens screaming in a public library? Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20210521193729/https://www.npr.org/2021/05/21/999058293/whats-more-punk-than-teens-screaming-in-a-public-library

    The Linda Lindas (n.d.). Store. Retrieved from https://thelindalindas.store/

    Moreland, Q. (April 27, 2022). Growing Up—The Linda Lindas [review]. Retrieved from https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-linda-lindas-growing-up/

     

  • Beasts and Beauty

    Courtesy Harper Collins

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales

    Author: Soman Chainani

    ISBN: 9780062652638

    Publisher: Harper Collins

    Copyright Date: 2021

    Genre: Fairytale, horror

    Format: Print book

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 14+

    Plot Summary: This collection of twelve re-worked fairy tales examines and updates them on every level. “Snow White” becomes a parable about racism; “Red Riding Hood” explores the toxic cost of beauty; Rumpelstiltskin turns the traditional deal with the devil on its head; a kidnapped boy in Bluebeard seizes his power to liberate his fellow orphans; Cinderella’s Disneyfied closeness with mice takes on new meaning. Each tale has elements readers will recognize, but twist after twist will leave them gasping and questioning. Spooky, chilling, and resonant, these are fairy tales for the 21st century.

    Courtesy Soman Chainani

    Author Background: Soman Chainani has degrees from Harvard, where he studied fairy tales with expert Maria Tatar, and Columbia University, where he got an MFA in Film Studies (Chainani, n.d.). His early career was as a screenwriter and director. His School for Good and Evil series have been international bestsellers, and his latest book, Beasts and Beauty, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller list, joining his other six books. The School for Good and Evil is currently in development as a film, to be released later this year. 

    Critical Evaluation: Chainani knows his fairytales cold, knows how to twist them and break them to suck the most marrow out. Fairytales were originally morality stories for their time. Now they’ve been updated to grapple with the issues at the forefront today, whether it’s racism or misogyny, and to expand who appears in such tales, by adding racially diverse and queer protagonists to the mix. He has said that in writing this book, he wanted to not just update but “repair” the outdated messages of the original fairytales, and “teach the right lessons this time, as if we could do the whole world over again” (Watkins, 2021).  

    Such topics could feel heavy-handed, but Chainani’s deft writing leaves each story with its mythic proportions intact. The weightiness of the topics are matched by the archtetypal framework they rest in. Beautiful, understated illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book, and the hardback version has heft, feeling like a classic tome already. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: A fairytale writing workshop; have participants re-write their own fairy tales. Begin the program by reading a classic Grimm fairytale, and then have young writers work through plot points and twists to update the story with relevance to their own lives. A follow-up workshop could have them polishing and presenting their work. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: What if Red Riding Hood was a feminist liberator? What if Snow White is out to defeat racism? These are fairytales for 21st century readers.

    Reason for Inclusion: Short stories are great for teens, and these spooky updates will lure anyone in to see what Chainani does with each well-known tale. The diverse characters will allow everyone to see themselves. Fans of Chainani’s earlier book series can learn more about classic fairy tales and their history. 

    Want more? Here’s a fantastic Salon interview with Chainani, talking about fairy tales:

     

    References

    Chainani, S. (n.d.) About. Retrieved from https://somanchainani.com/#section-about-soman

    Frick, K. (2021). CHAINANI, Soman. Beasts and beauty: Dangerous tales. School Library Journal, 67(10), 81+.

    Kirkus (August 1, 2021). Beasts and beauty: Dangerous tales [review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/soman-chainani/beasts-and-beauty/

    Watkins, D. (September 28, 2021). What would today’s fairytales look like if you could “un-Disney-fy people’s brains”? Retrieved from https://www.salon.com/2021/09/28/beasts-and-beauty-soman-chainani-salon-talks/

  • The Rose Code

     

    Courtesy Harper Collins

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: The Rose Code

    Author: Kate Quinn

    ISBN: 9780062943477

    Publisher: William Morrow/ Harper Collins

    Copyright Date: 2021

    Genre: Historical fiction, thriller, espionage

    Format: Print book

    Awards or Honors: 2022 Alex Award

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 16+ (I couldn’t find a formal age suggestion given that this is for a general audience, but it’s frankly no more adult than many YA books)

    Plot Summary: Osla, Mab, and Beth each find a different route to Bletchly Park, WWII’s most secret code-breaking facility. Each has something different to contribute to the war effort, but the price is their silence. A friendship forged in war, loves won and lost, and the randomness of tragedy all have their part to play. Readers follow the trio as they each find their place, whether translating, code-breaking, or running the machines that decrypt the intercepted messages. The three women fall in and out of love, grapple with unimaginable tragedy, and leave their mark on history. 

    The narrative moves back and forth between the action during WWII, and its aftermath, which leaves one of them trapped in an insane asylum, desperately trying to tell the world that there was a traitor at Bletchly Park… 

    Courtesy Kate Quinn

    Author Background: Kate Quinn grew up in Southern California but got her undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in Classical Voice at Boston University. She has written numerous bestselling historical novels, most recently related to WWII. She lives in San Diego with her rescue dogs. 

    Critical Evaluation: Meticulously researched and imaginatively written, Quinn weaves a complicated tale that requires cracking much as a code does. By turns heartbreaking and uplifting, this tale of three very different women and the very different lives they lead illuminates the sacrifices and successes of war. While not technically YA, it’s an Alex Award winner. One of the protagonists is a teenager for part of the book and the others are in their early twenties. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Let’s crack some codes! Run a code-breaking workshop where participants learn to write and read Vigenère ciphers. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce readers to any books the library has in its collection about ciphers and espionage, as well as historical books related to Bletchly Park. (Quinn includes a list of recommended reading at the end of the book.)

    Speed-Round Book Talk: Three women working in the heart of the most secret place in all of Britain: Bletchly Park. The secrets they keep will have repercussions for history and themselves. After the war, they must break a code once more, to reveal a traitor in their midst.

    Reason for Inclusion: This book is a wonderful glimpse into a recently visible piece of history, as well as a book well-tailored for mathematical minds. It’s also a relatively rare depiction of neurodiverse characters (both historical and fictionalized). 

    Want more? Watch the official trailer for The Rose Code:

    References

    ALA.org (n.d.) Alex award. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/yalsa/alex-awards#current

    Quinn, K. (n.d.) About. Retrieved from https://www.katequinnauthor.com/about/

    Verma, Henrietta. “The Rose Code.” Booklist, vol. 117, no. 12, 15 Feb. 2021, p. 31.

     

     

  • Graceling: The Graphic Novel

    Courtesy Gareth Hinds

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Graceling

    Author: Kristin Cashore

    Illustrator: Gareth Hinds

    ISBN: 9780358250470

    Publisher: Clarion Books

    Copyright Date: 2021

    Genre: Fantasy

    Format: Graphic novel

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 14+

    Plot Summary: You can tell Katsa is Graced by the color of her eyes; like others in the Seven Kingdoms, she has augmented natural abilities. Unlike others, her Grace means she can kill anyone, and so she is used by the king to threaten and intimidate. But strange things have been happening; a queen in a far-off realm has locked herself away, children and animals have been dying mysteriously, and a handsome prince with a similar Grace turns up at Katsa’s court. Together, they decide to find out what is happening in the neighboring kingdom and test the far range of their abilities. 

    Courtesy Gareth Hinds

    Author Background: A self-professed “nerdy kid who drew all the time,” Gareth Hinds went to art school but ended up working in the video game industry as an artist for many years (Hinds, n.d.). In his spare time, he made a graphic novel version of Beowulf that he self-published, and it proved so popular that he has since gone on to create many critically acclaimed versions of classics such as King Lear, The Odyssey, and Romeo and Juliet. His friendship with Kristin Cashore, author of the modern classic fantasy Graceling, led to their collaboration on this book (Hinds, n.d.). 

    Critical Evaluation: This a beautiful graphic novel that will make Cashore’s novel more accessible to visual learners and reluctant readers. (Full disclosure, I have not read the original book, although you can bet I will now!) Cashore’s story is full of emotional complexity; the story is about consent, self-control, power, and their impacts on love. Hinds’ classic illustrations are a perfect fit with the story, like medieval tapestries come to life. He has talked about how he changes his artistic style depending on the project, and he chose brilliantly here (Hinds, n.d.). He varies panel size to convey emotion and urgency, exquisitely detailed maps give context, and the text is well-chosen to match the images. Long silences stretch out so that the emotional resonance of the story can settle. All in all, this is a beautiful object on its own that will also lead readers to the original for more. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Great fantasy books always have a fabulous map to ponder, from Middle Earth to Earthsea Hinds’ maps are real treasures and add to the story. A map-making workshop at the library for fantasy fans will allow them to lose themselves in worlds of their own making. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: Katsa’s Grace means she has power over everyone, and yet she’s under the thumb of a king. Will love, no matter how reluctant, open her eyes to the true nature of her power? Will she be able to use it to pursue justice, no matter the danger?

    Reason for Inclusion: This is a classic fantasy story, with a powerful message about standing up to someone manipulating the truth. It is more resonant than ever in the age of fake news and the spread of misinformation. It’s a beautifully illustrated book that makes that message even more accessible than the original. 

    Want more? Here’s Gareth Hinds showing his workflow for the Graceling book:

    References

    Arch, Jenny. “CASHORE, Kristin. Graceling.” School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 10, Oct. 2021, pp. 97+.

    Hinds, G. (n.d.) About me. Retrieved from https://garethhinds.com/wp/about-me/

    Kirkus (September 15, 2021). Graceling — the graphic novel. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kristin-cashore/graceling-graphic-novel/

  • Ace of Spades

    Courtesy MacMillan

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Ace of Spades

    Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

    ISBN: 9781250800824

    Publisher: Feiwal and Friends / MacMillan

    Copyright Date: 2021

    Genre: Thriller, mystery

    Format: Print book 

    Awards or Honors: 2022 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens, Willam C. Morris Award Finalist, and YALSA 2022 Best Fiction for Young Adults Finalist.

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 14+ 

    Plot Summary: It’s a new year at Niveus Academy, an exclusive prep school. But things are a little bit different; for one thing, there’s a new bully in town, but no one knows who Aces is and where the mysterious text messages come from. And they seem to mostly be targeting two students: Chiamaka and Devon, who also just so happen to be the only two Black students at school. Aces seems to know all their secrets, revealing them in a slow, toxic drip. And even though Chiamaka is one of the most popular girls in school and Devon is a self-professed nobody from the wrong side of the tracks, they decide to join forces and unmask Aces. But when masked figures start following them in real life, the stakes are suddenly much higher. Will they clear their names (and protect their secrets) before Aces gets really dangerous?

    Author Background: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé was born and raised in South London, though she now lives in the Scottish Highlands after attending university there. She drinks ten cups of tea a day and loves James Baldwin, Oscar Wilde, and Britney Spears. She pitched Ace of Spades as “Gossip Girl meets Get Out, but gayer” and it was an instant international bestseller (Àbíké-Íyímídé, n.d.). She founded and runs a mentorship program for young writers of color. 

    Critical Evaluation: I could not put this book down; it’s a thriller in the true sense of the word. The narrative alternates between Devon and Chiamaka, slowly chipping away at the mystery swirling around Niveus Academy. The characters are complex and quirky and Àbíké-Íyímídé manages to grapple with serious societal issues at the same time as relentless pacing and biting dialogue. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has wonderful character introductions from the book on her website; fans of the book can get together and draw their own fan art and flesh out their ideas about the characters as well. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: Someone is out to get Chiamaka and Devon, but who? This unlikely pair will have to join forces to uncover the dirt on whoever is uncovering their dirt. 

    Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: Though I couldn’t find an actual challenge, the book does include references to gay sex, drug use, white supremacy, and a number of other hot button issues. But these are all issues teens deal with or are aware of in their day-to-day so it’s important for them to see their reality reflected. 

    Reason for Inclusion: Thrillers with queer, Black protagonists are few and far between and this is an excellent one. Not to mention it’s found the balance between critical acclaim and popularity; it’s a YALSA Teen Top Ten nominee for 2021 (ala.org, n.d.). 

    Want more? Black Scot Pod interviews Faridah about her most excellent book deal, institutional racism, and everything else under the sun.

     

    References

    Àbíké-Íyímídé, F. (n.d.). Facts about me. Retrieved from https://www.faridahabikeiyimide.com/facts-about-me

    Àbíké-Íyímídé, F. (n.d.) Character introductions. Retrieved from https://www.faridahabikeiyimide.com/character-introductions

    ALA.org (n.d.). Teens top ten. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten

    Saunders, B. (n.d.) Ace of spades [review]. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/ace-of-spades

     

  • The Henna Wars

     

    Courtesy Page Street

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: The Henna Wars

    Author: Adiba Jaigirdar

    ISBN: 978-1-62414-9689

    Publisher: Page Street

    Copyright Date: 2020

    Genre: Realistic fiction, romance

    Format: Print book

    Awards or Honors: Included on YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults 2021 list. 

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 13+

    Plot Summary: Nishat is a Bangladeshi living in Dublin, which is enough to make her feel like an outsider. But when she comes out to her parents and they can’t even look her in the eye, things get even worse. Still, there’s a new girl at school, and Nishat really likes her… and maybe Flavia likes her back? But when a school business competition turns ugly, Nishat doesn’t know what to think. She learned how to paint mehndi henna tattoos from her grandmother, and feels a strong artistic and cultural connection to it. So why is Flavia, who’s Brazilian and Irish, starting a mehndi business, too? Can they work things out? Or is Flavia not who Nishat thought she was?

    Author Background: Adiba Jairgirdar was born in Bangladesh, but moved to Ireland at the age of ten. She has a masters in postcolonial studies from the University of Kent, and has written several critically acclaimed and bestselling YA novels. She hates colonialism, and loves lipstick, video games, tea, and Janelle Monae (Jaigirdar, n.d.).

    Critical Evaluation: The Henna Wars is both universal and specific; informed by her own experiences of growing up Muslim in Ireland, Jaigirdar writes a love letter to her community as well as shines a light on young, queer love. Coming from two cultures with a deep love of literature has left its mark (Rogerson, 2020). She doesn’t shy away from topics like colonialism and cultural appropriation, but the explanations feel natural coming from Nishat’s mouth. Romantic, funny, and thoughtful, this book is, as the dedication says, “for all the queer brown girls.” The pacing is smooth, and the drama is all intimate and realistic: school bullies, parents using silence as punishment, sisters and friends who care but don’t always do the right thing. The characters, even the bullies, are nuanced and fully fleshed, and the ending feels ebullient and hard-won. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Find a local mehndi artist to come and teach a henna tattoo workshop. Participants can have professional tattoos painted as well as learn how to design and apply them themselves. 

    Speed-Round Book: When Nishat’s crush steals her idea and starts a rival henna tattoo business, Nishat is devastated. Mehndi is special to her, but for Flavia, it’s just making pretty drawings. There’s more at stake in the Henna Wars than just a class competition.

    Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:  While this depiction of queer love could certainly be flagged by challengers who want to remove all LGBTQ literature from the library, this is worth fighting for. It’s a relatively rare intersectional romance as well as a window into Bangladeshi (and Irish) culture. 

    Reason for Inclusion: Well-written, nuanced, and totally romantic, this fills a gap in many collections. Not to mention, I love a happy ending, and this one feels both joyful and realistic. 

    Want More? Jaigirdar put together a Spotify playlist of songs she listened to while writing! 

    Courtesy Adiba Jaigirdar

    References

    Jaigirdar, A. (n.d.). Media kit. Retrieved from https://adibajaigirdar.com/mediakit

    Kirkus (March 1, 2020). The henna wars [review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/adiba-jaigirdar/the-henna-wars/

    Rogerson, K. (May 28, 2020). Adiba Jaigirdar’s The Henna Wars was inspired by a trip to Bangladesh. Retrieved from https://diversebooks.org/adiba-jaigirdars-the-henna-wars-was-inspired-by-a-trip-to-bangladesh/

     

  • Pride and Premeditation

    Courtesy Harper Collins

    Bibliographic Information:

    Title: Pride and Premeditation

    Author: Tirzah Price

    ISBN: 9780062889812

    Publisher: Harper Collins

    Copyright Date: 2021

    Genre: Anachronistic/ Ahistorical fiction, mystery

    Format: Print book

    Reading Level/Interest Level: 12+

    Plot Summary: 16-year-old Lizzie Bennet butts heads with young Fitzwilliam Darcy as she tries to prove a case of wrongful imprisonment after a shocking murder. The young lawyer is a snob, making Lizzie even more determined to prove herself. But will Lizzie’s slowly emerging feelings for Mr. Darcy throw her off the scent? And will she find out who really did it before they come after her? This anachronistic re-visioning of the original Pride and Prejudice characters updates them but remains true to the original spirit. 

    Photo by Tab London, courtesy Tirzah Price

    Author Background: Tirzah Price has been a librarian, a bookseller, and has never lost her love of YA literature. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She currently lives in Iowa and is a senior contributing writer to Book Riot and loves to cook and knit “enough socks to last through winter” (Price, n.d.). 

    Critical Evaluation for Books and Non-Print Items: I confess I initially struggled with the anachronistic aspect of this work of historical fiction. I know way too much about Regency England, so the liberties taken were quite glaring at first. However, once I got into the swing of things, I enjoyed this delightful mystery. While it plays a bit fast and loose with historical accuracy, fans of the original will recognize a wicked appropriateness to everyone’s fates, and it’s a breath of fresh air to imagine Jane’s characters, constricted by Regency England’s mores, given a 21st century lens. 

    Creative Use for a Library Program: Which classic would you re-write? Have teens “update” their favorite classic book with a short book trailer. 

    Speed-Round Book Talk: You’ve never seen Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy like this before! Snugly in the middle of the Venn Diagram for murder mystery and Jane Austen, this delicious book will delight fans of both.

    Reason for Inclusion: This feels like a gateway drug for Jane Austen. If readers enjoy this, they might try the original! And if they’re already fans, this is pure candy. 

    Want More? Follow Tirzah Price on Twitter! 

    References

    Newquist, M. (2021). Pride and Premeditation [review]. School Library Journal (67, 1), pp. 77+. 

    Patterson. (2021). Pride and Premeditation [review]. Booklist, 117(13), 52–52. American Library Association.

    Price, T. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from https://tirzahprice.com/about/