Black History Month Recommended Reads

In honor of Black History Month, the Winter Park Library's Teen Book Guild read multiple novels written by black authors. The books presented on the list below offer valuable insight into African American lives, demonstrate remarkable character development, and teach important lessons throughout each story. From classics set in the 1800s to novels established in present day, these books will not only be enjoyable reads, but they will also help individuals develop a better understanding of a very significant culture.

Anna recommends Inventing Victoria

Tonya Bolden’s Inventing Victoria took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. It showed the hardship of growing up in difficult circumstances and the beauty of rising above and overcoming it. If you want a great African American History Month read, then I totally recommend this book.

Hope recommends Their Eyes Were Watching God

In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston clearly depicts the fictional story of Janie Crawford, a black woman determined to live her own life in a world where she is largely controlled by others. Published in 1937, this narrative follows Janie through three marriages and much tribulation. Through it all, Janie discovers there are “two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves” (p 192). Despite being a fictional novel, Hurston brings much of the early twentieth-century African American culture to life in this entertaining read.

Lauren recommends Flygirl

Flygirl is an inspiring piece of fiction and a memorial to the bravery of African American women during World War II. Throughout the book, Sherri L. Smith fleshed out her characters with skill and empathy and enabled the reader to connect with the characters and various situations that arose. Smith’s wartime novel will keep readers guessing all the way through, as bravery and loyalties are tested and forged.

Maansi recommends Dear Justyce

In Dear Justyce, author Nic Stone explores the thoughts and situations of an innocent, black young man dealing with being in prison. It gives readers insight into something that they might not really understand or want to learn more about. Nic Stone does an amazing job showing the discrimination and injustice that is faced every day. 

Displacement by Kiku Hughes

Reviewed by Taylor K.
Grade 12

When asked what the most powerful weapon is, most would probably say things like a machine gun, nuclear bomb, or maybe even something fictional, like the Death Star from Star Wars. However, author Kiku Hughes offers a different answer in her graphic novel Displacement, where she writes that it is in fact memories that are the most powerful weapons.

This concept is the basis of the story, in which young teenager Kiku is suddenly displaced back in time to the 1940s and forced to live through Japanese internment. She first experiences these displacements during her trip to San Francisco, where her mother hoped to show her more about her family. Kiku is startled by this phenomena, but believes it is only possible in San Francisco and that the displacements will stop when she goes back home to Seattle. However, just like history can’t be erased, the displacements didn’t stop even when Kiku changed locations. Since she is now aware of the internment camps, she will never lose this knowledge. As the displacements continue, Kiku finds it harder and harder to go back to her time. Despite being from the future, Kiku feels it doesn’t mean anything since she never knew much about the past. While forced to confront the dehumanization felt at the internment camps, Kiku encounters numerous people who help her understand the situation and more about her culture.

One of the greatest strengths of this graphic novel rests within the main character, Kiku. Teenage characters written by adult authors are either treated with sympathy and understanding or filled with stereotypes of what they perceive teenagers to be. With the addition of focusing on intense topics such as racism and intergenerational trauma, it was incredibly important that Kiku fell into the former and was someone who young readers could relate to. Kiku is written in a very natural manner, which therefore helps the audience navigate this strange time displacement storyline. Some readers may identify with Kiku more than others, mainly readers of marginalized groups who can personally relate to some of the feelings Kiku experiences. Nevertheless, she is someone who everyone can find a little of themselves within. Kiku isn’t someone who automatically knows what to do, and she doesn’t always feel like she made the right choice but that’s completely fine. She, like nearly everyone else, experiences doubts about themselves and frustrations at the world around them. However, Kiku is someone who the audience should aspire to be because she doesn’t let these things hold her back. She listens to those around her and teaches herself when she feels she doesn’t know all the information. Rather than just getting upset about the situation, Kiku shows readers how one person can always make a difference so long as they listen and keep standing up for what they believe in.

I would highly recommend this book. Not only is it a relatively short read with a great art style to captivate you throughout, the moral of the book is one that is incredibly important and will impact readers of all races, ethnicities, and ages. By focusing on generational trauma and depicting various instances of racism as well as social movements from different periods of time, Hughes shows how it’s important to not forget our history. The Japanese internment camps from eighty years ago were a dark stain on this country, but it’s definitely not the only stain. This country has brutalized Native Americans, Black people, and countless more. 

To continue on this thought, it's also important to note that this graphic novel is set in both the 1940s and present-day. Kiku and her mother are shown numerous times watching news reports of (now former) President Trump spewing racist rhetoric. The racism and prejudice depicted during Kiku’s time in the forties is the same racism and prejudice spoken by one of our presidents. While it may not seem like anything has changed, by not forgetting what these different marginalized groups have been through, we can start making reparations and work towards a future that doesn’t hide from the dark truths but instead confronts them. We sadly can’t physically go back in time like Kiku can, but we can keep sharing the memories of those affected in the past, not forgetting the horrors they experienced and making sure it never happens again. 

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

What would you do to absolve guilt? What would you do for power? These two questions go hand in hand in Roshani Chokshi’s The Silvered Serpents. Her latest masterpiece snatches the reader and plunges them into a vivid world that will stay with you long after the last page.

The Silvered Serpents picks up in the aftermath of The Gilded Wolves, and is set in 1889. Haunted by tragedy, Laila, Enrique, Zofia and Séverin try to piece their lives back together, but the guilt is too much for Séverin to bear. He reassembles the team to go hunt for a mythical object that is believed to grant the power of God. Each member has their suspicions about the nature of this quest but they go along into a dangerous and fantastical Russia, where their secrets and fears wear the faces of beloved and feared memories.

The book has four narrators, and the secrets and fears each character battled with fleshed them out and made them easy to empathize with, even if you don’t agree with their actions. Each narrator has their own scars that they are battling with, yet I loved how they were able to function as a team regardless of their personal struggles. The entire theme of the book is grief, and I loved how it was portrayed through the settings which were cold and confounding and reflected the nuanced emotions of each narrator. The characters had to journey not only though an external unforgiving climate, but also an internal one. The fantasy aspect is most certainly there, with forgotten palaces, ice animals, and goddesses. Another thing that drew me in was the diversity in the book. Everyone was different from the others, and that melded the team together because everyone brought something unique to the table.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fantasy but cannot commit to a long novel. A relatively quick read, it is enjoyable and immersive. However, if you are looking for a lighthearted story, this may not be for you because there are solemn and weighty emotions running throughout the novel. All in all, I would rate this as a four out of five stars, because I would have liked to see a bit more character development.

Monsters Among Us by Monica Rodden

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

In our everyday lives, we tend to not think of victims of any kind. Monica Rodden set out to change that with her book, Monsters Among Us. While the description promised a thriller, I found it to be only slightly harrowing, with a lot of time for thought and reflection, and very little action.

The story centers on Catherine Ellers, who has recently returned from her freshman semester in college after being assaulted. It begins with her at home in the wake of the attack, where she expects to cope and recuperate in peace. But peace is not in store for her. When a friend of hers is murdered, it shatters her, and she embarks on a quest to find the murderer. But because nothing in life is simple, there is a young man by the name of Andrew Worthington, whose connection to her goes far deeper than she expected. She now must venture into the part of her mind that blocked the memory of who he is-and she must find the killer.

The message of this book is hard to pin down because there are so many themes and subplots. There is an overall theme of Wuthering Heights, with a modern, sinister twist to it, and it deals heavily with violence against women. The characters are interesting, and there is great promise with the mystery of Andrew Worthington. Catherine is understandably incapable of trusting anyone, and works hard to put the past behind her. She relates to people well, and is a great friend. The secondary characters are also interesting, such as her childhood friend Henry, whom she enlists to help her. While they are interesting, though, they could stand to be fleshed out a bit more. The POV also switches according to what happened in the previous chapter, which can be a bit confusing because sometimes Rodden does not explain everything.

This book comes with such heavy themes that I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone. If you like activism for women’s rights and can handle strong language, then this book may be for you. A similar book I would recommend is Damsel by Elana K. Arnold. While I agree with the overall message of the book, there are so many underlying ones that it led to confusion. Because of these two reasons, I would give this book a 3/5 star rating.

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 11

In the book Dear Justyce by Nic Stone, the author explores the thoughts and situations of an innocent, black young man dealing with being in prison.

Dear Justyce explains the thoughts and situations of a character named Vernell LaQuan Banks aka Quan serving time for something he didn’t do. He writes letters to his friend Justyce McAllister, who is the main character in Dear Martin, about his life in prison. Aside from the letters, each chapter also has snapshots that show instances that affect Quan's life. Some are in the present and others are situations that led to Quan being in prison. Through all the information that is learned through the snapshots and letters in the chapters, Justyce is able to try and figure out a way to help Quan out with the situation that he is in.

Author Nic Stone uses different media when writing the book. The letters give you insight as to how Quan is feeling when he is in prison and trying to talk to the outside. It makes you sympathize with him because of the emotion you feel when you read them, but that is not always shown in what he writes in the letter. The snapshots bring another element to the book. It shows the different situations that the author believes are important to the premise of the book. You can see the different situations that lead to Quan being wrongly accused and also what is happening to help him in the present. Nic Stone always comes up with interesting ways to portray her stories across and this is a great example.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested. It gives you insight into something that you might not really understand or want to learn more about. Nic Stone does an amazing job showing the discrimination and injustice that is faced every day. 

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

What lengths would you go to in order to achieve your dream? This is the central question of Sherri L. Smith’s novel, Flygirl, which takes place in the early 1940s. In a land plagued by Jim Crow laws, one courageous girl takes to the skies against all odds.

A bright, eighteen-year-old named Ida Mae Jones is working as a housemaid and saving money for flight lessons in Chicago. Because of her light-skin, she has been afforded with alternatives to being colored, known as “passing”, even though it goes against her morals. When she hears about the WASP program, she seizes the opportunity to become a pilot for the Army and begins passing to make her dream happen. However, she encounters more problems than she planned for, including discrimination against women. Now she is forced to make a choice: will she turn against her own people and self in order to not get caught? Or will she be true to herself, no matter what?

I found the struggle in this book to be compelling. I was able to identify with the character and the struggles she went through as she battled with herself, asking where the line is drawn between right and wrong. However, I found the author’s style to be a bit light-hearted, and she skipped around the weightier matters that would have given the characters in the book more depth. Ida Mae is kind and honest, and she bonds quickly with people, but because the narration mostly told instead of showed, I was not able to properly understand and get to know the side characters other than on a superficial level. For example, the reader never really sees Walter Jenkins, but he is an important fixture in the book. In addition, the plot has promise but likewise was not as developed as I thought it would be. Although she comes into conflict because of her skin tone, Ida is generally focused on the war, as others around her are. There is a little conflict about women’s rights, but that too went mostly unexplored, which is a shame because it would have added a bit more nuance to the book. 

Overall I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Despite limited character development and conflict, the plot has promise and the conflict is powerful. Ida Mae really grows and comes into her own, and I loved how she stayed true to her values. Because of this I would recommend this book to others and I sincerely hope they enjoy it. 

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Reviewed by Hope M.
Grade 11

Do you enjoy puzzles? Riddles? Codes? Twists? Secrets? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then The Inheritance Games will definitely be a novel you’ll want to try out! Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ newest creation includes all of the elements mentioned above, as well as romance, humor, danger, and an intricate plot that will keep you in suspense all the way until the end of the story (and even after).

Avery Grambs doesn’t realize how dramatically her life will change when she heads to the principal’s office of her high school. On an ordinary day, she is visited by a strange boy, Grayson Hawthorne, who informs her that her presence is mandatory for the reading of his grandfather’s will. Avery has no recollection of ever coming into contact with the deceased multibillionaire, so no one understands why he bequeaths her with essentially his entire fortune. However, there is a catch: She must live in his expansive mansion for a year, and she does not have the power to kick out the family who already inhabits Hawthorne House--the family who just disinherited almost all of Tobias Hawthorne’s wealth. When Avery realizes she was left with clues that will hopefully lead to answers, she embarks on a journey to solve the final puzzle her benefactor left behind.

Every character that Barnes introduced played a major role in the story, from the late Tobias Hawthorne to the homeless man Avery played chess with at the park. The setting was largely at Hawthorne House, but the hundreds of rooms and passageways created a place that will constantly make you wonder what will be discovered next. The plot was woven together so complexly; you’ll question how a specific detail fits in the story at all, but once it’s explained, it makes perfect sense! When reading the novel, I felt like I was a part of it, involved in the narrative and wanting to solve the mysteries with the same amount of determination as the characters. And I think those stories, the ones that make us feel like we’re in them, are truly the best ones.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves staying up late at night reading because you have to know what’s coming next. The author’s style will leave you guessing constantly, with all the twists and turns she adds to every chapter. Barnes put a lot of creativity into producing this masterpiece, and I think young adults will realize that as they read. It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a novel, so you should definitely give it a try. I have a feeling it won’t disappoint!

Two Best of 2020

 Written by Hope M. & Trip G.

While so many great YA novels were released in 2020, we’ve only chosen two as the absolute best. The Teen Book Guild was born just back in September and we examined numerous books; some were wonderful, some disappointing, and others simply left us feeling lukewarm. Our two highest-ranked novels were chosen for this list due to the well-written execution of their plots, and we think they are books that countless people will find enjoyable.

Hope’s favorite: 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Suzanne Collins

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a fantastic addition to the YA collection and was highly anticipated among fans of The Hunger Games series. The author, Suzanne Collins, demonstrated remarkable character development throughout the book and provided a well-written backstory, including suspense, romance, and an important moral lesson. Collins’s spin-off of The Hunger Games plot will keep readers engaged until the very end, making this a definite best of 2020.

Trip’s favorite: 

Starsight – Brandon Sanderson

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reckoners series, the Mistborn trilogy, and the Stormlight Archive comes the second book in an epic series about a girl with a secret in a dangerous world at war for humanity's future.

Published in very late 2019, Sanderson’s Starsight, the sequel to his Skyward, deserves mention. While I read many, many books, Starsight was by far the best of the YA books read. With reasonable character development that avoided common pitfalls I have often seen in new YA books and happening over a longer period of time without reaching a point where less avid readers would be able to follow the story, it can catch and hold your attention.

We believe you will certainly find at least one of these novels to be entertaining: you should definitely consider putting them on your to-read list!

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

Reviewed by Hope M.
Grade 11

As I was considering what new book I should read, Be Not Far From Me grabbed my attention. I skimmed through the plot summary on the inside cover of the book and thought it might be an interesting story. However, upon reading the first few pages, I realized this was not going to be a page-turner. In comparison to the summary, the actual story was dull, illogical, and to be honest, uneventful.

The tale centers on Ashley Hawkins, a poor teenager who has a love for running and aspires to develop a future with that passion. She also appears to be deeply knowledgeable of nature. The story begins with a hike that Ashley, her friends, and her boyfriend take in the Smoky Mountains, just out for a night of drinking and partying. However, when Ashley finds her boyfriend cheating on her, she races off randomly into the darkness. Only when she plummets into a ravine does she stop her mad dash. The rest of the book is her attempt to escape the forest with a gruesome injury on her leg. Ashley must put her survival skills to the test, and when her own mentor didn’t make it out alive, what chance does she possibly have?

Although the plot sounds exciting at first glance, I found the novel to be quite boring. Because Ashley was by herself for roughly 95% of the story, there wasn’t as much dialogue as I prefer in books. Additionally, it never felt like there was a climax. Even though different circumstances arose, the tone felt the same the entire time I was reading, giving the story a very uneventful vibe. The fact that Ashley, who is apparently gifted in the ways of nature and KNEW the dangers of leaving the trail, couldn’t remember how foolish it would be to do just that is pretty far-fetched. I understand that being cheated on is a traumatic experience, but it still didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless you enjoy reading something that's almost all description with little social interaction. As I mentioned previously, the novel was really a “straight line” in terms of excitement. While I think a good lesson was provided at the end, I would tell anyone who is considering this book to leave it on the shelf. Once you’ve read the plot summary, you’ve read the whole book.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Katherine Webber

Reviewed by Lacey R.
Grade 11

Most people have a place they go when they need a break from life, where they go for solitude, peace, or just to feel nothing. There could be a certain room in one’s house, a diner, a park, or even the beach, but for 17-year-old Reiko Smith-Mori, it is the California desert. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Katherine Webber is a book filled with romance and intrigue--the story of a girl who had it all: the looks, the grades, the confidence, but all that changed when she lost her sister. She finds peace and solitude in the desert, and unexpectedly, a boy. This book relays the ups and downs of the pair’s relationship, if it could even call it that.

Reiko, is what one would call “an average teenage girl,” but she is far from average. She struggles with maintaining her veil of perfection, which can be depicted through her thoughts and sometimes extreme action. What those around her don't see is that she is not well, she is grieving her sister's loss, and moreover, repressing it. Someone stands in her way and isn't letting her move on--her sister, Mika, who she still sees and talks to as if she has not passed. Reiko, to escape the heartache of her sister, often escapes to the desert to relax. One night when she wanders out to the desert, she runs into a boy. They bond over a dreamlike moment of time, with the bright moon casting a soft glow across the abyss and the serenity of the desert night. The next day she sees him at school, and over time their relationship grows, until it doesn't. They unexpectedly and slowly grow apart, both dealing with dramatic changes. Reiko has to navigate her world of popularity contests, suppressed emotions and grief, and now a rocky relationship that may have been doomed from the start.

The book has a well-thought-out plot, yet character development would have made the read much more enjoyable. The plot follows the main character and her struggle of losing a loved one, with small scenes and short chapters, but the timeline becomes confusing. The rapid pace only deterred the characterization. The characterization, or lack thereof, seemingly changed the message of the book. While the author is trying to show the negative effects of miscommunications, there wasn't much communication between the writer and the audience. Emotions were told directly through the internal dialogue of the main character instead of actions or reactions. 

The book was a quick read, and seemed as if it were a quick write as well. There were chapters that did nothing for the plot, only reiterated something that was already known, useless conversations between characters, spontaneous trips that were only set up for later chapters to reveal something unimportant. There were many clichés in the book, with lines written in a way that it seems I have read them before, such as  “You’re selfish and spoiled, and usually you can get away with it, because you’re beautiful and charming,” which shows an overplayed arc and cheap characterization that is directly revealed to the audience.

Overall, if you are looking for a quick read for a school project, this is it, but if you are looking for a good book with a cute romance story, I would not recommend Only Love Can Break Your Heart. It seems as if the book was written in a short amount of time, with little attention to character development, conflict, and plot. The moral was produced in a way that was slightly insulting to the readers, such as a Disney movie about never judging a book by its cover; this book’s moral is that you never know what is going on with someone else and a lack of communication can be detrimental. The deeper moral, that was scattered throughout the chapters with a repetitive trope and a rocky relationship, was that to move past something, you must accept it first, which is of course a good lesson to learn, but in this book it seemed cheap. A book with a similar lesson would be The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds, which goes about accepting loss and love, in a more defined and readable way.