A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 11

When a scandalous photo causes Aria’s life to explode she’s exiled to her grandmother’s home in the Bay Area. Fresh out of her senior year and miles away from anyone who knows her,  Aria buckles down for a boring summer. However, when she meets her grandmother’s new gardener, her expectations quickly change. Old memories resurface and the lives of her friends begin to entangle in hers, causing her to question herself and her life’s perspective on art, sexuality, and family.

One of the best parts of this book is the introspection provided through the formatting of the chapters. In several instances there will be a moment the flow of the story is broken up for a flashback. For instance, when Aria’s life hits a major turning point, the blur of days is reflected through short one page chapters. The way the story is written is logical--everything feels like it builds up to the epilogue. 

It isn’t a particularly surprising book. There weren't any major plot twists or turns that you couldn’t predict, but it still progressed so nicely that it was just as worth it to enjoy the journey.

I recommend this book, it was comforting but not without conflict. It grew on me as I read and I hold a lot of fondness for the feelings expressed. Not a single character could even begin to reach perfect but instead were written to be complicated and genuinely human. I hold great fondness for Malinda Lo’s past work, and A Scatter of Light made me a fan.

Thieves by Lucie Byron

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 11

Thieves by Lucie Bryon is a cute and captivating queer graphic novel. The book is split into two parts and follows a pair of high schoolers in France as they navigate the social messes of their senior year. Adventurous and bold, it’s a light-hearted read chock full of capers and charm.

The story follows the amiable and “cool” Ella, who’s biggest worry her senior year is talking to her sweet but reserved crush Madeline. So when she encounters Madeline while crashing a house party she’s more than thrilled to have a chance to talk to her. However, when a night of fun mixes with too many drinks, things quickly get out of hand, and she wakes up at home the next morning--hungover--in a pile of stuff she can’t remember stealing.

Even worse, the party she crashes turn’s out to be Madeline’s. So when Madeline rings on Ella’s door to check on her and tell her she’s been robbed, Ella panics and feigns ignorance. Desperate to set things right, Ella quickly comes up with the perfect plan--to secretly return the stolen items by crashing parties. She recruits Madeline to aid her and all seems well until secrets and feelings start bubbling up and threaten their escapades.

One of the best features of this book is the art style. Every character is unique and beautifully illustrated. A recurring motif in the book is Ella experiencing the sensation of “drowning” whenever she gets overwhelmed. Bryon, the creator, translates this feeling to the reader by drawing waves or “flooding” some of the panels. This is one of the many instances where a feeling or experience is conveyed by stretching the reality of the characters. It’s something that keeps an otherwise consistent setting dynamic and pleasing to the eye. 

Perhaps, just as charming as the art is the characters. The book mostly follows Ella’s point-of-view with a brief switch to Madeline’s midway through. Although there are some holes and parts of the story that aren’t fully fleshed, like some later introduced characters and sections of backstory it doesn’t take away from the story.

I highly recommend this book. Thieves was a delightfully fun read; I couldn’t put it down the second I opened the first page. The main characters throughout are complex and charming and the plot is straightforward but exciting. It’s an absolutely adorable and easy read that may just steal your heart.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Reviewed by Nané K.
Grade 10

“If fate is a bunch of strings, then I’ll carry scissors.” 

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, is an Asian retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The Wild Swans, in which a princess has to save her 11 brothers from a curse cast by an evil queen. I was drawn to this book because of its beautiful cover, and it did not disappoint. The author manages to weave together elements of Asian mythology and the original fairytale into a stunning magical world that I was totally immersed in as I read.

Six Crimson Cranes’s basic premise does not stray too far from its inspiration. It follows the main character, Shiori--a princess with 6 brothers in the nation of Kiata, where magic is forbidden--and her secret, magic paper bird, Kiki, after Shiori runs away from meeting her betrothed. As she runs away, she falls into a lake near her palace, but a sea dragon saves her from drowning, and ends up teaching her how to control her magic.

However, Shiori’s life only becomes more complicated when she discovers her stepmother, Raikama, is also a magic user, and ends up being a witness when her stepmother places a curse upon her 6 brothers and Shiori herself. The curse turns her brothers into cranes at night, and forbids Shiori from speaking, or else one brother will die each time she speaks. They are also unable to be recognized as the princes and princess of Kiata. The bulk of the book is spent with Shiori as she finds herself transported into another part of Kiata and works endlessly to find her brothers and break the curse.

The characters are a strong point of this book, all being quite endearing. From the snappy sea dragon Seryu, to the other love interest, Takkan, all of the main cast were memorable and felt well thought out. Even the villain, Raikama, was complex and had a rich backstory, which was intriguing to see unfold. The characters’ personalities and attitudes helped to reveal the intricacies of the world building of Six Crimson Cranes, which was another aspect I enjoyed. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book, however, was its plot; the author did a great job in crafting this captivating read. The turn of events never felt contrived or packed, the story moved at a good pace and kept the reader interested. Specifically, I liked the climb back to the top that the main character went through. It truly felt like I was there working with Shiori to break the curse—I could feel her struggles through the page.

I would absolutely recommend Six Crimson Cranes because I think its themes of fate and family are something that everyone can appreciate. Fans of fantasy especially will love this book and its deep magical world.

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 10

Hell Followed With Us is an unapologetically queer story that tells a tale of lost religion, betrayal, and finding family. Andrew Joseph White weaves a gorgeous dystopian tale of humanity's last stand in a lawless land of corruption and sickness. It is there he twists biology to redefine what it means to be a monster.

The story opens in the midst of an action-packed escape from the religious stronghold of New Nazareth. Benji, a young trans teen is fighting everything he’s ever known. With his escape he’s going to have to find a new home in the desolate ruins of the world left by the flood. Taken in by the ALC, a Queer Youth Group, he slowly learns to make a new life. However, New Nazareth won’t let him go so easily and secrets and betrayal threaten to destroy everything he’s built.

Hell Followed With Us creates vivid imagery in its descriptions, though there are moments where the images and metaphors were lost on me. Throughout the book several times there is a depicted field with trees and scattered corpses from the Flood. It was difficult to tell if these were dream sequences or memories due to the fact that there seemed to be a metaphor involved that popped up at random points, for example after a fight scene but also after Benji goes to sleep he recalls the field. No other character seems to mention it, but it seems significant because Benji has a final revelation there towards the end. However, every other aspect of the book is incredibly detailed, from the monsters and church to the easily distinguishable characters.

Consistently throughout the book there were no parts that stood out, because as a whole it was a delightful read. It delivers exactly what it promises. It's definitely worth a read. Andrew Joseph White promises a loudly queer novel with monsters, apocalypse, and religious trauma and he delivers just that.

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 10

Serena Kaylor delivers on all her promises in Long Story Short, keeping an ending sweet enough to have your toes curling and the outline of all Shakespeare inspired stories, “boy meets girl, they fall in love, and 9 people die in the process” [minus the dying part].

Beatrice, a sheltered homeschooled student, reveals at a dinner with a family friend. As Beatrice plots all possible chances of escape she accidentally blurts out her secret application and acceptance to Oxford, successfully destroying the dinner atmosphere. Her parents confront her, mentioning her general unpreparedness to move to England after her reserved childhood. In comes the deal, a 9 item list on classic "teenage" behavior, created by her parents in exchange for considering sending her off to Oxford. If she can check off every item then she can go. The catch? She must complete it while enrolled as an actor at a theatre summer camp. Despite her fear of the spotlight, she agrees, all in hopes to retreat to her dream college with like minded book lovers and statistic. After brushing up on Shakespeare and hoping to lie through her experience she finds it may be more of a challenge than she thought. She stumbles through her first day, barely checking off the first box (make a friend) when she’s taken under the wing of her roommate Mia and Mia’s camp friend Nolan. They quickly find out about the list and make it their mission to help her with every box, and a few additions. Just when she finds a position she may enjoy (as a prompter and perpetual understudy), she finds herself at odds with the handsome but equally insufferable Nikhil. Nik is the son of the camp founders and has the talent and cockiness to match. And against all of Bea’s expectations and desires he just won’t leave her be.

The story is somewhat cliché. The love interest is “hot” and “talented,” and for much of the story that is his only positive quality. It seems like the story aims for an enemies to lovers trope except the progression just seems odd. 

During the middle the characters start a bet. They go back and forth reciting Shakespeare and whoever doesn’t know what play it’s from loses. Nik sets the stakes as loser gets to ask anything of the winner. His request is that Bea kiss him if she loses. The only reason Bea agrees is because she was dared to and doing a dare was on her list. They don’t have many good moments together prior to that bet, so it makes the whole thing feel weird. Later when Nik accuses Bea of sending mixed messages romantically it seems foolish. Nik is overprotective and insulting at random points so when you factor that and the time they’ve spent together (mostly arguing) he just seems sore and hypocritical. Other than that the story is widely predictable. I could tell exactly what would happen just from the premise.

Long Story Short was cute, but the more you contemplate the actions of the characters, the more it fell apart. Kaylor delivers a really simple short story in the form of a much longer novel. If you’re looking for some guilty pleasure in a classic romance format, it’s great. If you want anything deeper or more compelling than that this might not be the book for you.    

How to Pack For the End of the World by Michelle Falkoff

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 10

How To Pack For The End Of The World by Michelle Falkoff is a charming, overdramatic book to consider packing for your apocalypse kit. On its first few pages it hits you right in the face with the pressing question, “If you knew the world was ending tomorrow, would you rather die along with your friends and family and everyone you’ve ever known, or live among strangers to rebuild civilization?” It keeps its theme at every turn of the book, challenging its characters and readers to come to a conclusion on what they would find important when the curtain falls.

The book is set within the cushy walls of the formerly prestigious Gardner Academy, now fallen from grace for a sexual abuse scandal. The school, faced with a tarnished reputation, begins opening its gates to accept second chance rich kids and teachers and scholarship students. Amina, a scholarship student, loathes the idea of attending an academy so far from home and plans to leave as soon as possible.  However, surviving through the semester proves to be a challenge. Virtually friendless and swamped with work, she can’t help but join when a mysterious letter inviting her to a semi-secret apocalypse study club is slipped under her door. There she meets with kindred souls: Chloe, Hunter, Jo/Josephine, and Wyatt. They spend the rest of their freshman year playing ‘games’ hosted by each member to prepare themselves for doomsday. Together they learn what they’re willing to sacrifice to thrive in the final days of the world. As they learn more about each other and themselves, it grows apparent that they aren’t the only ones at Gardner who know about their club meetings. Secrets get revealed and they find themselves playing one final messy game before the year's end, one where they all end up the loser.

I must admit, at first this was a hard book to put down. However, for a book so focused on the end, its ending left something to be desired. Some of its plot points and hints fall a little flat in the reveal. For example the election between Hunter and Amina provided several opportunities for characters to interact with each other, but it doesn't do much outside of that. The fact that they’re being elected feels a little pointless .There isn’t a lot of lasting impact in any individual thing done, making the entire book seem like a somewhat drawn out lesson with only one conclusion. There is something to be salvaged from the wreckage though.

Falkoff kept a brilliant balance of light fun with the macabre undertone of doomsday, and every character had a moment in the sun. One of the main plot points in the books were the ‘Games.’ Every character had a game, every game was used to teach a lesson. A genuine highpoint of the book was discovering the lessons or agendas hidden behind every game from the perspective of our narrator, the characterization allowed by this helped unravel one of the main mysteries of the book while allowing the reader to grow closer to the cast. However, it is with mild frustration that we do it through the eyes of our main character, Amina who acknowledges her position as always somewhat one step behind the rest of the group.

All things considered, How To Pack For The End Of The World was an all right read. For an anxious teen navigating a world where every (somewhat pointless) event kind of feels like the end of the world, it’s easy to start unconsciously keeping a countdown in the back of your mind. Which is why for every criticism I have of this book, there’s a little bit of fondness. It may fail to provide a packing list for the end of the world, but it remains a successful guide for finding what it means to make connections in an ending world, which is why I would recommend this book.

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin

Reviewed by Yusmibel L.
Grade 10

Beyond Magenta - Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin was an informative and perspective-challenging experience. Each section was thoughtfully written and the book contains a thorough explanation of its sources and the journey taken to create it. Although I felt quite positively about the book, each portion of it wasn’t equally enjoyable. It was easier to connect with some individual’s thoughts more than others. Despite this it definitely would provide a different experience to connect for every reader.

The book stars 6 teens--Jessy, Christina, Mariah, Cameron, Nat, and Luke. Each story was mostly written in a loose interview with an introspective take on their childhood. They all somewhat include the discovery of their gender, their personal and family relationships, and challenges they experienced throughout their life . Although these people identify as transgender, they each have vastly different experiences. Half of the participants fall within the binary of male or female; the other half fall somewhere between those two lines.

Quite possibly the best part of the book was the style in which it was written. It was easy to read. All of these people have vastly different relationships with their gender identity. Each ‘chapter’ reflects this by having a different flair to it customized by each subject. With a special distinction made with Luke’s chapter, his story is written more as a play to express his involvement in theatre and the arts. His chapter is also where the book gets its name. 

The comparison between each segment was subtle at points but gave some insight into the style and personality of each person that the writing couldn't. The use of photographs throughout the story helped create a connection between the contributors of the book. Although the book has some relevant resources in the final chapter of the book, some bits of the book do reveal it as somewhat dated. Although I feel this doesn’t detract much from the value of the book, it’s to be noted it interchangeably uses transsexual and transgender. Neither of these terms are inherently wrong in their meaning. However, transsexual can be considered a more specific term under the transgender umbrella. Transexual can also be considered an offensive term for some and has gone out of popular use in 2018. It also includes the term metrosexual, another term that has fallen in popularity and use.

Beyond Magenta is a part of the ALA’s top 10 most challenged books of 2021 for its LQBTQIA+ content and because it’s considered sexually explicit. Although both of these are characteristics of the book, they are both crucial to the book’s message and informative nature. Written in a subheading labeled “nut’s and bolts” in the Authors' note, Kuklin states the basic plan of the book was to write non-fiction about sex and alienation. 

Although the book is in part somewhat outdated, it’s written about a complex and evolving subject. I cannot step into the shoes of my transgender friends and, although I know some of their experience, I’m somewhat ignorant on the subject. I don’t know the nuance of their relationship with gender. This book was a fantastic chance to broaden my view on how complex that relationship is and can be. There is so much more to being trans than simply wanting to be a boy or a girl and being in the opposite body. The people in this book were messy, unique, and sincere in the telling of their story.

Several times did it make me want to step back and try to read the book as if I were different people. I recommend this book. It was a learning experience for me and the goal was definitely successfully achieved experience. 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Reviewed by Leiden T.
Grade 9

If you’d like to find a book filled with horrible stereotypes, lack of purpose, a selfish main character (not complex, just aggravating) with a writer who obviously doesn’t know what he’s doing, then you should take a look at Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Greg is the narrator of this completely uninteresting tale. This book starts out with the author warning the readers that he is in fact, not a good writer. After this, it talks about how Greg is being forced by his mother to help a girl with cancer by being a good friend to her. He is extremely reluctant but decides to go on with it, alongside his best friend Earl.

This story is told in the first-person perspective of Greg that has some fourth wall-breaking where he talks to the reader. The way the book is set is an obvious way to get attention and seem original, but it just is very… weird. Repeatedly throughout the book it will tell you to stop reading and I wish I listened to it. The humor is just not funny in the slightest and there’s lots of vulgar language to make itself appeal to teens. I didn’t understand the point of the book, no moral or real plot, which made it feel like a chore I had to finish. Besides the way that is written, there are still many faults. It was almost as if the writer had a goal to fill the book with as much racism and sexism as possible. He uses a derogatory term used against black people on multiple occasions, even though he is a white man.

I’ve said multiple of my critiques and despite the fact I think it’s a bad book, there are redeeming qualities. I will say that I enjoyed how Greg is depicted as a deeply flawed character which makes him relatable. I could heavily relate to his need to make people smile and that’s one of the main reasons I kept on reading.

I don’t recommend this book to anyone, though that doesn’t mean I don’t think it should be in the library. Despite the fact that this is considered a frequently "Banned" or "Challenged" book, I do not believe that any book should be banned. 

Celebrating our freedom to read during Banned Books Week

Written by Bella S., Sienna V., Bel L., Delany B., Leiden T.

As Americans, one of the main issues of our country is freedom. We can say what we want, protest what we want, publicize what we want, and we have many other rights that allow us to be free from control so that we can make our own choices. But lately, one particular problem continues to occur. Should we be allowed to have the freedom to choose what we want to read as teens? 

Some believe that just as we can write what we want, we should be able to read what we want. But others think that we should be limited on what content we are exposed to. Topics like race, gender, and culture are all on the chopping block. As you continue to read, books that have been nominated to be banned will be reviewed. But I’ll let you make your own decisions on what you think about banning books. (BS)

Below are some of the books that have been included an the American Library Association's Top 10 Most Challenged Books lists for 2021 - 2020:

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out (2014) by Susan Kuklin

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. 

Beyond Magenta is a collection of interview style tales told by several trans and queer teens. Between the gorgeous photography in this book, comes honest reflections of their experiences coming of age while grappling with their gender identity. Their place as a banned/challenged book is just one of many attempts to conceal their stories. (BL)

#10 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2012) by Jesse Andrews

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women

This book follows the tale of Greg, Earl, and his former friend Rachel, who now has cancer. Earl has been forced by his mother to help Rachel find happiness in her horrible situation. In the book, it has multiple slurs used along with racial stereotypes and misogyny. Despite this, I do not believe any book should be banned to the public, so I do not think the correct decision is the ban it. Though, I do not support the book in any capacity. (LT)

#7 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007) by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, a Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-native, is a semi-autobiographical novel about the life of a young Native American named Junior. This book should not be banned or challenged because it offers a new perspective about America which often gets overlooked, and it gives Native American children a new narrative with universal challenges such as poverty and sexuality. Alexie forces American students, who often only hear about Native Americans in regard to tragedy, to see them as real people. (DB)

#6 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

All Boys Aren’t Blue (2020) by George M. Johnson

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

All Boys Aren't Blue is a memoir that follows the life of George Johnson. It highlights their struggles growing up and dealing with racism, homophobia, and gender identity. This book most definitely should not be banned because it can be a great help to others that are experiencing George's same struggles. Not only do I think this book should not be banned, I think that everyone should read it to get educated on the importance of equality. (SV)

#3 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

Speak (1999) by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity

Speak is a novel about a girl named Melinda who is dealing with sexual assault. While this is a heavy topic, it is a sad reality that so many people face. This book is so important to help people understand that they are not alone. Aside from it being informative, it is also very well written and illustrates the struggles Melinda faces. (SV)

#4 of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020

Click here for more information on the history of Banned Books Week.

Jagged Little Pill by Eric Smith, Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard

Reviewed by Sky E.
Grade 11 

Jagged Little Pill was written by four writers: Eric Smith,  Alanis Morisette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard. Jagged Little Pill was originally an album by Alanis Morissette, then a Broadway musical, and now a book. My expectations for this book were not extremely high, but this book really went above and beyond my expectations.

The story consists of five main characters: Frankie, Jo, Nick, Phoenix, and Bella. Throughout the book the author’s allow you to dive into each of the characters inner thoughts. Each character wants something: Frankie wants justice, Jo wants to be seen, Nick wants to be a good person, Phoenix wants a connection with someone, and Bella wants to be believed. 

The story takes a wild turn when all the main characters, except Jo, end up going to a house party hosted by Andrew Montefiore. While not every character was there, the party turned all their lives in a different direction. Andrew Montefiore happens to take advantage of Bella while she was not completely sober. An image of her lying in Andrew’s bed is spread around the school and she is labeled a slut by some of her closest friends. Each ensuing conflict allows the characters to deeply discover themselves by the end of the book, making the read worth it.

The author’s style in the book really allows you to connect with the characters. Each chapter has a different character speaking throughout the entire book. I really loved how the author was able to describe certain instances happening by the characters. The diction really gives the reader the ability to feel empathy for the characters.

I would recommend this book to other people because I enjoyed the author’s style of writing and it really helped me feel involved in the book and want to continue reading. The lessons that each of the characters went through felt really empowering that they were able to overcome some of the conflicts they were faced with.