Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Reviewed by Sky E.
Grade 11

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is the sequel to one of the best books I have read so far: The Hate U Give. I immediately chose to read Concrete Rose once I discovered both were written by the same author. I had extremely high expectations for this book and felt somewhat let down as the novel began. As I continued reading, my high expectations had begun to feel satisfied as the book grew more and more intense. This story walks the reader through the struggles of heartbreak, loss, and fatherhood from the point of view of seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter.

The book begins on the neighborhood basketball court in Garden Heights with Maverick, the main character, playing ball with the King Lords. The King Lords are a gang who run the part of the neighborhood where Maverick lives. Maverick joined the gang as a form of protection from the enemies of his father. Being able to help his mother pay the bills by selling drugs was another benefit to being in the gang. As the boys are playing, they seem to have an audience of Maverick’s girlfriend, Lisa, and Dre’s family. Maverick's mind seems to be elsewhere, worrying about an incident that is taking place that day. Soon after a short basketball game, Maverick, and King, his friend who is also a part of the King Lords, head to a clinic where the story takes a drastic turn as Maverick finds out he may be the father of his best friend’s “son”.

How could Maverick be the father of his King’s “son” when he has a girlfriend? It turns out that Maverick made an unfortunate mistake with King’s “girl,” Iesha, while he and Lisa were on a break. This one-time fling turned into a life-changing event. Once Iesha’s mother learned Maverick was the father of the baby, the two ran off and left him to deal with a child he just met. His mother begins to teach him the ins and outs of parenting, which leaves him with a problem. What is he going to tell his girlfriend, and how is he going to deal with the costs of this baby?

I really enjoyed the author’s style of writing in this book. At first, I wasn’t particularly interested in the way the author decided to initially start the book, but as I continued reading, the style helped bring the book to life. I also seemed to enjoy all the conflict that appeared in the story. Just when I began to think the book was getting boring, a new conflict would show up to appease my boredom.

I would completely recommend this book to the people who enjoy reading fiction with new conflicts in each chapter. The author’s style really allows the reader to feel as if they know Maverick. The style allows the reader to dive into Maverick's mind and feel his pain with him. In my opinion, the ending is extremely satisfactory. Once I finished the book, I kept wishing to know more about Maverick and how his life is going even though the book already ended.

Concrete Rose is a 2022 Printz Award Honor book.

The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

What would you do for family? In Rhiannon Richardson’s debut novel, The Meet Cute Project, Mia Hubbard debates that very question as she performs numerous tasks for her sister’s upcoming wedding-including finding a date via various meet cutes from popular culture. The result is a lighthearted and feel-good adventure that is sure to bring chuckles from readers.

When 16-year-old Mia’s older sister Sam gets engaged, she--with the rest of the family--is ecstatic. That is, until Sam decides to plan the entire wedding herself and becomes, in essence, a bridezilla. Due to an unexpected event, Mia now has no one to walk her down the aisle, something her sister will not stand. So proceeds the Meet Cute Project as Mia goes from potential date to potential date, crossing off more names than she’d like, and learning a ton of life lessons. However, time is ticking--will she be able to find a date?

I found this novel to be heartwarming. The plot, however, was predictable, with Mia choosing not to do things that would have helped advance the plot and make it more interesting. She also avoided making actions that would be for her own betterment. While at times Mia and her friends were unreasonable and melodramatic, that is to be expected and didn’t make too big of an impact (although I would have liked to see more of Ritchie) in the grand scheme of the story. The characterization was a bit flat and dry--I did not see much nuance between Mia and the supporting characters since she and her friends more or less talked and acted the same way throughout. There was a sufficient amount of diversity in the book (racially and otherwise), which is a strength of this book.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a quick and lighthearted read without much depth or many subplots. While the story was certainly entertaining, it did not really hold my attention. Out of a five star rating, I would give this read 3.5 stars. 

Our take on Printz

 Written by Hope M., Lauren M., and Lisa W.

Each year, the American Library Association "honors the best best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit." Sometimes these books really resonate with teen readers (like Looking For Alaska) and other times they are head-scratchers that don't really appeal to your average teen. We take a look at this year's Printz winner and honor books and share our own thoughts on their merits.

2021 Winner
Everything Sad Is Untrue (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri depicts the life of the author and narrator throughout his childhood. In one book, Nayeri weaves together a tale of facts and feelings, struggles and strength, fiction and nonfiction, and so much wisdom. While reading, I felt like the author was speaking directly to me. Furthermore, his personal questions and thoughts caused me to reflect in ways I haven't before. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the novel. On a grading scale of A-F, Everything Sad Is Untrue (A True Story) gets an A+ from me!

-Hope

2021 Honor Books

Apple (Skin To The Core) by Eric Gansworth is a memoir depicting the author's life growing up in the Onodaga Tribe in America. Written in verse, Gansworth uses his experiences (and a few Beatles references) to empower Native Americans and help them embrace their identities. Honestly this book was slightly confusing, especially at the beginning; I've read many books written in verse before, however the format of each line had me wondering whether I was reading the book itself or a strange (and long) prologue. Nevertheless, I do feel as if the book allowed me to fully comprehend the horrors that most Native Americans had to endure. If I were to grade Gansworth's work, I would give it a B.

- Lisa

In Dragon Hoops, Gene Luen Yang's newest graphic novel, we dive deep into Bishop O'Dowd High School's basketball team as they make their way through the 2014-15 season with hopes of finally winning the State Championships. Striking and thought-provoking, Dragon Hoops introduces readers to the members of the team and explores the principles and mannerisms that make a winning team that go far deeper than drills and practice--principles the apply to every area of life. An A on the grading scale of A-F, Yang's latest will have readers cheering the Dragons on throughout. 

-Lauren

Every Body Looking by Candace Iloh portrays the life of Ada, a young woman who struggles to find her identity and take control of her own destiny. The novel goes back and forth between her present and her past, illustrating the difficult circumstances Ada has experienced from her childhood up to her life at college.Many mature themes are presented in the story, and the author's unique writing style allowed me to empathize with the character's trials. Despite this, I didn't really enjoy it. For this reason, I would give this book a D.

-Hope

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee World War II is a subject that is approached frequently by authors, however Traci Chee finds an innovative and enlightening way to utilize that topic to introduce another part of history that is, sadly, not as well known. We Are Not Free is a passionate and heart-wrenching story about 14 Japanese-American teenagers whose lives are uprooted when they are placed in incarceration camps during World War II. I recommend this book, not because it was an enjoyable read, but because the abuse and racism that Japanese-Americans had to face should not be an obscure part of history. The only negative comment that I have for We Are Not Free is that 14 different points-of-view are a bit difficult to tolerate, seeing as every time the reader begins to sympathize with the character, the POV is switched to someone else’s. Ergo, I wasn’t able to connect to any of them. I would give this book an A-.

-Lisa

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

Reviewed by Lauren M.
Grade 11

Stacey Lee’s Under a Painted Sky is an enchanting tale of daring and adventure in the Old West. Heartwarming, engaging, and amusing, it follows a young Chinese- American as she struggles for freedom and equality, and is a true tribute to the strength of women.

Samantha Young lives with her father in 1849 Missouri. After a horrific tragedy leads to a shocking crime, she bands together with a runaway slave named Annamae and they set out on the Oregon Trail for California. As they each search for the missing ties to their pasts, they find unexpected allies in a band of cowboys. But with bounty hunters and the law closing in, how long will they be able to keep up their lies?

I loved this book. The worldbuilding was as realistic and believable as the plot. I also found the story to be immersive and compelling, and even in parts challenging to society’s long-held beliefs about equality and race. Samantha was realistic--since she’s so young, she struggles through the usual teenage dramas albeit with unfortunate doses of danger and tragedy mingled in with them. Nevertheless, through it all she was strong and had the benefit of a supportive community, namely her friends. Said friends were also firmly developed, especially Annamae, who was as loyal as she was incredibly spirited. Although I would have liked to see/know more about the Old West, there was just enough information to keep the reader happy.

I would absolutely recommend this book. It is humorous, adventurous, and a very fun story. If anyone likes a historical western, this is definitely for them. A natural reading choice for Women’s History Month, Under a Painted Sky receives a 5 out of 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.