Realistic fiction stories provide readers with "windows and mirrors," a look into others' lives and a reflection of their own. In addition to providing engaging stories, these books validate readers who see themselves and help us build empathy for others. Some of the library's newest realistic titles tackle illness, family secrets, going viral, healing and finding your place in the world.
Fear of Missing Out by Kate McGovern - When a teen learns her cancer has returned, she sets out on a road trip with her boyfriend and best friend to investigate a possible new technology that could freeze her body until a cure is found. If you liked The Fault in Our Stars by John Green or Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon, check this one out. The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho - May’s brother seems to have everything going for him. So when he commits suicide, her family is turned upside down. Their pain is made worse when a local businessman blames the Asian-American family for the death and several other suicides, saying the culture puts too much pressure on teens to achieve. May strikes back with her writing, but speaking up has consequences she doesn't expect. It also makes her realize that the racism she’s struggling with is nothing new to her Black best friends. This is a sad story with a hopeful, empowering ending as May and her friends work to ensure everyone has a voice, no matter their background or struggle. The Kids are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony - When Thomas and Savannah’s mom dies, they are desperate to learn who their biological father is. They decide a podcast could help them track down mom's friends and help tell their story. Their efforts go viral, and as they draw more listeners, they also draw controversy. Everyone from feminists to men's rights advocates to First Amendment activists begin to weigh in. Is finding their dad worth all the mayhem that comes with it? And will the guy be worth finding? A story of siblings, family secrets, finding yourself and growing up in a world when everything is shared on social media. The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia - This is one of several books we have that see Deafness as something to celebrate, not to pity or fix. The author uses a combination of text, paint, collage and drawings to tell the story of Piper, who is so busy trying to survive that she doesn’t know what it’s like to live. When she meets Marley, Piper begins to see her Deafness isn't something to hide, and she's determined to use her voice to help others. The story veers into the dystopian genre because it’s based in a world with environmental collapse and political corruption. If you're interested in this topic, you can also try True Biz by Sara Novic, The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais and The Sign for Home by Blair Fell. An Appetite for Miracles by Laeken Zea Kemp - Danna struggles to reconnect with her ailing grandfather, hoping his favorite foods will ease his dementia and restore some of his memories. Raul has been lost since his mother went to jail for a wrongful conviction several years ago. When they meet at a nursing home, they feel an instant connection and team up on a journey to heal themselves and those they love. Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Reyes - Yamilet is one of the few Mexican-American students in her affluent religious school, but, she tells herself, at least no one knows she’s gay. She’s determined to keep it that way -- and protect her brother, make her mom proud and not fall in love. But it’s not so easy when the school’s only openly queer student catches her eye. A funny, honest story about growing up and finding yourself. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee - When Savannah gets a full scholarship to an ivy league school, she expects to meet other students who have worked just as hard as she has. She's dismayed to discover the racism, hypocrisy and entitlement on campus. When the statue of the school's first Black president is vandalized, she's outraged. But speaking up could put her scholarship and future at risk. Recommended for readers interested in social justice or anyone who's been torn about speaking out.
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After a much too-lengthy hiatus, I'm back with new reviews. My goal is to post a few each week to help HHS students and staff discover books that might interest them. Some connect to current events, whether the pandemic we're coping with or the racial justice movement sweeping the country. Others may be ways to escape real life.
A timely read that I recently finished was The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. Written by a Civil Rights lawyer, this nonfiction book explores how our legal system‘s decades-old War on Drugs has unfairly impacted African Americans, leading to more arrests and harsher punishments than white drug users have faced. It compares the restrictions that ex-cons face after release - limits on voting, jobs, low-income housing, and more - to the Jim Crow laws that oppressed Blacks after slavery was abolished. It is an eye-opening, disheartening look at an often unjust justice system. It pairs well with When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matters Memoir by Asha Bandele and Patrisse Cullors. This short memoir recounts the experiences of one of the founders of BLM. Growing up in an impoverished minority community, Patrisse's brother was targeted by police and, once in the system, he was unable to find jobs, housing and health care that would help him get back on his feet. As a result, he often ended up back in jail, in a system that seemed to criminalize - instead of treat - his mental illness. The memoir makes the case for more social services and fewer prisons, and sheds light one of the biggest activist groups operating today. For a break from the world's challenges, I turned to Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Angram, the actress who played the child villain of the classic TV show Little House on the Prairie. A funny memoir about growing up in Hollywood, coping with the real-life hatred of the show’s fans and hitting your professional peak as a teen. It’s also a story of the resilience of the author, who has become an activist for sexual abuse survivors. For science fans, I recommend Spook by Mary Roach, a nonfiction exploration of the afterlife, by a writer who humorously focuses on science topics you won’t see in textbooks. She’s also written about life in space (Packing for Mars), death and dead bodies (Stiff - my favorite), the human body (Gulp) and going to war (Grunt). She’s irreverent and engaging, but also can be a little graphic for some readers. For example, in Stiff, Roach visits a place where dead bodies are buried so scientists can study decomposition, which could help police determine how long ago someone died. In Packing for Mars, she discusses how we'd handle certain bodily functions during the months-long spaceflight to the planet. |
AuthorMrs. McHugh is a librarian and instructional technology specialist. She loves talking books and pop culture with her students at Hanover High School. Archives
February 2024
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