Axie Oh’s XOXO is an adorable contemporary romance novel. All Jenny wants is to be accepted into a prestigious music conservatory, but when she meets Jaewoo at her uncle’s karaoke bar in Los Angeles, her life will change drastically. Suddenly, Jenny finds herself moving to South Korea to take care of her sick grandmother. Unbeknownst to her, the boy she met in the karaoke bar is a famous K-pop idol.
Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas is a contemporary young adult novel that focuses on LGBTQ+ issues. Finch is about to go to the debate National Championships in Washington D.C., but the debate topic is transgender rights. Finch is a trans man that dreams of becoming the first transgender member of Congress, but his financial and emotional turmoil may keep him from his dream of Washington D.C.
Two sisters go on a road trip with their parents to embark on a new journey. Memories come back to young Raina Telgemeier when her sister and she were close and happier than ever. When the memories of simpler times ever be real again? This book had a tight grab on my heart. Raina telling the story of her and her sisters’ relationship when they were younger has that personal touch to the graphic novel. This book is great for kids with siblings to understand that finding is not always the way out. This book is a 10 out of 10 in my book!!
18-year-old Madeline Whittier is a girl who is locked up in her house because of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), which means she cannot go anywhere or touch anything that has not been sanitized. Olly Bright is a 19-year-old who just moved into the house across from Madeline. Will they never get a chance to meet and explore the world together? I really enjoyed this book with its subtle twists and turns that I never expected. For people who are fans of unexpected relationships, this book is for them! This book kept me on edge about what was going to happen next.
Callie is a girl who loves theatre. A middle school play called ‘Moon over Mississippi’ was created. Callie wants to be in it, but she can't sing. She decides to work backstage to still be a part of the production. How can Callie be a help to the backstage when she knows nothing about stage props, and will her lack of knowledge prevent the show from going on? This book was hard to put down. The part that I love is that it's a graphic novel and you're able to see the pictures in real time. Callie’s story about friendships, relationships, and learning experiences is an experience for me.
Catrina and her sister Maya mood to Northern California because of Mayas sickness. Maya was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The cool air of California will help her breathing. their time there they reached the time of Cinco de Mayo. They encounter many spirits that Maya wanted to see. Will Catrina put her fears aside for her sickly sister? This book is the definition of family. Telgemeier made me feel like I was about of Catrina’s family. This heartfelt story is definitely a lesson to people. This teaches people that family is #1 and nothing can come before it.
Elle Zoellner is a foster kid who, on her 16th birthday, finds out her father owns a hotel in Japan. Her father wants her to come live with him. When she arrives to Japan, she excited for her new life but finds out it doesn't live up to what it's supposed to. Her grandmother doesn’t accept her. Will Elle's life become better? This book was a 10 out of 10 in my opinion. I got to learn about Japanese culture through this novel. The author definitely put detail and thought throughout the whole book. I would recommend this novel to people who love the Japanese culture.
Raina is just entering middle school and changes are starting to happen. Friendships, relationships, mood swings etc. every day is different for Raina, and nothing is certain. How with Raina deal with everyday challenges that are thrown her way? This book was definitely an eye opener. Seeing Raina go through 6th through 10th grade, was an experience. The feeling this book gave me was very exciting. I was anticipating what was coming next and loved seeing her growth throughout.
I’ll Give You the Sun is Jandy Nelson’s second novel, and her most acclaimed - it won the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature in 2015. The story follows twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine as they struggle with love, death, art, and each other. It’s set on the California coast with a cast of artists, surfers, and occasional vengeful ghosts. The audience switches between Noah’s point of view in their younger years, and Jude’s after they’ve grown up a little.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have five daughters and Mrs. Bennet is desperate to get them all married so they won’t have to live on the streets after their father dies. A new family, the Bingleys, have moved to town. Mr. Bingley is a handsome man who takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane. With Mr. Bingley, comes his closest friend, Mr. Darcy. A man who is insufferable and indignant to most. Elizabeth Bennet dislikes him the minute she meets him, over hearing the ignorant words he says. Mr. Darcy appears to not like Elizabeth, as well.
