Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an adult contemporary fiction novel centered around the Riva siblings who live in Malibu in 1983. The Rivas may be celebrities among the public, but they each have their own struggles hidden beneath the surface. When Nina, the oldest of the Riva siblings, throws her signature party, each of their issues are gradually unraveled throughout the night. Through flashbacks of the past and snippets of the present, tensions are gradually built and relationships are put to the test.
Lady Bird is an incredible film about a teenage girl named Christine, who goes by Lady Bird. She lives in Sacramento, California, with her parents and brother. Lady Bird hopes to escape her small town and become something big. She believes her only chance of doing this is to go to college on the east coast, so she can leave her family and be successful. Lady Bird has a complicated relationship with almost everyone in her life, the main one being her mother.
The Penderwicks is a heartwarming story about friendship, sisterhood and loyalty by Jeanne Birdsall. It depicts the family's vacation to Arundel in the Berkshire mountains. Along the way, the sisters meet a boy named Jeffrey as he struggles to find his place among his ill-natured mother and her cruel boyfriend. The sisters form lifelong friendships, make countless memories, share adventures and of course find themselves in plenty of mishaps during what they thought would be an ordinary family vacation.
The Hate U Give is a realistic fiction young adult novel that follows the young woman, Starr, through a difficult time of hate and racism in her life. Her childhood friend, Khalil, is shot by a police officer even though Khalil did nothing wrong. As Starr goes through grieving, her neighborhood falls into chaos as the news keeps portraying Khalil as the enemy.
This book is about a girl named Sarah, who lost her mom six months before the start of the book. Since her death, she has been put with the duties of caring for her younger brother and now her dad, who has fallen apart because of the death of his wife. Sarah has to do it all from the bills, school, food and everything else a parent normally does. She meets a boy she likes, but she is too busy with everything else to have another person in her life. But, one art project changes her perspective on everything.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney is the fourteenth book in the series, and it takes Greg Heffley on a journey through the chaos of home renovations. The story begins when Greg’s family receives an unexpected inheritance, which they decide to use to make some much-needed improvements to their house. However, what starts as a simple renovation quickly spirals out of control as the Heffleys encounter one disaster after another, from faulty construction to unexpected expenses.
Lena Wise is a high school senior with a lot on her plate. From college applications to friend drama, she has a stereotypical teenage life. Except for the fact that she’s been in love with her best friend for years. Sebastian has been there for Lena since they were kids, although nothing has gone past good friends. The new year for Lena is one of taking chances, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll tell Sebastian how she feels. Until one stupid decision ruins everything, and she doesn’t think Sebastian will ever forgive her. Not for what happened, not for what was entirely her fault.
The Hate U Give is an amazing book that follows the story of Starr, an African American girl living in Garden Heights. Starr switches between her predominantly Black neighborhood and her predominantly white school. After witnessing her childhood friend Khalil get shot by a police officer, Starr decides to speak up against racism. Despite facing many challenges and intimidation, she eventually testifies and helps bring the perpetrator to justice. The book touches on themes of racism and the power of speaking out.
The Meaning Of Maggie follows 11 year old gifted child Maggie as she discovers the meaning of growing up and the struggle that comes with it. Maggie knows almost everything, but can’t seem to figure out why her cool dad’s legs are falling asleep, or why her mom is working double shifts. Maggie is a science fair winner, novice stock investor and future president, so she’s sure she can fix whatever is wrong. Maggie has to fight her middle school fears and work harder than ever to keep her family one loving unit.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsfollows four high school girls and their journey through a summer of discovery, excitement and friendship. Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget have been friends forever, and this summer is the first they will spend apart. As the group celebrates their last night together they discover "The Pants," a pair of magical jeans that somehow fit each of them. The pants help create their sisterhood. With ten rules and a declaration of self love, a special bond is created.
