justice

This weekend I read The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater.

From the book jacket:

One teenager in a skirt. 
One teenager with a lighter.
One moment that changes both of their lives forever.


In November of 2013 in Oakland, California, an agender teenager, Sasha, was riding the 57 bus and was set on fire. In an instant – with the flame from a lighter and a reckless lapse in judgement – the lives of two teenagers were changed forever. 

Richard is a black teen who attends public school and lives with his mother, Jasmine, in a crime-riddled neighborhood. In one tragic, reckless, thoughtless moment Richard holds a lighter to Sasha's skirt. The skirt erupts in flames and Sasha is severely burned. Richard is charged with two hate crimes and at 16 faces being tried as an adult.

The 57 Bus is the true story of two teenagers and the crime that changed their lives. The book explores the ideas of gender identity, class, race, and the juvenile justice system.

The story is empathetic and takes a compassionate look at both teens and their families. The 57 Bus is an amazing work of contemporary non-fiction that belongs in the hands of all teens. Read this book with the young people you know. 

Check out the discussion questions for the book from Macmillan Publishing. Readers are guaranteed to learn more about themselves and the society we live in. 

the poetry of women

"Pero, tú no eres fácil."

You sure ain't an easy one.

There's something amazing about a story told in verse. This week I read The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. This is the perfect YA book to read for Women's History Month. The Poet X tells the story of Xiomara Batista, an Afro-Latina teen living in Harlem. Her mother is devoutly religious and prefers Xiomara to remain silent, pious, contained. But Xiomara's thoughts and emotions can not be contained; she pours them into her poetry... into her leather bound notebook.

Elizabeth Acevedo is a celebrated slam poet. The Poet X is her debut novel.

Hello, Universe

I just read Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. On February 12 of this year Hello, Universe won the Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children's literature. 

The book takes place over the course of one day. The characters all come together in what seems like a string of crazy coincidences, but...

"There are no coincidences."

This book is a suspenseful adventure that builds empathy for all its characters. While following signs from the Universe, the characters embody creative agency and authentic emotion.

The chain of events that link these middle school characters together is pure magic. The story is told from varied perspectives and makes for a wonderful read. Virgil is shy and quiet. He is on his way to an appointment with Kaori, who is blessed with psychic powers. On his way to meet with Kaori, Virgil runs into Chet Bullens in the woods. Chet is cruel, throwing Virgil's backpack down a well. He does not know that Gulliver, Virgil's pet guinea pig, is inside the backpack. Virgil is not about to let anything dire happen to his beloved pet, and ends up stuck at the bottom of the abandoned well. Little does Virgil know, as he faces the darkness and his many fears, how much he matters to his friends and family. The chapters are short, the suspense palpable, and the characters worthy of knowing.

Get this book for all the middle grade readers you know.

“Sometimes life calls on you 

even when you don't raise your hand.”