The Lives of Desperate Girls by MacKenzie Common
Common draws some intriguing parallel in this book between a girl rejected by her peers and one rejected by society on the whole, both based on circumstances beyond their control. This is an exploration that is likely to be uncomfortable for most, delving as it does into racism and rape culture and the damage they inflict on young lives. It would be fascinating to discuss this book with a book club, especially to list out all of the titular Desperate Girls.
The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
Portrayals of grief tend to follow prescribed paths, usually centering on one of the famed stages of grief. Unsurprisingly, this book focuses on anger. What is surprising is the nature of that anger. It's non-specific, more of a general anger at the world. And the conclusion of the novel does not explicitly address that anger. We're not told how to let go of or manage anger. It's simply a fact of Lolly's reality, just as gangs and social pressure are. A subtle exploration.
Lucy & Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown
I've been looking forward to this one for a while. I'm a fan of Brown's comics. I was expecting a fair dose of humor. I was pleased to find some educational value to it as well. Each chapter of loose story is followed by a few pages of what we've learned about neanderthals from archaeology.
36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant
The real appeal to this novel is the novelty of it's being framed on the concept of those 36 questions. It's not a particularly complex tale nor is it peopled with particularly complex characters. Read it once for some simple entertainment. I'm not certain that it would hold up to a second read.
Biometrics by Maria Birmingham
For kids non-fiction, the balance between readability and level of detail is key. Birmhingham has found the perfect level of information without becoming overwhelming.
Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist by John Young
Combine a standard "kid with cancer" story and a standard "unexpected road trip" story and that's a fair idea of what to expect from this book. It's not entirely predictable, of course. A couple of unique twists. More importantly, the background attitude is unique. Connor displays an unusual blend of optimism and existential dread.
My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
Initially, I was not impressed by this book. The typical romance tropes hit hard. I rolled my eyes hard and sighed a lot. It wasn't until I reached the final quarter of the book that I realized that this was intentional, that Sharma was using tropes to make a point. Is it a point that I entirely agree with? No. She's talking about destiny and free-will essentially being the same thing. Even though I disagree, at least I can see why she's using so many chiches. A good choice for fans of teen romance and rom-coms.
