Tag Archive | teens

Amid the pandemic’s first autumn, THERE IS A DOOR IN THIS DARKNESS, if she can find it! by Kristin Cashore (YA fiction)

Jun24
Book cover of There Is a Door in This Darkness, by Kristin Cashore. A maze with several entrances encloses and surrounds the words of the title on a background of streaky cloudy sky.

Seven people, one apartment,
one pandemic, college deferred –
who is she anymore?

Wilhelmina’s best friends and their families are in a Covid-pod together without her, and the Boston teen misses them enormously. She can always sense where people are in a building, and text messages just aren’t the same.

Her gap year has turned into running all the errands and trying to keep her younger siblings at bay while Mom and Dad work from home; her Aunts (actually great-aunts) are now here too, missing late Aunt Frankie as much as Wilhelmina does.

Tomorrow “your doughnut will be stale!” a fortune-teller tells her from 6 feet away. “Trust Wil-helm-ina” sparkles the message she sees parachuting from the snowy sky while walking in the cemetery for solitude; well-masked classmate James saw a white owl drop it!

The next day, she chooses just-fried doughnut from James’ Italian-Chinese-American family’s bakery – somehow, it is stale…

She sees James in the cemetery again, and he’s glowing at the edges. The Temperance tarot card that Frankie gave her long ago changes to “Trust Ray” in sparkles. Huh?!

What if the aunts’ mail ballots don’t arrive from Pennsylvania in time?
Could she really drive them home as the pinched nerves in her neck and arm flare with pain?
Why is James now in her recurring Aunt Frankie dream?

Chapters for each day of her pivotal week in November 2020 alternate with those filled with wonderful memories of childhood and teen summers spent with the Aunts at their lovely rural Pennsylvania home.

These strands of past and present story weave together satisfyingly and realistically and a bit magically as Wilhelmina navigates the current crisis to find herself at last.

This contemporary work of magical realism by the author of the Graceling fantasy epics is now available in paperback and definitely deserves your reading attention.

Where were you during November 2020, before the vaccines were available?
**kmm

Book info: There Is A Door In This Darkness / Kristin Cashore. Dutton Books /Penguin, hardcover 2024, paperback 2025. [author site https://kristincashore.com/books/there-is-a-door-in-this-darkness/] [publisher site https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313481/there-is-a-door-in-this-darkness-by-kristin-cashore/] Review copy checked out from my local public library; cover image courtesy of the publisher.

She was SWINGING INTO HISTORY! Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball’s First Woman Player, by Karen L. Swanson & Laura Freeman (nonfiction picturebook)

May28
Book cover of Swinging Into History: Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball's First Woman Player, by Karen L. Swanson; illustrated by Laura Freeman. Against backdrop of a large baseball among scattered stars, a Black woman wearing a Clowns team baseball uniform reaches up to catch a baseball in mitt on her left hand.

Oh, how she loves baseball!
But her parents keep saying no…
how will she make it to the Major Leagues?

Tomboy longed to play baseball, but her parents tried to keep the tween busy at their Black hair salon instead. Thankfully, their parish priest convinced them to let her play on the church team in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Persistence got her into a summer baseball camp into where good coaching polished her skills. An excellent fielder, accurate thrower, and astounding batter, Tomboy began trying out for semi-pro teams at 15!

Moving to California, changing her name to Toni, and playing several years in front of scouts for pro teams, she was finally signed to the New Orleans Creoles of the Negro minor leagues.

But playing in the 1950s Jim Crow southern states was doubly hard for Toni, always forced to enter stadiums through the “colored” door and often harassed for being a woman in a man’s game.

Finally, she got called-up to the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League – the first woman to play for any Major League Baseball team!

“Worked hard for my dream, gave up a lot, but my dream came true: playing baseball with the big boys,” Toni said – big boys like Satchel Paige and Willie Mays.

Toni lived to see the her name listed among the 75 Negro Leagues players honored at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, where a baseball field is dedicated to her memory.

Includes a timeline of the Negro Leagues, civil rights history, and Toni’s career, a bibliography, and extensive author’s notes about the racism and gender discrimination that Toni endured while playing ball.

Which women athletes are you watching today?
**kmm

Book info: Swinging Into History: Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball’s First Woman Player / Karen L. Swanson; illustrated by Laura Freeman. Calkins Creek, 2024. [author site https://www.karenlswanson.com/] [illustrator site https://www.lfreemanart.com/] [publisher site https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/742890/swinging-into-history-by-karen-l-swanson-illustrated-by-laura-freeman/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Time for summer fun and romance – MEET ME AT WONDERLAND! by Julia DeVilliers (YA fiction)

May20
Book cover of Meet Me at Wonderland, by Julia DeVilliers. A teen girl in t-shirt and shorts holds a wearable moose head behind her back. She looks across the title written down a signpost at a taller teen boy wearing same t-shirt who has 1 foot on a soccer ball, with roller coaster in background.

Ferris wheel! Roller coaster!
Cotton candy! Pizza!
Stinky moose costume… well, someone has to wear it.

Coco is SO happy to finally be old enough to work at her family’s amusement park! After Mom’s cancer treatments and a crappy school year, the 14 year old needs to be surrounded by happiness at Wonderland.

Wearing the heavy Morty the Moose costume on her very first day, Coco crashes into new employee Henry, a cute guy who’s not from their small Adirondacks lake town.

Soon she and Henry are competing for staff MVP award, a far cry from the soccer glory that Henry crashed out of when he messed up his ankle recently.

Coco’s longtime friends at Wonderland think Henry is great; his long-divorced dad doesn’t. Luckily, the gigantic lakeside mansion is filled with the silliness of young Tuesday, daughter of Dad’s current girlfriend.

As summer goes on, Coco shares with Henry how her grandparents started Wonderland and how much it means to her.

Uh-oh – Dad’s big business deal is trying to buy out Wonderland! How will Coco ever forgive Henry?

Told in alternating chapters by Coco and Henry, this “moose-cute” summer romance is a roller coaster with a bit of bumper cars before meeting at the candy counter.

Happy book birthday, Meet Me at Wonderland!

What’s your favorite amusement park ride?
**kmm

Book info: Meet Me At Wonderland / Julia DeVilliers. Aladdin, 2025. [author site https://www.juliadevillers.com/] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Meet-Me-at-Wonderland/Julia-DeVillers/9781665964241] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Philosophy can help you become SERIOUSLY HAPPY, by Ben Aldridge (YA nonfiction)

May13
Book cover of Seriously Happy: 10 Life-Changing Philosophy Lessons From Stoicism to Zen to Supercharge Your Mindset, by Ben Aldridge. "The Thinker" statue wearing athletic socks, sneakers, and sunglasses rests his chin on fist and looks down at happy-face ball in his other hand.

Are you happy right now?
What about your happiness level for the week?
How can you live a better life?

“In the modern world, we have a big problem – a lot of us aren’t particularly happy,” (p.10) like this author who set out to shift his mindset into a happier mode by studying world philosophies.

First, you must define what happiness means to you, then uncover how living a good life is easier when you gain mental and emotional skills to weather its ups and downs.

At the heart of this book for teens are big lessons from ten philosophies: Zen, the Cynics, the Socratic School, Taoism, the Stoics, Aristotle, Buddhism, Epicurus, the Stoics again, and other ancient philosophers.

You can grow your resilience by studying the tenets of Buddhism, become seriously confident with advice from the Cynics, and power up your focus by studying Zen.

The author discusses each philosophy’s strengths in relation to living a good and balanced life, weaving in his experiences and reflections on seeking out different philosophical paths.

Each chapter ends with a set of challenges so you can interact more fully with that philosophy – walk a banana down the street (the Cynics), learn a challenging skill (the Stoics), get into the great outdoors (Taoism) – and see what its tenets might bring to your life.

When are you seriously happy and why?
**kmm

Book info: Seriously Happy: 10 Life-Changing Philosophy Lessons From Stoicism to Zen to Supercharge Your Mindset / Ben Aldridge. Quarto Publishing/Holler, 2024. [author site https://www.benaldridge.com/book] [publisher site https://quarto.com/books/9780711297807/seriously-happy] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Marauding killer robots, crime, superheroes, and the SECOND CHANCE OF DARIUS LOGAN, by David F. Walker (YA fiction)

May12
Book cover of The Second Chance of Darius Logan, by David F. Walker. A black teen wearing a hoodie stands on a dark wrecked street corner, hands in his pockets as he stares across at brightly lit intact city buildings.

Superhero-fueled kid dreams,
teen nightmare cop chase!
What next?!

His abusive uncle drank up Darius’ survivor checks following the killer robot Attack that slaughtered thousands, including the young Black boy’s parents and newborn brother.

After bouncing around foster homes, one bad decision has the now 17 year old facing prison… or a Second Chance with the Super Justice Force that stopped the Attack from annihilating humanity.

At SJF World Headquarters, he meets superheroes like Captain Freedom whose merchandise enthralled him as a kid and metahumans with exceptional abilities, as well as other Second Chancers – criminals (including former supervillains) given this same opportunity to rehabilitate before it’s too late.

Darius likes his boss Manny and how they support SJF’s crimefighting work on Earth and beyond, appreciates Dr. Sam getting him into Second Chance, and tries to avoid security chief Maslon who’s hated Darius since the moment they met.

Completing school with online classes, meeting beautiful Elladia (Manny’s niece), getting leave to visit new superhero friends’ home for a cookout – great!
Being confined to World HQ, repeated drug tests and meeting with a counselor, being harassed by Maslon – not great.

When outside forces try to infiltrate HQ, his familiarity with every corridor and room helps Darius in the hunt – but what do they want to steal?

A high-stakes story of despair and hope, evil and redemption, friendship, love, and justice – first YA novel by long-time comic writer, filmmaker, professor, and journalist David F. Walker.

Your favorite superhero?
**kmm

Book info: The Second Chance of Darius Logan / David F. Walker. Scholastic Press, 2024. [author site https://davidfwalker.com/] [publisher site https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/the-second-chance-of-darius-logan-9781338826425.html] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Always stylish, meet BAIT THE TOAD! by Kendra Powers (nonfiction)

May2
Book cover of Bait the Toad, by Kendra Powers. Photo of a large toad wearing a shiny black top-hat with red band, while sitting calmly on a large branch.

In his garden or on the road,
oh so dapper is Bait the Toad!

From his quiet beginnings on the banks of the Rio Grande River to rising TikTok star, Bait remains a humble toad.

His polymer clay hats range from seasonal to casual to fancy, each custom-made by his photographer/caretaker.

Of course, the natural world is his first love, and he’s become very fond of orchids, too.

Includes his style tips for toads and a reminder that “frogs and toads are entirely different – and while frogs must be kissed to become princes, toads are plenty royal on their own, thank you very much.”

This small-format book of Bait’s most charming photos is a great gift for amphibian lovers and a fun story-starter for kids – “what journey are Bait and the orange cat starting?”

What’s your favorite type of hat?
**kmm

Book info: Bait the Toad / Kendra Powers. Catalyst Press, 2023. [author/photographer interview https://www.catalystpress.org/post/author-q-a-kendra-powers] [publisher site https://www.catalystpress.org/bait-the-toad] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Z is New Zealand DAWN RAID targeting of immigrant homes – time to protest! by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith & Mat Hunkin (MG fiction) #AtoZ

Apr30
Book cover of Dawn Raid, by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith, art by Mat Hunkin. Shows a dark-skinned young teen girl with long hair, hugging a book and wearing a dress and sandals. She is a bright image, walking with many monochrome-tinted native Maori and Pasifika immigrant people carrying signs and using a megaphone in New Zealand protest.

The right to free speech,
the right to education and work,
for everyone, right?

As the only girl squished in among so many rambunctious brothers, Sofia feels overlooked at home. Even her 13th birthday celebration in 1976 gets postponed when the boys get silly with darts and have to go to emergency room!

She gets too much attention in their small town school – for being Samoan, for reading her speech at assembly, for supporting the march by Maori people protesting theft of their traditional lands.

The New Zealand economy has turned bad, so the government says people with dark skin are the problem, making native Maori and immigrant Pacific Islanders alike easy targets for police harassment.

Sofia is now old enough to get a milk delivery job like her big brother. Despite all the heavy glass bottles and hearing complaints about price increases, she can save up for those groovy tall white boots she sees on TV!

Yay! Her grandparents are coming from Samoa to visit, so the whole family will take time off from school and work to go meet them in Auckland.

Oh, no… Polynesian Panthers are being jailed, just because they protest news silence about the government’s dawn raids of homes where an Islander might have overstayed their work or visitor visa!

Hmmm… Sofia has to write a new speech for the area competition about something she knows a lot about… like Islander people being the only group of overstayers being arrested.

Through Sofia’s diary entries and sketches, the 1976 Maori and Islander protests come alive, echoing the American Civil Rights movement that she learns about in school, as well as the current ICE raids in the US.

Reading what folks in other places and situations have written is a great way to know more about them – originally published by Scholastic New Zealand, brought to North America by Levine Querido, with discussion guide here: https://www.levinequerido.com/dawn-raid.

How do you support family members in difficult times?
**kmm

Book info: Dawn Raid / Pauline Vaeluaga Smith; illustrated by Mat Hunkin. Lantern/ Levine Querido, 2023. [author interview https://www.thesapling.co.nz/2018-04-17-author-interview-pauline-vaeluaga-smith/] [illustrator site https://www.mathunkin.com/illustration] [publisher site https://www.levinequerido.com/dawn-raid] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

V is for young violinist and friends – AFTER THE WALLPAPER MUSIC, now what? by Jean Mills (MG Fiction) #AtoZ

Apr25
Book cover of After the Wallpaper Music, by Jean Mills. Shows a young teen girl with long flowing red hair, playing a violin whose music swirls up and around the title.

Music soothes, charms,
tells stories, connects us,
divides us?

“My violin has magic powers and transforms into a fiddle at night, and that’s when I play the Newfoundland tunes for Auntie Flora,” says her 13-year-old namesake (pg. 7) who enjoys her great-aunt’s traditional music as much as the classical pieces that she, Kristy, Bas, and Vlad play as a string quartet.

Year 8 begins with a new classmate! Simon’s rock star dad was invited to lecture at the university in their Canadian town. Sadly, his younger sister was killed in a car crash this past summer. Simon is very quiet at school.

When the quartet instructor announces a Battle of the Bands contest coming up and her friends want to play a video game theme song instead of an edgy modern classical composer, Flora isn’t thrilled.

Unexpectedly, Simon asks Flora to bring her violin to his house, and they try jamming to rock music with different instruments – amazing! They’ll enter the Battle of the Bands, too!

Juggling homework, quartet practice, and rock practice is tough – now Aunt Flora has fallen ill and must stay in the hospital! Mom, Dad, and big sister Agnes keep things going at home and nursing home – very tough.

Will her quartet friends get used to Flora playing with Simon, too?
Which band will win those New York City concert tickets?
Can Flora go back to playing the quartet’s classical “wallpaper music” only?

A school term filled with changes and changes! (Look for the lyrics and music to Auntie Flora’s favorite in the back of the book)

When have you had to decide whether to continue a project with friends or go your own way?
**kmm

Book info: After the Wallpaper Music / Jean Mills. Pajama Press, 2024. [author site https://jeanmillswriter.com/] [publisher site https://pajamapress.ca/book/after-the-wallpaper-music/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher via Publisher Spotlight.

R is RAISED BY GHOSTS, she drifts through school and life, by Briana Loewinsohn (YA Graphic Novel) #AtoZ

Apr21
Book cover of Raised by Ghosts, graphic novel by Briana Loewinsohn. Shows girl with long brown hair seated at a desk, looking down at her sketches which rise into the air as white outlines of images on a dark stream.

Pencil and paper,
imagination and image,
better than reality…

In middle school, the other kids “seem to understand how to be in the world in a way that I do not,” notes Briana (pg. 5) during the mid 1990s.

Mum absolutely unpredictable, Dad completely predictable, distant from one another in the same house, distant from only child Briana, too… as they skirt the edges of being poor, is anyone the parent here?

At her Berkeley high school, Briana has a hard time concentrating in classes… is there a point?

Notes to friends, sketching on homework pages, notes from friends, making mixtapes instead of doing homework, repeat, repeat, repeat.

She literally draws herself into a dark place of loneliness, then draws herself back out into the real world again.

This graphic novel memoir chronicles the artist’s school years in muted tones, often sadly somber, yet ending with hope as she continues to draw: “Dear paper, dear pencil, you are saving my life…” (pg. 200). She shares three ways to fold a note and her favorite mixtape playlist, too.

What notes and messages from friends would you save forever?
**kmm

Book info: Raised by Ghosts / Briana Loewinsohn. Fantagraphics, 2025. [author site https://www.instagram.com/brianabreaks/] [publisher site https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/raised-by-ghosts] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

K is for KEEPING PACE: running, academically, she’s gotta win! by Laurie Morrison (MG fiction) #A2Z

Apr12
Book cover of Keeping Pace, by Laurie Morrison. Shows 2 young teens in exercise clothes running up a hilly path; the boy is ahead of the pony-tailed girl and looks back at her.

Striving all year for best grades,
applying for the prestigious writing camp…
No, and no – now what?

Grace worked so hard to get highest 8th grade GPA and impress her novelist dad, but lost the award to former friend Jonah. The summer before high school stretches out before the Philadelphia teen.

Babysitting the young son of Dad’s new girlfriend… not as easy as it looks.
Creative writing class… ahh, like her favorite verse novels, not Dad’s blockbuster novel.
Training for the half-marathon to benefit local wetlands… just as she and Jonah planned in 6th grade…oh.

The treehouse between her house and his grandmother’s next door was their happy place every summer, at least before Jonah’s dad got sick and died a few years ago.

Their competition for grades and honors pushed the friends apart… should they try to fix it?
Getting closer to him at her birthday party… awkward? just right?
Jonah not at the same high school next year… what!?

This summer means new friends at creative writing class, talking through big sister Celia’s plans after high school, running with her and sometimes with Jonah, half-marathon and high school on the horizon!

Who is she if she isn’t the smartest student?
Will she beat Jonah at the half-marathon?
Would she rather be with him instead of being rivals?

Goal-setting listmaker Grace’s weekly training plan for the half-marathon starts each group of chapters as she moves through a summer where winning might not be all that she wants.

When did you decide that an outside goal wasn’t yours anymore?
**kmm

Book info: Keeping Pace / Laurie Morrison. Abrams/Amulet, 2024. [author site https://lauriemorrisonwrites.com/books/] [publisher site https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/keeping-pace] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.