I get a lot of requests for drawing books...and it’s not just because I’m an art professor! Full of cartooning exercises, this book is great if you’re looking for a summertime activity, or know a kid who’s into comics.
Marika
Author Strong doesn't shy away from racial violence in this MG story, and she slams it out of the park. It's a chilling ghost story wrapped in an endearing tale of family and friendship. For kids who may not like reading non-fiction, this could be a good bridge towards discussions of White violence against Black bodies. Also all of the characters are just so adorable!
Stacey
They say that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but you absolutely should because this cover delivers. The Belles brings forth the neverending misconception of how beauty means good, when in reality, beauty is dark and dangerous. The world that Dhonielle Clayton creates draws you in with beauty, but darkness and an unstable society is what you end up staying for.
Sinny
All Ida Mae Jones wants to do is fly--but her dream seems impossible until the United States enters World War II. In order to join the new women's pilot program, Ida decides to "pass" as white. But things never turn out exactly as hoped... Perfect for readers looking for a new angle on a well-covered historical period.
Rebecca
A young boy realizes that the loud, strong, messy, hungry bear that lives in the bedroom next to his might not be so bad after all. Great for kids with older siblings.
Katie
The gloriously cute black queer prom story you never knew you needed. Liz has to become prom queen in order to get a scholarship and attend her dream college. This is difficult enough since she's black, poor, awkward, and not remotely one of the cool kids in her rich, white town. Even worse, she starts to fall in love with a girl who's openly queer. But can she admit it to her conservative classmates with the crown and the scholarship on the line? And will her girlfriend accept her staying closeted? Great for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and Dumplin'.
Shana
A gorgeously drawn comics memoir of joining a college book club in South Korea 1983, and the thoughts, choices, and trials it sparked. Fast-paced, smart, and utterly compelling, this is the activist comics memoir YA readers are looking for.
Marika
I didn't know that I needed to read a YA retelling of Thelma and Louise until I picked up this one. Winona and Lucille are tired of feeling trapped in their lives, and they're ready for freedom. They realize they can't wait until graduation to get out, so they run, taking with them a stolen convertible and plans to get the three grand that they need to truly escape. This is a story of intense female friendship and the anger of young women trapped within the patriarchy and it will both pull your heartstrings and make you cheer for these girls to tear down the patriarchy.
April
This fabulous(ly queer!) follow-up to Mitchell's lauded All Out anthology is sure to delight and inspire.
Rebecca
Ashlords is one you won't be able to put down! It has something for everyone - sci-fi horse racing, phoenixes, SCIENCE, fights to the death, ghosts?, dimension hopping, and more! - and yet it never feels crowded or overly complicated. You'll be frantically turning the pages in this total adrenaline rush!
Caleb
