Category Archives: News and Fun

Review: Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

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Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

Openly Straight
Bill Konigsberg
Arthur A. Levine Books
Published May 28, 2013

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About Openly Straight

Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He’s won skiing prizes. He likes to write.

And, oh yeah, he’s gay. He’s been out since 8th grade, and he isn’t teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that’s important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.

So when he … Continue reading →

Review: Funny Gyal by Angeline Jackson and Susan McClelland

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Funny Gyal by Angeline Jackson and Susan McClelland

Funny Gyal: My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica
Angeline Jackson and Susan McClelland
Dundurn Press
Published June 7, 2022

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About Funny Gyal

“Instead of remaining silent, she chose to speak out…that’s the power of one person.” — Barack Obama

The inspiring story of Angeline Jackson, who stood up to Jamaica’s oppression of queer youth to demand recognition and justice.

When Angeline Jackson was a child, she wondered if there was something wrong with her for wanting to kiss the other girls. But as her sexuality blossomed in her teens, she knew she wouldn’t “grow out of it” and that her attraction … Continue reading →

25 Most-Anticipated YA Books Coming Summer 2022

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25 Most-Anticipated YA Books Coming Summer 2022

Here are My Most-Anticipated YA Books Coming Summer 2022

I love reading during the summer. There’s something about the longer days that makes me feel like I can afford to squeeze in extra reading time. This year, there are so many titles I’m excited about reading. I have no idea if I’ll be able to get to them all, but I’m sure gonna do my best! I expect I’ll get to most of these most-anticipated YA books coming summer 2022.

As always, I’ll try to come back to this post as I put up reviews so that if you find it later you’ll be able to see how I liked the books I read. For … Continue reading →

Review: Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid

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Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid

Before Takeoff
Adi Alsaid
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published June 7, 2022

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About Before Takeoff

The Sun Is Also a Star meets Jumanji when two teens meet and fall in love during a layover-gone-wrong at the Atlanta airport in this thrilling new novel from the author of Let’s Get Lost!

James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn’t be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light–and each other.

Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually… a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly … Continue reading →

Review: Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

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Forging Silver Into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

Forging Silver Into Stars
Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury YA
Published May 3, 2022

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About Forging Silver into Stars

When ancient magic tests a newfound love, a dark fate beckons . . .

Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in … Continue reading →

Review: Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West

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Places We've Never Been by Kasie West

Places We’ve Never Been
Kasie West
Delacorte Press
Published May 31, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Places We’ve Never Been

A sweet and swoony contemporary Young Adult novel about a cross-country family road trip that puts one girl and her childhood best friend on an unexpected road to romance!

Norah hasn’t seen her childhood best friend, Skyler, in years. When he first moved away, they’d talk all the time, but lately their relationship has been reduced to liking each other’s Instagram posts. That’s why Norah can’t wait for the joint RV road trip their families have planned for the summer.

But when Skyler finally arrives, he seems…like he’d rather … Continue reading →