Review: Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Furia
Yamile Saied Méndez
Algonquin Young Readers
Published September 15, 2020

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About Furia

An #ownvoices contemporary YA set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams.

In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.

At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.

On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South … Continue reading

Review: Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston

Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston cover shows a girl with curly hair wearing jeans and a hoodie with her hands in her pockets. A line drawing of upper and lower rows of shark's teeth is superimposed over the image.

Shark Teeth
Sherri Winston
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published January 16, 2024

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About Shark Teeth

From National Book Award longlisted author Sherri Winston comes an important middle grade novel about a girl’s tumultuous journey to keep her family together, even when she’s falling apart.

Sharkita “Kita” Hayes is always waiting.
Waiting for her mama to mess up.
Waiting for social services to be called again.
Waiting for … Continue reading

Fall 2023 Backlist Check-in

9 Great Books from My Fall 2023 Backlist Reading cover collage includes The Goose Girl, Furia, Hunt Gather Parent, Foul Lady Fortune, Disfigured, Anne Frank's Diary, Elatsoe, and Meg Jo Beth and Amy.

Welcome to my second seasonal back-list reading check-in! So far, I love this format to talk about my backlist reading. I started this post right after I published the last one, and as I finished reading a backlist title, I added it to the list.

Like last time, my list is pretty eclectic. I read a parenting book, the diary of Anne Frank, and a novel about an Argentinian soccer player, among others. Most of these I listened to as audiobooks, usually while driving. That … Continue reading

Review: Gone Wolf by Amber McBride

Gone Wolf by Amber McBride cover shows a girl with curly hair and dark skin. A pair of light-skinned hands cover her eyes. The eyes of a wolf appear over her collar bones.

Gone Wolf
Amber McBride
Feiwel & Friends
Published October 3, 2023

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About Gone Wolf

Award-winning author Amber McBride lays bare the fears of being young and Black in America, in this middle-grade novel that has been compared to the work of Jordan Peele and praised as ” brilliantly inventive storytelling” by Publishers Weekly.

In the future, a Black girl known only as Inmate Eleven is kept confined — to be used as … Continue reading

Review: Tethered to Other Stars by Elisa Stone Leahy

Tethered to Other Stars by Elisa Stone Leahy cover shows a girl sitting on the floor with her knees pulled up, her face turned away. A telescope sits on the floor behind her. A stack of papers on the floor in front of her. Stars and a planet hang from wires around her.

Tethered to Other Stars
Elisa Stone Leahy
Quill Tree Press
Published October 3, 2023

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About Tethered to Other Stars

Perfect for fans of EFREN DIVIDED and A GOOD KIND OF TROUBLE, this luminous middle grade debut follows a tween girl navigating the devastating impact of ICE’s looming presence on her family and community.

Seventh grader Wendy Toledo knows that black … Continue reading

Review: The Name Drop by Susan Lee

The Name Drop by Susan Lee cover shows a boy with a lanyard and ID around his neck, his arm over a girl's shoulder. She stands with her arms crossed, a lanyard and ID around her neck, too.

The Name Drop
Susan Lee
Inkyard Press
Published September 12, 2023

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About The Name Drop

From the author of SEOULMATES comes a story of mistaken identities, the summer of a lifetime, and a love to risk everything for.

When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the … Continue reading