Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Put on your dancing shoes for the “Word King!” The legacy of Langston Hughes is celebrated with rhythmic prose and vibrant art. Perfect for introducing the Harlem Renaissance, this joyous book shows students that poetry is a living, breathing party. It’s an essential mentor text for young writers ready to stomp, clap, and find their own literary rhythm.
Balancing Filipino customs, Egyptian traditions, and American high school is no easy feat. Follow a funny, endearing journey of self-discovery. Perfect for middle schoolers, this interactive book which is complete with zines and games and it is a brilliant tool for discussing identity, code-switching, and microaggressions.
Dance is a bridge to the past and a key to the future. Ria Thundercloud shares her journey from a young powwow dancer to a professional artist. With stunning, kinetic illustrations, this book celebrates Indigenous traditions and the courage it takes to be yourself.
Perfection has a price. The “perpetual daughter” of Cuban and Mexican immigrants navigates the narrow bridge between two cultures. This raw, honest account of a decade-long battle with bulimia and the pressure to excel is a powerful look at the resilience of the Hispanic family and the vital importance of breaking the silence surrounding mental health.
KB Brookins’s Pretty is a raw, 4-star exploration of Black trans-masculinity and the journey to self-definition. Part memoir, part cultural critique, it navigates the “messy and painful” realities of living between governmental labels and personal truth. For educators and GSA facilitators, it’s a powerful tool for empathy, highlighting the resilience required to survive in a world that insists on defining you before you can define yourself.