Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
An incredible graphic memoir capturing the bittersweet reality of growing up. Grounded in a life-changing 8th-grade trip to Europe, this heartwarming and funny coming-of-age story beautifully explores teenage vulnerability, first love, and emotional resilience. Complete with stunning illustrations and interactive digital features!
Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a lyrical, epistolary novel that masterfully blends fiction and memoir. Written as a letter from a queer Vietnamese-American son to his illiterate mother, this deeply moving text tackles the haunting legacy of the Vietnam War, systemic racism, and intergenerational trauma. It is an exquisite, poetic masterpiece recommended for high school juniors, seniors, and educators exploring identity and equity.
Think real-world reporting can’t match the adrenaline of an action novel? Think again. A mesmerizing, true-crime masterpiece. Follow the jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching journey of Miriam Rodríguez as she takes justice into her own hands, hunting down the cartel members responsible for her daughter’s disappearance. A powerful testament to a mother’s fierce love and an eye-opening look at modern geopolitical struggles.
Our modern obsession with true crime and ghost stories began in the 19th century. In Death and the Victorians, Adrian Mackinder delivers a fascinating, thoroughly researched history of how the Victorian era revolutionized mourning rituals, spiritualism, and the funeral industry. Drawing on rich primary sources, this compelling nonfiction narrative is an invaluable resource for high school history and literature educators looking to explore the dark fascinations of the 1800s.
An exceptional and award-winning graphic memoir, Tommie Smith’s Victory. Stand! chronicles the inspiring life story and personal sacrifices behind his iconic 1968 Olympic podium protest. Melding Derrick Barnes’s emotionally resonant writing with Dawud Anyabwile’s dynamic illustrations, this quick yet profound history is a powerful, highly accessible tool for school libraries and classrooms looking to explore civil disobedience, sports history, and the fight against racial injustice.