Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Aida Salazar’s Ultra Violet is a brave and compassionate story in verse about growing up, finding identity, and redefining masculinity. Elios’s voice is authentic and funny, offering boys permission to feel and be kind. A must-read for middle schoolers finding their place in the world.
A boy fading away, one skipped meal at a time. Louder Than Hunger is raw, real, and unforgettable—a verse novel that will grip your heart and not let go.
How do you speak up when it feels like no one is listening? One girl takes on seventh grade while facing mental health challenges, and must find her voice to advocate for the help and understanding she deserves.
Featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him. Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home.
Earthy, honest, and profoundly human. U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s collection The Carrying navigates the delicate space between the wildness of youth and the quiet grace of acceptance. Moving seamlessly from the grief of infertility and chronic pain to the soothing rhythms of nature, Limón uses brilliant, accessible diction to explore what our bodies and spirits carry.