Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
A lunchroom connection turns a stranger into a friend! Navigating the isolation of a new country and a frequently mispronounced name, a young immigrant girl finds a beautiful sense of belonging when her classmates embrace her unique heritage—and her favorite lunch food.
A brutal critique of corporate incarceration. Centering on two queer gladiators fighting for freedom in a privatized prison death match, the novel acts as a fierce indictment of the American carceral system.
Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.
Finding wonder amid the injustice. Utilizing an inventive dual-journal format, the story follows fierce activist Zayneb and artistic, quietly grieving Adam as their paths cross in Doha, Qatar. Balancing heavy themes of institutional Islamophobia and chronic illness with ordinary magic, it is an exceptional, empathy-building resource for modern high school classrooms.
Life isn’t color-coded! Through vibrant illustrations and simple text, this sweet concept book reframes traditional gender binaries by showing that every color—and every activity—belongs to everyone. Perfect for early elementary classrooms, it uses a colorful spectrum to deliver a profound, heartwarming lesson on self-expression, identity, and playground inclusivity.