Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
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.
At Last She Stood restores the legacy of Joey Guerrero, a Filipino WWII hero who used the stigma of her Hansen’s Disease to bypass Japanese checkpoints as a spy. From taping minefield maps to her back to receiving the Medal of Freedom, Joey’s life is a masterclass in resilience. Erin Entrada Kelly’s narrative nonfiction is a must-read for students interested in military history, medicine, and the fight against racial and medical discrimination.
A gripping memoir that pulls you into a chapter of history many readers realize they have never fully understood. It is a devastating and deeply human story that stays with you long after you finish the last page.
This is the story of George, Garrett, Rall, and Rasul, four children raised by their beloved Nanny. Through early brushes with racism, challenges of identity, and moments of deep love, they learn they are never broken, only strengthened by the family that surrounds them.
Marissa Moss brings to life the inspiring story of physicist Lise Meitner, the woman who discovered nuclear fission but refused to help create the atomic bomb. This engaging biography highlights Meitner’s courage, intellect, and moral conviction as she defied sexism and anti-Semitism to change the world.