Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
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.
Finding yourself is the ultimate homecoming. The journey of a nonbinary teen is told with warmth, honesty, and inviting illustrations. By deconstructing the “rules” of high school gender, Parish shows that identity isn’t a destination reached overnight but it’s a patient process of making your body a place where you truly belong.
Tradition meets transformation. A shy middle-schooler navigates the high-pressure preparation for her Bat Mitzvah. Through Hebrew lessons and friendship drama, Brianna learns that honoring your heritage doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions.
Sometimes the loudest voices aren’t yours. Isaac navigates the intrusive “bees” of his OCD through the magic of tabletop gaming. This story explores how community and “Swamps & Sorcerers” can provide the sanctuary a neurodivergent mind needs. A must-read for the “weird kids,” their allies, and anyone looking to understand the beauty of a different brain.
Three generations, one pivotal age. From 1950s China to 2000s Toronto, this visually stunning story explores how trauma and body image struggles are passed down through mothers and daughters. It is a heartbreaking yet hopeful examination of what it takes to break the cycle and find your own worth.