Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
When an unfair dress code policy targets Puerto Rican refugee Malena, outspoken feminist Ruby jumps to her defense, sparking an accidental high school rebellion. Written in dual perspectives by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt, Does My Body Offend You? is an empowering, highly relevant look at intersectionality, implicit bias, and true allyship. A realistic and timely social justice novel that high school readers—especially young women—will deeply appreciate.
Rebellion ignites behind palace walls! Trained to be a flawless elite house manager in a deeply patriarchal society, top student Dani is pulled into the underground resistance as a spy. Complicated by a gripping, forbidden romance with her household’s co-wife, this novel delivers masterclass-level political intrigue for middle grade readers.
A devastatingly beautiful tribute to unconditional love. Serving as a companion to Free Lunch, this poetic masterpiece chronicles Ogle’s survival through horrific childhood abuse at the hands of his mother, anchored entirely by the tender, complicated, and lifesaving sanctuary of his grandmother’s home.
This graphic novel follows Christine, a Mexican American teen spending the summer with family in Mexico. Through vivid art and heartfelt storytelling, the book explores identity, bilingualism, family bonds, and the experience of living between cultures. Christine struggles to understand family traditions and connect across language gaps, while also discovering comfort, belonging, and parts of herself she did not know were missing.