Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
In this haunting 4-star debut, two Bribri American brothers fight to escape the shadow of their father’s violence. Written in accessible verse and vignettes, Saints of the Household is a raw, realistic look at trauma, brotherhood, and Indigenous identity. It’s a powerful recommendation for young men and reluctant readers, offering a hopeful model for navigating mental health crises and reclaiming one’s future from a turbulent past.
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.
Hadley Freeman’s Good Girls is a searingly honest memoir that deconstructs the “perfect” facade of anorexia. By blending her personal 20-year struggle with cutting-edge research on metabolism, OCD, and neurodivergence, Freeman offers adults a vital window into the anorexic mind. This 4-star read is an essential, albeit heavy, resource for counselors and parents looking to understand the cultural and biological pressures that drive disordered eating in adolescents.
Step behind the white picket fence of the 1950s in The Mad Wife. Meagan Church delivers a haunting look at medical gaslighting and the suffocating pressure of domestic perfection. While it moves at a slow, psychological burn, this 3-star thriller is a deep dive into maternal mental health and the dark side of history. It’s a provocative choice for book clubs and mature readers interested in the messy reality behind “perfect” vintage ads.
Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart is an essential “GPS” for the human experience. Mapping 87 distinct emotions, this guide provides the language necessary for true connection and self-awareness. For educators and counselors, it’s a powerful tool for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), helping students name their feelings to reclaim their power. A must-read for anyone looking to build a more empathetic and resilient school community.