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.
M.S. RedCherries’ Mother is a 5-star multimorphic masterpiece that maps the emotional landscape of Indigenous identity and adoption. Through a “patchwork” of poetry and prose, it explores the deep-seated trauma of being separated from one’s tribe and the slow, courageous journey toward cultural reclamation. A vital resource for counselors and educators, this collection provides a hauntingly beautiful vocabulary for the complex search for belonging and home.
Born on Independence Day in the heart of Tegucigalpa, Libertad Morazán is a young poet searching for her own freedom. Set against the real-world 2017 Honduran election crisis, this powerful queer coming-of-age novel explores the heavy intersection of family loyalty, political activism, and the heart-wrenching choice between staying to fight or migrating for safety. A moving and authentic look at how national unrest shapes individual identity.
Something Like Home is a heartfelt novel in verse that uses its poetic structure to give students a gentle, honest window into the themes of family, belonging, and resilience. This powerful story is a quick, engaging read perfect for sparking deep ELA discussions on character development and poetic structure in grades 4-6.