Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Kent State is a gripping, multi-perspective novel in verse that brilliantly tackles the tragic 1970 university shootings. By contrasting the voices of students, National Guardsmen, and townies, Wiles examines perspective, bias, and historical polarization.
Kristin Hannah shines an essential light on the forgotten female heroes of the Vietnam War. Following twenty-year-old nurse Frankie McGrath from the trauma of the front lines to the heartbreaking rejection of a divided home front, this beautifully researched book explores deep friendship, PTSD, and ultimate resilience.
Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a lyrical, epistolary novel that masterfully blends fiction and memoir. Written as a letter from a queer Vietnamese-American son to his illiterate mother, this deeply moving text tackles the haunting legacy of the Vietnam War, systemic racism, and intergenerational trauma. It is an exquisite, poetic masterpiece recommended for high school juniors, seniors, and educators exploring identity and equity.