Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
At Last She Stood restores the legacy of Joey Guerrero, a Filipino WWII hero who used the stigma of her Hansen’s Disease to bypass Japanese checkpoints as a spy. From taping minefield maps to her back to receiving the Medal of Freedom, Joey’s life is a masterclass in resilience. Erin Entrada Kelly’s narrative nonfiction is a must-read for students interested in military history, medicine, and the fight against racial and medical discrimination.
Shackled is a gripping expose of the “Kids for Cash” scandal, where two Pennsylvania judges funneled thousands of children into for-profit jails for personal gain. Through the heart-wrenching stories of the youth affected, Candy J. Cooper highlights the devastating human cost of systemic corruption. This eye-opening nonfiction title is an essential resource for Grade 10-12 students studying law, ethics, and the urgent need for restorative justice.
Go With the Flow is a bold, honest, and necessary graphic novel that tackles the “taboo” of menstruation head-on. Through the eyes of four high school friends, readers explore the realities of puberty, period poverty, and the power of student advocacy. With its striking red-toned artwork and inclusive language, it is an essential resource for Health classrooms and a powerful celebration of unapologetic female friendship.
Dustborn is a gritty, high-octane post-apocalyptic Western that feels like The Hunger Games meets Mad Max. Following Delta as she navigates a world ravaged by solar flares to rescue her family, the novel explores powerful themes of found family and the dismantling of societal myths. Due to its intense themes and violence, it is best suited for Grade 12 readers looking for a complex story about trust and survival.
Co-authored by powerhouses Erin Entrada Kelly and Kwame Mbalia, On Again, Awkward Again is a hilariously cringey 9th-grade romance. Featuring “love at first sight” in a nurse’s office amidst IBS and water fountain injuries, it perfectly captures the awkward transition to high school. It’s a rare “sweet spot” book: pacy and funny enough for middle schoolers, but aspirational enough for early high schoolers—all without mature content.