Hot Dog Girl
Plot Summary:
Elouise Parker feels hopeless. She's a hot dog mascot at the kiddie theme park where her obsessive several-year crush is the pirate diving captain. And his girlfriend is the literal princess. She has a castle: at the park and her mansion-sized house. El's mom left when she was a little girl and sends her depressing postcards from wherever she is to her constantly-loving waffle-making accounting father she gets into a huge argument with. But now even the park is closing! Maybe if she sets up a Go-Fund-Me, pretends to date her best friend, and schemes just enough she can buy the park back and win her crush's heart! A little delusional, but the girl is determined. She manages to find herself, help the park owner in an unimaginable way, and have the most romantic summer of her life! Just not in the way she originally imagined...What did you think about the book?:
To be honest, I was drawn to this book by the pure teenage awkwardness radiating from the cover and title. I definitely think this novel did a great job of capturing all that angst; and the barfing, queerness, and working as a hot dog mascot at a kiddie park definitely captured a new perspective on the teen romance genre. My favorite part of this book is probably when our main character, Elouise, finally lets go of the things she's been obsessing over all summer: the pirate dude, and preventing the park from being redeveloped. This is because, she realizes if she simply stopped scheming, everything was already there for her! She then sets out to make it better: and she succeeds! The only reason I gave it 3/4 stars is because I'm personally more of a business book and History Comics type of person :)
In Limbo
Plot Summary:
Caught in limbo, with nowhere safe to go, Deb finds her mental health plummeting, resulting in a suicide attempt. But Deb is resilient and slowly heals with the help of art and self-care, guiding her to a deeper understanding of her heritage and herself.What did you think about the book?:
It was amazing. It was visually stunning. And the story had me tearing up.
The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano
Plot Summary:
Plot- Evelyn lives her life working at 5-and dime as she doesn’t want to work at her parent’s store anymore. She lives with her Mami and her stepdad in El Barrio where most of the PuertoRicans live. She knows a kid named Angel who lives in same building as her. Evelyn’s actual first name is Rosa but she doesn’t want to be called by that name as it’s too common. She was living a normal life until her Abuela comes and decides to live with her family. Living with with her Abuela changed her life as she didn’t have her room anymore and had to sleep on couch in living room. She was embarrassed to address her as Abuela because she dressed too fancy and had too much make up for her age. She always went to church with her mother against her own will but one day changed everything. Her Abuela told her about her grandfather being a policeman in PeurtoRico and he killed people as he was following orders of government. She couldn’t tell her whole story as Evelyn’s mom came back home and stopped Abuela from telling stuff to Evelyn. Next time when Evelyn went to Church with her mother and Abuela she saw the college kids setting garbage on fire to bring awareness of what is happening in El Barrio. Evelyn wanted to join the group but her mom stopped her as she thought those college kids are bad kids. But Abuela took the lead and helped those kids. Evelyn followed her. After the incident, El Barrio gets attention from media and Young Lords become famous. Abuela tells her about the Ponce massacre. She tells her that Nationalists wanted PuertoRico to be free from United States. Every problem eventually leads to a revolution and Young Lords were going to start that revolution to improve living conditions of people of El Barrio. Their family store gets robbed and Mami thinks it’s because of Abuela who always spends time fighting against the government and raising attention to what’s happening. When the Young Lords were using the church for food drive, the police entered and a chair hit Mami’s back and it hurt her. This incident made Evelyn join the Young Lords and she decided to march for the cause. Her Mami follows to protect her. Mami and Abuela kept on fighting about why she put ideas in here head of protesting but her Abuela says we have to stand up for what is right and they deserve better living conditions and healthcare. Mami refused to donate food from store for Church’s food drive. People started joining the Young Lords when they saw that the were getting free food, clothes and better medical treatment. Later on Mami donates her clothes and Abuela helps Evelyn understand how much this revolution is important for better future of everyone living in El Barrio. Angel finds out that he has Tuberculosis through the camp organized by Young Lords. Later on during a march of Young Lords, violence takes place and Evelyn’s eye gets hit by a shard. Mami rushes her to hospital and Abuela stays back at March. Evelyn is as little upset as she never came to visit her in hospital. Mami tells her that Abuela has been like this forever. She prioritizes nation over the family but she will come around. For the first time in forever she appreciated her mom and wanted her only as she understood that her mom just wants to protect her at any cost. She also realized that it’s better to have a mother who is always around rather than having a mother like Abuela who is always putting others first.What did you think about the book?:
Thoughts- I liked the book as it gave glimpses of the struggles faced by PeurtoRicans living in America, back in 1969 and what actually happened in Puerto Rico. It shows the emotional trauma that people had to go through when they saw their people being massacred. The book also shows the struggles within the families. I loved the relationship between Evelyn, Mami and Abuela. Mami and Abuela have completely different parenting ideas but it was amazing that Evelyn did realize that difference by the end of the book and started appreciating her mother. Two completely different mother - daughter relationships were narrated beautifully and Evelyn’s character shows a positive growth by the end of the book. The teenagers can totally relate with the rebellious character of Evelyn who wants to do things her own way. Overall a good book.
History Comics: The American Bison: The Buffalo's Survival Tale
Plot Summary:
In this beautifully illustrated graphic novel Andy Hirsch successfully conveys the historical, tribal, and communal significance of the bison throughout Native American and the combative colonial history. Starting in a little girl's road trip and then mainly taking part from the 18th century onward, we see when bison thrived on their own, then lived in harmony alongside the natives, began to decrease among the introduction of horses from colonists, dwindled within the westward expansion and settlement of the great plains, and finally almost completed went extinct by the hands of the wealth obsessed and careless American hunters. "From 30 million to 350 (1884)" in America, we see how many people pivoted and with them the bison population. Now we are at around 500,000 bison, and although a we have a long ways to go the seemingly tragic story serves to inform, conserve, and inspire so that we may never again do what we did back then.What did you think about the book?:
I have never before been so engrossed in an educational comic. The horrors of humanity's greed coupled by the cute cartoons was captivating to me. Parts of the book made me very sad, but reminded me of morals and empathy to feel so attached. The landscape on the very last page of the graphic novel was beautiful enough with the new bison to hold my hope for the future, and I hope others care enough to pick up a copy too!
Pictures of Hollis Woods
Plot Summary:
"Pictures of Hollis Woods" is a heartwarming and captivating tale that masterfully weaves themes of love, belonging, and self-discovery. The novel, penned by Patricia Reilly Giff, follows the journey of a spirited young girl named Hollis Woods.Set against the picturesque backdrop of the countryside, the story takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. Hollis, a talented artist, carries a troubled past and a yearning for a place to call home. As she gets placed in numerous foster homes, each with its own quirks and challenges, the reader is taken on a poignant exploration of family, friendship, and the true meaning of belonging.
The heart of "Pictures of Hollis Woods" lies in the endearing relationship between Hollis and Josie, an elderly artist who takes the young girl under her wing. The bond that develops between the two is both heartwarming and poignant, demonstrating the transformative power of love and understanding.
While "Pictures of Hollis Woods" is primarily targeted at young adult readers, its universal themes and relatable characters appeal to readers of all ages. Giff's storytelling prowess ensures that readers are taken on an emotional journey, feeling empathy for Hollis's struggles and rejoicing in her moments of triumph.
In conclusion, "Pictures of Hollis Woods" is a beautifully crafted novel that leaves a lasting impression. Patricia Reilly Giff's poignant storytelling and the unforgettable characters make this a must-read for anyone seeking a tale of hope, resilience, and the pursuit of a place to call home.
What did you think about the book?:
I thought it was a gripping tale of familial love, and a girl finding her place in the world.
From the desk of Zoe Washington
Plot Summary:
On her birthday Zoe Washington gets a letter from her father Marcus who was accused of murder she goes on a adventure to find proof to see if he's innocent.What did you think about the book?:
I personally enjoy the plot of this book it really shows how just an every day girl can go and free someone who's in jail and find the true person to blame.
My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life
Plot Summary:
Elle was living a comfortable life with her mother but one accident changed her fate. Her mother became an addict and ended up in correctional facility. Elle had to live a miserable life in a foster care home where she couldn’t even take shower more than once a week. Her life took a 180 degree turn when she was told that she has a multimillionaire father who wants her to live with him in Tokyo. She meets her mother to verify the information who tells her to go as she will have a better life there. With millions of questions in her mind about sudden appearance of her father in her life, Elle boards the plane to meet her father. She is accompanied by her Uncle Masa (Elle’s mother worked in his restaurant) who turns out to be her actual uncle as he is her father’s cousin brother. As soon as she lands in Japan, she is informed about the Japanese culture and traditions which she has to follow. She finds it really difficult to understand her father who is always busy with his work and rarely spends time with her. She quickly adapts to the new culture, traditions and school but couldn’t connect with her grandmother who appears to hate her. Dealing with her father, friends, and a crush who is supposedly the bad guy in school, Elle thinks if it was worth it to move all the way to Tokyo. She constantly tries to write letters to her mother back in America to keep her updated about her life. She starts to think that her father is involved in some illegal activities. With some major revelations from Uncle Masa and her grandmother she is forced to make some decisions. She decides to stay in Tokyo and help her father emotionally as he tries to overcome his alcoholism.What did you think about the book?:
It is one of the most interesting books I have read this year. The narration of story by Elle stands out and I can feel her emotions throughout the book. As a teenager I can totally understand her frustration when she suddenly gets to know that her father is a millionaire while all this time she was suffering in foster care homes. The book shows a perfect balance between her personal life and school life when she moves to Tokyo. Even though her fathers family is acting so cold towards her she tries her best to please them. Her yearning to get accepted by them is so heartbreaking. I am glad that towards the end of the story, they try to accept her and face the reality. The book also deals with multiple stereotypes associated with different cultures. Overall it’s a must read book.
It's Kind of A Funny Story
Plot Summary:
A boy named Craig Gilner is diagnosed with depression. His family is greatly supportive and takes him to a psychiatrist. Craig takes his medication and attends therapy, but it turns out it's not enough. Craig is severely stressed due to his school's work load and he feels unaccomplished. He feels he needs to be the smartest in class and find a girlfriend. One night, Craig is feeling like it is time for him to die. He spends extra time with his dad, mom, and sister Sarah. He goes to bed ready to end his life, but turns out he can't sleep. He gets up and calls the suicide-hotline. The operator tells him to check himself into a hospital. And that is exactly what Craig does. The book follows the journey of Craig's growth with depression in a psychiatric facility. Craig learns there is more to life than what he thinks.What did you think about the book?:
I really liked how the books showed the mind of a person with depression. I am not diagnosed with any mental illness, but this book really made me feel motivated. The author did a great job of writing a realistic p.o.v of someone battling depression. My favorite part of the books was the ending when Craig told himself he needed and had to live. It was such a great message. However, I did not like how the book did not mention how Noelle (his love interest) and him reconnected after leaving the facility. I wanted to know more about their love story.
The Giver
Plot Summary:
In a dystopian society where pain and suffering are taken away by turning everything to be the same. The society lacks color and character and as Jonas a 12-year-old boy is received with the gift of memory to inherit all the past memories before everything was the same. As Jonas is faced with the new emotions and concepts of good and evil, he is left with the choice to keep the memories of the past to himself or to reveal it to the rest of the world with the chance he might mess everything up.What did you think about the book?:
This was book was a fantastic experience and it goes to show you what life would be like without differences and opinions. Just a bland empty void without any character and life to it. The main character of the book is faced with many challenges but is ultimately left with only one definitive option which makes you as the reader get tense as if you are actually him in the situations he's going through. The idea of everybody being the same so everything is fair and just poses the question is being equal at the sake of our individuality a good thing? The only downside I found with the book was the ending as it felt kind of plain and after experiencing an amazing story you also want an amazing ending but that doesn't take away from the book as a whole. Other than that, this book teaches amazing values and ideas and the story as a whole helps you understand the value of human connection and the difference between one another.
She's So Dead to Us
Plot Summary:
Kieran Scott's "She's So Dead to Us" is a compelling young adult novel that weaves a tapestry of secrets, betrayal, and the quest for redemption. Set in the picturesque town of Orchard Hill, this book takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster filled with suspense and raw emotions.The story follows the lives of three main characters: Ally Ryan, a former queen bee who left Orchard Hill after her father's disgraceful scandal; Jake Graydon, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks who still pines for Ally; and Shannen Moore, the new queen bee ruling the school with her vicious clique.
Upon Ally's return to Orchard Hill after three years, she's determined to leave her past behind and start anew. However, her reintegration into the high school social scene is anything but smooth, especially with Shannen’s relentless animosity towards her. As the plot unfolds, buried secrets and long-buried feelings resurface, setting off a chain reaction that affects the lives of everyone involved.
"She's So Dead to Us" is a well-crafted novel that delves into the complexities of teenage life, exposing the vulnerabilities and strengths of its characters. Kieran Scott's ability to draw readers into a world of high school drama, secrets, and the search for redemption is commendable. If you're a fan of contemporary young adult fiction filled with authentic emotions and relatable characters, this book is well worth the read.