After recently becoming completely enamored of Penelope Bagieu'due south Brazen, I was delighted to find the writer had also written this longer form, graphic biography of the indomitable Cass Elliot. Elliot was best known for her role in the Mamas and the Papas, a folk rock band that was famous in the 1960's. Much has been written about her and the band, peculiarly their dramatic arguments and Cass'southward tragic expiry at historic period 32. But Bagieu focuses hither on the early life of the basis breaking singer, back when she was just Ellen Cohen from Baltimore who was her father's favorite and loved to sing. With small panels that can barely hold Cass's big expressive eyes, Bagieu traces her path to fame, from leaving abode at xix to falling in dearest with men who didn't ever appreciate her talent, merely somehow ended up leading her to new and meliorate singing opportunities. Each affiliate is narrated by a person from Cass'south life, from her little sis and her vocal passenger vehicle, to her father and get-go (brief) husband. And pretty much everyone in between, including the other members of the Mamas and the Papas. Information technology's like getting a meet and greet with all the major musicians of that time! While this is some ways a archetype music bio, it'southward besides a terrific story of a woman refusing to squeeze herself into the mold society expected her to fit. Bigger than life and twice as bold, Cass Elliot made her own rules, and this graphic bio will inspire anyone looking for the backbone to buck the organisation and forge their own path.


David Small-scale'southward graphic memoir, Stitches, admittedly gutted me when information technology came out in 2009. Now he has published an equally wrenching graphic novel of small-boondocks, 1950's adolescence that utterly destroys, in the near cinematic and moving manner possible, whatever cornball, rose-colored views of that turbulent fourth dimension. Russell'southward mom dumps his dad for another man, and then Russell and his uncommunicative, alcoholic father leave Ohio for California, where his male parent hopes to bunk with his rich sis until he tin become back on his feet. But Aunt June isn't interested in her male relatives invading her make clean, quiet mid-century mod home, and sends them packing pretty quick. Subsequently finally finding and renting a room from a kind Chinese couple, Russell's father finds piece of work at the local prison house. Russell starts schoolhouse and falls in with Kurt and Willie, brutal, bullying teens who smoke, drink and ogle waitresses at the town diner. As he slowly becomes accustomed to his new life, Russell finds himself confronted with a wide assortment of conflicting male person role models. Should he be more like his boozer dad and Kurt: loud, rude and arrogant? Or is he more than like like Mr. Mah, his gentle landlord who practices tai chi in the backyard or Warren, the quiet neighbour male child who lives with his grandma and loves all animals? Over the course of one long, savage summer, Russell finds himself mentally and physically tested by all these unlike versions of manhood every bit he tries to discover which one fits him best. Modest'due south evocative panels, full of frowning, sneering faces, dead pets and interior shots of dim, empty rooms grimly foreshadow Russell's long, tragic journey to self credence. Securely lamentable, but never despairing, Small's work luminously captures the dark side of adolescence in a fashion that still manages to be forgiving. Coming to a library or bookstore near you September 2018.


Ballers Nasir and Bunny have always been tight, as close every bit brothers. They play basketball game together at Whitman High, and even the fact that Bunny is a far ameliorate player doesn't intermission their bail. But then Bunny (so nicknamed "Because I got hops,") is recruited by snooty individual school St. Sebastian's, and only like that, their connection is broken. Now on opposing teams, Nasir and Bunny have stopped speaking to each other. And so Nasir's troubled cousin Wallace steps into the middle of this silent feud and makes it even worse. Turns out Wallace has some serious gambling debts that need to be paid, debts so large he and his grandma are well-nigh to become thrown out of their apartment because of the money he lost. So Wallace starts pressuring Nasir to get some dirt on his ex-friend Bunny that Wallace tin can use to influence his loftier schoolhouse basketball game bets. Nasir knows information technology's wrong, just shouldn't Bunny pay for leaving him and Whitman backside? Told in alternate chapters between Nasir and Bunny, this timely, tragic tale of love and basketball is chock full of riveting game and relationship drama that perfectly illustrates and underscores the racial, course and community struggles that are playing out across urban high schools all over America. You won't be able to stop turning pages until the terminal buzzer sounds!


Retrieve those skillful former days of summer earlier you lot got roped into horrific high school summer projects/jobs/chores? It was simply you, your best friend, a couple of bikes and two months of exercise-nothing stretching out to the horizon.That's how it ever was for Bina. She couldn't wait until June so she and her best friend Austin could hang at the pool and add points to their Summer Fun Index (scientifically based on number of video games played, movies watched and stray cats petted, of class). But the summer later seventh course, Austin has traded the Summer Fun Index for soccer camp, and Bina is convinced that her summer is gonna suck–difficult. When her parents lock her out of their Netflix account because she's "watched a summertime's worth of TV in a calendar week," Bina is forced to hunt down amusement elsewhere. Oddly enough, without Austin around, Bina discovers that at that place's a whole other world out there of cool older girls, indie music and her own untapped inner talents. This utterly endearing, oh-so-true graphic novel about one ascension eighth grader's summer adventures in babysitting, mean-girl-taming and indie-band-watching will make yous feel so nostalgic for eye school that I bet yous go dig upwardly your Muji Pen Ready and find an old notebook to doodle in. A terrifically united nations-taxing summertime read that you'll finish in an afternoon and think about the rest of the calendar week!


This luscious collection of short stories that chronicles the dramatic, sometimes abbreviated lives of the famous medieval English king'due south doomed brides is a succulent feast of sex, gossip and politics. Authored past some of the most historic of YA hist. fic writers, each Queen tells her story in plow (i. Catherine of Aragon=Candace Fleming ii. Anne Boleyn=Stephanie Hemphill three. Jane Seymour=Lisa Ann Sandell 4. Anna of Cleves=Jennifer Donnelly 5. Catherine Howard=Linda Sue Park 6. Kateryn Parr=Deborah Hopkinson) followed by a brusk, often arrogant or peevish epitaph penned by Henry himself, equally imagined by M.T. Anderson. While the whole majestic assemblage is universally strong, the two standouts for me were Donnelly's smart, blunt Anna of Cleves and Park'southward saucy, sexy Catherine Howard. (This probably had equally much to exercise with their exceptional characterizations as it did with the fact that I knew the least about these 2 cursed queens going in.) Each fascinating story volition inform today'south young feminists about medieval Europe'south strict patriarchal society that forced women to scheme, flatter, manipulate and apartment-out lie their style into having a say in their own lives.  By turns naughty, earthy and downright tragic, there's not a story here that won't capture the imagination or fire upwards the blood of any curious reader who turns the pages. And the most satisfying role of all? That despite all his vicious, trigger-happy machinations to secure a male heir, Henry's throne still ends upward passing to one of the most successful rulers of all time–his bright girl Elizabeth I.  Because this volume is bound to lead you to many more most Henry and his wives, this is a perfect rabbit pigsty of a novel to throw yourself downwardly this summertime!


Near the end of Beatrice's senior year at posh boarding school Darrow-Harker, her talented, funny young man Jim was found floating facedown in the local reservoir. Ultimately ruled a suicide, the tragic death and devastating aftermath busted up Beatrice and her tribe of besties: cunning Whitley, brainy Martha, condescending Kipling and master hacker Cannon. Without Jim, they all drifted apart freshman yr of college. At present, over a year later, Whitley has called them all back for a birthday bash at her family's posh mansion. Confronting her better judgement, Beatrice decides to go, even though she knows it'southward bound to stir up quondam memories and open new wounds. Simply she tin't assistance herself. Maybe together they tin can finally effigy out what really happened to Jim that last night. EXCEPT…(and no spoilers hither, this all happens in the beginning 50 pages and is mentioned on the back cover) they drink besides much, get in a terrible machine accident and dice. THE Stop? Non quite. Turns out they have all landed in a bizarre time loop called the Neverworld Wake, stuck between life and expiry. Simply one of them is immune back into the state of the breathing, but how can they make that impossible determination? While they argue and flounder, living the same day over and over, Beatrice sees a chance to discover what really happened to Jim once and for all. Only she only might have to die in order to finally know the truth. FRIENDS, this wild volume is a offbeat, out-of-the-box mind bender that surprised and delighted me at every turn of the twisty plot. It's both sci-fi and a mystery, a romantic tragedy and a tragic romance. Perhaps that'south to be expected from the author of the peculiar Special Topics in Calamity Physics, but I couldn't finish that book despite my best efforts, while this one=MIND BLOWN. If you are looking for something fresh to shake up your reading routine, YOU'RE WELCOME.  (And if yous're then inclined, please come back and tell me what you idea nigh it in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.)

Monday Charles and Claudia Coleman are the best of besties. They dress akin, dance alike, and since their names alphabetically come up one correct after the other on class lists, even e'er sit down together in classes at their Washington D.C. center school. Mon helps Claudia conceal her dyslexia, while Claudia's home is a quiet place for Monday to hang out when her own house full of siblings feels besides chaotic. They talk most every thing from boys and sexual practice to Go-Go music and dance moves. Then when Monday doesn't show upwards to the get-go day of eighth grade, Claudia knows something'due south wrong. Monday never misses school. Claudia calls her telephone, just it's disconnected. She drops past Monday'south firm, but Mon's mom just yells at her and slams the door. She tries reporting Mon's absence to her parents, law and teachers, all to no avail. The only person who seems to know something is April, Mon's older sis. Simply she refuses to admit that anything is wrong, maxim merely that Monday is visiting their aunt or male parent. Where is Monday? What has happened to her? Why won't anyone help Claudia discover her? As the days and then months pass and Claudia tries desperately get anyone to care well-nigh her best friend, she begins to uncover agonizing clues that Monday may accept been hiding secrets darker than Claudia can even imagine.  This harrowing, ripped-from-the-headlines story was inspired by #missingDCgirls and the media's apparent lack of concern for black and Latino teenage girls who get missing. Tiffany D. Jackson seamlessly weaves timely themes about the dissentious effects of gentrification on traditionally black neighborhoods and the dangers of overlooking the signs of mental disease throughout this ominously enigmatic folio turner. Read information technology, cry, then become inspired to learn more about these critical issues.


Oh my gosh, do I love a adept survival story! I hateful, real life-and-decease kind of stakes where scrappy, puny humans fight against a totally uncaring landscape full of precipitous, cold, moisture or poisonous obstacles that are either passively or actively trying to kill them. But let's be articulate–I have no want to commencement a fire with sticks and moss or pare a squirrel myself.  I merely want to read about information technology from the warm coziness of my couch while drinking tea and munching Cheetos. And it's totally possible I chomped my way through an entire handbag of toxic orange goodness while breathlessly turning the pages of Kate Marshall'south terrifying tale of endurance and retribution.

Sixteen year former Jess Cooper'due south single mom is dead–killed in the same car accident that screwed up Jess'due south leg and mangled her face. Jess has no choice simply to bring together her absentee dad, a homo whose been off the filigree for most of his life and all of hers, in the deep Canadian wilderness. She's adamant to take the first plane she can wave downward back to civilization. But that'south before the bad men testify upwards looking for their buried loot. And, you know, murder her dad. (No spoilers–this is all revealed relatively quickly in the first few chapters!) At present all Jess had to practise is stay alive long enough to plot her revenge when the men return. But it won't exist easy. Her bum leg makes getting around virtually impossible, she knows next to zip about living wild, and earlier they left, the bad men burned her dad's motel, along with all his food and supplies, to the ground. Armed with just a few tools she rescued from the ashes and her father'southward trusty dog Bo, does Jess have any hazard of surviving the brutal Canadian winter? Like a bloodier, more emotionally wrenching version of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet or Scott O'Dell'southward Isle of the Blue Dolphins, I Am Still Alive marries unrelenting suspense with surprisingly compelling tips on ice-fishing and bad-human being-trap setting. I was completely hooked, and you will exist too when Alive comes to a library, bookstore or east-reader near you lot July 2018.


Jules, a smart and savvy senior at the sectional and expensive Fullbrook boarding schoolhouse, has had it up to hither with the rampant sexism that is allowed to flourish on campus. This year, she'south on a mission. She's going to make "Fullbrook Academy women-showtime for once," and forget all nigh final year. Last year when Ethan Hackett cheated on her.  Bax, a bewildered, Midwestern transfer educatee who simply wants to play hockey, is really disturbed by the macho bro-civilization at Fullbrook. But he hopes if he just keeps his head down and his eyes close, he can make information technology through the season and forget all about last year. Last yr when he ruined someone's life forever. Jules and Bax both need a friend and marry, and they find ane in each other. After a raucous, drunken secret party in the wood near the school where Jules and Bax each separately come face to confront with sexual set on, they decide that enough is enough. It's time to face up and dismiss the traditions that Fullbrook has held love for far too long. Traditions that hurt. Traditions that scar. Together with Jule'south best friend Javi and Bax's trounce Aileen, they plot a way to send everyone at school a message they can't ignore. What they didn't count on was not being believed. Not being heard. Tradition may be potent. But they are stronger…

This searing, imperative tale of speaking truth to power past Brendan Kiely, co-author of All American Boys conscientiously tackles issues of classism, homophobia, racism and sexism in a style that feels immediate, raw and sadly all also truthful. Tradition will challenge all readers to call up more deeply almost the circumstances and situations they take as "normal," and question the sanctioned status quo. A significant #timesup title for our turbulent age.


Do you know who the powerful Chinese empress Wu Zetian was? Take you e'er heard of the 3 insubordinate Dominican sisters (Las Mariposas) who defied the dictator Trujillo? Or how about super sexy singer/songwriter Betty Davis? Or passionate Afghan rapper Sonita Alizadeh? ME EITHER, until I read graphic artist Penelope Bagieu's candid, colorful, drawing drove of girl-power-mini-bios. This unputdownable volume of glorious girls and wondrous women, both notable and not-and then, is hands one of my favorite books of the year. In just a few curt pages, Bagieu chooses the nigh compelling tids and juiciest bits of each woman'due south life and and so illustrates them in tiny, perfect panels that completely captures them in all their funny, tearing femininity. And then she closes each story with a stunning total-color, ii-page spread that often left me gasping in awe. I loved DISCOVERING volcanologist Katia Kraft, disguised lady Clementine Delait, and Apache warrior Lozen. And I loved learning More near astronaut Mae Jemison (did you know she studied medicine before space?) writer Nellie Bly (who basically invented investigative journalism) and collector Peggy Guggenheim (who discovered and financed practically every major twentieth century artist). The historical list of haut and hip goes on and on, and each page is a visual and intellectual delight. Don't miss amazin' Brazen!


Three star-crossed teens discover their way back to love, family and acceptance in Gayle Forman's fate-total new novel. When troubled rising popular star Freya takes a tumble off a depression span in Central Park and concusses a proficient looking stranger, she has no thought that the random accident volition change the course of her life. When depressed tourist Nathaniel is nailed from above by a gorgeous half Ethiopian, half Jewish girl, he feels similar he'south either falling in love or suffering from a head injury (and it's probably a little of both). When broken-hearted Harun witnesses the daughter crash land on the boy by the bridge, his first response is to run. He already has enough on his plate between losing his swain and trying to come up out to his devout Muslim family. He doesn't demand the added drama of playing adept Samaritan to two complete strangers. Only then he recognizes Freya. His ex-boyfriend's favorite vocalist. Could she possibly assist him observe his way back into James' good graces? His decision to assist aligns their stars and sets each one on the road towards their destiny. On their own, they are lost, merely together they will detect their phonation, their courage and their identities again. This heartfelt tearjerker, perfectly populated with various characters suffering from and solving problems both unique and universal, volition leave you lot gasping, crying and eventually, smiling. Nobody does the Feels like Forman. Observe information technology, read information technology, and then share information technology with anyone you love who might exist feeling lost.


Dearest Teen peeps,

Some of you may have noticed that I did not mail service to RR AT ALL the whole month of February. No, it wasn't considering I was hibernating or binging Netflix shows while the snow flew and the temperatures dropped. It was considering I was working on this super-sized round up of some of the latest YA books being written by women of colour for the New York Times! Atia Abawi, Tomi Adeyemi, Dhonielle Clayton, Mary H.K. Choi and Sara Saedi have penned vibrant, diverse, idea provoking stories with something for every reader. Hither you volition find fighters, gods, immigrants, lovers, refugees, royalty, survivors and warriors, in settings both fantastical and utterly realistic, from backgrounds both global and right in your backyard. So take a look and then snag these not-to-missed titles from your library or bookstore soon!



Lots of people have had bad childhoods, just Jude's takes the cake: when she was seven years old, a light-green skinned stranger with large teeth showed upwardly at her forepart door, murdered her parents and then kidnapped her, her twin sister Taryn and older sister Vivi. Turns out the stranger was her human mom'due south jilted fairy married man Madoc, who came to call up his true kid, Vivi, and ended up taking all three sisters back to his castle. At present a teen, Jude lives a weird sort of half life as a human in the land of Faerie. She is never fully accepted by the Folk, merely far too steeped in the ways of the Fay to always live happily in the mortal earth. She spends her days training to be a knight and trying to escape the unwelcome attentions of Cardan, a spoiled fairy prince who finds Jude's very being offensive. Simply when a massive betrayal goes down in the royal family, Jude is given the impossible choice to either cutting and run, or stay and fight for her place in Faerie. Holly Black deftly handles a huge bandage of characters, all of whom Jude must carefully evaluate to decide if they are for or confronting her. Because if she trusts the wrong person, she may end upward paying for for it with her life. Full of intrigue, romance, politics, and enchanting descriptions of fairy nutrient, clothes and weapons, this sumptuous tome will please both fans of fairies and mud bound mortals. The first book in a planned serial, The Cruel Prince left me badly wishing I could conjure upward the sequel!


Dear Teen Peeps,

Similar final year, I haven’t read nearly as much YA equally I wanted to/should have, due to number of tedious, developed-ing reasons. Then hither is a leaner, meaner list of my top five best YA reads of 2017. I mean, I could have dragged the listing out to ten, merely that would have taken abroad from the absolute awesomeness of these v, utterly top-notch books. Please note that there has been absolutely no try to balance this listing by historic period, gender or genre. These are merely my “from-the-gut” favorites of the books I read this year.  Click on the championship to go right to the review.


American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Berserker by Emmy Laybourne

Be Truthful to Me by Adele Griffin

Genuine Fraud by East. Lockhart

Vincent & Theo by Deborah Heiligman



Three generations of Indian and Indian American women express mirth, cry, break up and make up in this past-to-present story of mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins. Tara and Sonia Das begin life as dutiful Indian daughters, but soon veer off onto nontraditional paths after arriving in New York with their parents in 1973. Beautiful, insular Tara wants to pursue an acting career, while her younger sis Sonia becomes a feminist firebrand. When a personal tragedy transforms their lives forever, both girls find themselves at odds with their conventional mother, Ranee, who is confused and even offended by some of their life choices. Fast forwards to the near present. When Tara's daughter Anna joins forces with Sonia's daughter Chantal at their exclusive Manhattan private school to create a safe space for small girls, their mothers' and grandmothers' Deoxyribonucleic acid shines through, proving that one tin can exist a strong Indian woman AND a proud American at the aforementioned fourth dimension. There's also loads of romance, travel, cultural misunderstandings and identity epiphanies that whatever reader will be able to relate to. Mitali Perkins' emotionally resonant work could non be more relevant as our divided nation argues incessantly about tangled policies that volition make up one's mind the uncertain future of our innovators, poets and Dreamers. Read it, and feel the distance shut.