6 more books for YA Readers

Brooks, K. (2013). The bunker diary. UK: Penguin Books.

Linus Weems wakes up in an underground bunker with six rooms, a restroom and a kitchen. Slowly more people are sent down in a lift where “the man upstairs” sends things down. As the six of them begin to form a type of alliance he doesn’t like it sending items down to cause chaos. It works some of the time, what’s worse is when they try to escape, as they found out when he sent a dog that viciously attacked one of them. He even sends down a note stating someone must be killed or they won’t receive any food. Gradually, they begin to die. The lights are turned off and the man upstairs is gone. It ends with the first two who arrived, including Linus pass away.

(Best Fiction for Young Adults) This Carnegie Medal winner left many with unanswered questions. For example why were those people chosen for being in the bunker? What happened to the kidnapper? Keeping you on the edge of the seat, always wondering what’s going to happen next. This doesn’t end with the usual happily ever after. For me this brought a sense of reality, everyone time someone is kidnapped or kept prisoner they are not always released or found. Many times they do die and are never found. I believe this will definitely turn the attention of reluctant readers everywhere. 

Schatz, K. (2015). Rad American Women A-Z. CA: City Lights Publisher.

Each woman gets her own page outlining what she did in her lifetime from the struggles to how she made a difference in the world. Sequenced in alphabetic order the book includes all types of women, athletes, activists, inventors, scientists, and the list goes one. Along with pictures and a section in the end giving tips on how to be a rad women. This is truly a book about how women who have impacted the world not only for women but for everyone else as well.

(Quick Picks) Seeing as the world is constantly changing, so are the roles of women. Young girls or women need to read this book to let them believe they can achieve their dreams. That they can achieve anything they put their minds too. This should be a great influence to young women and give confidence on how to continue to be successful in a world where many still believe certain professions should be a male dominated. We are women hear us ROAR! 

Murphy, J. (2015). Dumplin' NY: HarperCollins.

A story about a high school girl going through life all while trying to really find herself. Her mother is a pageant mom, her best friend has become distant and her crush makes her aware of all her physical flaws. Oh yeah and she’s overweight. Dealing with all the normal high school obstacles plus trying to keep her confidence can be overwhelming. Willowdean does find acceptance and love, proving that love is for everyone.

(Best Fiction for YA) As an overweight woman, I remember feeling the same things Ms. Willowdean felt. I connected with her so much and wished this book would have been around when I was younger. This will really help many who are in her same situation not feel alone or feel like in the end everything will be okay. As an adolescent, you want so badly to find love and as an overweight adolescent you think it’s only for the more popular, attractive people. However, this book proves otherwise. This was an amazing book that tugged at the memories and feelings big time.

Aveyard, V. (2015). Red queen. NY: HarperCollins.

In a society, where your social status is determined by the color of your blood. Mare is a red and is forced to survive as a thief in order to make ends meet. She has an unlikely encounter with a prince who is a silver and becomes a servant at the palace. She soon finds that she is actually of a different breed with having red and silver blood, and quickly the king and queen want to cover it up. They come up with a plan that she is a long lost relative and is princess. However, this now creates a reason for the reds and other classes beneath the silvers who are treated as less to rise and rebel against them.

(Quick Picks)  Very similar to Divergent, where if you have an abnormality you are seen as special, creates a rise and a reason to fight the higher ups. Anyone who like the Divergent or Hunger Game series will love this book. Though at times it can seem a little slow. You are able to follow a girl who really goes from rags to riches all while trying to do the right thing. 

Ruby, L. (2016). Bone Gap. UK: Faber & Faber Publisher.

Bone Gap is about a town that is divided by two different worlds. There is a man who can walk between the two worlds and people suddenly disappear.  That’s what happened to Finn and Sean’s mom and her boyfriend. Coping with not having their mother, Sean finds Roza in a ditch battered and bruised. They put her up and take care of her, in turn she takes care of them. Sean and Roza fall in love. However, Roza soon disappears to a land where an obsessive man will give her all the materialistic things anyone could want if she just returns the love he so yearns from her. She can’t give him that love for her heart belongs to another, Sean. Finn, finds love with “Petey” who tends to the café with her honey. As their love progresses, Finn sees the man at a house and knows that he knows where Roza is. He takes things upon himself in an attempt to rescue Roza and bring his love back to his brother so he can feel whole again.

(Printz Award Winner) A coming of age story that has a great deal of loss and coping with it, this story also points out about control and abusive relationships. Many teens can have controlling boyfriends or are in abusive relationships that make them feel trapped. I usually look into stories deeper. This book has a ton of gaps and is a great thriller for all who may be struggling with loss. 

Davis, K. C. (2016). In the shadow of Liberty: the hidden history of slavery, four presidents, and five black lives. NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Five stories of slaves who were owned by the U.S. presidents and what they went through not only as slaves but also serving the leader of our country. Emphasizing on how these four presidents all knew and believed that what they were doing was wrong, however due to the fact of the where the country was at the time with their beliefs they continue with slavery. It discusses how they felt and how we think so highly of these men but they didn’t treat these people with respect as we so wish they had.

(Excellence in Nonfiction for YA) A true eye opener that even those of the past have stories and we truly don’t know all that goes on behind closed doors. We hope that our president will do the right thing and always treat all with respect, but it’s clear that that is not all true.