Stuntboy, In-Between Time (2) by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Raul the Third

Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Portico, Zola and Herbert and their goals to help others while they deal with bullies, gangs, and divorce in their apartment building. Laughing constantly with Reynolds words and Illustrator Raúl the Third fantastic drawings, middle grade students will love this graphic novel! They are good kids but they also get themselves into a few scrapes, I could not stop turning the pages!

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Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist

Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two seventh graders get into a fight in the cafeteria; they are expelled and have 2 weeks to think about their actions...will they be able to look into themselves and see they are not so different? I loved this middle grade novel in verse about 2 black children getting to trouble and the resulting decisions they make through contemplation, discussions with family & friends & school teachers. A must read!

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Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this because it was awarded The Nerdy Book Club Poetry & Novel In Verse and I loved it. This novel in verse was about Sky, an African American girl in high school, Sky, who struggles as her best friend drops her, lies about her, and how she makes her way through---by playing basketball, hearing rumors, traversing a new boyfriend and making a new friend. Teens will relate to Sky and grow with her as they read this book!

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Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany Jackson

Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Korey Jackson , Nile Bullock , Adenrele Ojo , Adam Lazarre-White; I loved this book- the characters were so real, likable, funny, and dealing with their own issues. Steph, Jasmine's big brother and all around good guy has been murdered; Jasmine and his 2 best friends, Quadir and Jarrell feel keenly Steph's music needs to be heard and hatch a plot to get everyone listening to Steph as if he is alive but they call him The Architect. When each of them begins delving into Steph's life their are mysteries and secrets Steph was keeping and now the 3 friends are keeping secrets. Loved the music world aspect look into the making of a demo, learning the history of music, of rappers, being represented by a label and fame. The narrators were so good; I enjoyed the authenticity they brought to the teens' language, dress, social status and racism. Jackson's book was awesome; teens will love the 90s portrayal of the music scene, the loyalty of friends, and the grief after a loved one dies.

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When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris

When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is up for the HUB Amazing Audiobook; Awesomely narrated by: Preston Butler III about an African American teen whose sister goes missing and his search for her despite his own failings. I really wanted to like Jay but Jay was his own worst enemy. People obviously care about him and he will not confide because of many reasons he thinks are true. He won't tell his grandmother who has raised him since his mother spiraled after his dad died and landed in jail---that Nicole, his sister is missing. Jay continues to make up excuses thinking he is sparing his grandmother with worries. He also has given up on his sister, and decides he is sick of her doing drugs, blowing off school off and dating the local drug dealer; when she does reach out to him, Jay shows her the "new" Jay who hangs up on her. He is a good kid who has been traumatized by his father's death, his mother's desertion, and living in a seedy part of town where you are judged "when you look like us" but he also does not know how to say what he wants and he continues the whole book to turn away others who will help him; also he is bullied by the local thugs and works at Taco Bell where the mangers expect too much and allow awful customers too much freedom. I did like this story; it is one that needs to be told but I did not like Jay's development through the whole book; I did not want to root for him; I wanted to kick him. Thankfully he does allow his bible school friend to help and if it was not for her---she was adventurous, devious when needed, and pushed Jay to be the best he could be. A great ending to a book that deals with urban problems and how law enforcement does not stick up for "missing" people---how Jay (and others like him) grew up too fast, how others make assumptions about people in their neighborhoods and schools, and how this bias continues. A must read!

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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG! I loved this book! If you have read Daniel Jose Older's fantastic Shadowshaper series and Zoraida Cordova's awesome Brooklyn Brujas series, you will LOVE this book! the difference is it takes place in Los Angeles and involves a transgender boy, Yadriel and his best friend, Maritza, as they try to find out who killed cousin Miguel, how to deal with Yads and his mistaken summoning of Julian and most importantly prove to his father (and everyone else), the head of the community of brujas and brujos, that Yads should be recognized as a brujo and accepted by the brujx community (practicing brujx with powers to heal and speak to spirit/ghosts) . I could not put down Aiden Thomas' beautiful book with bigger than life relatable characters, themes of friendship, the importance of family and the rich Latinx culture. Superb, a rewarding must read!

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Micah: The Good Girl #2 (Flyy Girls) by Ashley Woodfolk

Micah: The Good Girl #2 by Ashley Woodfolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and LOVED this 2nd book in a series, Flyy Girls, by Ashley Woodfolk as part of the #BitAboutBooks Winter Reading Challenge. I will also be reading the 3rd and 4th books in this series too! Micah is a good girl who goes to church all the time with her parents but she is also secretly seeing Ty at summer camp where they both have jobs. But the big part of this book is the anniversary of her brother's death which weighs heavy on Micah. She does not always want the attention, interest, or pity about her brother. When she sneaks into her brother's room and finds his sketchbook there is alot she did not know about her brother and she tries to find out. Teens will love this book, middle school will relate as well as it deals with friendship, family, romance, school and death. Despite the drama, there is redemption and the positive meanings throughout this series, I highly recommend it!

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Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and love all of Tiffany D. Jackson's books and Grown is a compelling, gripping and essential read! Enchanted loves to sing and attends a mic night (with Mom in tow) to hopefully break into the music scene. In this ripped from the headlines story, Enchanted becomes famous singer, Korey Fields' find and as she dreams of making an album, Korey makes promises to her family as he takes her on the road and they make a good singing duo. But pretty quickly, we all see what Enchanted does not, Korey is insecure, controlling with out of control anger and punishments. I could not stop turning the pages as Enchanted becomes of prisoner of her own thoughts and Korey's awful techniques to control her. Another highly recommended read from Tiffany D. Jackson!

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Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just wow! I have read and loved everything Nic Stone writes, and this book is a must read by all, very ripped from the headlines, and even though fiction, so true in depicting LaQuan's life, his friendship with Justyce, his "bond" with his "brothers" in the Martel Organization, and his dysfunctional family and school life problems.
Just as I loved Dear Martin, so did Quan tear up my heart as I read his letters to Justyce, and followed his time in jail. The depth of all the characters is powerful, honest and kept me rooting for Quan --- I could not stop turning those pages! Adults and teens must read this book! Highly recommended!

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Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is so important now, with the wrongful arrest of Amal, his trial and conviction. In a hard hitting novel in verse, Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam, craft an all too real story of a young African American who is failed time and time again, jailed and stripped of his humanity and hope. I grasped onto his anger as he turns it into hope through art, drawing and painting, he begins to accept those he is incarcerated with and how together they must become peaceful yet powerful to right the wrongs of racial profiling and prison reform failures. A must read for all!

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My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ebony Grace's life is in turmoil; her beloved grandfather who was a NASA engineer since the 1960s and Ebony's best friend (and only friend, since she has trouble making friends) has suddenly disappeared. Her mother will not explain anything except to send Ebony Grace to her father's Harlem home for a week that ends up being the summer. As Ebony Grace struggles, she alienates her friend from times she has visited her father. As Harlem becomes her reality, Ebony Grace keeps immersing herself in the fantasy world of Star Trek and Star Wars. I wished a few things for this book as I read it---the adults had their own agendas- Ebony's mom was an angry, thinks she is better than everyone person---she never tells Ebony to have fun in Harlem but always admonishing her stay away from the junkyard, and the kids. Her grandfather, her hero, does not help at all in keeping Ebony grounded in reality and supporting her visits with her father. Her father had me fooled; I really liked him and thought he was getting a raw deal, but when he deliberately takes Ebony's wired $$$ from her grandfather, I threw up my hands with all these supposed trusted adults and their agendas and the harm it was doing to Ebony Grace. What I did love about this book was the nerd element and how effectively Zoboi's portrayal is of Ebony Grace. I do not think this is a book all middle school kids will read, but the geeks will see themselves in Ebony Grace.

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With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just loved Author Elizabeth Acevedo's narration & story of The Fire on High, I grew up in Philly and now live in a suburb close to Philadelphia. I loved Emani, her story, her love of cooking & everything Philly. All librarians need to get this book in their libraries!!! Teens will love teen mom, Emani and her struggles within herself, with her family, and in school. I savored her love of cooking (the title of this book is just perfect), how she describes over and over her love for her daughter, grandmother, Philadelphia, and her friends. This book should be in all high schools; the themes are so important, the characters find strength despite their daily circumstances in urban neighborhoods, and I just wanted to eat all the food Emani cooked, discussed, and made in Spain. A must read; loved this book!!! Thank you so much for this ode to Philly I will be recommending it to all my friends.

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On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 2nd book by Angie Thomas and Bri was such a strong female lead, she did not shy away from expressing herself (setting haters and troublemakers straight), even if it got her into problems with how others perceived her---she knew who she was and she spent her life rapping andurban it was the only thing she wanted to do- also as a way to get her out of her neighborhood. She loses alot (her Dad's shooting, her mom's drug use, loneliness while her Mom is in rehab, others misjudging Bri and her family members. When even more tough times fall (Bri assaulted by school guards, mom loses job, electricity is cut off, Trey's money is not enough) Bri wants to save the family by making it big with her rap, On the Come Up, but there are other unintended consequences; Bri, her friends and family (Aunt Pooh and cousin Scrap) are judged harshly but Bri is formidable and I loved her fierceness. You will too! Don't miss this must read!!!

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Monday's Not Cominig by Tiffany D. Jackson

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this book has traumatized me; Jackson's story of Claudia's "search" or "journey" for her best friend (they have the strongest sisterly bond) when she returns from her annual summer vacation visiting her grandmother is fraught with so much mental anguish for Claudia (and me) because no one worries about where Monday is except Claudia. It also does not help that there is so much evasiveness by adults (parents, school, agencies) with this ripped from the headlines story of the awful life children suffer (and hide the truth) from. As the reader goes from Chapters titled by month, or The Before, or The After, or One Year Before the Before (or Two Years Before the Before) poor Claudia finds that maybe her best friend held many secrets from her and she asks herself why? as she learns more and more about Monday and her life in the Ed Borough, the urban ghetto. Once again, I really did not like most of the adults in this story (the only one who was really concerned and acted upon it time and again was 7th grade English teacher, Ms Valente) even her mother and father were walls Claudia came up against time and time again in her search for Monday. I highly recommend this book, it will open many teens eyes to the harsh existence many of their classmates endures and will hopefully create empathy and awareness to deal with this all too real problem in our world.

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Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles

Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book so much but HATED THE ENDING!!! Ryan and Dalila are such great characters- opposites in most ways- Ryan has a mother who has never been there for him and is now married to a bully sheriff who hates Ryan. Dalila lives in Mexico, has lots of money and friends and when she and Ryan meet sparks fly but also anger. Their eventual romance is swoon worthy. The drug cartels are fighting for power, is Dalila's father involved? Dalila is determined to find out the truth, but at what cost? I love Simone Elkeles books and this book does not hold back about the darker side of life in Mexico.

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s and Crown Books for Young Readers, for the ARC, Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Debut author, Nic Stone, has crafted a realistic fiction and urban fiction novel all teens will be clamoring to read. With the ripped from the headlines news of teens being shot by police and police violence, Stone has written a powerful, hard hitting novel I could not put down. I ached for Justyce, a black teen in a mostly white prep school who is unjustly judged by a white cop; roughed up and handcuffed, as he tries to help his drunk, white girlfriend. The title, Dear Martin, comes from the letters Justyce writes to Dr. King as a project to himself, as he tries to emulate King’s style and words to sort through racism, oppression, and injustice he encounters. Justyce’s problems intensify as he becomes more and more embroiled in incidents that involve him, his school friends, and his neighborhood acquaintances. As Martin leans on friends, his debate teacher, and debate partner (love interest), he becomes more and more disillusioned. Stone’s writing, her characters, and plot were all powerful reminders that there is still a great divide in our world and she raises many valid questions about problems our society needs to solve. Justyce’s world and struggle brings many needed diverse voices and issues to all readers. Today’s teens care about the heated, frustrating questions and concerns Nic Stone tackles in her haunting debut novel. Highly recommended!

Review of AudioBook
I listened to this wrenching book for the #2jennsbookclub twitter chat to take place Thursday, April 12 at 8PM EST and Dion Graham's narration of the book, plot and character's was just authentic, moving, and once again plunged me to awful depths with Justyce's confusion and despair after he is arrested. Nic Stone has penned a book ALL must read- there is still so much that needs to be done - African American teens must not be profiled, violated, assaulted and killed...they deserve much better.

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Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book!!! Jade and her friends Lee Lee, Sam, mentor Maxine, her mom are all such authentic, real characters living in a challenging world, trying to face it the best way they can. I was not a fan of the cover, but as I read the book Jade's world on the cover was one of color, brightness, showcasing her hope but also the power and beauty of art made me fall in love with this colorful cover, a mosaic of Jade's life and aspirations! I have been hearing about this book since it was published in February 2017, and after reading THUG, Long Way Down, Dear Martin, ShadowHouse Fall, The Education of Margo Sabchez, Patina & Ghost, and I am sorry it took me so long to get to reading it, but so happy I read this powerful novel about friendship, finding oneself, hardship, heartbreak, the power of love and hope and honesty---a must read for all especially those who like urban fiction, adversity, diversity, and making a difference. Such a powerful book and ending- highly recommended!

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Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for the December twitter chat with #2jennsbookclub to be held Thursday 12/14 at 8PM; please join us for what will be a timely and awesome discussion! I have read & loved all of Jason Reynolds' books and Long Way Down takes a hard look at the urban violence that has ensnared black teens & men. Will has been taught the rules of the street by his brother, Shawn. When Shawn is shot dead, Will gets his brother's gun and is on his way to honor the rules. As he descends the elevator with his brother's gun in the back of his pants; Will runs into people/family who have been gunned down and as each ghost/spirit relates the gun violence - there are things Will is compelled to think about- is Riggs really the one who shot Shawn, and "Another thing about the rules They weren't meant to be broken. They were meant for the broken to follow." What will Will do as he talks to the spirits in the elevator? I liked how Will used anagrams to help him figure things - scare=cares, ALIVE=A VEIL, FEEL=FLEE and Reynolds first hand knowledge of this life, these kids, and the failures of those older. I will be reading this again; reluctant readers will be absorbed by this urban fiction tale, and I am definitely going to listen to Jason Reynolds' narration on Audible. Highly recommended!

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Shadowhouse Fall (Shadowshaper Cypher Book 2) by Daniel Jose Older

Shadowhouse Fall by Daniel José Older
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy did I get drawn into Sierra's world once again of shadowshapers and her spirit world, where she and her friends fight to keep the Shadowhouse world intact as other spirits threaten to destroy them and their families. Sierra is one strong Shadowshaper who is not afraid to use her tongue (she is a tough talker) and friends (Juan, Bennie, Izzy, Anthony, Robbie, Mina) to thwart the overthrow of her world. I rooted for her as her friends were thrown in jail or mental institutions, and she still rallied her troops to fight against the Deck of Cards, The Sorrows, and the Hound. I loved Older's world of urban Brooklyn, the spirits (the good and the bad) the shapeshifting and their clashes with the other houses- I could not stop reading---loved the beauty, magic, and urban feel of this urban fantasy- can't wait for #3!!!

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Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this banned book for the September twitter chat with #YearofYA and it was even more powerful with Yummy's no win situation of a life of violence, gang wars, family dysfunction and urban decay.

G. Neri's graphic novel is a winner. He takes the true story of 11 year old Robert "Yummy" Sandifer's shooting of an innocent 14 year old girl, Shavon Dean, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and crafts a gripping tale from the point of view of a boy, Roger, who knew both kids, lived in the same neighborhood, and had a brother in the same gang as Yummy. Roger is an onlooker, part of a close knit family (yet his brother is in the Black Disciple gang too)who went to school with Yummy and Shavon. His story catches the horror of gang life, a forgotten child, Yummy, who suffered at the hands of everyone he knew. Reluctant readers, those who love urban fiction, and all readers should digest this graphic novel. It covers a bleak time in 1994, in a broken down, neighborhood more like a war zone, where no one is safe. You, as the reader, will feel for the 2 sides of Yummy, and be chagrined at the horror of two YOUNG lives lost, for all the wrong reasons.

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