This book was visceral, to me. It was like a hand reaching in and touching all the hurt, scraping at it, and then holding out a hand and saying “Me too. It’s ok. Me too,” in such a cathartic way. As a teenager, in this day and age, it’s hard to be “happy”. Or, at least, happy all the time, consistently, in a straightforward, contained way. This book sees messy corners and directs the harsh light toward them, instead of away. It’s achingly human.

Seb, the main character, is by no means perfect. He’s awkward, much too talkative, much too polite. He is one of those people who always says the wrong thing, one of those people who agonizes about it forever afterwards. He is constantly critiquing everything he does, says, and is. He is too much and not enough and always the wrong shape. He has been told a million times, silently, that there is something wrong with him, that he should be some other sort of way. He has tried to become that “other sort of way”. And it takes a tremendous amount of strength to be that way, like a rock standing strong against the erosion of the tide.

HappyHead is a terrifying “What If?” brought into vivid reality–something like a nightmare of pristine white walls and plastic smiles. It’s about happiness and unhappiness, and what it means when the sources of those are decided for you. It’s about finding your own way and being stubbornly yourself, as a young person in a world that isn’t yet for you. It’s about questions. It’s about hiding and being found and all the spaces in between. It’s about living through the terror, through the hurt. It’s about joy in dark places, a flower growing in between the cracks of a sidewalk.

This is for you, if you’ve always hid yourself. This is for you, if you’re too sensitive, or feel too much or too wildly. This is for you, if you dare to feel outside the lines. This is for you, if you aren’t perfect and are tired of trying to be. This is for you, if you’ve ever been afraid to fight. This is for you, if you’ve ever been afraid of never seeing a friend again. This is for you, if you want and want and want so hard you could burst. If this is for you, I hope it finds you. 🙂

Review by Grace C.

It is about a girl who has a medical condition that make it so that she cannot talk and the only part of her body that she can move is her hands. She wants to try out for the county spelling bee and prove that she is smart since she cannot talk or move, except for her hands. But the school bullies Molly and Claire put doubt in her mind. Will she be able to make it?

I felt that that this story was great because it was a real page turner and every chapter left you on edge. This book was unlike any other book I have read and touches on what it is like to be a person with with disabilities. The book made me feel happy and sad because she has many challenges and you go up and down with the the main character. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a realistic fiction book that allows you step out of your comfort zone in a good way.

Review by Finley Taylor

Bite me, Royce Taslim by Lauren Ho is a really unique and enticing book, it’s a romance/romcom that follows deeper themes as well, like how individuals can influence other people, how certain people can make you flourish while others might turn you hateful, how you shouldn’t close yourself off to those who love you, and so much more! The story mentions some heavy topics such as depression and how that can influence a household. The story itself follows Agnes Chan, a student who’s only wish is to get into a university abroad to follow her dreams in track and running, however her opportunity gets crushed and she has to find another way to get into a good college (with a partial scholarship or full ride as her family struggles financially). Agnes Chan then turns to a different hobby which turns out that it can help her catch and make new dreams, she meets a plethora of new personas and people. Two characters who really stood out to me were Vern and Zee. Vern is a struggling student, working multiple jobs to keep his aunt and him afloat, he met Agnes in her previous school and throughout the book they grow closer through stand up comedy. However, Verns prejudice against those who are more fortunate than him is obvious, he grew up not having a lot of opportunities and struggling to keep his family together (his
Mother and father leaving and his uncle dying),leading to him to have to take up a lot of responsibilities, and while this helps us understand his hatred towards the upper class, it doesn’t justify his manipulative view of individuals, life and the way he scorned people who Agnes held dear just because of their titals. Zee on the other hand is one of those upper class individuals, however she always try’s to help and support Agnes throughout the story, being an understanding friend. Zee wants to make a name of her own and not rely on her families influence for everything, she goes through a time where she starts to doubt her authentic self and whether she truly can become someone not just known for their last name. Overall the books is written with a lot of modern slang, however I think it might have been a little bit over used, additionally i don’t think there was enough chemistry between Agnes and Royce (the male lead), on the other hand the addition of “showing” the text messages was a good detail and really helped you relate to the characters. I would recommend this book to people with aspiring dreams, people who want to show others that they’re more than just their stereotypes, and to those struggling to trust people, this book will explore why it’s important to let people in for your happiness and how this can help you become a better person!

Reviewed by Soph

If you’re looking for a fantastical new adventure, this is the right book for you. Full of magic and secrets Nightbirds is a book you will not be able to put down. Kate J. Armstrong has made a world where magic is real, but forbidden. Three girls, Matilde, AEsa, and Sayer are night birds, they have amazing magic but they cannot use it for themselves. They can only give it away with a kiss. The nightbirds are a secret, but everyone in the great houses knows about them. When Matilde makes a terrible mistake by showing her face to a client, AEsa’s friend from back home is cast under a spell from her magic. And they’re not sure if they trust themselves yet. The nightbirds are faced with a question: keep running to live in a world of cages and secrets, or stay and fight to learn to use their newfound magic.
Perfect for people who like fantasy and young adult novels.

Reviewed by Aurora Leahy

I Like Me Better by Robby Webber is a sweet, summertime romance between soccer all-star Zack Martin and Chip, an extremely smart intern. Unfortunately, the two boys are barred from each other due to a certain cocky friend, who happens to be a cousin to Chip. In an attempt to help said friend and impress Chip, Zack ends up volunteering at the local aquarium. The results prove both disastrous and charming. The story felt like chatting with a teen friend- and I do mean that very literally. There are portions of the book written in text. The writing style was breezy and light, which made it a quick paced read. However, there is quite a bit of slang used all throughout the novel. While I appreciated the pop culture references, it was a little unnerving to read the acronym “AF” in a dialogue. Aside from some iffy slang usage, I did enjoy the casual style of the writing. I was whirled into the plot and it did keep me anticipating, putting off sleep for just one more chapter. To those looking for a beach read for when summer rolls around, this is for you. I would recommend this book as it was charmingly cute, with loveable characters and relevant themes. A quick and easy read, I enjoyed the sunny feeling of the summertime love. 

Reviewed by Sylvi Kayser

by Emily Inouye Huey

Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey is an eye-opening historical fiction novel that sheds light on part of WWll that was hidden and neglected for so long. Sam is a Japanese American teenager who lives on an island off the coast of Washington State. One day her family gets the news that Japan just bombed Pearl Harbor and suddenly everyone thinks the kind people who live in Japantown are spies. As the story progresses, the author uses Sam’s love of photography to capture the protests, arrests, and other horrific but strong events that happen over the course of several months.

        I enjoyed the strength in this novel, the perseverance that all the characters show. It’s a really important topic because no one really knew that it was happening, if it wasn’t happening in their town. I feel like the author did a really good job at describing how everyone’s life changed after that one fateful radio announcement. The book could be a little slow for some people but I enjoyed the depth and character development. 

        I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction lovers and anyone who wants to open themselves up to an issue that was hidden from so many people. It’s an amazing story.

Reviewed by Violet Willet

by Katherine Locke

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke is a historical fiction story that centers a young Jewish woman named Csilla. Csilla lives in post-World War II Hungary. Her history within the city of Budapest runs deep: it was where she was born, raised, and where she lived with her parents until they were executed by the government for mysterious reasons. She also has a strong connection with the river in the city which has saved her life many times before. She must figure out how to reconcile her parents’ past with her current life in an effort to bring about change and freedom in Budapest. 

Locke used beautiful figurative language throughout this novel to illustrate the realities of Hungary at the time and truly transport the reader into Csilla’s shoes. The magical realism made the story engaging, and I have also never read a young adult book set in Hungary during this time period. There is also LGBTQ+ representation included within a historical setting which is also rare. I did however, find it slightly difficult to keep track of all the characters and various storylines and conflicts. It also seemed exaggeratedly poetic at times. 

Despite that, this book was eye-opening to a country and an issue that I knew little about. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and stories that intertwine magic and reality. 

Reviewed by Sophie Cornish

By Ali Standish

Reviewed by Sophie Cornish

by Angie Thomas

A prequel to the critically acclaimed novel The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas, Concrete Rose tells the story of Maverick’s (Starr’s father) young adult life. For as long as he can remember, Maverick has been aware of his responsibilities as the son of a King Lord. With his father now in jail and his mother working multiple jobs to keep them afloat, Maverick decides to take on extra dealing jobs in addition to the ones he fulfills for the King Lords. Luckily, he has a great girlfriend and a caring cousin to support him. This relatively stable situation is destroyed when Maverick finds out he is the father of a son whose mother is not his girlfriend. While learning how to be a parent and provide for a child he must also grapple with the death of someone close to him. Maverick must figure out how to balance his identity as a son, father, and boyfriend, with his duties as a member of the King Lords. 

I really enjoyed this book. The story was engaging and provided refreshing insight into the life of those involved with gangs as well as teen fathers. Thomas’ colloquial style of writing displayed through Maverick’s narration made the book feel more realistic and also helped the audience get to know Maverick better. Maverick’s character was overall inspiring and admirable. 

I would recommend this story to anyone who loved The Hate You Give, realistic fiction fans, and those wanting to diversify their shelves. This book will make you laugh, cry, and reflect. Enjoy! 

Reviewed by Sophie Cornish

by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

The novel Roxy by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman is a strange and interesting read that talks about problems with drug abuse. The book is interestingly written from 4 different points of view with Ivy, Issac, Roxy, and Addison. Ivy and Issac are brother and sister who simultaneously have individual struggles with drugs, Ivy with adderall and Issac with oxycontin. They both have their own reasons as to why they do what they do, but ultimately neither of them are all that aware that they have an addiction. Roxy, oxycontin, and Addison, adderall, are portrayed as people who only interact with Ivy and Issac and are invisible to the rest of the world. While the reader is led to believe that Addison and Roxy could actually be people, all of their public interactions with Ivy and Issac go unnoticed by other people.  The goal for Ivy is to get her life together by working harder in school and get a handle on her ADHD. The goal for Issac is to allow him to keep playing soccer even though he hurt his ankle badly. The goals for Addison and Roxy are to get Ivy and Issac to the party and take them to their boss, Hiro, who will lead them to their deaths. Hiro is actually heroine and his job is to ensure that people like Ivy and Issac never leave the party by killing them with an overdose.  This book was a very interesting read for a few different reasons. Ivy and Issacs’ points of view in the book are both in third person while Addison and Roxys’ are in first person. I thought that was a subtle but powerful choice by the authors because it shows how Issac and Ivy are not in control of their choices, even though they think they are. Addison and Roxy are actually in control of them. I liked all the plot twists throughout the book that were super unexpected, and intriguing which made the ending very hard to predict, and also surprising. I also liked how at the party, all the “people” there are named with nicknames or parodies of the names of the actual drugs they’re supposed to be. Like marijuana was Mary-Jane, and Al was alcohol. It was kinda fun trying to figure out all the names. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and interesting read, that makes a heavy subject a bit lighter. 

Reviewed by Payton Lundberg