GENEVIEVRE RECOMMENDS CHARMING AS A VERB BY BEN PHILIPPE

Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger is a popular and oh so charming student at the renowned FATE Academy in NYC. While his charm comes easily, it’s not something that he does naturally – rather it’s a studied act that he has developed to help him fit in with his more affluent peers and as a means of cultivating opportunities for himself. The only son of Haitian immigrant parents, Halti struggles with parental pressure to fulfil his father’s expectations that he’ll get an Ivy League college education. To help fund his and his father’s dreams, Halti uses his charms to develop a scam dog walking “company” that helps him secure more and more clients.

Unfortunately, his upstairs neighbor, Corinne, an uptight and academically intense classmate catches onto his schemes and uses this information to blackmail Halti into helping her fit in better with peers by making her look more well rounded. As Halti and Corinne begin to connect and develop a cautious relationship outside of FATE, Halti also learns that her mom is a Columbia Dean.

Can Halti let his guard down and let Corinne in? And is he doing it because he likes her or because he needs her mom’s approval to get into college? Is Columbia really the school for him? Or is it just another box to check in order to win his parents’ approval? This book explores themes of friendship, Black love, staying true to oneself, and learning to develop and follow through with dreams.

NICOLE RECOMMENDS YOUR LETTER BY HYEON A CHO

After Sori Lee, a new transfer student, finds an envelope taped underneath her desk, she embarks on a scavenger hunt that brings new friends, some new challenges, and a little bit of magic. Your Letter is a quick, easy-to-read graphic novel about healing, learning how to trust again, and what it means to stand up against bullies. Although the characters are in middle school, even high school readers can easily relate to Sori’s story. With a heartfelt message at its core, and a happy epilogue waiting for readers at the end, Your Letter is the perfect book for those who could use a little light and optimism.

KAYLEIGH RECOMMENDS THE SUNBEARER TRIALS BY AIDEN THOMAS

Teo, the trans son of the goddess of birds, never thought he’d be selected to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. However, many things in his life are not turning out how he expected, and he suddenly finds himself thrust into a competition where the winner will bear the light of Sol, and the loser is sacrificed in order to fuel Sol’s power. Teaming up with his best friend Niya, the powerful daughter of Dios Tierra, and Xio, the shy, thirteen year old son of the god of bad luck who is also an outsider, Teo must fight to survive the against elite demigods who have been training their whole lives to win. The Sunbearer Trials is an exciting and at times hilarious story that weaves together modern entertainment culture and a lush, magical world inspired by Mexican and Mesoamerican mythology.

LAUREN RECOMMENDS REGGIE AND DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING BY ELISE BRYANT

First and foremost this is a romance with a sloowwww burn. But almost more importantly than the two main characters falling in love is the way they bond over being a “token” in their chosen passions. 

Reggie is a self proclaimed D&D nerd who loves the game but hates some of the racist overtones embedded in it. He struggles with loving D&D all while being told it makes him “not black” by his brother and father. He worries about other peoples’ opinions, but has strong ones of his own – so strong that he writes a blog under an anonymous name. Will Reggie ever be brave enough to proudly do what he loves out loud without being worried it makes him too different from his family? 

Delilah is fine with being the one who goes with the flow and will answer “ok whatever” to most questions. But when her “ok whatever” got her into being the lead singer of a mostly white punk band, it changes her life…but is it for the better? She rockets to stardom but with the nagging feeling that the only reason she is popular is because of her blackness and being an unusual look in a mostly white punk world. Will Delilah ever be brave enough to use her voice for more than singing and say her own thoughts to her band mates?

Both of these characters bring out the better in each other and have real powerful conversations that revolve around racial issues and what it means to feel like an other. Falling in love with the people they want to be for themselves all while falling for each other can lead to a little bit of turmoil. Can they end with a happily ever after? 

YSANNE RECOMMENDS DUST BY ALISON STINE

In this novel, readers follow Thea’s experience after her family moves to a valley in Colorado where the dust is endless and rain never seems to come. Thea lives in a very isolated environment following her father’s strict, traditional rules and values. When Thea isn’t home doing chores, she works at a coffee shop in the nearby town, secretly hoping that a customer might come in and give her someone to talk to. While she understands she must obey her father’s wishes, the hardest rule to follow is keeping her secret: that she is deaf in one ear. Her days all seem to blend together, with her feeling lonelier and lonelier as each day passes. However, everything changes when she meets Ray, a boy who is also deaf. Throughout the story, Thea toes the line between living the life her father wants for her and learning more about a community she has been so isolated from. Follow along her journey as she explores the town’s history, learns sign language, and even finds friendship in the most barren of environments!

Want more book suggestions? Stay tuned for future recommendations from our team!