Blood Water Paint – Joy McCullough – In this novel, told primarily in verse, history’s Artemisia Gentileschi is developing into a brilliant artist when the teacher hired by her father sexually assaults her. Finding courage and strength in the stories of other women, Artemisia bravely accuses her attacker in court, an act unheard of in the 1600s. |
Check, Please!: #Hockey – Book 1 – Ngozi Ukazu – Using witty dialogue, a subtle gay romance, and lots of references to Bitty's baking, Ukazu dives deep into bro-culture and demolishes toxic masculinity in this well-crafted graphic novel, which follows Eric "Bitty" Bittle and his hockey team through their years at Samwell University. Teens will be ready to devour the next installment of this unabashedly charming story. |
Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi – In Orïsha, diviners and maji were revered for their abilities, until tyrannical King Saran forced magic from the kingdom. When his daughter, Amari, flees the palace with an ancient relic, she meets 17-year-old diviner Zélie. Together, they undertake a quest to restore the kingdom’s magic, but Amari’s brother is determined to keep his father’s legacy intact. |
What the Night Sings – Vesper Stamper – This is a haunting, first-person account of Gerta, a musically talented teenager, who learns of her Jewish heritage only after being sent to Auschwitz and, later, Bergen-Belsen. Torn from her father, she clings to his viola and discovers her own voice and strength after the liberation. Lovely, lyrical prose and ethereal illustrations make Stamper’s unusual story sing. |