Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
After losing her mother unexpectedly, Jessie's father remarried, sold their home in Chicago, and moved them across country to live with Rachel and Theo, her new family. Although Rachel, her father's new wife, is trying to make things work, Theo, her stepbrother, isn't having any of it and ignores Jessie even on her first day of school. What was a tough day, it gets even stranger when she gets an email from a person named "Somebody Nobody" offering her advice on how to navigate Wood Valley High School and who to avoid. Although Jessie isn't sure why this person would want to help her, she trusts this stranger and they develop a rather peculiar and sweet friendship. Although SN (Somebody Nobody) wants to remain anonymous, Jessie is also creating new friendships of her own and even catches the eye of super popular, Ethan. However, Jessie is also on the radar of Gem and Crystal who are not only the most popular girls in school, but also the meanest. Despite having to start over again, Jessie tries to keep a low profile, and out of Rachel's house, so she decides to look for a part-time job. Ironically, the book store she works in is owned by the parents of another super popular boy named Liam, who will eventually cause Jessie a whole new set of problems. Miles away from Scarlet (her best friend), and distant from her father, the only person Jessie can rely is SN, but who is SN and why do they care so much about her. In this funny and poignant story, Jessie is forced to deal with her grief while trying to start all over again one day at a time. 

Critical Evaluation:
I can honestly say I didn't expect a lot from this book, but WOW was I surprised. Jessie, unfortunately, was hit with way too much stuff that no human being should ever have to face at sixteen years old. What was even more aggravating is that her father thought it was in her best interest to start all over again in a different state without even asking her. Although the same could be said for Rachel, Theo's mom, what readers need to realize is that grief can make people do things that aren't always rational, but, at the same time, Rachel and Jessie's father, needed each other in order to cope with their loss. What this book does so well is teach us how debilitating and ugly grief can be when we lose someone we love, but, at the same time, shows us the beauty of hope, forgiveness, and love. I can honestly say that I thought the SN/Jessie conversations were a little creepy at first, I eventually learned to love them because SN became someone that Jessie could rely on when she needed someone to listen. I think all of us need an SN because we sometimes need someone to help us forget our problems and just talk. Although SN identity was a little on the predictable side, once you get half way through the book, I am glad the author didn't throw us for a loop and I LOVED the last line of " But sometimes a kiss not a kiss is not a kiss. Sometimes it's poetry." 

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, and the critically acclaimed novels The Opposite of Love and After You.  Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two young children, and an immortal goldfish. Visit Julie online at www.juliebuxbaum.com and follow @juliebux on Twitter.

Genre:
Teen Contemporary Fictions, Teen Issues, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to Tell Me Three Things:

• Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
• Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schnieder
• When We Collided by Emery Lord

 
Awards & Recognition:
 From Amazon.com:

"Three Things about this novel: 1. I loved it. 2. No, really, I LOVED it. 3. I wish I could tell every teen to read it. Buxbaum's book sounds, reads, breathes, worries, and soars like real adolescents do." - Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author of LEAVING TIME and OFF THE PAGE.

"Here are three things about this book: (1) It's sweet and funny and romantic; (2) the mystery at the heart of the story will keep you turning the pages; (3) I have a feeling you'll be very happy you read it."—Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
"The desire to find out whether Jessie's real-life and virtual crushes are one and the same will keep [readers] turning the pages as quickly as possible."--Publishers Weekly, Starred

"A heartfelt, wryly perceptive account of coming to terms with irrevocable loss when life itself means inevitable change."—Kirkus Reviews
"Buxbaum's debut is hard to put down because of its smooth and captivating text. The addition of virtual conversations through email and chatting adds to the exciting plot twist."--SLJ

"Buxbaum adds layered plotlines about grief, family, and the confusion and hardships of growing up, all with a touch of humor and romance. A solid YA debut."--Booklist

Plot Summary:
Last year, on October 15th, Morgan's life changed forever. Rather than attending class and hanging out with friends, Morgan doesn't leave her apartment...ever. When Morgan has a bad day, she tries to follow the three-steps, but, sometimes, she needs an emergency pill. Although Morgan's family understands why she is feeling the way she does, Morgan has no idea if, and when, she will get better. What was supposed to be a day of online classes, television, and a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, Morgan looks at the window and she sees Evan. Not only is Evan gorgeous, he is her new neighbor. It's been a long time since Morgan has ever felt this way so when he knocked on her door, nothing was ever going to be the same because he reminds her of everything she misses dearly. The only way Morgan is ever going to get her life is to have the courage to step out the front door and finally face the past that has haunted and crippled her. What happened last year? What will happen if Morgan shuts the door on Evan? In this amazing debut, Marisa Reichardt brilliantly describes the fragility of the human psyche and how courage, and love, can help us find the strength to move on.

Critical Evaluation:
As stated, previously, this is a wonderful book that gives readers insight on trauma-induced anxiety. Without giving the book away, Morgan is suffering from a type of mental illness that cripples hundreds and thousands of people and it is NOTHING to be ashamed of. What I appreciate the most about this book is how the author depicts the process of overcoming mental illness through her therapy sessions with Brenda, her mother and brother, and the way that she grapples with her father's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Like anxiety, PTSD is a horrendous disease that plagues veterans is a result of seeing, hearing, and dealing with so much stress that the brain literally malfunctions and the person is just unable to deal with every day life. Although Morgan and her father experienced horrible things, their illnesses are treatable with time and medical treatment. As a person who lives with mental illness, I appreciate the author's narrative as it describes the process of recovering from a mental illness. It's incredibly important for reader's to understand that recovering from mental illness can't be fixed with a pill or just a few therapy sessions. For Morgan, Evan was the missing piece she needed in order to step outside her front door, get back into her car, and go back into the water she loved so much. This is a great book for teens who are not only experiencing mental illness, but for teens who may know someone they love or care about.

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

Marisa Reichardt is a SoCal native who has paid the bills by shucking oysters, waiting tables, peddling swimwear, tutoring, and writing. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her family and can usually be found huddled over her laptop in coffeehouses or swimming in the ocean. She has a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Southern California and dual undergraduate degrees in literature and creative writing from UC San Diego. Her debut novel, Underwater, was an Indies Introduce New Voices pick for winter/spring 2016 and an Indie Next Top 10 pick for winter 2016. 

Genre:
Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Issues, 

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Underwater:

• This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
• The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith 

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

"Debut author Reichardt doesn’t oversimplify: Morgan isn’t saved by love; rather, new neighbor Evan reminds her of life and what it’s like to have a friend. As Evan, who has his own connection to the shooting, tells her, what he likes about Morgan is that she’s real, and that’s exactly what readers will appreciate about this book." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Debut author Reichardt smartly reveals the source of Morgan's agoraphobia--a school shooting--very gradually, which, along with the sweet romance with Evan, urges the plot forward. Morgan's... story of growth and redemption will be rewarding for readers who love character-driven novels." ―Booklist

"Readers will enjoy the emotional balance Reichardt gives to the high stakes conflicts in a teen’s life." ―School Library Journal

"A moving, reflective exploration of grief, trauma, and how individuals find their paths toward resilience." ―Kirkus Reviews

"While this is a tender and appealing romance, it would also make a thoughtful complement to the many books about school shootings to illuminate the effects that last beyond the horrible day."―BCCB 

"Reichardt's remarkable debut novel, told in Morgan's voice, is a sensitive and inspirational exploration of the aftermath of tragedy and of a young woman's grief and guilt. Young adults will enjoy sharing Morgan's passage from hurt to healing." ―VOYA

Plot Summary:
 After the bathroom incident at her last school, Amanda has to decided to move in with her father and start over. Life for Amanda hasn't been easy because she has had to bury a secret that almost cost her her own life. Now that she has decided to not hide who she is, Amanda must pick up the pieces from her former to life in order to start anew. Although she and her father haven't really spoken since the divorce, he is trying to make amends for the fact that her father wasn't there at the hospital he refused to acknowledge the fact that Amanda was different. Apart from her mom and her best friend, Virginia, Amanda has to tread lightly with who she befriends for fear her secret would come out. Luckily, Amanda has managed to not only keep her secret a secret, she made news friends on the first day of school, which ave her hope that she could live a normal life. However, Amanda has decided to throw caution to the wind  after meeting, and getting to know, Grant. Not only is Grant gorgeous, but there is something genuine and kind that Amanda can't get enough of. So what if she is hiding something because Grant has given her the chance to start over and, for the first time ever, be loved for who she is and not who she used to be. This is heart wrenching story of a girl who has split blood, tears, and suffered years of agony to be who she wants to be and finally realized that she deserves to be loved and to love in return.

Critical Evaluation:
I was left speechless after reading this book. It seriously took me several minutes to understand and digest how important stories like this are for the youth of today. Without giving away an spoilers, I want to stress that all of us, no matter who are or where we come from, deserve love. In fact, I want to make it a point to tell all of the readers out there that they are beautiful and that they are indeed loved. If you don't feel like you are loved than I will say this: I love you because you exist and because you are doing something incredible to make this world a better place. Amanda, in my opinion, is the most brave and forgiving character I have ever come across in YA lit and I want to personally thank Meredith Russo for having the insight, courage, and strength to tell this story. There is so much about this book that I want to talk about, but I don't want to ruin this experience for potential readers. I will say this...at some point in our lives we will all meet someone who will struggle with their identity and, as friends, mentors, and family members we need to support them and help them in any way we can. More importantly, we need to speak up for them in times of injustice and fear because, at the end of the day, we are all the same. Please stop what you are doing and read this book. When you are done, go into your community and tell everyone you know about this book. It's 2016 and it's time to have this discussion because too many precious teens are lost to the stigma, the shame, and despair. If you would like to know more about the transgendered community, please check out: http://www.hrc.org/resources/transgender-children-and-youth-understanding-the-basics


Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

MEREDITH RUSSO was born, raised, and lives in Tennessee. She started living as her true self in late 2013 and never looked back. If I Was Your Girl was partially inspired by her experiences as a trans woman. Like Amanda, Meredith is a gigantic nerd who spends a lot of her time obsessing over video games and Star Wars.

If I Was Your Girl is her debut novel, but definitely not her last. When she's not busy writing she can be found reblogging pictures of cats and babies, reading high literature (and definitely not fanfiction and fantasy novels), arguing with strangers about social justice, and, of course, raising her two amazing children, Vivian and Darwin.

You definitely, absolutely should not be shy about contacting her, even if it's just to talk. She's always open to new opportunities and chances to speak with new people.

 Genre:
Teen LGBTQ Fiction, Teen Issues, Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to If I Was Your Girl

• Freakshow by James St. James
• Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
• George by Alex Gino

Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com:

IndieNext Top 10

Named one of the 50 Books Every Modern Teenager Should Read by Flavorwire

One of BookRiot's Most Anticipated Books of the Year

An Amazon Best Book of the Year (So Far)

"An illuminating debut guided by hope and overwhelming kindness.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A necessary, universal story about feeling different and enduring prejudices…full of love, hope, and truth.” ―Kirkus, starred review

"This is everything a coming-of-age novel should be―honest, complicated, and meaningful. Transcends the typical 'issue' novel to be a beautiful tale in its own right." ―School Library Journal, SLJ Popular Pick

"Russo, a trans woman, writes with authority and empathy, giving readers not only an intellectual but also an emotional understanding of Amanda and her compelling story. Never didactic, this debut is a valuable contribution to the slender but growing body of literature of trans teens." ―ALA Booklist

"Poignant and rare. If I Was Your Girl is the type of book you read and want to immediately share, because it's too important to keep to yourself." ―Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin'

"If I Was Your Girl is important and necessary and brave, and deeply, electrically inspiring. Read this wonderful book. Just read it." ―Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places

“Will change minds and open hearts.” ―Nina Lacour, critically acclaimed author of Everything Leads to You

"If I Was Your Girl is real and raw and layered and wonderful." ―Alex Gino, Stonewall Award-winning author of George

"If there's any justice in the world, we're all witnessing a YA powerhouse in the making."
―Forever YA

"Pure magic." ―BookRiot