Kazumi Reads

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
 

Plot Summary:
During one hot summer in Texas, Aristotle met Dante. Aristotle is loner who doesn't say much and Dante, who is quite the opposite of Aristotle, kick start an unusual friendship that will revel they have more in common other than their philosophical namesakes. Although Aristotle has been pestered by his mother to make friends, Dante was so different from the other guys he know that he took a leap a faith and befriended Dante. As he gets to know Dante, Aristotle finally acknowledges that the he has issues. For example, why did his parents not talk about his older brother? Why doesn't his father ever talk about Vietnam? More importantly, why is he unable to allow himself to have feelings for other people? These questions never bothered him before, but, Dante, who is so charismatic and honest with himself, ignites something within Aristotle to want more.

 As their friendship evolves, Aristotle introduces Dante to his family and it ended up being a blessing in disguise: The Mendozas and the Santanas form a familial friendship, Aristotle's father is smiling and talking again, and Dante's parents adore Aristotle. Just when things started to look up for Aristotle, the accident changed. Why did Aristotle do what he did and why does he try so hard to push Dante away? Furthermore, what lengths will Aristotle take to protect his best friend? In this incredibly lyrical, and honest, tale about two friends is a journey about self-discovery, forgiveness, family, and love.

Critical Evaluation:
Benjamin Alire Sáenz has written a masterpiece. Not only is this a story about two boys discovering who they are, butwhat their choices and actions will reveal about their world. When I first started reading this book, I didn't know what to expect and I can honestly say that I have never felt so hopeful for the youth of today. In other words, the revelation that is revealed in this story will not only help questioning teens like Aristotle, but inspire other teens to stand up for who they are just like Dante. Saenz is an amazing writer who not only knows how to develop  his characters, but the plot takes the reader on an incredible journey that is not only cathartics, but eye-opening for others. I would definitely recommend this book to teens who are not just struggling with their identity, but teens who feel they will never find their place in world. Whether your straight, gay, trans, red, yellow, brown, or black, everyone struggles with who they are and, luckily, there is always someone who will be able to help piece together the puzzle that is who we are. Although the ending of this story will leave readers begging for a sequel, I have no doubt that Aristotle and Dante found exactly what they are looking for in life and from one another.

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

Benjamín Alire Sáenz studied at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver Colorado, the University of Louvain in Louvain, Belgium, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Iowa and Stanford University where he was a Wallace E. Stegner fellow in poety. While at Stanford, he also pursued his doctoral studies in American Literature. He has studied philosophy, art history, theology, creative writing and literary studies with a focus on twentieth century American poetry.

In 2005, Cinco Puntos Press published his first young adult novel, Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood. The novel was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and won the Americas Book Award, The Paterson Prize, and the JHunt Award. Sammy and Juliana was also named one of the top ten Young Adult novels by the American Library Association and was also named one of the top books of the year by the Center for Children's Books, Captial Choices, The New York Public Library and the Miami Herald. HarperCollins has just released Sammy and Juliana in a paperback edition and has been released as an audio book from Listening Library (Random House). His second young adult novel, He Never Said Goodbye, was published by Simon & Schuster and won the Tomas Rivera Award in 2009. His most recent young adult novel, Last Night I sang to the Monster has won critical acclaim will be published by Simon and Schuster in the summer of 2008. His next young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is forthcoming from Simon and Schuster. 

Genre:
Teen LGBTQ Fiction, Teen Fictions, Teen Lit for Guys, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe:

• Will Grayson, Will Grayson bu John Green and Davis Levithan
• Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
• Yaqui Delgado Will Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
  

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

* "A tender, honest exploration of identity and sexuality, and a passionate reminder that love—whether romantic or familial—should be open, free, and without shame." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

* "Authentic teen and Latino dialogue should make it a popular choice." (School Library Journal, starred review)

* "Meticulous pacing and finely nuanced characters underpin the author's gift for affecting prose that illuminates the struggles within relationships." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"Sáenez writes toward the end of the novel that “to be careful with people and words was a rare and beautiful thing.” And that’s exactly what Sáenez does—he treats his characters carefully, giving them space and time to find their place in the world, and to find each other...those struggling with their own sexuality may find it to be a thought-provoking read." (Booklist)

"Sáenz has written the greater love story, for his is the story of loving one’s self, of love between parents and children, and of the love that builds communities, in addition to the deepening love between two friends." (VOYA)

"Ari’s first-person narrative—poetic, philosophical, honest—skillfully develops the relationship between the two boys from friendship to romance." (The Horn Book)

"Primarily a character- and relationship-driven novel, written with patient and lyrical prose that explores the boys’ emotional lives with butterfly-wing delicacy."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Sáenz is a master at capturing the conversation of teens with each other and with the adults in their lives." (Library Media Connection, Recommended)

"This book took my breath away. What gorgeous writing, and what a story! I loved both these boys. And their parents! Don't we all wish we had parents like theirs? The ending - and the way it unfolded - was so satisfying. I could go on and on...suffice it to say I will be highly recommending it to one and all. I'm sure I'll reread it myself at some point. I hated having it end." (James Howe, Author of Addie on the Inside)

"I’m absolutely blown away. This is Saenz's best work by far...It’s a beautiful story, so beautifully told and so psychologically acute! Both Ari and Dante are simply great characters who will live on in my memory. Everything about the book is absolutely pitch perfect...It’s already my favorite book of the year!" (Michael Cart, Booklist columnist and YALSA past president)

“Benjamin Alire Saenz is a writer with a sidewinder punch. Spare sentences connect resonant moments, and then he knocks you down with emotional truth. The story of Ari and Dante’s friendship widens and twists like a river, revealing truths about how hard love is, how family supports us, and how painfully deep you have to go to uncover an authentic self.” (Judy Blundell, National Book Award-winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied) 

Plot Summary:
When the economy crashed in 2008, Eailing, Iowa turned into a ghost town when the Eailing mall went out of business. For Austin and Robby, the mall is now Grasshopper Jungle where they spend most of their time skating through the abandoned structure and hanging out in the alley to smoke cigarettes. Although the mall is gone, the most popular places in town is the consignment store, From Attic to Seller and Tipsy Cricket Liquors run by Johnny McKeon, who is the grandson of the infamous Dr. Grady McKeon (Grady McKeon started out with defense contracts and eventually moved into manufacturing household items). Austin and Robby have been best friends for quite some time and they have an unbreakable bond that is confusing Austin quite a bit. However, Austin is dating Shan McKeon, Johnny McKeon's stepdaughter who he loves very much and want to get physical with. In fact, Robby taught Austin how to dance just so he could ask Shann out so why is Austin attracted and in love with both of them? Austin is struggling with some very issues and the only person he can rely on for advice is off is in Afghanistan fighting terrorists and he has no idea how to talk his father about his predicament. Meanwhile, after getting beat up for the last time, Robby and Austin uncover a secret that Johnny McKeon has been hiding in his office, which contains the recipe for world annihilation. However, the ones responsible for releasing the end of the world were the same people who have terrorized Robby and Austin, which takes Robby, Austin, and Shann to an underground shelter called Eden, beneath the McKeon mansion. What did Grady McKeon invent that would warrant this massive underground shelter and how the heck are Robby and Austin going to solve this rather "giant" problem? The answer is: paintball guns, blood, lemur masks, and whole lot of cigarettes.   

Critical Evaluation:
Wow. Where do I begin! Although the bigger picture is about saving the world from giant mantis' and staying alive, there are two additional stories going on at the same time that reveal the insanity of the human existence. Between Austin's story, readers will learn about the Szerba family and how everyone's individual story, and struggles, reflects upon Austin and contributes to his dilme: is he gay or straight. I will honestly say that amongst the absurdity of the giant bugs, introducing the story of a teen boy questioning his sexuality is not absurd at all. In fact, this whole story is about the various types of love that we all encounter and that love has very different outcomes. For example, Austin loves Robby in a way that is unconditional and never ending (it transcends love for family, friends, etc.) and, as for Shann, Austin's love is passionate and sexual that also goes beyond friends and family. Although Austin does daydream (frequently) about a threesome between him, Robby, and Shann, I believe Austin wants to bring these types of love together to make him feel complete. In many ways, readers will empathize with Austin, in the sense, that he wants to feel whole. Granted, if Austin didn't have to worry giant bugs taking over the world, I believe he would have found someone who could satisfy him on both levels and not just one, bu, alas, it just wasn't meant to be for Austin.  However,  Austin has diverted all of his strength and attention into the upbringing of Arek so maybe it doesn't really matter in the end. This is such a complicated, emotionally driven, testicle-laden and crazy story of today's adolescent males that kind of makes me glad I am a woman and a grown-up
.
Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

Andrew Smith is the award-winning author of several Young Adult novels, including the critically acclaimed Grasshopper Jungle (2015 Michael L. Printz Honor, 2014 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Carnegie Medal Longlist) and Winger. He is a native-born Californian who spent most of his formative years traveling the world. His university studies focused on Political Science, Journalism, and Literature. He has published numerous short stories and articles. The Alex Crow, a starred novel by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist, is his ninth novel. He lives in Southern California.

Genre:
Teen Contemporary Fiction, Teen LBGTQ Fiction, Teen Dystopian Thrillers

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up

Books Similar to Grasshopper Jungle:

• Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King
• More Than This by Patrick Ness
• I'll Give Your the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com:

“A literary joy to behold. . . . reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, in the best sense.”
—The New York Times Book Review

"This raunchy, bizarre, smart and compelling sci-fi novel defies description – it's best to go into it with an open mind and allow yourself to be first drawn in, then blown away."
—Rolling Stone

“[Grasshopper Jungle] reads more like an absurdist Middlesex… and is all the better for it. A-”
—Entertainment Weekly

 “Nuanced, gross, funny and poignant, it's wildly original.”
—The San Francisco Chronicle

“If you appreciate kooky humor, sentences that bite, and a nuanced understanding of human beings’ complicated natures and inexplicable actions, then you, too, will love Smith’s bold, bizarre, and beautiful novel.”
—The Boston Globe

“The end of the world comes with neither a bang nor a whimper but with a dark chuckle and the ominous click-click of giant insect mandibles in this irreverent, strangely tender new novel by Andrew Smith. This but hints at the intricately structured, profound, profanity-laced narrative between these radioactive-green covers.”
—The Washington Post

“Andrew Smith’s writing grabs you. He takes phrases and turns them into recurring motifs that punctuate the story, until by the end you start to expect them, maybe even mutter them to yourself. And the way that he takes all these seemingly disparate plot strands and weaves them together is masterful… Once you get lost in Grasshopper Jungle you won’t want to be found.”—Geekdad.com

 “No author writing for teens today can match Andrew Smith’s mastery of the grotesque, the authentic experiences of teenage boys or the way one seamlessly becomes a metaphor for the other.”
—BookPage, Top February Teen Pick

"A meanderingly funny, weirdly compelling and thoroughly brilliant chronicle of ‘the end of the world, and shit like that’...a mighty good book."
—Kirkus, starred review

"Filled with gonzo black humor, Smith's outrageous tale makes serious points about scientific research done in the name of patriotism and profit, the intersections between the personal and the global, the weight of history on the present, and the often out-of-control sexuality of 16-year-old boys."
— Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Original, honest, and extraordinary… pushes the boundaries of young adult literature."
—School Library Journal, starred review

“Grasshopper Jungle plays like a classic rock album, a killing machine of a book built for the masses that also dives effortlessly into more challenging, deeper regions of emotion. Above all else, when it's done you want to play it all over again. It's sexy, gory, hilarious, and refreshingly amoral. I wish I'd had this book when I was fifteen. It almost makes me sad that it took twenty years to finally find what I'd been looking for.”
—Jake Shears, lead singer of Scissor Sisters

“Grasshopper Jungle is a cool/passionate, gay/straight, male/female, absurd/real, funny/moving, past/present, breezy/profound masterpiece of a book.  Every time you think you've figured it out, you haven't.  Every time you're sure Andrew Smith must do this, he does that instead. Grasshopper Jungle almost defies description because description can only rob the reader of the pleasure of surrendering to a master storyteller.  Original, weird, sexy, thought-provoking and guaranteed to stir controversy.  One hell of a book.”
—Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author of the Gone series

“I found myself saying over and over again, ‘Where in the heck is he going with this?’ all the while turning the pages as fast as I could. Mostly I kept thinking, This was a brave book to write.”
—Terry Brooks, author of the Shannara series

“Andrew Smith is the bravest storyteller I know. Grasshopper Jungle is the most intelligent and gripping book I've read in over a decade. I didn't move for two days until I had it finished. Trust me. Pick it up right now. It's a masterpiece.”
—A. S. King, Printz Honor-winning author of Ask the Passengers and Please Ignore Vera Dietz

“In Grasshopper Jungle, it’s as if Andrew Smith is somehow possessed by the ghost of Kurt Vonnegut. This book is nothing short of a brilliant, hilarious thrill-ride that is instantly infectious. But, the most beautiful thing about Grasshopper Jungle has nothing to do with the absurd or out-of-this-world. It is the deft hand by which Smith explores teenage love and sexuality that is truly breathtaking. In writing a history of the end of the world, Smith may have just made history himself.”
—John Corey Whaley, Printz Award-winning author of Where Things Come Back

“Grasshopper Jungle is about the end of the world. And everything in between.”
—Alex London, author of Proxy

“Austin’s narrative voice fizzes with catchphrases that keep the reader on track as he dives into history and backstory. His obsessively repetitive but somehow endearing style calls to mind Vonnegut and Heller. This novel approaches its own edge of sophisticated brutality, sensory and intellectual overload, and sheer weirdness, and then jumps right off.”
—BCCB