Separate Is Never Equal

Tonatiuh, D. (2014). Separate is never equal: Sylvia Mendez & her family's fight for desegregation. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. When Sylvia’s family moved to Westminster, California in 1944 she was not allowed to enroll in the local public school. Her family was told that Sylvia and her brothers had to attend the Mexican school. Sylvia was American and spoke perfect English so she didn’t understand why she couldn’t attend Westminster School. After getting rejected by the superintendent and the school board Sylvia’s father, Mr. Mendez, decided to hire an attorney to fight the injustice and put an end to segregation in California. The Mendez family along with four other families filed a lawsuit and three years later in 1947 they won their case. To view the book trailer visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlyGKQdPePQ.

Gabi, A Girl In Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, Texas: Cinco Puntos Press. Seventeen-year-old Gabi Hernandez is trying to survive her senior year while facing many set backs on her road to college. Gabi dreams of going to Berkley, but her mother doesn’t think that good Mexican girls should leave home and go to college unless they are “bad girls” or are trying to be “white.” Gabi has to deal with her best friend’s pregnancy, her friend coming out, her father’s drug addiction, and being a fat girl. Gabi soon finds out that poetry will help her heal her wounds and that fat girls can find love. Gabi, a Girl in Pieces is the 2015 Morris Award winner. Students who enjoyed this novel about being a Hispanic girl trying to overcome stereotypes will also enjoy reading Estrella’s Quincenera by Malin Alegria.

How It Went Down

Magoon, K. (2014). How it went down. New York: Henry Holt and Company. When sixteen-year-old, black teen, Tariq Johnson is shot to death there are many witnesses, but no one can seem to give the same account of the murder. The black community of Underhill is further angered when they find out that the shooter, Jack Franklin, who is white was released without any charges. The community members each tell their own accounts of that day and how they try to ease the pain of losing Tariq at such a young age, but no one will ever know if Tariq was carrying a gun. How It Went Down is a 2015 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. Students who enjoyed this novel should read When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds.

This One Summer

Tamaki, M. (2014). This one summer. New York: First Second. Rose goes to Awago Beach every summer with her mom and dad. Rose knows that her friend Windy will be there waiting for her and like every summer they will have a great time. Except this summer things are not fun because Rose’s parents can’t seem to stop fighting and Rose doesn’t know the secret they have been hiding. As the girls try to escape the drama they find themselves caught up in another problem as two local teens make a mistake that might change their lives forever. This One Summer is a 2015 Michael L. Printz Honor Book and a 2015 Caldecott Honor Book. This graphic novel can be used to teach a lesson on symbolism for middle school students using the captivating and detailed illustrations throughout.

I'll Give You The Sun

Nelson, J. (2014). I'll give you the sun. New York: Dial Books. Thirteen-year-olds Noah and Jude Sweetwine are inseparable twins that have an almost telepathic connection and who believe they share a soul. Three years later their bond is broken after their mother’s death as they both feel responsible for the accident. Both Noah and Jude hide secrets that have deepened the wedge between them. The twins are talented artists and will need to depend on their art that helped rip them apart to become the mean that helps them mend their broken hearts. Readers will be captivated by Nelson’s descriptive writing as the story unfolds from both Noah and Jude’s perspective of only half of the story until they forgive each other and all the secrets are revealed. I'll Give You The Sun is the 2015 Michael L. Printz Award winner. For a closer look at I'll Give You The Sun visit the book trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL44jLAR8d0.

El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York: Amulet Books. In this graphic novel memoir author Cece Bell retells her story of losing her hearing at the young of four due to meningitis. In this humorous novel she tells about her struggles to fit in. In Cece’s first school all the kids in her class were deaf like her and despite having a hearing aide she still struggled to understand others so her teacher taught her how to read lips. After her family moved she was forced to start the first grade as the only deaf student at school and to make matters worse she was forced to wear the Phonic Ear which was a huge hearing devise that had to be strapped to her chest. In Cece’s mind the Phonic Ear is a friend repellent until she realizes that she can hear her teacher from anywhere on campus, and soon Cece becomes “El Deafo.” “El Deafo” is her superhero alter ego that listens for all. This novel will make you laugh out loud as readers follow Cece’s journey to finding true friends and finally fitting in. El Deafo is a 2015 Newberry Honor Book. For an exciting look at El Deafo, view the book trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEmrTJOscvo .