Category: POC Lead

Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel by Jason Reynolds, illus. Zeke Peña

May 9, 2024

Miles Morales Suspended touches on themes of identity, censorship, and the “patterns” of Miles’ life and upbringing through a combination of prose and poetry. The reader joins Miles for a day of in-school suspension, and it soon becomes apparent that something is afoot when termites start popping up and setting off his spidey-sense. Can Spider-Man solve this mystery? Or is this incident representative of something greater than defeating another bad guy? … More Miles Morales Suspended: A Spider-Man Novel by Jason Reynolds, illus. Zeke Peña

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

May 7, 2024

So much happens in this book, I could not stop reading. In this sequel to Legendborn, Briana Mathews is no longer just fighting shadowborn demons and trying to uncover the truth of her mother’s death. Now, Bree finds herself in the supposedly most powerful position within the unwelcoming Order. She is suddenly fighting demons who want to take over the world, political leaders who see her as a threat to their system, and ancestors from two different bloodlines who think she should do things differently.  … More Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

April 25, 2024

Throughout the ordeal with the police, the public, and the family, the book shows how privilege, media, racism, and distrust interact to control both parts of a story — the spun narrative and the harrowing truth. As more secrets come to light, things become even more morally complex and layered. The descriptions of violence and terror (clarified in the book’s content warnings) are intense and don’t hold back, creating a suspenseful, disturbing atmosphere in a truly enthralling way. … More Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters

March 21, 2024

The relationships in this novel are some of its best parts. Though he struggles with loneliness, Ali is never truly alone. For one, Ali has his Dada, or paternal grandfather. As we learn of Iqbal Khan’s tragic backstory, Ali’s Dada serves as the facilitator of so many lessons, showcasing the importance of listening to and being supported by elders … More Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters

Duel by Jessixa Bagley, illus. Aaron Bagley

March 14, 2024

It was a pleasure reading Duel by Jessixa Bagley. Once I started, I couldn’t put this story down. The dialogue is incredibly believable, and exactly how middle-schoolers tend to speak. This book perfectly captures how hard it is to be a young teen navigating the world and reminded me of my own time in middle school. From tricky friendships and conflict with parents to healing after loss, the issues that arise in Duel are tackled very well. … More Duel by Jessixa Bagley, illus. Aaron Bagley

Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai

March 5, 2024

Catfish Rolling is not here to provide us with all the answers, but to remind us that there are multiple ways to exist and understand reality. Temporality is such a captivating and sometimes frightening subject, and I was completely invested in Sora and her father’s obsession with figuring out how the zones work. Ultimately though, the message of Catfish Rolling is that trying to control time instead of simply trying to understand it has dire consequences. … More Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai

What Will I Discover by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illus. Rachel Qiuqi

October 26, 2023

The book also introduces fascinating scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging manner. It encourages young readers to observe the world around them, ask questions and foster their inquisitive minds. With informative yet comprehensible sentences, the text accommodates for both reading aloud and independent reading. … More What Will I Discover by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illus. Rachel Qiuqi