FITTING INDIAN by Jyoti Chand, art by Tara Anand

 

First, thank you to Media Masters Publicity for providing a review copy of FITTING INDIAN. It tells a powerful story.

Nitasha wishes her parents were not so strict. They want her to be the perfect Indian daughter, but they don't understand the pressures she faces at school to earn top grades and fit in with friends who are white and able to do whatever they want. Nitasha also lives in the shadow of her brother and his successful career as a doctor.

Feeling abandoned by her best friend, Nitasha has turned to alcohol and cutting to relieve the pressure. She has a crush on Henry, but he doesn't seem serious about her, plus she knows dating is frowned on in her culture. When a video of her trying to impress Henry goes viral, shame leads to Nitasha deciding suicide is the only answer.

Fortunately, her brother finds her in time, and she wakes up in the hospital. After a 72-hour psychiatric hold, Nitasha goes home to an over-vigilant mother and a father who refuses to talk to her. Talking to a therapist reveals that the Indian culture doesn't acknowledge mental health issues as worthy of discussion or even treatment in some cases. With the help of a childhood friend, Nitasha opens up and decides therapy is just what she needs. 

Author Jyoti Chand uses her own personal experiences to create Nitasha. Direct, straightforward dialogue reveals the difficulties in addressing mental health issues and the problems that causes in families. The graphic novel format makes FITTING INDIAN relatable for any reader.

DISTRESS SIGNAL by Mary E. Lambert

 

DISTRESS SIGNAL by Mary E. Lambert will keep you on the edge of your seat. A class field trip into the desert has four students running for their lives.

Lavender has been looking forward to the science field trip, but things aren't working out how she planned. She thought she would be sitting on the bus next her BFF Marisol, but Marisol is hanging out with someone else. Rachelle has never been Lavender's favorite person. Why is Marisol so interested in her?

As they board the bus, Lavender ends up sitting with John and watching as Marisol and Rachelle laugh and carry on all the way to the desert. Lavender has a plan to get even with the girls, unfortunately, a flash flood warning has her desperately rethinking her plans.

Lavender attempts to warn the girls, but the flash flood ends up separating Lavender, Marisol, Rachelle, and John from the rest of their class. They manage to survive the flood only to face a dwindling water supply, little food, cold nights, and even a bear. 

Author Mary E. Lambert takes readers on a survival adventure in the mountainous desert. Her characters learn to depend on each other as they discover what true friendship means. DISTRESS SIGNAL is perfect for middle grade classrooms and libraries.

GHOST BOOK by Remy Lai

 

July Chen is being visited by what she thinks is a ghost. Actually, it's a boy named William who claims he isn't a ghost, in fact, he isn't really even dead. He tells July that he is stuck between the living and the dead.

July's father seems to be convinced that ghosts don't exist, so she must pretend that she doesn't believe in them either. She befriends William and agrees to help him continue his journey from living to dead. He is in great danger because it is Hungry Ghost Month. He is being threatened by a Hungry Ghost. Little does July know that if she helps William, it could mean her own death.

GHOST BOOK is a graphic novel by Remy Lai. The colorful graphics will take readers into this ghost story as they travel with July as she tries to rescue William.

THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES by Kate Messner

 

Failing seventh grade isn't the only thing filling Finn Connelly with anger. He needs to make up 14 days of gym class, and he needs to complete a poetry project for his ELA teacher. The theme of the project is heroes. That really stokes Finn's anger since his father was supposedly a real, true hero. Unfortunately, his father worked every day to rescue people from burning buildings, accidents, and even the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster, but to Finn, it seemed like everyone else was more important than his own family.

One day his father headed off to his rescue job and never came back. His death has left an unbelievable hole. Finn's mother has tried to explain things to him, but he doesn't really believe the story she's telling. A trip to the cemetery to visit his father's grave turns into a real mess. Finn kicks over the wrong gravestone and ends up charged with destruction of property. Maybe his anger is getting out of control.

When he appears in court, the daughter of the woman whose grave marker he damaged, declares that she wants reparations. Finn can "fix" things if he promises to hike the 46 peaks of the Adirondacks over the summer. The woman buried in the grave was known for hiking the peaks and encouraging others to do the same over the years. Well, hiking seems better than being sent to juvie and paying for the grave marker which he and his mother can't afford.

Author Kate Messner takes readers on an incredible journey with Finn. THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES is written in verse and highlights the famous 46 peaks. Finn learns about the wilderness, the lives of those who have hiked in the past and present, and the true meaning of hero and what it meant to his father. This is an awesome read for teens and adults. 

WHALE EYES by James Robinson

 

WHALE EYES is a memoir about seeing and being seen by Jame Robinson. Born with misaligned eyes, James had two failed surgeries before he even started school. The condition known as strabismus causes the eyes to work independently which means focus constantly jumps from one eye to the other. Observers notice the condition when they aren't sure which eye is focused where.

James began truly struggling when he started school. By the end of 1st grade, he had given up on the idea of reading. Teachers tried everything in their toolboxes, but most didn't have any experience with James's condition. It wasn't until his mother began to take control of education for James and his brother who was dyslexic, that they began to find coping strategies that made reading easier.

In WHALE EYES, James details the difficulties he faces. Many people try to describe what James has as "lazy eye," and sometimes it is easier to just agree with that. With the help of illustrations and exercises, James tries to help readers understand his rare condition.

WHALE EYES is the perfect book for readers looking for inspiration in overcoming a disability or better understanding those who are dealing with a disability.

THE BEAT I DRUM by Dusti Bowling

 

One of my all-time favorite books is INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS by Dusti Bowling. When I learned about her new book THE BEAT I DRUM, I preordered it right away. It came! I read it! It was great!!!

THE BEAT I DRUM highlights Connor from the first Cactus book. He has recently moved to the other side of the city. His mother has a new job, and he will be going to a new school. 

Leaving his friends behind has not been easy. Connor has Tourette syndrome so making new friends who understand his tics and can look past them is a challenge. He does find Rory, Amanda, and Keanu. Rory is especially awesome. He is also introduced to an amazing teacher who shows him the magic of drumming.

In addition to adjusting to a new home and school, Connor is dealing with the return of his father. Connor didn't know moving would mean his estranged father would come back into the picture. The man almost destroyed Connor, making him feel like he was the cause of his parents' divorce. Is it possible for someone to change? Is it possible that Connor can forgive him?

Author Dusti Bowling deftly details life with Tourette syndrome, the challenges of forming new friendships, and the rocky road to repairing relationships. If you haven't explored this series, I highly recommend you give it a whirl.