WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW by Alyssa Colman

 

It's 1935 in Oklahoma. Twins Howe and Joanna Stanton live on the family farm. Their lives are filled with chores, school, and surviving dust storms. When their uncle can't make his loan payments and loses his farm, he moves his family to California where jobs are supposedly available. Howe and Joanna's dad decides to head west as well in the hope of making money he can send back to the family. 

Left to manage the farm with their older brother and their mother, the twins find themselves working even harder. The dust storms increase in intensity causing destruction and illness throughout the region. When their older brother Lou falls from a ladder and breaks his leg, all the farm work falls to the twins and their mother.

Despite having scoliosis, Joanna impresses the Red Cross nurses at the local makeshift hospital. They offer her a job that provides extra money for the family, but they still hope their father returns soon.

Author Alyssa Colman deftly portrays the Dust Bowl time in the Midwest. Tales of the constant cleanup after the suffocating dust and dirt that coats the land informs readers of a time in our history that taught farmers how to better handle their crops and manage the land.

THE TOWN WITH NO MIRRORS by Christina Collins

 

I highly recommend THE TOWN WITH NO MIRRORS by Christina Collins. It grabbed me on the first page and there was no stopping.

Can you imagine never seeing your reflection? Zailey never has seen her face. She is fascinated by the faces she sees every day in her small community, but she knows it is wrong to stare. She knows it is even worse that she secretly sketches the faces she sees. 

Living in Gladder Hill means superficial thoughts and ideas are prohibited. There are no mirrors. In fact, all reflective surfaces have been illuminated. Zailey's neighbor is evicted when it is discovered that he has a silver spoon. 

The community was created to insulate people from physical fascinations. There are strict rules and conditions in Gladder Hill, but Zailey is getting more curious every day. When an argument with her grandmother ends in a horrible accident, Zailey is airlifted to the hospital where she discovers the world outside Gladder Hill. 

Inspired by body image issues and eating disorders, author Christina Collins creates a world designed as a utopia, but like many utopias, things end up more like a dystopian experience. This one will stick with readers long after they finish.

FINDING LOST by Holly Goldberg Sloan

 

Since Cordy lost her father, she has been searching for something to convince her mother that they should stay in the town she and her brother have always lived in. Staying where she remembers her dad and all they shared is her number one priority.

When Cordy finds a homeless little dog, she is sure this is the answer. She christens him "Lost" and they do everything together. Cordy is thrilled that her mom seems to adore the little dog, too.

A trip to a visiting vet turns up a problem with Lost's health. The reason for his horrible bad breath is some rotten teeth that need to be removed. When the cost seems impossible, the vet suggests a plan that will cost them nothing. He also seems to be taken with Cordy's mother. That could be good or bad. Only time will tell.

Author Holly Goldberg Sloan doesn't disappoint with another of her heartwarming tale about family, friendship, and love. FINDING LOST is a sure winner. 

AFTER ZERO by Christina Collins

 

Elise has discovered using words sparingly is the best plan for her. She and her mother live in the same house but rarely communicate. Her mother barely provides what Elise needs physically and even less emotionally. After always being homeschooled, Elise's mother declares she can attend public school. 

Entering school for the first time as an eighth grader isn't easy. It just takes a few days for Elise to realize this is also a place where not talking is best. She even uses a notebook to keep a tally record of how few words she can use in a day.

Elise is growing suspicious of her mother's activities. She realizes that she has never celebrated a birthday. In fact, she didn't even know there was such a thing until she sees her best friend celebrating. Her mother disappears into a shed in the backyard, and she takes off in the car to parts unknown. When Elise confronts her mother, she is told there is nothing to know.

AFTER ZERO by Christina Collins will draw readers in immediately and take them along on Elise's journey to fit in and learn the truth about her past.

HOW GIRLS ARE MADE by Mindy McGinnis

 

Shelby spends her time in the gym training. Her goal is to be a professional fighter. It is a surprise to everyone when her boyfriend loses his cool and breaks her nose. How can the person she thought she could trust betray her so much? 

Fallon strives for perfection. She's organized to a fault, and everyone knows it and depends on her. Her grades are top notch, and she knows her parents never have to worry about her. But, what happens when someone like Fallon decides that she must step up to make sure her little sister and everyone else deserve better when it comes being educated about a woman's body and sex?

Jobie is a good girl. She's creative and cute. She spends most of her time online. It's amazing the sites she's found to help her with personal care and ways to attract attention. Her goal is to increase her followers and find ways to earn money for the things she believes she needs to make herself beautiful.

All three girls have different reasons for starting the club they dub SHAFT Class. It is supposed to be helping girls (and eventually, guys) have a better understanding of their bodies and sex than the traditional sex ed course provided by the school. Their intentions are good, but as the word spreads about the class, there are those who are critical, and those who are determined to shut it down and ruin them.

In HOW GIRLS ARE MADE author Mindy McGinnis takes on topics teens struggle with around the world. Self-esteem, self-worth, physical and emotional abuse, the pressure created by social media, and the expectations of family, friends, and society. Questions are raised and questions are answered but is there a chance that not everyone will appreciate the good intentions of her characters.

MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller

 

Magnolia Wu's parents own and operate a laundry in NYC. They are extremely busy, so Magnolia is often lonely, at least until she meets Iris. Iris recently moved to NYC from California. She's not happy about the move because she thinks New York is too busy, noisy, and dirty.

The girls hit it off, and when someone comes into the laundry and makes fun of Magnolia's Lost Sock display, Iris makes a suggestion that turns them into a creative, adventurous team. They decide to become detectives and solve the mystery of each missing sock by reuniting them with their owners.

This turns out to be challenging but great fun. They also learn about the challenges of what it takes to be a good friend. 

This middle grade novel by Chanel Miller is a quick read filled with family, friends, and what it's like being new.

THE STORY OF MY ANGER by Jasminne Mendez

 

THE STORY OF MY ANGER by Jasminne Mendez is a very timely book. With today's political climate many people are angry and looking for ways to best express their anger and frustration. Mendez's novel written in verse/play shares the story of one teen, her friends, and in one case, her enemy. It highlights book banning and racism and reactions to both.

Yuli is a Black/Latino. She tries to earn good grades, follow the rules, and always make her mother proud. She is involved in her school's drama club and aspires to one day act professionally. Yuli is excited about the upcoming production of OUR TOWN. After her audition, she is certain she will be awarded the lead role. That would mean she is the first ever Black girl to have a lead in a play at her high school. Unfortunately, she is on the cast list as the understudy for the lead. Her frustration increases when she notices there are no students of color in the cast.

Yuli's anger blossoms when her favorite teacher is forced to remove all the books in his classroom library because they are deemed inappropriate for students. Many students feel that this teacher has always provided books that have spoken to them and in some cases changed their lives. 

With the encouragement of her activist brother, Yuli begins a campaign to educate people about the dangers of banning books. Forming a group called A.C.T. Now, Yuli and her friends hope to convince the administration to return the books to the classroom shelf. Being an activist gives Yuli a platform for her anger, but she also discovers that it isn't easy to make her voice heard.

This book needs to be in every classroom library and public library. Jasminne Mendez has an important message for teens and adults alike.