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February Reads by Saleena

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  Kwame Alexander is a powerful writer.  He knows the exact words to use, which is why, I think, he writes in verse so much....he doesn't need the extra words to make you see his vision.  In The Door of No Return, Alexander paints a picture of Kofi.  A boy from the village of Upper Kwanta who dreams of a girl; has visions of being the best at something so he can make his parents and village proud; at overpowering his cousin who bullies him.....variations of a life that have been seen time after time in many places.  He could have had those things, but instead something terrible happens and he ends up captured and on a boat, trapped with so many others...   What makes this story so compelling is that Alexander shows us Kofi, his sweetness, his bitterness, his love and sorrow and then shows us the moment everything changes.  This is a beautiful and sorrowful tale that leaves you hopeful for Kofi, even if you know that for others, it was the start of a new and horrible life. I don'

Teen Books to check out!

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What Stalks Among Us is an absolutely fascinating thriller of a story.  Two high school seniors skip a field trip to an amusement park to go off on their own, find a corn maze and enter it because...why not?  The problem?  Now that they are in the maze, they can't get out....and how do they know that?  Because they keep finding dead bodies, and some of them are their own.....which means they have BEEN trying to get out.  What makes this extra awesome is the backstory of why the maze exists and the how of solving the puzzle as well as the delicate dance of actually making it work.  Hollowell does a fabulous job of dropping clues (and bodies) while maintaining a line of tension that really keeps the reader engaged.  I could not stop until I finished....so good! For those who love horror but not gore, this is an excellent option. Mascot is not only a story about students asking for the removal of a racist mascot, but is also a story about the students on both sides and why they are th

Recommended spooky reads from Saleena

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  She is a Haunting not only has an amazingly spooky cover but it's a psychological thriller that leaves the reader constantly wondering what is real.  Tran writes a story that grabs hold and doesn't let go.  I don't want to say too much, but essentially the house the main character is staying at with her father in Vietnam is either VERY haunted or she is being fed hallucinogens (maybe both?).   Thornhill is a spooky ghost story, which alternates between modern times and the past; both explaining why the house is haunted as well as showing what is happening because of the haunting to the family living there now. This creepy tale is told in both prose and picture adding to the atmosphere. Malice is another story told in both verse and picture.  In this book the reader is introduced to the world of Malice, where children can be trapped and hunted; while others read about it in an exclusive secret graphic novel.  What happens when a couple of kids decide to stop the madness an

August book picks from Saleena

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  Nayeri weaves a story that is fiction mixed with his memories of being an immigrant, trying to fit in and trying to savor the few things he remembers from his home in Iran.  He weaves tales as he tries to understand his reality and also to escape some of the more brutal truths of his life in Minnesota. This was a fascinating story as it constantly weaves back and forth with the storyteller always hiding truths, untruths and fantasies within the words.  It has moments of sadness, happiness and confusion....which really is true for anyone's life....but Nayeri makes it a story and a truth all at once.   I love a good horror story and She is a Haunting is a very good one.  I did NOT see the ending coming nor did I appreciate all the nuances as I was reading...it was all coming so fast that some of my reactions took days to truly hit.  The basic story is of an estranged family and the oldest girl agrees to visit her father in Vietnam in return for his promises of paying for her first

Short Stories are awesome!

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 Want to find new authors or explore genres?  Try short story collections, especially if they are based on a theme!  Here are three story collections I finished this month that would be fun to explore. Magic Has No Borders features South Asian folklore and magical stories told by South Asian authors.  I found some really interesting stories in this collection.  I adore finding new mythologies as well as new ways of looking at tales told a million times....and this collection filled both needs.  Some authors are well known, some don't have as much name recognition but the stories were a wide array of awesomeness. Mystery is a genre I struggle with, as my lack of logic (I think I missed that line and stood in the one for Imagination twice...haha) means that I usually miss all the clues and feel dumb.  This collection was interesting though, as some were obvious "looking for an answer" mysteries, some were "this terrible thing happened, how do I fix it" and some we

Nonfiction Reads!

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 I wanted to dive into some nonfiction, so here is what I've read recently that I think you may enjoy. I didn't expect this book to be so amazing, but it is.  The author jumps around (so not in any specific order) and incorporates images and notes to make history feel more.....impactful and recent.  The author updates some whitewashed historical facts, and also reminding readers that some facts have been lost or erased.  I love that the author is trying to make history more approachable and I think everyone should read this book, even if you aren't a history reading kind of person....because it can spark conversations and perhaps inspire you to learn more about some of the subjects and incidents mentioned. I love fashion, so this book seemed like it would be interesting, and it was!  While focused on a Canadian viewpoint, it still works to illustrate the various ways culture impacts fashion as well as how many ethnic groups are taking their styles into the future based on t

Some fun audiobooks to try!

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 If you haven't downloaded Hoopla and Libby, you are missing out on some great ebooks & audiobooks. This is a quick list of a few of my favs (because the narration is amazing) Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix:  Narrated by Allan Corduner Corduner has an amazing voice and adds a ton of nuance (and creepiness) to a tightly written adventure fantasy.   Lirael by Garth Nix:  Narrated by Tim Curry Tim Curry has quite a long career as an actor, but not everyone realizes that he has also done some amazing audiobooks.  This series shows off Curry's ability to be serious, funny, sarcastic and scary......sometimes within the same paragraph.  Nix's story is intricately woven and Curry adds to the fabric of the story with his nuanced voices. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman  Narrated by Neil Gaiman Most are familiar with Gaiman's skill as an author (as evidenced by this Newbery award winning novel); however not everyone realizes that he is an equally talented narrator and usua