We are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

We are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen is the most fun and entertaining young adult book that I have read in a while.  This series of letters between Cath and Scott will have readers laughing and crying – there’s a range of emotions to experience as the two friends live through the first year after high school.  

The writing is funny, clever and biting – with wry comments about adjusting to college life, and meeting new people, including a “nutty” roommate. Plus, there's plenty of commentary about relationships – whether with parents or with past girlfriends and new boyfriends or fellow band members.  The voices are honest and real. Filled with references to 1980s pop culture, We are Still Tornadoes shares some sad and difficult moments, but overall is definitely a feel good book. I loved the banter that existed – and the obvious affection – between Cath and Scott and am highly recommending We are Still Tornadoes.

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

I have been recommending A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess lately.  The dramatic cover is not only eye-catching, it alludes to the many twists and turns in this new fantasy with a strong female main character.  Henrietta (Nettie) has unusual powers and when they are discovered she is whisked away to London in an attempt to fight the Ancients, giant beasts who take on horrible shapes and powers of their own.

There, she is introduced to a society with its own rules about sorcerers and magicians – class distinctions are key.  As a result, life is hard for her friend, Rook, who was scarred by the Ancients and is considered Unclean. Nettie struggles with learning to control her powers and her emotions, all while trying to combat sexism and determine who is worthy of her trust.

A Shadow Bright and Burning is full of magic, adventure and intrigue. Cluess does an excellent job of evoking the hardships of Victorian-era England. It’s oppressive, dark and dangerous, with Nettie and her small band of friends just awakening to the fight for justice while seeking safety for all.  A longer, but relatively easy read, A Shadow Bright and Burning will appeal to middle school and younger high school students who will eagerly await the second title in this series. 

The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan

The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan is a powerful book with memorable characters. Two brothers, 15 year old Amadou and 8 year old Seydou, are forced to work harvesting pods of cocoa.  The dangerous conditions – long hours, poor food, no schooling – are sad and disturbing, yet Amadou somehow holds to an inner core of goodness and works hard to protect his younger brother.  

His ability to get to a quiet place and cope with the situation is shaken by the arrival of Khadija, a “wildcat” of a girl who tries to escape repeatedly.  Eventually, they form a connection strong enough to cope with a serious injury for Seydou and to ultimately defy the bosses. The Bitter Side of Sweet is emotionally difficult to read at times, but could work as a class read (like assigning A Long Way Gone a few years ago), especially if studying Africa or human rights and child labor. Sullivan has added to her success with Golden Boy: The Bitter Side of Sweet received nearly universal starred reviews.

An Accident of Geography by Richard C. Blum

An Accident of Geography by Richard C. Blum with Thomas C. Hayes is about “compassion, innovation and the fight against poverty” according to its subtitle. Jimmy Carter wrote the Foreword and the beginning of this book relates Blum’s mountain climbing experiences in Nepal and talks about how he and Sir Edmund Hillary developed programs to help the local people in those areas. A private equity investor and philanthropist, Blum believes that “wherever we can help people improve their access to basic health care, food, clean water, and education, we will advance the cause of world peace.”

After describing his passion, Blum moves to subsequent sections that discuss “what smart investing teaches us,” “policy and practice to bridge divides,” and “enabling others to solve problems of poverty.” Notes and a bibliography with suggested resources round out the book. An Accident of Geography is definitely an engaging read and one to which our privileged students should be exposed. If I have any concerns, it is that they may have trouble relating to something so far away and foreign to their experience.  However, our students already read Behind the Beautiful Forevers for a summer reading assignment so I will be featuring An Accident of Geography in future booktalks which include Promise of a Pencil, Giving 2.0, A Path Appears (or others by Nicholas Kristof), Mountains Beyond Mountains, and Little Princes, plus titles like Hillbilly Elegy, The South Side  $2.00 a Day, and Evicted which focus on domestic poverty.