LONG WAY DOWN by JASON REYNOLDS A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is one of those seminal YA novels that most everyone should read once in their lives. I’ve known of Mr. Reynolds for a long time now–he’s YA royalty–but I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t…
THE QUEENS OF NEW YORK by EL SHEN A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN The Queens of New York by E.L. Shen is a heartfelt YA contemporary novel following three main characters: Jia Lee, Ariel Kim, and Everett Hoang. All three are Asian-Americans from different socio-economic backgrounds. Jia is Chinese-American and…
REGGIE AND DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING by ELISE BRYANT A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant is a refreshing YA contemporary romance about two teenagers falling in love…and finding themselves along the way. The book is told from two points of view: Reggie…
NORTHRANGER by REY TERCIERO A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN Northranger by Rey Terciero is a YA graphic novel loosely inspired by Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. Having never read that book, I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting into what I picked up this graphic novel. It seemed interesting enough–a queer teen…
IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME by LAURA NOWLIN A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin is pitched as YA’s answer to Colleen Hoover, and after reading the book, I think it’s a good comparison. Following former childhood best friends Autumn and Phineas…
THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS by JEN WILDE A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN This is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde is an interesting mix of genres that I wasn’t expecting when I first got into it. This is a story about wealth and class, about…
A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY by BRIAN D. KENNEDY A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy is a delightful tribute to Dolly Parton and Dollywood, wrapped up in a cute romance between two boys who are struggling to find their place in life. Emmett is…
HUNGRY GHOST by VICTORIA YING A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN TRIGGER WARNING FOR EATING DISORDERS Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying is a powerful graphic novel about what it means to be perfect. The perfect daughter, the perfect student, the perfect image of what a high school girl should be. Our main…
BANNED BOOK CLUB by KIM HYUN SOOK A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN For my first review of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I knew I wanted to pick up something that would help be better understand the wide and varied history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Banned Book…
OPHELIA AFTER ALL by RACQUEL MARIE A REVIEW by ALEXA DUNCAN Ophelia After All by Raquel Marie is a heartfelt story about love, friendship, and the pain of growing up. The book follows our main character, Ophelia Rojas, and her tight-knit friend group as they muddle through their senior year of…