It’s that time of year! Though the warm summer weather is still raging on, school is back in session. The new Greenwood Middle School has officially opened, and we’re excited to see what the new school year will bring!
Here are ten awesome teen books with school settings that you might enjoy!
Gem & Dixie
by Sara Zarr
4 stars
Gem has never known what it is to have security. She’s never known an adult she can truly rely on. But the one constant in her life has been Dixie. Gem grew up taking care of her sister when no one else could: not their mother, whose issues make it hard for her to keep food on the table, and definitely not their father, whose intermittent presence is the only thing worse than his frequent absence. Even as Gem and Dixie have grown apart, they’ve always had each other.
When their dad returns home for the first time in years and tries to insert himself back into their lives, Gem finds herself with an unexpected opportunity: three days with Dixie—on their own in Seattle and beyond. But this short trip soon becomes something more, as Gem discovers that to save herself, she may have to sever the one bond she’s tried so hard to keep.
~Goodreads Description
Another extremely sad, realistic fiction read for Emily this year. What a doozy. Seriously.
Zarr does so many things heartrendingly well in this story that I resented her a little when I was finished. This book stuck with me. I both hated it and loved it which is exactly the reason why I would recommend it to teens who enjoy gritty, real stories that tug at your heart.
Gem’s life is dirty and ugly. Her mother finds solace in the drugs that Dixie buys for her at school, and her absentee father promises change and relief but only brings more chaos and destruction into their lives. Over the course of just a few short days, Gem realizes that to save herself she has to walk away from the sister that she loves – the one person in her life who has never really let her down. There were several moments where Gem’s words and actions broke my heart. This is also a story about poverty, and for Gem that often led to hunger and fear. There was no direct or specific physical or emotional abuse. The parents weren’t intentionally neglectful or hateful, but so many actions and choices built up over the years that left Gem scarred. In one particular moving scene with a school counselor, Gem calls attention to this and asks how bad things have to get in order for someone to step in and help.
This is a short, quick read which makes it more impressive. Zarr does an excellent job with character development in such a short time, and while there is no clear resolution to the problems Gem faces, the ending is hopeful.
Read-alikes
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Andersen
Can’t make it to one of our regularly scheduled book clubs? Then read along with our #GPLtalk podcast. Each month, we discuss a different book, and we’d love for you to read along!
This month we discussed The Valiant by Lesley Livingston, a historical fiction teen title set during the Roman Empire.
Fallon, the daughter of a Celtic King, is kidnapped by Roman slavers and taken out of Britain to Rome where she is sold to an elite training school for female gladiators. The school is owned by Julius Caeser – the same tyrant that invaded her homeland and killed her sister. In order to survive, Fallon must hone her skills with a sword and navigate threats both inside and out of the arena.
Book Club Conclusion: The general consensus was positive for the entertaining story set during an interesting and brutal time of history. We might not rush to read the series sequel, but it’s definitely one we recommend.
Take a listen as Emily, Aubrey, Jessica, and Valerie discuss historical fiction, quick love connections, and the desire for blood.
If you’ve read the book (or plan to read it!), we’d love to hear your book club conclusion. Would you recommend the book to others?
And be sure to read along with us next month as we discuss Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight.
American Street
by Ibi Zoboi
4 stars
When Fabiola’s mother is detained by immigration when they leave Haiti to visit family in the United States, Fabiola is forced to navigate Detroit with only her aunt and her gruff cousins to guide her. Her aunt has recently had a stroke, and her cousins are tough, gruff Detroit natives, known to everyone as the Three Bees (brains, beauty & brawn). There are hints of magical realism as Fabiola tries to hold on to her Haitian roots, continuing to pray to the Voodoo spirits to help her and seeing them in the people she meets – the homeless man across the street who sings through the night, the hairdresser that gives her an American makeover, the detective who asks her to spy on her family and friends in order to save her mother, and the cute boy who calls her Fabulous. This gritty story is definitely recommend for older teens or adults looking for a gripping diverse and emotional story about family, love, and the true meaning of “home.”
Read-alikes
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
Spelled
by Betsy Schow
4 stars
I’m not always one to pick up books based on fairy tales. You’ve heard it once or twice, and it starts to get old. However, anything to do with the Wizard of Oz will get my attention. When Miss Emily told me about this adorable, silly, ridiculous book she was reading, I knew I had to give it a try.
Spelled is not the same old story told over again. Instead, the old tales are flipped on their heads. When Dorthea the Emerald Princess makes a wish and messes with everyone’s happily-ever-afters, she accidentally turns the world of Story into chaos. Really she just didn’t want to marry the unfashionable prince Kato (who could easily be mistaken for a gardener) that she was (without her consent or knowledge) betrothed to, and she’s tired or being stuck in a palace (due to an unfortunate curse on her family that foretells one of the Emerald Princesses will burn the world to the ground…Yikes!). But now Beauty is a hairy beast in a yellow dress, Rapunzel has lost all her hair, where Cinderella was once standing is now a pumpkin wearing glass slippers, and Dorthea’s only hope of fixing things is finding the spring over the rainbow accompanied by her betrothed (who is now a furball) and the servant girl Rexi (a kleptomaniac), while somehow managing to keep her heels on (because they’re limited edition silver Hans Christian Louboutin slippers with crushed rubies covering the sole and two-inch heels…duh). So off to see the Wizard she is.
A super fun read that’ll keep you laughing with its twists, turns, and puns.
Read-alikes
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Flunked by Jen Calonita
Entwined by Heather Dixon