Pet

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi is a young adult novel of how to tell the monsters from other people. 

In the near future, after the revolution to get rid of the monsters, in the city of Lucille a young person named Jam lives with their parents. 

When their mother creates a painting, it seems to want to come alive. And Pet accidentally lets what looks like a monster out of the canvas. But the creature is actually a monster hunter. But what monsters? They were all gotten during the revolution.

Emezi's layered book looks at justice and identity. How do you save the world if no one will admit the monsters exist? (A very important question for our time!) A tender look at a society in denial by a brilliant poetical author.

Emezi, Akwaeke. (2020). Pet. New York: Make Me A World.

Eleanor and Park

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is a beautiful book of friendship and love - the winner of the YA Printz award for best book and as good at the previous winner Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

It is 1986 in Omaha, Nebraska when Park sees the new girl get on the school bus for the first time. Since the school year already started, everyone else on the bus has already claimed the seat they wanted. And no one wants to share with a new kid - especially one who is dressed oddly. After a moment's hesitation, Park slides over and shares his seat with her. But he doesn't look at her or talk to her. He just didn't want her to make it to the back of the bus to the bullies.

Eleanor just moved back in with her family. Her mom's boyfriend (now husband) kicked her out a year ago. She went to her mom's friend's house to stay for a few days - and stayed a year. She has not seen her four siblings in all that time.

Eleanor doesn't know why the Asian kid moved over for her and then ignored her. But she didn't try to talk to him either. During her first day of school, she notices that he is in a few of her classes.

After a few days sharing a seat on the bus, Park notices that Eleanor is reading his comics while he does. A couple of days later, he brings her one to borrow.

So slowly begins a friendship between Park and Eleanor, one that grows into first love in this amazing novel. Rowell has created great characters in this must read story.

Rowell, Rainbow. (2013). Eleanor and Park. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Secret Lies

Secret Lies by Amy Dunne is the story of a new friendship that changes the lives of both young women.

Jenny O'Connor is popular. She and her three best friends are known for their rude comments toward other students. But the truth is that she is never the one saying rude things and she doesn't really like two of her three friends. She doesn't feel like she can be herself around them.

Nicola Jackson does not really have any friends. Her life consists of high school and trying to avoid her mother's boyfriend. Since she was twelve, he has been beating her and threatening to kill her.

After a particularly rough morning Nicola is fleeing her home when she literally runs into Jenny. She knows who Jenny is but doesn't believe that Jenny knows who she is - but Jenny has noticed her before. Jenny offers to take Nicola home and clean up her hand that was hurt when they crashed to the ground.

Nicola is suspicious, but Jenny seems to genuinely want to help. After spending the day together, Jenny convinces Nic to spend the night - and when she accidentally walks in on Nic changing into her pajamas and sees the scars on her back, she makes up a lie to convince her parents to allow Nic to move in for a while.

Dunne has written a steamy teen romance novel with an underlying story of overcoming abuse. Both of her characters have secrets that they have never felt comfortable talking about and together they begin to heal. This is a great YA lesbian novel.

Dunne, Amy. (2013). Secret Lies. New York: Bold Strokes Books.

Adaptation

Adaptation by Malinda Lo is new science fiction book. Lo is an awesome writer whose previous YA books have been lesbian fantasy stories while this novel takes place in the near future when something goes wrong with the birds...

Reese Holloway and David Li are in Arizona with their debate teacher. They made it to the national debates but lost last night. Now the three of them are waiting at the airport for their delayed flight. As Reese looks out the window onto the tarmac she sees two birds plummet to the ground. Then, on the news playing in the background, there is word of a plane crash - apparently caused by a bird strike. Soon all air travel is grounded as birds strike other planes.

It looks like Reese, David and their teacher will have to drive home to San Francisco. That night, Reese is driving when they crash due to a bird flying right at the car. When she awakes she is in some kind of hospital and things in the US have changed from what she was used to from before.

Reese and David are driven back to San Francisco, but they don't feel like themselves. And there is now a curfew for the city. Reese's best friend is convinced there is a conspiracy behind the birds and curfew - but he is also convinced that since Reese crashed in Arizona, she must have been in Area 51 - where the government keeps the aliens.

Lo has written an edge-of-your-seat science fiction thriller with great characters who are trying to figure out their changing world. Previous fans will not be disappointed in this new direction - there is still a lesbian love story. There is a rumor that this is the first book in a series...

Lo, Malinda. (2012). Adaptation. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Echo Burning (Jack Reacher #5)

Echo Burning is the fifth book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series - about an ex-military cop who is wandering the US since his discharge and getting into situations where his detective (and shooting) skills are put to use.

Echo county Texas has more oil rigs than people. It is as sparsely populated now as it was during the time of the Wild West. And the so called justice is about the same, too.

Reacher is leaving Lubbock when he is picked up by a woman who lives in Echo. She has been looking for a rough looking man to take home with her for protection. Or to kill her husband.

Though Reacher has killed a few people in his day, he is not a cold blooded killer. But he goes with her and becomes a ranch hand to check out the situation. Of course the situation is much more complicated than a woman stuck in an abusive marriage.

Child has created a compelling character in Jack Reacher. He a man you would want on your side in a fight and his adventures are a pleasure for readers.

Child, Lee. (2001). Echo Burning. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Rage: A Love Story

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters addresses the problem of abuse in teen relationships in the story of two young women who fall for each other.

Johanna has had a rough life the last few years. Her sister moved away and her mother died. She is not really interested in school though she is just a few weeks from graduating. She is only excited about two things - her job at the hospice where her mother died and Reeve Hartt.

Reeve's life makes Johanna's look like Disneyland. As their lives begin to intersect, Johanna wants to help Reeve in any way she can. Reeve is a complicated character whose many layers make her both fascinating and frightening to those around her.

Peters captures the feelings of first love - desperation and ache - in a way that is both familiar and like watching a slow train wreck. She does not mirror a stereotypical look at abuse, but create two characters who are complex, who have flaws, and who are in tough situations that do not excuse their behavior but attempt to explain it.

Peters, Julie Anne. (2009). Rage: A Love Story. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.