Kiera Johnson has a secret that is getting harder and harder to keep. By day she's an ace student and one of the only black teens at Jefferson Academy but at night she's the creator of a massively popular online role playing game called SLAY. SLAY is a haven for gamers who for years have endured racist abuse in other online formats. Kiera keeps the fact that she's the game's creator hidden from her parents, her sister, her friends and even her boyfriend Malcolm, who is passionate about fighting white oppression, one of those tools being, in his opinion, video games. However, disaster strikes when a teen in Kansas is murdered over the game's built-in coin system. The boy's family and the media demands a response from the game's elusive creator. Not to mention the fact that SLAY is labelled racist, dangerous and responsible for generating gang-like mentality amongst its players. Lawsuits are brought up, prison sentences are mentioned. Kiera is consumed with dread and panic. Kiera's only solace is her friend Cicada, one of the game mods who lives in Paris. Kiera has never met her but finds a kindred spirit and a calming presence while talking to her. As the walls start closing in and Kiera finds herself loosing a grip on her sanity, she must make an impossible choice: reveal herself to the world and lose the only escape she's ever had in her life or try a last ditch effort to save the game she and hundreds of thousands of others love. SLAY is a brilliant new novel for fans of gaming and for anyone struggling to be themselves, struggling to live up to the expectations of others. Kiera is someone who feels like she has to apologise for who she is, someone who intimidates her white classmates just because of the colour of her skin. Her white friends come to her for advice on how not to appropriate black culture which is exhausting, as if Kiera is the last word on everything that revolves around black history and culture in general. I loved the supporting characters, Malcolm, her boyfriend, starts out as a passionate yet angry man who studies white oppression and black culture fervently. This passion eventually descends into something troubling for Kiera, and she must make hard choices when it comes to her love of SLAY and her love of Malcolm. Her sister Steph and her parents are supportive, tough, annoying and worried about her. In short, they are very well written. Morris has created a very unique and believable gaming atmosphere in my opinion. Many moons ago I was a fan of Everquest and played it often. SLAY opened my eyes up to the racism, sexism and overall toxicity of online gaming culture. I did not experience this in Everquest but this is down to two things, I am a straight white male and I wasn't that huge of a player, it didn't consume my life. Reading SLAY prompted me to do some research into this and I see it is a huge problem. This is an atmosphere that teens I work with in the library are dealing with, some of them on a daily basis. It really brought something I should have known more about to the forefront and i'm grateful for it. I highly recommend this novel to ages 14+
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Jemima Small is tired of standing out. Bullied for her weight, she's dubbed Jemima "Big" by the ringleader of the bullies, Lottie. Things get worse when she's made to enrol in a school run program called Health Club but which everyone at school calls "Fat Club." What keeps her together is her best friend Miki, her brother Jasper (even if he is annoying 90% of the time) her father and her aunt Luna. Her mother isn't in the picture, all Jemima knows is that one day she decided she needed to leave, that's it. It's a cloud that hangs over her head and when Jemima discovers the truth, it comes like a bucket of cold water. Keeping Jemima focused is her chance to be on Brainiacs, the most popular quiz show around. It's not just the money that is driving her, it's the idea that she can be something more than what everyone thinks she is. As the date for the Brainiacs tryouts approaches, Jemima struggles with her self confidence and finding her place in the world. I lvoed the characters in this novel. Jemima has a real friend in Miki, someone who relentlessly defends her against the tide of toxicity that spews from the bullies at her school. Tasmin Winter knows how to write the high school voice and the voice of the downtrodden and those who rise up against the hurt. This is an important book, it's a book that tackles tough issues in a way that is delivered flawlessly. Unfortunately Jemima's struggles mirror those of many students in the UK and around the world. Jemima struggles with the idea that because she doesn't look a certain way she isn't worth anything. This is a real issue causing real damage to our youth. This book is a message like a lightning bolt to anyone struggling with body image issues, bullying, doubt, anxiety, depression, the list goes on. It's a triumph and I already anticipate how popular it will be at our school. Perfect for ages 11 and up! Tally is 11 years old and has autism. She tries hard to "fit in" with her neurotypical friends but this usually leads down a path of uncomfortable exchanges and even meltdowns. Her sister, Nell, loves Tally even though Tally doesn't think so. Nell often gets frustrated with Tally and her need to wear a tiger mask in public, her need to save every worm she finds on the sidewalk amongst other things. As Tally starts Year 7, her friendship group has gotten a little bit older and a little bit more concerned with fitting in with the cool kids rather than accepting Tally's behaviour which they often find embarrassing. Also at her new school is Luke, a boy seemingly determined to make her life miserable. Interspersed throughout the book are Tally's diary entries which serve as informational pieces for the reader. These are extremely helpful, especially to anyone who has autism or works or lives with someone who does have autism. Can You See Me? Is a beautifully written story that in my opinion should be required reading for staff at any high school. It's difficult to measure the amount of empathy this wonderful novel will instil into those who read it because we are all experiencing the world differently but I can guarantee it will open eyes and hearts. What I love about this novel is that it describes autism in a very honest, raw way that never feels heavy handed. It should be noted that girls portray autism differently and Tally herself says at the end of the novel that she doesn't speak for anyone, that the story is her experience. Throughout the story the reader learns things that can affect people with autism. These are things like: breaks in routine, even slight ones, can cause an increase in anxiety and even bring on panic attacks and meltdowns. A meltdown is not a temper tantrum. It is not some display of poor behaviour just for attention. A meltdown is when someone with autism is feeling completely overwhelmed and cannot express it through verbal methods alone. Tally describes her meltdowns through shouting words that she has no control over, losing her sense of hearing temporarily and repetitively singing or making noises. Tally also uses stimming to express excitement or even stress. Stimming can present itself in many different ways but for Tally she flaps her hands repeatedly. She also relies heavily on a rubber tiger mask when she's out in public, unfortunately she can't wear this to school, something that increases her anxiety. Feeling overwhelmed presents itself many times throughout the novel, this occurs when teachers give her demands or deadlines that she has trouble processing, loud noises in the corridors or classrooms disrupt her thinking to a point where she has trouble refocusing and not interpreting body language or "hidden meanings" in people's actions and words. The ignorance of the general public is handled expertly in this story, Tally and her family must deal with rude patrons at a restaurant, teachers who don't care or understand what autism even is (although luckily, Tally does have a teacher who does care) and even members of Tally's own family who sometimes feel stressed or fed up with Tally's occasional demanding behaviour (not leaving the house until the episode of Peppa Pig is over, for instance). Once again, I can't recommend this book enough, especially to teaching staff, it's a beautfiul story sprinkled with powerful insight into the world of autism. No wonder, it was co-written by Libby Scott, an 11 year old with autism. Do yourself a favour and get this book asap. Eighteen months ago Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. The Tox, as they call it, started in the woods on their isolated little island. The trees and other plants started growing at a phenomenal rate, then it got into the teachers, then the students. It turned their bodies into something bizarre, extra spines, two heartbeats, everyone gets affected differently. What they all suffer is an eventual death, slow and painful. Hetty is infected, she lost her eye to the Tox. With her friend Byatt, they wait for a cure to come from the mainland. When Hetty is given the coveted boat shift, the opportunity to go out beyond the fence and pick up the supplies provided from those on the mainland, she learns a dark secret. A secret she can't contain. Soon. Raxter starts to fall apart, and when Byatt goes missing, Hetty embarks on a mission to find her friend before the Tox destroys everything she knows. I really got into the world of Wilder Girls, it's dark and at times terrifying and Rory Power's writing is at times razor sharp. I have no idea if a sequel is being written but there definitely could be one, or a prequel for that matter. I know i'd definitely read it. I loved Hetty and thought she was a very strong character right to the last page. I've already got a few students in mind that I know will want to pick this up, great dystopia thriller! This is the 5th book in my sponsored read in memory of my brother. For more information on this fundraising event, click here. Neena's life is quickly unravelling. Ever since her brother Akash vanished, she's been having trouble connecting the dots, not just with his disappearance, but with everyday, mundane things. She's desperate to hunt down clues as to where her brother is, but she can't seem to get a grip on reality. She loses trust in people, she becomes paranoid, she loses time. Her parents, frantic that she's slipping into a life of danger, become even more strict, which pushes Neena farther away. As her life crumbles into a paranoid frenzy, Neena tries to hold on to her sanity by finding her brother and her true self. A Million Pieces of Neena Gill is a harrowing look at mental illness, peer pressure, angst and desperation. It's a sad but important book that I highly recommend to teens who feel like they've got nobody listening to them. It's important that they know there is help out there, Emma Smith-Barton deals with delicate topics in a well researched and beautifully written way. Teens who are in need of help don't always ask for it, books like this can be the catalyst, something to give them a nudge in the right direction. I'm glad it exists, I wish I had a book like this when I was a teen, I'm excited to talk about it with our teens this coming school year. This is the 4th book in my sponsored read in memory of my brother. For all of the details about this fundraising event, you can click here. Cameron Post has just lost her parents in a tragic accident. Just prior to this, she was kissing a girl for the first time. Her first feeling is one of relief, knowing her parents will never discover her secret. Then she's moved to Miles City, Montana to live with her aunt Ruth and her grandmother. Ruth is conservative, religious and misguided in her intentions for Cameron. Cameron learns to survive the boredom of a small town and the depression, anxiety and ruin that her loss has left her. When Coley moves to town, something in Cameron ignites, she's never met someone like Coley, a beautiful girl who seems perfect in every way. Her and Coley become friends and just as their bond becomes close, Ruth decides to send Cameron to an ultra-religious camp in order to "fix" her homosexuality. In the camp, Cameron meets some teens who are genuinely on board for their "fixing" and others who see the camp for what it is, a denial of the basic human rights of the people who are forced to go there. Together, Cameron and her friends hatch a plan, one that will bring them closer together or potentially tear them apart. This is a beautiful novel that touches upon loss, grief, depression, substance abuse, the dangers of forcing religious beliefs onto others and so much more. Cameron wants to be herself, but she's not really sure who that is. I strongly identified with her struggles in her small town. The boredom, the toxic masculinity, the gossip, all of it were things that were to be overcome otherwise they would swallow you up. Cameron doesn't let it swallow her up, she takes things head on and pays a price for it but in my opinion it's a price worth paying. Cameron is someone I wish existed in my town, I think she would have been a great friend. This novel has received tons of accolades already so I'm not writing anything new here, but check it out if you haven't already. I'd happily give it to a Year 10 or 11 students at Glenthorne. Patron Saints of Nothing is the third book in my sponsored read in memory of my brother Matt who passed away suddenly last August. I am raising money for the rehabilitation centre that helped him and our family so much before he died. For more information, and to help me reach my goal, you can go here: https://bit.ly/2NeAetH Jay intends to have a lazy summer hanging out with his friends and playing video games. When he learns that his Filipino cousin Jun has been murdered, he decides to travel to the country he was born in to find some answers. What he finds are family members who, for the most part, aren't willing to even talk about Jun let alone help Jay dig into the mystery behind his death. It doesn't help that Jun's father is a high ranking member of a police force that has a shady reputation in how it is handling crime. Determined, Jay sets off to learn the truth, what he finds will shake his beliefs and make him question his own purpose on this planet. I really loved this novel, I enjoyed Jay's transformation throughout the story as he learned more and more about Jun and ultimately, himself. There is a political, historical and socioeconomic backdrop throughout, highlighting the effects of poverty and corruption in the Philippines, but also the strong communities, the hope and bonds that keep people together. It's also a condemnation of Philippine President Duterte's human rights violations when it comes to law and order throughout the country. Jun's father is convinced Jun became a drug addict, which would make him less than human in his eyes. Jay knows in his heart that Jun wouldn't fall to drugs, and that there must be something sinister behind his mysterious death. It's a fast story that keeps you going, keeps you guessing and breaks your heart while doing it. I really recommend Patron Saints of Nothing, it educates, informs and keeps you enthralled to the last page. This is the second book in my sponsored read. I'm reading one YA book a week that tackles mental health, depression, substance abuse and other issues. I'm doing this in memory of my brother Matt who passed away in August 2018. I'm hoping to raise money for a charity close to him and our family. For more details, and to donate, you can go here: https://bit.ly/2NeAetH THE BOXER by Nikesh Shukla is about 17 year old Sunny. After a racist attack at a train station, he's left bloody, beaten and filled with PTSD and anxiety. After some convincing, he decides to join a boxing gym. Over time he becomes more confident and makes new friends. One of them is Keir, a boy with a troubled past but a kind heart. However, when Sunny learns that Keir's brother and father are hardcore racists, he becomes angry, frightened and confused. When another incident incites racial tensions to rise in their home city of Bristol, Keir and Sunny find themselves at opposite ends of the argument. This culminates in Sunny facing off against Keir in a boxing match, one that Keir claims will end Sunny's hopes of ever boxing again. THE BOXER is told in alternate chapters, with Sunny & Keir facing off in the ring and the other chapters flashing back to the incidents leading up to the match. It's masterful storytelling and highlights the deep racial issues that are prevalent in the UK. Sunny is a boy with deep problems, he's suffering from the trauma of the attack and grappling with the reality that his father is going to die. He and his father have a difficult and complicated relationship, which makes visiting him in the hospital tricky, it also makes talking about his feelings even harder for Sunny. I also learned a lot about the sport of boxing, and how it can have therapeutic qualities. Sunny's depression, anxiety and social awkwardness cuts to the bone in a very honest way. I feel like Nikesh was able to express how someone dealing with these issues on top of being attacked for having darker skin in a very nuanced way. The pace of this novel is fast and it's loaded with discussion points for students, which I love. I know it's going to be in the hands of lots of students next year and I can't wait. This is the first book in my sponsored read. I am reading one YA book a week in memory of my brother, Matt, who passed away in August 2018. I am raising money for a charity close to him and our family. More details can be found here: https://bit.ly/2NeAetH or on social media using #ReadingForMatt Darius Kellner is about to take his first trip to Iran to see his grandparents and other members of his extended family. His grandfather is suffering from a brain tumour, Darius has only met him over Skype. Darius, along with his father, are also struggling with diagnosed depression and take medication for this. Darius feels guilty because, as he said, "nothing bad has ever happened to me", he just knows his brain sometimes tells him things he shouldn't think. When he gets to Iran he meets a boy named Sohrab, who calls him Darioush. Sohrab is like no one Darius has ever met, he doesn't make fun of him, he is respectful and thoughtful. Sohrab is dealing with a major family trauma in that his father was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Together they play soccer, eat delicious Persian food and keep each other afloat. Darius also learns to communicate with his father, Darius feels his father wishes he was more "normal" and would just "snap out of it" even though he takes medication for his own depression. As Darius tries to navigate his own depression and his family, the looming date to leave Iran and Sohrab is closing in. Darius must decide who he wants to be and try to learn to be happy in this world. I really loved this novel, I connected with it on many levels - down to playing Rook with my friends, trying to communicate with different members of my family and living with a family member who was depressed, restless and out of place. It's the prefect novel for anyone who feels like they don't belong & I'm very glad I chose it for my first book in this sponsored read! Ruby West's world is about to change forever. The Traditional Party, or Trads as they are called, have been voted in. Their political stance is hardcore, they want to "clean" up society using fascist methods. Ruby and her family belong to the Core Party, who are eventually rounded up in the middle of the night and brought to an unused army barracks in what has become a makeshift concentration camp. Confused, stunned and hungry, Ruby, her sister, her mother and her step father are thrust into a living nightmare. At first, they tell themselves that they'll be let out soon, that the Trads can't possibly keep them there against their will. But then more buses arrive with more Core supporters, then the food rations start to dwindle, then the guards get more violent and the prisoners more desperate. Ruby's fate is intertwined with the rest of the camp as she and her family tries to endure the unthinkable. I Am Not A Number gets dark, and then it gets darker. I was completely engrossed in this tale of terror featuring fascist politics, propaganda and the desire to control populations at all costs. In today's fragmented political climate, it's a potent reminder of the horrors of the past and of what could be our future if we allow alt-right parties to continue to spew their garbage online and in the streets. I Am Not A Number will undoubtedly be a huge hit at Glenthorne High School and I really look forward to getting it into the hands of our teens! |
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