Daphne is lost, she is terribly sad and lonely, the loss of her father means she can't find hope anywhere. The only place she finds comfort is the local library, a latchkey kid, she visits there often to sit in the quiet and reflect on her past, the pain and the guilt. Woven together into this story is the Greek myth of Daphne who was transformed into a tree. As Daphne becomes entangled into a beautiful blend of fantasy and reality, she must try to come to grips with the pain that is facing her and her mother. This is a really gut-wrenching story told in often searing poetic verses. This is a welcome addition to any school library, any fans of Sarah Crossan or Louisa Reid should get this into the hands of their students. Poetic stories are a very effective way to get students involved in reading, making the subconscious come to life, bringing sometimes hard thoughts to the forefront in a cathartic way. I'm excited for any new addition from Joseph Coelho!
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Xiomara Batista has to be tough. She'd rather use her fists than her words when it comes to defending herself and her twin brother, Xavier. Under the strict rule of her fiercely Catholic mother, Xiomara writes furiously in her prized leather notebook, panting the pages with the words of her heart and soul. When she begins to develop feelings for Aman, the danger of being with a boy she knows her mother would disapprove of is stressful yet tempting for a girl desperate to connect with someone and have her voice heard. Then Xioamara is asked to join a slam poetry event and a whirlwind of events occur, propelling her into a new phase of her life. This is a phenomenal novel, Xiomara is a brilliant and strong lead character that defends her family and rebels against them like any teen would. Set in Harlem, the novel has a beautiful rhythm that would sit perfectly next to Sarah Crossan, Kwame Alexander and Jason Reynolds. I'm going to really enjoy getting the students in our high school turned on to this amazing novel, don't miss it! I recommend it for ages 15 and up! Will's brother Shawn has just been murdered. Will tucks a gun into the waistband of his jeans and sets off to exact revenge. In Will's neighbourhood, revenge is part of the rules of surviving. As he rides the elevator to the lobby of his building, he's joined by a man who looks eerily familiar. The man strikes up a conversation and to Will's horror, he realises that it's Buck. This wouldn't be odd except for the fact that Will knows Buck is dead. Then the doors open and in walks Dani, a girl who Will knew when he was eight years old. A girl he saw get hit by a stray bullet and die in front of him. Fearing he's losing it, Will doesn't know what to do with the information the ghosts are telling him as he makes his way down the floors of the building. As more ghosts from his past enter the elevator, Will learns some surprising and disturbing truths about his family. Told in gritty verse, Long Way Down is a powerful story about family, revenge and making ultimate choices. It's an important book for teens to read and will be a part of our Year 9 boys books club in the Library. Amazing, don't miss it! Josh and Jordan 12 year-old twins Their basketball skills Would make a church-goer sin Sound of leather on pine It's their favourite song Till Jordan meets a girl Then it's gone baby gone Their father's a star Played professional ball Their mother's a principal Watchin' kids in the hall Nothing but net Their game can't be beat Till pop's heart shows signs Of leavin' the kitchen for the heat The big game is looming Second half's a life-changer You're crazy if you miss The Crossover by K. Alexander |
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