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Clap When You Land (2020). Elizabeth Acevdeo. Young Adult Realistic Fiction/Poetry/Diverse/LGBTQ+. Harper Teen. New York City and Dominican Republic. Middle to High School Aged.

Awards:

Odyssey Award Nominee (2021), Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance (2021), Teen Buckeye Book Award Nominee (2021), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2022), Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (2021), Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction (2020), Carnegie Medal Nominee for Shortlist (2021), Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature Nominee (2020)

Where to get it: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9780062882776

Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/elizabeth-acevedo/clap-when-you-land/

Author Website: http://www.acevedowrites.com/about

This story follows two girls: Camino Rios and Yahaira Rios, who live in different parts of the world but are connected by a devastating secret. The novel is set in two different countries: the Dominican Republic and New York City. Camino Rios lives in the Dominican Republic, where she helps her aunt at a local clinic and dreams of becoming a doctor. Yahaira Rios lives in New York City with her mother and has a passion for chess. The two girls have never met, and they are unaware of each other's existence. I recommend this book because it will provide the library with an international title and is of high interest, yet low level because it is written in free verse. It is an engaging read and will help students learn more about the Dominican Republic. It is diverse with the Latina culture and one of the main girls is in the LGBTQ+ community.

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Brother’s Keeper (2020). Julie Lee. Young Adult Historical Fiction/Diverse. Holiday House. North Korea. Middle to High School Aged.

Awards: A Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist, An ILA Intermediate Fiction Award Winner, An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, A Junior Library Guild Selection, A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Where to Get: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9780823444205

Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/julie-lee/brothers-keeper-lee/

Author’s Website: https://www.julieleeauthor.com/

This story follows a 12 year old girl Sora and her younger brother Youngsoo as they try to escape North Korea in 1950. War is coming to North Korea and it brings challenges to their family because a bomb separates them. Sora and Youngsoo try to navigate the cold and hunger as they try to flee. This would make a great addition because it educates readers about communism at this time and how it affected so many. It also elicits empathy and demonstrates the patriarchy that happened during this time period.

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Darius the Great is Not Okay (2018). Adib Khorram. Young Adult Realistic Fiction/LGBTQ+/ Mental Health. Dial Books. High School Aged.

Awards: William C. Morris YA Debut Award (2019), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2020), Lambda Literary Award Nominee for Children’s/Young Adult (2018), Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Nominee (2019), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Nominee for Fiction & Poetry (2019), Lincoln Award Nominee (2021), Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Young Adult Literature (2019), Middle East Book Award for Youth Literature (2019), Beste Boek voor Jongeren for Vertaald (2020)

Where to get it: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9780525552970

Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/adib-khorram/darius-the-great-is-not-okay/

Author’s Website: https://adibkhorram.com/

This story follows high schooler Darius who is biracial (father is white and mother is from Iran). He lives in Oregon, but the majority of the story takes place in Iran where he goes to visit his grandparents. Darius struggles with his confidence and has depression. This novel would be a great addition because it helps explain mental illness and can open up dialogue for how to get support. This is a tearjerker and elicits empathy regardless of if you identify culturally with him or not.

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Rez Dogs (2021). Joseph Bruchac. Young Adult Realistic Fiction/Multicultural/Poetry. Dial Books. Middle or High School Aged.

Awards: None yet, newer novel

Where to get it: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9780593326220

Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joseph-bruchac/rez-dogs/

Author’s Website: https://joebruchac.com/f/the-power-of-story

This story follows Malian who was visiting her grandparents on a reservation when the COVID-19 started. Her parents are in Boston and she is taking care of her grandparents. This story gives a voice to a marginalized community. It would be a great addition to the library because it gives historical and current information about the mistreatment of Native American people. It highlights their community in a positive light and is relatable with how they were affected by the virus. It is also an easy read because it is written in free verse.

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Black was the Ink (2021). Michelle Cole. Young Adult/Historical Fiction/Diverse/Social Justice. Lee and Low Books. Middle or High School.

Awards: New Visions Award Honor

Where to Get: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9781643794310

Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/michelle-coles/black-was-the-ink/

Author’s Website: https://michellecoles.com/

Malcolm has been sent to his family’s farm in Natchez, Mississippi, for the summer following a traumatic interaction with the police in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Shortly after arriving, he discovers that what land remains is in jeopardy of being stolen by the state to expand the highway, a repeat of an earlier injustice that privileged land belonging to White people. Malcolm’s anger over the plight of Black Americans will resonate with many readers and open the minds of others. This would make a great addition to the library because of the historical significance of racism that has plagued America. This will help educate students on our history and how that history has impacted the Black American experience to this day.

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The Bone Sparrow (2016). Zana Fraillon. Young Adult/Realistic Fiction/Refugee. Disney-Hyperion. Australia and Burma. Middle School to High School Aged.

Awards: Children's Book Council of Australia Award Nominee for Older Readers (2017), Victorian Premier's Literary Award Nominee for Writing for Young Adults (2017), Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) for Older Children (ages 8-14) (2017), Carnegie Medal Nominee (2017)

Where to get it: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9781484781517

Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/zana-fraillon/the-bone-sparrow/

Author Website: https://www.zanafraillon.com/

This story follows refugee Subhi. In the Australian detention camp where he was born and still lives, Subhi, 10, a Rohingya boy, shares a crowded tent with his mother, older sister, and other refugees and dreams of an unbounded world and the Night Sea. This would make a great addition to the library because it offers a worldly view on how other countries handle refugees and elicits empathy for these refugees.

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Fish in a Tree (2015). Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Young Adult/Realistic Fiction/Disability. Nancy Paulsen Books. Connecticut. Middle or High School Aged.

Awards:

Schneider Family Book Award for Middle School (2016), Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 6-8 (2017), Keystone to Reading Book Award Nominee for Intermediate (2017), California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Intermediate (2019), William Allen White Children's Book Award (2018), Bluestem Book Award Nominee (2019), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's (2015), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2017)

Where to get it: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9780142426425 Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lynda-mullaly-hunt/fish-in-a-tree/

Author Website:  https://lyndamullalyhunt.com/

This story follows Ally who has dyslexia. She has moved schools seven times in Connecticut. She tries to hide her inability to read by creating disruptive distractions. Her new teacher tries to help her and her confidence begins to grow. This would be a great addition to the library because it showcases how different minds work. It normalizes dyslexia and helps the reader develop empathy for this population. It could also offer perspective to people who think people are “trouble makers,” but may be struggling with something else entirely.

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Wild and Crooked (2019). Leah Thomas. Young Adult/Mystery/Realistic Fiction/Disability/ LGBTQ+/Romance. Bloomsbury YA. Kentucky. High School Aged.

Awards: Anthony Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2020), Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2020)

Where to get it: https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/book/9781547600045 Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/leah-thomas/wild-and-crooked/

Author Website:  https://leahthomas.com/

This story follows Kalyn Spence and Gus Peake. They live in Kentucky. Kalyn’s dad committed a murder and she is forced to attend school under a pseudonym. Gus has cerebral palsy and his dad is the one who was murdered. They become friends but they both discover different versions of the truth. This would make a great addition because it is a high interest story. It will evoke emotions and explore issues: love, social class, sexuality, homophobia, and the cycles of poverty and abuse.