Summary:
Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday and something about her was different. Her parents locked her in the garage and called the police. She was then sent to a  government "rehabilitation camp" called Thurmond. She was found to have scary abilities that she could not control. Ruby is now sixteen and considered to be dangerous. The truth comes out about Ruby's abilities and she barely escapes Thurmond. She ends up on the run with other kids who previously escaped.
Implication for teaching:
This book would be appropriate to use for literature circles or to read as a whole class. The book focuses on drastic events that completely change and impact the world. Most of the children in the book at the age of 10 are either dying or gain supernatural powers that the government labels as too dangerous. Unfortunately, there have been recent events that have drastically changed the world we live in and may continue to do so. Students may be able to find connections between the way the world changes in the book to how it is changing in real life and try to identify ways to stop these changes.

Summary:
This story is based on the true story of Dita Kraus, who was a real-life Auschwitz prisoner in the Terezín ghetto in Prague. Dita risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust. Jewish leader, Freddy Hirsch, asks Dita to take charge of books that the prisoners have sneaked past the guards. Dita agrees and becomes the librarian of Auschwitz.
Implication for teaching:
This book could be included in a Social Studies class during the unit that students learn about World War II or in an English class. This true story shows a window of what life was like in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Students will be able to better understand what prisoners in Auschwitz experienced and learn about some of the specific struggles they faced. Additionally, this text can help students understand the power that books and other forms of art had on the lives of those living in Auschwitz. It will not only teach students about the history of World War II, but it will also emphasize the importance and impact that books can have. 

Summary:
Daunis Fontaine is an 18 year old who doesn't fit in in her hometown or on Ojibwe, a nearby reservation. Daunis hopes to attend college but ends up putting her future on hold to take care of her mother. While she is home, Daunis meets a boy named Jamie who seems to be hiding something. Daunis witnesses a murder that pushes her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Daunis uses her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. Daunis learns how to be a strong Anishinaabe kew (Ojibwe woman) and protect her community.
Implication for teaching:
This book addresses injustices and inequities that exist among Indigenous populations in the United States. Many underrepresented Indigenous populations face these injustice and inequities that Daunis faces throughout the book. Students can learn about the experiences that many Indigenous populations experience and learn about whether this is relevant in the places that they live. This book can be used to open students' minds towards the injustice that exists within our world and help them understand the negative effects it has on peoples' lives.

Summary:
Percy Jackson is a boy who has trouble focusing on his schoolwork and controlling his temper. He swears that his pre-algebra teacher once turned into a monster and tried to kill him, and that is when his mom decides to tell him about where he came from. Percy's mom sends him to Camp Half Blood, which is a summer camp for demigods. At camp, Percy learns that his father is Poseidon. A mystery unfolds and Percy and his friends travel across the US to reach the gates of the Underworld to prevent a war between the gods.
Implication for teaching:
This book provides students with a fun and unique way to learn about some of the classic Greek mythology. Additionally, many students, especially adolescents, may be able to relate to Percy Jackson and what he is going through. For example, Percy Jackson has dyslexia and ADHD. Students who have these learning disabilities may not be able to relate to many characters in books. Percy Jackson provides an opportunity for students to make personal connections and feel seen in the book they're reading. Another way that students can relate to Percy Jackson is in regards to coming to terms with his new identity of being a demigod. As students enter adolescence, many of them are figuring out who they are and discovering their own identities. This connection may make the story feel more relevant.

Summary:
The Rangers have always scared 15-year-old Will. The Rangers are believed to practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. Will has been selected as the Ranger's apprentice and soon finds out that the Rangers protect the kingdom. The Rangers fight battles before the battles reach the people. Will learns of an upcoming battle with the Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, who will not be denied.
Implication for teaching:
This book can be used to focus on character development throughout the story and the rest of the series. This book includes many characters who are very complex and intriguing to the reader. Students can learn how to think about what the characters say and do and how to better understand the ways that words and actions can impact characters' behaviors and interactions with others. Additionally, this book can be used to teach students the importance of looking past stereotypes and rumors and taking the time to get to know others and not believe everything heard.

Summary:
Starr Carter is 16-years-old and moves between the fancy suburban prep school she attends and the poor neighborhood where she lives. Starr witnesses her best friend, who was unarmed, being shot and killed by a police officer. Everyone wants to know what really happened that night, and the only person alive who witnessed the fatal shooting is Starr. What Starr ends up saying or not saying could turn her community upside down or even endanger her own life.
Implication for teaching:
Unfortunately, the story told in this book is culturally relevant to the students in the class who will be reading it. This book can be used to increase student awareness of social justice issues that exist in their own communities and the movements that are occurring to address these issues. This book can encourage students to become active citizens in their community. This book also provides an opportunity for students to have discussions about issues regarding police brutality, gun violence, and weapons in the safe space of the classroom. It addresses issues in a way that is respectful to humanity, while still discussing the harsh truths. 

Summary:
Two students who attend Niveus Private Academy are chosen to be part of the school's senior class prefects. After the announcement of who was selected as prefects is made, anonymous text messages are sent around the school by someone who goes by Aces. The text messages reveal secrets about the two characters that will threaten their future plans. The two characters who are being targeted in the text messages are the only two Black students in the elite private school.
Implication for teaching:
This story addresses issues of class, race, identity, and the horrors of surviving high school. This book offers many opportunities for adolescent students to find connections that will make them interested to continue reading. Students can learn further about the impact that class and race may have on students, especially when they are present in an upscale school. Reading this book will allow students to have opportunities to discuss class and race and explore the ways that it affects everyone. Additionally, this book will be good for students to read for enjoyment or literature circles, since it addresses surviving high school, which many readers are experiencing. 

Summary:
Anna Cicconi is nannying in a small Hamptons village called Herron Mills hoping for a fresh start. When she arrives, the community is on edge after a local girl, Zoe Spanos, has disappeared. Anna resembles Zoe and her presence brings raw feelings regarding the unsolved case. Anna dives into the mystery and becomes convinced that her and Zoe are connected in some way and that she knows what happened to her. Zoe's body is found two months later, and Anna is charged with manslaughter.
Implication for teaching:
This story can be included as a fun mystery for students to read and try to solve while reading. However, there is more to it than just fun. The two main characters in the book are white, while supporting characters are biracial. One of the biracial characters, Caden, expresses the troubles he faces being raised by white adoptive parents, the racial suspicion he faces being a boyfriend to a girl who is white, and feeling marginalized at Yale. Students who read this book may be able to relate to the experiences that Caden goes through in the book or use this as an opportunity to become aware that these issues exist. This book will draw students attention to issues that likely also exist in their own communities.

Summary:
Michael is a mixed-race gay teen who has navigated what it's like to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican, but never felt Greek or Black enough. When Michael gets older, his coming out is the start of him learning who he is and where he fits in. When Michael discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs. That is when the Black Flamingo is born.
Implication for teaching:
This book not only address the experiences of being a mixed-race, but it also addresses the experiences of being gay and coming out. This book tells a story of a boy who finally is able to figure out who he is and where he fits in. There may be students in the class who are experiencing similar struggles to Michael regarding not knowing who they are or not feeling comfortable with themselves. This book can encourage students to be accepting of both themselves and others. Sexuality is an important topic during adolescence, and this book may help students feel confident with who they are and/or help them respect their peers. Including this in a classroom is a step in making sure that all students know they are welcome and that the classroom is a safe place for them.

Summary:
Justyce McAllister is an honor student who always helps his friends, which doesn't matter to the police officer who puts him in handcuffs. Justyce escaped his bad neighborhood, but can't escape the negative views from his former peers or the subjection from his new classmates. Justyce turns to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers and starts writing a journal to Dr. King. One day, Justyce is driving with his best friends with the music way up making an off-duty cop mad. Words are said, shots are fired, and Justyce and his friend are caught in the middle. When the news is released to the media, Justyce is under attack.
Implication for teaching:
The content in this book addresses some controversial issues, difficult situations, and includes some inappropriate language. Although the reading level is appropriate for 8th grade students, it is better to use in a high school setting. This text can be included in a classroom as an opportunity for students to see themselves in a text and for the content to be relevant to students' own lives. This book introduces complex, social justice issues and can be used to lead students into difficult, but important, conversations. Even for students who don't see themselves through the characters in the book, the story is relevant to many situations that occur in their own communities. The book can help students understand and navigate these complex situations.