Book Beat Reviews

Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh

Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.

Ada, which means first daughter in Nigeria, is a name that carries a lot of weight. It is a name that says, I am responsible, and I will fulfill everyone’s expectations. It is a name with a lot to live up to.
Ada, the person, is not sure she can live up to her name, or her responsibility. She feels like she doesn’t even know how to fit into her world. With her Nigerian, immigrant father and absent African American mother, she feels unsure of her culture and her identity. With her father’s devout Christianity and high hopes—and expectations—for his daughter, she feels like she is drowning. The only thing that has ever felt consistent, like home, is dancing.

As she starts her freshman year at a Historically Black College, this intersection of identity and responsibility is all coming to a head. College is a new collection of firsts: first time so far from her family, first formal dance classes, first relationships. Ada begins to question the responsibility laid out for her, and whether it is the responsibility she wants. As she explores herself, her sexuality, and her passion for dance, she learns that perhaps living up to her name does not mean fulfilling what others have destined for her, but instead what she destines for herself.

Candice Iloh has written a beautiful novel-in-verse that grapples with belonging, telling us that to really be whole, to really be free, we must be true to all parts of ourselves.

Find it in print here.

Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday by Natalie C. Anderson

Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.

When Abdi’s brother, Dahir, was kidnapped three years prior by the Islamic terrorist group Al Shabaab, he thought that he’d never see him again. But then his family is kidnapped from their home in present-day Somalia, and Abdi learns that not only has his brother survived, but has risen to prominence within the group. Forced to become both a child soldier and a spy for a government operation, Abdi is trapped in an impossible situation, made worse by his brother’s brainwashed allegiance to the group’s violent ideals, and the precarious position he is in as both a traitor to the group and a traitor to his own values.

A year later, Abdi has escaped to Sangui City, Kenya, and is picked up by a UN worker. As he lives in relative safety, he is forced to grapple with the trauma of the atrocities he saw and unwillingly partook in, and the impact of any ideals stretched too far.

This book kept me up into the wee hours of the morning with its fast-paced and brilliantly structured plot. The complicated threads of Abdi’s story unfold through three converging timelines, shining light on all characters from all walks of life, and how extremism can tear countries and communities apart. I adored this book and the way it made me wonder about a world far different from my own. I highly recommend it.

Find it in print here.

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio

Hi, my name is Rya. I am a sophomore and I enjoy reading, swimming and traveling.

Shane has always been caught up in her parent’s high academic expectations, leaving her little time to fully enjoy her high school years. When she finally gets to college, Shane is determined to make up for all of the memories and experiences she missed out on. Pretending to be attending a medical program abroad, she flies to London to pursue her passion for creative writing.

Here, Shane’s life is just as she always imagined it. Weekend trips to Paris, late-night conversations with her newfound friends, and writing filling up her time. Shane even meets Pilot, with whom she begins to develop a romantic relationship. Everything is going perfectly, that is until Shane’s parents show up for a surprise visit, still under the impression that she is a dedicated medical student. When Shane’s cover is blown, she is devastated, as her parents are forcing her to return to America and become a doctor. She grudgingly pursues medical school for nearly a decade, until one day, by chance, she meets an oddly familiar person in a mysterious coffee shop, who gives her the opportunity of a second chance.

In this story, Shane got a second chance, but many of us do not. Again, But Better is a candid reminder of this truth, as well as an encouragement to seize the opportunities that we are gifted with. This simply written, yet captivating book about relationships, courage, and chances is definitely worth a read.

Find the ebook here.

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

Hi, my name is Rya. I am a sophomore and I enjoy reading, swimming and traveling.

The alien abductions became a regular occurrence in Henry’s life. Every so often, they would capture him in their spacecraft, rob him of whatever belongings he was carrying, and remind him of his responsibility to save the world. According to them, Earth’s survival depends entirely on Henry’s decision to press a big red button. However, Henry has been struggling with the death of a family member, bullying, and other difficult experiences, which makes him wonder if the small bouts of joy, combined with the endless hardships of life, are enough to make the world worth saving.

Throughout this novel, the idea of the apocalypse is presented through a big-picture, scientific lens, with theoretical examples of the end of the world, as well as a human-centered lens, with a detailed narrative of Henry’s high school life. Both are intriguing accounts of the same idea and force the reader to consider just how insignificant and temporary humans are, which is something that we neglect every day amidst the complexity of our individual lives. After all, we are the ants, tiny organisms scurrying around, so hard-working, so self-involved, yet so ignorant of the vast universe that we are only a part of, and powerless in.

Find it in print here.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I am Thijs. I enjoy reading (maybe a little too much) and being outdoors. I have a younger brother and my favorite dessert is root beer floats.

After reading To Kill a Mockingbird I viewed the way I lived and the things I did differently. I did not know how good this book would be. I thought that it was a book about some racial disparity or something like that. It was not even close to my predictions. Now that I have read To Kill a Mockingbird, I want to read it all over again. It was so interesting, and it was so well written. Also, Scout is so different from any other main character in a book I have encountered. She made a whole new category for herself. She is a fighter, a rebel, a genius, a go-getter, and a curious person. She always likes to learn new things and is feisty. But the best part about her is the energy she brings into the book. She brings a whole new level of humor and excitement. I thought that some other books were the best but compared to this one they do not compare.

To Kill a Mockingbird does a great job of explaining the deep roots of racism that were dug and planted during slavery while at the same time keeping the reader intrigued with the peculiar people of the town and trying to learn about their story. This is an American classic that is one of the most banned books in the U.S. due to the main part and theme of the story which is about racism. At the same time, it is known and read widely because of how great of a book it is. This book takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama and follows first to third grade Scout Finch and her very eventful and exciting life. There is a graphic novel about this wonderful story but if you are willing to read for several hours, I would highly recommend reading the actual book. I hope you find this book as good as I did.

Find it in print, ebook, eaudiobook and CD here.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds

Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright is absolute proof that you don’t need thousands of words to write a good story, and that you don’t need a thesis and supporting paragraphs to connect viscerally and beautifully to people. With an extended poem by Jason Reynolds—three long sentences, to be exact—and three hundred pages of poignant illustrations by Jason Griffith, Ain’t Burned All the Bright brings light to what it feels like to be stuck in “the every-hour rerun/about how we won’t/change the world/or the way we treat the world/or the way we treat each other.”
This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Somehow, it is heartbreaking yet hopeful, fierce, and vulnerable, both asking questions and granting permission to breathe. This book lays the world bare, raw, and lived-in. It asks what is wrong with humans and it says you are okay and it tells us we are okay, we can breathe, we can change.

It guides us to find that the oxygen we need is in front of us. This book is human. This book is why art exists.
To any reader perhaps intimidated by the mind-melding blend of artwork-turned-manifesto, Reynolds says it best: “just live in it. give yourself over to it. that’s all.” I needed to give myself to this book. And so does everyone. So do you.

Find it in print and eaubiobook here.