by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@teachingtheapocalypse)
Here are three books coming out today that I'm excited to read!
Chrystal D. Giles's Take Back the Block
Description from Publisher:
"Brand-new kicks, ripped denim shorts, Supreme tee—
"Wes Henderson has the best style in sixth grade. That—and hanging out with his crew (his best friends since little-kid days) and playing video games—is what he wants to be thinking about at the start of the school year, not the protests his parents are always dragging him to.
"But when a real estate developer makes an offer to buy Kensington Oaks, the neighborhood Wes has lived his whole life, everything changes. The grownups are supposed to have all the answers, but all they're doing is arguing. Even Wes's best friends are fighting. And some of them may be moving. Wes isn't about to give up the only home he's ever known. Wes has always been good at puzzles, and he knows there has to be a missing piece that will solve this puzzle and save the Oaks. But can he find it . . . before it's too late?
"Exploring community, gentrification, justice, and friendship,Take Back the Block introduces an irresistible 6th grader and asks what it means to belong—to a place and a movement—and to fight for what you believe in."
Why I want to read it: This one sounds like such a great read! I love that it explores the impact of gentrification and that it empowers young people to see how they can be activists and can stand up for what they believe in.
Eman Quotah's Bride of the Sea
Description from Publisher:
"'I love the sea,' she said. 'I don’t know if I could live without it.'
"During a snowy Cleveland February, newlywed university students Muneer and Saeedah are expecting their first child, and he is harboring a secret: the word divorce is whispering in his ear. Soon, their marriage will end, and Muneer will return to Saudi Arabia, while Saeedah remains in Cleveland with their daughter, Hanadi. Consumed by a growing fear of losing her daughter, Saeedah disappears with the little girl, leaving Muneer to desperately search for his daughter for years. The repercussions of the abduction ripple outward, not only changing the lives of Hanadi and her parents, but also their interwoven family and friends―those who must choose sides and hide their own deeply guarded secrets.
"And when Hanadi comes of age, she finds herself at the center of this conflict, torn between the world she grew up in and a family across the ocean. How can she exist between parents, between countries?
"Eman Quotah’s Bride of the Sea is a spellbinding debut of colliding cultures, immigration, religion, and family; an intimate portrait of loss and healing; and, ultimately, a testament to the ways we find ourselves inside love, distance, and heartbreak.
Why I want to read it: I love this title and cover, both of which captured my attention, and the exploration of complex relationships and their impact on the children within them often make such fascinating reads—I definitely want to read this one!
Sajni Patel's The Knockout
Description from Publisher:
"A rising star in Muay Thai figures out what (and who) is worth fighting for in this #ownvoices YA debut full of heart.
"If seventeen-year-old Kareena Thakkar is going to alienate herself from the entire Indian community, she might as well do it gloriously. She's landed the chance of a lifetime, an invitation to the US Muay Thai Open, which could lead to a spot on the first-ever Olympic team. If only her sport wasn't seen as something too rough for girls, something she's afraid to share with anyone outside of her family. Despite pleasing her parents, exceling at school, and making plans to get her family out of debt, Kareena's never felt quite Indian enough, and her training is only making it worse.
"Which is inconvenient, since she's starting to fall for Amit Patel, who just might be the world's most perfect Indian. Admitting her feelings for Amit will cost Kareena more than just her pride-she'll have to face his parents' disapproval, battle her own insecurities, and remain focused for the big fight. Kareena's bid for the Olympics could very well make history-if she has the courage to go for it."
Why I want to read it: I love the way this book promises to explore expectations of gender and culture and how challenging it can be to navigate those expectations! I also love that this focuses on a female Mauy Thai fighter!
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