"The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers" By Adam Sass

 The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass

Originally Published in 2022

Summary: The 99 Boyfriends of Micah summers follows the story of Micah summers the son of a popular radio host in chicago. Micah is a gay boy that struggles with anxiety so he creates instagram posts of imaginary boyfriends based off of the boys he sees out in the city. 99 imaginary boyfriends later and he thinks he sees the one on the subway one day. Micah just about builds the courage to ask this boy out before he runs off the train. The story then follows in micahs journey to find said boy with his friends. He might just discover that true love and real life relationships are closer than he thinks. 

This is a book that would be a great read for late middle school all the way through high school aged young adults. It explores LGBTQ+ scenarios which are done in a playful and tasteful way. The nature of love and relationships is explored heavily in this novel and would be worthwhile for any student to read. With the themes of love and relationships there is the nature of social media and how it permeates the life of young adults in ways that can sometimes be far from the truth. 

Teaching and Content Considerations: 

This book is a prime example of a romance/rom-com novel. The humor and the way love and relationships are portrayed in this novel are quintessential and really sell the idea of what romantic love can be. Specifically Chapter 12 describes a scene with Micah and Grant where they ask each other to be boyfriends. Lines like "Grant lets out a single relieve laugh. 'Really?' and but I guide him by his chin back into my eyes. "Never the right time, only the right guy."  (Sass, 131) are lines that pervade whenever relationship are abound in this book. This would be a great book for students to use as a mentor text when writing romantic novels. 

The novel also explores Love and Jealousy in new and suprising ways. In chapter 17 Micah and his friend Elliot both have jealous boyfriends who are very close to fighting each other. This passage would be great for a close read so students can see the similarities between stereotypical hetero relationship tropes and those that pervade this LGBTQ+ version. This could be a great point for students to also compare and contrast gender roles and to see what ideology sticks around or goes out the window. 

Without revealing the whole story, the story leans on fairy tale, knights and castles, and many of the themes that you would find in an old school romance novel. The story plays on Disney princesses and how sometimes events occurr where hope seems lost but it all works out in the end. These are filled throughout the novel but the ending of the novel in particular plays on the cinderella story and really makes you consider what it means to find true love/happiness. 

Overall this was a wonderful read. Very heartwarming, fuzzy and downright lovey dovey. This would be a great book for any LGBTQ+ student to read to see get glimpses of what relationships are like and for any other types of students that migh be interested in the same thing. 

"We Set the Dark on Fire" By Tehlor Kay Mejia

 We set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Originally published in 2019

Awards: Oregon Spirit Book Award for Debut Fiction, Neukom Institute Literary Arts Runner Up Award

Summary: We Set the Dark on Fire follows the story of Daniela Vargas set in a dystopian future where there is laws in place that people in positions of power should have two wives. One for politics and one to raise a family. Daniela is a 'primera' who struggles with balancing the demands of the political circles and life on a fictional island. There are threats to Daneilas status in the world and her world changes when she is approached by a rebel revolutionary group that asks for her help in changing the way of their world. Daniela struggles with protecting her family, doing what is right and a rival love interest along the way. 

This book deals with some modern themes of opression, rebellion, as well as deeply ingrained patriarchal traditions which make for a book that is geared towards more mature young adults. This book is appropriate for any 10th through 12 grade audience due to the language choices used. The complex plot narratives as well as political motivations. 

Teaching and Content Considerations: 

This is a book that goes deep into the motivations of human beings especially when faced with 'impossible' circumstances. The main character as well as other minor character, are all faced with immense challenges along the way of trying to break down the old political system. With so many factors to keep track of this book would be great for helping students to dive deeper in characters, complex societal issues, as well as how novels are organized and structured to produce different narrative outcomes. 

The novel explores opression, privilege (high status),sexuality, as well as immigration and class. Through these themes students can learn a lot about how our modern day society operates in some contexts and see the possible futures that could be possible if we are not active participants in society. The novel covers in great detail the representations of key figures that mimic our own society. Politicians, military personnel, etc. that are worth studying in a high school classroom. 

The first passage that is worth a close read is in Chapter 10. Dani meets with Sota (a rebel member) to share information about what she hears at politcal events. She comes to interact with Sota and finds that she will not be let out of joining the rebels as she thought she might. Turns out political dealings are not so cut and dry. This passage is worth looking at because it describes what could be very real political structures. 

Another passage that should be looked at is in chapter 21. It is a passage where the author describes the physical insurrection mounted by the rebel army. She sets the tone by creating a sense of mystery, dread, and even anxiety around the events that are about to happen. The rebel army captures innocent civilians including our main character. The tension that is build in pages 235-238 brings you into the moment. This would be a great passage to look at the word choice and organization that builds/ehances these emotions. 

This is a solid read for anybody interested in dystopian futures with complex political structures. The LGBTQ+ positive themes would appeal to any teenager/ally apart of that community as well. The book represents women in power quite well. 

"Maisy Chen's Last Chance" By Lisa Yee

Maisy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

Originally Published in 2022

Awards: Maizy Chen's Last Chance has been awarded a Newberry Honor, is a National Book Award Finalist, and is the winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

Summary: Maisy Chen's Last Chance Follows the story of young asian american girl Maisy chen who travels to Last Chance Minnesota to visit her Grandparents. The reasons she is visiting is because her grandfather is sick and they need Maisy's Mom's help with their restaurant called the Golden Palace. While Maisy is visiting she gets to know her grandparents well and learns a whole lot about the town her mom grew up in as well as a fair amount of the History of Chinese people in America. The story comes to a turn when the beloved mascot of the Golden Palace Bud gets stolen. Maisy along with the help of her new friends tries to solve the mystery of it along the way. Little does she know she learns a whole lot more about racial discrimination in America too. 

This is a story that could be enjoyed by anybody but really would target a much younger audience. Due to the choice in simpler language, easy to follow stories and overall movement of the story it makes for a novel that would be appropriate for advanced elementary 5th graders and 6th and 7th graders. 

Teaching and Content Considerations: 

Considering the nature/pacing of the novel, this would be a great read to introduce students to characterization. There are many characters, each with different motivations, that students can look at and begin to do some of that higher level critical thinking to uncover the motivations of people. Maisy as well as all the other characters in the book are very straightforward with what they are thinking. Though not expressly stated at first with some, the true thoughts of the character are easily discernable. This would maek for great conversations with students to understand why people think, act, and do what they do. It would also make for good learning for how the author makes choices in presenting it's characters and the events of the story. This would also be a great novel for students to begin to identify parts of a story. The rising action, climax, falling action, etc are all easily able to be identified so students can spend time on thinking of the specific events that fall within each category. Students can use this as a way to begin to differentiate important details of stories and think about parts in terms of importance. 

This novel also does a wonderful job of exploring the human condition. It beautifully captures how sometimes emotions like love, anger, sadness cannot be described or categorized with just one singular event. Each character is revealed over time which adds to this sense much like in real life that not everything can be discovered in a single moment. It takes time of talking with people to get to really know them. On the inverse it also deals with the very tough subject of racial discrimination. The family is the only chinese american family in town and they deal with, at many points in the story, bigotry and discrimination. The novel does a good job of sharing history of the chinese and their emergence in America. The ability to weave in history into stories is well done and should be looked at with students as well. 

There are many good places for students to look at but the two that would be best to focus on are in chapter 6 and chapter 61. In chapter 6 this is the first time we find out the difference in how Maisy and chinese American's like Daisy are treated. The person talking to her asks "Where are you from really" to Maisy. Maisy replies with "If you are asking my nationality... I am chinese" This is an important passage to look at because it shows the modern considerations for peoples discriminatory practices even if they are not intended that way. It shines a light on unintentional racism. 

The passage in chapter 61 follows the interaction between Maisy and another woman in town that is noted as a not so nice person. Maisy has the chance to get to know this person better adn show that the more you find out about people the better you can grow to understand them. This passage would be important for students to know to look at the whole picture before making a judgement about somebodies character. It also shows that students need to take evidence right from the texts to make a judgement. 

Overall this is a great book to begin getting into some of the things that make up books. From great characters to easily followed story, this is a great read for any young adult. 

"The Girl From the Well" by Rin Chupeco

 The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco

Originally published 2014/2015

Summary: The Girl from the well follows the story of Okiku, a girl that was sexually assaulted and killed that has returned to hunt predatory men. It follows her story until she meets a boy that changes her outlook on her life and non existant as a paranormal entity. It is a play on the tale of the girl from the well from Japanese folklore with an alternate persepctive. One where the girl works as a silent avenger, helping other girls that have been abused, hurt, tortured as well. The story also follows the family of Tarquin and his family as they work to solve a mystery around his strange tattoos and the paranormal events that surround his existence. 

I have always been fascinated with the paranormal and this book felt like a natural choice considering young adult audiences it is intended for. What I came to realize however is that this book would appeal to many students that are interested in horror genres as it also is the story that inspired the Ring (horror movie). This book explores some unique themes including trauma, torture, sexual assault, etc. Themes that should be explored in the safe settings. 

This book feels more geared towards a more mature audience. While the language is not necessarily difficult some of the themes may be difficult for those that are not at the 10th grade level or higher. 

Teaching and Content Considerations: 

This novel does a wonderful job of exploring using different narrative styles to tell a singular story. It seemlessly weaves in a 1st person perspective through the voice of the main character but simultaneously gives us a 3rd person perspective to the events of the characters of Tarquin and Callie. The nature of the main character gives the ability to have this outside almost omnipotent perspective to tell the events of the main character that should be looked at in a classroom setting. This novel would be great for students to see how to write in certain points of view but keep it interesting enough to integrate multiple character perspective even when the character is not 'physically' there. The novel also does a masterful job of using descriptive language and enhancing the quality of the sentences used. Each chapter offers a unique use of descriptive language that works to create emphasis on events, feelings, etc. One such example exists on page 40 of the novel. Chupeco writes "The tattooed boy walks in with an air of expecting to be pounced on and devoured. He stares at a large painting of a summer meadow like he believes a wild beast is lying in wait for him amid the painted weeds." This quote does an exceptional job of creating a picture of the boys discomfort. The use of strong adjectives here is a great model sentence for students to work with and try to emulate themselves. 

There are many many good close reading passages inside this novel but there are two examples that would teachers would be missing out to not go over. Pages 11-16 would be great for teachers to explore with students. These pages we get to understand the paranormal capabilities of the main character. The author uses line breaks, descriptive and figurative language, as well as tone to establish the menacing nature of the main characters powers. She creates suspense exceedingly well. It could be a great passage to discuss literary devices or just to plain look at horror esque style writing. 

In a similar vein the author creates a passage that starts on page 65 where she describes a serial killer pedophile's interaction with a young girl. Chupeco represents this character as menacing, cunning, and just downright nasty in the 4 pages that follow. She is able to represent this character in such a way while still keeping a touch of the paranormal strewn throughout. This passage would be great for students to look at when it comes to characterization and what writing mechanics works to support these powerful portrayals. 

Overall this was a wonderful book to read and explore. For those students that like horror/ supernatural types of novels this book checks all the boxes! 

"Chlorine Sky" by Mahogany L. Browne

 Chlorine Sky By Mahogany L Browne

Originally published in 2021

Awards: Goodreads choice award

Summary: Chlorine Sky follows the story of a young black girl that navigates being a tomboy teenager. She is a great basketball player that struggles with the nuances of friendships, relationships, and interacting with her siblings in California. The story follows her journey of losing and finding herself along the way. 

I chose this book because it was so highly recommended on the 'novels in verse' blogs sites that I reviewed. This book explores black culture from a unique seemingly inner city perspective which I feel would resonate in the hearts and minds of many of my students today. 

This is a book that would appeal to an 8th- 10th grade reading level due to some of the themes that are explored in the novel (Sexuality, intimacy, etc.) Additionally it explores poetic forms that require more experience to understand the impact. 

Teaching and Content Considerations: 

This novel is FILLED with literary and poetic devices. Imagery, tone, enjambment are seemingly on every page in this novel. While they are so numerous there are some that are more easily understood than others which would prove a challenge for any 8th to 10th grade audience. This novel explores so very relative themes for young adult girls as well. It explores what it means to be a girl in a changing body, not trying to fit in with the status quo or rather trying to break out of status quo tropes. This novel would be a great entry point into poetry as well. Much like how "Home is not a country" by Safia Elhillo, this novel uses poetic styles in a way that allows students to remain engaged with the story but also read and familiarize themselves with poetic devices. It also is a step up in how much poetry it is compared to other novels in verse. Each passage feels like it could be its own poem. 

The story is easy to follow it creates a great space for students to explore poetry in a chunkable format. Again each passage feels like it could be it's own poem without context from the rest of the book. This book appeals to young women, in particular young black women as it's main characters revolve around black and hispanic descent people. For any student looking at contemporary realistic story this would appeal to them.

The first passage that would be good for students to look at is on page 50. The passage title begins with "A week later'' which is immediately followed up with a first line that plays off the title of the stanza/poem. It is a passage that students can see repetition, where each line starts with either 'Or' or 'Maybe' . Students can see that it follows a linear progression in a story but could exist as a free verse poem as well.

The second passage that would be worth exploring is on page 89 where the author brings up some challenges of being a girl that is also great at sports. She notes how she has had to hold herself back from being better than boys for seemingly unknown reasons to her. She uses line breaks to emphasize some of the pain that she went through as a young girl and how she is trying to break out of those molds even as a teenager.

Overall this is a great novel to explore with students especially if there is a poetry unit. Students can understand alternative perspectives and shed some light on what it means to truly be yourself in all of it's entirety.