I can't remember how many young adult books I read in 2025, but there were just three books that stood out to me. The White Lotus I've recommended The White Lotus to more readers than I can count! A powerful work of historical fiction, what makes it stand out is the way in which the feisty protagonist Arali stands out without seeming oddly anachronistic. She develops slowly and believable, with circumstances shaping ehr character. Although I don't read mystery much, everything about the story drew me in--the sensitive storytelling, the believable characters, and the compelling plot. Book review With the Fire on High Elizabeth Acevedo's storytelling is stunning. I love how she tackles difficult subjects head-on, layering courage with love as she touches upon a range of themes. With the Fire on High is about a … [Read more...]
Punching the Air
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Verse can do what prose cannot. I cannot imagine a book as powerful as Punching the Air being written in prose. It is stark and vivid, detailed and hard-hitting all at the same time.Amal was just sixteen when he was convicted of a crime he did not commit. Even though the protagonist Amal isn’t identical to the author Dr Yusef Salaam, what he goes through is based on the latter's incarceration. Yusef Salaam came, eventually, to be known as one of the exonerated five. Together with Ibi Zoboi, he crafts an unputdownable story that left me both angry and hopeful.Amal means ‘hope’, but when he is in prison for no reason except the colour of his skin, it is hard to hold on to hope. Every emotion rages through the story, and the way the writers play with format, word choice and alignment made the story all the more impactful. Amal oscillates … [Read more...]