The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves

 

David Espinoza is tired of getting pushed around and bullied. Despite the fact that he has a tight group of friends and a smart, beautiful girlfriend, he is tormented by boys in school who delight in harassing him, verbally and physically.  When a video of him getting slapped goes viral, David has had enough. He vows to reinvent himself physically over summer vacation.  While he initially intends to change his physique with food and weight lifting, he's sucked into the seemingly miraculous allure of anabolic steroids.  

As David's summer unfolds, his focus narrows to one thing: his muscular gain.  It seems that there is no cost too high: he spends all the money he makes, he alienates his friends and, uncharacteristically, he begins to treat his girlfriend terribly.

Aceves shows how insidiously destructive steroids can be in this powerful exploration of male body dysmorphia.  David's story is painful to read - he does a phenomenal job of imploding his own life, but the book ends on a relatively hopeful, yet realistic, note. The author's end note adds depth to the story. This is another exceptional North Star Book Award nomination.

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

Mindy McGinnis doesn't pull any punches and I love it. This is a brutal survival story - kind of a grown up Hatchet - and McGinnis explores both the harsh physical realities and the psychological torment of being lost in the woods. 

Ashley is more at home in the forest than anywhere else, but during a night of camping and partying in the Rockies, she witnesses her boyfriend with another girl. In a fury, she busts out, running into the dark night. A fall in a ravine stops her and puts her life at risk.  From there, she takes a deep dive into a dark internal place, while at the same time trying to physically endure the harsh realities of being severely injured in the middle of nowhere.

There's gore, there's dark humor, there's true introspection. Ashley is a badass (and I mean that in the complete sense of the word - she's extremely capable, but also willing to acknowledge her own terror). Be Not Far From Me is a page turner in the running for the North Star YA Award this year... I think it's a serious contender!

 

They Went Left by Monica Hesse

 

I have read many, many, many books set during World War II. It's rare, though, to find one set just after the war ended; They Went Left captures the chaos and complete disintegration of society that was left in the wake of World War II. 

For three years, Zofia managed to survive in the Gross-Rosen concentration camp.  She knows that her parents are dead, so when the camp is liberated in 1945, her only thought is of reuniting with her younger brother, Abek. With the help of a Russian soldier, she makes her way back to the only house she and her family ever knew. In a jarring scene, she finds that everything is the same, but completely different. Her brother, though, is not there, so she sets off on foot to find him.

Zofia is something of an unreliable narrator, but Hesse's descriptive writing gently reveals the truth of the heartbreaking realities that Zofia and other displaced persons experienced.  Although this is a painful read, it is not without hope. They Went Left provides today's readers with a look at a unique time in history and for me, it was interesting to experience Zofia's uncertainty and fear as a reader in the midst of a pandemic. Historical fiction readers will find much to appreciate in this North Star YA Award nominee. 

The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann

Set in the early 19th century in the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, The Degenerates is an eye-opening story based on real events.  Rose, Maxine, Alice and London are all "patients" at what is effectively a prison - although none of them have done anything wrong.  Despite their differences, they band together to survive the incredibly harsh conditions of their institutionalization, the bullies who torment them and their tenuous dreams of escape.  

Each of the characters has been sent to the "School" for transgressions against society - Maxine was caught kissing another girl, her sister Rose was born with Down Syndrome, Alice has talipes equinovarus, or a clubfoot, and London is fourteen, unwed and pregnant.  They are an unlikely crew, but their bond is fierce, protective and even funny, at times, despite their dire and dangerous situation.  

Mann has crafted a beautiful narrative that shows readers how love can not just endure, but indeed strengthen, in the darkness.

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

 

Camila Hassan is used to living in the shadow of her fútbol star brother, Pablo.  But she has a big secret: she too is a fútbol star, known as La Furia on the field. 

Set in Rosario, Argentina, this is the story of Camila's careful navigation of her dreams and desires, and the expectations that are so heavily placed on her. In her patriarchal society and family, respectable young women are not athletes.  When her fútbol team qualifies for an important South American tournament, though, Camila's secret becomes much harder to keep.  Facing pressure from her boyfriend (another fútbol star, who has left the barrio to play soccer professionally in Italy), her teammates (who depend upon her on the field) and her family, Camila is forced to make choices that will impact not just her, but her community as a whole. 

I loved the mix of on the field adrenaline with the character-driven story of one young woman meeting and defying narrow expectations.  It's also a great romance!

This book is available via Sora and CloudLibrary.  Happy reading!

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

 

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (published 8/2020, available via CloudLibrary) is an immersive YA fantasy debut with fast action, intriguing characters and thought-provoking themes.  

Tarisai is raised by a cold and absent mother, The Lady.  When she comes of age, Tarisai is sent to the capital to compete to be a member of the Crown Prince's Council of 11.  Those who are chosen communicate with "the Ray," which is deeper than blood.  The only problem is that The Lady has set a magical prophecy in motion, which requires Tarisai to kill the Crown Prince once she has won his trust.

Inspired by West African mythology, Raybearers explores a whole host of themes - gender roles, generational trauma, loyalty and love -  to name just a few.  

This is the first in what promises to be a compelling series.  It is available to LA community members via CloudLibrary as both an audiobook and an ebook.  Happy reading!