Hi everyone, this last week of February I’m treating you to a trio of teen reads that have threads of kindness and other elements running through them. Truth be told, it was a bit tricky finding teen stories with kindness as there are always other themes that take centre stage. So, friends, why not head on down then!
The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas (Macmillan Children’s Books, 2017) tells a story of a fifteen-year-old Grace who has Aspergers but can be quite funny and plain-spoken. Like any teenager, Grace just wants to fit in, so when it turns out that the cutest boy in school likes her, she finds herself falling in with the cool crowd. With her dad away and her mum distracted, there’s no one at home to see Grace’s younger sister spiraling out of control, and suddenly everything threatens to pull apart unless Grace can fix things on her own. This lovely story of family,friendship and love mixed in with tendrils of kindness is good for anyone who just needs something to sink into on a Sunday afternoon!! I liked how Grace’s Aspergers is introduced and the way she manages it while navigating life as a teenager. Despite the mature themes, I found the family dynamics described between Grace and her mother and sister really lovely.
This next read, The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen (Penguin Books Random House, 2020) is a historical summer story set during the summer of 1955. For Ethan Harper, a biracial kid raised mostly by his white father, race has always been a distant conversation. When he is sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in small-town Alabama, his blackness is suddenly front and centre, and no one is shy about making it known he’s not welcome there. Except for Juniper Jones. The town’s resident oddball and free spirit, who is open, kind and full of acceptance. Armed with two bikes and an unlimited supply of root beer floats, Ethan and Juniper set out to find their place in a town that is bent on replacing them. As Ethan is confronted for the first time by what it means to be black in America, Juniper tries to help him see the beauty in even the ugliest reality and that even the darkest days can give rise to an invincible summer. This teen read takes readers to a town strife with racism and prejudice. It’s no mistake that such stories have more kindness woven into them than others. I loved the blossoming friendship between Ethan and Juniper and the descriptions of each character’s growth. Ethan’s struggles with his relationship with his relatives and parents are expertly woven into the narrative. I wish there were more Junipers in the world. She sounded like Anne Shirley, Pollyanna and Jo March combined!! Better for older teens, this story will surely bring a tear or two!.
You Must Be Layla: A Novel by Yasmin Abdel-Magied (Penguin Random House, 2019) tells the story of a teen migrant who finds herself in a new school in a new country. With her long skirt and headscarf Layla certainly stands out at her new high school. Everyone thinks they know her, just from a glance. Jam-packed with heart and humor You Must be Layla by Yassmin Abdel-Magied reveals a powerful new voice in fiction, touching on the migrant experience and exploring thought-provoking themes relevant to all teens. This book shows the strength required to be a Queen with a capital Q. Sudanese-born Yassmin Abdel-Magied has not just captured a vivacious new voice in Layla, but this mechanical engineer and social advocate has brought a unique story of the migrant experience in this read. I learned quite a bit about Sudanese culture from this book and the family dynamics of the Hussein household is expertly woven into every chapter. Layla is a truly exceptional young woman and her adventures in her new school, making friends, robotics competitions, and dealing with bullying was illuminating. Some of these high school stories which have bullying as a main theme has a kindness running as an undercurrent, and I found this story had quite a strong one. I loved the author’s storyline and found the themes very relevant and current. The language takes some getting used to but then, that’s probably a sign of my age!!
I hope you all enjoy this selection of reads.
Stay safe and keep reading
Miss Mahee
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 