The Places We Sleep*The review below is being done on a Netgalley Advanced Reader's Copy of The Places We Sleep. This review is my own, and I have written it in my honest opinion. Caroline Brooks Dubois' debut novel in verse, The Places We Sleep, is set during the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Our character Abbey must deal with puberty, death, bullies, and her father being deployed- possibly into a war zone. Although these are all tough topics as is, Dubois merges them in a very realistic way that does not overwhelm the reader. Abbey's father is in the Army and she is already on her 8th school in her educational career; she was very lucky to have made a friend right away, but even her friend cannot protect her all the time from the bullies that whisper hurtful words her way. Abbey sees her fair share of bullying, but another new student, very similar to Abbey, has to deal with far worse just because she is culturally and racially different than the popular kids at school. Usually, this would be enough to cause a middle schooler stress, but what makes matters worse is that there was an attack on Americans, and Abbey's aunt is lost in the rubble that was the World Trade Center. Abbey's mother must return to New York, they are in Tennessee at the moment, to help her sister's husband take care of their two young kids. During this time, Abbey's father must stay at home, but as more information of the crashes emerge it is inevitable that he will be deployed. As I was reading this book I realized that I was about the same age as Abbey, give or take a year, when the Twin Towers were attacked. Reading this book did remind me of the emotions that I felt as I watched the news play out at school, but what made this book important was that it gave me a different lens to view what others felt and experienced during this time. As a collective country, we can all remember where we were when we heard the news; we remember the coverage and the emotions, but our experiences do not compare to those who lived through it. Dubois gives us an example of how young people at that time were trying to understand the ideas of death, loss, and imminent war in their generation. I know that this review has so much information in it, but I feel it is important to add that not only does Dubois include the above topics, but while her mother is away, Abbey gets her first period. This is an important piece to talk about because we do not see menstruation discussed literature. I find it very encouraging that she included this in her novel because it gives young female readers a glimpse at how scary it is to get your first period and you don't know what to do about it. It makes shows young girls that it is okay to feel scared if you do not know what to do; I feel that this part of the book can help many young girls find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. Dubois' novel was released today, August 25, 2020. You can pick up your copy below: Amazon Barnes and Noble Better World Books Powell's
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The Black KidsChristina Hammonds Reed's debut novel The Black Kids takes place during the 1992 Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles. This novel covers so many deep issues that still resonate in today's society. There are many things I want to say about this book, so I will start with our main character, Ashley. Ashley, is a black teenager from a wealthy family who must navigate being a senior, her relationship with her estranged sister, Jo, liking her best friend's boyfriend, and feeling out of place with her circle of friends in the midst of the riots; that is a lot for one book to cover, but Reed does an excellent job of focusing on all these topics in a way that makes you reflect on our current situation. Had you not known that the setting took place in 1992, you probably would have thought you were reading a novel that takes place in 2020. One of the saddest realizations I had while reading this book is that not a lot has changed since 1992 in terms of racism and police brutality. This novel is a wake-up call to the readers because a lot of our young readers will be able to see how the events that transpired after Rodney King being beaten are a mirror image of what took place after George Floyd was beaten and killed. This novel shows us historical events through the eyes of a young adult, and how at times we struggle within ourselves in figuring out where we belong in the whole scheme of things. One thing that this novel taught me is that finding and using your voice are important, no matter what age you are. This book needs to be an essential read for our young adults, who am I kidding- even adults, to see that change needs to happen, and that we cannot do it alone or in fear. Reed's debut book will be released on August 4, 2020. You can pre-order your copy below: Amazon Audible Barnes and Noble Powell's *The above review is being done on a Netgalley Advanced Reader's Copy of The Black Kids. This review is my own, and I have written it in my honest opinion. |