#17 - The Dark Beneath the Ice by Amelinda Bérubé

  Just The Basics

    Published: August 7, 2018

    Genre: Paranormal Fiction 

    Pages: 336 pages

    Acknowledgements:  For the first time, none that I can find. 

        "If this is over, really over, do I need them? Can I leave them behind, walk away from them? I'm walking on water, aren't I? But it was fear, that moth-wing panic, that brought me there. That's what I was trying to escape."

    "The Dark Beneath the Ice" is a paranormal, coming-of-age novel by Amelinda Bérubé. The story centers around Marianne's unraveling. Her parents' divorce, her abandoning of ballet, and her questioning sexuality spiral her into a haunting by a mysterious vision of her worst nightmares. Her nightmares are all about water, darkness, and ice lurking below her fragile self-image and wavering confidence. In a new school, Marianne meets Ron (Ronette is her full name), whose psychic mother eventually allows Marianne to face herself, the ghost haunting her, and how she cannot solve anything by continuing to run away. What might at first seem like a purely paranormal haunting eventually morphs into a story about parenting, finding oneself, and accepting who you are as Marianne and Ron untangle the mysterious darkness around them. 

    Why "The Dark Beneath the Ice"?

    I found this book on a YALSA list of the most popular YA titles in the last few years. I threw this work on my list at the very last second, craving some paranormal literature after so many realistic novels in the past year. However, I quickly understood that "The Dark Beneath the Ice" was going to be a difficult read. Not because this book is too haunting or too disturbing, but because it is so mediocre. I personally love media in the horror genre, but I had to push myself to get through Bérubé's very tepid story. I wanted what one always gets from good spooky lit: atmosphere, striking imagery, and some of the beloved genre tropes that make works in this genre so memorable. What I got was a pulpy, average, and not very compelling read. I'm not even sure the young adults I teach would like this novel."The Dark Beneath the Ice" was a bit too basic, underwhelming, and lukewarm, offering very little atmosphere or compelling pacing. Unfortunately, the question here changes from why "The Dark Beneath the Ice"  to why not "The Dark Beneath the Ice". 

    Teaching Considerations

     I'm struggling to find where this book would fit into my classroom. With other YA works, I have found the issue is sometimes that a story isn't for me, yet still can be worked into a positive light with some creative pedagogy. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure if a high or middle school student found Bérubé's work on some spooky October, they might enjoy this story. Especially if this reader is a young queer girl, I can see Marianne and Ron's story keeping them interested. From a teaching perspective, I don't think this book would even be a good fit for choice reading or book clubs. This book offers very little in terms of substance for analysis. The pacing (which is my biggest gripe), the dialogue, all lack subtext and deeper meaning. The paranormal aspects are often rushed, too frequent, and not impactful in the way stories like this need to be. There is a minor trigger warning of some peril and violence, but I've seen worse in animated Disney movies. Not only is this book not for me, but it's not for my classroom either. Nothing wrong with this book as a story concept-- as I think the externalization of emotional problems of young queer kids makes for good horror (watch I Saw The TV Glow if you want to see what I mean), but I just think this novel does the horrors of life as a closeted lesbian girl a disservice. 

      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 16

• "I'm ice on the water. Cracking. Every word hits me like a stone. That's what Ingrid heard coming out of my mouth?" (Ebook page 377)

    Some of the context for Marianne's personality crisis comes from the rejection of her old best friend, Ingrid, with whom Marianne was in love, but who eventually rejects her. The metaphor of water, ice, and darkness is the main externalization of these emotional struggles. While the metaphor is repetitive throughout this work, if an educator chose to use this text in class, the metaphorical connections between Marianne and water are worth exploring. 

        2. Chapter 12

• '''But you're the one who brought me here.' Anguish creeps into the other voice, the kindling of anger. 'I was trying to find the way for so long. And you called me. I heard you!' 'There's something you want. Isn't there?' Ron insists. 'Tell me what it is!' 'I want... what is mine.'" (Ebook pages 287-288)

    The specter that haunts Marianne's refrain is "I want what is mine". The ghost clearly reflects many aspects of Marianne, with its own ghastly fixation on Ron (bet you can guess the payoff here). Moments like the one above are both the paranormal moments that punctuate the novel but also reveal a lot of Marianne's internalized fears about her queerness. Moments with the ghost could be looked at by students in how they both move the plot along with some excitement, and how they reveal who Marianne is deep down. 

    Overall Thoughts

        I truly didn't like "The Dark Beneath the Ice". With these reviews, I am usually able to find a place for every book. So far, this has been the only work of the sixteen I have read that I feel is not only not for me, but is arguably poorly written. Nothing was thrilling or exciting in this work. The paranormal moments were so frequent and so plain that they almost became a drag. To thrill a reader, to haunt a reader, to scare a reader, there needs to be much more atmosphere, more compelling pacing, more of hiding important elements of the plot until a key moment, and Bérubé did not pull through for me here. If a student is a horror junky, they might find more enjoyment here than I did. However, I disliked how this novel is more constructed than any YA book I have read so far. 

    Future Explorations

     There was to be some stellar paranormal YA lit out there! While I did not find what I wanted here, I'm sure there is a wealth of queer-oriented thriller/horror works out there that offer what I am looking for when I pick something up in this genre.  I hope that Bérubé has a successful career, but I do not think I will be looking for any other work by this author. 

#16 - Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi

  Just The Basics

    Published: May 9, 2023

    Genre: Realistic fiction, Coming of Age 

    Pages: 384 pages

    Acknowledgements:  2024 Coretta Scott King Author Award winner

        "But none of that matters now because I don't want to be a part of anyone's movement. I want to be my own liberation and break down these walls, tear down this house, kick down the front door, and just walk out and never come back. Like Mama. But I am not abandoning Freedom." 

    "Nigeria Jones" is a coming-of-age novel written by Ibi Zoboi. The title character, Nigeria, is the daughter of a famous Black nationalist and revolutionary. In the wake of her mother's absence, the birth of her little brother Freedom, Nigeria struggles to find a place for herself, outside of her father's controlled world of radical liberation, as she attends the Philly Friends School in Philadelphia. Nigeria Jones is a powerful analysis of what Black liberation might look like in an oppressive White world. Zoboi's work takes an unflinching look at Black Power while personalizing the struggle between whether it is better for Black youth to strive for radicalization or exist in the racist systems of America, while questioning how kids like Nigeria may find an individual path to liberation, all wrapped up in a heartfelt narrative about a sixteen-year-old girl finding her way. This novel is as much about personal liberation and individual freedom as it is about how grief and generational trauma challenge Black youth to unpack their identities as they venture outside of the world their parents might create for them. 

    Why "Nigeria Jones"?

    I found this novel when looking through the winners of the Coretta Scott King awards from the last few years. Honestly, I had no clue what to expect. From the first chapter of Zoboi's work, I felt as if I was venturing into a space not intended for me in the slightest; I was a stranger in a strange land as I read about Nigeria's life and the Black Power Party her father cultivates. As a White man, I felt that I was stepping into an all-Black world that was completely alien, and I was a bit shocked by how humbling this read was. The references to African-American tradition, emphasis on important Black voices, and the traditions of Nigeria's Haitian-American heritage were almost like reading a novel from another country. As I read, I felt honored to be in this space and grateful for this book's creation of a conduit between my lived experience and those of these characters. As I consider myself a progressive person, Nigeria Jones exposed how different the life of Black Americans really is, while also exposing how limited my knowledge of Black American life is. However, through the exploration of this novel, I was given a small view into a world not meant for me to step into, but still able to come to appreciate it through this extremely raw and powerful narrative. Just like when I read The Unboxing of a Black Girl, I learned quickly to contemplate this book, enjoy the emotionality of the story, and simply acknowledge the perspective this story was lending me. 

    Teaching Considerations

     I have been scratching my head about how I would teach this book. Nigeria's life and struggles in both her father's world and her life in White spaces brought up many important questions about liberation, reparation, the role of family and culture, all while supplying almost endless critiques of systemic oppression. This makes this novel a powerful read in a classroom; however, I'm not sure I'm the right educator to help answer these questions. I think this novel would be a powerful book club addition, possibly in a unit on racism, the Black experience, freedom, or oppression. This book is almost brutal in its honesty and candor in critiquing the world of a post-Black Lives Matter America, so I don't think Zoboi's work would be pragmatic in the hands of younger high schoolers. For seniors or juniors, I think this novel can be explored. The level of language used and the intelligence of this work's analysis would need time and care in its dissection. There is a risk of alienating young White students in the teaching of this book to a whole class. I think that's the point. I would love to get this book in the hands of those Black students who desire to expand their critical consciousness. This is one of the first YA books I have read that has seemed difficult for me to teach. I think if I were to use this novel in a classroom, I would simply allow the work to speak for itself. There are moments of sex, marijuana use, and some language. However, these are not things to shy away from, as Nigeria smartly explains why seemingly problematic aspects of her life are criminalized and made to seem inappropriate only in the White-majority context. To teach this novel would be to invite students into a discourse where there are no clear answers and would encourage many difficult conversations. This book is smart, and would need a smart class to begin to understand the complexity of the role of Black Power in America. 

      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Grievance 5

• "Makai? Aren't you tired of all of this? of having to read my father's books? Of listening to all those live streams and podcasts? It's the same thing every single day. Over and over again. I get it by now. We're oppressed. Racism is fucked up. Black People are messed up because of it. White people are evil because of it." (Ebook page 235)

    This work is full of moments in which Nigeria unpacks what her father has conditioned her to believe while also understanding her need to find her own path. Moments like the one above abound, where Nigeria understands that her entire life is surrounded by critical critique, while almost getting tired of always needing to be as conscious as she is. Sections like these would make for an important class discussion. Is it really "all about race" when real people's lives are affected? Does it ever get tiring searching for revolution everywhere one looks? 

        2. Article II, Section 3

• ''Yes, Baba," I say, and the first step I take after my father's commands is the one where I almost step into that Mama-sized hole and almost, almost fall." (Ebook page 115)

    A lot of Nigeria's journey in finding herself comes as she follows her mom's footsteps. Her mom functions as a foil to her father's radicalism, still as critical of the world around her, however, without many of the isolationist tendencies that separate Nigeria from the White world around her. Sections like this clearly express the role Nigeria feels her father forces her into, a role her mom held when she was with the Movement. Reading aloud moments like these shows that even though Nigeria is brilliant, she is still a young girl searching for a place in the world that is truly hers. In terms of characterization, sections like these illustrate that Nigeria is ultimately very hurt by her mother's absence and how this abandonment is made even more difficult by her father's expectations. 

    Overall Thoughts

        Nigeria Jones is an impressive meditation on Black American life in a modern world. This novel was exceptionally sharp, both in its construction as a story and in its commentary. I actually struggle encapsulating this book in my writing, as it is such a large and detailed look at Black oppression, systematic racism, finding one's place, and overall grief, that I think it is impossible to boil down for quick simplicity. There is a ton of power in this story and in Zoboi's writing style. I enjoyed this book very much, even though I cannot pretend this work was written for me. I think Nigeria Jones would change the life of a young Black girl when she reads it. For a book about intersectionality, this book is an impressive expression of both Black joy and disgust at an oppressive world. I don't think I have read a YA book so smart, ever. This book blew the doors off what I thought I knew about being Black in America, and yet still wrapped me up in a story full of love and the transcendent power of revolution. 

    Future Explorations

     Ibi Zoboi is just impressive. I would love to read more of her work, because I was so challenged with this one. Reading is meant to offer people windows into the lives of others, and this book has been one of the most impactful windows I have had into a life very, very far away from my own. While I do think this work would be difficult for younger students who cannot see outside of their own lives, I enjoyed what Zoboi had to offer and her grit in presenting it in a young adult narrative. 

#15 - The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle

  Just The Basics

    Published: September 15, 2015

    Genre: Historical Fiction, Novel in Verse. 

    Pages: 192 pages

    Acknowledgements: PEN Center USA Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature (2014)

        "The poems Tula recites / fall onto my ears / like shooting stars / or flowers / in a storm wind, / plummeting towards earth / instead of drifting." 

    "The Lightning Dreamer" is a historical fiction novel in verse about Cuban feminist and abolitionist poet Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda. Poet Margarita Engle fictionalizes Avellaneda's life in Cuba from 1827 to 1829, then follows "Cuba's greatest abolitionist " to her life in Spain from 1836 onward. Although this is a work of fiction, much of Avellaneda's writing is said to come from real-life conversations, and in Lightning Dreamer's collection of free-verse poems, these characters are explored as real-life relationships. Back when arranged marriage was the norm, and miscegenation was an extreme and illegal taboo, fourteen-year-old "Tula" (as Avellaneda was called) grapples with the brutality of slavery around her, her mother's expectations, the power she finds in the poems of José María Heredia, and her exile to the countryside due to her radical beliefs. Engle explores Avellaneda's life in the same poetic medium, as Avellaneda was able to express her thoughts on power, love, and freedom years before either feminism or abolition were accepted in the Americas. 

    Why "The Lightning Dreamer"?

    When I read about Engle's work on a list of top YA works of the past ten years, I was confused about what this book would even read like. I have little experience with novels in verse already, so adding some historical fiction made me anxious to get a hold of this book (I had my mom check it out from the Douglas County Library; JeffCo had no copies). What I found interesting in the concept was only made more so in the actual construction of the work. Engle tells the story of Avellaneda's life through a series of first-person free verse poems. Each poem is from the perspective of a character, whether it's Tula herself, her brother, her mom, or the fictional "Sab" who is a personification of Avellaneda's main character in her novel also named Sab. None of the poems is very long; however, the mosaic they create thematically paints a stark image of a time in Cuban history when both Black people and women were inslaved. Black and brown Cuban people in chattel slavery, women in arranged marriages with men almost two decades older than them, enslaved for a dowery at the age of fourteen. This book was worth the effort to track down, because I think this book is a gem of a poetic look at history and an underscoring of how abolition and feminism intersect. 

    Teaching Considerations

     I haven't found a better book for cross-curricular study. In a dream unit, the life of Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, José María Heredi, and Cuban independence could be taught in a social studies or Spanish class, and then The Lightning Dreamer could be taught in an English class. I think this book would be a great full-class study. It is short enough to mostly read aloud, but the poems and how they are sequenced are so pregnant with meaning that they allow for deep analysis. I think the concept of arranged marriage for fourteen-year-olds to grown men might be disturbing for younger readers, and along with some depictions of violence against enslaved people, I think this book should stay out of the hands of middle schoolers. High school-age students from 9th to 12th grade could comprehend this book and its complex themes, even more so if these students can somehow access this text and its themes in multiple content areas.  

      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

Please note: all titles of the poems indicate who is speaking, so refer to citations for the exact location. 

1. Tula 

• "Today I released / my caged goldfinch. / Mama scolded me bitterly, / but I do not care, because today / one small, winged creature / has finally learned / how to fly!" (Ebook page 32)

    Once Tula is engaged to the man she will eventually run away from, her grandfather gifts her a goldfinch as a pet. She hates keeping it, hating its small cage, seeing herself in the bird's captivity. This poem and the series of poems around it create a deep sense of sorrow for Tula and the reality of being a young girl in this time. This poem would be great to read aloud in class because its easily accessible metaphor, its emotional, and its historical context. 

        2. Sab

• ''Tula has refused to marry / the man on the spirited horse. / She calls my request horrible, / insisting that marriage / without love / is just one more / twisted / form / of slavery" (Ebook page 50)

    The above selection from one of the Sab poems is the clearest expression of the theme of slavery and arranged marriage in the book. This poem may not be as full of symbolism as the last selection; however, the style of this poem is emblematic of how a lot of Engle's free verse poems read. This philosophic, yet still somehow almost conversational, meter and diction both communicate the meaning of each work, but in part talk to the other poems in their juxtaposition. 

    Overall Thoughts

        The Lightning Dreamer was one of my most unique reads for this list. I not only enjoyed its poetic style, but I think Engle's work had an artful touch in memorializing the life of Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda. What is fascinating is that this book honored Tula without exactly retelling her life story. Some of the fictionalized characters actually were the most compelling; these characters just existed to help personify important topics in Avellaneda's work or characters in her own stories. I was impressed that reading poetry from charaters based on characters based on possible anecdotal encounters could work so well in communicating a point. The poetic focus on love, freedom, living life for oneself, and the journey life takes you on were made to feel important, universal, and truly cherished by Avellaneda when she was alive. 

    Future Explorations

     Are there any more historical fiction poetry books? I am interested in checking out more of Engle's works, even if that means I have to read a few picture books. I knew nothing about the Cuban move for independence, the Cuban abolition of slavery, or these forced marriage practices. I think there is power in learning about history through poetry, and this is something new I have discovered through reading this book. Conceptually, understanding the emotionality of history through artfully crafted language somehow makes learning about history feel more fulfilling than just learning facts and dates. 

#14 - A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield

 Just The Basics

    Published: January 2nd, 2018

    Genre: Nonfiction 

    Pages: 208 pages

    Acknowledgements: Coretta Scott King Award for Nonfiction 2019

        "Sometimes I growl, shake myself and spatter a few red drops of history to remember. Then-- I forget."

                     - Carl Sandburg (From "I Am the People, the Mob)

    "A Few Red Drops" is a nonfiction work by Claire Hartfield offering a brief history of the 1919 Chicago Race Riots. In a way that centers historical context beyond the description of racial violence, Hartfield's report creates a student-forward explanation of the Great Migration, the Meat Packers Union, the history of Chicago, and the racial powder keg the city was building until its explosion in 1919 over the death of Eugene Williams. With the riots used as a narrative frame, Hartfield uses many first-hand accounts to allow for an understanding of the tensions between Southern Black migrants and mostly mid-European immigrants that arose from a shortage of jobs, a series of labor strikes, and housing shortages, and how these conflicts eventually led to the death of 13 men and the horrific bombings of several Black-owned properties. The Chicago Race Riots were the first in a series of conflicts around America called the "Red Summer," where the Great Migration of southern Black Americans resulted in racially charged violence that would have ripple effects across US history.  

    Why "A Few Red Drops"?

    After reading Paula Yoo's Rising from the Ashes earlier this year, I was very interested in nonfiction about racialized violence in America. Both Yoo's and Hartfield's works had different approaches to retelling these events; however, when paired together, they had several noticeable correlations. Unlike Yoo's report, Hartfield's A Few Red Drops is separated from contemporary readers by almost 110 years. A Few Red Drops was not nearly as personal as Rising From the Ashes, and instead was more of a cursory glance at the Red Summer and the fallout effects of the Great Migration. Hartfield's work was a good supplementary nonfiction addition to my YA list, as it felt like it balanced out my understanding of what nonfiction YA can look like. I originally picked up this work just to follow a through-line of racialized violence in America, but as a result of reading this text, I feel as if I now understand the different stylistic takes in contemporary YA nonfiction. 

    Teaching Considerations

     For a book about racial violence, A Few Red Drops surprisingly had almost no description of violence. There were statistics given about those who died in the rioting, photos of those properties bombed in this time frame, and the attention drawn to the young boy Eugine William's death by accidental stoning and drowning. However, it felt as if the gruesome details of this time were understated on purpose for the book's intended audience. This means this book can be taught in a classroom with less apprehension; the only other trigger warning should be the use of the n-word (but with understanding the topical focus, this should almost be expected). I think this book would be a great supplementary text for a unit on riots, systematic racism, protest, or even labor rights and unionizing. I keep thinking back to Yoo's work, and just really prefer that book overall, so I could also recommend that A Few Red Drops be taught in conjunction with Rising from the Ashes as a part of a quad-text framework or some type of literature circle. I think A Few Red Drops is appropriate reading for all secondary students, from 6th to 12th grade, with the right teacher support and scaffolds. Again, this book just doesn't seem like a good fit to teach on its own without additional materials. 

      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Five, White Negros 

• "Just west of Chicago's Black Belt sat the white immigrant communities known as Packingtown. The men and women who settled there had come to get away from oppression in their homeland. Irish and Germans arrived in the mid-nineteenth century, Poles and Lithuanians a few decades later" (Ebook page, 61)

    Chapter 5 would be important for students to understand because it sets up the other ethnic communities that are essentially at war with those Black Americans living in the Black Belt. It is between these multiple communities that struggle for jobs in Packingtown (a meat-packing district), the strikes, the unions, the scabs (usually hired Black people), all together lead to the strained communities of Chicago. As the title of this chapter alludes to, all these groups were disenfranchised by the White-Anglo majority of Chicago's richer areas. These minority groups were largely manipulated by the rich men who owned Packingtown to remain in control and not have to deal with negotiating with labor unions and the resulting strikes. 

        2. Seventeen, Race Riot 

• ''Around white neighborhoods, the story went that the drowned boy was white and the stone thrower was black. In black areas, among stories of Officer Callahan's villainy was the claim that he had prevented expert swimmers from saving Eugine, and that he had held black bathers while they were pelted with bricks and stones." (Ebook page 234)

    What is most interesting about this selection, and this entire chapter, is the amount of misinformation that causes people to take violent action on the street. Eugine Williams was a black boy and was hit in the head by a stone from white aggressors. Officer Callahan had no involvement. It would be fruitful to break down these moments with students, so they can understand the role information and misinformation always have in moments of mass civil unrest. This chapter also has all the details of those who died in the riots, so its improtant to analyze this section for more critical information and a timeline of events. 

    Overall Thoughts

        A Few Red Drops was interesting, informative, and easily digestible. The reason I am not as satisfied with this text is that it lacks humanism. Yes, the reader gets some key names, and the text serves as remembrance for Eugene Williams; however, I was spoiled by how much mor reverence I felt when reading Rising From The Ashes. Yoo's work felt like a candle still burning for those who were lost, for those who helped start the LA riots. A Few Red Drops felt more like reading an unbiased newspaper article. Maybe this is the English Teacher side of me talking, but I want stories we read in class to be stories about people, with morals and even some bias towards the racism shown in the Red Summer. Maybe A Few Red Drops would be more fitting for a social studies teacher to use in class, where unbiased materials are more of a mainstay. Even though these events took place over one hundred years ago, and testimonies have been lost to time, I still felt like Hartfield's work was too brief a dive into an important and thematically relevant topic in the history of racism in the United States. 

    Future Explorations

     This is Hartfield's only nonfiction book; her only other work is a picture book. It may be a bit of an insult to Hartfield, but reading this book made me want to go back to Paula Yoo's work. I am beginning to really enjoy reading YA nonfiction, as these works make history digestible and easily understandable to me. I think something like the history of civil unrest in America can get messy, and I have enjoyed using the nonfiction works on this list to better educate myself on the basics of these important events. A Few Red Drops is the final YA nonfiction book on this list, so I am wishing I ended this part of my journey with a deeper and more substantive book. 

#13 - Thirsty by Jas Hammonds

 Just The Basics

    Published: May 14, 2024

    Genre: Realistic Fiction, Coming of age 

    Pages: 318 pages

    Acknowledgements: Good Reads Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2024)

        "I was glitter and whiskey and audacity, I was THAT BITCH!”

    "Thirsty" is a realistic fiction novel by Jas Hammonds about eighteen-year-old Blake Brenner's summer before her first year at college. Blake, a lesbian, and her girlfriend of four years, Ella, both dream of joining the all-Black Serena Society, eager to follow in the legacy of Ella's mom and many other prominent Black women in Virginia Beach. As Blake deals with crippling anxiety, a girlfriend she sees as way out of her league, parents who were never accepting of her Blackness, or her sexuality, Blake finds solace in underage drinking. From getting so drunk she vandalizes a yacht at the country club, consistently blacking out, throwing up on people she cares about, and always spiraling into self-hatred whenever she drinks, Blake has to decide if getting into the Serena Society is worth her sobriety and her ever-straining friendship with her friend Annetta. In a coming-of-age self-love story, Blake discovers who in her life is healthy and who in her life is toxic. 

    Why "Thirsty"?

    I have unfortunetly have a bit of an alcohol dependency streak in my family. Never really struggling with drinking to excess myself (once you've been to an intervention, you don't really have the desire to) I thought this novel seemed brave. Hammond's story popped up on a list of top YA books of last year, and after reading the synopsis, I felt a difficult curiosity to read this book. I knew this novel would be hard for me to read in places, reminding me of difficulties with those who abuse alcohol in my own life. But-- I knew I would find some transcendence in this story. I think it's important to look addiction straight in the face, and I have never seen a young adult novel brave enough to do this. This novel is partially about Blake trying to figure out her relationship with Ella and how badly they both want to make it into the Serena Society, but this book is also about caring for oneself when you spiral into a place where you hate yourself. Even for those of us who do not struggle with drinking, I think we have all had moments in our lives where we have struggled with self-love. I had hoped that the transcendence in this novel would be the main character getting sober, but also, I found a story about a young Black girl who learns to be kind to herself, take care of herself, and surround herself with people who want the best for her. 

    Teaching Considerations

     While I think Thistory would also be an amazing book to have in a youth rehab center, I also think this novel would fit well into a book club unit. Teaching this novel to a whole class might be a good way of sharing its lesson; however, I think whole-class instruction would remove some of the contemplative nature of Hammonds' work. I think the best age range for teaching this book is upperclassmen. But at the same time, this novel is very accessible to young high schoolers as well. This book opens with a content warning (something I haven't seen before on my YA journey) for alcohol addiction, self-hatred, suicidal ideation, racial microaggressions, transphobic rhetoric, and nonconsensual outing (of said trans individuals). I think a teacher would have to be as brave in teaching this work as Hammonds was in writing it. There is also quite a bit of sex, but all these moments always feel correct and age-appropriate. For the YA label, this book is mature, growing up way too fast-- just like Blake's character. The list of possible triggers should not be taken lightly. If this book finds the right (and emotionally ready) readers, I think it can make a big impact. 

      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 8, Cherry Coke Slurpees 

• "And how could she get it? My mom was a white woman from Wytheville, Virginia, who'd had no meaningful relationships with Black people until she fell in love with my dad" (Page 98)

    A large portion of the rift between Blake and her mom comes from their racial issues. In this scene, Blake is 16 and is hanging out with her mom on an overnight 7-11 shift. This scene becomes important as it shapes Blake's view of herself and her own Blackness for the rest of the story. Her mom means well, and this scene would make a good close reading with a class to see if they think Blake is being "dramatic" or not (as she is often criticized by her friends for being). 

        2. How To Be A Disaster

• ''Erase the texts. Try not to cry. When your girlfriend emerges from the bathroom, laugh at the toothpaste she missed on her chin. Climb out of bed. Wince when you put weight on your knee. Get dressed. Resist the urge to vomit when you look at yourself in the mirror. Splash water on your face. Wipe away the night " (Page 216)

    Each major section of the novel ends with one of these "How to" sections. How To Be A Disaster is the most impactful, as it's when Blake is circling rock bottom in her life. Readalouds are a great opportunity to hook students. I think reading the above section aloud can not spoil too much of the plot of Thirsty, while exposing students to the themes of maintaining appearance, self-hatred, and the physiological side effects of drinking too much. 

    Overall Thoughts

        Thirsty dealt with a lot, all within a story that went by quickly. This book did make me sad, and was a hard read. It's difficult to understand that Blake needs better than she's giving herself, while still making self-destructive choices and drinking. But that's what dealing with a loved one who is struggling with addiction is like. If you have never had someone in your life desperately need help getting sober, this book simulates some of the emotions with surprising accuracy. This book was powerful, and sometimes not YA-feeling at all. This book (a lot like Rez Ball) refuses to pull any punches. The beautiful parts of this novel glimmer, while the difficult parts stink with vomit-scented breath. 

    Future Explorations

     I liked how Hammonds wrote dialogue in particular. Her other book is called "We Deserve Monuments," and I have seen lots of buzz about it as I did research on Thirsty. I love how Hammonds doesn't treat a younger audience like kids. She doesn't hide hard parts of adult life from them, and writes personal narratives that both warn of adult struggles and also highlight the power we have inside to love ourselves. 

#12 - Rez Ball by Byron Graves

 Just The Basics

    Published: September 12, 2023

    Genre: Realistic Fiction, Sports, Coming of age 

    Pages: 368 pages

    Acknowledgements: Colorado Book Award for Young Adult Literature (2024), William C. Morris Award for Best Young Adult by a Debut Author 2025. 

        "Never stop trying to get / Better than before / Smarter than yesterday / Stronger than you ever thought you could be.'"

    "Rez Ball" is the debut Young Adult novel from Ojibwe author Byron Graves. The story is about Tre Brun, a high school sophomore comic book geek turned basketball superstar. In the wake of the death of his older brother Jaxon, Tre struggles with grief, living on a small reservation in Minnesota, as well as fitting in as a starter on his school's varsity basketball team. Tre, his friend, and his "friendable" love interest Kianna all live out the excitement as their school reaches new heights in basketball, all while struggling with typical high school ailments. Tre learns how partying and drinking affect his game on and off the court, while his relationships with his friend group are strained by his newfound popularity through basketball. Rez Ball is very much a love letter from Graves to basketball, his Ojibwe heritage, and his life at Red Lake High School. There is no sugar coating life on a reservation; however, Graves' passion for basketball and his appreciation for making it out of Minnesota and into the public eye is clear in Rez Ball. Even if the reader of this novel is not into "sportsball" (as Kianna puts it), this story encapsulates life in a tribe and the big dreams Native youth might have in reaching beyond their disenfranchisement. 

    Why "Rez Ball"?

    I was planning on reading this novel before Byron Graves came to talk at the high school I teach at. I had heard of Rez Ball from lists of popular YA titles and the acknowledgment the work and Graves had received over the last two years. During Graves' talk, I was struck by his candor with my students. He spoke of finding purpose in life. Searching for something to do with his life, Graved popped around from acting, to music, to writing, failing in these pursuits long before his success with Rez Ball. When Graves spoke, he focused so much on how his failures eventually led to the writing of this novel, even admitting his imposter syndrome as he received accolades. Graves was open, honest, and transparent about this journey in such a way that he earned my respect as much as he made me want to read this work. While I am not very interested in basketball myself, I hoped that this realistic look at life and personal candor would be reflected in his writing. It was indeed-- making this work one of my favorites to read so far this year. 

    Teaching Considerations

     To be fair, last semester I taught Sherman Alexie's The Absolute True Story of a Part-Time Indian to a Freshman class, and I think I can use a lot of that framework in teaching Rez Ball. Both works center on Native life on the Rez, basketball, and how this sport can be a conduit for native boys to find an outlet for what is often a very small life. I would love to teach Graves' work to a class of Sophomores. I think this book is equal parts relatable, as it is a good novel to teach to a whole class. Tre's story of grief, finding his identity as he takes his brother's place on his varsity basketball team, teen romance, and struggles with peer pressure and drinking serve as a cautionary tale for students, as well as being a novel with considerable racial subtext to unpack. I think this novel is good for any group of high school-aged kids, its easy reading makes it the best fit for Freshmen and Sophomores. This book has pretty extensive use of swear words and underage drinking, so educators who are wary of these things might want to steer clear. However, I liked how many f-bombs were in this book, actually. The realism of this book comes from Graves' age and his proximity to how teenagers really talk. The parts that might be triggering in this book are things that I think teenagers deal with daily, and are just sometimes afraid to speak about in a classroom. This book feels real, even as Tre reaches unbelievable accomplishments in basketball. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 31, February 1

• "Pride in our culture, in our tribe, in our heritage. That's the kind of pride that keeps who we are as a people alive. But personal pride, that ego pride can get in the way of growing, learning, and admitting when we are wrong" (Ebook page 303) 

    Tre's mom is often a source of wisdom in this novel. Chapter 31 would be a great read-aloud, not only because the chapters in this novel are short, but because this chapter offers the clearest insight into the novel's theme of pride. In this chapter, Tre feels the effects of his drinking on his game and confides in his mom. She helps him ground himself with some traditional Ojibwe techniques before confronting his all-senior teammates, so he can focus on the game rather than their partying. 

        2. Chapter 41, March 4

• ''Look at your parents, your grandparents, your teachers, your classmates. your friends, our Elders, our community. They're here to cheer you on, to show you love. We aren't separate-- we're all connected. We are a tribe. You are them, and they are you. So, let's get out there, stop playing scared, and show these white boys what the fuck we are all about" (Ebook page 477)

    Much like Tre's mom, Coach Whitefeather is another character who delivers thematic meaning pretty directly. In this scene, the Red Lake basketball team is in the championship game at the Target Center. Often, Tre's team is facing off against White schools of much more affluence. In moments like these, Coach Whitefeather uses his team's Native pride to inspire the team to dominate. Moments like this remind readers of an ethnic majority that these games become a lot more about basketball to Tre and his team. 

    3. Chapter 33,  February 13

• Being a Warrior is the last time I'll ever be special. I'll never top this. After this season, I'll be working at the casino or bagging groceries at The Trading Post. No one's going to want to take pictures with me or ask for my autograph. I'll just be another ghost of Red Lake Warriors past. But that's okay as long as we get to state. It would mean the world to our rez forever, man" (EBook page 479)

    I also think its imporant to show the stakes of these games from the student's perspective. In this chapter, readers can be exposed to how high the stakes of these basketball games are. Reading aloud the perspectives of the senior players on the Red Lake Warriors highlights the stakes of the plot, themes of institutional poverty and lack of opportunity on the reservation, and shows the complexity of characters like Dallas, who have a much different future than superstar Tre. 

    Overall Thoughts

        I am wondering if I would have liked Rez Ball as much as I did if I had not heard the author speak about his life or his passions. Out of all the YA titles I've read this year, this novel felt the most realistic. This book is not neutered in its language or the approach of its themes. The power of Graves' work comes from this realism and this book's closeness to real life. The characters drank, smoked weed, swore, but these were all parts that added to its believability. Often, I feel like YA authors try to make their work overly kid-friendly, and in this process, make their works feel like Disney Channel shows and not written documentaries on teens. Rez Ball felt raw, real, and was an enjoyable read. 

    Future Explorations

     Byron Graves has written two other books, both self-released. I would say I wanted to read these, but in his talk at my school, he said these works "sucked", so I will be avoiding them. He also said in this talk that he was given a two-book deal along with the publication of Rez Ball, so I will just have to wait until that book comes out to see what else Graves has to offer. I want to further explore YA authors who write in such a raw way. I am excited to see what Graves' work is like when he is not writing about basketball. That is, unless his next book is also about basketball, which in that case, I will probably start watching more Timberwolves games myself.