Must Read Books Summer 2018

Dread Nation

by Justina Ireland

What it’s about: When the dead start to rise on the battlefields, the Civil War is quickly ended with a compromise. Slavery is over, but the Native and Negro Reeducation Act requires certain children to attend combat schools to learn to put down the shamblers. Jane McKeene considers herself lucky. She gets to attend a prestigious school where she is trained in both weaponry and etiquette, so she can protect the well-to-do and stay off the front lines of the battle. But when families start to go missing, Jane finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy, and the restless dead may be the least of her problems.

Why read it? It’s an exciting and action-packed read that combines zombie horror and alternative history featuring a shrewd, scythe-wielding biracial heroine. And on a deeper level, it’s a thought-provoking exploration of racism, oppression, and other relevant themes.

How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation

Edited by Maureen Johnson

 What it’s about: As political activism is on the rise, 30 authors, celebrities, and activists respond to the questions of “Where do they begin? What can I do? How can I help?” with this collection of interviews and essays (and comics, sheet music, lists and more).

Why read it? Contributors include Libba Bray, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jodi Picoult, Rosie O’Donnell, Javier Muñoz, Malinda Lo, Dylan Marron, and Jason Reynolds among others. It’s personal, funny, instructive, and irreverent, and offers something to readers of all ages who may be feeling adrift or are looking for guidance.

I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor’s Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope

 by Chessy Prout (with Jenn Abelson)

 What it’s about: In 2014, when Chessy Prout was a freshman at St. Paul’s, a boarding school in New Hampshire, she was sexually assaulted by a senior boy. Prout’s memoir recounts her year at the school, the assault, the emotional aftermath, backlash from her once-trusted school community, and the widely publicized trial.

Why read it? Unfortunately, this is a necessary read. Nearly one in five teenage girls have been the victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. Chessy Prout’s story takes a magnifying glass to a society that blames victims and the institutions that turn a blind eye to rape culture while offering solidarity, inspiration and real, powerful solutions to changing that culture for the better.

Undead Girl Gang

 by Lily Anderson

 What it’s about: When Mila’s best friend and two of their school’s mean girls die under suspicious circumstances, Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the truth and brings the three girls back to life. Unfortunately, they have no recollection of their murders. But they do have unfinished business to attend to. Now, with only seven days until the spell wears off and the girls return to their graves, Mila must wrangle the distracted group of undead teens and work fast to discover their murderer… before the killer strikes again.

Why read it? Because it’s somehow about witchcraft, zombies, being different, and grief while still being feisty, funny, and light-hearted.

Runaways Vol. 1: Pride and Joy (2005) / Runaways Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home (2018)

 What it’s about: The Runaways are a group of teenagers whose parents are part of a supervillain team. In the original run of the comics, which starts with Pride and Joy, author Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Paper Girls) introduces us to Alex, Gert, Chase, Nico, Karolina, and Molly and shows what happens when they find out the truth about their parents. The current comic, collected in Find Your Way Home, is being written by Rainbow Rowell (Fangirl, Eleanor & Park), and finds the core group coming back together after being separated for much too long.

Why read it? You have to do something while waiting for Hulu to finish ‘Runaways’ season 2, so you might as well read the source materials to pass the time. Start with Vaughan’s originals if you haven’t already read them, or with Rowell’s run if you have.

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