Must Read Books Winter 2020/2021

You Should See Me in a Crown

by Leah Johnson

What it’s about: Liz Lighty has a plan to get out of her small, prom-obsessed town and go to an uber-elite college. When her financial aid unexpectedly falls through, she decides to compete for the scholarship that is given to the school’s prom king and queen. Throwing another wrench in her plans is the fact that she’s starting to fall for her new friend who’s also in the running for queen.

Why read it? You can’t help but root for Liz in this fun, fast-paced book. She’s a snarky, awkward wallflower who has to step out of her comfort zone of social invisibility and find her place in the spotlight.

Super Fake Love Song

by David Yoon

What it’s about: Sunny Dae is a self-proclaimed nerd and is usually fine with it. But when the utterly cool and confident new girl Cirrus Soh mistakes his older brother’s room for his, Sunny accidentally ends up telling her that he’s the front man of a rock band. He leans into the lie, ropes his friends into his scheme to form a fake band, and surprisingly finds himself actually having fun. But how long will he be able to fake it, and is it worth changing himself for someone?

Why read it?The mistaken identity trope is a classic rom-com device and is used brilliantly here to give us a funny, light-hearted read that still manages to challenge stereotypes and explore being true to yourself.

The Dark Matter of Mona Starr

by Laura Lee Gulledge

What it’s about: It’s the beginning of high school and Mona’s closest friend is moving away. She’s the only creative type in a scientifically minded family and is having a hard time making new friends. She struggles with depression and anxiety, which she sees as a dark mass she calls Matter. Through therapy, art, and support from friends and family, she starts to understand her Matter and learn how to manage it.

Why read it? The author/illustrator loosely based Mona’s story on her own experiences which gives extra depth to this intense, introspective graphic novel that has stunning art. Mona’s journey of learning how to battle her inner doubts and fears and find her creative genius is inspiring, and suggestions from both Mona’s and Gulledge’s self-care plans could be helpful to anyone reading them.

Daughters of Jubilation

by Kara Lee Corthron

What it’s about: It’s the summer of 1962 and Evvie Deschamps is busy working for a white family, helping out her overworked mother, looking after her younger sisters, and her longtime crush is finally making a move. She’s also trying to learn more about her inherited magical ability, that her family calls jubilation and has been passed down from generations of Black women since the time of slavery. When demons from Evvie’s past resurface, she must embrace her lineage and summon the power within her.

Why read it? It’s an engrossing historical fantasy with a plot that is harrowing at times but has beautiful worldbuilding and literal Black girl magic.

Pocket Change Collective 

What it’s about: This is a series of short books dealing with big topics that are written by leading young activists and artists. Taking on the Plastics Crisis by Hannah Testa and Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez are environmentalist calls to action. The New Queer Conscience by Adam Eli is an introduction to queer responsibility and global consciousness, and Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon explores how gender is malleable and a form of self-expression. Concrete Kids is Amyra León’s memoir in verse, and in This Is What I Know About Art, Kimberly Drew draws on her own personal experiences to show the links between art and protest.

Why read it? It’s hard to choose just one of these small but important books. At only 64 pages each, you can read all of them back-to-back and learn a lot.

These recommendations were provided by Kacy Helwick, Youth Collection Development Librarian at the New Orleans Public Library.