Student Book Reviews

Starfish

by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Kiko has never felt comfortable looking different than everyone else in her Nebraska town. A product of divorce, Kiko lives with her blonde-and-blue-eyed mother, who never seems to accept Kiko’s Japanese heritage and physical features. Kiko’s dreams of escape include going to art school in New York, far away from her emotionally distant mom.

When things don’t go exactly as planned, Kiko is forced to confront her issues with anxiety, her dysfunctional family, and learning to stand on her own for the first time. Starfish is a moving and emotional journey of one young woman’s quest to find herself and her independence as she approaches adulthood.

For Every One

by Jason Reynolds

For Every One is a beautiful and succinct novel in verse. It was originally performed for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers. For Every One is an inspirational ode to the Dreamer -- a novel for everyone. It offers hopeful words for every one person and for every one dream, but especially for every one kid.

This latest offering from New York Times best-selling author Jason Reynolds, a self-professed dreamer, is beautiful in both style and content with its vivid pages and sparse, powerful text.

For Every One makes a great gift for the new graduate heading into the world with big dreams.

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

by Chessy Prout

Chessy Prout was a freshman at a prestigious New England boarding school when a senior boy sexually assaulted her as part of a ritualized game of conquest. Chessy bravely reported her assault to the police and testified against her attacker in court. Later, in the face of unexpected backlash from her once-trusted school community, she shed her anonymity to help other survivors find their voice.

Nearly one in five girls ages fourteen to seventeen have been the victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. This is the true story of one of those girls. I Have the Right To explores the toxic culture of institutions that turn a blind eye to such behavior and a society that blames victims. Chessy’s timely story of survival, advocacy, and hope in the face of unspeakable trauma is both powerful and empowering -- a must read for adolescent girls, her male classmates, parents and teachers alike.