Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by LeUyen Pham kept popping up in my search for meaningful and engaging YAL. So I checked it out from the local library and the bold, red coer immediately caught my attention. Then I did a picture walk through the text and the illustrations were so vivid. I was excited to read the story but Pham's artful illustrations in this graphic novel caught my eye first. Summary At its heart, Lunar New Year Love Story is a tale about love--not just romantic love, but the kind we carry with us through generations. The protagonist, Valentina Tran, is a Vietnamese American teenager who's been jaded by heartbreak and loss. Her family has a history of heartbreak, too, so Val feels like she's doomed in the love department. Her imaginary friend, Cupid, is by her side at the beginning of the story when Val is still embracing her favorite holiday, Valentine's Day; however, Cupid turns to a darker ghost once Val le...
I was immediately struck by the honesty of Watson's words and I could hear her voice ring through them. She layers identity, history, pain, joy, and hope with each poem. This isn't solely a book of poems; rather, it's a compass for young people navigating what it means to carry the weight of expectations, the burden of stereotypes, and the beauty of self-discovery. Summary Black Girl You Are Atlas is a YA poetry collection of free verse, prose, and autobiographical reflections by Renee Watson that explores the experiences of Black girls navigating, strength, vulnerability, resilience, and identity. Watson gives voice to the layered joys, sorrows, expectations, and discoveries of Black girlhood. Her poetry is personal as she reflects on her own coming of age that includes experiences of racism, colorism, grief, friendship, family, and pressures placed on Black girls to be "strong." There are mirrors or windows, depending on the reader; both which ...