A great book on abuse and the pressures that teenagers face in their day to day lives. Really enjoyed.

TW: Drinking, Accidental Death, Street Racing, 

 

Dead to Me is another entry in the Sidestreets series this time taking on alcohol, risky behaviors, and grief. I really like how we got past the anger and into other emotions before it ended. The last part of the book is all about the fall out and consequences, giving us the most closure. Except...

 

It’s another cliffhanger, like Rez Runaway, but I’m not feeling this one. It’d be good to know for sure. Having it on the page would be a good reinforcement. Even just the one word: Mi hijo.  

 

I also want to know what happened with the grandson...

 

This one was the most felt the most like an after school special. Things were a bit too convenient and without the follow up with the grandson subplot there’s nothing else going for it.

 

I am surprised sex didn’t make an appearance in Logan’s avert-feelings repertoire TBH. That’d add another dimension to the story if done right as well.

The lead's parents are Chinese and different from what he thinks most Canadians parents are. They expect a lot and are sort of abusive. He suffers from depression and anxiety. This book is good about showing the reader that they aren't alone if they feel this way.

Good YA books about the struggle with depression and suicide, as well as cultural and generational barriers. I'd definitely recommend this for any junior high and high school library. I think things wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly, but no unexpectedly so (it's a short novel, not a textbook!). Very readable.

A good short YA novel featuring issues of mental health and cyber-security. Most of it is well-written, though I found the sudden change in the main character's parents attitudes highly unrealistic and I suspect teens reading the book would feel the same. Overall, though, a good book to suggest for reluctant readers that hits on a timely subject.

This is a very quick read. It has a few too many coincidences, but enjoyable.

Rez Runaway by Melanie Florence
Dead to Me by Cristy Watson
Dark Side by John Choi
Riot School by Robert Rayner
James Lorimer & Company
Multicultural Interest , Teens & YA

Lorimer & Company is producing some engaging "hi-lo" (high interest, lower reading complexity) titles that you will consider prime reading material for your strongest school library patrons.  That the titles entertain and engage all readers, rather than just the reluctant ones, makes these choices all the more valuable.

These four titles in the "Sidestreets" line are being marketed by Lorimer for their wide diverse appeal and "hot button" topics.  The protagonists are nicely representative of so many young adult readers who don't normally find themselves in the books they read.

That the reading levels of these books are unobtrusively lower than most YA titles is the icing on the cake:  The writing is compelling enough that I soon forgot I was reading hi-lo titles  within the first few pages. 

I am delighted to report that the excellent story telling, yet broad topics and individual strengths, in these books are something I have immediately purchased for my YA patrons.  I'll be eager to share with adults who support those YA patrons as well.

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This book was not awful, it was just very improbable and you truly needed to suspend your disbelief to buy the premise.

The story started out well and had the potential for a strong look at family dynamics, personality and suicide. Instead, this turned into more of a melodrama about lost souls who find each other, which in itself is not horrible, except that the way in which the story unfolds simply is not probable or realistic.

Also, the parents in this story are so odd - mean and cruel one second and then morph into loving and caring parents suddenly.

Just did not buy into this premise.