I received a free digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Brandy Colbert's ,"The Voting Booth" details a very busy election day in the lives of the two protagonists-Marva and Duke. Marva wakes up excited, proud to complete her civic duty. Duke is somewhat ambivalent, though he is likely to go vote due to the pressure from his mother as well as in remembrance of his older brother. The two meet when Duke has struggles with voting and Marva steps in to help.
What follows is a story with some typical high school difficulties-both are skipping class, Marva's cat goes missing (spoiler-don't worry!), Duke has a gig that night, and Marva is struggling with boyfriend issues. Built around those issues is the main body of the story-Marva is insistent that everyone that is able to vote should-and Duke is included in that. They drive back and forth, from one polling place to another, as a series of misinformation sends them all over town. Also imbedded in the story is a focus on the racial struggles-Duke is mixed race, a tense pull over, Marva's boyfriend is white-and the frustrations with current elections. This, more than anything, gave me clarity about how easy I have it when it is my turn to cast a ballot-and was one of the strongest points of the story.
Though I think the idea was a strong one, I did struggle through some of the blatant exposition. There were several sections that were subtitled with the information and then we were told exactly about a person. Some of the narrative was choppy, and it seemed like there was almost too much going on with both characters, and now I wonder if it was there as filler.
Either way, the book was enjoyable and a quick read that would be excellent for a high schooler.

I really enjoyed this new release by Brandy Colbert! It was great to read a story about such motivated and impassioned teenagers, giving me hope that the future of our country is in the hands of people who are committed to making our country stand for the freedom and equality it promises. I enjoyed the sweet blossoming romance and how the book touched on so many topics relevant to life at that pivotal age - friendships, relationships, family, social media, college, and the privileges and responsibilities of becoming an adult. Colbert created entertaining, very real, multi-faceted characters - I loved Marva's passion for politics and the electoral process alongside the social media fandom for her cat, as well as Duke's experience with loss alongside his passion for music and love for his family.

This was also an incredibly timely read, between the emphasis on the importance of voting and participating in our democracy as we approach the 2020 election and the discussion of racial issues and injustices stemming from systemic and societal racism and white supremacy that strongly echoed stories and videos I've been reading/seeing over the past several weeks through the Black Lives Matter movement.

From thinking about how a Black man shouldn't walk around a largely White neighborhood where he doesn't live for his safety to celebrating Juneteenth and white people not knowing about the holiday to voter suppression, assumptions about socioeconomic status and behavior based on race, having to teach Black children how to stay alive if pulled over by police and the adultification of Black children, Colbert wove a number of important issues and representative experiences into this story that further opened my eyes to how much I have never had to worry about because of the color of my skin and how injust and unequal our society continues to be from the level of individual biases and stereotypes to systemic injustices and practices. I truly enjoyed this fun YA story and the characters that Colbert created, but also continued to learn from this book and it will further inform my commitment to antiracism and becoming a better ally.

Marva has been waiting to vote for as long as she can remember. She and her boyfriend, Alec, have spent the past two years campaigning and debating various political issues to prepare for this election. When Alec decides he's not going to vote, it throws Marva for a loop. Does she even know him anymore?

Duke's parents have been discussing voting with him since his brother Julian's death two years ago. Julian was an activist in their neighborhood, and Duke knows that voting is the best way that he can honor Julian's memory.

When Duke encounters challenges at the polls, and Marva is there to witness it, the two of them embark on an important journey to make sure Duke can cast his vote. And if they happen to form a connection along the way? So be it.

The Voting Booth is a mostly realistic (barely romance) story about the importance of supporting your beliefs. I loved the inclusion of challenges people encounter in trying to vote, especially people of color and the elderly. This story is very timely and will definitely appeal to teens.

I adored this contemporary romance. I instantly connected with the characters and appreciate the stakes of the novel and how important voting was to these two young teens. The lives and stories of the characters were so rich, and Colbert does such an impressive job with the dual POV in the book. I will definitely recommend this book to the teens I work with.

This YA book was a breath of fresh air today. I read it in one sitting because it was just such an enjoyable read that addressed serious issues in a way students will want to read about—through the eyes of teenagers. Marva is super passionate about voting and today is first chance to do so now that she’s 18. At the voting precinct she meets Duke, another first time voter who is struggling to cast his ballot due to address mishaps and location challenges. Marva offers to drive Duke around for the day to help him achieve his first voting goal. On the way they discuss everything from race to police abuse to voting rights to family challenges to their collegiate future. This book reminded me of The Sun is Also A Star because it happens in one day as well and serious issues are discussed in both books. This will be a hit in my MS library. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own..

I was really enjoying this story. As I read to about 40%, I lost interest. The plot seemed to lag and there wasn’t enough interest for me to continue reading. I may pick it back up when I am in between books.

I want to start out by saying how ASHAMED I am that I did not know about Brandy Colbert before reading this book. When I looked her up after finishing, I recognized most of the titles (and they are in my library) and I just haven't read them yet. She just landed on the top of my TBR list!

The Voting Booth was amazing, insightful, and delightful. I absolutely loved the story line and the detailed characters. I picked this book from Netgalley because of the black characters and the fact that it was a romance. I have been following the #blackvoicesmatter movement within publishing a lot recently and noticed some authors talking about that publishing was only interested in trauma- which rightfully so can be very difficult to write. I wanted so desperately to read a book from a black perspective that also focused on 'joy.'

Marva and Duke are amazing together; even if they only met a few hours ago. Marva is very passionate about voting and voters rights. She will be voting for the first time in this election and wants to be the first one there. She has been working tirelessly for months to get people registered to vote and so many more efforts- the day has finally come. Duke on the other-hand accidentally woke up late, but is still stoked to vote for the first time. But he wants to make sure it doesn't interfere with his band gig tonight. When he gets turned away from the polling station, Marva wants to make sure that he does end up voting- even if it means driving him around town to get it done. It is a day filled with confusion, excitement, heartbreak, activism, and friendship.

I loved every minute of reading this dual perspective narrative. Both Marva and Duke are so realistic and show how blackness looks differently for everyone. There is not just one black or mixed experience. The spirit of civic duty and teamwork is rampant in this book, and I would not have it any other way!

This book comes out July 7th (less than two weeks- WHOO!) and it will definitely be a must buy!
http://kaitlynrcarpenter.weebly.com/blog/the-voting-booth-by-brandy-colbert

I thought this was great. We featured this book in a bonus episode of our podcast What Should I Read Next, but since that podcast is members-only I'm sharing the script below. Thank you!

Hey readers, it’s Anne, and I’m here with a patron-only bonus episode for you, this one in the style of One Great Book. Today I get to tell you about one forthcoming release that I’ve read but hasn’t been published yet. Today’s featured title is hitting shelves soon, on July 7, and I’m so happy that you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on this one.

I read today’s book The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert on my family’s recent camping weekend—the one where I read four books in four glorious days—and I recommended it three different times before we even left the campground. I’m sure I’ll be talking about it a lot this summer and fall, because the story is good and the subject is timely.

Colbert’s new YA novel unfolds over the course of a single day: November 3, Election Day—a day that’s incredibly important to our two teen narrators. To eighteen-year-old Black political activist Marva, she’s been waiting for this day her entire life. She’s been interested in politics since she was a little girl: when her second grade teacher asked the class to write down three things they wanted to be when they grew up, Marva’s choices were secretary of state, environmental attorney, and Supreme Court justice. Now as a high school senior, she’s working hard to make a difference, and to her, this isn’t just any election day. It’s the first election she can vote in, and she is so darn happy to participate that she can barely stand it.

She shows up to the polls bright and early on election day to cast her vote. And that’s where she meets Duke, another Black eighteen year old from a family who cares deeply about politics; his home is filled with nonstop talk about candidates and policies and campaigns. At his mother’s urging, he’s brought his little sister with him, because his family believes you’re never too young to see what democracy is all about. But when Duke gets to the front of the long line and gives his name, he’s told he’s not on the list.

Duke doesn’t know what to do. There is no way he’s going home without an “I voted” sticker, but his determination to vote isn’t just about making his parents happy. He wants to vote for the sake of his older brother Julian, the one Duke idolized, who was shot and killed in a drive-by two years before. Julian was a political activist, and while Duke may not believe in ghosts, he doesn’t doubt that Julian would find some way to haunt him if he doesn’t get this done.

Well, when Marva, walking by, overhears that Duke isn’t on the list, she steps in to help. And Duke’s inner thoughts here will give you a nice picture of her personality: “I figure some mom is stepping in to help,” he says, “but when I turn around, it’s a girl my age. It’s the girl who was standing at the front of the line when I got here. I thought maybe she was a volunteer. Something about her looks official, like all she needs is a clipboard and nobody would ever question what she’s doing.”

Marva is eager to help, and she does: together, Marva and Duke figure out that since Duke has moved since he pre-registered, he probably just needs to visit his old precinct’s polling location. He says he’ll just go later, after school, but Marva convinces him he needs to take action right now—even if it means he might miss his third period calculus test. “Don’t you care about democracy?” she asks him, and all Duke can think is, has she been talking to my mom? And also, it’s eerie how much Marva sounds like his brother Julian. He’s kind of tempted to roll his eyes, but also—he likes her passion. He likes her.

Throw in a few more obstacles, including a faulty starter, and pretty soon Marva and Duke are uncharacteristically skipping class at their respective schools, together, because today, it’s important that Duke be able to cast his ballot, and Marva sees it as her civic duty to help him, because he needs someone to not only drive him around but also help him figure out how to get his ballot. As they spend the day together, they talk about their lives, and the hard stuff they’re facing, right now.

Duke is grieving his brother’s death, plus his parents’ subsequent divorce. He’s also nervous about his band’s first paid gig, which is happening that very night. Marva is surprised to find out that Duke has a white mother—and she has all kinds of questions for Duke about that. And Marva is beside herself that her boyfriend told her this morning that he’s not voting, but then again, he’s been acting weird for a few weeks now, and she suspects something more is going on. But that is nothing compared to how Marva feels when she finds out her beloved cat (who also happens to be instagram-famous) is missing.

I appreciate how in this timely book, Brandy Colbert takes on big, complex issues and serves up a warm and engaging story. Marva and Duke take turns as narrators, which makes the story feel intimate and personal, while offering lots of food for thought. It’s a book I’ve kept thinking about as debates rage in my home state of Kentucky about access to the polls in this week’s primary election. And it’s a book I’m sure I’ll continue to think about as our own election day draws nearer here in the United States.

The Voting Booth is being pitched as perfect for fans of The Sun Is Also a Star, which I get—both stories unfold over the course of one day and feature teenage protagonists facing heartwrenching obstacles, obstacles that are directly relevant to the broader culture. I will say, whether you’re reading for your own sake or thinking of recommending The Voting Booth to a teen in your life, The Voting Booth is a chaste novel; it’s been a while since I read The Sun Is Also a Star but if I remember correctly that is NOT a term I’d apply to Yoon’s novel.

The Voting Booth is out July 7 from Disney Hyperion, so now is the time to add it to your TBR, put in that library request, or get it preordered.

Readers, I hope you enjoyed this bonus episode. Thanks for listening. Happy reading, everyone.

This story was super cute and I’m so thankful to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for allowing me the chance to read this early!

I loved Lion and Little so when I saw that Brandy Colbert had a new book coming out I was so excited!

This is a great, fun story that covers so many important topics. While keeping it totally appropriate for your middle school kid.

I love that the whole book takes place in one day.

These are two main characters are easy to love!

CW: racism, gun violence, divorce

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert follows two Black 18-year-olds, Marva and Duke, on election day as they attempt to participate in my favorite civic duty, voting! The official description of the book is:

From Stonewall Award-winning author Brandy Colbert comes an all-in-one-day love story perfect for fans of The Sun is Also A Star.

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?

Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight.

Only problem? Duke can't vote.

When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right.

And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can't sit around waiting for the world to change?but some things are just meant to be.

Colbert wonderfully balances the serious aspects of the story with the light, the present with the past, the reality surrounding elections and voter suppression with a placelessness that allows this story to be applicable to a wide variety of experiences with the topics across the US, and who these people are with vignettes about the people who shaped them. When I originally heard the pitch I was bananas excited because I love voting; I have been a poll worker in an election, I have an election day outfit, I am going to law school, maybe, and it is kind of the dream to work on a campaign. This book is wonderfully well researched, and you will require no suspension of disbelief as to why Duke is unable to vote, everything that happens to Duke is very within the realm of possibility. On the subject of being able to vote, you can check here if your state (assuming you are American, of course) allows same-day voter registration! And here is a website that will tell you the voting and registration laws in your state.

The characters are amazing. We bounce between Marva’s POV and Dukes’s; both characters feel real and are distinct from each other. There will be no confusion on whose POV you are in, Colbert does an excellent job creating different and engaging character voices. Marva is a classic overachiever who goes to one of the local private schools. She is deeply committed to being politically active and very very excited to be voting for the first time. Duke is also going to be a first-time voter, but his mother is far more excited about this fact than he is. His whole family is still dealing with the death of his elder brother, Julian, but on this day, Duke just wants to vote, take his calculus test, and get to his band’s first-ever paid gig that night.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the way these characters slowly begin to tell you about the people who shaped them into who they are currently. They both explain their family members or friends in ways that make the characters seem full and real and inhabited in such a wonderful way.

The plot is obviously something that super worked for me. Colbert wonderfully balances the issues surrounding voting, both access to the ability to vote and the issues people will be voting on, with the other sub-plots. The book wonderfully rocks between seriousness and moments of levity; it made me laugh out loud a few times and cry once. The book handles issues of voter suppression, racism, how to be politically active, gun violence, and how to address personal tragedy with incredible deftness. It is also incredibly approachable and funny. I just cannot stop gushing about how much I liked reading this book.

This book is deeply enjoyable and timely. It is such an amazing addition to the political YA contemporary conversation; it also deals with how to be involved politically to affect change, which is obviously very timely. Also, it is just a perfect gift to get teens to get them jazzed about voting. I loved the book I kind of want to get it as a gift for everyone.

Don’t be surprised if I read Little & Lion soon, then just sort of make my way through her back catalog until I have to join the wait for whatever she published next.

It is no surprise I gave this book five stars on Goodreads and The Story Graph. This book comes out on July 7th, 2020, and very obviously, I recommend reading it.

I don't read many YA books, but this one was fantastic! The author managed to tell an amazing story that included politics, gun violence, voter suppression, racial profiling, young love, Indy bands, activism and social media influence. You may think that having all of that in a story is too much, but it wasn't!! The authors ability to include all of that seamlessly, is what made this book flow and keep me interested until the end. It was a fast, engaging read and it was just what I needed... To listen and learn.

NOTE: I received a free Advanced Readers Copy from netGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The right book for the right time. This would be a great choice for middle/high school readers as it touches on so many contemporary topics, particularly relating to race, activism, political engagement, parent/child relationships and even young love. Told in alternating chapters from the perspective of Marva and Duke, the entire books takes place over the course of one election day. While I do think it is definitely young adult and not necessarily for adults (like some YA), I can also see it good for parent/child book clubs or for parents to read alongside their kids to spark discussions on the issues included in the books. I'm going to try and get my 14 year old to read it this summer.

This was an enjoyable book, and the character development was quite nice. I think it is an engaging introduction to voting rights.

I loved this book! I especially love that the entire story takes place in one day, since I think it adds to the feeling that every minute is important. This book discusses many important themes related to voting, civic responsibility, activism, and Black Lives Matter. The author switches perspectives between the two main characters, Marva and Duke, and makes both characters relatable and likable. There are moments where Marva's over-the-top obsession with voting rights activism comes off just a bit more like a caricature than like a real person, but overall, both the main characters are multi-dimensional. There is a bit of stereotyping in the book, especially in the character of Marva's white boyfriend Alec, but I think it serves a good purpose and doesn't come across as just falling back on playing into stereotypes. This book brings up real and serious issues in a fun and hopeful way, and I think it is a great way to help young people become familiar with these issues. Definitely recommend!

The Voting Booth is an excellent read. It is a well written, heartfelt, young adult novel about the importance of voting. Marva and Duke meet when Duke finds out he is at the wrong polling and Marva thinks it is her duty to play his heroine by making sure Duke is not a victim of voter suppression. In their quest to ensure Duke can vote Ms. Colbert lightly and deftly manages to deal with key voting issues such as significance of voting, knowing and understanding your voting rights, and the important role voting plays in our lives. Yet it is the chemistry between the two characters which makes the book a pleasure to read. Marva and Duke are constantly challenging each other's views and preconceived notions. Excuse the pun but you cannot always tell a book by its cover Duke thinks Marva is a rich girl because she drives a classic Volvo and goes to an elite high school, Marva thinks that it is odd that Duke's mom is white and not an animal lover. Both characters vociferously challenge each other's biases and stereotypes. Some would say this book is timely and it is, but unfortunately, when you watch the news the policies which negatively impact the lives of Black Americans and other disenfranchised people are not progressing swiftly enough, which is why so many themes in the book will remain relevant for the foreseeable future. I hope we get to a point where some of the critical topics discussed such as voter supression, racism, classicism, police brutality and other social justice issues will seem like ancient history to the next generation of young adults. But to channel Marva's thinking, we have to actively work to get to that point, voting is our best tool to ensure that progress. Still the book is not all serious, it is ridiculously funny. I swear I laugh or chuckle every other page, that's because both Marva and Duke are two normal teens trying their best to navigate this thing called life. As stated previously, while The Voting Booth is a book which touts the importance of voting, it still a teen rom-com filled with drama, some familial trauma, a budding romance as well as loads Black girl magic and Black boy joy that all readers no matter their race or ethnicity could and should enjoy.

This book is absolutely wonderful. A lovely YA story, about race, politics, and young love. Timely and refreshing!

I’m a sucker for stories that take place in one day, PLUS it’s about young people voting PLUS it is incredibly timely and accessible and relatable and you better believe I’m getting this for my middle school library (some swearing because the protagonists are 18, but nothing my students don’t say as soon as they’re out of earshot haha).

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this romance. Marva cares deeply about everything, including her first time voting. Duke comes from a family where voting is very important too; his deceased brother was a social activist, and staying involved is his family’s way of honoring him. The two teens cross paths as they try to vote before school starts; however, the day goes far differently than either expected. Full of timely issues and a cameo of an Instagram-famous cat, this is a winner for high school readers. Recommended for grades 9+. It is out 7.7.20!

While I usually LOVE books with a splash of politics, this one missed the mark a bit for me. I got some The Sun is Also a Star vibes as this book also takes place over the course of a single day. Because of that setting, I just felt like the romance aspect was very quick and I didn’t find myself particularly invested in their relationship, but I did enjoy learned about their backstories and other relationships with their family and friends. I appreciated the fact that it talked about some tough and timely topics, but I also didnt agree with some of the broad brush stereotypes that were entertained in the book, but that’s okay! It was definitely a quick read and could be finished in one sitting.

So many things make ‘The Voting Booth’ the perfect Contemporary YA read right now, including the timing. This book touches upon several important and relatable every-day-life issues, such as divorced parents, loss of family members, gun violence, voter suppression, Juneteenth, protests, discrimination and prejudice based on race, gender, and class. And of course, the importance of voting and the impact each election can have for years to come, especially for young people.

All these issues are artfully incorporated within a one-day adventure where our 18-year-old main characters attempt to vote in their first election, deal with family and relationship issues, search for an Instagram-famous runaway pet cat, and try to arrive to their band’s first paying gig on time. Though the themes are heavy, that the main characters were so easy to root for and always tried to do the right thing made this an enjoyable for me.

#TheVotingBooth #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.