"How can we vote in the people who want to make it easier for us to vote if we can't get in to vote in the first place?" Good question! The Voting Booth is timely and deals with the issues of voter suppression, racial profiling, gun violence, black-on-black crime, and interracial romance and how these issues affect our society. Marva is voting in her first election and she has waited years to do this - she is first in line at her polling place. Duke is also voting in his first election but things do not go exactly as planned at the polling place. Marva steps in to help and the story is off and running. This book was engaging and very, very timely. Brandy Colbert easily speaks to the issues that need to be addressed but also develops a nice love story between two very interesting characters. Eartha Kitty, an instagram cat sensation is also introduced. Read this book - you won't be sorry and you will walk away with a smile on your face. Oh, you may also want to go out and register voters and then make sure they have a ride to the polls on November 3! Thanks to #Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing the e-book to read.

Very timely of a topic: 1) Blacks getting out the vote 2) Racial profiling. The book takes place all in one day, election day, one that Marva's been working hard for 2 years. The day go astray as she tries to help Duke vote. With all the misadventures and breaking up with her white boyfriend who is tired of social justice, she finds romance with Duke. One falls in love and and laughter with the well developed characters of Marva and Duke and all the baggage they share on this one election day.

Author Brandy Colbert has given voices to two main characters, Marva and Duke. It is election day and Marva has been rallying for this for two years. She worked her butt off to make sure people were registered and informed. Duke is ready to vote in memory of his brother who died, but was really big in political activism. Duke and Marva are set to vote at the same polling place. Marva votes and as she is leaving sees that Duke is having difficulty getting signed in. This encounter sparks a day of skipping school and running all over town to get Duke to vote.

Throughout the novel Marva and Duke reflect on past experiences and their present experiences together to just reiterate over and over the obstacles that the Black community and others face everyday. Marva believes that everyone should participate in the political process in order to invoke change, but her and Duke also realize that not everyone feels the way they do. That is why they have to keep trying.

After many foils to the plan, including a lack of ballots, a missing cat, and getting pulled over, Duke finally gets to vote. In the process of getting him to that point, Colbert addresses issues with the voting process, issues in society towards the Black community, political activism, and teenage drive and love. Everything that young people today need to be made aware of and learn about.

Various events brought up in the novel really made my blood pressure rise. One was the ballots at the polling location. THEY RAN OUT! In my opinion it is inexcusable. The volunteers at the location said it was because they did not anticipate the people coming from another location that was closed. That makes no sense! Where did you think they would go? Back home? The location should have been prepared and even if they were not prepared enough, it should not have taken multiple hours to get more ballots from the clerks office. There are definitely flaws in the voting process. It brings my mind to what just recently happened in Atlanta June 2020. Machines were down and it was almost as if no one cared whether or not people got to vote. This is why people choose not to vote! Even Marva and Duke recognize this!

Obviously Colbert is trying to draw attention to the fact that we have got to do better with our voting process in all aspects. It should not be a long drawn out task that takes all day to complete.

Another situation that Duke and Marva find themselves in is getting pulled over by an officer for running through a red light. They each have thoughts about what they have been told to do when stopped by an officer. Things that have been told to them because they are members of the Black community.

Why should people be concerned about stuff like this? Why should they feel as though they are lucky that they didn't have a violent interaction with a police officer? These characters in this book are 18 years old and have such outrageous worries on their shoulders. I mean, I actually teared up reading Duke's perspective on getting pulled over when his brother was driving.

Overall I think that Brandy Colbert did an amazing job with this novel. It really showcases how young people see our current society and how they interact within it. It's also nice to see a character like Marva who is active in the political process. Young adults reading this novel can mirror Marva's actions. Some might even choose to mirror the actions of Duke's brother, Julian, and sister, Ida. They were political activists and our current political climate is seeing more and more young people actively trying to make a change.

Duke's mom made a profound statement in a flashback of Duke's. She was talking to Duke's older brother about him collaborating with gang members in an attempt to help the community. She said, "Change takes time. And patience. And...a willingness to listen to people we may not understand."

I hope young people read The Voting Booth and enjoy it as much as I did. I hope that the students I recommend this to will see themselves reflected in the characters. I hope those that do not see a reflection of themselves will still find growth. I hope that my Senior students will listen to me and acknowledge that registering to vote and actually going out to vote this coming presidential election is important. I read this novel and was constantly reminded of my students and what they have grown up in and I hope that in the near future, change will begin to surface and make life a little bit easier for them.

ometimes books seem realistic and timely, but this one really seems to match up to life in our world right now. For real. Marva and Duke deal with the same things people experienced in the Georgia primary this month. Incredibly long lines? Check. Poll workers unsure of procedures? Check. Running out of ballots? Check. Frustrated would-be voters? Check. Unfortunately The Voting Booth definitely rings true.

As the title suggests, this is a story that revolves around voting. Marva is very passionate about letting her voice be heard through her vote and helping others to do so. She’s incredibly intense and it was fun to watch her get entangled with Duke who is quite the opposite. Their day is packed with a long series of frustrations and mishaps so they have plenty of opportunities to learn about each other. Amidst all of this, they also manage to have quite a few laughs which I totally appreciated.

There are quite a few discussion about and examples of activism in the storyline. It was interesting to see that though Marva cares strongly about things, she knows that not all kinds of activism are for her. She gets too upset about the counter-protestors to actually attend protests so she focuses on canvassing and other activities. There are other characters in the book that do their work in many other ways too so readers see many ways to make a difference.

Aside from voting issues, there are other concerns in both of their lives, but you’ll need to read to find out more about those. No spoilers today. Just know that they each have some personal issues they’re working through and their conversations help them make some important decisions.

Recommendation: Get it soon! Marva and Duke were super cute together. If contemporary romance and/or politics is your thing, you’ll definitely want to grab this one. I’d especially recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Amazing in every way, and every American should read this book- this is why voting matters, this is why Black lives matter, this is why our system needs some serious change. Coming from a predominately white, upper middle class neighborhood, I knew these sorts of roadblocks happened for voters all the time, but due to my privilege I never experienced them. I felt anxiety reading this book- RIGHTFULLY SO. Our system tries to stop people from voting in some many ways, with so many microaggressions. You need to read this book. Can't wait to give this to my teens so they understand!! Another slam dunk by Brandy Colbert.

5/5 stars!

This book was amazing. This is the first book i've ever read by Brandy Colbert, and after reading, I know that I will be picking up more books by this author. Brandy Colbert is such an incredible author. She created such honest and interesting characters in this book. I fell head-over-heels in love with the characters and the romance.

This book is also so important because it discusses so many important topics. It also did it in a way where, as a reader, I didn't feel like I was getting an info dump. Everything read super smoothly and naturally. This book is so important to read!

Please read this book, register to vote, and go vote!

Thanks for reading!
Caden

3/3.5 rounded up for rep (uhh YES to an activist private school black girl with great fam who loves cats!? And yes to a mixed boy!), attempting to take on a lot of different threads, and showing youth who are invested. The writing wasn’t for me sometimes, and sometimes the many pieces didn’t get threaded together well enough for me. I thought the families of both MCs were done well, though plus black and brown love is so rare in YA and I was so happy to read that. More please. (Like where both are POC not just one who dates a white person).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book sounds cute, and I am not saying that it wasn't because the ending was, but I had a lot of issues with the story itself. First off, it takes place during a 24-hour time span. Usually, this makes things very interesting with a plot but I felt like there was a lot of jumping around and that the story could have been shortened. I know that the author could not realistically write a teen fiction story just about getting Duke to vote, and had to add other elements, but the search party and missing of Marva's cat felt thrown into the story and felt like it didn't really fit with the rest of the plot.

There was also a part where Duke reveals that his brother was shot and killed and his band manager's brother was also shot and killed. It was sad to read that because it made me think of all the other individuals of color who have been shot on the street for no rhyme or reason.

Marva and Duke have an Insta-Love relationship which was cute, and also really unrealistic. I like stories where there is some build up with their relationship. Yeah, they spend the entire day together but for them both to develop such intense feelings in such a short time, and RIGHT after Marva breaks up with her boyfriend, was a little too much for me. I would have liked to see more of a build-up and story around that, and I'm a hopeless romantic so that says a lot.

Overall, this was a quick read. It could definitely be finished in one sitting, which I probably would have done if I wasn't reading another book at the same time and if I was more invested in this story. The plot line is basic and fluffy, and very easy to follow. The book itself is also very short, which helps.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

My review will be posted on Goodreads now, and my Instagram on the release date.

I received this copy from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Death of a Sibling, police voilence

Wow, this was a great read. The story takes place over one day after Marva and Duke meet at the polling place after Duke is turned away from voting. Their day is full of obstacles as they try and make sure Duke gets to cast his vote. The story is about democracy, racism, inter-racial relationships, social media, and so much more.

I loved how passionate about politics Marva is. It reminds me of how excited I was to vote for the first time in grade 12. I think this book is coming out at the perfect time. It describes one experience of being a Black teen in America. I also think that if this inspires some young people to get into politics and vote in the election in November, that will be awesome.

The only thing I was hoping for, after having read some other Brandy Colbert books was some LGBTQ+ representation. The side characters aren’t super developed, partially because the book takes place over one day. However overall strong recommendation to read this one!

I could not dream up a more perfect and timely book. This needs to be at the top of every teen librarian & high school teacher's recommended reading list. The Voting Booth follows two BIPOC teens as they navigate their first Election Day. Even though the book tackles difficult topics like voter suppression, white privilege, and systemic racism there is still a feeling of hope that sees them through the day. Seeing how passionate Marva and Duke are to participate in democracy makes me all that more excited to see how this next generation inspires change.
Also, bonus points for Brandy Colbert use of appropriate Gen-Z language.

Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Brandy Colbert's The Voting Booth in exchange for an honest review. The book releases Tuesday, July 7.

Brandy Colbert's The Voting Booth is a perfect YA book. It's socially conscious; features compelling, nuanced characters; and has just the right amount of romance--I was grinning for nearly the duration of the book, which alternates between the points of view of two high school seniors.

Marva has been waiting to vote her whole life. Now that she's 18, she can finally put the cap on months of canvassing and registering people to vote by going with her boyfriend and casting her first ballot. The only hiccup? Her boyfriend Alec has suddenly decided that the two-party system is ineffective, so he's just not going to vote. Duke also is excited to vote, though he's more laid back about it than Marva is (as he is about everything). Duke's older brother was an activist before his death, and Duke knows that he has to vote to carry on Julian's legacy, if for no other reason.

Marva and Duke begin their days on parallel tracks, heading out to vote before the beginning of the school day. They end up meeting when Marva is exiting the voting booth only to hear Duke being told that he's at the wrong voting jurisdiction. The eternal organizer, she immediately gets involved and, when Duke's car won't start, agrees to skip school to take Duke to the right place.

It's a great setup. The book takes place over the rest of this one day. As Marva and Duke travel around their city so that Duke can vote, they discuss--in a completely believable way--so many issues. Marva is Black and is keenly aware of the inequities that may keep some people from voting. Duke is bi-racial: his dad is Black, and his mom--with whom he lives--is white, so he takes on Marva's digs about white people while having the same concerns about empowering Black citizens. Marva attends a predominantly white private school; Duke and his younger sister Ida chose to attend public school. And the death of Duke’s brother shadows all of their discussion until Duke finally shares his story with Marva.

Colbert has great fun playing up the contrasts between the characters. Marva is directed and organized and assertive, and so when she comes up against Duke's teasing and laid-back attitude, she's at first dismissive of his commitment to voting. But as they talk, each has a positive effect on the other, with Marva giving Duke a push and Duke getting Marva to laugh and ease up a little bit.

The Voting Booth was a one-sitting read for me. I just couldn't put it down. I love these characters; I love their conversations; and I love the messages about social responsibility that Colbert embeds throughout the novel. I could not recommend it more, both for teenagers and adults. It's the bright spot, delivered alongside a serious and powerful message, that we all need right now.

The Voting Booth is an all-in-one-day love story that’s recommended for fans of The Sun is Also a Star. It follows two young Black high school students on their first Election Day as legal voters. Marva Sheridan has been waiting for this day her whole life — she’s spent months canvassing and educating everyone she knows on the importance of exercising their right to vote. Duke Crenshaw is ready to vote, but knows he’ll never be the activist his brother once was. He’s ready for Election Day to be over so he can get to his band’s gig. An unexpected complication brings the two strangers together and sets them on a whirlwind Election Day adventure together.

This was a fun, mostly lighthearted story of two teens who can’t catch a break — the twists and turns keep coming, each one taking them further and further from their goal, but closer to each other. However, under the surface is an important subplot about elections, why the stakes are so much higher for BIPOC voters, and how white privilege factors into the mix. We hear all of this from Marva, an outspoken, studious young woman with a deep understanding of the issues that matter to her. Most importantly, she knows why voting is so important for her, a Black woman, and I think this is what will resonate the most with young voters reading this book. This short book tackles issues like police treatment of Black people, systemic racism, and interracial relationships, in a way that’s informative, even when it’s difficult to read.

The one thing I wish this book had more of a discussion on voting issues. The election itself was discussed in a vague way, so it wasn’t clear if this was a local race, a presidential election, or what. While I get this from a storytelling perspective (it would’ve been weird to either make up candidates or use real ones), I would’ve liked to have seen a more in-depth conversation between Marva and Duke on the actual issues prompting them to cast their ballots. On the other hand, I appreciate that the author left this unspoken for a reason; it was easy to deduce from the book’s events why each teen was voting.

Overall, this was a fun read about an important topic, and it was especially powerful coming from the perspective of two Black, first-time voters. I would recommend this to anyone, especially if you can pass it on to a new or soon-to-be voter. ESPECIALLY right now in a very crucial election year.

The one thing I love the most about Brandy Colbert's writing is how easy it is to get swept into the story. This book takes place on Election Day. Marva Sheridan is excited to do her civic duty and vote. Duke Crenshaw is too, but when he has a problem voting Marva steps in to help. They end up spending the day together, trying to help Duke get what he needs to vote. I loved all of the side plots in this story, like Marva's cat Selma aka Eartha Kitty getting lost and Duke organizing a search party for her. This book is so much more than politics and voter suppression. Duke and Marva both have personal things that they are struggling with. I loved seeing how close they got throughout the day. This book was so enjoyable while still involving some heavy topics.

Yes! Fast and furious plot for a book that takes place over a single (election) day. So many important and current issues raised in this one. I would highly recommend for school libraries. The writing was not as good or polished as other writers and the pacing and overall feel read very Disney. But, overall a pick.

I couldn’t put this book down. The plot works perfectly: a brilliant balance of teenage life and romance with important, heavy topics such as democracy, voter suppression, white supremacy, police brutality, etc. Marva Sheridan cannot wait to vote: she has been an activist for as long as she can remember, but this is the first election where she can legally vote. When she meets Duke Crenshaw on her way out of the voting booth, and realizes that he is not able to cast his own vote, she makes it her mission to make sure that he is able to before the end of the day. This is the beginning of a day full of ups and downs and surprises, while the two teenagers get to know each other, and help others vote in the general election.

This is such a timely novel. Voter suppression is a huge issue in this country, especially in areas with large African American populations. While this is one of the main topics through-out the novel, Marva and Duke also evoke how much systemic racism and institutionalized white supremacy affects the lives of Black people on a day to day basis. Brandy Colbert writes in such a way that you actually feel right there with the protagonists, and get as riled up as Marva does about social justice. I feel like this story is a great YA read for those who are passionate about social justice and changing the world, but also for those who love a good teenage romance story. And it’s a great read for those who want to be active but who don’t know where to start, there are so many great pointers in this novel! There are some predictable areas within the plot, but they are also kind of cute, and I enjoyed the ending. (And for anyone complaining about how fast everything happened in the story: don’t you remember what life was like as a teen?!).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A timely novel about the importance and impact of activism and voting, wrapped up in a rom-com. I found this to be an easy-breezy read despite some of the heavy topics included within. Even though I knew it was coming, I was thrilled to see Marva and Duke get their happy ending.

This book could not have come at a more important time. While I was reading it, voter suppression efforts in GA were all over the news, and all I kept thinking about were my newly 18 year old students who were attempting to vote for the first time. Readers will love the social justice, voting rights, and election discussions through the lens of our whip smart protagonist, and I can’t wait to hand this book to my most politically active students who will surely see themselves in Marva. This book is delightful and one that I couldn’t put down. Thanks to the author and publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I've discovered a number of books recently on both Goodreads and through NetGalley that highlight the activism of the young in politics and social justice and that is a good trend! This book was never more relevant as recent experiences in the GA polls (and elsewhere) show that voter suppression is alive and well in many areas. But even long-time voters are getting exhausted having to fight every single time and we need the energy and know-how of the young to pick up the fight. I was at a protest recently and I was thrilled to see how many young people (especially high school students) were so passionate about social justice issues--in fact, I was probably one of the oldest people present for the entire event. This is a GOOD thing and it gives me some hope that things do not have to continue the way it has always been. This book covered racial injustice, both at the polls and in every day life, gun violence, the privilege of not being able to ignore the injustices when it gets to be too much for you, and the death of a young person. And yet, even with such heavy subjects, there was a playfulness throughout that made me want to keep on reading. I think that even if this book is targeted for teens, it's a book that adults can enjoy as well. And as an aside, I LOVE Eartha Kitty/Selma! She was a fun addition to the book.

Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve never read any of Brandy Colbert’s books before, but after reading and loving this book, I’m definitely going to read her entire backlist! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read an early copy of this book

Things I liked:
- I loved the chemistry between the two main characters. Marva’s fervent passion for voting was contagious, and Duke was such a lovable guy who are so much throughout the story! I also loved the little aspects of their characters like the fact Marva ran an instagram for her adorable cat Selma, and that Duke played the drums in an indie-rock band called Drugstore Sorrow (what an awesome band name by the way!). Their friendship was so natural, and I love how it grew into something more over the course of this book!
- This book took place over one day, and that is one of favorite tropes! It was such a whirlwind following Marva and Duke trying to get his vote counted, and I was so invested along with the characters!
- I also love how this book approached the heavy topics that it sought to discuss. The author was never preaching, and the experiences of being Black in America were an integral part of the story without taking over the actual plot. It’s just as important to read books about Black people just being people, and The Voting Booth did just that.
- There was also a really impactful scene where the two characters getting pulled over by a police officer that really hit me hard.
- The family aspects and relationships in this book really ranged, but all of them tuned at my heart strings. Marva’s parents were so loving and supportive, and while Duke’s parents obviously love and care for him, they didn’t always see eye to eye. I could relate to both situations, but I just loved how present both sets of parents were!

Basically I loved everything about this book, and I want everyone to read it!!

It's election day for Marva and Duke! Marva's been waiting to vote in her first presidential election since she was old enough to know that she could. She's up early and first in line at her polling center. Duke, on the other hand, cares but really only makes the effort to vote to honor his deceased brother's memory. As Marva is leaving the polls she notices Duke being told he's not registered to vote there. The two pair up on a day long adventure to try and find a away for Duke to vote.

This book was really a treat! Brandy Colbert's writing style is flawless, I need to go back and read everything she's published. Marva and Duke were both well-written intelligent young adults who were very likable. I found myself tearing up at the conclusion of the novel, just because I felt so and happy for the characters. Marva's passion for politics and voting brought me back to those feelings I had when I was just becoming an adult around the 2008 election (although I wasn't even 18, yet!). I also learned a lot from Marva and Duke. Their conversations about what is was like to be a black teen in America and how that is intricately tied with their need to vote were very frank. I think The Voting Booth is a timely novel for the summer of 2020 and I'll be recommending it to everyone I know!

Thanks to Disney Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!