by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@teachingtheapocalypse)
Here are three books coming out today that I'm excited to read!
Laila Sabreen's You Truly Assumed (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.
"Sabriya has her whole summer planned out in color-coded glory, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was never meant to be anything more than an outlet, but the blog goes viral as fellow Muslim teens around the country flock to it and find solace and a sense of community.
"Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run You Truly Assumed and the three quickly form a strong friendship. But as the blog’s popularity grows, so do the pushback and hateful comments. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they’ve worked for or take a stand and risk everything to make their voices heard."
Why I want to read it: This one sounds like such an important and powerful read, and I love stories that highlight the power of teens' voices and the way that they can make a difference, even during very difficult times. I can't wait to read this one!
Mia P. Manansala's Homicide and Halo-Halo (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Death at a beauty pageant turns Tita Rosie's Kitchen upside down in the latest entry of this witty and humorous cozy mystery series by Mia P. Manansala.
"Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent despite the attention of two very eligible bachelors. Or her professional life, since she can't bring herself to open her new café after the unpleasantness that occurred a few months ago at her aunt's Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie's Kitchen. No, things are heating up quite literally, since summer, her least favorite season, has just started.
"To add to her feelings of sticky unease, Lila's little town of Shady Palms has resurrected the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won many years ago—a fact that serves as a wedge between Lila and her cousin slash rival, Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is murdered and Bernadette becomes the main suspect, the two must put aside their differences and solve the case—because it looks like one of them might be next."
Why I want to read it: I am currently reading Arsenic and Adobo (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), book 1 in this series (thanks to Sara's recommendation in our cozy mysteries episode!), and I am loving it! I can't wait to continue the series with this new release!
Mariko Tamaki's Cold (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"A boy, a murder, a girl, a secret. From award-winning author Mariko Tamaki comes Cold, a haunting YA novel about a shocking crime, told by a boy who died―and a girl who wants to know why.
"Who was Todd Mayer, and why don't any of his fellow students at Albright Academy seem to know, or want to say, anything about him?
"Todd Mayer is dead. Now a ghost, hovering over his body, recently discovered in a snow covered park, naked and frozen. As detectives investigate Todd's homicide, talking to the very people linked to the events leading to his death, Todd replays the choice that led him to his end.
"Georgia didn't know Todd. But ever since she heard about his death, she can’t stop thinking about him. Maybe because they’re both outcasts at their school, or because they’re both queer. Maybe because the story of Todd people keep telling feels like a lot of fake stories Georgia has heard people tell. Plus Georgia has a feeling she’s seen Todd somewhere before, somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be.
"Told through the voices of Todd in his afterlife and Georgia as she uncovers the truth behind his death, Cold is an immersive, emotional, and provocative read."
Why I want to read it: This story really caught my attention because I have read a couple of books with this narration style that really worked for me. This one sounds so compelling and like an important read exploring the way that people can be overlooked and how connections can be found. And the comp to Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones certainly got my attention!
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