History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
Soho Teen, Jan 2017
Reviewed from hardcover
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
HarperTeen, Sept 2017
Reviewed from ARC
Adam Silvera has not one but two eligible YA books out this year. Both feature queer cis male characters, both deal with death and life in the face of it, both have received numerous starred reviews, both are well worth discussing. And I’m tackling both in one post for the sake of expediency.
It’s Not Like It’s A Secret by Misa Sugiura
Harper Teen, May 2017
Reviewed from ARC
There’s something very satisfying about kicking off our first contender post with a first novel. Numerical symmetry aside, this is a book I’ve been excited to talk about because of its representation of queer Japanese American and Mexican American characters, upfront discussion of racism, engaging voice, and well-paced plot. It’s Not Like It’s A Secret hasn’t garnered a huge amount of critical attention, and it’s not a flashy book in terms of language or narrative structure. It’s a high school/family drama, where drama is definitely the emphasis. It’s also a well-crafted exploration of intersecting identities and interpersonal relationships that centers a complex character within an equally complex social world.
Medal on My Mind 