Don’t Date Rosa Santos (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Nina Moreno
Disney-Hyperion
Nominated by: boricuareads
Three generations of Santos women come together in this light-hearted but meaningful novel about culture, family, grief, love, and finding out who you truly are. Rosa and her abuela are esteemed members of their small coastal Florida town where a curse has kept Rosa from finding love, and she is determined to find out why. The delightful depictions of Cuban culture are #ownvoices by a talented debut author, and it completely shows.
Heroine (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Mindy McGinnis
Katherine Tegen Books
Nominated by: Wendy
Opioid abuse is a timely, troubling issue, one that has shattered long-held images of what it means to be a “junkie.” HEROINE—a novel about an ordinary teen’s prescriptive use of opioids that evolves into not just a pill addiction, but also a heroin dependency—is a raw, hard-hitting cautionary tale that shows the devastating effects drug abuse can have on individuals, families, and communities. With unflinching prose, it tells a disturbing story made even more powerful by its relevance and urgency.
I’m Not Dying with You Tonight (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones
Sourcebooks Fire
Nominated by: Haley Shaffer
When racism and cultures collide at a high school football game, two teenage girls, one black and one white, are thrown together. Facing roadblocks and riots, Lena and Campbell look beyond their biases to get home safely only to discover that ultimately, it’s the community’s perceptions and prejudices that will hinder their progress.What’s special about this book is the two distinct alternate points of view. Each powerfully illustrates how our own personal experiences permeate every decision we make.
On The Come Up (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Angie Thomas
Balzer + Bray
Nominated by: Beth Mitchell
Bri wants to be a rap artist, like her legendary late father. She is on the way to this “come up” when her high school’s security guards attack her without reason, setting off confrontations between those who support and understand Bri, and those who are against her for a variety of reasons. On the Come Up explores the connection between the hip-hop culture of the streets and clubs, and the industry surrounding rap. On the Come Up will satisfy readers interested in rap or the music business, but it will also appeal to those who like cheering for an underdog.
Patron Saints of Nothing (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Randy Ribay
Kokila
Nominated by: Melissa Fox
More than just a murder mystery, PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING tells a poignant, powerful story about a Filipino-American teen who travels to the land of his birth to investigate the wrongful death of his cousin. With a vivid, unique setting, the novel explores not just an underrepresented country but also an issue (President Duterte’s aggressive and often violent war on drugs) that has been underexplored in both the media and popular fiction. Ultimately hopeful, PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING is an eye-opening, thought-provoking novel about truth, identity, and justice that’s as timely as it is compelling.
The Downstairs Girl (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Stacey Lee
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Darshana Khiani
The Downstairs Girl takes place in 1890s Atlanta, where Jo Kuan is one of the few Chinese-American people living in the city. By day Jo is a lady’s maid, but after the sun sets she writes about feminism, race, and gender in a provocative newspaper column. Jo’s voice is brilliant, chatty, and intelligent, pulling readers in as her story unfolds. The rest of the memorable cast of characters (including a horse and a dog) will do the rest.
With the Fire on High (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Elizabeth Acevedo
HarperTeen
Nominated by: Robin
Emoni Santiago is a single teenage mother with a flair for cooking. Just when she’s about to give up her dream of becoming a chef, a new culinary arts class offers a week-long trip to Spain. Elizabeth Acevedo mixes all the right ingredients–beautifully written prose, a passionate protagonist, and well-developed relationships–into a book that will leave you determined to live more passionately.