Once again, were grateful for and delighted with Toronto silent book club member Sundus Butt’s ongoing collections of young adult (YA) titles and thoughtful, discerning recommendations. Enjoy all the monthly YA installments here.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (9–12)

There is an Arabic proverb that says:
She makes you feel
like a loaf of freshly baked bread.

It is said about
the nicest
kindest people.
The type of people
who help you
rise.

Jude and her pregnant mother have left their home in Syria to escape the escalating violence. When she arrives in America, everything is different and Jude aches with all the things she misses from home, including her father and elder brother who stayed behind. But as she begins to make friends and gets the chance to try out for a school play, Jude realizes she can belong in America, too.

Beautifully written in verse, this is a story about being an immigrant and loving your first home, but navigating and embracing your new one. The story also explores Islamophobia, as Jude encounters it for the first time, especially as she starts wearing a hijab. And whilst the story touches on painful experiences, there’s an abundance of hope and joy, and those are the overriding feelings you’re left with.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (14+)

Gift. One word, one syllable. I don’t know if it rhymes with anything because it’s a word I never thought could be used when it comes to me.

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be a rapper more than anything. She’s talented and loves making up rhymes, but hitting it big would mean she could raise her family out of poverty. Her mom and brother work tirelessly, but their family only manages to scrape by, and Bri knows if she can land a big contract, she can change everything.

Any book by Angie Thomas is worth a read. She has the wonderful ability to transport you so you’re in a certain place with certain people from page one. Bri is so convincing as a young, complex woman trying to deal with the issues of simply growing up, but also having to deal with racial injustice, the misogyny of the hip-hop world, and the possibility of homelessness. The great thing about Thomas’s books are how they reflect harsh realities, but also shine a light on the beautiful friendships and love between family. This is an entertaining and edifying coming-of-age story.

Ms. Marvel written by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Adrian Alphona (9+)

Who am I? It seems like an easy question. And then I realize … maybe what I said to those cops wasn’t a joke. Maybe the name belongs to whoever has the courage to fight.
And so I tell them.
I tell them who I am.
“You can call me Ms. Marvel.”

Sixteen-year-old Kamala Khan has a lot on her plate. As a Pakistani-American Muslim, she doesn’t quite fit in, and while she loves her family, she’s tired of their strict rules. So she sneaks out one night, and bumps into some of her favourite Avengers and makes a wish to be like Captain Marvel. Kamala’s alarmed when her wish comes true and now she has even bigger problems than curfews and exams—like saving the world (or New Jersey at least).

This is a really fun, well-illustrated series. It balances the focus between Kamala being an ordinary teen, including the religious and cultural issues she faces, and finding her way as superhero. The humour and storytelling makes this a great addition to the Marvel canon.

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller (10+)

I felt trapped between the dark of mom’s room and the fake light of dad’s office.

This story follows 12-year-old Natalie as she tries to “fix” her mom who is suffering from depression. Natalie experiences an emotional rollercoaster of anger, guilt, and fear as she tries to understand why her mom has “stopped being mom.” Her dad is trying his best, but doesn’t really know what to do, despite being a therapist, which leaves Natalie feeling abandoned and frustrated by both parents. After her science teacher suggests she enters a competition, Natalie thinks she’s landed on a way to make things better.

Natalie is very well constructed. Her reactions to her mom’s depression feel real and explore how hard it is for a child to see their parent dealing with mental illness. The heaviness of what’s happening to Natalie’s family is offset by her enjoyable friendship with Twig, which adds light and colour. And the framing of the story in terms of a science experiment ties everything together and presents a difficult, but important, story in an engaging way.

Baba Yaga’s Assistant written by Marika McCoola and illustrated by Emily Carroll (9+)

“If you’re going to finish by sunset, you better get started […].”
“Sunset?”
“It’s the standard arrangement.”
“Yeah? What about midnight?”
“I’m not your fairy godmother, dear.”

When Masha’s dad announces he’s proposed to his girlfriend, she runs into the haunted wood to answer Baba Yaga’s advertisement for an assistant. Armed with her grandmother’s teachings and a sense of adventure, Masha must complete three tasks to prove her worth and avoid Baba Yaga’s wrath.

This is a wonderful graphic novel with some creepy elements and wry humour. Combined with great illustrations that fit the tone of the story perfectly, this is a fun read that touches on folklore and family.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (11+)

Not hope that he would be rescued—that was gone. But hope in his knowledge. Hope in the fact that he could learn and survive and take care of himself. Tough hope, he thought that night. I am full of tough hope.

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his dad when the pilot of the prop plane he’s on has a heart attack, forcing Brian to crash-land the plane into the remote Canadian wilderness. With just a few items, including a hatchet his mother had gifted him, Brian must figure out how to survive.

The thing I most enjoy about this book is the shift in Brian’s perspective. His initial worries about his parents’ divorce and even the early days of when he is stranded very much reflect a young person’s worries. But over time, his attitude and thinking sharpen, and his encounters with all the perils and joys of nature are not just about survival, but also about transformation.

Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis (10–14)

Everyone I loved, every place on the Island I cared for, every answer I had ever gotten to every question I had ever asked—was a part of one huge and terrible lie.

Margaret has lived on a tiny island with a small group of nuns all her life, and her days are simple but content. One day, the exiled Queen Eleanor arrives, after being banished and supplanted by her half-sister, Catherine. As Margaret gets to know Eleanor, she learns things about the politics of Albion, but also uncovers a secret about herself. Things become even more dangerous when one of Eleanor’s old bodyguards tries to rescue her, and Margaret has to decide where her loyalties lie.

This graphic novel is inspired by Elizabeth I and Mary I, and the Tudor tone is evident in the language and the details of the story. The style of the illustrations also helps to develop the atmosphere and make a connection to the time period. This is a slow burn, coming-of-age graphic novel set in an interesting time and offers an alternative storyline for a very famous piece of history.

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (10+)

[…] I’d learned one thing above all else: A person can become invisible simply by staying quiet.

Twelve-year-old Suzy is different from other kids. She thinks differently, her interests aren’t “cool,” and she doesn’t get on with a lot of people. When her ex-best friend, Franny, drowns, Suzy shuts down and doesn’t speak for weeks. No adult can provide a concrete explanation for Franny’s death, so Suzy devises her own theory about a jellyfish sting and sets out to prove she’s right.

Benjamin does a great job of conveying Suzy’s isolation and her desperation to make sense of something unfathomable. You feel for her as she evades her grief and becomes obsessed with finding answers that won’t help her. The story is focused on the importance of grieving and the difficulty in losing someone you’ve grown apart from, but it also focuses on the love and friendship that can help you get through.