Cassie's Kids Book Recommendations
Cute, heartfelt, and entertaining, this body-positive read will leave a smile on your face. SWEETIE can be read with its companion book, WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI, or as a standalone! Ashish and Sweetie's relationship is a ride you won't soon forget!
Open the book. Read the book dedication. I promise you, the rest of the book is that funny. Add an emotionally complex narrator, some revisited high school cliches, and a heartfelt ending, you have a new contemporary YA go to!
This story about two sisters in India who run away from their destructive home life is an emotional roller coaster. It is a story about the value of a found family, the grit and strength it takes to take care of those you love, and the bond between sisters Viji and Rukku. I imagine this book finding its way on every middle grade required reading list - and for good reason.
A powerful sophomore novel that takes place in an all too realistic American future. Layla and her family are removed from their home and sent to a Muslim internment camp. Haunting, heart-pounding, and frighteningly possible, Layla’s story also gives us hope. The people united will never be defeated.
Dugan starts with a relatable bisexual lead, wraps her in the aftermath of abandonment, and tops her with fake dating and scheming to make the most delectable summer treat. Dugan’s debut is a delight with emotional ups and downs to rival any amusement park coaster.
National Book Award Finalist Erika L. Sánchez has written a protagonist so relatable that it almost hurts. Julia is constantly compared to her sister Olga, even more so after Olga dies in a tragic accident. As the family starts to put themselves back together, Julia starts to learn about herself and about Olga. Her sister may not have been as perfect as she once believed....
Set in the late 80’s, this raw and emotional book about the feelings between two friends will break you down and build you back up again. Ari and Dante are two fully realized teenage boys navigating anything life can throw their way, including feelings for each other they may not want to acknowledge. Bonus: if you purchase the audiobook through our partnership with Libro FM, the book is read by Lin-Manuel Miranda!!
Mackenzi Lee is a master of magical historical fiction, and LOKI does not disappoint. The story is set between Asgard and gritty 19th century London with a cast of characters both familiar and new. Follow our (genderfluid, something the MCU was too cowardly to recognize) God of Mischief as he learns the true potential of his powers, battling between who he wants to be and who fate says he must become.
"The Breakfast Club" meets "Guardians of the Galaxy" in this sci-fi adventure. Our highly diverse group of academy washouts race against the clock to stop a terrorist group from decimating Earth's planetary settlements - and they just met! Queer rep with a genuinely laugh-out-loud narrator, this is a must read for any fan of sci-fi and comedy!