New YA

Two new YA books that have come across my desk recently deserve special attention. The first is Gabrielle Pendergast’s verse novel, Audacious (Orca Books). Pendergast covers lots of ground in this exciting novel about one teenage girl’s attempt to navigate the pitfalls of high school and self expression. When sixteen-year-old Raphaelle’s provocative art work angers her community, Raphaelle finds herself in more trouble than she’s been in before. Pendergast’s page-turner covers everything from cyber-bullying to cross-cultural love as well as mental health issues. It’s a book that draws you in and keeps you reading until the final page.



And for something completely different, check out Jill Bryant’s Phenomenal Female Entrepreneurs for the young reader on your holiday shopping list. Bryant’s book is the latest installment in Second Story Press’ Women’s Hall of Fame Series. It introduces the reader to a variety of female business entrepreneurs, both current and past. I learned about Madam C.J. Walker, an African-American woman who became a millionaire by creating hair products for black women at the turn of the last century, to Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg. The book’s mix of inspiring stories and practical suggestions makes me eager to share it with students at my elementary school.