Prof. Santiago - RED4844 & RED4519

Title: Monday's Not Coming

Author: Tiffany Jackson

Reader Level: Young adult; 9-12 grade

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Realistic fiction, mystery, urban/ city/ community life, abuse, trauma, friendship

Title: Efren Divided

Author: Ernesto Cisneros

Reader Level: Grade 4-9, Ages 8-12 

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Mexican-American characters; Hispanic-American characters; deportation; undocumented children and families; twins; brothers and sisters 

Title: The Crossover

Author: Kwame Alexander

Reader Level: 10-12 years or grades 5-7 

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Realistic Fiction, Poetry (free verse), Sports (basketball), African-American, Brothers 

• New York Times bestseller
• Newbery Medal Winner
• Coretta Scott King Honor Award
• YALSA 2015 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults
• YALSA  2015 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• Publishers Weekly Best Book
• School Library Journal Best Book
• Kirkus Best Book

Title: Ghost

Author: Jayson Reynolds

Reader Level: 10-12 years or grades 5-7 

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Realistic fiction, Sports (track), African-American, Identity/ coming of age 

• National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature
• Nominated for PBS’s The Great American Read

Title: Esperanza Rising

Author: Pam Munoz Ryan

Reader Level: 8+ years or grades 6-8

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Historical fiction (1900s America, Great Depression), poverty & homelessness, migration, Hispanic-American literature, Mexican-American literature

Awards and/or Recognition:

• Pura Belpré Award Winner
• Américas Award Honor Book
• Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner
• Willa Cather Award Winner
• Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
• ILA Notable Book for a Global Society
• ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
• New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

Title: Long Way Down

Author: Jason Reynolds

Reader Level: Grades 7+, Ages 12+

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: African-American boyhood/ teenagers; Poetry; Narrative verse; Gun violence; Coming of age

Awards and/or Recognition: 

• A Newbery Honor Book
• A Coretta Scott King Honor Book
• A Printz Honor Book
• A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner for Young Adult Literature
• Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
• Winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award
• An Edgar Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fiction

Title: Free Lunch

Author: Rex Ogle

Reader Level: Grade 6-9, Ages 9-12 

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Memoir/ biography; Children's non-fiction; Homelessness; Poverty; Domestic violence

Awards and/or Recognition: 

• 2020 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award

Title: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Author: Grace Lin

Reader Level: 8-12 years or grades 3-7

Genre/ Themes/ Interests: Fantasy, Asian stories (Chinese), Chinese mythology/ folklore

Awards and/or Recognition: 

• Newbery Honor Winner
• New York Times Bestseller