Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray

Genre – Fantasy Fiction

Summary –

Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, Koffi cares for its fearsome and magical creatures to pay off her family’s debts and secure their eventual freedom. When her family’s safety is threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand– and the consequences are dire. As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six– an elite warrior– and uphold a family legacy. On the night of his final rite of passage, a fire upends his plans. In its midst, Ekon encounters the Shetani, a vicious monster that has plagued the city for nearly a century– and Koffi, who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi and Ekon form a tentative alliance to capture the Shetani– but it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.

“Yes, I highly recommend this book to others — I LOVED it! The story offers a little bit of everything – fantasy, action, romance, and other everyday scenarios that readers can relate to. The story is influenced by the people, places, languages, and myths of Africa, which I loved because those influences make this book different from other fantasies. I give this book 5 stars, so read it and get ready for book 2, Beasts of Ruin, which releases this summer!”, said Mrs. Lehew.

The Upper World by Femi Fadugba

Genre – Si-Fi

Summary –

Yesterday. Esso has a gift for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It just landed him in the middle of a deadly conflict between two rival South London gangs. All he wants is to make it through Friday alive. but then an accident knocks him into a place beyond space or time; a world where he can see glimpses of his past and future. And if what he sees there is true, he and his friends don’t have much longer to live, unless he can change the course of history. Tomorrow. Rhia has nothing but questions about her past, and she wouldn’t have expected her new physics tutor to have the answers. But Dr. Esso isn’t here to make sure Rhia does her homework. He needs her help to unravel a tragedy that happened fifteen years ago. One that holds the key not only to Rhia’s past but to a future worth fighting for.

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney

Genre – Fiction / Romance Novel

Summary –

Quinn’s journal is where she writes down everything — in list format — that she doesn’t want to admit out loud, or even face; once they’re written, she can release them and feel a little bit more at peace. When the journal goes missing and her list of biggest fears is posted online with a challenge to face each of them or else have the entire journal go public, it’s time for Quinn to move out of the realm of her mind and into real life. She’s not going quietly, however, and finds herself working to track down the blackmailer before time runs out.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager    by Ben Philippe

Genre – Young Adult Fiction / Humor

Summary –

Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don’t bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas. Plunked into a new high school and sweating a ridiculous amount from the oppressive Texas heat, Norris finds himself cataloging everyone he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and even the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Making a ton of friends has never been a priority for him, and this way he can at least amuse himself until it’s time to go back to Canada, where he belongs. Yet, against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris. Be it loner Liam, who makes it his mission to befriend Norris, or Madison the beta cheerleader, who is so nice that it has to be a trap. Not to mention Aarti the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, who might, in fact, be a real love interest in the making. He even starts playing actual hockey with these Texans. But the night of the prom, Norris screws everything up royally. As he tries to pick up the pieces, he realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and start living his life—along with the people who have found their way into his heart.

The Crossover (Graphic Novel) by Kwame Alexander

Genre – Fiction

Summary –

“With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. ’Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” raps Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood—he’s got mad beats, too, which help him find his rhythm when it’s all on the line.

“I did enjoy reading this book. It has great events that encouraged me to read more of the book and it was in a poetic format so it was more interesting to read than some of the books I read before.”, said freshman, Ailey Williams.