Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh

Family, friendship, love, and secrets… Ibeh brings us a story deeply unwrapping what it means to love, even when everything around you tells you that the love you feel is wrong.

The story revolves around Obiefuna and his journey of self discovery as he grows from a child into a young adult. His life is not without its obstacles, as he discovers quickly he is gay and that his mannerisms are seen as weak and feminine. In Nigeria, these qualities are frowned upon, the roots of their hate deeply ingrained in homophobia. Obiefuna does what any of us would do to survive: he hides these parts of himself.

But one can only hide for so long. His father eventually sends him to a (very rough) boarding school, and it is there where we see many of the books’ events take place. We see Obiefuna’s destruction and evolution, his death and rebirth. There is nothing else to do but adapt when you are thrown to the wolves.

While the story is primarily about Obiefuna, through alternating chapters, we also follow the perspective of his mother, Uzoamaka. We see her deepest inner thoughts as she watches her son change. It is through her that we start to see a different type of love, one that transcends what Obiefuna has always thought he understood. 

Told in third person perspective, the book has an elegantly straightforward voice with a serious tone that still allows for laughs and smiles. It draws us into an attachment for the flawed Obiefuna as his understanding of love is consistently challenged. If you’re anything like me, it’ll also pull out some tears.

It's probably my favorite one so far out of the books I read in 2024, so please check out this book. It's a very beautiful example of how sometimes, the very places that challenge us the most can be the very same places that show us the truest possibilities of what love can be.

- Leo H

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera writes a melancholic story about two boys who find out how to live on the day they die. The beauty of growth through true connection is something elegantly shown, as both Mateo and Rufus show each other what they’ve always felt they’ve lacked, drawing out each other’s true nature through simply spending their last day together.

The story is set in a dystopia that is almost identical to the world we live in except for one key difference: Death-Cast, a service that calls people from 12AM to 2AM to let people know they will die within the next 24 hours. Created to ensure that everyone lives out their last day how they choose to, it is now a societal norm. Anyone can receive a call, and everyone will receive one at some point, regardless of how sheltered, or reckless, you’ve been living your life. This is what happens to both Mateo and Rufus. After meeting on an app, the two set off to figure out how to live their last day the way they want.

The story follows a multiple perspective narrative style, showing the perspectives of not just Mateo and Rufus, but many of the other side characters. Each new perspective immediately tells you whether or not the person will die that day, and they all play a role in the outcome of the events, building tension for us readers, and even catching us off guard with what is revealed. Furthermore, each perspective is time-stamped, showing at what point throughout the day that it happened.

If you’re looking for a book that will push you to tears over star-crossed lovers, give this book a read. If you like it, check out the prequel The First to Die at the End! Feel free to share your thoughts on both! I’ll leave you with this:

What would you do if you knew you’d die within 24 hours?

- Leo H.

Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr.

Keith F Miller Jr. brings us a story of two boys finding love and safe haven with one another as they get caught in the crossfire of the drama within their communities and families. As they journey through teen angst, confusion, and trauma, they not only come to find each other, but a deeper understanding of themselves and what they are capable of.

The story follows Jay and Leroy, two teenage black boys who live on opposing sides of town, a town that is heavily affected by gang life. The gangs currently exist in harmony thanks to the efforts of the Black Diamonds, an underground organization created to protect the people within the town. However, when a mysterious enemy threatens the peace, the two families become intricately connected with the violence, dragging Jay and Leroy in along with them. 

Throughout the book, the narration splits perspectives between the two boys. Jay’s perspective is written in more of a standard narrative style, while Leroy’s uses much more African American vernacular. The book is filled with beautiful references to black culture and community, and shows how amazing it can be to grow up at the intersection of blackness and queerness.

Miller uses elegant figurative language to envelop you in the story world and put you in the shoes of the boys, with the story reading almost like poetry. As we experience each moment with them, the style tugs at our heart strings until we’re almost brought to tears; and the climax itself is just as satisfying, as you see the culmination of both boys’ efforts to heal and unite. The story ends implying there is a second book, so if you like this one, there’s likely to be a sequel coming soon.

If you’re looking for a dramatic, yet heartfelt story involving queer black teens, this is the book for you. Please feel free to check it out, and if you read it, I’m always happy to hear what you have to say!

- Leo H.

Modern Herstory by Blair Imani

 

Are you looking for something to read for Women's History Month, but aren't sure where to start?  Then check out Modern Herstory, an illustrated history by Blair Imani.

Taking an inclusive approach to recent history, this book celebrates seventy women and nonbinary people who have changed the world we live in for the better.  And though all of their contributions were great, the accomplishments of the people in these pages have too often been overlooked.  So Imani's writing and the bold, beautiful illustrations of Monique Le shine a spotlight on the important stories of people who are changing our world right now- and inspire readers to do the same.

I thought that this was a fun, breezy approach to women's history!  It highlights a few familiar people, but also spotlights the stories of many important, but less well known, figures from all backgrounds.  The biographies are all fast and easy reads accessible for all ages, and the art in this book in particular really shines.  If you're looking for a Women's History read, this is one I would definitely recommend!

Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

 

Are you looking for some nonfiction to read for Black History Month?  Then you should check out this amazing American history by Ibram X. Kendi.

In this deep history of racism, Kendi takes us through the lives of five major figures from US history to demonstrate how racist ideas have shaped America's past.  From puritan ministers through to modern-day activists, this book shows how people in this country built a nation steeped in racial inequality, how they fought to oppose or maintain that inequality, and how we came to be where we are today.  

This book is a great way to brush up on your history and rethink the stories that we all think we know.  Kendi is a great writer and historian, and the way he uses a few pivotal figures to tell the story of the country makes it all very compelling.  He manages to tell the story of America's history of racism and still come out with a little hope for the future, a feat that I can't help but admire. 

Slay by Brittney Morris

Are you a fan of video games, or young adult fiction?  Then you need to check out Slay, Brittney Morris's debut novel.

In real life Kiera Johnson might be a quiet honors student but online she rules over SLAY, a massive game built on African beauty and culture.  No one knows that Kiera is the game developer- not her friends, not her family, not even her boyfriend.  She's happy to keep her worlds separate, but that becomes impossible when a murdered teen who played her game turns SLAY into a global controversy.  Now every news channel has an opinion on her work and one player is threatening to sue her over the game.  Can she protect her game and her secret identity without losing everything she's worked for?

This book is so much fun to read!  It's got the gutsy heart that makes any good YA novel great.  Morris also writes really wonderfully about nerd culture- the good, but also the bad that can come along with being Black and a girl in those spaces.  It's the kind of quick read that will suck you in, so it's perfect if you've made a new year's resolution to read more! 

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

 

If you are a fan of high fantasy but you're looking for something a little outside the time-honored tropes of the genres, then you definitely need to check out Black Sun, Rebecca Roanhorse's epic first installment in a new series inspired by pre-Columbian America.

In the holy city Tova, the sun priest and her followers prepare for the celebration of the winter solstice.  A solar eclipse that will coincide with this festival promises to make this year a time of power and rebalancing the world, and forces swarm across the city waiting for a new world to be born.  At the same time a ship sets sail for Tova.  Its captain is a woman who can calm the seas with a song, and her single passenger is a young, blind pilgrim.  This traveler seems harmless, but as he and the eclipse close in on Tova, a dangerous destiny begins to converge as well.

This series has a lot to offer fans of epic fantasy novels, with its prophesies, intersecting character sagas, and innovative systems of magic.  Roanhorse also clearly set out to push at the boundaries of what you'd typically find in this genre.  As an indigenous writer she was very upfront about wanting to set a fantasy novel outside a typical, vaguely-European setting, and the world she created is so much fun to read about.  I liked the feeling of discovering a new place that you get from Black Sun, and each of the three main characters we follow has a story that I loved to bits.  I cannot wait for the sequel, and cannot recommend reading this enough!