 $18.99. ISBN 9780 803728042.
Gr 7-10–In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett leaves comparatively tolerant Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi, offends a white woman, and is brutally murdered. Found not guilty by an all-white jury, the killers later admitted their crime. Told with clear narrative and period photos, Trayvon Martin-era students won’t be able to put this nonfiction account down. Audio version available from Recorded Books.
HOUSE, Silas & Neela Vaswani. Same Sun Here. illus. by Hilary Schenker. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $15.99. ISBN 9780763656843; pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780763664510; ebk. $7.99. ISBN 9780763657475.
Gr 5-7–Meena, a recent Indian immigrant to New York City, and River, who lives in a struggling coal mining community, are unlikely snail-mail pen pals. When a class project connects the preteens, they’re initially uncomfortable writing to someone of a different gender and culture, but they find common ground as they reveal the details of their lives. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.
VOLPONI, Paul. Black and White. (Speak Series). Viking. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780670060061; pap. $6.99. ISBN 9780142406922.
Gr 7 Up–College scouts are looking at Marcus and Eddie, a multiracial team on and off the court. Money’s tight–the boys just need a little cash for senior year extras–but their plan to raise money via armed robbery goes terribly wrong. Marcus is identified but his white partner isn’t; what happens next is told through the teens’ riveting alternating voices.
Sexual and Gender Identity
MYRACLE , Lauren. Shine. Abrams/Amulet. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 9780810984172; pap. $7.95. ISBN 9781419701849; ebk. $16.95. ISBN 9781613121450.
Gr 8 Up –When Cat’s gay friend Patrick is the victim of what appears to be a hate crime, the 16-year-old is determined to find out what happened the night Patrick was attacked. Cat’s inquiries take her deep into the multiple layers that make up the culture of her rural North Carolina community, including poverty, bigotry, and meth. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.
NEWMAN , Lesléa. October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. Candlewick. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763658076.
Gr 7 Up–Newman was the keynote speaker at the University of Wyoming’s Gay Awareness Week five days after the hate-crime death of Matthew Shepard, a student at UW. She has created a heartbreaking set of poems written from multiple points of view about the notorious events leading to Shepard’s murder. Beautifully written, impossible to forget–and that’s the point. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.
SÁENZ , Benjamin Alire. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. S & S. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978 1442408920; pap $9.99. ISBN 9781 442408937; ebk. $12.45. ISBN 9781 442408944.
Gr 8-10–Fifteen-year-old Aristotle’s working-class Mexican-American family, headed by silent, army vet Dad, is all about keeping secrets. When Ari meets Dante, the boys begin a life-changing friendship. Dante comes out to Ari, and Ari promises to remain his friend. In the process, Ari must examine his own sexuality. Memorably constructed characters drive the story. Audio version available from S & S Audio.
VOLPONI , Paul. Crossing Lines. Viking. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780670012145; ebk. $13.99. ISBN 9781101529041.
Gr 8-10–Playing out his gender identity questions in full view of his high school classmates, Alan wears makeup and feminine clothing. Jeannie and the Fashion Club are supportive, but Jeannie’s brother Adonis is repulsed and goes along with bullying served up by members of the football team. When the abuse escalates, will Adonis do the right thing?
WILKINSON , Lili. Pink. HarperCollins/Harper Teen. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978 0061926532; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978006 1926549; ebk. $8.99. ISBN 978006 2069634.
Gr 8-10– Ava’s parents totally affirm her romantic relationship with classmate Chloe, but when Ava’s accepted into a different high school, she acts on her uncertainties, breaks up with Chloe, makes new friends, and seeks out a boyfriend. Lying about her past with Chloe leaves Ava with even more