Technolandy

Day 116 (of 2025/26) Book it to Brooks – recommended Young Adult reads

The reading challenge is for students in grade 6/7-ish to read before they go into grade 8 in the in-person school in our district. While we are the online school, we strongly believe in the value of reading and likewise have the books available via our qathet building – Oceanview. Here are the books and some thoughts:

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

Insignificant Events in the Life Of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

I didn’t expect a book about a hero without arms saving the Old West and solving a mystery… all while being the new kid and living in a theme park! Delightful read. 

Weird Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer

I could smell the salmon from the opening chapter… a delightful look at life in another PR – Prince Rupert. Enjoyable look into life in the 80s and confirming that not all families have the same rules… what unique spoken and unspoken rules do you have to follow – and is it fair that there are… different rules…?

A Work In Progress by Jarrett Lerner

Jarrett is a powerful advocate for graphics – check out https://jarrettlerner.com/ and here he blends some graphics into a story written in poetic verse and style. I am impressed by how many novels I am seeing pushing the separation of prose and poetry – and this “slice of life” (a pub as this takes on some important thinking and sharing about food and youth). Looks at anxiety and friendships/belonging also resonate powerfully. 

A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi & Laura Shovan

Food, family, friendships and belonging… a delightful read comparing cultural backgrounds though the lens of food and family… with the usual middle school friendship dramas… Nice example of writing in alternating voices to get multiple characters perspectives! I’ll admit that events in the US in the first part of 2026 have me looking at the ‘citizenship’ theme a little differently than what was initially intended in the writing of this book… 

Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff

A powerful exploration of grief and gender identity though the lens of a ghost story – a Newbery Honor Book it reads like one (my librarian experience had me going ‘yep, panel will like this…’.  Of course it has been challenged and restricted because it does contain LGBTQ2IA+ themes and transgender characters, though if that’s what gets you stuck on a powerful story… well, that’s going to narrow your reading journey as this a supernatural tale leading to personal revelations as Bug untangles a mystery the summer before middle school…

Other submissions I have not (yet) been able to acquire:

*Drawn Across Borders by George Butler

*On Being Yukiko by Jeff Chiba Stearns

Additional for spring break: check out the books of Kathleen Gros

Anne: An adaption of Anne of Green Gables

Jo: An Adaption of Little Women

I hated you in High School