As kids enter their teenage years, a good book can help them navigate both their home and social lives to find themselves. Give kids a new reading goal next month with a list of six stories filled with youthfulness, friendship, and social commentary, all launching in March.
New from Here by Kelly Yang revolves around a 10-year-old Asian American, Knox Wei-Evans, after he moves back to California with his mom and siblings because of the COVID-19 threat in Hong Kong. Knox’s classmates think that he brought the virus over from Asia. At home, his mom just got fired and is panicking over the loss of health insurance, and his dad’s flight to California has been canceled. As racism skyrockets during the coronavirus pandemic, Knox tries to stand up to hate, while finding his place in his new country. Order it here!
Ellen Outside the Lines by A. J. Sass follows 13-year-old Ellen Katz as she navigates changing friendships with her best friend Laurel and her new nonbinary classmate Toss during a school trip to Barcelona. Her journey leads her to question her very binary way of seeing the world. Order it here!
Troublemaker by John Cho follows the events of the LA Riots through the eyes of a 12-year-old Korean American, Jordan, as he navigates school and family. As tensions escalate in the wake of Rodney King’s beating and Latasha Harlins’ shooting, Jordan’s father leaves to check on the family store, spurring Jordan and his friends to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aid, and come to terms with the racism affecting their community. Order it here!
Pruett and Soo, written by Nancy Viau and illustrated by Jorge Lacera, follows Pruett from Planet Monochrome, where everything is black, white, or gray, and everyone follows the rules and walks in straight lines without ever asking or answering any question. Soo arrives from Planet Prismatic, bursting with brilliant colors as she zigs and zags all over the place. When she asks Pruett questions, he finds he wants to reply, and his whole world starts to change. Order it here!
This Is (Not) Enough is the sixth book in the series You are (Not) Small by Anna Kang. In this picture book, two friends are excited about getting presents for each other, but when they try to find just the right gift, nothing seems good enough. From skywriting to painting to gardens, each thing they try ends up feeling just a little off. How will they ever find that special gift? Order it here!
Red Panda & Moon Bear: The Curse of the Evil Eye is the second book in the Red Panda & Moon Bear series by Jared Roselló. Like the first book, this second book follows the titular siblings Red Panda and Moon Bear as they solve weird mysteries, fend off new monsters, and uncover the secret history of their neighborhood to save the city of Martí from an evil curse. Order it here!
Look for these books this March on Amazon or at your local bookstores!
