Jason Reynolds' new teen romance, Twenty-four Seconds From Now...a Love Story, is the this story of Neon and Aria, a young teenage couple navigating first love. The story is rich, emotional, honest, funny, and compelling. Reynolds weaves a complete picture of Neon’s world and captures all the complex feelings of taking the relationship with his girlfriend to the next level and experiencing a huge first. The book is tender, honest, and directly engages the reader in a conversation about this important transition in a young person's life. Yet another example of how Reynolds is in a league of his own. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

This month I felt compelled to continue on my deep dive into the work of Jason Reynolds. This month's #AngiesPeeks is another from The Track series, Patina. The plot is multi-layered, and the character's voice is so unique and powerful, young readers will immediately be drawn into twelve-year-old, Patty's world. Patty, competitive to the core, shoulders a lot of responsibility. When she and her sister move in with her aunt and uncle because of her mother's health issues, she starts a new elite school, and she's asked by her coach to run on the relay team, the pressure mounts.  Reynolds expertly balances Patty's struggle with humor and voice that is uniquely her own. For big sisters, over achievers, and readers who loved Ghost, Patina is a must. It's a captivating read from start to finish! Recommended for ages 9-14.

This month’s #AngiesPeeks is The Last Resort by none other than Erin Entrada Kelly. The story is a delightful ghost story perfect for young readers this Halloween season. The main character, twelve-year-old Lila, finds herself staying at her recently deceased grandfather’s inn as the family sorts out his affairs. When the ghost of her grandfather tells her he was murdered and needs her help, Lila finds herself enlisting her new friend, Teddy, and her brother to uncover the mystery of what happened. The book cleverly addresses how the “past” can haunt us, but also weaves a wonderful world of intrigue around the good ghosts and evil ghosts haunting Castle Hill Inn. Middle-grade readers will love the twists and turns and feel deeply connected to the characters, driven to find the truth. For me, it reminded me of all of the mysteries I used to read as a kid and how much I loved them. Delightful from start to finish! Recommended for ages 8-12.

This month’s #AngiesPeeks is Ghost by Jason Reynolds. Ghost is the first in The Track Series; the newest book, Lu, was released this month. I have read other works by Jason Reynolds, but it had been a while, and I hadn’t read this series. Absolutely brilliant! It was a reminder of why Reynolds’ work is so great. The book tackles really big issues, but somehow manages not to feel oppressive. It centers around 12-year-old Castle Crenshaw, a.k.a. Ghost, whose connection to running began as his father chased him and his mother down the street with a loaded gun. The story is layered, rich, funny, heartwrenching, and will definitely keep young readers turning the pages. As a National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature and nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read, it’s a great book for young readers to pick up this summer. They will likely burn through the whole series! Recommended for ages 9-12.

This month’s #AngiesPeeks is a beautiful novel in verse, Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. The story is of a young Syrian girl, Jude, who must flee her war-torn homeland with her pregnant mother, leaving her brother and father behind. They take refuge with her uncle and family in Cincinnati, as she navigates the challenges of learning English, trying to fit in in midwestern America, and the tricky time of being an adolescent girl. Layered rich with emotions and gorgeously written, the book is a marvel because June’s struggle is not conflated, but honest and heartfelt. Young readers will connect with June’s familiar concerns about “fitting in,” but also feel a sense of empathy for longing for the comfort of home. Recommended for ages 8-12.