“A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.” – Goodreads
This book could not be more timely given some of the recent news about a large group of migrant folks who have attempted entry into the US. I cannot recommend this book enough – it’s perfect for all ages, even though there are some graphic images and occasional violence. It is also written with super clever breaks in the parallel narratives, compelling the reader to move swiftly through the book to find out what happens. Also, it’s very short, making it an extremely quick but incredibly important and poignant look at what refugees endure when fleeing violence and instability.
Call # S. P219l (at SSHEL)
Review by Vicki
Content warning for explicit descriptions of gun violence 
Bitty is an exceedingly charming vlogger, former junior figure skating champion, baker, and hockey player; he is also a student at Samwell University. In this graphic novel, Bitty takes us through the highs and lows of being a student athlete on a competitive hockey team as well as his growing attraction to the temperamental but very good-looking captain, Jack.
Wildcard is a fantastic and thought-provoking book that sparked many emotions. The setting was portrayed vividly, as it was a huge aspect of the story’s plot. The setting, along with the unique and complex characters featured, arose questions involving the future: What will happen if technology evolves to be the way it is in Wildcard? The storyline was fast-paced and although there were some slower parts of the book, they were still interesting and helpful in the progression of the story. One important point to take note of is that Warcross, which is the first book in the duology, must be read before Wildcard. Wildcard picks right up after Warcross ends and there is no reintroduction of the characters or background of the story, so it would be best to read the two books back-to-back. The climax of the book featured many plot twists, keeping the reader on edge, and the structure of the book was helpful and easy to follow. Furthermore, the characters were highly diverse and the narration was effective, although it would have been nice if there were some reminders on the previous events of Warcross. All in all, Wildcard presents a well-balanced blend of action and stimulating questions, tying the whole duology together in a way that doesn’t disappoint.
In My Sister Rosa, Che Taylor is a normal teenager living an abnormal life. His negligent parents, entrepreneurs from Australia, live a hectic lifestyle, constantly starting new businesses in different parts of the world, causing the family to move frequently. From the start of the book the story is set in New York, the newest location Che’s parents have opened a business in.
