A little over a year ago Algonquin branched out into Young Reader Novels. But they went about it with a deliberately higher level of novel than most publishers put out for YA. These books all are what I would call "Serious Reads". They deal with real issues, real concerns and topics that most YA books deliberately ignore as being too controversial perhaps.
I already reviewed two of their Young Readers - one about a boy in hospice with terminal cancer just trying to enjoy his days, and the other about an Irianian girl, living in Iran, in love with another girl.
These are not light reads.
Below I have two other books to share with you. One shares the guilt of a girl whose small brother drowns under her watch and the other a family that receives much charity after their house burns down... but then the charity turns sour.
Again, not light reads. But it's so important to remember that many young readers can be very mature and don't all need to concentrate on zombies and ridiculously attractive vampires.
So check out these books - a link below takes you to all of them. Algonquin also publishes Middle School and younger books and I have a few of those up at the Dew also.
_____________________________________________________________
Link to all Algonquin Young Reader books HERE.
Summer of Letting Go and The Art of Secrets
The Art of Secretsby James Klise
When Saba Khan’s apartment burns in a mysterious fire, her high school rallies around her. But then a quirky piece of art donated to a school fund-raising effort for the Khans is revealed to be worth a fortune and Saba’s life quickly turns upside down again. Greed, jealousy, and suspicion create an increasingly tangled web as adults and teens alike debate who should get the money and begin to question one another’s motives and make accusations.
On Sale Date: 04-22-2014
__________________________________________
The Summer of Letting Goby Gae Polisner
Four years ago, Francesca’s little brother, Simon, drowned, and Francesca’s the one who should have been watching. Now Francesca is about to turn sixteen, but guilt keeps her stuck in the past. Then she meets four-year-old Frankie Sky, a little boy who bears an almost eerie resemblance to Simon. Is it possible he’s Simon’s reincarnation?
On Sale Date: 03-18-2014