The Art of Being Normal

Author:  Lisa Williamson

Recommended Age: Young Adult
Publisher:  David Fickling Books
ISBN:  978-1-910200-32-2
Year Published:  2015
No. Pages:  353
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Main Character Gender: Transgender
Read & Reviewed by: Anwyn


“As the chorus kicks in I feel people looking at me. Essie immediately begins to dance, flinging her arms in the air and singing along. But I’m rooted to the spot, too afraid to make any sudden movements. Even though Leo has paved the way at school in some respects, I’m still a boy in a dress to most people; David Piper in drag.”
  
This is a novel about being your true self. This is a story of being transgender.

Copper Sun

Author: Sharon Draper
Recommended Age: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN-13:  978-0-689-82181-3
ISBN-10: 0-689-82181-6  
Year Published: 2008
No. Pages: 302
Genre: Historical Fiction
Main Character Gender: Female
Read & Reviewed by: Katie

Fifteen-year-old Amari loves life in her home village in Africa. She spends her days teasing her younger brother Kwasi and daydreaming about her soon-to-be husband Besa. Amari’s carefree life changes when Besa spots a band of white-skinned Europeans heading down the path to their village. A feast is declared to welcome the visitors.

The village of Ziavi puts on a celebration full of storytelling, dancing and drumming. Before they can finish the festivities the visitors start killing the adults and young children of the village. Her brother tries to get her to run into the jungle but as they do, he is shot and Amari is chained and forced to walk across Africa with others from her village for days on end. Amari is soon packed onto a ship where those who die are tossed overboard. Amari survives with the encouragement of a woman named Afi, as she soon discovers that she is aboard a slave ship. Upon arrival to America, she is bought by Mr Derby, a rich white man as a birthday present for his son. Amari meets Polly, an indentured servant and the two girls bond with one another in order to survive. Will Amari ever find the freedom she dreams of?

My Beating Teenage Heart

Author: C.K. Kelly Martin

Recommended Age:  Young Adult

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN:  978-0-385-67042-5

Year Published:  2011

No. Pages:  272
Genre:  Fantasy/ Realistic Fiction
Main Character Gender: Mixed
Read & Reviewed by: Zabrina

 "The first moment is utter darkness. The absence of thought, the absence of everything. An absence that stretches infinitely backwards and threatens to smother your sanity-if there was a you, that is. But there's not. I am nothing and no one. I never was. I must not have been because otherwise, wouldn't I remember?"

Fifteen-year-old Ashlyn Baptiste doesn't know where she is or what's happened to her. She doesn't seem to have a body but she has thoughts and feelings. She watches over seventeen-year-old Breckon's life without him knowing. She knows Breckon more than she knows herself. Every little thing he does brings back little details of Ashlyn's childhood. As Breckon’s life is falling apart piece by piece. He grieves his little sister. This novel is the story of two unexpected deaths and how they become intertwined.