High School Reads!

by David Yoon Genre:  Realistic Fiction Frank Li is trying to navigate two worlds...the world where he is first and foremost a Korean son, and the world where he is first and foremost, an American boy.  The two worlds collide when Frank starts dating Brit Means, the most amazing girl ever!  The problem is that his parents would never approve because she isn't Korean so Frank must try to hide their relationship.  He turns to his best friend, Joy Song, to help him and the two set up a plan to keep their parents happy and out of their business.  Just when Frank thinks be has everything figured out, he begins to wonder if he really knows what it means to be in love.  Will Frank be able to figure his life out?

by Elizabeth Acevedo Lexile:  810 Genre:  Realistic Fiction Emoni Santiago has dreams just like everyone else.  She wants to go to college and become a chef and maybe own a restaurant someday.  But Emoni has had to learn at a young age that she can no longer put her own dreams first.  Emoni has a 2 year old daughter, Emma, whom she has mostly sole responsibility for raising.  They live with her Abuela, who raised Emoni from a young age, and money is tight.  Julio, Emoni's father, lives in Puerto Rico and is in and out of their lives with no predictability.  Emoni wants what is best for her daughter and that might mean putting her dream of becoming a chef on hold.  Emoni's senior year takes a turn for the better when she enrolls in a culinary arts elective and begins to study with Chef Ayden who thinks she has what it takes to make it as a chef.  Can Emoni figure out a way to have it all?