We have three books on our radar this week! Are they on your TBR list?
The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
Henry Holt & Company
New girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends.
To her surprise, however, the prank attracts the attention of the Mary Shelley Club, a secret club of students with one objective: come up with the scariest prank to orchestrate real fear. But as the pranks escalate, the competition turns cutthroat and takes on a life of its own.
When the tables are turned and someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
Big, Bold, and Beautiful: Owning the Woman God Made You to Be by Kierra Sheard
Zonderkidz
Every one of us was born to make a difference. But do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the things the world prioritizes, thinking you don’t match up or you don’t fit into the mold? Or do you wish you had a more supportive family, or positive role models, or access to the things you need emotionally and spiritually to keep going? Kierra Sheard sees you and will teach you how to:
Identify your goals, talents, and gifts so you can survive and thrive
Deal with societal expectations and focus on what really matters
Truly love yourself and find out who you really are as an individual
Live your faith loud and proud
Inside Big, Bold, and Beautiful you’ll find:
Short and easy-to-read chapters with deep advice for teens and young women on navigating life, and insightful questions to help you find your path
Illustrated feature pages containing stand-alone graphics that highlight key topics for easy reference when you need a boost
An ideal gift for those who need encouragement, as well as graduates getting ready for a new phase. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads
Notes from a Young Black Chef (Adapted for Young Adults) by Kwame Onwuachi, Joshua David Stein
Delacorte Press
This inspiring memoir, now adapted for young adults, chronicles Top Chef star and Forbes and Zagat 30 Under 30 phenom Kwame Onwuachi’s incredible and odds-defying fame in the food world after a tough childhood in the Bronx and Nigeria.
Food was Kwame Onwuachi’s first great love. He connected to cooking via his mother, in the family’s modest Bronx apartment. From that spark, he launched his own catering company with twenty thousand dollars he made selling candy on the subway and trained in the kitchens of some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country. He faced many challenges on the road to success, including breaking free of a dangerous downward spiral due to temptation and easy money, and grappling with just how unwelcoming the world of fine dining can be for people of color.
Born on Long Island and raised in New York City, Nigeria, and Louisiana, Kwame Onwuachi’s incredible story is one of survival and ingenuity in the face of adversity. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads