Tag: Emily Williams

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: Bad Kid: My Life as a “Troubled Teen” by Sofia Szamosi

When Sofia was thirteen years old, her mother signed her daughter up for a special program for “troubled teens” several states away. Two men came and forcefully transported her to the wilderness experience. From there, Sofia found herself trapped in a cycle of mandatory attendance in many of these supposedly therapeutic programs because of her mother’s fear and the label of being a “bad kid”.

The artwork is clear and gripping, and shows the emotion and frustration of Sofia and her fellow bad kids as they move from program to program. The stark palette of black, white, and red highlight the emotion of the story, as color is used infrequently for emphasis. Readers will read with fascination as the author describes her personal experience with the unregulated intervention industry. Teens are finely attuned to what is and is not fair treatment, and this graphic memoir explores the personal and intimate coming-of-age story of the author’s struggle and limited access to education, communication with family, and basic freedoms. 

Comparable titles include: Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers, Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away by Candy J. Cooper, Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen, and Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao. Recent documentaries about the troubled teen industry, including The Program and Hell Camp, might also be of interest.

 

–Emily Williams

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Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

  • Red Star Rebels
  • by Amie Kaufman
  • Knopf Books for Young Readers
  • Publication Date: February 10, 2026
  • ISBN:  979-8217029013

By 2067, Mars has been sporadically settled. Teenage rich boy Hunter is the heir to his family’s colonization empire, traveling to Mars from Earth to make a play for his rightful place in the business. He meets stowaway Cleo on a planetary base immediately after an emergency evacuation– that they both miss. When a secret plot is uncovered and mercenaries threaten to destroy the (almost) empty base, Hunter and Cleo form an uneasy alliance to stop the impending explosion and stay alive. 

The action starts in the first few pages, when Hunter’s arrival on the planet turns into a chaotic scene of workers and settlers in full evac mode. Details about Hunter and Cleo’s pasts are revealed slowly, heightening the tension and adding to the drama as they start to fall for each other. Space pirates, a ticking bomb, escape attempts, and ambushes add to the nonstop momentum of this story, which takes place in just 8 hours. 

Teens looking for fast paced action and sci-fi escapism who don’t mind a large dose of romance will most appreciate this title. Plenty of banter and the Home Alone-style traps Hunter and Cleo set for the bad guys keep this book fun and silly. Comparable science fiction titles include Titan of the Stars by E. K. Johnston, Victories Greater than Death by Charlie Jane Anders, and Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

-Emily Williams

Follow YALSA’s The Hub on YouTube for exclusive author interviews!

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: Dan in Green Gables by Rey Terciero illustrated by Claudia Aguirre

  • Dan in Green Gables
  • by Rey Terciero
  • illustrated by Claudia Aguirre
  • Penguin Workshop
  • Publication Date: June 3, 2025
  • ISBN: 9780593385579

Fifteen-year-old Dan Stewart-Alvarez is abandoned in rural Tennessee with his grandparents by his free-spirited mother. His grandparents are strangers, and to make matters worse, his abrasive grandfather does not seem to approve of anything Dan does – or is. Dan’s queerness in a small Southern Baptist town causes problems for others in his orbit, but Dan is always unabashedly himself, and he slowly finds a way to build a safe, supportive community at Green Gables.

Labelled as a “modern reimagining” of Anne of Green Gables, this graphic novel highlights the familiar teen theme of feeling out of place and unwelcome in a new environment. Dan and Anne have similar upbeat attitudes and outlooks on life. Familiarity with the classic novel is not required in any way, however, as Dan is a fully formed character with his own motivations and struggles. The artwork is clear and expressive in this graphic novel, providing an accessible path to universal themes. The inviting cover, colorful layout, and expressive art will welcome reluctant readers.

Graphic novels with similar tones and themes include Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer, Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand, I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner, and The Deep Dark by Molly Ostertag. 

–Emily Williams

Check out our interview with Rex Ogle on Graphic novel reimagings!

Check out our post, I’m stealing the idea, but I wanna make it my own! here.

Check out our post, “If you’re going to run away, run away to a library.”: Interview with Rex Ogle here.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: Family Force V: Book 1 by Matt Braly

  • Family Force V: Book 1 by Matt Braly
  • Image Comics
  • Publication Date: June 10, 2025
  • ISBN: 9781534340336

Maise is a normal teen to her friends at school, but she’s secretly part of an alien-fighting team legacy known as the Moon Troopers. Since being a superhero is a family business, Maise never asked for this responsibility and isn’t sure she wants it. When a tragedy occurs, Maise needs to sort out her priorities and find a way to keep everyone safe while being true to herself.

Multiple alien kaiju battles and a zippy Power Rangers-like fighting force make for an visually dynamic and action-filled graphic novel. The art is clear and bright, with expressive characters and a good balance of text. Manga and comic book readers, fans of Disney’s Amphibia (by the same creator), and those looking for easy-to-follow action stories will most appreciate this title.

Comparable titles include Into the Heartlands, a Black Panther graphic novel that also features the complexities of super-families and lots of action, and Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds, which shows teens struggling with responsibility and important decisions.

–Emily Williams

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer

  • We Could Be Magic
  • by Marissa Meyer
  • Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan
  • Publication Date: June 3, 2025
  • ISBN: 9781250379399


The massive theme park Sommerland shaped Tabi’s childhood view of magic and true love, so when she lands a job as a teen with the park’s summer program, she’s thrilled. Instead of being a park princess actor, however, she gets assigned to the taco stand. Although Tabi is confident, she doesn’t fit the thin image of all the other park princesses. Struggling to keep the magic alive, Tabi works on her princess audition while making new friends (and enemies).

Clear and expressive artwork depict Tabi’s passion for the park and her work of creating magical memories. The illustrations and dialogue are full of charm, illustrating dreamy moments and situations in a fun, familiar setting. Teens looking for a quick escape or an accessible love story, or those who are passionate about their fandoms or Disney will most appreciate this title.

Similar titles about teens at work and defining their dreams include Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, and Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy.

–Emily Williams

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: When We Ride by Rex Ogle

Diego is a hard worker who keeps his head down, gets good grades, and works a part-time job. His car is his lifeline to get him where he needs to go to accomplish his goals. Diego’s loyalty to his best friend Lawson is increasingly tested as Lawson starts dealing drugs.

The tension escalates quickly in this novel full of relatable themes. Diego wants so badly to get into college, get out of his neighborhood, and make his mother proud. As his friendship with Lawson threatens all of that, Diego’s confusion, fear, pressure, and eventually anguish are apparent and palpable through well-written quick lines of text in this verse novel. A simple cover displays three powerful images of objects that encapsulate the story.

When We Ride will appeal to readers looking for real-life stories of friendship, family, and when friends become our family. Read-alikes include Jason Reynold’s Long Way Down, which also explores the decisions we make and their consequences; Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina; and books by Ellen Hopkins.

-Emily Williams