Search for Freedom

Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher is a futuristic take on immigration policy. Even though it’s set in 2032, it’s at times frighteningly realistic.

Vali’s family was already on the run by moving from California to Vermont after her dad’s capture and death. Now things are getting more intense as the president is building walls and forcefully deporting anyone not born in the U.S.

As they begin a journey to NYC for safety, their mother is taken from them by the Deportation Force. Vali and her little brother Ernie are forced to find safe haven on their own. NY is only the first stop on a brutal and dangerous trip to California. California is the only state granting safety to all immigrants.

Along their journey they encounter others running for their lives. They’ve all already faced loss and are hoping to survive. They encounter violence, starvation and death along the way.

It’s a harsh and eye opening look at politics and lack of humanity.

Multiple Battles

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is a combination of love story and fantasy. It’s set in a time of warring gods, fantastical creatures and magic.

Iris and Roman are competing for a columnist position at their local paper. However, Iris is distracted by more important issues. Her brother left to fight in the war, and his absence sent her mother into a downward spiral. Iris’s only comfort is using her grandmother’s old typewriter to write letters to her missing brother. One day she magically receives a response letter, but it’s not from her brother.

Iris puts this blossoming pen pal relationship on hold when she decides to switch newspapers as a war reporter. Roman decides to follow her to their outpost. The remainder of the book details their interactions and involvement in war as well as their budding relationship.

This is a well written story. It leaves off with a cliffhanger to entice readers into reading its sequel.

After Care

Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley is my penultimate 2024 high school Nutmeg nominee. It is written in narrative verse.

Liv’s older brother Jonah accidentally shoots himself in the head while messing around at their neighbor’s house. He doesn’t die; he is now surviving with the help of around the clock care and machines.

Liv is an amazing sister. She helps with Jonah’s care and treats him normally. Life is tense as her and their mother wait for the court date in which they will charge the neighbor’s parents with negligence (and more).

Liv’s school life is slipping, but she slowly rebuilds her connection to their teenaged neighbor Clay and makes some new friends too.

This was an emotional and tragic story.

Elite Hoax

Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo is my first full manga read!

Top spy, Twilight, is hired for his next case. He needs to be accepted into the parenthood world of an elite elementary school. The issue is that he needs to find a temporary child and wife to help him play the part.

Enter young mind reading orphan (forgot name) and an assassin wife. Their first mission is to get their “daughter” to pass the school’s tests.

I can see why this is a popular series. It’s entertaining with lots of promise for action. While I may not end up reading the whole series, I definitely enjoyed the first one!

Martian Life

The Strange by Nathan Ballingrud is a science fiction read with some great elements.

Annabelle and her father run a diner on the planet Mars. Annabelle’s mother left for a trip to Earth years earlier. They lost all contact with her ever since the Silence shut down all communication with Earth.

The diner is robbed which results in Annabelle’s father in jail. The people of Mars begin turning against each other and Annabelle realizes she is on her own. She sets off with their kitchen robot, Watson, to get even and to reclaim her mother’s recorded messages (which were stolen during the robbery).

Annabelle’s journey involves booking up with other renegades and coming across those affected by the Strange. The Strange is a Martian element which slowly infects all who encounter it. Readers will be pulled into her mission and interested in the future of this odd new world.

Born to Rule

Raybearer by Jordan Ifuekp is another 2024 high school Nutmeg nominee.

This book quickly grabbed my attention. Before her birth, Tarisai’s mother captures a demon in order to get three wishes. Her final wish is to use their daughter Tarisai to befriend and kill the future emperor.

From here, we follow Tarisai along her path to meet the emperor in training. Tarisai must prove herself worthy to be one of his eleven council members. Each must have a special talent. Once they are all selected, Tarisai will need to fight her killer instincts.

This was a great fantasy read with plenty of magic, adventure and intrigue. I will definitely give the second novel in the series a read.

Different Outcomes

The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg confronts depression, suicide and family/friend relationships with a unique approach. This novel is another 2024 high school Nutmeg nominee

The novel begins on the GW Bridge in New York City, where two teens (Aaron and Tillie) are about to jump to their deaths. The story then explores possible scenarios: only Tillie dying, only Aaron dying, both dying or neither dying.

The chapters reveal the events that pushed each character to such a horrific choice. Aaron feels shame about his life, and despite a very loving father, he considers himself an embarrassment destined for nothing. Tillie is the victim of online bullying after expressing her feelings about being used by a guy. She also has a terrible relationship with her adoptive father. The different scenarios explored throughout the book show the ripple effect that our actions can have upon events in our own lives and in others as well.

In the process of learning about each character, we see the value of creating connections with family and/or friends, speaking up for oneself and the extreme importance of having a support person.

Creating Beauty

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is another 2024 high school Nutmeg nominee.

Moon and her twin sister Star couldn’t be more different. Star is a beautiful social media sensation, and she is their mother’s pet. Meanwhile, Moon works behind the scenes as her sister’s assistant. She is overweight, and constantly berated by their mother. The only thing they have in common is a family curse.

Moon is forced to set out on a social media tour with Star as a merchandise salesperson. She will try to make the best of the trip by focusing on her passion- photography and flowers. She immediately butts heads with the head social media guy’s attractive brother Santiago.

During the trip, she is forced to confront her insecurities and abusive upbringing. Her dynamic with her sister is also tested. Through this she begins to develop real feelings for Santiago, who is also battling his own insecurities. Moon learns to love and trust herself.

This is not a book I would typically pick up. But it covers a lot of important topics, such as abuse, depression and suicide. Most importantly it addresses how to nurture positive relationships, learn acceptance and to trust in one’s passions/talents.

Fairy Wars

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is first in its series.

Reminiscent of the Twilight books and HBO’s “True Blood” series, this is a story full of magic, otherworldly creatures, action and romance.

Fayre has been the provider for her family ever since her father brutally lost his business. She taught herself to become a fierce hunter, which is what she is doing when she kills a large wolf. It turns out that the wolf was a high fairy in disguise. She is taken prisoner by one of seven Fairy lords to atone for her actions.

As prisoner, she learns that her mortal world may be in danger. There is a ruthless female Fairy with an age old vendetta to settle, and she will do anything to get her way. Fayre becomes involved in all of this once she starts falling for her captor. She finds out that she may be able to stop a century-old curse.

The story kept my interest and prompted me to check out book two. Although based on the size of it, I’m not sure if I’ll finish any time soon!

“Crush”ing It

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon checks another 2024 high school Nutmeg nominee off my read list.

This is an enemies to lovers romance story. Rowan has spent her entire high school career competing with Neil. Now it’s their last day of senior year and he beats her again by getting valedictorian over her.

The final senior event is a scavenger hunt called Howl, it is organized by the junior class. There is a cash prize at the end. Rowan is determined to take this last victory over Neil. However, they begin working together which forces Rowan to see Neil as more than an enemy. They share information about their families, their feelings about being Jewish and their desires for their futures. Could one day overturn four years of animosity?