Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan

Both Ravi and Joe have trouble fitting in at school. Ravi has just moved to America from India and is adjusting to a new culture. Joe has been around forever, but he has his own trouble making friends. Although the boys are very different, they share a common enemy and overcoming the influence of the class bully might be just the thing to create a lasting friendship.

Heartfelt and humorous, Save Me a Seat shows the struggle of navigating school when you feel ‘different.’ With the different perspectives of the two characters, readers can relate to universal feelings while gaining insight into some unique situations. This is a good read for both students who feel different as well as kids who fit right in.

Recommended ages--9 and up

Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan

Josie speaks many languages. Throughout her day she speaks the language of High School, college, family, friends. But Josie only has a few places she is able to speak her own language. When her sister Kate, one of the few people who understands Josie, becomes engaged to an insufferable guy, Josie is determined to break up the match. At the same time, Kate is determined to force Josie into perfect behavior during will the wedding. Josie treads that battlefield while also trying to understand her own feelings about love, life, and family. Will she ever be able to fit in while still being herself?

Filled with both humor and tenderness, Love and Other Foreign Words is a brilliant look at life and all its struggles. The characters are endearing and their interactions both hilarious and profound. What looks like a typical teen romance novel is really a book about so much more. This is a perfect books for anyone who feels like they don’t quite fit in or just finds life a complicated struggle.

Recommended ages--13 and up

Kids of Appetite by David Arnold

The Kids of Appetite are a self-made family tied by heartache and loss. Each member has a story and together their stories will change each other and the way they look at life. But more important than the stories are the characters themselves. Baz, Zuz, Coco, Mad, and Vic are unique and real in a way that captures you and pulls you through the book. Switching between the voices of Mad and Vic, the story stops and starts and intertwines with poetic beauty.

I have trouble describing this book, because it is different from any I have ever read, but I loved it. It is a celebration of the variety of people and experiences and shows we can find “beauty in asymmetry.” As Coco says, “They lived and they laughed and they saw that it was good.” If you like quirky characters and beautiful language, this is a great book for you. (No inappropriate scenes, but the language is harsh in a few places.)

Recommended ages--14 and up