Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday Weekend Picks for 2021
This is the new page for 2021
This year will have some exciting additions. I won't be picking books every month. Instead, we will be getting a variety of reading picks from a host of guest contributors. I will take January, but after that you can look forward to hearing from Morgan Jackson, Gretchen Rumohr, Lisa Scherff, Emily Pendergrass, Katie Sluiter, Sean Kottke, Trista Owczarzak and couple more surprises.
Are you looking for something to read?
Pick one of these great books!
Are your students always looking for book recommendations?
Send them to browse through the picks for this or those from other years listed below.
Pick one of these great books!
Are your students always looking for book recommendations?
Send them to browse through the picks for this or those from other years listed below.
For the picks from 2020 click here.
For older picks click from 2019 click here.
For the even older picks click here.
For older picks click from 2019 click here.
For the even older picks click here.
Scroll down below the picture for some great selections.
The newest picks will always be at the top.
Weekend Picks for January 2021 by Steve Bickmore (with some help)
Weekend Pick for Jan. 15, 2021 by Steve Bickmore
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Since the Thanksgiving break I am been giving myself reading room to roam. As someone who thinks about YA literature for a living. I am often compelled to be on the look out for the newest release, the book that is getting all of the buzz, or the novel that is just right to add to a class syllabus. When you allow yourself to wander, to reorganize your "to be read" list, or to renew older interests you just might find a gem or two. Over the last six weeks, I have found a few.
One of these gems is The Disenchantments. As some might remember, one of my thematic side interests within the world of YA literature is the music. I love books that highlight music. This can be in a variety of ways. One example is books that use music as a motif to push the theme or set the mood. I think Kiely's The Last True Love Story or Rowell's Eleanor and Park are good examples. Another category is the book about the band. A couple of my top choices for this category are Portman's King Dork and Emerson's Breakout. The Disenchantments set my heart soaring. I love the idea of kids grabbing an instrument and working to figuring it out. The raw passion it must take to gather some friends (or fellow impassioned explorers) and practice in the basement, the craved out extra space in a parent's warehouse or proverbial the garage until you can shout our Gloria, Smells Like Teen Spirit, or Satisfaction was beyond my courage factor. I always had a soft spot for the kids with drumsticks in his back pocket and very little interest in what was going on in my high school English class.
With in The Disenchantments Nina LaCour gets it right in many ways. Join Colby and Bev as they redefine what it means to be bandmates, friends, and to pursue individual and collective dreams. Do yourself a favor and join them as they tour with the band, chase down the meaning of old tattoos, and redefine friendship. I'll just bet you will get the urge to listen to some old records, to call an old friend, or dust off an old instrument to see if you are ready for a new adventure--or to rekindle an old dream.
Since the Thanksgiving break I am been giving myself reading room to roam. As someone who thinks about YA literature for a living. I am often compelled to be on the look out for the newest release, the book that is getting all of the buzz, or the novel that is just right to add to a class syllabus. When you allow yourself to wander, to reorganize your "to be read" list, or to renew older interests you just might find a gem or two. Over the last six weeks, I have found a few.
One of these gems is The Disenchantments. As some might remember, one of my thematic side interests within the world of YA literature is the music. I love books that highlight music. This can be in a variety of ways. One example is books that use music as a motif to push the theme or set the mood. I think Kiely's The Last True Love Story or Rowell's Eleanor and Park are good examples. Another category is the book about the band. A couple of my top choices for this category are Portman's King Dork and Emerson's Breakout. The Disenchantments set my heart soaring. I love the idea of kids grabbing an instrument and working to figuring it out. The raw passion it must take to gather some friends (or fellow impassioned explorers) and practice in the basement, the craved out extra space in a parent's warehouse or proverbial the garage until you can shout our Gloria, Smells Like Teen Spirit, or Satisfaction was beyond my courage factor. I always had a soft spot for the kids with drumsticks in his back pocket and very little interest in what was going on in my high school English class.
With in The Disenchantments Nina LaCour gets it right in many ways. Join Colby and Bev as they redefine what it means to be bandmates, friends, and to pursue individual and collective dreams. Do yourself a favor and join them as they tour with the band, chase down the meaning of old tattoos, and redefine friendship. I'll just bet you will get the urge to listen to some old records, to call an old friend, or dust off an old instrument to see if you are ready for a new adventure--or to rekindle an old dream.
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Weekend Pick for Jan. 8, 2021 by Susan James
Admission: A Novel by Julie Buxbaum
As my guest blogging comes to a close, I wanted to select the perfect Weekend Pick. I thought about continuing to share some of my favorite middle grades selections but was quickly inspired to include Julie Buxbaum’s YA book, Admission, for some seriously well-founded reasons. First, who doesn’t love Julie Buxbaum? This adorable little spitfire has such voice in her writing. What to Say Next is one of my all-time favorite YA books. Quite frankly, all of her books are worthy of praise! But what really directed my pick for this week was the sad loss of my dear Mother. My mom was the person who fostered my love of reading, and not only would she have loved Admission, she would have loved Julie Buxbaum! Julie has the type of personality my Momma loved, and this book is one that Mom would have enjoyed reading and discussing for hours. Finally, for those out there with young adults, I remind you of my passion of encouraging parents to read 20 minutes each night with your youth (yes, middle and high school students LOVE this) and then having a short 20-minute discussion about what was read. This past year, I initiated the Commit-2-Connect 2020 Challenge, and I hope those who participated will take it into 2021. The discussions I have had with my daughter and her friends surrounding YA Literature are some of the best (and most important) I have ever had, and Admission is the PERFECT book for parents and their kiddos to read together. Trust me, you won’t want to pass up the opportunity of sharing this book with all the young adults in your life!
Admission introduces us to Chloe Wynn Berringer, the child of B-List Hollywood star Joy Fields-- a mom Chloe tells us can “weep on demand” and tends to be “a little dramatic.” So, when the FBI shows up toting guns and demanding Chloe open the door, Chloe thinks it is a joke. And when Chloe later sees the headlines that read “JOY FIELDS, SITCOM STAR, ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FRAUD CHARGES IN COUNTRYWIDE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDA,L” Chloe tells us this is the moment she knows it is all her own fault. Afterall, Chloe’s mom has had nothing on her mind but wanting Chloe to attend South California College (SCC), a highly sought-after institute, and Chloe connects the dots between her once low scores and the sudden unimaginable increase of her latest SAT results.
This is only the beginning, as Admission is told in a nonlinear narrative that shows Chloe’s perfect life before the arrest and the challenges of her family after said arrest. Heck, Chloe’s life is so perfect before the scandal that when she ponders how to respond to the common college admissions essay prompt about the adversities she has faced, what inspires her, or what interests she has outside of school, the only thought that comes to mind is the handsome and intelligent “Levi Haas” and her interest in kissing him. Levi, her once hands-off friend who is certainly headed to Harvard, has left the friends’ zone and is showing her nothing but love.
That is…. until the news of her mother’s arrest is released. With this news, Chloe is dumped by Levi through text, which is at least one step up from her “ride or die” best friend Shola’s reaction-- radio silence. Now, all Chloe is left with is her thoughts and the distinct realization that the themes from her assigned reading in Mrs. Pollack’s English class of the classic book Crime and Punishment (which Chloe “read” via Sparknotes) are suddenly relevant to her crumbling world. This leaves her pondering past discussions with Shola, one of which included Shola firmly reminding Chloe of Chloe’s privilege and how whining about it was the “height of entitlement.” Chloe insinuates that Shola has an advantage for being Nigerian American when in reality Shola has an SAT score and list of accomplishments that would easily land her at Harvard’s doors, if only she could secure financial aid.
Although Chloe studies non-stop for the SAT, her Mom provides the extra “support” by enlisting help from Dr. Wilson, a college counselor that is easily accessible to Chloe, as her parents have the money. Chloe finds this college counselor’s visit to be over the top (especially her parents flying him first class from New York and arranging for his stay at the Four Seasons), but she goes with the flow because her parents’ dreams of her attending Southern California College (SCC) seem to mean everything to them. And, quite honestly, Chloe would love to keep up with her peers and attend SCC but is feeling less than smart enough to accomplish this. Her parents’ investment seems to be worthwhile, when Chloe receives that increase in score by 240 points. Yet, she can’t shake the feeling she had when she took the test and guessed on many of her answers. Should all of these feelings and “noticings” have added up for Chloe? And if she was subconsciously aware of what was going on, does that make her complicit?
This book kept me on the edge of my seat during a rough time in my life, which speaks volumes of Buxbaum’s writing. I kept thinking about what amazing discussions can be had with this book. First, Julie Buxbaum does a great job reminding us of the people behind the scandal. One of the most important reasons for reading is to be able to place ourselves in the shoes of others, and Julie successfully allows readers to do so. Oftentimes when headlines signal a scandal (usually typed in BOLD print on page 1), we envision monsters instead of real people. Chloe’s family is close and loving, but they are not perfect (who is?). It leads readers to discuss the appropriate/inappropriate level of help students should be given and why parents would go to the lengths that Chloe’s parents do in order to ensure their children’s entrance into college. Buxbaum’s book also allows for discussion about how Chloe’s younger sister suffers due to the decisions her mother made, as well as Chloe’s possible role in the scandal. The cause-and-effect impact on relationships (both familial and peer) is well developed by Buxbaum, and I can see my students wanting to dissect this topic (or in the words of the novel’s English teacher, Mrs. Pollack, “unpack” this theme). But most of all, I loved how Chloe was able to self-reflect and grow from her experience. She shares her realization that money cannot buy everything, and it especially does not buy courage. The characters in Buxbaum’s novel teach us (yes, parents, too) strong lessons and allow for deep thought about topics that are not easy to discuss-- a true win for our young adults, parents, and educators!
This review is written in honor of my dear Mother, Margaret Densmore James, a woman who inspired my passion for reading and my incessant talking about books. My Mom never met a stranger, which probably is why I inherited the courage to meet the author, Julie Buxbaum, in the woman’s bathroom at the Teen Texas Book Festival. In the spirit of my Mom, I did not pass up the opportunity to meet one of my favorite authors, despite poor Ms. Buxbaum probably feeling she needed to call security. Thanks, Mom!
As my guest blogging comes to a close, I wanted to select the perfect Weekend Pick. I thought about continuing to share some of my favorite middle grades selections but was quickly inspired to include Julie Buxbaum’s YA book, Admission, for some seriously well-founded reasons. First, who doesn’t love Julie Buxbaum? This adorable little spitfire has such voice in her writing. What to Say Next is one of my all-time favorite YA books. Quite frankly, all of her books are worthy of praise! But what really directed my pick for this week was the sad loss of my dear Mother. My mom was the person who fostered my love of reading, and not only would she have loved Admission, she would have loved Julie Buxbaum! Julie has the type of personality my Momma loved, and this book is one that Mom would have enjoyed reading and discussing for hours. Finally, for those out there with young adults, I remind you of my passion of encouraging parents to read 20 minutes each night with your youth (yes, middle and high school students LOVE this) and then having a short 20-minute discussion about what was read. This past year, I initiated the Commit-2-Connect 2020 Challenge, and I hope those who participated will take it into 2021. The discussions I have had with my daughter and her friends surrounding YA Literature are some of the best (and most important) I have ever had, and Admission is the PERFECT book for parents and their kiddos to read together. Trust me, you won’t want to pass up the opportunity of sharing this book with all the young adults in your life!
Admission introduces us to Chloe Wynn Berringer, the child of B-List Hollywood star Joy Fields-- a mom Chloe tells us can “weep on demand” and tends to be “a little dramatic.” So, when the FBI shows up toting guns and demanding Chloe open the door, Chloe thinks it is a joke. And when Chloe later sees the headlines that read “JOY FIELDS, SITCOM STAR, ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FRAUD CHARGES IN COUNTRYWIDE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDA,L” Chloe tells us this is the moment she knows it is all her own fault. Afterall, Chloe’s mom has had nothing on her mind but wanting Chloe to attend South California College (SCC), a highly sought-after institute, and Chloe connects the dots between her once low scores and the sudden unimaginable increase of her latest SAT results.
This is only the beginning, as Admission is told in a nonlinear narrative that shows Chloe’s perfect life before the arrest and the challenges of her family after said arrest. Heck, Chloe’s life is so perfect before the scandal that when she ponders how to respond to the common college admissions essay prompt about the adversities she has faced, what inspires her, or what interests she has outside of school, the only thought that comes to mind is the handsome and intelligent “Levi Haas” and her interest in kissing him. Levi, her once hands-off friend who is certainly headed to Harvard, has left the friends’ zone and is showing her nothing but love.
That is…. until the news of her mother’s arrest is released. With this news, Chloe is dumped by Levi through text, which is at least one step up from her “ride or die” best friend Shola’s reaction-- radio silence. Now, all Chloe is left with is her thoughts and the distinct realization that the themes from her assigned reading in Mrs. Pollack’s English class of the classic book Crime and Punishment (which Chloe “read” via Sparknotes) are suddenly relevant to her crumbling world. This leaves her pondering past discussions with Shola, one of which included Shola firmly reminding Chloe of Chloe’s privilege and how whining about it was the “height of entitlement.” Chloe insinuates that Shola has an advantage for being Nigerian American when in reality Shola has an SAT score and list of accomplishments that would easily land her at Harvard’s doors, if only she could secure financial aid.
Although Chloe studies non-stop for the SAT, her Mom provides the extra “support” by enlisting help from Dr. Wilson, a college counselor that is easily accessible to Chloe, as her parents have the money. Chloe finds this college counselor’s visit to be over the top (especially her parents flying him first class from New York and arranging for his stay at the Four Seasons), but she goes with the flow because her parents’ dreams of her attending Southern California College (SCC) seem to mean everything to them. And, quite honestly, Chloe would love to keep up with her peers and attend SCC but is feeling less than smart enough to accomplish this. Her parents’ investment seems to be worthwhile, when Chloe receives that increase in score by 240 points. Yet, she can’t shake the feeling she had when she took the test and guessed on many of her answers. Should all of these feelings and “noticings” have added up for Chloe? And if she was subconsciously aware of what was going on, does that make her complicit?
This book kept me on the edge of my seat during a rough time in my life, which speaks volumes of Buxbaum’s writing. I kept thinking about what amazing discussions can be had with this book. First, Julie Buxbaum does a great job reminding us of the people behind the scandal. One of the most important reasons for reading is to be able to place ourselves in the shoes of others, and Julie successfully allows readers to do so. Oftentimes when headlines signal a scandal (usually typed in BOLD print on page 1), we envision monsters instead of real people. Chloe’s family is close and loving, but they are not perfect (who is?). It leads readers to discuss the appropriate/inappropriate level of help students should be given and why parents would go to the lengths that Chloe’s parents do in order to ensure their children’s entrance into college. Buxbaum’s book also allows for discussion about how Chloe’s younger sister suffers due to the decisions her mother made, as well as Chloe’s possible role in the scandal. The cause-and-effect impact on relationships (both familial and peer) is well developed by Buxbaum, and I can see my students wanting to dissect this topic (or in the words of the novel’s English teacher, Mrs. Pollack, “unpack” this theme). But most of all, I loved how Chloe was able to self-reflect and grow from her experience. She shares her realization that money cannot buy everything, and it especially does not buy courage. The characters in Buxbaum’s novel teach us (yes, parents, too) strong lessons and allow for deep thought about topics that are not easy to discuss-- a true win for our young adults, parents, and educators!
This review is written in honor of my dear Mother, Margaret Densmore James, a woman who inspired my passion for reading and my incessant talking about books. My Mom never met a stranger, which probably is why I inherited the courage to meet the author, Julie Buxbaum, in the woman’s bathroom at the Teen Texas Book Festival. In the spirit of my Mom, I did not pass up the opportunity to meet one of my favorite authors, despite poor Ms. Buxbaum probably feeling she needed to call security. Thanks, Mom!
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Weekend Pick for Jan. 1, 2021
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson.
Yesterday, I listed Grown as one of Bick's Picks for 2020. I finished the book about three weeks ago and I knew it would be a weekend pick and a pick for 2020. To say, that I was stunned by this book is an understatement. It was one of those books that compels you to keep reading. It is hard to decide to even find a stopping point. Each chapter leaves you wanting to continue.
I have grown daughters and I a bit terrified that I really don't know much about their temptations and the challenges they faced to reach adulthood. I know now that we still need some conversations. Growing up for adolescents in any circumstance is not easy, but if you are surrounded by predators the odds become even more challenging.
Tiffany D. Jackson is a commanding author. Currently, with four tremendous novels under her belt, it is hard to imagine that she hasn't been writing and influencing YA fiction for a couple of decades. Yet, her first novel, Allegedly, was published in April 2018. It was followed in April of 2019 by Monday's Not Coming and, then, in May of 2020 Let Me Hear a Rhyme hit the shelves. The first three were roughly a year apart, but this fourth hit the shelves on Sept. of 2020. Tiffany is definitely on my radar. I was thrilled to have her as an individual speaker at the ALAN Workshop in 2019, when I was the president. I would love to host her at UNLV Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult literature. I will keep working on that dream.
Tiffany's novels are both realistic and gritty. They are surrounded by mystery and uncertainty, in other words, they are right up my alley. I am not sure why I waited so long to read this wonderful book. My advice, don't wait, read this book as soon as possible. It is one of the few books that caused me to pause. I finished reading the book and after I closed it and continued sitting in my chair. In actuality, I was quietly rereading the novel and trying to wrap my mind around this fantastic narrative.
Yesterday, I listed Grown as one of Bick's Picks for 2020. I finished the book about three weeks ago and I knew it would be a weekend pick and a pick for 2020. To say, that I was stunned by this book is an understatement. It was one of those books that compels you to keep reading. It is hard to decide to even find a stopping point. Each chapter leaves you wanting to continue.
I have grown daughters and I a bit terrified that I really don't know much about their temptations and the challenges they faced to reach adulthood. I know now that we still need some conversations. Growing up for adolescents in any circumstance is not easy, but if you are surrounded by predators the odds become even more challenging.
Tiffany D. Jackson is a commanding author. Currently, with four tremendous novels under her belt, it is hard to imagine that she hasn't been writing and influencing YA fiction for a couple of decades. Yet, her first novel, Allegedly, was published in April 2018. It was followed in April of 2019 by Monday's Not Coming and, then, in May of 2020 Let Me Hear a Rhyme hit the shelves. The first three were roughly a year apart, but this fourth hit the shelves on Sept. of 2020. Tiffany is definitely on my radar. I was thrilled to have her as an individual speaker at the ALAN Workshop in 2019, when I was the president. I would love to host her at UNLV Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult literature. I will keep working on that dream.
Tiffany's novels are both realistic and gritty. They are surrounded by mystery and uncertainty, in other words, they are right up my alley. I am not sure why I waited so long to read this wonderful book. My advice, don't wait, read this book as soon as possible. It is one of the few books that caused me to pause. I finished reading the book and after I closed it and continued sitting in my chair. In actuality, I was quietly rereading the novel and trying to wrap my mind around this fantastic narrative.
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