WE ARE NOT FROM HERE by Jenny Torres Sanchez

by TPS reader luthera25

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez gives light to the difficult journey immigrants have to make when trying to get into the American safe haven. This story is told from the perspective of three Guatemalan teens that are going to make the perilous journey north. These teens are Pequeña, Pulga, and Chico. The barrios that Pulga, Pequeña, and Chico live in are very dangerous, and they hear stories about people like them leaving the Barrios and taking a dangerous route called La Bestia. La Bestia consists of a dangerous train system they must take to reach the border. Pulga and Chico, who are best friends brought together by violence, witness a horrific event and decide they must travel to America even if it means leaving their families behind. While Pequeña gives birth to a baby she doesn’t want and is filled with hatred toward the father, Pequeña also decides to go north with Pulga and Chico. During their journey to America, they face tragedy and loss, but they are still determined to find a better future. 

Jenny Torres Sanchez did an excellent job of giving the reader perspective on the life of immigrants in this beautiful and tragic story. While reading I felt the fear that Chico felt, the sadness that Pulga felt, and the powerful determination that Pequeña had. Go into the world of Chico, Pulga, and Pequeña and feel the sadness, fear, and determination these three teens face during the dangerous route on La Bestia.

IT’S MY LIFE by Stacie Ramey

by TPS reader zhenga22

It’s My Life by Stacie Ramey revolves around Jenna Cohen, a high school girl who suffers from cerebral palsy ever since her birth. Despite this, she tries to maintain a normal way of living; that is, until she finds out that her condition was accidental. Knowing that she was not supposed to have cerebral palsy, Jenna rethought everything she has done up until this point. She constantly fantasizes about what her life would have been like without cerebral palsy affecting her daily. Moreover, her parents have always made medical decisions for her, leaving Jenna feeling as if she has almost no control over her own life. The story becomes more interesting when Jenna’s childhood crush, Julian Van Beck, moves back to town and into her high school. When Jenna decides to anonymously help him with schoolwork, she realizes she must eventually reveal herself to him. The only drawback is that Jenna feels self-conscious about her condition.

Ramey provides a good portrayal of a person living with cerebral palsy and details the difficulty that person experiences every day. I found myself surprised at how many obstacles someone with cerebral palsy may encounter. However, Ramey adds in a bit of romance to move the story along. This romance, for me personally, is what kept me motivated to turn each and every page. Throughout the book, Ramey reveals Jenna’s internal struggles as she tries to find control for her own life as well as striving for a relationship with Julian. Ultimately, Ramey gives the message that who you are on the inside is more important/valued than what your external shows.

The BEHOLDER by Anna Bright

by TPS reader mitchelle25

The Beholder  by Anna Bright was an exciting adventure that had me glued to the page every chapter. The novel reminded me of the Selection series because of how each “match” taught Selah a vital lesson, which helped her grow to be a great future ruler. Selah is a very timid girl at the beginning of the novel, but after she learns so much from her suitors, she grows to be a great leader for the Potomac. I enjoyed the references to fairy tales like how Selah’s step mother was seen as the “evil stepmother” like in Cinderella. I also really enjoyed the parts of fairy tales at the beginning of each chapter. They are written in their original language and then translated beneath it. This adds more context to Selah’s background of folklore. My only issue with the book was that it wasn’t constituent with the timeline. It seemed that each country Selah travelled to was set in a different time period. While England seemed to be in the middle ages, other places seemed to be farther ahead in time. I think overall the book would have been easier to understand if there was a map to give the reader information on where Selah would be travelling to meet her next suitor. I also thought that Selah would be meeting most of her suitors, but we only happened to be introduced to two. I assume that we will meet the rest of them in the rest of the series. I am looking forward to diving into the second book very soon!