3 Must-Read YA Books
I just finished Heartbroken, and honestly, I’m never going to look at the Queen of Hearts the same way again. It was such a wild ride seeing her go from a girl just trying to survive the total chaos of Wonderland to the "Off with their heads!" villain we all know. You really get to see the side of why she became so mean. It’s definitely got those Wonderland vibes, but it’s also emotional, I actually felt bad for her! If you like stories that show why the "bad guy" ended up that way, you 100% need to read this.
All That Chandni Knows is written in verse, which I usually find a bit intimidating, but it actually made the whole story feel way more personal and intense. Set in India in 1999, it follows Chandni, who is trying to balance her big dreams of boarding school and a crush on a boy named Rohan, all while carrying this heavy family secret that she’s not supposed to know. Seeing her world start to crack while she tries to keep everything "perfect" was honestly heartbreaking. I found it to be a super quick read because of the poetry style, but the emotions are huge, it’s all about family drama, finding your own voice, and realizing that sometimes the people you look up to are just as messy as anyone else.
We Can Be Brave: How We Learn to Be Brave in Life's Decisive Moments
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I just finished We Can Be Brave and Decisive, and I found it to be a great guide for those moments when you’re feeling stuck. Instead of just telling you to "be brave" (which is way harder than it sounds), Bishop Mariann Budde breaks down how bravery is actually a skill you can learn. I loved how they used stories we actually know and real-life heroes like MLK Jr. to show that being brave isn't always about a giant, heroic movie moment; sometimes it's just the small choice to stand up to a bully or stay true to yourself when things get messy. It’s relatable and it really helped me to find the tools to handle tough decisions. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not brave, this book is a great pep talk.