Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
This week I can't wait for:
Alex Richards
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
This timely, emotionally-resonant story about a teen girl dealing with the aftermath of a tragic shooting is a must-read from an exciting new YA talent.
Johanna has had more than enough trauma in her life. She lost her mom in a car accident, and her father went AWOL when Johanna was just a baby. At sixteen, life is steady, boring . . . maybe even stifling, since she's being raised by her grandparents who never talk about their daughter, her mother Mandy.
Then he comes back: Robert Newsome, Johanna's father, bringing memories and pictures of Mandy. But that's not all he shares. A tragic car accident didn't kill Mandy--it was Johanna, who at two years old, accidentally shot her own mother with an unsecured gun.
Now Johanna has to sort through it all--the return of her absentee father, her grandparents' lies, her part in her mother's death. But no one, neither her loyal best friends nor her sweet new boyfriend, can help her forgive them. Most of all, can she ever find a way to forgive herself?
In a searing, ultimately uplifting story, debut author Alex Richards tackles a different side of the important issue that has galvanized teens across our country.
Why I want to read this book
This is such a tragic sounding story. The synopsis has my heart aching, and I simply need to learn all the details. I feel like this could be an amazing and powerful story, if done right. I am more than willing to take the chance, and am eager to read Johanna's story.
Shannon Gibney
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab, Holiday House
Release Date: November 1, 2015, June 9, 2020
Black daughter, white father, white mother. Race, adoption, and identity collide in this award-winning #OwnVoices debut about a teen challenging the life she's always known.
Being a transracial adoptee doesn't bother sixteen-year-old Alex Kirtridge-at least, not in a way she can explain to her white family. It doesn't matter that she's biracial when she's the star of the baseball team. But when Alex is off the field, she's teased for "acting" too white and judged for looking black. And while she loves her parents, her hot-headed brother, and her free-speaking sister, they don't seem to understand what it means that Reggie, a fellow ball player, is the first black guy who's wanted to get to know her.
Things only get more complicated when she finds hidden letters from her birth father. Alex can't stop asking questions. Does she really fit in with her family? What would it be like to go to a black hairdresser? Should she contact her birth father, despite the fact that it might devastate her parents? Meanwhile, her body is changing, and Alex isn't sure she can keep up with her teammates. If she's going to find answers, Alex must come to terms with her adoption, her race, and the dreams she thought would always guide her.
Author Shannon Gibney draws from her own experiences as a transracial adoptee to deliver this honest coming-of-age novel about a girl who doesn't know where she wants to fit in.
You all know I have an affinity for sports books, and I had added this to my TBR eons ago, when I saw it at the library. I have been thinking about putting it into my reading rotation, whenever I had other sports themes books, but it never happened. Well, the other day, I was checking out Edelweiss, and there it was! It seems the book is getting re-released this year, and it seemed like a sign, that I should finally sit down and read it.
What are you waiting on?
Any backlog books you want to read soon?
Labels: bloomsbury, Can't Wait Wednesday, Carolrhoda Lab, sam, waiting on wednesday
Lindy Gomez May 13, 2020 at 5:13 AM
See No Color sounds like a book I would love too Sam! I enjoy books with sports in them, and coming of age stories are my cup of tea. It being re-released and being on Edelweiss definitely sounds like a sign. I can't wait to see what you end up thinking of it!
Samantha@WLABB May 13, 2020 at 8:28 AM
It's really good so far. I started this morning, and am about 50% through. I can really feel her struggle with not fully belonging, no matter how much her family reassures her they love her, and it makes me wonder how my own child (though no adopted, she is biracial) feels.
Lindy Gomez May 13, 2020 at 11:24 AM
I can't wait to read your review. I can see how you would feel for the character, and I love when a book makes me question things that relate to my own life that I normally wouldn't question.
Samantha@WLABB May 13, 2020 at 11:28 AM
I hope the second half is as good as the first
czai May 13, 2020 at 5:18 AM
You got me curious on See No Color. I don't think I've read many sports themed books but I've been curious to try more (particularly baseball related ones).
The main character is a girl playing on a boy's team. Her dad had a short MLB career, and was her coach. But, it's also about identity, and how she feels not white enough, not black enough. There have been some really heartbreaking parts so far, but I am enjoying it a lot.
aah, now I'm really into it. I'm adding this to my wishlist!! Thank, Sam :)
Jenea's Book Obsession May 13, 2020 at 8:36 AM
Wow, Accidental sounds heart wrenching. My heart hurts for Johanna and hope she finds some peace with it all. See No Color sounds really good and it sounds like Alex has to sort through a lot of emotions and decisions too. Great picks!
I know! I am going to prepare myself for reading Accidental. I started See No Color, and it's really good so far. Her struggle with her identity has been quite heartbreaking.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books May 13, 2020 at 9:29 AM
The premise of Accidental just makes my heart hurt for Johanna. My goodness, what a blow to be dealt. I'll be really interested to see your thoughts on this one if/when you get to it this summer.
Right? I am really curious about where the author goes with that story
Nick May 13, 2020 at 9:32 AM
I love the cover for See No Color! It's so gorgeous! And the book sounds amazing too. I'm a sucker for a good sports book.
It's the new cover, and like all covers these days, it's illustrated. The old cover wasn't terrible. I liked the young woman on the cover. Alex is fierce baseball player, playing with boys and being one the best in the state.
chucklesthescot May 13, 2020 at 10:18 AM
I really want the new Hunger Games prequel and the new Murderbot novel! I might need to get them as lockdown treats!
I bet a lot of people are eager to read the HG prequel.
Amber Elise May 13, 2020 at 12:38 PM
See No Color sounds interesting! Was it originally self-published?
Samantha@WLABB May 13, 2020 at 1:38 PM
No. It was with Learner. Maybe they feel people want more stories like this now? So far, I am really enjoying it.
Ethan May 13, 2020 at 2:46 PM
Gosh Accidental sounds like a heavy but very timely and important read. Unfortunately, this is a reality so many kids have had to come to terms with.
At first, I was thinking it would be too much, so I didn't download it, but I was drawn to the story and curious about how the author approached the subject.
Jessica @ a GREAT read May 13, 2020 at 4:02 PM
OOh nice picks! Both are new to me ones! I hope you will positively love them both once you get to read them!
Ali @ Ali's Books May 13, 2020 at 4:52 PM
Both of these sound like hard hitters! An old friend of mine's family experienced something similar to the Accidental story. I'll be curious to see if these stories come off as depressing or uplifting.
Oh, wow! So sorry to hear that.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra May 13, 2020 at 7:57 PM
Accidental sounds like one of those reads that would have me reaching for my tissues. It does sound good though. I love sports themed books too so I'll definitely be looking for your review of See No Color.
See No Color is interesting. The focus on transracial adoption is one I don't think I have seen too often in YA books, and being written by a transracial adoptee, it comes with a lot of insight and honesty. It's very good.
Angela May 13, 2020 at 9:24 PM
Whoa, that blurb on Accidental - I did not see that coming!
Same! I am so eager to see how the author does this story
Lectrice Vorace May 13, 2020 at 9:46 PM
See No Color by Shannon Gibney seems like the kind of story I'd enjoy reading!
It was really good. I wanted a bit more from the ending, but I definitely appreciated the journey
Verushka May 14, 2020 at 7:16 AM
Both of these take on such powerful, complex topics. You have such a gift for finding titles like this!
Sometimes I like to cry
Carole's Random Life in Books May 14, 2020 at 7:43 AM
These are both new to me. See No Color sounds like such a wonderful novel. I hope you enjoy both of these!
See No Color was really good. I do wish there had been more loose ends wrapped up at the end, but it was still a very compelling look at the effects on identity with respect to transracial adoption
Lisa Mandina May 15, 2020 at 5:04 PM
The second one I haven't heard of, but now that I have I'll have to look into it. Great picks!
Check out my Wednesday post
I was left a little wanting from the ending, but I really enjoyed See No Color overall
Trish @ Between My Lines May 16, 2020 at 7:59 AM
See No Colour sounds great and I love the themes that it is tackling.
It was really good. It could have been great, had there been a bit more tying up of loose ends (at least for me), but it was a very thoughtful and interesting look at transracial adoption and identity
Aj @ Read All The Things! May 16, 2020 at 11:41 AM
See No Color sounds awesome. I've read about transracial adoption and know several people who did it in real life, but I don't think I've read an Own Voices book about it. I hope you enjoy these!
Samantha@WLABB May 16, 2020 at 12:22 PM
I liked the book, a lot, and the author brought a very personal perspective to the story, which I found interesting. I needed a bit more from the ending, because, for me, there were some loose ends, but it was good.
Becky Baker May 17, 2020 at 5:17 AM
See No Colour cover instantly made me think of the TV show Pitch even though the premise is totally different. I miss that show. When I read the summary, though, it sounds really interesting it's exploration of race and identity. Wow, it has a lot going on. I hope you manage to read as I want to read your review.
You mentioned Pitch, now I want to cry. That is a cancelation I am so bitter about, but anyhow...See No Color was good. There were some loose ends I would have liked to have seen tied up, but overall, I really felt the inner battle Alex was fighting. She loved her family and felt that they loved her, but she also felt like an outsider and "other" with respect to them. She straddled being white and being black, not feeling as though she belonged to either group. It was a very interesting read, which was heartbreaking at times.
Olivia's Catastrophe May 19, 2020 at 4:29 AM
I am surprised I'd never heard of See No Colour and it is cool that it is getting a rerelease! I will await your thoughts on that one ^^
I thought the book was great. There's a lot of think of in terms of a transracial adoption, and I really appreciated what the author brought to the conversation.
Discussion: Re-Covered
Top Ten Tuesday: Oh, Mother!
#AmReading YA: Backlog Edition
Discussion: Cover Drama?
In a Nutshell Reviews: YA Edition
Top Ten Tuesday: Highly Rated
Discussions: The Thing About Endings
Top Ten Tuesday: Celebrating Asian Pacific America...
#AmReading YA: The Sequel Edition
Discussion: How Long is This?
Blog Tour: The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sw...
Top Ten Tuesday: Waiting and Winning!
Blog Tour: War and Speech - Don Zolidis
Blog Tour: What I Like About You - Marisa Kantor