If you read one book this summer...

If you read one book this summer, make it The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.  It has received praise from all corners of the YA world. There are also a movie in development and Amandla Stenberg (of the Hunger Games) will be the lead.

Some runners-up of if you read one book this summer (by genre).

Science-fiction: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Historical fiction- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Fantasy- Red Queen series (The third book King's Cage was released recently!) by Victoria Aveyard

Mystery- I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Romance- The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Non-fiction- Alexander Hamilton: The Making of America by Teri Kanefield

Sports- Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Realistic- Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick

For advanced readers- Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Middle grade- Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Pick of the Week- Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

is Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle. This sequel to Better Nate Than Ever bring Nate back to Broadway. This time he is cast in the fictional musical E.T. While he initially thinks this is his dream come true, reality sets in as he has to navigate the complex theater world. Despite behind the scenes drama, Nate's biggest worry is solving the mystery of his secret crush. Like the first book, this is great pick for students who love the theater and stories about pursuing your dreams.

June is LGBT Pride Month

-Lin-Manuel Miranda

Since the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, commemorations of the event were celebrated in cities across the United States. The riots began in protest of the arrest and harassment of LGBT people at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The earliest anniversaries had political messages around changing laws and ending discrimination. More recently, Pride celebrations have been organized to show there is no shame in being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. In 2000, President Bill Clinton declared the first national Gay and Lesbian Pride month.

This year, political issues are again central to Pride month. In Chechnya (a region of the Russian Federation), LGBT people are being targeted for arrest and torture. In Uganda and other countries around the world where homosexuality is punishable by death. The United States, state legislatures in North Carolina, Texas, and other states passed laws restricting transgender people's access to public restrooms.

There are many people who are trying to resist these legal pressures, to find out more check out these resources below:
On Chechnya: https://www.theguardian.com/world/chechnya

Keko, an openly gay rapper from Uganda, talks about being an openly gay public figure in Uganda. https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-05-22/ugandan-rapper-keko-gets-real-about-her-music-her-sobriety-and-her-sexuality

Transgender bathroom bills: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/health/transgender-bathroom-law-facts-myths/

There are many ways to show your pride and support the LGBT community. Stay informed and educated on the issues facing this marginalized community.