People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins 448 pages

I have never read a book by Ellen Hopkins before. I found this one interesting. The story is told in verse and narrative. The narrative follows six teens living in Tuscon, Arizona. Each teen has a different idea on gun control and immigration. In the span of a week, all of their lives are changed. Someone will shot a gun and someone will be shot. Who will it be?

See, the absolute truth is people do kill people. A gun just makes it easier. 

I received an Advance Reader's Copy thanks to NetGalley. 

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks 216 pages

Ravi has just moved to the US from India.  In India, he was a bit of a star at his school.  He was an exceptional student and gifted athlete.  He has high expectations for how brightly he will shine in his new school.  However, his teacher can't understand him.  And his classmates laugh at him.  He is still confident that all he really needs is a friend.  He's sure that the coolest kid in class, also Indian, but born in America, will see his worth and everything will be fine.  Unfortunately, there's more to the cool kid than first meets the eye.

Joe has gone to the same school since Kindergarten.  For most of that, he's been pretty miserable.  He has been picked on and struggled with a learning/hearing difference.  Fifth grade is looking even less promising than any other now that his mother has taken a job as lunch monitor.  As if this wasn't all bad enough, his only two friends moved away.  The coolest kid in class finds delight in tormenting Joe.

This story spans just the first week of school for these two boys.  If they recognize they have a common enemy and learn to appreciate one another, it might work out.

This was such an amazing story.  I loved the two main characters and really enjoyed listening to it on audiobook.  Chapters alternated between the two boys' perspectives and handled both of them wonderfully.  I highly recommend this for anyone who likes real life stories.

The Secret Side of Empty by Maria E. Andreu 330 pages

This is a YA novel.  M. T. goes to a private girls school.  She has perfect grades, loyal friends and a budding romance.  So what could possibly be wrong?  She is illegal.  Although she is light skinned, she is Argentinian.  Her father cannot find a good job so he has 2 jobs waiting tables.  Her mother speaks little English and cannot work.  They have her in private school because she did not have the proper paperwork to get into public school and the nuns decided to look the other way so M. T. could get an education.  That is all well and good, until senior year.  Her friends are getting their drivers licenses, not M. T.  Her friends are looking at colleges, not M. T. Add to that the fact that they are dirt poor and her father beats her, it is no wonder M. T. becomes depressed.  Her grades slide, and she just wants to crawl under the covers and not come out.  Finally, she can take it no more and when she finally fears her father enough, she seeks the help she needs. 
A very thought provoking novel.  Especially since the author had first hand knowledge of what it means to be undocumented.