House of Glass Hearts by Leila Siddiqui

 

Star Rating: 3

CAWPILE Score: 6.43

In this book, Maera and her mother are still struggling to adjust to the mysterious disappearance of her brother ten years earlier. Then, a day after her grandfather passes, his greenhouse appears in Maera's backyard. The book jumps back and forth between Maera in present day and her grandfather's childhood. With the help of her cousin and friends, she must figure out what has caused the greenhouse to appear.

I was not prepared for how dark this book would be. It covers an era of Indian/Pakistani history that often goes untaught in schools. As such, the horrors that characters experienced were new to me. The chapters which centered around Maera's grandfather were more interesting and engaging to me. The imagery painted a creepy picture that had goosebumps trailing up my arms at times.

Unfortunately, Maera did not feel like a very dynamic character and she made some decisions that didn't quite make sense. The ending felt rushed. I would have liked to have another fifty or one hundred pages to get to know Maera and her family better. That might have made her actions make more sense.

Though this book was not what I expected, I believe that it is valuable for young people to read because it provides a picture of an unspoken history. I would like to include it in my library because it provides a different perspective than many history textbooks do. Leila Siddiqui wrote in her author's note about how many children of immigrants, her included, are missing much of their family history. This would be a great book for parents and their children to discuss and open a dialogue about their own family history.

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Let's Talk About Down There by Dr. Jennifer Lincoln

Let's Talk About Down There: An OB-GYN Answers All Your Burning Questions…without Making You Feel Embarrassed for Asking by Jennifer Lincoln
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was able to read this as an eARC from NetGalley and enjoyed every minute! As a science teacher, I believe every teen should learn about their bodies and also the bodies of their potential partners. This book covers topics ranging from periods to contraception to when it would be a good time to see a doctor. There are great discussions about all bodies/smells/etc. being normal and what to reflect on if someone is asking you to change.

Dr. Jennifer Lincoln includes many myths and misconceptions with discussions about actual evidence and scientific studies. The writing is very clear and at the same time engaging. I especially found her sections about how young people can get on birth control if their parents aren't supportive and what to do when faced with an unintended pregnancy to be useful, sympathetic, and non-judgmental.

Finally, the inclusivity of this book is amazing. Dr. Jennifer Lincoln uses inclusive language throughout such as "people who menstruate." Even the illustrations are inclusive: there are illustrations of people with stretch marks, body hair, and different types of bodies. There is even a section discussing alternative options for people who are transgender or nonbinary and may not feel comfortable seeing an ObGyn.

Overall, I would suggest the book to any teen, parent of a teen, or anyone interested in learning more. I hope to include this book in my classroom library someday.

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