Long Way Down – Jason Reynolds

Trigger warning: Shooting, death, death of a parent **Spoiler alert** Blurb:A cannon. A strap.A piece. A biscuit.A burner. A heater.A chopper. A gat.A hammerA toolfor RULEOr, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows…

The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta

Trigger warnings for colourism, racism and homophobia. Blurb:A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen - then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing…

She Lies in Wait – Gytha Lodge – Bookrush 9

Trigger warning for rape, underage drug use and grooming. Blurb:Six friends. One killer. Whom do you trust?  On a hot July night in 1983, six school friends go camping in the forest. Bright and brilliant, they are destined for great things, and young Aurora Jackson is dazzled to be allowed to tag along.  Thirty years…

Ketchup Clouds – Annabel Pitcher – Bookrush 6

Blurb:Fifteen-year-old Zoe has a secret - a dark and terrible secret that she can't confess to anyone she knows. But then one day she hears of a criminal, Stuart Harris, locked up on death row in Texas. Like Zoe, Stuart is no stranger to secrets. Or lies. Or murder. Full of both heartache and humour,…

Cemetery Boys – Aiden Thomas

Blurb:Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him.When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost…

With The Fire on High – Elizabeth Acevedo

Trigger Warning for teenage pregnancy Blurb:Ever since she got pregnant, seventeen-year-old Emoni's life has been about making the tough decisions - doing what has to be done for her young daughter and her grandmother. Keeping her head down at school, trying not to get caught up with new boy Malachi. The one place she can…

The Girl With The Louding Voice – Abi Dare – #20booksofsummer

I listened to this as an audiobook but I'm still counting it as my 6th book of the 10BooksofSummerChallenge. Blurb:Mama say: "Your schooling is your voice, child. It will be speaking for you even if you didn't open your mouth to talk. It will be speaking till the day God is calling you come." That…

The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

Book 1 of my 10 books of summer challenge hosted by Cathy over at 746 Books. Blurb:It's Christmas time and Holden Caulfield has just been expelled from yet another school. Fleeing the crooks at Pencey Prep, he pinballs around New York City seeking solace in fleeting encounters - shooting the bull with strangers in dive…