The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Xiomara is a young girl who lives in a religious house judged by her fierce mother. Hating her home life for them being forced into prayer and having their parents beliefs forced as their own, she struggles to hide her growing relationship with Aman who she falls for and starts to explore her feelings more fully.

Meanwhile her twin she calls simply, Twin, is gay and she helps him as she sees him with his crush or boyfriend and hides the matter from their would disapprove parents.

As Xiomara partakes in writing poetry she ends becoming involved in slam poetry despite everything she goes through she rises likes phoenix quite literally you will see...

Acevedo makes a fantastic debut. It's obvious she's a passionate poet both her and Xiomara I never enjoy religion mentioned in books not being religious myself but it was fine in this a lot but key to the story as it plays out. It was moving and compelling reading I can't wait to see what Elizabeth writes next!

Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga

Jude lives in her war torn city with her family, her brother Issa believes and fights to campaign for peace despite their father, their Baba being against it as Issa gets involved in fighting back.

As her and her mum must flee after Issa joins the fighters and her Baba refuses to leave his store life takes a huge change.

Arriving in America to her uncle and his wife and daughter Sarah who are all Americans and speak perfect English unlike them who have to learn. Her cousin Fatima doesn't write for a start making her feel more alone than ever away from everything she ever knew.

in American she becomes a woman starting her period and wearing a hijab as well as getting her first crush and gets to perform at her new school while her cousin seems uninterested in including her in anything.

From making new friends, joining school and discovering drama as well as a new baby sister, tension in family with Issa and Baba this book kept on giving drama which made this a thrilling read and a great one to show how hard it can be to be a muslim girl and cope with such a hard lot stacked against her. I liked the way the verse flowed and it suited this book to be written this way.

Planet Omar Book 1: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian

Omar and his family have just moved to a new house. There they have a new grumpy old neighbour and are the only Muslims in the area.

As Omar joins a new school he goes through the motions of being nervous to finding a friend in Charlie but also a bully in Daniel.

Though as his neighbour falls ill, the family celebrate Eid and a trip to London for school goes awry, drama mounts up but it may be for the better overall!

The book focuses on showing how a Muslim family lives their day to day life and how they can face prejudice and try to make people more tolerant of their beliefs and how they are just like us apart from they have to say their prayers multiple times a day really! It highlights the importance of Mali friends and not judging someone even bullies can change and aren't always big and scary and great debut I can't wait for more in Omar's series!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

What Lexie Did by Emma Shevah

Lexie and Eleni are as close as twins, growing up together after spending their lives literally by each others sides as Lexie helped Eleni stay alive after she had to have many operations on her heart as a young baby.

Now, their huge Greek family is divided after a lie and secrets hidden from the family by Lexie. Also missing Eleni as she becomes best friends with new girl Anastasia Lexus feels left out and a bit lonely.

As she tries to get her mum talking to her sister and her family again to reunite the two halves of their huge family once again, she comes to realise how different life could've been growing up but more importantly that the truth is always best and lying is the worst thing ever not to mention how her grandma and God would feel watching her lie to everyone...

A family divided by a lie this book shows how harmful lies can be and the impact they have on all those effected not just the one person telling the lie. We see how friendships can be changed and how death can cause people to react differently. It's an emotional and honest book sure to win your heart.

Paper Chains by Elaine Vickers

Katie and Ana are best friends with secrets.

Both girls may be of Russian decent but Katie hides the fact she's adopted and has had a heart transplant whilst Ana hates the fact her dad had left her family and her mum is a shell of her former self leaving her kids to rely on each other.

Throughout the book we see how family can be many forms as well as how secrets can be revealed at the best of times to help a situation and just how dangerous life can be too. The title was really interesting and the reference we discover early on is the idea Katie's family use in the lead up to Hannuka as they right on them things they're thankful for. It was full of thoughtful moments and empathetic meaningful moments too as the girls struggles show how harsh the realities of their issues are to them.

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

In this book Maya is an aspiring filmmaker and dreams of attending NYU but her traditional Muslim Indian parents don't approve. They dream of her marrying and staying at home and being a good girl as they dream.

However, after her dream seems within reach, an act of terrorism causes more violence in her life and not just to the public as she and her family face physical and verbal abuse.

She also has to battle with a crush on Phil she's harboured for years but as the pair grow closer and closer, things escalate till the future seems too hazy to hope for together...

The book looks at the future of a hopeful student but as she goes against all her strict parents wishes whilst she experiences love but also a terrorist attack that directly affects her life and unfortunately this is all too true an occurrence. It was a real book with deep issues that many people can relate to.

Donut Days by Lara Zielin

Emma's parents are both pastors who have raised her and her seven year old little sister Lizzie as devout Christians her ex best friend Nat was supposed to go off to Crispy Dream Donut camp with her not become best mates with Molly whose dad causes trouble for her parents church as he believes men rule and have more power over women.

She broke Jakes heart but asks him to meet up with her after she finds out her parents will hold back her college fund unless she goes to a Christian college else she has to fund it someway.

Emma meets Bear and Anita at the camp and becomes friends with them meanwhile later Jake says he loves her throwing her off after what happened between them previously. We do learn why Nat isn't friends with Emma currently and we learn that Carson caused the fall out.

It is very religion/Christianity heavy and wasn't my normal choice of book but if you are into religious fiction with a minor love theme then you should enjoy it.

Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley

Set within a Christian camp get together, Lori and Aki set each other the task of having a summer fling.

However, love is never easy and Christian Aki has a big secret to hide about her sexuality, she's bisexual and out to no one. Yet when she meets Christa, her world changes into secret get together and sneaking around, even though a photo circulates briefly of her and Christa and the pressures of keeping their connection secret threatens to be exposed.

Aki and Lori also have a difference of views and do fall out once but make it up after Lori admits what she did was wrong about her and a camp councillor, who's married too and shows the friendship bond in all it's strength and glory.

We learn how much issues matter to Christian groups as well as we see a very serious debate take place about relevant topics to today's society and how they try to do their bit to help make a change in the world to be more accepting and tolerable.

One of the best things about this book is the way it portrays coming out for the first time and having gay sex, an issue not talked about in any teen book I've read before and it's eye opening to see the way it's talked about openly which is a much positive thing to accepting others and involving everyone in being educated to create more understanding. I loved this book and believe the frankness and openness of the language is key and engaging, an essential read of the LGBTQIA fiction for teens out there!

Definitions Of Indefinable Things by Whitney Taylor

A chemist's is never usually exciting, but these two characters spark up talking to each other after both realising they have similar medications, for clinical depression.

Reggie, real name Regina, lives with her religious mum and her dad who goes with what her mum says. Her mum doesn't seem to understand fully the concept of Reggie's depression which we learn is down to two close people in her life leaving her.

Snake, a young guy who's so relaxed about every situation normally isn't now in the best situation at all. He's just met Reggie and yet his ex girlfriend Clara and school queen bee is seven months pregnant with his baby and yet it was down to a drunken accident and not a loving relationship unlike he feels for Reggie.

I loved the way that Reggie and Snake interacted by using teasing insults towards each other and because they both have an alternative style and different family make up's. I liked the fact that having two mum's was brought up as so far this is their first book I have read with this particular part of the storyline. I also appreciated that in this teen pregnancy story, the teens aren't breaking down or arguing but are accepting of the situation they have been dealt with. It was a refreshing and yet humorous read which made me want to keep on reading.

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book!