By Kara H. L. Chen 

Quill Tree Books, 2023. 339 pages. Young Adult 

Starting at a new school and having to stand up to infamous --and racist-- it-girl Mitzi Clarke, 17-year-old Taiwanese American Teen Olivia Chang joins forces with a secret society of students to end Mitzi's reign of terror and their school's toxic bullying culture. 

I Love Olivia as a character. She’s got a lot going on under the surface, but wants to blend into the background and not draw attention to herself. Relatable. I love that a group of self-proclaimed nerds takes her under their wing when she ends up in the cross hairs of the popular crowd. It really highlights how important a supportive and caring friend group is. There are a lot of heart-felt moments in this book as it blends romance, humor, and social issues, with varying degrees of success. That said, I really did enjoy it. If you enjoyed the movie Mean Girls, this is an easy recommendation. 

We Deserve Monuments 

By Jas Hammonds 

Roaring Brook Press, 2022. 375 pages. Young Adult 

When 17-year-old Avery moves to rural Georgia to live with her ailing grandmother, she encounters decade-old family secrets and a mystery surrounding the town's racist past. 

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass 

By Meg Medina 

Candlewick Press, 2013. 260 pages. Young Adult 

Informed that a bully she does not know is determined to beat her up, Latin American teen Piddy Sanchez struggles to learn more about the father she has never met, until the bully's gang forces her to confront more difficult challenges. 

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