#teen read

One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

Happi Smith and her family are devastated after the tragic death of her sister, Kezi, who died in police custody after being arrested at a social justice rally. To celebrate Kezi’s birthday, Happi and her sister Genny take a road trip with Kezi’s friend, Derek, and Kezi’s girlfriend Ximena. This is a trip that Kezi planned before she died. The plan is to follow Route 66 and stop at places from The Negro Motorist Green Book, while sharing African-American history with Kezi’s followers on YouTube. She even planned some stops that were important to her own family’s history. The book jumps from the present to the past to uncover similar racial injustices with Happi’s ancestors, and dives into social injustice, police brutality, and racism that are still present today.

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

18-year-old Daunis Fontaine feels like she never fits in, whether in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie or on the nearby Ojibwe reservation of the Sault tribe. She dreams of going away to college, but when her uncle tragically dies, she puts her future on hold to stay close to her home.  In the meantime, she continues to play hockey and meets the newest recruit on her brother’s hockey team, Jaime. But when Daunis witnesses her best friend’s murder, she goes undercover using her knowledge of chemistry and traditional Ojibwe medicine to track down the source of a new meth drug that is destroying her community. How far will Daunis go to protect her community, and who can she trust? Not everyone is who they seem. This book is a fast-paced, crime-thriller full of Ojibwe culture, twists and turns, and will keep you on the edge of your seat!