By Mrs. McHugh

HHS Librarian

If you’ve walked through the HHS Library in recent weeks, you’ve likely encountered a colorful display of books and artwork that celebrates Inclusive Schools Week. According to the Inclusive Schools Network website, the week brings awareness to the diverse population in schools across the nation, including “students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors.” To celebrate the week Dec. 4-8, the library teamed up with the Fine Arts department to showcase books and art that promote inclusion, acceptance and respect. Art classes led by Mrs. Curley and Mr. File created images inspired by the work of Keith Haring, which were turned into an interactive display by members of the Art Club.  Students in Partnership in Art arranged the display in the library, alongside a collection of books I seleted which promote diverse experiences. Below are brief reviews of just a few of those books. As always, if you’re interested in a topic, you can browse the Genre Lists at hhsmchugh.weebly.com or see me in the library.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by AJ Klune – Linus Baker is a dull and dreary social worker, but the children he works with are magical beings who are sent to orphanages to protect them – and the world – from powers they can’t always control. When Linus is sent on a monthlong mission to examine the residents of one mysterious, and possibly dangerous, school, his life is turned upside down. He meets Lucy, the 6-year-old son of Satan who struggles to be accepted as an average kid despite his dark heritage; Talia, a gnome who fiercely protects her garden and her friends; and Chauncey, an alien-like creature who dreams of becoming a hotel bellboy. These and other quirky characters teach Linus about accepting each others’ differences, taking risks and finding love. Similar tales of acceptance include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

How Lucky: A Novel by Will Leitch – Daniel considers himself a lucky guy. Though he suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, uses a wheelchair, needs a caregiver to feed him, and communicates with the world by typing, he has friends and a decent job. His life is shaken up, however, when he thinks he sees a woman being kidnapped on the street outside his home. When the police dismiss his reports, he begins his own investigation, something not so easy for someone who, while smart and determined, must rely on others for so much. A unique and very likable narrator, Daniel gives this mystery novel deeper layers. The story is tense and quick-paced while also full of humor and hope. Characters with physical differences or chronic illness are also featured in How We Roll by Natasha Friend, Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom and Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester.  Nonfiction picks: Mermaid by Mary Eileen Cronin, No Barriers: a Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer and Devoted: the Story of a Father’s Love for his Son by Dick Hoyt

The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia – This is one of several books we have that see Deafness as something to celebrate, not to pity or fix. The author uses a combination of text, paint, collage and drawings to tell the story of Piper, who is so busy trying to survive that she doesn’t know what it’s like to live. When she meets Marley, Piper begins to see her Deafness isn’t something to hide, and she’s determined to use her voice to help others. The story veers into the dystopian genre because it’s based in a world with environmental collapse and political corruption. If you’re interested in Deaf culture, you can also try True Biz by Sara Novic, The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais and The Sign for Home by Blair Fell. Nonfiction picks: Train Go Sorry by Leah Hager Cohen and Seeing Voices: a Journey into the World of the Deaf by Oliver Sacks

On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis –  A comet is on track to hit Earth, causing devestation not seen since the dinosaurs were wiped off the planet. If you’re wealthy and connected, you’ve bought a spot on a “generation ship” set to colonize another planet. If you’re not – like 16-year-old Denise – you’ve been assigned to a temporary shelter and after a few days, you’ll be on your own. As the impact nears, Denise and her mom stumble upon a different kind of ship, one that will take people with practical skills that will help the community survive. There are doctors, engineers, computer scientists, teachers. Denise is desperate to prove she and her mom deserve a spot. But she’s a teen with autism whose inability to read social cues or handle change often causes her problems, and her mom is struggling with drug addiction. Can they convince the ship’s community that they’re worth saving? Neurodivergent characters also feature in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon, a mystery; The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews, a realistic story; and The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle, a heartwarming romance. Nonfiction picks: Autism in Heels by Jennifer Cook O’Toole, Same But Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express by Holly Robinson Peete and The Game of My Life by Jason McElwain

Dear Martin and Dear Justyce by Nic Stone – Justyce is a top student at his private school, on the path toward an Ivy League college. But he feels he’s still wrongly judged – especially by the police – by the color of his skin. To work through his feelings, he starts journaling to MLK Jr., questioning whether some of the things the Civil Rights leader taught still make sense today. In Dear Justyce, Justyce is now in college, but a kid he grew up with, Quan, is in prison. Through a series of letters and flashbacks, the book explores how two youths from similar circumstances can end up on such different paths. If you’re interested in reading about characters coping with racial and religious differences, you can also try Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum and With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. Nonfiction picks: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanual Acho and Muslim Girl: a Coming of Age by Amani Al-Khatahtbeh

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz – Dante and Ari seem to be opposites. Dante is confident and easily shares his feelings. Ari is quiet and crippled with doubt. Yet when they meet one summer, they form a bond that teaches them what’s important in life and helps them discover the people they want to become. A few other books featuring LGBTQ characters include Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas, The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson and Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli. Nonfiction picks: Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson, At The Broken Places: a Mother and Trans Son Pick Up the Pieces by Mary and Donald Collins, and Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States by Samantha Allen

Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri – Based on the author’s life, the novel follows Khosrou and his family as they flee religious intolerance in Iran and end up in Oklahoma. The boy, highly influenced by the Arabian Nights and other stories from his homeland, spins tales for his new classmates about who he feels he is (smart, worldly, brave) versus what he seems to be (poor, smelly, weird). Through his stories, you get a sense of his rich, complicated life in Iran, the strangeness of becoming a refugee, and the resilience needed to live through both. Other novels about the refugee or migrant experience include A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi, Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian and We are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez. Nonfiction picks: Solito by Javier Zamora, The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantu and God Grew Tired of Us by John Bul Dau