Study Break

YA fiction 

     "In the spring of 2021, Camryn Garrett sent off a tweet wishing there would be more space for novels set in college in the Young Adult category.  Ananya Devarajan quote retweeted it: Imagine...an anthology of diverse college stories that all connect by the end.  If this does become a thing PLEASE LET ME WRITE IT."

     Some ideas are so spot on that when someone voices one you're left wondering why they aren't already a thing.  Garrett's certainly belongs in that category.  It's a universal library truth that developing humans want book characters who are ahead of them.  Elementary school kids make middle school books fly off the shelves.  Books set in high school are popular with middle schoolers.  So why aren't more books for high school students set in the intriguing world of higher education?

     The immensely talented writers who contributed to Study Break:  11 College Tales from Orientation to Graduation (edited by Aashna Avachat) give readers a tantalizing taste of Garrett's epiphany come to life.  Set in the fictitious University of Milbridge, the stories span a school year, one for each month.  The characters are a widely diverse and inclusive crew.  And best of all, at the time they wrote their pieces the authors were in college or had recently graduated.

     Aarti, protagonist of Ananya Devarajan's The Ultimate Guide to Orientation (August), following in the footsteps of her older just graduated sister, is trying to be every bit as successful as her sibling and feeling like a failure.  But maybe there are more ways than one to live the college experience.

     Rani, protagonist of Arushi Avachat's Rani's Resolutions (January) is home for Christmas break.  Although her family and their friends expect her to become a lawyer, she's discovered that she really wants to be a teacher.  She's planning to break the news at a New Years Day get together.  But how can she when perfect Kush who has outshone her nearly all her life will probably have another amazing achievement to announce?

     Ruby, protagonist of Camryn Garrett's Ruby (March) is super stressed out.  She's buried under homework but unable to get started.  She's starting to hate her major.  An understanding RA, Violet while helping her see a way out of her plight, presents her with a dilemma: she now can't stop thinking of kissing her.

     Those are only a few of the gloriously authentic characters readers will encounter.  Study Break is a really excellent acquisition for high school and public libraries.  And if there's a teen in your life who is about to make that big transition we're talking perfect graduation present.

On a purrrsonal note, it's a good thing we have a weekend coming up in a couple of days.  I need to make major progress on my big paper.  And I have to get ready for the Red Cross blood drive next week.  My project to keep students occupied during their fifteen minute canteen stay is writing something they're proud of, working on, or looking forward to on a flower shape and put it on a poster.  I have to draw and cut out probably over 200 flowers.  If the weather is decent Sunday I have two hampers of my laundry to wash and hang out.  Among other things.

     How can it be only three days til the drag show?  I have no clue what to wear.  (Jules)

She'll get it done.  She always does.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to high school students in the graduation home stretch.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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