The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl: Review Haiku

If you haven't heard
of Issa Rae, consider
this your one-stop shop.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae. Atria, 2015, 204 pages.

Step Aside, Pops: Review Haiku

When you don't know what
to get your smart-a$$ friends for
their birthdays, try this.

Step Aside, Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant! Collection by Kate Beaton. Drawn & Quarterly, 2015,

All-American Boys: Review Haiku

Required reading
for future cops. And kids.
And frankly, everyone.

All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Atheneum, 2015, 320 pages.

St. Paul: Review Haiku

As we approach Holy
Week, a clear-eyed look at
maybe-not a jerk.

St. Paul: The Apostle We Love to Hate by Karen Armstrong. New Harvest, 2015, 143 pages.

Rutabaga the Adventure Chef: Review Haiku

Your new favorite
charmingly ridiculous
culinary hero.

Rutabaga the Adventure Chef Book 1 by Eric Colossal. Amulet, 2015, 127 pages.

Unfinished Business: Review Haiku

Clear-eyed assessment
of problems and solutions
with work and family.

Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work, Family by Anne-Marie Slaughter. Random, 2015, 328 pages.

Exquisite Corpse: Review Haiku

Well, if this is not
delicious, shocking revenge,
I don't know what is.

Exquisite Corpse by Penelope Bagieu. First Second, 2015, 124 pages.

PrinceLESS: Review Haiku

If Merida and
Tiana aren't independent
enough for you . . .

PrinceLESS series by Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin. Action Lab Entertainment, 2014, 118 pages.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Review Haiku

Yes, I am the last
person to read this. Lo,
the sins of the fathers . . .

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbonsky. S&S, 1999, 213 pages.

Furiously Happy: Review Haiku

Come for the promise
of taxidermy; stay for
the affirmations.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson. Flatiron Books, 2015, 329 pages.

The Undertaking of Lily Chen: Review Haiku

Freaky-deaky tale
of sibling rivalry, love,
and death -- sometimes twice.

The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgorodoff. First Second, 2014, 432 pages.

We Should All Be Feminists: Review Haiku

A stocking stuffer
for all the feminists
in your whole family.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Anchor, 2015, 65 pages.

Drowned City: Review Haiku

Brutal, clear-eyed look
at a national tragedy
of cruel neglect.

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown. HMH, 2015, 96 pages.

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer: Review Haiku

If I called Sophie
"plucky," would you ever
forgive me? Whatta chick!

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones. Knopf, 2015, 224 pages.

Chasing Secrets: Review Haiku

Race, class, love, death -- if
you thought plague was a thing of
the past, think again.

Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko. Wendy Lamb, 2015, 228 pages.

Milo Speck: Accidental Agent: Review Haiku

The missing-sock trope
goes in a whole new direction.
Deceit! Ogres!

Milo Speck: Accidental Agent by Linda Urban. Harcourt, 2015, 272 pages.

Last Panda Standing: Review Haiku

Now I kinda want
to see Sandoval in a
platypus costume.

Last Panda Standing (Platypus Police Squad #3) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Walden Pond, 2015, 256 pages.

Roller Girl: Review Haiku

Take some time away
from your barbecues to meet
one kick-ass skate babe.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Dial, 2015, 240 pages.

Displacement: Review Haiku

Lucy takes her grandparents
on the worst/best cruise ever:
Heart-wrenching.

Displacement by Lucy Knisley. Fantagraphics, 2015, 168 pages.

Lumberjanes: Review Haiku

Kicka$$ girls go camping,
fight monsters, and set up
for new adventures.

Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Brooke Allen. BOOM! Box, 2015, 128 pages.