Young World

Gr 9 Up–Chainani, best known for his middle grade series, “The School for Good and Evil,” makes his YA debut with this ­sociopolitical thriller. Seeking to impress his socially conscious, do-gooder crush, Benton Young posts an impassioned rant to YouTube, decrying the current political and environmental landscape that has stripped away his right simply to be young. To everyone’s shock, Benton’s video soon goes viral, spawning a wave of memes, bumper stickers, TikTok dances, and a national campaign that eventually lands him in the White House. Thrust into the world of politics—a world that may actually include more drama, popularity contests, and backstabbing than high school—Benton navigates personal struggles, like his still-unrequited crush and his long-absent mother who now seems to want contact. Unfiltered journal entries addressed to his AP Government teacher paired with mixed-media elements like news articles, ­infographics, social media posts, and ­interviews capture the protagonist’s vulnerability and engagingly portray the complexities of the political landscape and Benton’s fellow young leaders. An abrupt tonal shift from realistic fiction to murder mystery to international thriller at the halfway point is disorienting, but the narrative finds its footing in time to stick the landing. Benton’s father is Black, while his mother is white. ­