RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

BEAT STREET SERIES for teens

Jenna Zark’s newest novel in the Beat Street Series shines a light on San Francisco’s “Beat Scene” A must read for middle schoolers.

I can’t believe that as a book seller, I was unaware of this series until now. The author provides the proverbial “something for everyone.” I jumped right into the third book in the series because I was interested in something for middle schoolers. North Beat Christmas , continues Ruby’s story, and features Nell-Mom, her mother; Gary Daddy-o, her father; her brother Ray; and a new character, Marty, whom she meets in North Beach when she decides to visit her father for Christmas. Nell-Mom has deep reservations about Ruby’s request for her and Ray to spend Christmas in California. Ruby, however, can tell from unanswered phone calls her dad is in trouble and needs help, something she cannot tell her mother.

Ruby and Ray’s adventures, or perhaps I should say misadventures, on the trip and in San Francisco are something they hide from their mom as they try to help their dad with his alcohol abuse. As dark as this sounds, it is my experience that often a middle school student feels responsible for and tries to help out when a parent has problems. This book helps the struggling reader to work through his/her situation. The most important lesson the book presents is to enlist adult help and not try to take on the full burden oneself.

In the meantime, there are many happy, even humorous, parts of the book as Ruby meets Marty, a young man her age who is on the spectrum . They become friends and Marty shows her his special parts of North Beach. Ruby’s love of books and her job at a special bookstore are what brings Marty and Ruby together.

It is a fine book. It kept me turning pages, as I grew to really care about Ruby as I turned them. There are so many readers who will identify with Ruby for one reason or another, and the author, Jenna Zark meets the needs of each reader in her target audience.

I highly recommend this book.

RAE 2/17/25

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3 responses to “BEAT STREET SERIES for teens”

  1. Bonnie Kirk Avatar
    Bonnie Kirk

    Sounds like teens would enjoy.Sent from my iPhone

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  2. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    Thank you for a lovely review, Rae. If only the teen in my life would become a reader! However, I’ll recall this series in the event I’m asked for a recommendation:)). And that aphorism at the end is priceless – as well as absolutely true!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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