CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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Louder Than Words
CCBC Review:
Jordyn Jones (Black) is starting the new school year at Edgewood, a D.C. public high school, after being expelled from private school. Jordyn is hoping Edgewood will be a chance to start over, and to live and act according to her values. But she worries the truth about what happened at her old school will get out: One of Jordyn’s “friends” constantly bullied a girl Jordyn was once close to, and Jordyn did nothing to stop it before the girl tried to commit suicide. This story slowly unfolds as Jordyn finds herself making new friends, surprised and pleased to be welcomed into a group that includes Kaleb (white, queer), Mila (Latina), Anton (East Asian), and Bryce (white). She can’t imagine what they’d think if they knew what she did—and didn’t—do, and worries a secret podcast called Tomcat Tea, which shares gossip about Edgewood students, will be her undoing. No one knows who the podcaster is, but after Jordyn’s new boyfriend, Zay, is the target of rumors that threaten his college scholarship, Jordyn decides to take action, only to find her own secret exposed. There’s a lot to consider in this story that invites readers to think about the impact of choices they make, and the complicated and emotionally charged issue of trusting someone whose done harm by giving them a second chance. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
African Americans
Bullying and Teasing
Ethical/Moral Choices
Friendship
Journalism and Media
Love and Romance
Rumor, Myth and Misinformation
School
Secrets
Suicide
Trust
Diversity subject:
Black/African
On CCBC Booklist:
School Stories: Selected PreK-12 Literature about the School Experience
Publishers:
Scholastic, Scholastic Press
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781338875577
CCBC Location: Fiction, Woodfolk
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.