“You Deserve Better” by Tyler Cameron
“You Deserve Better” or, as I like to call it: “Tyler Cameron Teaches You How to Date.” I’m not a fan of “The Bachelor” franchise. I’m aware of some of what happens in that universe because of regular news coverage, but beyond that? I’m not really in their target demographic. So, when “You Deserve Better” came across my desktop, I didn’t have high expectations.1 I was pleasantly surprised to find a solid motivational book. I was downright ecstatic to find that Tyler Cameron wrote a guide on dating and consent for young adults.
One of the things that Cameron himself points out in his book is that no one really teaches teens and young adults about what sex and relationships are really about. They’re taught about the ABCs (Abstinence, Be Faithful, wear a Condom), but they aren’t taught about what comes before (conversations about boundaries and consent) and after (expectations about cuddling or leaving).
There are parts of the book that I’m sure fans of “The Bachelorette” will appreciate more than I did because Cameron offers some behind-the-scenes commentary. His storytelling style is compelling enough that I found these parts interesting even though I couldn’t possibly care less about “The Bachelor” franchise.
I’m a big fan of motivational books and books that give you practical tips on how to live a better life. Part of what Cameron talks about in “You Deserve Better” is motivation and how to strive, but he doesn’t veer into being hustle-obsessed. This book is a friendly reminder that what we see on TV and social media is the result of consistent hard work. Cameron also talks about the importance of pivoting when Plan A or B doesn’t work out for you.
Overall, I ended up loving “You Deserve Better.” It ended up messing up my schedule because I didn’t expect to dig in as much as I did, but that’s really a good thing.
“The Essential Kerner Commission Report” edited and introduction by Jelani Cobb
“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”—Winston Churchill
When reading “The Essential Kerner Commission Report” edited and introduction by Jelani Cobb, I couldn’t help but think of all of the different quotes about why it’s important to learn from the past. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson commissioned an investigation on the causes of civil unrest that the country witnessed in recent years. The bipartisan commission was tasked with finding solutions to the problems that were causing the civil unrest.
It’s going to feel like de-ja vu all over again when you read the report. The difference is that we have 54 years of evidence of what happens when you don’t follow the Kerner Commission’s recommendations and opt to go the “law and order,” “War on Crime/Drugs/Etc.” route.
People often quote the not judging someone by the content of their character and holding hands part of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. You don’t see quite as many people quoting the part where he talks about the US giving black people a bad check when it came to freedom and justice. The Kerner Commission report gave recommendations for how to fund that check. This abridged version helps give an idea of how we can use that really old advice to make progress today.
“I Am Not Starfire” by Marike Tamaki and Yoshi Yoshitani
This book takes a fresh look at the difficulty of figuring out who you are while living in the shadow of someone else’s accomplishments. Our main character, Mandy, grew up as the daughter of Teen Titan Starfire. Going through your teen years can be complicated for anyone, but growing up in the shadow of a super-heroine who favors bikinis brings more complication into Mandy’s life. Overall, this is a solid end-of-summer book that is ideal for teens and up.
“Weird Kid” by Greg van Eekhout
I didn’t expect to have two coming-of-age stories back-to-back, but here we are. “Weird Kid” by Greg van Eekhout tells the story of Jake Wind, a middle schooler who had a life-changing summer vacation. By the time the new school year started, he found himself alienated from his closest friend and struggling to seem normal to everyone else. I can’t really get into the rest of the story without spoiling some of the plot points, but this is a great middle grades sci-fi novel.
“Too Much Slime” by Frances Gilbert and Vin Vogel
This is a quick kids’ read that tells the story of how a community came together to fight a huge blob of slime that came to their town. It’s a really cute and fun way of showing kids how teamwork really does work.
“We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt” by Goldie Hawk and illustrated by Angie Rozelaar
This one is going to feel very familiar to fans of “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen. It’s not as much of a parody as a Halloween homage to the children’s classic.
To see the full list of our favorite new releases for the week, go to https://www.tinybooksonline.com/new-release-tuesday
- Okay, okay: My expectations were low. We’re talking “eye-rolling, already preparing to read the next book on my list because celebrity self-help books miss far more often than they hit” low. ↩
