The Voting Booth

The Voting Booth follows Marva Sheridan and Duke Crenshaw, two 18-year-olds navigating their first election day as voters. When Duke is turned away from his polling place, Marva steps in to help resolve his registration issues, setting off a day-long journey together. The story takes place over a single day as Marva and Duke travel across the city trying to ensure Duke can cast his vote. Their backgrounds and motivations differ - Marva is a passionate voting rights activist, while Duke is focused on his music career but feels compelled to vote in honor of his late brother. Through their unexpected partnership, Marva and Duke confront issues of race, privilege, and civic responsibility while developing a connection. The novel incorporates themes of family dynamics, activism, and the complexities of young romance. The Voting Booth explores the significance of political engagement and the power of individual voices in the democratic process. It examines how personal experiences shape political perspectives and the ways young people choose to participate in democracy.

Readers describe this YA novel as an informative look at voter suppression and civic engagement through the lens of teen romance. Many note it effectively balances political themes with character development. Liked: - Relatable teen voices and authentic dialogue - Clear explanations of voting rights issues - Alternating perspectives between main characters - Representation of Black teens and families - Discussion of real voter suppression tactics Disliked: - Some found the romance plot predictable - Political messaging felt heavy-handed to certain readers - Pacing drags in middle sections - Characters occasionally seem unrealistic in their maturity/knowledge Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ ratings) BookPage: 4/5 "Perfect balance of romance and activism" - teen reviewer on Goodreads "Important message but struggles with show-don't-tell" - Amazon reviewer "Characters feel like real teens facing real issues" - School Library Journal reader review

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli, Aisha Saeed. Two teens from different backgrounds unite through local political canvassing while navigating cultural differences and a budding romance.

Running by Natalia Sylvester. A Cuban American teen confronts her father's political campaign stance on immigration rights while finding her own voice as an activist.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely. Two teens from different racial backgrounds process a single incident of police brutality that shakes their community and forces them to take sides.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed. A Black teen navigates her final days of high school during the 1992 Los Angeles riots while confronting her own identity and privilege.

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson. Two best friends start a Women's Rights Club at their high school and face pushback as they challenge the administration's policies.

📚 The book explores voter suppression tactics that disproportionately affect minority communities, reflecting real-world issues that persist in U.S. elections. 🏆 Author Brandy Colbert won the 2014 Stonewall Book Award for her debut novel "Pointe" and is known for tackling complex social issues in her work. 🗳️ The novel was released in July 2020, just months before the highly contested U.S. presidential election, making its themes particularly timely. 📖 The entire story unfolds over just 12 hours on Election Day, making it one of the few YA novels to use such a compressed timeline to tell its story. 🎓 The main characters' experience mirrors the fact that approximately 4 million Americans turned 18 and became eligible to vote for the first time in 2020.