He Said, She Said by Kwame Alexander

Omar has just been named Mr. Football of South Carolina and can’t wait to announce his plans to play for Miami when he crosses paths with Claudia, a.k.a. Beyonce, the hottest Harvard-bound senior in his high school.  Omar bets his friends that he can win over Claudia, who has declared her absolute disinterest in high school boys, especially anyone with a reputation as a “panty-dropper.”  This novel, narrated by Omar and Claudia in alternating chapters, includes text messages and Facebook posts to tell a story of teenage romance intertwined with an activist-themed plot involving a fight against budget cuts to arts and library funding.  Recommended independent reading for high school students looking for a love story like Dana Davidson’s sadly out-of-print Played. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Alexander, Kwame.  He Said, She Said.  New York: Amistad, 2013.  Print.