This book is absolutely wonderful. A lovely YA story, about race, politics, and young love. Timely and refreshing!

I’m a sucker for stories that take place in one day, PLUS it’s about young people voting PLUS it is incredibly timely and accessible and relatable and you better believe I’m getting this for my middle school library (some swearing because the protagonists are 18, but nothing my students don’t say as soon as they’re out of earshot haha).

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this romance. Marva cares deeply about everything, including her first time voting. Duke comes from a family where voting is very important too; his deceased brother was a social activist, and staying involved is his family’s way of honoring him. The two teens cross paths as they try to vote before school starts; however, the day goes far differently than either expected. Full of timely issues and a cameo of an Instagram-famous cat, this is a winner for high school readers. Recommended for grades 9+. It is out 7.7.20!

While I usually LOVE books with a splash of politics, this one missed the mark a bit for me. I got some The Sun is Also a Star vibes as this book also takes place over the course of a single day. Because of that setting, I just felt like the romance aspect was very quick and I didn’t find myself particularly invested in their relationship, but I did enjoy learned about their backstories and other relationships with their family and friends. I appreciated the fact that it talked about some tough and timely topics, but I also didnt agree with some of the broad brush stereotypes that were entertained in the book, but that’s okay! It was definitely a quick read and could be finished in one sitting.

So many things make ‘The Voting Booth’ the perfect Contemporary YA read right now, including the timing. This book touches upon several important and relatable every-day-life issues, such as divorced parents, loss of family members, gun violence, voter suppression, Juneteenth, protests, discrimination and prejudice based on race, gender, and class. And of course, the importance of voting and the impact each election can have for years to come, especially for young people.

All these issues are artfully incorporated within a one-day adventure where our 18-year-old main characters attempt to vote in their first election, deal with family and relationship issues, search for an Instagram-famous runaway pet cat, and try to arrive to their band’s first paying gig on time. Though the themes are heavy, that the main characters were so easy to root for and always tried to do the right thing made this an enjoyable for me.

#TheVotingBooth #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

"How can we vote in the people who want to make it easier for us to vote if we can't get in to vote in the first place?" Good question! The Voting Booth is timely and deals with the issues of voter suppression, racial profiling, gun violence, black-on-black crime, and interracial romance and how these issues affect our society. Marva is voting in her first election and she has waited years to do this - she is first in line at her polling place. Duke is also voting in his first election but things do not go exactly as planned at the polling place. Marva steps in to help and the story is off and running. This book was engaging and very, very timely. Brandy Colbert easily speaks to the issues that need to be addressed but also develops a nice love story between two very interesting characters. Eartha Kitty, an instagram cat sensation is also introduced. Read this book - you won't be sorry and you will walk away with a smile on your face. Oh, you may also want to go out and register voters and then make sure they have a ride to the polls on November 3! Thanks to #Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing the e-book to read.

Very timely of a topic: 1) Blacks getting out the vote 2) Racial profiling. The book takes place all in one day, election day, one that Marva's been working hard for 2 years. The day go astray as she tries to help Duke vote. With all the misadventures and breaking up with her white boyfriend who is tired of social justice, she finds romance with Duke. One falls in love and and laughter with the well developed characters of Marva and Duke and all the baggage they share on this one election day.

Author Brandy Colbert has given voices to two main characters, Marva and Duke. It is election day and Marva has been rallying for this for two years. She worked her butt off to make sure people were registered and informed. Duke is ready to vote in memory of his brother who died, but was really big in political activism. Duke and Marva are set to vote at the same polling place. Marva votes and as she is leaving sees that Duke is having difficulty getting signed in. This encounter sparks a day of skipping school and running all over town to get Duke to vote.

Throughout the novel Marva and Duke reflect on past experiences and their present experiences together to just reiterate over and over the obstacles that the Black community and others face everyday. Marva believes that everyone should participate in the political process in order to invoke change, but her and Duke also realize that not everyone feels the way they do. That is why they have to keep trying.

After many foils to the plan, including a lack of ballots, a missing cat, and getting pulled over, Duke finally gets to vote. In the process of getting him to that point, Colbert addresses issues with the voting process, issues in society towards the Black community, political activism, and teenage drive and love. Everything that young people today need to be made aware of and learn about.

Various events brought up in the novel really made my blood pressure rise. One was the ballots at the polling location. THEY RAN OUT! In my opinion it is inexcusable. The volunteers at the location said it was because they did not anticipate the people coming from another location that was closed. That makes no sense! Where did you think they would go? Back home? The location should have been prepared and even if they were not prepared enough, it should not have taken multiple hours to get more ballots from the clerks office. There are definitely flaws in the voting process. It brings my mind to what just recently happened in Atlanta June 2020. Machines were down and it was almost as if no one cared whether or not people got to vote. This is why people choose not to vote! Even Marva and Duke recognize this!

Obviously Colbert is trying to draw attention to the fact that we have got to do better with our voting process in all aspects. It should not be a long drawn out task that takes all day to complete.

Another situation that Duke and Marva find themselves in is getting pulled over by an officer for running through a red light. They each have thoughts about what they have been told to do when stopped by an officer. Things that have been told to them because they are members of the Black community.

Why should people be concerned about stuff like this? Why should they feel as though they are lucky that they didn't have a violent interaction with a police officer? These characters in this book are 18 years old and have such outrageous worries on their shoulders. I mean, I actually teared up reading Duke's perspective on getting pulled over when his brother was driving.

Overall I think that Brandy Colbert did an amazing job with this novel. It really showcases how young people see our current society and how they interact within it. It's also nice to see a character like Marva who is active in the political process. Young adults reading this novel can mirror Marva's actions. Some might even choose to mirror the actions of Duke's brother, Julian, and sister, Ida. They were political activists and our current political climate is seeing more and more young people actively trying to make a change.

Duke's mom made a profound statement in a flashback of Duke's. She was talking to Duke's older brother about him collaborating with gang members in an attempt to help the community. She said, "Change takes time. And patience. And...a willingness to listen to people we may not understand."

I hope young people read The Voting Booth and enjoy it as much as I did. I hope that the students I recommend this to will see themselves reflected in the characters. I hope those that do not see a reflection of themselves will still find growth. I hope that my Senior students will listen to me and acknowledge that registering to vote and actually going out to vote this coming presidential election is important. I read this novel and was constantly reminded of my students and what they have grown up in and I hope that in the near future, change will begin to surface and make life a little bit easier for them.

Wow!! This book was amazing (like, read-it-in-one-sitting amazing!!) The Voting Booth is a relatively short book, but it reads like movie. I felt like I was there alongside the characters, racing against the clock to get the ballot in before Election Day. This book has everything: political issues, strong main characters, engaging dialogue, even romance!

I really think this book did an incredible job at stressing the importance of voting. As an eighteen year old new voter, I felt so empowered reading this book. It made me feel like my vote truly does make a difference. And for young readers not as politically engaged as I am, I think this would be even more impactful. I enjoy that the book focuses more on the act of voting than the "nastiness" behind it. There is hardly any mention of the candidates themself, which keeps the politics from getting too messy. I cannot stop praising this book for the way it talked about voting.

The only thing I did not love about this book was the romance. Being that the book's time frame was a day, it was a little too faced-paced and unrealistic for my liking. I think I much would have preferred them ending as friends. Not every book needs a romance, and I think authors need to start normalizing that, especially in YA! But the representation and social issues were amazing! I felt like I learned a lot from this book.

ometimes books seem realistic and timely, but this one really seems to match up to life in our world right now. For real. Marva and Duke deal with the same things people experienced in the Georgia primary this month. Incredibly long lines? Check. Poll workers unsure of procedures? Check. Running out of ballots? Check. Frustrated would-be voters? Check. Unfortunately The Voting Booth definitely rings true.

As the title suggests, this is a story that revolves around voting. Marva is very passionate about letting her voice be heard through her vote and helping others to do so. She’s incredibly intense and it was fun to watch her get entangled with Duke who is quite the opposite. Their day is packed with a long series of frustrations and mishaps so they have plenty of opportunities to learn about each other. Amidst all of this, they also manage to have quite a few laughs which I totally appreciated.

There are quite a few discussion about and examples of activism in the storyline. It was interesting to see that though Marva cares strongly about things, she knows that not all kinds of activism are for her. She gets too upset about the counter-protestors to actually attend protests so she focuses on canvassing and other activities. There are other characters in the book that do their work in many other ways too so readers see many ways to make a difference.

Aside from voting issues, there are other concerns in both of their lives, but you’ll need to read to find out more about those. No spoilers today. Just know that they each have some personal issues they’re working through and their conversations help them make some important decisions.

Recommendation: Get it soon! Marva and Duke were super cute together. If contemporary romance and/or politics is your thing, you’ll definitely want to grab this one. I’d especially recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Amazing in every way, and every American should read this book- this is why voting matters, this is why Black lives matter, this is why our system needs some serious change. Coming from a predominately white, upper middle class neighborhood, I knew these sorts of roadblocks happened for voters all the time, but due to my privilege I never experienced them. I felt anxiety reading this book- RIGHTFULLY SO. Our system tries to stop people from voting in some many ways, with so many microaggressions. You need to read this book. Can't wait to give this to my teens so they understand!! Another slam dunk by Brandy Colbert.

Marva is a young woman who feels passionately about the right to vote. And today is her first time voting. She’s excited about it and takes it very seriously. Duke is also voting for the first time, but his voting experience is nowhere near as smooth as Marva’s, which mirrors what so many go through during election time. When the two meet, they unexpectedly spend the day together, and it’s an exciting one, to say the least.

I enjoyed this book because the writing is fast-paced, funny and emotional. The characters are passionate about the issues, especially Marva, and reminded me of what it felt like to vote for the very first time. The author sometimes got a little preachy, but not so much to be a turn off. The issues that come up in the novel are real and handled with love and caring. I found myself getting a little teary-eyed at a couple of points and laughing out loud at others. I would LOVE to see this novel adapted for film or a Netflix series.

5/5 stars!

This book was amazing. This is the first book i've ever read by Brandy Colbert, and after reading, I know that I will be picking up more books by this author. Brandy Colbert is such an incredible author. She created such honest and interesting characters in this book. I fell head-over-heels in love with the characters and the romance.

This book is also so important because it discusses so many important topics. It also did it in a way where, as a reader, I didn't feel like I was getting an info dump. Everything read super smoothly and naturally. This book is so important to read!

Please read this book, register to vote, and go vote!

Thanks for reading!
Caden

3/3.5 rounded up for rep (uhh YES to an activist private school black girl with great fam who loves cats!? And yes to a mixed boy!), attempting to take on a lot of different threads, and showing youth who are invested. The writing wasn’t for me sometimes, and sometimes the many pieces didn’t get threaded together well enough for me. I thought the families of both MCs were done well, though plus black and brown love is so rare in YA and I was so happy to read that. More please. (Like where both are POC not just one who dates a white person).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book sounds cute, and I am not saying that it wasn't because the ending was, but I had a lot of issues with the story itself. First off, it takes place during a 24-hour time span. Usually, this makes things very interesting with a plot but I felt like there was a lot of jumping around and that the story could have been shortened. I know that the author could not realistically write a teen fiction story just about getting Duke to vote, and had to add other elements, but the search party and missing of Marva's cat felt thrown into the story and felt like it didn't really fit with the rest of the plot.

There was also a part where Duke reveals that his brother was shot and killed and his band manager's brother was also shot and killed. It was sad to read that because it made me think of all the other individuals of color who have been shot on the street for no rhyme or reason.

Marva and Duke have an Insta-Love relationship which was cute, and also really unrealistic. I like stories where there is some build up with their relationship. Yeah, they spend the entire day together but for them both to develop such intense feelings in such a short time, and RIGHT after Marva breaks up with her boyfriend, was a little too much for me. I would have liked to see more of a build-up and story around that, and I'm a hopeless romantic so that says a lot.

Overall, this was a quick read. It could definitely be finished in one sitting, which I probably would have done if I wasn't reading another book at the same time and if I was more invested in this story. The plot line is basic and fluffy, and very easy to follow. The book itself is also very short, which helps.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

My review will be posted on Goodreads now, and my Instagram on the release date.

I received this copy from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Death of a Sibling, police voilence

Wow, this was a great read. The story takes place over one day after Marva and Duke meet at the polling place after Duke is turned away from voting. Their day is full of obstacles as they try and make sure Duke gets to cast his vote. The story is about democracy, racism, inter-racial relationships, social media, and so much more.

I loved how passionate about politics Marva is. It reminds me of how excited I was to vote for the first time in grade 12. I think this book is coming out at the perfect time. It describes one experience of being a Black teen in America. I also think that if this inspires some young people to get into politics and vote in the election in November, that will be awesome.

The only thing I was hoping for, after having read some other Brandy Colbert books was some LGBTQ+ representation. The side characters aren’t super developed, partially because the book takes place over one day. However overall strong recommendation to read this one!

I could not dream up a more perfect and timely book. This needs to be at the top of every teen librarian & high school teacher's recommended reading list. The Voting Booth follows two BIPOC teens as they navigate their first Election Day. Even though the book tackles difficult topics like voter suppression, white privilege, and systemic racism there is still a feeling of hope that sees them through the day. Seeing how passionate Marva and Duke are to participate in democracy makes me all that more excited to see how this next generation inspires change.
Also, bonus points for Brandy Colbert use of appropriate Gen-Z language.

I really enjoyed going on this one day adventure with Marva and Duke. Both characters had very different lives and experiences and were so different from each other. However, I loved both of them and really enjoyed watching them go from strangers to close all in one day. I did think the ending was a bit rushed but teens will really enjoy this one.

Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Brandy Colbert's The Voting Booth in exchange for an honest review. The book releases Tuesday, July 7.

Brandy Colbert's The Voting Booth is a perfect YA book. It's socially conscious; features compelling, nuanced characters; and has just the right amount of romance--I was grinning for nearly the duration of the book, which alternates between the points of view of two high school seniors.

Marva has been waiting to vote her whole life. Now that she's 18, she can finally put the cap on months of canvassing and registering people to vote by going with her boyfriend and casting her first ballot. The only hiccup? Her boyfriend Alec has suddenly decided that the two-party system is ineffective, so he's just not going to vote. Duke also is excited to vote, though he's more laid back about it than Marva is (as he is about everything). Duke's older brother was an activist before his death, and Duke knows that he has to vote to carry on Julian's legacy, if for no other reason.

Marva and Duke begin their days on parallel tracks, heading out to vote before the beginning of the school day. They end up meeting when Marva is exiting the voting booth only to hear Duke being told that he's at the wrong voting jurisdiction. The eternal organizer, she immediately gets involved and, when Duke's car won't start, agrees to skip school to take Duke to the right place.

It's a great setup. The book takes place over the rest of this one day. As Marva and Duke travel around their city so that Duke can vote, they discuss--in a completely believable way--so many issues. Marva is Black and is keenly aware of the inequities that may keep some people from voting. Duke is bi-racial: his dad is Black, and his mom--with whom he lives--is white, so he takes on Marva's digs about white people while having the same concerns about empowering Black citizens. Marva attends a predominantly white private school; Duke and his younger sister Ida chose to attend public school. And the death of Duke’s brother shadows all of their discussion until Duke finally shares his story with Marva.

Colbert has great fun playing up the contrasts between the characters. Marva is directed and organized and assertive, and so when she comes up against Duke's teasing and laid-back attitude, she's at first dismissive of his commitment to voting. But as they talk, each has a positive effect on the other, with Marva giving Duke a push and Duke getting Marva to laugh and ease up a little bit.

The Voting Booth was a one-sitting read for me. I just couldn't put it down. I love these characters; I love their conversations; and I love the messages about social responsibility that Colbert embeds throughout the novel. I could not recommend it more, both for teenagers and adults. It's the bright spot, delivered alongside a serious and powerful message, that we all need right now.

The Voting Booth is an all-in-one-day love story that’s recommended for fans of The Sun is Also a Star. It follows two young Black high school students on their first Election Day as legal voters. Marva Sheridan has been waiting for this day her whole life — she’s spent months canvassing and educating everyone she knows on the importance of exercising their right to vote. Duke Crenshaw is ready to vote, but knows he’ll never be the activist his brother once was. He’s ready for Election Day to be over so he can get to his band’s gig. An unexpected complication brings the two strangers together and sets them on a whirlwind Election Day adventure together.

This was a fun, mostly lighthearted story of two teens who can’t catch a break — the twists and turns keep coming, each one taking them further and further from their goal, but closer to each other. However, under the surface is an important subplot about elections, why the stakes are so much higher for BIPOC voters, and how white privilege factors into the mix. We hear all of this from Marva, an outspoken, studious young woman with a deep understanding of the issues that matter to her. Most importantly, she knows why voting is so important for her, a Black woman, and I think this is what will resonate the most with young voters reading this book. This short book tackles issues like police treatment of Black people, systemic racism, and interracial relationships, in a way that’s informative, even when it’s difficult to read.

The one thing I wish this book had more of a discussion on voting issues. The election itself was discussed in a vague way, so it wasn’t clear if this was a local race, a presidential election, or what. While I get this from a storytelling perspective (it would’ve been weird to either make up candidates or use real ones), I would’ve liked to have seen a more in-depth conversation between Marva and Duke on the actual issues prompting them to cast their ballots. On the other hand, I appreciate that the author left this unspoken for a reason; it was easy to deduce from the book’s events why each teen was voting.

Overall, this was a fun read about an important topic, and it was especially powerful coming from the perspective of two Black, first-time voters. I would recommend this to anyone, especially if you can pass it on to a new or soon-to-be voter. ESPECIALLY right now in a very crucial election year.