Welcome to the final weekend of January 2026! We are again delighted to welcome one of Leilya Pitra's teacher candidates, Juliana Portillo, from Southeastern Louisiana University as our Weekend Picks contributor this week. Juliana has chosen a romance, Debating Darcy, for her YA Weekend Pick.
 Juliana Portillo | Meet Juliana Portillo. She is a secondary English Education major getting ready for my residency semester. Juliana lives in a small town called Laplace, Louisiana, which is about 20 minutes from New Orleans. Outside of college courses, she works as a server at a Mexican restaurant in my hometown. In my free time, she enjoys reading romance novels, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. I can’t wait to complete my residency and begin teaching students in high school. We are so thankful to professor Leilya Pitra and her Southeastern Louisiana University students for their thoughtful recommendations all month long! |
Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
 | I chose Debating Darcy (2022) because I love romance novels, and I was curious to see how Pride and Prejudice could be reimagined in a modern setting. Before reading, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly found the story engaging and relatable. The novel is told from a teenage girl’s point of view, which makes the language feel natural and easy to follow, especially for high school readers. One thing I really appreciated about this book was its strong female voice. As someone who is competitive, I connected with the main character’s drive and determination, especially in the world of high school debate. I loved how Leela, just like Lizzie Bennet in the original, is such an advocate for young South Asian girls. The subplot about her and her friends uncovering the sexism and harassment among the high school debate circle was developed skillfully and appealed to me. I also enjoyed how the romance developed; it felt meaningful, not rushed. The debate setting made the story feel unique and highlighted how much pressure and inequality can exist in academic spaces. |
| What stood out to me most were the themes of feminism, sexism, privilege, and identity. DasGupta clearly shows how these issues still affect students today, especially girls and students from marginalized backgrounds. By modernizing a classic story and placing it in a debate culture, Debating Darcy feels relevant and important, and I think it has real staying power for today’s YA readers. |  Sayantani DasGupta |
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