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| Legendborn by Tracy DeonnWhat it's about: While grieving the loss of her mother, 16-year-old Bree has her world shaken once again when she witnesses a demon attack and discovers the Legendborn, a magical secret society descended from King Arthur's knights.
Series alert: This series opener introduces a fascinating system of magic and an intriguing mash-up of Round Table lore with contemporary American cultures.
Further reading: For another inclusive reimagining of King Arthur's legend, pick up Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy's Once & Future series. |
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| Apple: Skin to the Core by Eric GansworthWhat it is: a memoir in verse by Onondaga author and artist Eric Gansworth, describing his family, his life on and off the reservation, the scars of forced assimilation, and his own specific sense of Indigenous identity.
What's inside: reflections on the slur "apple" (meaning "red on the outside, white on the inside"); deep dives into Beatles lyrics and superhero fandom; memories of growing up Onondaga while living among the Tuscarora; plus paintings, photos, and "liner notes" from the author. |
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A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
by Roseanne A. Brown
Starring: Malik, a refugee who makes a deadly deal to save his sister; and Karina, a princess who turns to bloody necromancy in her grief over her mother’s death.
What happens: Although they seem fated to destroy each other, Karina and Malik are irresistibly drawn together amidst the magic and high-stakes intrigue of this Afrofantasy series opener.
For fans of: the layered plots and vivid world-building in Tomi Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orisha series.
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Lobizona
by Romina Garber
What it's about: 16-year-old Miami teen Manu and her mom, both undocumented immigrants from Argentina, live in hiding to avoid ICE, not to mention the criminals who killed Manu's father.
What happens: After her mom is arrested, Manu finds herself in an enchanted school for brujas (witches) and lobizones (werewolves) where she discovers the hidden heritage that makes her very existence dangerous.
Read it for: a secret magical world, feminist fantasy, and vivid Latin American folklore.
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The Henna Wars
by Adiba Jaigirdar
What it’s about: Dismayed by her parents’ disapproval after she comes out as a lesbian, Bangladeshi Irish Nishat sets her sights on winning her school’s business competition. Marketing her mehndi design skills seems like the perfect plan...until Nishat’s childhood friend (and current crush) Flávia opens a competing henna art business.
Why you might like it: This own voices story offers authentic characters and an exciting blend of romance and rivalry.
You might also like: Leah Johnson’s You Should See Me in a Crown.
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| With the Fire on High by Elizabeth AcevedoStarring: high school senior Emoni Santiago, who has "magic hands" in the kitchen, but who worries that becoming a chef won't help her build a future for herself and her two-year-old daughter.
Read it for: clear, vivid writing; mouth-watering food; and characters so realistic that you'll miss them when you close the book.
Book buzz: If you loved The Poet X, Elizabeth Acevedo's multi-award-winning debut, don't miss With the Fire On High. |
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| The Black Flamingo by Dean AttaWhat it is: the story of how London teen Michael finds his voice, both as a poet and a drag performer, in a society eager to label him for how he expresses his gender, his sexuality, and his multiracial identity.
Why you might like it: the intimate, conversational style of Michael's first-person narration.
Book buzz: This own voices novel from spoken word poet Dean Atta (check him out on YouTube) won the 2020 Stonewall Award for Young Adult Literature. |
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| Who Put This Song On? by Morgan ParkerStarring: music-obsessed, “super-emo” Morgan, who’s dealing with depression and feeling stuck at a small-town religious school where she’s one of only a few Black students.
What happens: With the help of new friends, Morgan tries to block out the noisy opinions of others and figure out who she is and what she wants.
About the author: This is the first YA book from poet Morgan Parker, inspired by her own teen years and diaries. |
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| The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason ReynoldsWhat it's about: Devastated by his mom's death, high school senior Matt gets a job at a funeral home, finding comfort in shared grief. Also, the job beats slinging chicken at the Cluck Bucket -- although Matt is drawn to Lovey, the tough, intriguing girl who works there.
Read it for: the true-to-life characters and insightful, unfussy style you expect from popular author Jason Reynolds.
Further reading: For straight-up poetry by Reynolds, try the short but powerful For Every One. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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