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| Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. KrosoczkaWhat it is: a moody, expressive graphic memoir in which author and artist Jarrett J. Krosoczka describes -- with gut-punching openness -- how he was raised by his caring, challenging grandparents while his heroin-addicted mother was in rehab (or jail).
Who it's for: Whether you're curious about the guy behind the Lunch Lady comics (remember those?) or you're looking for a mature, unflinching family story, Hey, Kiddo might be for you. |
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| Sawkill Girls by Claire LegrandThe setting: Sawkill Rock, home to wealthy people, beautiful horses, and a legendary monster that preys on young women.
Featuring: outsider Zoey, who refuses to give up on her missing best friend; newcomer Marion, whose sister just disappeared; and privileged Val, who might be trapped by her family's dark legacy.
Read it for: atmospheric, magic-tinged horror starring diverse teen girls who band together to battle evil. |
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| A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh MafiWhat it's about: When Shirin (16, loves break-dancing, wears a hijab) starts at a new school the year after 9/11, she's unsurprised by the anti-Muslim hostility she faces. She knows better than to let her guard down -- not even for Ocean James, a classmate who seems genuinely into her.
Author alert: Tahereh Mafi, author of the popular Shatter Me series, drew on her own teen experiences when crafting this sharp, honest story.
You might also like: Samira Ahmed's Love, Hate & Other Filters. |
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Jacob Portman is back in Florida and this time Miss Peregrine, Emma, and their peculiar friends are with him, but when he finds a secret underground bunker owned by his grandfather Abe, Jacob is thrust into a new adventure.
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Just mercy : adapted for young adults : a true story of the fight for justice
by Bryan Stevenson
"In this young adult adaptation of the acclaimed bestselling Just Mercy, which the New York Times calls "as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so," Bryan Stevenson delves deep into the broken U.S. justice system, detailing from his personal experience his many challenges and efforts as a lawyer and social advocate, especially on behalf of America's most rejected and marginalized people. In this very personal work--proceeds of which will go to charity--Bryan Stevenson recounts many and varied stories of his work as a lawyer in the U.S. criminal justice system on behalf of those in society who have experienced some type of discrimination and/or have been wrongly accused of a crime and who deserve a powerful advocate and due justiceunder the law. Through the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), an organization Stevenson founded as a young lawyer and for which he currently serves as Executive Director, this important work continues. EJI strives to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, working to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
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| The Whole Thing Together by Ann BrasharesWhat it's about: They're the same age, they sleep in the same bedroom, and they have the same three half-sisters, but Ray and Sasha have never met. Ray's mom used to be married to Sasha's dad, and every summer the families take turns at the beach house -- until this summer, when they finally collide.
Why you might like it: Shifting points of view and compelling relationships drive this complex drama packed with revelations, romance, tragedy, and tension. |
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| Unbecoming by Jenny DownhamWhat it's about: Seventeen-year-old Katie doesn't meet her grandmother, Mary, until the day she moves in with Katie and her controlling mom, Caroline. As Katie helps Mary hold on to her fading memories, she uncovers long-held secrets about Mary and Caroline...and realizes some truths about herself.
Who it's for: anyone looking for a sophisticated read about the intertwining conflicts, choices, and consequences faced by three generations of women. |
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| The Other F-Word by Natasha FriendWhat happens: High-schoolers Hollis and Milo, half-siblings who grew up with different pairs of moms, join forces to search for the identity of their shared sperm donor.
Read it for: a thoughtful exploration of family (biological and otherwise) starring believably imperfect characters.
Try this next: Cynthia Weil's 806 or Robin Benway's Far from the Tree, two further books about newfound siblings in search of answers. |
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| You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali PerkinsWhat it is: an intimate glimpse into the lives of the Das women, spanning the 1960s into the 2000s.
Featuring: aspiring actress Tara and her activist sister Sonia, uprooted by their Bengali mother to grow up in 1970s New York; their daughters Anna and Chantal, both navigating the connections and divisions between cultures; and Ranee, the matriarch who clings to tradition.
Who it's for: Culturally distinct and utterly relatable, this family saga holds appeal for all kinds of readers. |
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| Wicked Like a Wildfire by Lana PopovicWelcome to: Montenegro, home of twin Iris and Malina. Like every girl in their family, both sisters have a "gleam" -- a unique magical ability -- though their mother forbids them from using these gifts. After their mother is attacked, however, Iris and Malina must dig into their family's cursed history to discover the source of their power.
Series alert: This lush, detail-rich fantasy is followed by a sequel, Fierce Like a Firestorm.
For fans of: Anna-Marie McLemore and Laini Taylor. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
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