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Luck of the Titanic
by Stacey Lee
What it's about: Stowing away aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage when her British-Chinese heritage bars her from joining her twin in America, a young acrobat struggles to hide and then survive when the unthinkable happens.
Why you might like it: Are you fascinated with the unsinkable ship? Did you know there were eight Chinese passengers aboard Titanic? When author Stacey Lee learned this -- and that six of those survived, the seed for Valora Luck's story was sown.
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Witches steeped in gold
by Ciannon Smart
What it's about: A tale inspired by Jamaican culture follows the rivalry of two witches who set aside their differences to become unlikely allies against an increasingly violent enemy.
Why you might like it: If you love the cat-and-mouse game seen in Killing Eve, or if you were immersed in the rich world-building of An Ember in the Ashes, dive into this tale of magic, intrigue, and vengeance.
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| Bruised by Tanya BotejuWhat it's about: Nothing compares to the sudden pain of losing her parents in an accident, but that doesn't stop Daya Wijesinghe from seeking out physical pain she can control. When she joins a rough-and-tumble roller derby team, however, she gets a lot more out of it than bruises.
Why you might like it: Daya's reluctant journey toward healing is moving, while her growing relationship with roller derby (and her teammates) is equal parts fun and uplifting.
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Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask : Young Readers Edition
by Anton Treuer
An Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist answers the most commonly asked questions about Native Americans, both historical and modern. Questions like: "Why is there such a fuss about nonnative people wearing Indian costumes for Halloween?" and "Why is it called a 'traditional Indian fry bread taco'?" and "Why are Indians so often imagined rather than understood?" This edition includes a section on social activism that explores the Dakota Access Pipeline, racism, identity, and politics.
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| Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea KempStarring: Pen, who wants to defy her parents' college expectations and open a pasteleria alongside her family's taco restaurant in Austin, TX; and Xander, who wants to find his estranged dad and live without the constant stress of being undocumented.
What happens: Pen and Xander begin a relationship that challenges them to examine what they need from their families, their community, and each other.
For fans of: the mouth-watering food and down-to-earth characters in Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High. |
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Percy St.-John and The Chronicle of Secrets
by E. A. Allen
What it's about: An unbreakable cipher, a dead priest with expensive shoes, a hermit who has conversations with saints, an angry French girl, a guardian angel with attitude, a murderous master criminal, and a gaggle of angry demons might stop an ordinary safe-cracking genius, but not Percy St.-John. He's out to prove he did not steal a mysterious ancient book that may hold the key to mankind's greatest hope and greatest danger.
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| The Cost of Knowing by Brittney MorrisWhat it's about: Cursed with the ability to see the future of anything he touches, 16-year-old Alex is horrified by a vision of his brother Isaiah's impending death. Determined to break the curse, Alex realizes that to challenge the future, he'll have to dig into his ancestral past.
Try this next: Maika and Maritza Moulite's One of the Good Ones, another layered sibling story that confronts generations of racism; or Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End, another perspective on death foretold. |
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| Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden ThomasFive years ago: Wendy Darling and her younger brothers went missing in the woods, and only Wendy returned, with no memories of what happened.
Now: Just as more children disappear, a still-grieving Wendy encounters Peter -- a boy she thought was imaginary -- and her memories begin to resurface, along with a growing fear of what lurks in the woods.
Book buzz: This eerie, haunting spin on Peter Pan is the second book by Cemetery Boys author Aiden Thomas. |
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| Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa BashardoustFeaturing: Soraya, a cursed princess whose poisonous touch keeps her trapped inside the shah's gardens; Azad, the soldier who longs to rescue her; and Parvaneh, the alluring, demonic div whose secret knowledge could upend Soraya's world.
Why you might like it: This lush, twisty fantasy offers a blend of Zoroastrianism, European fairy tales, and the Persian epic The Shahnameh.
You might also like: Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series or Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer duology. |
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Blanca & Roja
by Anna-Marie McLemore
What it's about: Best friends and rivals, Blanca and Roja's sister relationship is beyond complicated and way past the standard "sister squabbles." Since birth, a curse has pitted them against each other: one will be forced to shed their human skin and live life as a swan. Like each set of sisters in their family before them, Blanca and Roja know they will be forced to play a dangerous game that will determine their fates, but when two of their childhood friends become unwilling participants, the girls must find a way to break the curse, or risk having each of their fates changed forever.
Why you might like it: This enchanting retelling of Swan Lake is a dark fantasy about love, friendship, and the bonds of sisterhood.
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| Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. DaoWhat it is: a reimagining of Snow White's evil queen, set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy empire.
Who it's for: Readers who are drawn to ambitious, complex villains will relish the journey of Xifeng, an abuse survivor who uses violent magic and cruel schemes to claw her way towards power.
Series alert: This richly detailed volume kicks of the Rise of the Empress duology, which concludes in Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix. |
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| Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemoreWhat it's about: In 1518, a plague of uncontrollable dancing takes hold of Strasbourg, France, provoking menacing prejudice against Romani teen Lavinia and her beloved, Alifair. Centuries later, the same plague grips contemporary teen Rosella, awakening her feelings for her friend Emil.
Why you might like it: Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Red Shoes, as well as real historical events, the intertwining storylines of this magical, moving tale show how both fear and love can resonate across time. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for teens! |
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