|
|
| Internment by Samira AhmedThe setting: a frightening near-future U.S. in which Muslim Americans are forced into internment camps.
What happens: Wrenched from her home after she and her family are imprisoned, strong-willed 17-year-old Layla Amin becomes a leader for the resistance, risking everything to take down the camp and shatter the silence that allows violent injustice to go unchecked.
Is it for you? While some readers might find the premise too disturbing, others will be riveted by the brave, authentic heroine. |
|
| We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza BartlettWhat it’s about: Linnâe is a general’s daughter who disguised herself so she could join the army. Revna is a so-called traitor’s daughter who was caught using illegal magic. Their dislike is mutual, but when they’re both recruited to an all-female regiment that flies living metal planes into battle, their lives depend on their ability to share a cockpit.
Read it for: an unlikely but powerful friendship and an imaginative, Russian-inspired fantasy world. |
|
|
A Very Large Expanse of Sea
by Tahereh Mafi
What 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.
|
|
| Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCrearyWhat it is: a candid, upbeat memoir about author Michael McCreary’s experiences of growing up autistic and becoming a stand-up comic.
What’s inside: snarky humor, pop culture references, supportive advice for readers on the spectrum, and misconception-busting insights for neurotypical readers.
You might also like: Shane Burcaw’s Laughing at My Nightmare, another uproarious memoir by an author who uses humor to deal with ableism (as well as life’s other challenges). |
|
|
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America
by Ibi Zoboi, editor
What it is: an authentic, wide-ranging collection of short stories by black authors celebrating and exploring the various ways of being young and black.
Featuring: romance from Justina Ireland, fantasy from Rita Williams-Garcia, self-discovery from Varian Johnson, and a slice of life from Jason Reynolds, plus stories from Nic Stone, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Coe Booth, and many more.
Why you might like it: You saw that author line-up, right?
|
|
|
Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen
by Garth Nix
Fantasy. Though many people in the Old Kingdom would love to live in the capital city of Belisaere, Clariel is resentful that her mother's job has forced them to move there. Prickly and willful, Clariel would rather be in the Great Forest, far from the King's court, boring Charter magic lessons, and an unwanted engagement. When political unrest explodes into violence and Free Magic rages through the city, Clariel's desire for freedom leads her to make choices that could have far-reaching and devastating effects. Set in a breathtaking fantasy world with an intricate system of magic, this prequel to the Abhorsen trilogy is perfect for Philip Pullman fans who want another absorbing series.
|
|
| Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda BellezaStarring: Crown Princess Rhee, sole heir to the galaxy’s dynasty, now undercover and out for revenge after an assassination attempt; and Aly, a refugee turned reality TV star who becomes a fugitive after he’s accused of Rhee’s murder.
Read it for: compelling characters, interstellar world-building, and intertwining storylines that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Series alert: catch the conclusion to this duology in Blood of a Thousand Stars. |
|
| Contagion by Erin BowmanFeaturing: microbiology intern Thea, former military pilot Nova, and their teammates on the rescue ship sent to answer a distress call from a mining crew on the planet Achlys.
What happens: By the time the team arrives on Achlys, there's nothing left but piles of corpses and an ominous note. Can they discover what killed the drill crew without meeting the same fate? Multiple perspectives heighten the suspense in this horror/science fiction hybrid.
Look for: the sequel, Immunity, on shelves this July. |
|
| Defy the Stars by Claudia GrayWhat it’s about: While fighting to protect her home planet from Earth colonizers, pilot Noemi discovers Abel, an abandoned, highly advanced Earth mech who might prove to be a crucial ally.
Why you might like it: Alternating narration allows you to see both sides of Noemi and Abel’s evolving relationship -- and the complicated moral dilemma that comes with it.
Series alert: this gripping science fiction story continues in Defy the Worlds and Defy the Fates. |
|
| Nyxia by Scott ReintgenWhat it’s about: To save his struggling family, Detroit teen Emmett Atwater accepts a high-paying offer from Babel Communications to join their expedition to the planet Eden, home to a miraculous substance called nyxia. The catch? He’ll have to fight the nine other recruits for a place on the final team.
Series alert: to find out what’s next for this page-turner's multicultural cast, pick up the sequels, Nyxia Unleashed and Nyxia Uprising. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
|
|
|
Richmond Public Library 101 East Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 646-7223rvalibrary.org/ |
|
|
|