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| The Poet X by Elizabeth AcevedoStarring: 15-year-old Xiomara, who isn't afraid to speak with her fists when she's harassed on the street, but who discovers that poetry offers an outlet for her family frustrations, her doubts about her Catholic faith, and her feelings about her secret boyfriend.
About the author: Slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo makes her debut with this bittersweet, hard-hitting novel in verse.
Try this next: Isabel Quintero's Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, for another memorable Latina character finding her voice. |
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| Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi AdeyemiFeaturing: Zélie, a divîner with dormant magic abilities who's fed up with King Saran's brutal oppression; Amari, the rebellious princess who hopes to reawaken the magic in Zélie and others like her; and Inan, the crown prince who's determined to stop them.
Book buzz: This vivid, fast-paced trilogy opener is already generating excitement among readers on social media.
Further reading: Looking for another richly drawn Afrofantasy series? Try Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch or Tochi Onyebuchi's Beasts Made of Night. |
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| A Girl Like That by Tanaz BhathenaWhat it's about: piecing together how (and why) headstrong orphan Zarin and her childhood friend Porus wound up dead by the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Who it's for: With postmortem narration, a diverse cast, and an unflinching portrayal of abuse, A Girl Like That will grab readers looking for unconventional stories about girls who defy society's rules. |
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| Time Bomb by Joelle CharbonneauWhat it's about: A bombing at their high school leaves students Frankie, Rashid, Tad, Z, Diana, and Cas trapped together, dependent on each other to survive but all too aware that any of them could be the bomber.
Read it for: Multiple perspectives, shifting alliances, and steadily building suspense.
Reviewers say: "a powerful page-turner that doesn’t let up until its explosive finale" (Publishers Weekly).
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| The Belles by Dhonielle ClaytonWhat it's about: Only the Belles can beautify the gray, red-eyed people of Orleans, and though 16-year-old Belle Camellia is thrilled to become the favorite of the royal family, she soon discovers that the palace is full of ominous secrets, and that there's more to her magic than she ever suspected.
Series alert: Lush and thought-provoking, this series opener will leave you desperate for the next book.
For fans of: Keira Cass' The Selection or Scott Westerfeld's Pretties. |
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Tyler Johnson Was Here
by Jay Coles
What it's about: When Marvin Johnson's twin brother, Tyler, is shot and killed by a police officer, Marvin must fight injustice to learn the true meaning of freedom.
Try this next: Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give and Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down
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Hamilton and Peggy! : A Revolutionary Friendship
by L. M. Elliott
What it's about: The best-selling author of Between the States presents a richly detailed historical novel inspired by the relationship between Alexander Hamilton and Peggy Schuyler, describing how the latter was challenged by the realities of war to distinguish herself from her remarkable sisters and make her own mark on history.
For fans of: Hamilton: An American Musical and Melissa de la Cruz's Alex & Eliza: A Love Story.
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Focus on: Australian Fiction
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Words in Deep Blue
by Cath Crowley
What it's about: After her brother's death, 18-year-old Australian Rachel moves back to Gracetown, the Melbourne suburb where she grew up. Despite her devastating grief, she soon reconnects with her former best friend (and unrequited love) Henry, and finds solace in a job at his family's bookstore, where a special "Letter Library" houses books filled with notes left by customers.
Why you might like it: Between snippets from the Letter Library, Rachel and Henry take turns narrating this thoughtful, deeply moving story about pain, hope, and the power of words. Bookish types (that probably means YOU) will want to savor Words in Deep Blue.
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Get it Together, Delilah!
by Erin Gough
What it's about: Managing the family deli when her mother leaves to marry another man and her father goes on a trip to fix his broken heart, 17-year-old Delilah struggles to keep up with her schoolwork, navigate bullies and retain her closest friendship while watching a woman across the street who performs beautiful dances every night.
Reviewers say: "A relatable narrator and a realistic, grounded lesbian romance will leave readers cheering for Delilah to find her way." -Booklist
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| The Dark Days Club by Alison GoodmanStarring: Lady Helen Wexhall, whose supernatural abilities complicate her social debut in 1812 London and provoke a personal dilemma: should she marry the Duke of Selburn and be a respectable lady, or join the rakish Earl of Carlston as a demon-fighter with the Dark Days Club?
For fans of: Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy.
Series alert: This atmospheric historical fantasy series continues in The Dark Days Pact. |
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The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl
by Melissa Keil
What it's about: Loving her routines in a small town where she wakes up to the smells of the nearby bakery, draws comic books and spends time with her friends, Alba finds her life thrown into chaos by changes in her relationships with two boys and growing doomsday mania that is bringing hordes of strangers into the community.
Further reading: Love doomsday fiction? Try Patrick Ness' The Rest of Us Just Live Here and Ryan Gebhart's Of Jenny and the Aliens.
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| Six Impossible Things by Fiona WoodWhat it's about: After his dad announces that he's bankrupt, gay, and leaving, Dan and his mom have a tough time: they move into a smelly old house, and private school student Dan has to transfer to public school. Thank goodness for Estelle, his dazzling new neighbor and fellow misfit.
Who it's for: "Effervescent and sweet" (Kirkus Reviews), this quirky tale will please romance readers as well as those looking for guy-centric coming-of-age stories. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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