|
|
|
|
| The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona CharaipotraWelcome to: Foxham Prep, an elite private school for the children of Washington, D.C.'s most powerful, where a solitary rumor can snowball out of control.
Who we're gossiping about: Bryn, the student body president fallen from grace; Cora, the epitome of Black Excellence and newest queen bee; and Georgie, whose summer transformation is turning heads.
Read it for: the twisty, fast-paced drama and the sharp explorations of race, beauty, gender, and privilege. |
|
| Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura GaoMeet Yuyang: the carefree 3-year-old living in Wuhan, China, who listens to folktales told by her grandmother and plays outside with her cousins.
Meet Laura: That's Yuyang's new name, given by her mother upon arrival in small-town Texas. Her journey to adulthood blends learning to embrace her roots with discovering her queer identity.
Is it for you? This moving graphic memoir paints a nuanced, emotional portrait of one Asian American experience, including facing racism fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
| One for All by Lillie LainoffWhat it is: a reimagining of The Three Musketeers, starring a girl with a chronic illness determined to avenge her father's murder.
What happens: Tania de Batz attends a school that secretly trains young women to defend France with their wits and their swords. There she meets Aria, Portia, and Théa, who become Tania's sisters in arms.
Read it for: the compelling mystery, the chosen family story, a dash of romance, and an affirming portrayal of chronic illness. |
|
| Ready When You Are by Gary LonesboroughStarring: Jackson, enjoying his free time during summer on the Mish, an area in Australia where Aboriginal people were once forced to live. So why isn't his relationship with his girlfriend flourishing?
Enter: cute, mysterious Tomas, out of juvie and staying with Jackson's family. A mutual attraction blossoms, but a desire for secrecy complicates matters.
What sets it apart: This sweet, romantic coming-out story set in the fictional rural Koori community is informed by author Gary Lonesborough's own life. |
|
| Gallant by V.E. SchwabAt Merilance School for Independent Girls: Olivia, who's nonspeaking and the only student who uses sign language, is ostracized and tormented. She's also the only person who sees the ghouls haunting the school.
At Gallant: Olivia hopes to find a caring family. Instead, her uncle's run-down estate offers up more ghouls, and a chance to unravel the ominous family secrets hinted at in her mother's journal.
How it's told: This standalone fantasy incorporates eerie black and white artwork into the suspenseful, atmospheric story. |
|
| The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza AzadWelcome to: Noor, a vibrant multicultural city on the Silk Road rebuilt after the chaotic Shayateen djinn massacred nearly everyone.
Starring: Fatima, one of only three survivors. An encounter with a powerful Ifrit djinni ignites the fire of the djinn within her. To protect her beloved community from looming threats, she must overcome her grief and harness her power.
Is it for you? This lush, mythology-inspired fantasy layers political intrigue with reflections on identity and trauma. |
|
| Permanent Record by Mary H.K. ChoiWhat it is: a captivating coming-of-age story about Korean Pakistani American Pablo Rind, a struggling college dropout, whose whirlwind romance with pop star Leanna Smart shakes up his life.
Read it for: the swoony, messy relationship, the authentic, funny dialogue, and the lively cast of characters.
Author alert: Fans of author Mary H.K. Choi's Emergency Contact and Yolk will appreciate the focus on cultural identity, mental health, and 24/7 social media in Permanent Record. |
|
| The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda PetrusThe set-up: Audre is sent from Trinidad to Minnesota after her religious mother discovers her relationship with another young woman. There she meets Mabel, who has terminal cancer, and the two forge an eternal, celestial connection.
How it's told: in alternating perspectives from Audre and Mabel's unmistakable, unapologetic voices, infused with poetry and a touch of magical realism.
For fans of: bittersweet, moving love stories like Nicola Yoon's The Sun is Also a Star. |
|
| There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose PoolThe old prophets foretold: that an age of darkness would fall upon the land. Then they disappeared. That was 100 years ago.
A new prophet: can prevent this fate. Now five daring but flawed young people -- an exiled prince, an assassin, a dying girl, a knight, and a gambler -- devote their lives to this battle between free will and prophecy.
For fans of: world-building fantasy with likeable characters, such as Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and Kristin Cashore's Graceling. |
|
| When You Were Everything by Ashley WoodfolkWhat it is: a realistic story of a friend breakup. Cleo and Layla were inseparable, until Layla began making new friends. That led Cleo to lash out and destroy their relationship.
How it's told: from Cleo's point of view, with chapters that jump between "then" and "now," and references to her favorite music and literature throughout.
Is it for you? This richly detailed story recognizes the sorrow of losing a friend and depicts a hopeful path forward. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
|
|
|
Atlantic County Library System | 40 Farragut Avenue, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 625-2776 | www.atlanticlibrary.org
   |
|  | Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson
Atlantic County Board of Commissioners, Maureen Kern, Chairwoman |
|
|
|