| Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn BarnesWhat it's about: When her estranged grandmother offers her half a million dollars to become a debutante for a season, 18-year-old car mechanic Sawyer can't refuse, and not just because of the money -- it's also a chance to find the father she's never known.
Read it for: a sharp, page-turning peek at the ball gowns, back-stabbing, mysteries, and scandals of Southern high society. |
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Wind Rider
by P. C. Cast
A world filled with beauty and danger and cruelty... Mari, Nik, and their newly formed Pack are being hunted. Thaddeus and the God of Death will stop at nothing until they are obliterated from the earth. But Mari and Nik have one goal: to reach the plains of the Wind Riders, in order to band together to stop Thaddeus from destroying all that Mari and Nik hold dear. But will the mysterious Wind Riders accept the Pack, or will Mari and Nik and their people be rejected by the mighty Riders and be forced to flee for their lives? And what happens when a rogue Lead Stallion gets too close to the Pack, rejecting all Wind Riders and turning to a stranger for companionship instead? In the next installment of the Tales of a New World series love and goodness are put to the ultimate test. Will the Wind Riders and the Pack be strong enough to withstand the God of Death? Will the Great Goddess of Life awaken to join the battle, and if so, will it be as Death's consort, or will the Goddess stand with Mari and her people against the great love of her eternal life?
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A world without princes
by Soman Chainani
When best friends Sophie and Agatha return to a fairy tale world, they find that old enemies are no longer fighting, but a war begins to brew as an enemy arises from within
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And the Ocean Was Our Sky
by Patrick Ness
With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt. Led by the formibable, dangerous Captain Alexandra, they fight in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself. With their relentless Captain leading the chase, they embark on a final, vengeful hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of both whales and men.
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| Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha NganWhat it's about: At age 17, Lei, a member of Ikhara's lowly Paper caste, is forced into training to become one of the brutal Demon King's concubines. Despite living in constant fear, she soon finds herself drawn into an unexpected romance -- and a treacherous plot.
Who it's for: Though the disturbing themes of oppression and violence may not be for everyone, mature fantasy fans will appreciate the intricate world-building, gripping pace, and captivating love story in this debut novel. |
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| Never Always Sometimes by Adi AlsaidFeaturing: Best friends Julia and Dave, creators of the Never List, an outline of all of the clichéd teen activities -- such as life-changing road trips, hair dye experiments, and running for prom king -- that they'll never, ever do.
What happens: For senior year, Julia and Dave decide to break their own rules and see how many "nevers" they can accomplish. The results are hilarious, poignant, and surprising.
For fans of: Stephanie Perkins and John Green. |
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| Top Ten by Katie CotugnoWhat it is: A charming and realistic collection of flashbacks highlighting the top ten moments in the odd-couple friendship between popular hockey player Ryan and anxious introvert Gabby.
Why you might like it: Alternating perspectives let you see both characters' points-of-view as they support each other through health issues (both mental and physical), grapple with their growing attraction (a problem, since they both have girlfriends), and approach the end of high school. |
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| Since You've Been Gone by Morgan MatsonWhat it's about: Two weeks after she disappears without saying goodbye, Emily's best friend Sloane mails her a list of challenges for the summer. With the help of attractive overachiever Frank Porter, Emily tackles the list -- which includes "go skinny-dipping," "dance until dawn," and "ride a horse" -- and hopes that they'll lead her back to Sloane.
Is it for you? If you loved Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes, you'll fall for this sweet and funny read.
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| Side Effects May Vary by Julie MurphyWhat it's about: Facing terminal leukemia, Alice enlists her friend Harvey to help her complete her revenge-fueled "Just Dying To-Do" list -- a plan that backfires when she goes into unexpected remission.
Who it's for: readers looking for honest stories about not-so-saintly cancer survivors.
About the author: Go back to the start with this first book from Julie Murphy, the popular author of Dumplin' (which is soon to be a Netflix movie). |
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| A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal SutherlandWelcome to: the Solar family, where each member is cursed to live with (and die from) one great fear.
What happens: Seventeen-year-old Esther Solar doesn't yet know which fear will kill her, but she keeps a long list of contenders, carefully avoiding them all...until her childhood crush Jonah convinces her to confront and conquer them instead.
Read it for: a dark, moving, magical realist story about the thorny bonds of mental illness and family history. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
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