| We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay MejiaWhat it’s about: on the island of Medio, rival classmates Daniela and Carmen graduate to become the dual wives of a merciless politician, leading them to question their understanding of Median government as well as their feelings for one another.
Series alert: filled with twists, treachery, blackmail, and rebellion, this captivating fantasy will leave you longing for the planned sequel.
You might also like: Tracy Banghart’s Grace and Fury or Natasha Ngan’s Girls of Paper and Fire. |
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The vanishing stair
by Maureen Johnson
Pulled out of Ellingham Academy by her overprotective parents, aspiring detective Stevie Bell makes a deal with the despicable Edward King in hopes of reuniting with her friends and solving the Truly Devious case. 75,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.
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Fatal throne : the wives of Henry VIII tell all
by M. T Anderson
Evocative first-person accounts by such award-winning and best-selling authors as M. T. Anderson, Linda Sue Park and Jennifer Donnelly reimagine the tragic lives of Henry VIII and his six wives.
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Ghost boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
"After seventh-grader Jerome is shot by a white police officer, he observes the aftermath of his death and meets the ghosts of other fallen black boys including historical figure Emmett Till"
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Hurricane Child
by Kheryn Callender
Born on Water Island in the Virgin Islands during a hurricane, which is considered bad luck, twelve-year-old Caroline falls in love with another girl--and together they set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother
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Comics & Graphic Novels Roundup
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| Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope BagieuWhat it is: a collection of stylish, brightly colored comics, each one a micro-biography of a daring woman from history.
Featuring: Mae Jemison, astronaut; Sonita Alizadeh, rapper; Las Mariposas, rebels; Christine Jorgensen, reluctant celebrity; and Nzinga, Queen of Ndongo and Matamba, to name just a few!
Who it’s for: comics fans, history geeks, and stop-and-start readers in search of browsable nonfiction. |
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| The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John HendrixWhat it is: a gripping biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian pastor who stood up against the Nazis and joined a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
Art alert: Using only a few colors, author and artist John Hendrix creates intricate, infographic-style illustrations that fold in facts alongside deeply felt emotions.
Try this next: Patricia McCormick’s The Plot to Kill Hitler offers a deeper dive into Bonhoeffer’s brief yet fascinating life. |
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| On a Sunbeam by Tillie WaldenWhat it’s about: Haunted by memories of boarding school and her lost love, Grace, Mia finds connection and hope when she joins a spaceship crew on an intergalactic journey to restore the ruins of abandoned, free-floating buildings.
Why you might like it: Set a world where everyone is female or nonbinary, this thought-provoking graphic novel (originally a webcomic) explores not only space, but also human relationships. |
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| The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen WangThe setting: nineteenth-century Paris, where talented seamstress and aspiring fashion designer Frances has just gained a wealthy but confidential new client: Lady Crystallia, the secret alter-ego of young Prince Sebastian.
Is it for you? Though it plays fast and loose with history, this sweet, stylish graphic novel has charm to spare.
Art alert: If you grew up with Raina Telgemeier’s books, you might enjoy the similarly cartoony but more sophisticated look of Jen Wang’s illustrations. |
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| Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld; illustrated by Alex PuvillandWelcome to...what used to be Poughkeepsie, New York, but is now an altered-reality “Spill Zone” populated by unnatural beasts and corpses with glowing eyes.
What happens: Photographing the Spill Zone for cash is dangerous, but orphaned Addison risks it in order to finance an escape for herself and her little sister.
Why you might like it: Sharp angles, unusual colors, and adrenaline-pumping violence all combine in this surreal graphic novel, the 1st in a two-book series. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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