Staff Pickles - librarians online
|
|
Our team of staff pickles are here to bring you recommendations with flavour. We will be sharing lists, reviews, and blog posts - all about the books, movies, TV, and music we love. Follow us on the libraries' blog or in the catalogue or ask us for a personalised recommendation.
|
|
| Never always sometimes by Adi AlsaidBack when they started high school, best friends Julia and Dave made the Never List. In it, they outlined all of the clichéd teen activities (such as life-changing road trips, skinny dipping, hair dye experiments, and running for prom king) that they'd never, ever do. Now, nearing the end of senior year, they decide to break their own rules and see how many "nevers" they can accomplish. The results are hilarious, poignant, and surprising - especially when Julia and Dave tackle number ten on the list: never date your best friend. With "all the fun of a classic teen movie" (Booklist), Never Always Sometimes will satisfy fans of Stephanie Perkins and John Green. |
|
| The fixer by Jennifer BarnesHigh school drama leads to secrets, intrigue, and murder in this suspenseful new thriller. Sixteen-year-old Tess has just moved from Montana to join her older sister, Ivy, in Washington, DC. In the District, Ivy is famous for her abilities as a political "fixer," and after enrolling at the elite Hardwicke School, Tess discovers that she, too, has a knack for solving sticky problems. Then Tess discovers a shocking connection between a classmate and a high-profile government scandal, and the sisters' worlds collide. |
|
| Adrift by Paul GriffinIf they hadn't gone to the party, Matt and his friend John might never have ended up stranded in the Atlantic. But when tourists Driana, Stef, and João invited the guys to a luxe party in the Hamptons, how could they say no? And how could they guess that Stef's reckless windsurfing would lead to a disastrous rescue attempt, leaving all five teens drifting on the open sea? Now, far from help, they desperately try to survive injuries, sharks, scorching heat, and rapidly mounting psychological pressure. Similar to Matt de la Peña's The Living, Adrift offers diverse characters and riveting tension. |
|
|
My neighbor Seki: Tonari No Seki-kum 1 by Takuma MorishigeToshinari Seki takes goofing off to new heights. Every day, on or around his school desk, he masterfully creates his own little worlds of wonder, often hidden to most of his classmates. Unfortunately for Rumi Yokoi, his neighbour at the back of their homeroom, his many games, dioramas, and projects are often way too interesting to ignore; even when they are hurting her grades.
|
|
|
Careers: the graphic guide to finding the perfect job for you by Sarah PawlewskiAn easy-to-navigate compendium of career profiles provides teens with information about more than 400 job options, including engaging tables, charts and quotes that reveal typical salaries, working hours and training requirements.
|
|
|
I am Princess X by Cherie PriestYears after writing stories about a superheroine character she created with a best friend who died in a tragic car accident, 16-year-old Libby is shocked to see stickers, patches and graffiti images of the superheroine appearing all over town.
|
|
|
The mindful teen: powerful skills to help you handle stress one moment at a time by Dzung X. VoBeing a teen is stressful! Whether it's school, friends, or dating, the teen years are full of difficult changes - both mentally and physically. If you're like many teens, you may have difficulty dealing with stress in effective ways. The simple, practical, and easy-to-remember tips in this book can be used every day to help you handle any difficult situation more effectively whether it's taking a test at school, having a disagreement with your parents, or a problem you are having with friends. If you're ready to uncover your own inner strength and resilience through mindful awareness and take charge of your life, this book will show you how.
|
|
| Six impossible things by Fiona WoodEver since his dad announced that he was bankrupt, gay, and leaving, Dan and his mom have been having a tough time. Struggling with finances, they move into a smelly old Victorian house, and private school student Dan has to transfer to public school, where most of his classmates see him as a "complete nerd/loser." Thank goodness for Estelle, his dazzling new next-door neighbour and fellow misfit. "Effervescent and sweet" (Kirkus Reviews), this quirky tale from Australian author Fiona Wood will please romance readers as well as those looking for authentic, guy-centric coming of age stories. |
|
| Stifled and stuck in an Iowa suburb until he leaves for college in the fall, Dade is weary of his bickering parents, his pathetic job at Food World, and most especially of pining after Pablo, his "friend" and (even though Pablo has a girlfriend) regular hook-up. Then Dade meets handsome, enigmatic, and somewhat dangerous Alex Kincaid - and falls in love.
|
|
| How to steal a car by Pete HautmanWith nothing to do but loiter at the mall or work on her summer assignments (reading Moby-Dick and writing a "how-to" essay), 15-year-old Kelleigh escapes the oppressive boredom of her suburban life by stealing a car. Once she gets away with it a few times - after all, she tells herself, it's not like boosting cars is any worse than her mom's drinking or her dad's cheating - it's hard to resist more, and riskier, thefts. Though Kelleigh's voice is biting and bleak, readers who like angsty, character-driven stories will want to follow her all the way through her remorseless summer of crime. |
|
| Girl defective by Simmone HowellObscure music is the soundtrack to Skylark Martin's life, which is hardly surprising, since she lives above her family's vintage record store. Besides her nostalgia-loving father and eccentric younger brother, Sky doesn't have much of a social life until she starts hanging out with the store's latest employees: Nancy, a wild older girl with connections to their Melbourne suburb's shady underground scene, and Luke, the brooding, attractive brother of a local girl whose tragic death might not have been an accident. If you prefer realistic stories packed with sharp observations and multi-layered characters, this mysterious, music-infused story is for you. |
|
| Dare you to by Katie McGarry"Fairy-tales happen, just not to me. Time to tell the prince he rescued the wrong girl." Tough, tattooed skater girl Beth is sure that perfect baseball star Ryan won't stay interested in her once he understands how messed up she is. After all, she wouldn't even have moved to Ryan's upscale suburb if she hadn't gotten into trouble for protecting her drug-addicted mom. But as their secret relationship gets more serious - and more steamy - Beth starts to realize that she and Ryan might be more alike than she suspected. If you like gritty, emotionally intense reads, you'll fall for this gripping love story. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|