"A photograph is a souvenir of a memory. It is not a moment. It is the looking at the photograph that becomes the moment. Your own moment."
~ from David Levithan's Every You, Every Me |
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| These Shallow Graves by Jennifer DonnellyHistorical Mystery. Seventeen-year-old heiress Jo Montford is poised to take her place in the elite social scene of 1890 Manhattan, even though she'd rather be a writer like her heroine, Nelly Bly. Navigating her own future becomes even more challenging after Jo's father is found dead following what appears to be an accident, but might actually be murder. More interested in the truth than her reputation, Jo launches an investigation that introduces her to all sorts of scandalous places and people, including dashing reporter Eddie and street-savvy thief Fay. Clever and socially conscious, These Shallow Graves combines period melodrama with page-turning mystery. |
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| Willful Machines by Tim FloreenScience Fiction. You'd think that being the President's son would offer a life of ease, but things are far from easy for Lee Fisher. For one thing, he's been targeted by a rogue "artificially conscious" terrorist (ironic, since Lee is a robotics geek). Then there's his dad's ultra-conservative politics, which force Lee to hide the fact that he's gay and falling fast for his eccentric new classmate, Nico. And those of just the first of many thorny situations Lee has to face in this near-future techno-thriller filled with star-crossed romance and provocative questions about artificial intelligence. For a different take on the impact of A.I. on the kids of world leaders, try Erin Bow's The Scorpion Rules. |
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| A Thousand Nights by E.K. JohnstonFantasy. The king Lo-Melkhiin has already killed 300 wives, and the nameless narrator of spellbinding tale isn't going to let her sister be the next fatality. Marrying the murderous king in her sister's place, she prepares for death, but instead discovers that her grieving family has given her the powers of a "smallgod." Using her newfound magical abilities, she weaves stories that persuade the king to let her live, even as she searches for a way to defeat him once and for all. Like Renee Adieh's The Wrath and the Dawn, this poetic re-telling of the classic Scheherazade story focuses on a brave and creative heroine. |
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| Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay KristoffScience Fiction. Ugh, you know that feeling when your recent break-up is suddenly overshadowed by the destruction of your planet? No? Well, it isn't what teen couple Kady and Ezra are expecting either, but when their mining colony home on Kerenza IV is annihilated by corporate rivals BeiTech, their personal issues take a backseat to survival. Yet even after they escape on separate spaceships, survival is a tall order: the ships are plagued with unrest, conspiracy, a crazed artificial intelligence, and a virus that turns people into rage-filled zombies. First in a trilogy and told exclusively through message transcripts, surveillance logs, and other "found documents," Illuminae is an unusual and gripping science fiction thriller. |
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| First & Then by Emma MillsRomance. Whether you prefer sports or classic literature, this endearing debut from author Emma Mills (you might know her as Elmify from YouTube) has something for you. It stars high school senior Devon, a die-hard Jane Austen fan who doesn't know what to do with her future, her crush on her best friend Cas, or her terrible P.E. class. Into this confusion comes her awkward cousin Foster, who recently moved in with Devon's family, and popular football star Ezra, who encourages Foster's unexpected skill as a kicker. Devon finds Ezra both annoying and attractive, and as their relationship develops, Devon discovers that wit, romance, and ambition aren't just for Austen heroines.
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| The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele GriffinMystery. While still a teenager, Addison Stone's unusual talent and volatile personality made her a celebrity, propelling her to the bleeding edge of the New York City art scene. But now Addison is dead, and while her sudden death is both tragic and puzzling, it's nothing compared to the life that led up to it. Media clippings and interviews with family, friends, exes, and others reveal an intimate but mixed-up portrait of the troubled young artist, and photographs -- of both the art and Addison herself -- invite you to dive even deeper into this carefully-constructed story. If you're looking for a more interactive (but equally visual) mystery, pick up Jessica Anthony's Chopsticks. |
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| Every You, Every Me by David Levithan; photographs by Jonathan FarmerSuspense. Where are the photos coming from? Already struggling to cope with the loss of his best friend Ariel, Evan's sadness and guilt become tinged with paranoia after he starts finding anonymous photos related to Ariel. The eerie photos pop up in his locker, in his email, even on his route home from school. Evan's anxiety shows in the crossed-out sentences of his first-person narration, ramping up the tension as he works with Ariel's former boyfriend Jack to find out who's behind the photos, and what secrets Ariel was hiding. Although psychological suspense isn't author David Levithan's usual style, his fans will be intrigued by this haunting story told through words and photographs. |
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| Flash Burnout by L.K. MadiganRealistic Fiction. In photography class, Blake's teacher calls him "Gritty" and his friend Marissa "Pretty" because their pictures have a predictable style. But Blake could never have predicted that in taking a photo of a strung-out homeless woman, he was capturing an image of Marissa's long-absent mom. This stunning coincidence complicates Blake's friendship with Marissa -- and his relationship with his girlfriend, Shannon -- and triggers a chain of events that even Blake's constant stream of jokes can't defuse. Blake's honest, funny, and engaging voice will draw you into his story, which is one that fans of well-developed characters and relationship dramas won't want to miss. |
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| Rain is Not my Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich SmithFiction. Galen's death hits Rain hard. After being best friends for years, they'd just kissed for the first time on the night when Galen was killed in an accident. In her grief, Rain tries to hide away, avoiding the funeral and refusing to get involved with her Aunt Georgia's local Indian Camp (Rain's heritage is a mix of European and Native American nations). But she can't repress her love of photography, and she soon finds herself drawn into a photojournalism project at the camp…and then into the lives of the campers. Readers who love authentic, poignant realistic fiction should definitely check out Rain is Not My Indian Name. |
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| In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat WintersHistorical Fiction. It's 1918, and while millions of soldiers die in World War I and influenza ravages the American home front, many grieving people turn to séances and spiritualism for comfort. But scientific Mary Shelley Black is skeptical of such practices -- until she's visited by the ghost of her true love Stephen, who was killed in the war…or so she believed. Could darker and more sinister forces have caused his death? If you like the atmospheric creepiness of Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, you'll love this eerie, spine-chilling blend of romance, ghost story, and mystery. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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