"When you convert a good book to a film, stupid things happen. God only knows what would happen if you tried to convert this unstoppable barf-fest into a film."
~ from Jesse Andrews' Me and Earl and the Dying Girl |
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| The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian KatcherFiction. Overachiever Ana couldn't care less that this year's Washingcon sci-fi convention conflicts with her quiz bowl team's championship, but geeky Zak, a reluctant quiz bowl alternate, is disappointed to miss the con. So when Ana's brother (and teammate) Clayton ditches the quiz bowl for Washingcon, Ana enlists Zak to help her find him. The two of them take turns narrating their wild night-long search, which includes cosplayers, gamers, card collectors, felons, a Star Wars/Star Trek wedding...and a growing attraction that Zak and Ana can't ignore. Similar to Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, this opposites-attract romance offers both genuine emotions and pop culture-inspired humor. |
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| The Porcupine of Truth by Bill KonigsbergFiction. Carson hasn't seen his alcoholic father in years, but now that the guy is dying, 17-year-old Carson is forced to spend the summer with him in Billings, Montana. There, Carson meets Aisha, who's been sleeping at the local zoo since her ultra-conservative father kicked her out for being a lesbian. The two quickly become friends, and after they discover some surprising clues regarding Carson's long-absent grandfather, they take off on a road trip to learn the truth and bring Carson's dad some closure. If you prefer realistic fiction that's both funny and unflinching, don't miss this bittersweet story about prejudice, forgiveness, and family. |
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| Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer LathamSupernatural Mystery. At 16, talented sleuth Scarlett has already finished high school and started her own detective agency. Though her latest job seems normal enough, it leads to an ancient supernatural conspiracy in Scarlett's family history; to crack the case, Scarlett will have to re-examine not only her personal beliefs, but also her father's unsolved murder. Told in a tough-talking, hard-boiled style, this debut novel introduces a memorable teen detective and a suspenseful, mythology-infused mystery. Readers who want another smart Muslim American heroine may enjoy G. Willow Wilson's Ms. Marvel comics, while those looking for another teen gumshoe should try Sean Beaudoin's You Killed Wesley Payne. |
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| Nimona by Noelle StevensonGraphic Fantasy. When exuberant, gleefully violent Nimona first offers to be his sidekick, villainous Lord Ballister Blackheart turns her down. Once she reveals that she's a shapeshifter, however, Blackheart is intrigued. And Nimona does have some good ideas for overthrowing Blackheart's archenemies, Sir Goldenloin and the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics... But does she really have her powers under control? Adorably edgy cartoons provide the perfect visuals for this witty and heartfelt fantasy that overturns stereotypes about good and evil. Whether you're a new fan or you've been following Nimona since its beginning as a webcomic, you may find it hard to resist the adventures of this irrepressible anti-heroine. |
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If You Like: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
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Combining humor, profanity, and insight, these unconventional reads about friendship, creativity, and the things that change (or don't change) your life will appeal to fans of Jesse Andrews' Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. The movie of Me and Earl opened in U.S. theaters in June.
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| Dear Life, You Suck by Scott BlagdenFiction. Outspoken, irreverent, and a little too quick with his fists, 17-year-old Cricket doesn't see a lot of options for himself once he leaves the Naskeag Home for Boys. He might survive on his boxing skills, or by taking over for a local drug dealer, but with such a bleak future and an unthinkable past, Cricket's not even sure that life is worth living anymore. Enter Wynona Bidaban, the girl who offers Cricket unexpected new perspectives. Like Me and Earl's Greg, Cricket confronts both the excitement and the bitter unfairness of life with sarcasm, self-awareness, and lots of movie references. |
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| An Abundance of Katherines by John GreenFiction. Recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin Singleton falls in love easily. Since third grade, he's had a grand total of 19 girlfriends, all named Katherine, who have all dumped him. Freshly rejected by Katherine XIX, Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend Hassan, a chubby, Judge Judy-obsessed Muslim with dreams of becoming a stand-up comic. They make it as far as Gutshot, Tennessee, where they befriend a girl who is NOT named Katherine, and where Colin works to perfect a mathematical formula that can predict how long romantic relationships will last. This offbeat male-bonding story should appeal to anyone who thinks that math is fun, road trips have curative powers, or that everyone's story matters. |
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| Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II by Ronald KoertgeFiction. Having been ditched one too many times by his flaky sort-of girlfriend, Colleen, aspiring filmmaker Ben Bancroft wonders whether someone his overbearing grandmother approves of -- like popular, pretty, academically driven A.J., who is just as big of a film nut as Ben -- might be a better match for him. But can A.J. really see past Ben's cerebral palsy like Colleen does? Fans of the 1st book, Stoner & Spaz (and other all-about-the-attiude novels like Barry Lyga's The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl), will be pleased to find the same sort of witty, electric banter in Now Playing, and film buffs will appreciate the movies that are mentioned throughout. |
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| King Dork by Frank PortmanFiction. Smart, cynical Tom Henderson is a typical high school loser whose pastimes include coming up with band names (never mind the fact that he's not in a band) and trying to attract "semihot girls." Tom is baffled and annoyed by his teachers' cultish allegiance to The Catcher in the Rye, a book that changed their lives when they were teenagers. But Tom's own life is about to be changed by a copy of the same book -- the copy that his recently deceased father filled with cryptic notes that might explain his mysterious death. Tom's sardonic humor and esoteric musical references continue in the sequel, King Dork Approximately. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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