| Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane AndersWhat it's about: Though she looks like a human Earthling, 17-year-old Tina knows she's actually an alien clone destined to turn the tide of an intergalactic war. But knowing that and doing it are two very different things, as Tina discovers when destiny arrives and expects her to become a heroic starship captain.
Read it for: found family, thrilling momentum, an inclusive cast of characters, and a fascinating space setting.
For fans of: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's Aurora Rising. |
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| Bruised by Tanya BotejuWhat it's about: Nothing compares to the sudden pain of losing her parents in an accident, but that doesn't stop Daya Wijesinghe from seeking out physical pain she can control. When she joins a rough-and-tumble roller derby team, however, she gets a lot more out of it than bruises.
Why you might like it: Daya's reluctant journey toward healing is moving, while her growing relationship with roller derby (and her teammates) is equal parts fun and uplifting.
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| Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea KempStarring: Pen, who wants to defy her parents' college expectations and open a pasteleria alongside her family's taco restaurant in Austin, TX; and Xander, who wants to find his estranged dad and live without the constant stress of being undocumented.
What happens: Pen and Xander begin a relationship that challenges them to examine what they need from their families, their community, and each other.
For fans of: the mouth-watering food and down-to-earth characters in Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High. |
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| The Cost of Knowing by Brittney MorrisWhat it's about: Cursed with the ability to see the future of anything he touches, 16-year-old Alex is horrified by a vision of his brother Isaiah's impending death. Determined to break the curse, Alex realizes that to challenge the future, he'll have to dig into his ancestral past.
Try this next: Maika and Maritza Moulite's One of the Good Ones, another layered sibling story that confronts generations of racism; or Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End, another perspective on death foretold. |
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| Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden ThomasFive years ago: Wendy Darling and her younger brothers went missing in the woods, and only Wendy returned, with no memories of what happened.
Now: Just as more children disappear, a still-grieving Wendy encounters Peter -- a boy she thought was imaginary -- and her memories begin to resurface, along with a growing fear of what lurks in the woods.
Book buzz: This eerie, haunting spin on Peter Pan is the second book by Cemetery Boys author Aiden Thomas. |
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| Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa BashardoustFeaturing: Soraya, a cursed princess whose poisonous touch keeps her trapped inside the shah's gardens; Azad, the soldier who longs to rescue her; and Parvaneh, the alluring, demonic div whose secret knowledge could upend Soraya's world.
Why you might like it: This lush, twisty fantasy offers a blend of Zoroastrianism, European fairy tales, and the Persian epic The Shahnameh.
You might also like: Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series or Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer duology. |
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| Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn BayronOnce upon a time... Prince Charming found Cinderella, and their story founded a kingdom in which men choose wives at a ball, and girls who aren't chosen disappear.
Happily ever after? When her ball invitation arrives, Sophia refuses to accept her fate, running away in the hope of escaping the kingdom -- or proving that it's based on a lie.
Why you might like it: With fast-moving action and a Black lesbian heroine, this Cinderella reboot defies fairy tale stereotypes. |
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| Five Midnights by Ann Dávila CardinalWhat it’s about: While visiting family in Puerto Rico, “Gringa-Rican” true crime fan Lupe is disturbed by a recent series of murders. When it looks like her missing cousin might be the next victim, Lupe and her reluctant ally Javier investigate, only to discover that the clues point to a notorious mythical monster.
Read it for: a captivating combination of gritty, real-life danger and chilling supernatural horror. |
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| Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. DaoWhat it is: a reimagining of Snow White's evil queen, set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy empire.
Who it's for: Readers who are drawn to ambitious, complex villains will relish the journey of Xifeng, an abuse survivor who uses violent magic and cruel schemes to claw her way towards power.
Series alert: This richly detailed volume kicks of the Rise of the Empress duology, which concludes in Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix. |
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| Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemoreWhat it's about: In 1518, a plague of uncontrollable dancing takes hold of Strasbourg, France, provoking menacing prejudice against Romani teen Lavinia and her beloved, Alifair. Centuries later, the same plague grips contemporary teen Rosella, awakening her feelings for her friend Emil.
Why you might like it: Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Red Shoes, as well as real historical events, the intertwining storylines of this magical, moving tale show how both fear and love can resonate across time. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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