| Give Me Some Truth by Eric GansworthWelcome to: the Tuscarora Reservation, 1980, home to 17-year-old aspiring rock star Carson and 15-year-old artist Maggi.
What happens: Carson, Maggi, and their friend Lewis (from Eric Gansworth's earlier book, If I Ever Get Out of Here) join forces to enter Battle of the Bands and protest a racist restaurant near the Rez.
Look for: the author's playlist and paintings, which round out this up-close look at the intersecting lives of two Native teens. |
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| Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. JacksonWhat it's about: When Claudia's best friend Monday doesn't show up for the first day of school -- or any of the days that follow -- Claudia knows that something is seriously wrong. Why does Monday's family give conflicting reasons for her absence? And why does no one else care that a girl has disappeared?
Why you might like it: Intense, suspenseful, and poignant, Monday's Not Coming will keep you guessing and stay with you long after the final page. |
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| From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya MenonWhat it is: a series of letters from 16-year-old Twinkle Mehra to her favorite female filmmakers, in which she spills about her crush on dream guy Neil, her documentary film project with Neil's awkward brother Sahil, her mysterious secret admirer, and her best friend's sudden popularity.
Reviewers say: "A sweet, smart gem" (School Library Journal).
You might also like: Nisha Sharma's My So-Called Bollywood Life, another romantic comedy about an Indian American girl with cinematic aspirations. |
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| Anger Is a Gift by Mark OshiroStarring: Moss Jeffries, who's black, gay, prone to panic attacks, and completely fed up with how West Oakland High's so-called security policies result in violence toward innocent students.
For fans of: unflinching realistic fiction about diverse characters who organize and take action in the face of injustice.
About the author: You might recognize Mark Oshiro from his "Mark Does Stuff" blogs, where he reviews popular books and TV series. |
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| Neverworld Wake by Marisha PesslWhat it's about: A car accident leaves Bee and her four estranged best friends trapped between life and death in Neverworld Wake, where they're doomed to repeat the same day until they can agree on which one of them gets to live.
Why you might like it: Bee's suspicions that her friends might have been involved in her boyfriend's death a year earlier add a layer of mystery to this unsettling and unpredictable tale. |
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Focus on: Thrillers and Suspense
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| The Special Ones by Em BaileyWhat it's about: He is always watching. He keeps Esther and the other Special Ones on an isolated farm, where they provide online spiritual guidance to his cult followers -- and those who don't play along risk being "renewed" and never seen again.
Who it's for: Oozing with claustrophobic dread, this tale of brainwashing and survival is a must-read for fans of provocative thrillers such as Stephanie Oakes' The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly or Kevin Brooks' The Bunker Diaries. |
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| The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie HallIntroducing: Avery West, who's just discovered that her family is part of a powerful secret society. Threatened by enemies and in over her head, she has little choice but to follow two cagey guys into the heart of a conspiracy.
For fans of: James Bond-style globetrotting, glamour, and action.
Series alert: 1st in a trilogy, The Conspiracy of Us is followed by Map of Fates and The Ends of the World. |
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| Panic by Lauren OliverWhat it's about: Every year, high school seniors in impoverished Carp, New York, participate in Panic, a secret survival game designed to push players to the physical and psychological brink.
Featuring: Heather, who's playing for a shot at a better future; and Dodge, who's playing purely for revenge.
Reviewers say: Blending bleak, gripping suspense with moments of hope, Panic is a "compulsively readable tale of friendship, loyalty, survival, and courage" (Booklist). |
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| Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve TucholkeFeaturing: Wink, a bookish, freckle-faced outsider; Poppy, an alluring, unrepentant bully; Midnight, a neighbor boy who's drawn to them both; and an eerie mansion in the woods, where the tension between the three teens reaches a devastating breaking point.
Further reading: If you love this creepy, captivating thriller told through multiple -- but possibly unreliable -- perspectives, you might also enjoy Nova Ren Suma's The Walls Around Us. |
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| Lies I Told by Michelle ZinkStarring: 17-year-old Grace, adopted into a family of con artists.
What happens: Grace loves her family, and is a talented participant in their long cons and complicated heists. Recently, though, her brother's doubts -- not to mention her steamy romance with her latest mark -- are leading her to question her loyalty.
Don't miss: the sequel, Promises I Made -- you'll want to have it on hand after finishing this twisty, character-driven thriller. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
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