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What is it like to be young and black, and yet not black enough at the same time? That's the question explored in this poignant collection of stunning short stories by black rock-star authors, including Justina Ireland, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, and Brandy Colbert. The stories center on the experience of black teens, while driving home the fact that they are not a monolith; one person's experiences, reality, and personal identity can be completely different from another's. Family, friends, belonging, isolation, classism, and romance are among the topics that take center stage, and the stories' teens come from a diverse array of backgrounds (e.g., economic, neighborhood, country of origin). |
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The wicked king
by Holly Black
As seneschal to High King Cardan, Jude must fight to keep control of the Faerie throne while her younger brother, Oak, enjoys the childhood she never knew
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The similars
by Rebecca Hanover
"When six clones join Emmaline's prestigious boarding school, she must confront the heartbreak of seeing her dead best friend's face each day in class"
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| Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful by Arwen Elys DaytonWhat it is: six interconnected stories, all set in a future in which human genetic manipulation has astonishing -- and sometimes terrifying -- consequences.
What's inside: designer babies, cyborg convicts, a dolphin boy, and a powerful zealot who undergoes a dramatic change.
For fans of: Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles, TV's Black Mirror, and other stories that question perfection and make you think about what it means to be human (or humane). |
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The Girl King
by Mimi Yu
When their father names a male cousin as next ruler of the Empire of the First Flame, Lu must go on the run to reclaim her birthright, leaving her younger, timid sister, Min, to discover her own hidden power
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| Little & Lion by Brandy ColbertWhat it's about: After a year at boarding school, Suzette is back in Los Angeles, hoping to reinforce her shaky bond with her brother Lionel (who has bipolar disorder.) She's also reeling from a shattered romance with her school roommate, which complicates her newfound feelings for her old friend, Emil.
Why you might like it: An inclusive supporting cast underscores the realistically messy emotions in this story about love, loyalty, and uneasy secrets. |
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| Now Is Everything by Amy GilesWhat it's about: Hours after surviving the accident that took her family, Hadley McCauley -- lacrosse captain, salutatorian, Ivy League-bound -- attempts suicide. Is it survivor's guilt, or is something else driving this seemingly perfect girl to the brink?
Who it's for: Alternating between past and present, Now is Everything draws back the curtain on the abuse that eroded Hadley's family; though it may be too intense for some, readers interested in trauma and survival will be riveted. |
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| Vanishing Girls by Lauren OliverWhat it's about: Before the accident, Nick and her sister Dara were inseparable. Afterwards, Nick can't remember what happened, and Dara, who was badly injured, won't talk to her. Then Dara disappears, and Nick is forced to confront her sister's shady secrets and her own frightening memories.
Read it for: family drama, psychological tension, and an unforgettable ending.
For fans of: E. Lockhart's We Were Liars or Courtney Summers' Sadie. |
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If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Fiction. Gifted cellist Mia awaits the verdict on her Juilliard audition and is brooding about the ways that leaving Oregon to pursue a career in music would complicate her life (for one, she'd be leaving her rocker boyfriend, Adam, behind). Then, when a peaceful drive with her family ends in a tragic accident, Mia is rushed to the hospital, comatose, and all of the choices she might make are distilled into one: whether to live or die. Told from Mia's perspective (while she is unconscious), this heartbreakingly beautiful story has all the drama and poignancy of The Fault in Our Stars, and will more than satisfy fans of full-blooded characters and masterful writing.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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