Staff Picks Young Adult Fiction
April 2020
Falling Kingdoms
by Morgan Rhodes
This fantasy offers 3 kingdoms and 3 different kings. Throw in some male and female heirs (or are they true heirs?), a vicious murder and a war and you have a book filled with adventure and intrigue. Oh, and don’t forget the magic, because is it real or isn’t it? If you like deep characterization, family relationships and wide sweeping landscapes, then this is the book for you. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
by Brigid Kemmerer
This vivid retelling of Beauty and the Beast is gripping. When Harper tries to thwart a kidnapping and gets taken herself, she finds herself in an alternate world. She becomes a key player in the future of Emberfall. Will she stay to help out the Prince or will she return home to see her dying mother and help her troubled brother? Read this engaging fantasy to find out. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone Series: Book 1)
by Laini Taylor
Karou lives two lives. The first life consists of a tattooed, blue-haired painter who lives in Prague and attends an art school with her best friend, Zuzana. The second life is a little more unusual. Karou sneaks off into the shadowy alleyways of Prague to a door that, when distinctively knocked, opens an entrance to the world of Chimaera, creatures composed of a number of human and animal features. Karou runs bizarre errands for the Chimaera like collecting human and animal teeth. When she encounters a warrior angel named Akiva, answers to the lifelong questions of her existence are finally revealed. This first book in a trilogy grips you tightly and won’t let go until to finish all three. Also available on Overdrive.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Nightbooks
by J. A. White
Alex loves to write scary stories. After he is kidnapped by a witch, in order to keep himself and his new friend Yasmin alive, he must tell nightly stories to the witch. These stories within the story are frightening! This action-packed book with overtones of Hansel and Gretal will appeal to readers, and especially those who have read other books by this author. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
March 2020
Darius the Great is Not Okay
by Adib Khorram
Darius is not the most confident of kids. When his Iranian grandfather is terminally diagnosed, his family makes a trip to Iran. Darius is not comfortable at first due to not understanding the language, Farsi, and being unfamiliar with some of the customs. This book not only takes you on a trip to Iran but on Darius’ trip working through his many issues.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Words in Deep Blue
by Cath Crowley
This book is a romance book lover’s dream. There are multiple love stories overlapping over multiple years with many taking the form of letters left between the pages of books. It starts with a typical love triangle and becomes much more. Have your hankie nearby.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Astonishing Color of After
by Emily X.R. Pan
This is a novel rich with characterization and imagery. Lee, the main female character, is in high school with a guy best friend, a love of art and a mother from Taiwan with secrets. When tragedy strikes, secrets are uncovered and parts of the past are revealed. Read this for a strong, poignant coming of age story.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Grenade
by Alan Gratz
Set on the island of Okinawa as the Americans are starting their invasion during WW II, this action packed story will keep readers turning the pages. Told from the points of view of an American soldier and an 11 year old Okinawan boy, their lives will collide with a bang. The boy has been given two grenades, one to use to kill an American soldier. By the author of Refugee, the 2020 Caudill winner.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Bloom
by Kenneth Oppel
This is book 1 in the series The Overthrow. Once again Oppel delivers a book that is full of action, suspense, and surprises as the pace quickens with every turn of the page. It starts with what seems like a normal rain on Salt Spring Island in Vancouver, but then black grass begins to grow—everywhere. Then allergy producing pollen is released and the plants seem to change into meat-eaters. Three teens are immune to the plants and must find out why before humanity is wiped out. In Fall 2020, the second book, Hatch, will be available.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
by Holly Jackson
Five years ago high school student Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh and everyone knows it. Even though the case is “closed” senior Pipa Fitz-Amboi is not so sure. And she is more then ready to prove it when she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project. But if the real killer is still out there and Pip starts to discover the truth about what really happened to Andie Bell. Just how far will the killer be willing to go to make sure the truth stays hidden?
Recommended by: April Balasa, Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction