Staff Picks Young Adult Fiction
April 2020
Ten
by Gretchen McNeil
Ten teens. Three days. One killer. Best friends Meg and Minnie are more than excited to spend President’s Day weekend at an exclusive house party on Henry Island. But the fun turns twisted after they discover a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine. Taking a page from Agatha Christie’s novel Then There Where None, the teens must find which one of them is the killer before no one is left on the island.
Recommended by: April Balasa, Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Tweet Cute
by Emma Lord
Pepper is a busy high school student, balancing her grades, college applications, swim team, and her mom’s fast-food Twitter account. When Big League Burger accidentally starts a feud with a small local business, all of Twitter sits back to enjoy the show. As Pepper tries to navigate her Twitter fight, she finds herself spending more time with Jack, a guy she’s known for years but never paid much attention to, meanwhile also talking to Wolf, a guy she’s never met on an app developed for her school. Will her Twitter feud accidentally lead to a meet-up with the perfect guy? Or has she already met him? Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Alejandra Menendez, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Five Feet Apart
by Rachael Lippincott
The title of this book refers to the distance at which Stella and Will, both of whom have cystic fibrosis, must stay from each other. Stella initially dislikes Will when they meet in the hospital due to his wanton disregard for his health. Will, an artist, agrees to use the app Stella created to take his medications if she’ll let him draw her portrait. And the rest, they say, is history. But how it all comes together is the real fun in this romantic tale. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Dry
by Neal Shusterman
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
by Holly Jackson
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
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