Staff Picks Young Adult Fiction

Clementine: Book One

by Tillie Walden

Walking Dead fans, pick up Clementine today. Clementine is a young survivor who we learn about in the Walking Dead video games. She now has her own comic series. Book one starts out with her back on the road attempting to put her past behind her. She runs into an Amish teenage who isn’t fully aware of the dangers outside of his settlement. Together they travel to an abandoned ski resort where they meet up with other teenagers attempting to build a walker free settlement. Friendships happen, but a harsh winter reveals that the biggest threat out there might be each other.

This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an ebook.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Sea Knows My Name

by Laura Brooke Robson

Thea survived having her home destroyed by ash and lava only to become a pirate like her vicious Pirate Captain mother. Her mother pushes her to be ruthless, strong and invulnerable in a man’s world, but none of it sticks with Thea. She is just one big disappointment. She longs to escape her mother’s world. When the chance comes to escape and Thea is on her own, her first love leads to betrayal. Thea must learn that there’s more than one way to be strong.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Gender Queer: a Memoir

by Maia Kobabe

Gender Queer depicts the emotional and physical journey Maia Kobabe goes through growing up. Questions like am I Lesbian? Am I Trans? Why am I weird? Always roamed eir mind. It’s always hard being a teenager but for Maia it was a whole other world. With so many identities people can choose nowadays Maia found eirself confused and overwhelmed by all the variety. This is a great book for people who are trying to find out their gender identity or for those who want to read about the gender queer community.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla as an ebook.

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

All of Us Villains

by Amanda Foody

Mix Harry Potter’s magic with the Hunger Games and you’ve got “All Of Us Villains”. Every generation seven families send a teenaged “champion” into the blood veil to fight to the death. The winner’s family receives high magic until the next tournament begins. The families are pegged as villains, and raise their children to believe they are too. But are they? As the games begin, some will live and some will die, but is there a way to stop the curse that forces the Teens to fight? Are the Teens as villainous as they seem? Or just broken?  Check out this 2023 Read For A Lifetime book today to find out!

This book is avaialble in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Horror Hotel

by Victoria Fulton

In the mood for horror? Pick up Horror Hotel.

A group of ghost hunting teens go off to the most haunted hotel in LA to film for their YouTube channel. It should be easy. They’ve investigated and filmed at tons of places. Too bad they get more than they bargained for when they stumble across something real and dangerous in the former room of a serial killer. Sometimes it’s the living that should be feared more than the dead.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Passing Playbook

by Isaac Fitzsimons

Spencer is transgender. He left his old school due to bullying, and is happy for a fresh start. This time though he’s going to keep being transgender a secret. At the new school, he gets new friends and even earns a spot on the boys soccer team. Secrets don’t stay hidden forever though, and when the coach sees an “F” for the sex on his birth certificate things don’t go exactly as planned. Spencer has to make a choice. Stay benched and cheer from the sidelines, or fight for his right to play. This is a great queer sports story with a mix of romance. Pick it up today!

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Bravely

by Maggie Stiefvater

This is a sequel of the Disney movie Brave. Merida saved her Mom and brothers from living the rest of their lives as bears and changed her fate. Years later she feels like she’s experienced everything and is stuck. In steps two gods. One a creator, one a destroyer. They’ve come to the conclusion that DunBroch is stuck in it’s ways and needs to change otherwise it is lined up for destruction. Merida is given a year to help her family and the home she loves change, or else it will all be gone forever. Will Merida be able to save everyone? Will she realize in time that the person who needs to change the most is herself?

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Yonder

by Ali Standish

Jack is a hero to Danny, especially after Danny’s dad leaves to serve in World War II and Danny witnesses Jack saving two small children from drowning. When Jack disappears, Danny is left to try to figure out what happened to him. Did he drown? Did his abusive father go too far? When the police don’t seem to take him seriously, he takes matters into his own hands. As Danny deals with all the changes around him, in his town and in the world, he is slowly growing and maturing. 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

She Gets the Girl

by Rachael Lippincott

Molly is obsessed with Cora while Alex is smitten with Natalie. When Molly and Alex meet in college, Alex hatches a plan to help Molly get her girl while simultaneously proving to Natalie that she’s trustworthy and a good person. As the plan moves forward, Molly and Alex can’t deny the attraction that’s growing between them. This is an engaging story involving believable characters.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Drowning Summer

by Christine Lynn Herman

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction