Staff Picks Young Adult

The Summer She Went Missing

Paige Redmond and her family always spend summers with their parents’ rich Friends the Covingtons. The daughter, Audrey, has always been best friends with Paige, but Paige is also beginning to want to be more than friends with the brother, Dylan. Parties, swimming, and drinking are overshadowed by the disappearance of a couple of girls. Then Audrey begins to change and be secretive about her whereabouts until she also disappears. Close friends, fringe friends, and townies all seem to be suspect in what is actually happening to the girls. Paige and Dylan are determined to solve the cold cases even as the suspense heats up and secrets begin to surface.

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

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Services Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The White Guy Dies First

by Terry J. Benton-Walker

An online community of horror fans discover 13 unread short stories full of blood, frights, and a deeper meaning into life as a minority. This collection by young adult authors of color will encourage readers to think about society’s expectations and stereotypes. The protagonists are underrepresented community members with diverse races, ethnicities, or sexuality.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Not About a Boy

by Myah Hollis

Mel has been in the foster-care system since the age of four. Her last chance of a placement before she turns 18 has her living with a rich couple and attending an elite school. After her co-dependent boyfriend dies of an overdose, her feelings about herself are further rocked by learning that she has a twin sister, who had been immediately adopted. Why not her? As the two sisters reconnect, Mel’s memories of her sister and mother begin to return, which only adds to her grief and self-destructive behavior. Tough topics such as death, suicide, and drug abuse are woven together in a powerful novel that offers help if someone is able to let go of the past.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Inheritance Games

by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Down The Well

by Veronica Kinng

Life is hard for Lore, her parents seem to hate her, and she’s just found out she’s moving to a new town to care for the only person that loves her unconditionally, her grandma who has fallen gravely ill. To make matters worse, once they finally get to the new town a weird dark shadow steals her necklace. As she reaches over a well to retrieve it she falls in. What will await her on the other side of the well?

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Getaway

by Lamar Giles

Jay and his family live and work at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. (Picture Karloff Country as sort of like Disney World.) Life at Karloff is pretty good, especially compared to the rest of the world. Those who can afford to escape the bad in the world, go to Karloff Country to vacation. Trouble starts to seep into Karloff, beginning with the disappearance of Jay’s friend Connie. As more and more workers disappear, and more and more rich people start to arrive, Jay and his remaining friends know something is up. They soon find out that Karloff has been selling shares to an end of the world safe zone, and they’re the ones who will be serving everyone, whether they like it or not. As things get worse inside of Karloff Country it’s up to Jay and his friends to try and stop the madness. If they succeed are they ready to face the horrors going on outside of their walls though?

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Rez Ball

by Byron Graves

Tre loves playing basketball, even though it can be a sore spot. His brother Jaxson was a star player on the Red Lake Reservation High School team, before he died in an accident. Tre works hard and is ready to move up to varsity and take his brother’s old spot. His goal is to help the reservation win their very first state title, and then eventually make it to the NBA. Being in his big brother’s shadow though is tough. There’s no room for mistakes. Not on the court or off. Will Tre find a way to fill his brother’s shoes? Will he be able to find his own path? Pick up this awesome sports story and find out.

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

A First Time for Everything

by Dan Santant

Middle school can be tough, but it can also be a time to learn about yourself and this is true of Dan Santat’s graphic novel A First Time for Everything.  The story chronicles his travels to Europe as a 13-year-old. Although he was hesitant to go, given the difficulties he’d been having in school , this trip proves to be a life-changing experience. He meets lifelong friends and his perspective on his personality and strengths change as the story progresses. The graphic novel format is engaging and beautifully illustrated. A wonderful story for kids who are growing to learn what they have to bring to the world.

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

Recommended by: Darnetta Bolton, Youth Services Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction

Anne Frank’s Diary

Anne Frank’s Diary full-length diary is adapted into a graphic novel by Ari Folman with stunning illustrations by David Polonsky. The journal highlights the life of Anne Frank, a young teenage girl who is forced to go into hiding with her family when Hitler was in power. It is astonishing what she and her family went through for almost two years living in their apartment. Anne shares her intimate and personal story. She shares what is happening to them inside the apartment and reveals her biggest thoughts and dreams for the world going on outside their apartment. We learn about her feelings and her hope for the future. You as the reader will feel like you are reading the diary of a good friend and you get to know Anne through her humor and sarcasm.

Recommended by: Stacie Pendleton, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction

Family of Liars

by E. Lockhart

A prequel to We Were Liars that is set 27 years before but on the same island as that story. Carrie is the oldest sister at seventeen, and the other three sisters are Penny, Bess, and Rosemary, who is dead from drowning but returns as a ghost. Carrie tells the story from her point of view at the request of her son, Johnny, who wants to know the absolute worst thing she ever did. Three boys, friends of a cousin, visit the island that summer, which leads to jealousy and violence.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction