Staff Picks Young Adult
October 2019
With the Fire on High
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Life has never been easy for Emoni Santiago. Raised by her loving abuela since her mother died and her father left the family behind to return to Puerto Rico, Emoni must now make it through her senior year of high school while also looking after her young daughter Emma. Juggling unpaid bills, family drama, and a potential new romance, Emoni finds refuge in the kitchen where creating new recipes and experimenting with food has always given her solace. But when she joins a new cooking class at her school and is confronted with the pressure of deciding her future, Emoni must choose between what’s best for her daughter or following her dreams. Can she find a way to balance her responsibilities with her dreams of being a chef? Equal parts sweetness and tears, this book is perfect for those looking for an inspiring story of finding happiness doing what you love (and includes delicious recipes too!)
Recommended by: DeAnna DeHoff, InterLibrary Loan Assistant
Posted in: Young Adult
September 2019
Grave Mercy
by Robin LaFevers
Ismae was born marked by death, a side effect from her mother’s failed attempt to end the pregnancy. When her father marries her off to a violent and cruel suitor, she escapes and finds a new home at the convent of St. Mortain, the god of Death. It’s here that she learns the skills of an assassin, excelling especially with poisons. Ismae soon finds herself deep undercover in the court of Princess Anne of Brittany trying to discover and eliminate all threats toward the princess. If you are looking for your next series featuring strong female characters, this first book of the “His Fair Assassin” series should find itself a home on your to-read list.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult
Refugee
by Alan Gratz
Refugee tells the story of three refugee families from three different points of history. Josef is a Jewish boy escaping with his family from Germany in the 1930s on a ship set for Cuba. Isabel and her family set out on a raft from Cuba hoping to start a new life in Miami in the 1990s. Finally, in 2015, Mahmoud and his family leave Syria for Germany, one of the closest countries accepting refugees. All three stories share the theme of hope and freedom. The book is written in alternating chapters which help in the connections between three characters, each from different times but living somewhat similar lives.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult
Lovely War
by Julie Berry
Who better to tell a love story than Aphrodite? When Aphrodite is caught having an affair with Ares by her husband Hephaestus, she tells the tale of two couples experiencing the unpredictability of love. Told through alternating perspectives through the eyes of several Greek gods, Lovely War tackles romance but also explores music, PTSD, and race relations during WW1. I’m not usually a romance fan, but the unique structure and compelling characters hooked me immediately and now I’m recommending this book to everyone who will listen.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult
August 2019
Illegal
by Eoin Colfer
This graphic novel tells the story of an immigrant’s journey from Northern Africa to Europe. It humanizes the people and the risks they take and the sacrifices they make to try for a better life. This is not for the faint of heart! Tragedy abounds in this realistic depiction of the immigration saga.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction
Letters to the Lost
by Brigid Kemmerer
An amazing realistic romance that will leave readers wanting to know more! Juliet writes letters to her mother and leaves them at her grave. Declan isn’t the sort of guy you want to cross. In the midst of his court-ordered community service at the local cemetery he reads a haunting letter left beside a grave, and can’t resist writing back. Soon, he’s opening up to a perfect stranger, and their connection is immediate. Neither Declan nor Juliet knows that they’re not actually strangers. When life at school interferes with their secret life of letters, sparks fly as they discover truths that might tear them apart.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
July 2019
Somewhere Only We Know
by Maurene Goo
Being a K-pop star is not as glamorous and some might think. For Lucky, she is the biggest K-pop star on the scene. After performing her hit song “Heartbeat” in Hong Kong to a crowd of adoring fans, she is about to debut in America on “The Tonight Show”. And even though she is hoping for a breakout performance for her career she is also dying for a hamburger. While Lucky is staying at a fancy hotel determined to find a hamburger Jack, on assignment for his tabloid job, sneaks in. When their worlds collide nothing will ever be the same.
Recommended by: April Balasa, Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
by Leslye Walton
Ava was born with a sparrow’s wings, but does not fly. Her twin does not speak and spends his life drawing maps. Ava initially remains within the house, but soon makes friends with a local girl and her brother. It is from there that she learns to embrace her identity and begins to understand the trials and values of humanity. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is a difficult book to describe, however Walton’s writing style is so inviting and comfortable that it feels like a warm blanket of words which is reason enough to give it a shot.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
June 2019
Falling Kingdoms
by Morgan Rhodes
Four teenagers hailing for three different kingdoms in the land of Mytica encounter a disruption in the trajectory of their lives after incidents occur connecting them all together. Falling Kingdoms is the first book in a series that is perfect for readers looking for something to dive into after the “Game of Thrones” TV show. Don’t get too connected to characters because no one is safe in Mytica. Rhodes constructs a fascinating world that provides you with characters that you want to root for in the beginning and curse at the end.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
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