Staff Picks Young Adult

Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein

by Lita Judge

Written in free-verse, this captivating biography is not only intriguing and moving, but also visually mesmerizing. The black and white watercolor illustrations complement the author’s narrative of Mary Shelley’s life as if it were told in her own voice. Full of passion and drive, this pregnant teen runaway created much more than just a horror story. Shelley was a pioneer of science fiction to be celebrated for her remarkable legacy. Judge delivers in her own work biographical poetry paired with such astounding art that truly evokes the essence of Mary and her legendary Monster.

Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction

All Eyes on Her

by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

A boy and a girl go into the woods…. only the girl comes out alive. Some say that she pushed him off of a cliff. Others think it was he accidently slipped and fell. This is the story of the events that led up to that fateful night, and what happened after, told by her sister, her best friend, her enemy and more. Everyone has their own opinion on the mystery. It’s time for you to figure out your own.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

by Wai Chim

All Anna wants is to live a life of a normal teenager, but her life is anything but normal. Being a teenager in a prestigious school is already hard since they have high expectations on their students but Anna shoulders so much more than what her teachers and advisors think. If only her parents could be present in her life, things would be easier to handle, but her mother lives confined to her bed and mental demons, and her Baba works long hours at the family restaurant they own. The reality is that she knows her Baba doesn’t want to come on Mama’s bad days but will she be able to continue being the pillar holding her family together or will she crumble under all the pressure?

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

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Killing Code

by Ellie Marney

Kit Sutherland is a codebreaker working in Arlington Hall with other women to decipher the secret messages of the enemy during WW II. She, however, has her own secret. She also finds herself working with three other codebreakers to discover the killer who is targeting young women working for the government. A well- researched murder mystery that also incorporates inequality across class, race, and sexuality.

Submitted by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Poet X

by Elizabeth Acevedo

The path of adolescence for Xiomara Bastista is a roller coaster full of questions, doubts, and emotional up-and-downs. She is a first generation Dominican-American Afro-Latina who is trying to figure out life as she navigates her place in society. This poignant coming of age novel-in-verse mirrors the reality that many young girls experience in regards to self-awareness, self-esteem, and relationships. Set in the urban setting of Harlem life, Xiomara discovers the power of writing, poetry and spoken word. 

Alicia Acevedo is a National Poetry Slam Champion and The Poet X became the winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award, among other prestigious awards. Highly recommending the audiobook version, narrated by the author herself.

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

Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Wondercat Kyuu-chan

by Sasami Nitori

Hinata is just young salary worker in Japan whose only responsibility is to take care of himself and go to work. His day-to-day life is dreary and quite lonely until he rescues a kitty of whom he names Kyuu-chan! But Kyuu-chan isn’t your ordinary house cat, oh no sir, this little white cat has human tendencies and has many little talents. Every day little Kyuu-chan helps Hinata find happiness in life’s simple pleasures and sprinkles his lonesome life with color and wonder.

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Out There: Into the Queer New Yonder

by Saundra Mitchell

An anthology of stories of queer love that will take readers into alternate realities, far away places, and distant futures. Seventeen YA authors wrote a short story based on what they felt they needed to have been able to read as a teen. The diversity of these authors is reflected in the characters in the short stories and offers a mirror for queer young readers.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Here to Stay

by Sara Fariza

Bijan becomes a basketball star over night when he gets moved up to varsity and helps them win a big game. Not everyone is happy with his stardom though, and they will make his life miserable to bring him down. First step is to send a picture of Bijan looking like a terrorist to the whole school. It’s not easy to move on from a hit like that, and it’s not always easy to tell your enemies from your friends. Will Bijan be able to overcome the racism of other people and get his head back into the game? The team winning the tournament is counting on him. Despite some heavy topics, this book has many funny parts. You also don’t need to know a ton about basketball to enjoy it. You can find this read in the YA department.

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Agathas

by Kathleen Glasgow

Last year Alice disappeared for 5 days, but returned without a scratch. This year her ex-best friend is the one to go missing. Alice had her reasons for going missing, but they don’t match up to what happened to the other girl. She teams up with her tutor, Iris, and some friends to solve the missing person case that turns out to actually be murder. Will they figure out what happened before another “friend” ends up dead? Pick up this mystery today to find out!

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Spells For Lost Things

by Jenna Evans Welch

Willow feels like the only way to find herself is to travel. So when her mom presents an opportunity for her to go deal with mysterious family matters in Salem Massachusetts, she jumps at the chance. Turns out there are witches in Willows family tree, and the Aunt she never knew she had left her mysterious clues to help her discover who she really is. Throw in a cute boy with a missing mom for a second mystery (and a bit of romance), and that is this book in a nut shell. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a cute, mysterious, witchy read.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction