Staff Picks Young Adult

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

Forging Silver into Stars

by Brigid Kemmerer

Return to Emberfall and Syhl Shallow in Brigid Kemmerer’s newest book. This time the book follows Tycho (you might remember him as one of Gray’s friends) and two new characters Callyn and Jax. Callyn and Jax live in a small town in Syhl Shallow. They’re just trying to do what they can to pay off the tax collector, so when a wealthy Lady shows up one day and asks them to hold a letter for a large amount of money, they take it. Little do they know that the letter will lead them in to a traitorous plot to rid the kingdom of magic and the royal family. Pick up this spin off book to A Curse So Dark And Lonely today. It can be read and enjoyed without reading the first series.

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Ten Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

White Smoke

by Tiffany D. Jackson

A great psychological horror novel. Mari and her family leave their old lives and problems behind to move into a free house on the other side of the country that her mother wins. When they arrive at the house it’s beautiful, but there’s nothing else on their street except empty run down abandoned homes. The people in the town don’t step foot on their street, and rumors are that Mari’s new home is haunted. Mari thinks that’s crazy until things start going missing, and her little step sister has an invisible friend. The house has secrets, but so does the new town. Will Mari be able to figure them out before someone gets hurt? Check out this 2023 Read For A Lifetime book today!

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

An Arrow to the Moon

by Emily X.R. Pan

Hunter and Luna are special, they just don’t know why. Hunter has perfect aim with everything. His family life, however is terrible. Luna on the other hand, has great parents, but strange things keep happening around her. Fireflies follow her, even in the winter and during the day. When she’s near fish, they follow her too. While their families hate each other, the two teens realize that they were meant to be together. As things start to fall apart will fate be able to keep them together? This book is Chinese mythology meets Romeo and Juliet.

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

All Systems Red

by Martha Wells

Looking for a quick Science Fiction read? Pick up All Systems Red. It is about a Sec Unit who calls itself “Murderbot”. It is assigned to take care of a group of scientists on a mission to another planet, but all it really wants to do is ignore the humans as much as possible and figure out what it should to next. When the scientist loose contact with the group on the other side of the planet, and strange things start happening to all of their maps and data, it’s up to “Murderbot” to decide where their allegiance stands. Do they help the humans? Or leave them all to die? Check out this 2023 Read For A Lifetime book today!

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

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Echoes Between Us

by Katie McGarry

Sawyer is one of the most popular guys at school, but he has a secret. He’s an adrenaline junkie. Veronica has a secret too. She sees her mother’s ghost. Or maybe it’s just a side effect caused by the brain tumor. When the two meet, will they be able to conquer their demons together? A perfect realistic (with a touch of supernatural) romance for Teens.

This book is available 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