Staff Picks Youth Fiction
May 2020
Amal Unbound
by Aisha Saeed
In Pakistan, 12-year-old Amal excels at school and wants to become a teacher. Her life is thrown off track when coming back from the market she literally runs into the ruler of the village, which leads to unfortunate consequences. Finding herself a slave in his house in order to pay off family debts to him, Amal despairs at the injustice of the system. She finds solace in books as she tries to come to terms with her new reality and the loss of her dreams. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
by Angela Cervantes
An action-packed mystery story based on artist Frida Kahlo, the wife of artist Diego Rivera. During the summer, while on a trip to Mexico where her dead father had grown up, Paloma, learns more about the father she doesn’t remember but also about his favorite artist. With the help of a brother and sister, Paloma attempts to find the lost peacock ring designed for Frida right before her death. There is nonstop action and thrills, and yes, a budding romance. Inspired by the author’s visit to a museum in NYC, which displays Frida’s art. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Speechless
by Adam P. Schmitt
Jimmy is upset that he is being asked to “say a few words” at the funeral of his 13-year-old cousin, Patrick. He is speechless, as he has no idea what to say. Through chapter titles that tie in with the memory of times with his cousin, Jimmy expresses his relationship with his cousin—which is not ideal. A pull at the heart strings book that relates the stress of attending the wake/funeral and the stories behind family secrets/actions. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
April 2020
The Only Black Girls in Town
by Brandy Colbert
It’s a few days before the start of 7th grade when a new family moves across the street from Alberta and her dads. Alberta is particularly excited because not only does the new family have a daughter her age, but they are also black like Alberta and her dads- a rare thing in her small beach town. While she loves her life in Ewing Beach, especially surfing and spending time with her best friend, Laramie, Alberta finds and understanding and connection with her new friend, Edie, that’s been missing in her life. When 7th grade finally begins, so does a whole new set of issues for Alberta. Suddenly Laramie is hanging out with a new, older, more popular crowd that’s only ever been jerks to Alberta. Meanwhile, the friendship between Alberta and Edie grows as they begin to investigate mysterious journals from the 1950s & 60s Edie found in her attic. Who wrote the journals? What secret are they hiding and why did they feel they had to hide it? As Edie and Alberta start to unravel the mystery of the journals, the mystery of how to deal with big life changes gets more complex for Alberta. A thoughtful and compelling read. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Youth Services Preschool Services Coordinator
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Redwood and Ponytail
by K. A. Holt
Kate knows what her future holds. She has a checklist of everything she is going to accomplish this year. She is going to be a cheer captain just like her mother was in 7th grade and she is going to take the entire school by storm. All Tam wants to do is make it through 7th grade without incident. She wants to play volleyball and wants to avoid everything else in between. When Kate and Tam meet its like two worlds colliding. Suddenly, all Kate wants to do is spend time with Tam, and maybe being cheer captain is not all that important. Her friends don’t understand why she wants to spend all her time with Tam and why she is pulling away from them so much. How long can she keep the secret that she doesn’t just like Tam but she may be experiencing her first ever crush? Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Vanessa Fernandez, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Watermelon Madness
by Taghreed Najjar
This funny book is about a little girl Noura, who only eats watermelon and nothing else until she has a dream after hiding the watermelon under her bed before she went to sleep. What happens to Noura and the watermelon that night? Read this story to find out. I really recommend this book especially if you have kids that have a favorite food.
Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Service Clerk
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Okay Witch
by Emma Steinkellner
The main character, Moth, surprisingly finds out at age 13 that she’s a witch. And not only is she a witch but so is her mother! How did she not know this? It turns out there’s an alternate world where witches don’t age. The plot evolves in this graphic novel with some conflict between Moth and her mother, some romance, and some magic (of course!).
Recommend by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Orphan Island
by Laurel Synder
Every year a young child is brought by boat to the island and the oldest child leaves. There can only be 9 children at a time on the island. Jinny will be the oldest now and responsible for the latest arrival, a little girl. There is so much unknown about how the island or the boat works. Even more importantly, what will happen to the children if Jinny decides not to leave in a year, and now there are 10? This magical book will make the reader think and leave the reader with questions. This book is along the lines of The Giver by Lois Lowery. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Young Adult Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
My Jasper June
by Laurel Snyder
Leah has been unhappy and feeling alone for a year since one event changed things for her. She has no one to talk to . . . no friends or helpful parents. Then she meets Jasper, a girl who is fun and adventurous and has secrets too. An uplifting book covering serious topics of abuse, homelessness, and death. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Young Adult Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction