Staff Picks Youth Fiction

Halfway Normal

by Barbara Dee

A high school girl goes back to school for the first time in 2 years after battling leukemia. She definitely doesn’t want everything to be all about her past disease.

Unfortunately, most of the other people she’s dealing with seemed focused on just that. She has girlfriend, boyfriend, divorce and parental issues.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager 

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Home Front

by Kristin Hannah

Hannah creates a very realistic depiction of a family torn apart by war. First there’s the stress of the mother being called to serve. Then there’s the restructuring of the family due to the father having to fulfill an unfamiliar role. Added to this are the father’s workload as a defense attorney and the children’s needs. This is a tear jerker.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager 

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Stuck

by Oliver Jeffers

Floyd has a problem. His kite is stuck in a tree!  His solution?  Throw a bunch of other things up there to get it unstuck, of course.  Other things include: the family car, an orangutan, a duck, and the kitchen sink.  Have a few laughs and find out if his plan works!

Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Preschool Services Coordinator

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Old Manhattan Has Some Farms E-I-E-I-Grow!

by Susan Lendroth

Written to the tune of Old McDonald, children read and sing as they learn about urban farms, composting, rooftop gardens and beekeeping. Added bonus—Chicago is a featured city!

Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Preschool Services Coordinator

Posted in: Youth Fiction

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

by Chris Colfer

Colfer shows that actors can definitely be writers as well. In the first book of a debut series, we follow the adventures of twins who accidently fall into their book of fairy tales. The only way home is the powerful Wishing Spell. The components needed for the spell are recognizable objects from familiar fairy tales such as a lock of Rapunzel’s hair and Cinderella’s glass slipper. This book successfully manages to feel both new and familiar at the same time.

Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Timekeeper

by Tara Sim

Imagine a alternate Victorian world that is controlled completely by clock towers. Where time can fracture if one of the clocks is damaged but if one is destroyed it can stop everything in its tracks. As a series of mysterious bombings start to jeopardize all of England, a prodigy mechanic, Danny, must repair not only the clockwork but time itself before it’s too late.

I liked this book a lot because it was fast paced with enough action and romance to keep my attention until the very last page.

Recommended by: April Balasa, Patron Services Clerk

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Merci Suarez Changes Gears

by Meg Medina

Merci deals with many changes in this heartwarming book. Her beloved grandfather is acting out of character; what’s happening? There’s a bully at school; how should she handle that? A boy maybe likes her; yikes!

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Zodiac Legacy: Convergence

by Stan Lee

Would you like to be able to disappear in a poof and reappear somewhere else? How about have stupendous strength? A group of kids mysteriously obtain superpowers and band together to fight against the evil Maxwell who wants all the powers for himself. If you’re looking for non-stop action, then this is the book for you!

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction