Articles tagged "Books for Teens"
Day’s YA – FANGIRL
Happy Thursday, YA folks!
This week’s Day’s YA pick is an oldie, but a goodie. Read on to hear my thoughts on this beloved YA classic.
FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell
Available now in hardcover from St. Martin’s Griffin
9781250073808
Available in trade paperback on November 6, 2018 from Wednesday Books
9781250042613
Ages 13 to 18
When Cath and her twin sister, Wren, were younger, they were both diehard Simon Snow fans. They read the books, attended the premieres, covered the walls of their shared room with Simon Snow posters, and they wrote fanfiction. Now that they’re heading to college, Wren has left that part of her life behind, but not Cath. Cath has decorated her dorm room with posters and figurines and still spends every possible minute writing fanfiction for her 35,000 readers. Wren has also decided that living with her twin isn’t an option, and Cath is now stuck with an older and more outgoing roommate. Making matters worse, Cath is dealing with boys she doesn’t understand, professors who don’t understand her, and a father she can’t seem to stop worrying about. Although her fanfic has saved her in the past, now Cath may be forced to choose between her favorite fantastical world and the real, living people right in front of her. readmoreremove
Teen Talk Tuesday (4/24/2018 Edition)
Happy Tuesday, YA Librarians, and welcome to this month’s edition of Teen Talk Tuesday!
Check out our latest & greatest teen titles out this month, then join us today at *2:30pm EST* for Early Word YA Galley Chat (hashtag: #ewgcya) and tell us what you’ve been reading and loving.
SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young
9781250168450
Ages 12 to 18
Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago. Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.
“A rousing saga and moving coming-of-age tale, perfect for those who appreciate the wild and the wildlings, strong female protagonists, and cinematic battles.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“A refreshing tale where life is tested and people have to overcome their differences to fight a bigger foe to survive. A fast-paced, action-filled fantasy for all YA collections.” —School Library Journal
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SHADOWS: Valkyrie Book Two by Amanda Hocking
9781250084804
Ages 12 to 18
The adventure and romance continues in the final installment of the new fantasy duology by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking. While dealing with dark revelations about her life and her world, Malin finds herself with new allies—and new enemies. Her quest for the truth leads her to places she never thought possible, and she’s never been one to shy away from a fight. But for all her strength and determination, will it be enough to save the world before it’s too late?
“Fans of this fictional world will enjoy seeing more of it—and appreciate that the story’s conclusion leaves the door open for more adventures.” —Kirkus Reviews readmoreremove
Day’s YA – THIS HEART OF MINE
TGIF, YA librarians, and happy National Library Week!
In honor of how much I loooovveeee all of you and the amazing work that you do, I have a YA romance (with some mystery) to share with you.
THIS HEART OF MINE by C.C. Hunter
9781250131652
Available now from Wednesday Books
Ages 13 to 18
Seventeen-year-old Leah MacKenzie is heartless (this may sound familiar if you’ve read my review of BRING ME THEIR HEARTS, but I promise you this is a very different story). A virus called myocarditis destroyed Leah’s heart and now she’s connected to an artificial one that she has to carry around in a backpack. Because of her rare blood type her days are numbered as a transplant isn’t likely, and the artificial heart will only keep her alive for a few years. Until . . . a heart becomes available and Leah is suddenly looking at the possibility of living a much longer life than she ever imagined. Leah’s new heart has come from Eric, a classmate of hers who supposedly killed himself, but after the transplant, Leah starts having strange dreams that suggest something else happened, forcing her to team up with her donor’s very attractive twin brother, Matt, to find out the truth of how Eric really died. readmoreremove
Day’s YA – I’M NOT MISSING
Happy Friday, YA librarians!
Welcome to this special *Friday edition* of Day’s YA! I’ve been going on and on and on about this book to anyone who will listen (roommates, coworkers, librarians at PLA, unsuspecting strangers, etc.), so I’m very excited to share it will all of you!
I’M NOT MISSING by Carrie Fountain
9781250132512
Available July 10, 2018 from Flatiron Books
Ages 13 to 18
Wow. This book is stunning. It opens on Miranda and Syd—the very best of friends—hanging out in the pseudo-graveyard behind Syd’s house. It’s where they go to get away from the rest of the world and to be in the company of each other . . .
Miranda and Syd don’t have a lot in common (Syd is larger-than-life, and Miranda spends most of her time in Syd’s shadow), but they are bound together by one vital similarity: they both have mothers who’ve abandoned them. Miranda and her father are still very close, but Syd is now left with her deadbeat dad and his new wife, neither of whom seem to care much about Syd. Miranda is Syd’s only real companion and they’ve always been there for each other. Until Syd runs away in the middle of their senior year and with absolutely no explanation. Now Miranda is left behind again and must discover who she is on her own, as she works to untangle the clues Syd left behind. Along the way, Miranda must also navigate her first love, college decisions, and her evolving relationship with her adoring (and slightly nerdy) father. readmoreremove
Teen Talk Tuesday (3/26/2018 Edition)
Happy Monday, YA librarians, and welcome to today’s special *Monday edition* of Teen Talk Tuesday!
Check out our latest & greatest teen titles out this month!
IN SIGHT OF STARS by Gae Polisner
9781250143839
Ages 14 to 18
IN SIGHT OF STARS is an emotional, full-hearted teen novel about love, loss, and mental health from award-winning author, Gae Polisner. When seventeen-year-old Klee’s father dies, he’s forced to move to the suburbs and live with his mother. Klee then meets Sarah in art class and it seems as if she’s the only thing that makes him happy, until an act of betrayal sends him to a psychiatric hospital. Told in alternating timelines leading up to the event that gets him committed and working towards getting back out, this is a novel about what makes us fall apart and how we can put ourselves back together again.
“Polisner captures the chaos and fog in Klee’s brain as he tries to grab hold of his life. The result is a raw, enthralling rendering of pain that overwhelms a teen.” —Booklist, starred review
“An unapologetic and wry story about a teen finding his way out of a personal crisis.” —Kirkus Reviews
INDECENT by Corinne Sullivan
9781250147073
YA/Adult Crossover
When shy, introverted Imogene Abney is offered a teaching position at the Vandenberg School for Boys, an all-boys prep school in Westchester, New York, she immediately accepts, despite having little teaching experience—and very little experience with boys. It’s there where she meets Adam Kipling, a popular and handsome student who exudes charm and status and ease. As an obsessive, illicit affair begins between them, Imogene is so lost in the haze of first love that she’s unable to recognize the danger she’s in. The danger of losing her job. The danger of losing herself in the wrong person. The danger of being caught doing something possibly illegal and so indecent.
“This is an affecting novel, examining self-doubt, self-sabotage, and the lasting impact of both.” —Publishers Weekly
“A good read for those who enjoy boarding school-based novels, including Jessica Anya Blau’s THE TROUBLE WITH LEXIE, and Amy Poeppel’s SMALL ADMISSIONS.” —Library Journal
Day’s YA – CHOOSE WONDER OVER WORRY
Hello again YA librarians!
Welcome to the 10th edition of Day’s YA! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been craving uplifting and inspiring books lately to get me through these last weeks of winter. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love winter—I really do—but even I look forward to spring come mid-March. And this book is the perfect remedy for anyone with a case of the winter blues.
CHOOSE WONDER OVER WORRY by Amber Rae
9781250175250
Available May 15, 2018 from Wednesday Books
Also available in audio and read by the author
“Wonder is what we’re born with. Worry is what we learn.”
In this semi-autobiographical guidebook-to-life, Amber Rae uses a combination of short stories, self-help tips, and prompted journal pages to help her readers push past their fears and realize the amazing things they are capable of. With chapters on self-doubt, procrastination, envy, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and a whole host of other relevant topics, each short chapter includes a topical anecdote from the author’s life, helpful tips, and a page for journaling, mapping, or doodling. readmoreremove
Booklist Spring 2018 YA Webinar
Today Emily Day (Of “Day’s YA” fame) highlighted her favorite upcoming teen titles during Booklist’s Spring 2018 YA Announcements webinar (twitter hashtag #SpringYABooks). For those who weren’t able to listen in, here’s what she discussed:
Highlighted Titles from Winter / Spring 2018:
THE HAZEL WOOD by Melissa Albert | Available now | ISBN: 9781250147905 | Hardcover | Fantasy/Contemporary | Ages 12 to 18
LEGENDARY by Stephanie Garber | May 29, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250095312 | Hardcover | Fantasy | Ages 13 to 18
CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber | May 1, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250095268 | Trade Paperback | Fantasy | Ages 13 to 18
SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young | April 24, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250168450 | Hardcover | Fantasy/Epic | Ages 12 to 18
Spring 2018 Fiction:
IN SIGHT OF STARS by Gae Polisner | March 13, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250143839 | Hardcover | Social Themes / Mental Illness | Ages 14 to 18
KISSING GAMES by Tara Eglington | June 5, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250075260 | Hardcover | Romance/Contemporary | Ages 13 to 18
FLIGHT SEASON by Marie Marquardt | Available now | ISBN: 9781250107015 | Hardcover | Coming of Age | Ages 13 to 19
I’M NOT MISSING by Carrie Fountain | July 10, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250132512 | Hardcover| People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino | Ages 13 to 18
Spring 2018 Fantasy / Science-Fiction:
STAR-TOUCHED STORIES by Roshani Chokshi | August 7, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250180797 | Trade Paperback | Fantasy/Epic | Ages 13 to 18
THE RAGING ONES by Krista & Becca Ritchie | August 14, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250128713 | Hardcover | Science Fiction | Ages 12 to 18
SHADOWSONG by S. Jae-Jones | Available now | ISBN: 9781250129130 | Hardcover | Fairy Tales & Folklore | Ages 12 to 18
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SHADOWS by Amanda Hocking | April 24, 2018 | ISBN: 9781250084804 | Trade Paperback | Fantasy/Contemporary | Ages 12 to 18 readmoreremove
Day’s YA – GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS
Hello and happy March!
We’ve almost made it to spring, but the setting in the book I want to share with you today is as frigid and wintry as they come. You may want to bundle up before reading on!
GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS by Melissa Bashardoust
9781250077738
Also available in audio.
This is the feminist SNOW WHITE retelling I’ve always wanted. I’ve been waiting for this book without even knowing it. If you also find yourself rolling your eyes at some of the more traditional, damsel-in-distress tales, this is the fairy tale for you.
Melissa Bashardoust’s debut novel tells the story of two young women. Sixteen-year-old Mina lives with her magician father and has no concrete memory of the mother who died when Mina was just a child. Mina longs to be loved and to be able to show love, but the glass heart inside her chest won’t allow it. When Mina and her father move to the castle, Mina decides that she will get the newly-widowed king to fall in love with her and become queen.
Lynet is the daughter of the king and has never known her mother, though she is the spitting image of the former queen. Lynet’s whole world is turned upside down when she discovers that she was formed from snow and was created to look just like her mother. Her father has certain expectations for how she lives her life, but Lynet has other plans. She wants to be less like the mother she never met and more like her beloved stepmother, Mina. But when the king ousts Mina and gives her role to Lynet instead, a rivalry for the throne is ignited between the two women.
Alternating chapters tell the stories of Mina’s past and Lynet’s present, while completely shattering the traditional fairy tale tropes. Prince Charming is nowhere to be found (and Lynet has no need for him, anyway) and Mina is a much more complicated character than your run-of-the-mill evil stepmother. Perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer’s CINDER, Angela Carter’s THE BLOODY CHAMBER, or Amanda Lovelace’s THE PRINCESS SAVES HERSELF IN THIS ONE, Bashardoust’s novel is Frozen meets Robin McKinley and it is even more delightful than you could ever imagine.
And to top it off, GIRLS MADE OF SNOW AND GLASS was recently named to ALA’s Amelia Bloomer List for feminist literature! readmoreremove
Teen Talk Tuesday (2/22/2018 Edition)
Happy Thursday, YA Librarians, and welcome to today’s special *Thursday edition* of Teen Talk Tuesday!
Check out our latest & greatest teen titles out this month, then join us today at 3pm EST (*special day and time!*) for Early Word YA Galley Chat (hashtag: #ewgcya) and tell us what you’ve been reading and loving.
FADE TO US by Julia Day
9781250097378
Ages 12 to 18
Brooke’s summer is going to be EPIC. But then her new stepfather announces his daughter is moving in. Brooke has always longed for a sibling, so she’s excited about spending more time with her stepsister. But she worries, too. Natalie has Asperger’s—and Brooke’s not sure how to be the big sister that Natalie needs.
“A book for readers who like romance that flourishes against the odds and characters who learn and grow.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This is a sweeter-than-sugar summer love story, and the behind-the-scenes theater setting is evergreen.” —Booklist
FLIGHT SEASON by Marie Marquardt
9781250107015
Ages 13 to 19
From the author of DREAM THINGS TRUE and THE RADIUS OF US comes a story of two teenagers learning what to hold on to, what to let go of, and that sometimes love gets in the way of our plans.
“This poignant story of grief, healing, and finding balance and purpose is told through alternating narration by the three main characters. Whether navigating financial hardship, family tensions, or precarious immigrant rights, the protagonists come across as well drawn and engaging . . . This new offering from Marquardt will resonate with readers looking for a mature coming-of-age story.” —Booklist
DREAM THINGS TRUE by Marie Marquardt (ages 13 to 18) is also available now in trade paperback.
9781250135360
THIS HEART OF MINE by C.C. Hunter
9781250131652
Ages 13 to 18
When seventeen-year-old Leah MacKenzie gets a heart transplant, she’s given an amazing second chance at life. Then Leah discovers who the donor was—a boy from her school—and people are saying he killed himself. Plagued with unsettling dreams since the transplant, Leah realizes she may hold the clues to what really happened.
“THIS HEART OF MINE is an emotional and captivating novel about love, loss, and the connections between people . . . [it] will make a solid addition to most young adult collections, and should be recommended to fans of John Green and to those who like murder mysteries with a twist and a hint of romance.” —VOYA
“This story will definitely appeal to students who enjoy realistic and identifiable characters, thrilling fast-paced plot twists, and mature adolescent romantic interactions.” —School Library Connection readmoreremove
Day’s YA – IN SIGHT OF STARS
Hi everyone!
We’re back in the office after a busy (but fantastic!) few days at ALA Midwinter. It was so great to get to meet some of you in person and chat about books! One book in particular that I’m especially excited for is this lovely novel by Gae Polisner.
IN SIGHT OF STARS by Gae Polisner
9781250143839
Available March 13, 2018 from Wednesday Books
Ages 14 to 18
Gae Polisner has done it again! (By “it,” I mean she’s written another deeply emotional, tear-inducing, beautiful novel). IN SIGHT OF STARS tells the story of seventeen-year-old Klee (pronounced Clay), who has had a pretty terrible year. When his father dies suddenly, Klee’s world begins to crumble. Klee and his father had a very special bond–he was his friend and mentor. After his death, Klee and his mother move out of NYC and into a house in the suburbs, where Klee constantly feels out of place. Enter: Sarah Wood. When Klee meets Sarah, his life starts to steady. Sarah gives him a sense of belonging that he hasn’t felt since his dad died. He begins to feel okay again . . . until a moment of betrayal shatters his universe a second time and he ends up in a psychiatric hospital. Told in alternating timelines, the story both leads us to the main event and walks us through Klee’s recovery from it. readmoreremove
