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Teens Read Pick of the Month

By:

SCCLD LIBRARIANS FOR TEENS

Santa Clara County Library

Staff-created list

Every month the SCCLD Teen Librarians choose one book as a great read from the library's Teen collection. This is the list of the latest picks of the month.

By:

SCCLD LIBRARIANS FOR TEENS

Santa Clara County Library

1-25 of 99 items

1-25 of 99 items

The Luis Ortega Survival Club

The Luis Ortega Survival Club

by Reyes, Sonora

Book - 2023

Being autistic and selectively mute has made it hard for Ariana to get noticed, regardless of her efforts to express herself through fashion. Until suave,...Show more Being autistic and selectively mute has made it hard for Ariana to get noticed, regardless of her efforts to express herself through fashion. Until suave, popular Luis Ortega decides to make friends with her in spite of her silence. Ari is over the moon at first—but when he makes a move on her at a party and they have sex, she is left feeling disgusted and horrified. She didn't exactly say NO… But she also didn't say YES. When rumors start flooding the school about Ari's promiscuity, she feels pressured into lying about what happened that night, which only makes things worse. Ari is miserable and alone, ostracized even further, until a mysterious note of support appears in her locker with only a Tumblr handle by way of a signature: "TLOSC". Ari tentatively messages the account, and soon finds herself embraced by not one person, but a whole group: the Luis Ortega Survival Club. Each of them has been taken advantage of and hung out to dry by Luis, who, behind his handsome face and charming words, is a serial sexual predator. The club welcomes Ari into their ranks and introduces her to the plan: GET REVENGE. Alone, they are powerless—but together, they will take the untouchable Luis Ortega down once and for all. **This story covers some heavy topics, including discussion of off-page sexual assaults. Please read the author's content warning at the beginning of the book.** (Gr. 9+, 320 p.) Show less

Being autistic and selectively mute has made it hard for Ariana to get noticed, regardless of her efforts to express herself through fashion. Until suave,...Show more Being autistic and selectively mute has made it hard for Ariana to get noticed, regardless of her efforts to express herself through fashion. Until suave, popular Luis Ortega decides to make friends with her in spite of her silence. Ari is over the moon at first—but when he makes a move on her at a party and they have sex, she is left feeling disgusted and horrified. She didn't exactly say NO… But she also didn't say YES. When rumors start flooding the school about Ari's promiscuity, she feels pressured into lying about what happened that night, which only makes things worse. Ari is miserable and alone, ostracized even further, until a mysterious note of support appears in her locker with only a Tumblr handle by way of a signature: "TLOSC". Ari tentatively messages the account, and soon finds herself embraced by not one person, but a whole group: the Luis Ortega Survival Club. Each of them has been taken advantage of and hung out to dry by Luis, who, behind his handsome face and charming words, is a serial sexual predator. The club welcomes Ari into their ranks and introduces her to the plan: GET REVENGE. Alone, they are powerless—but together, they will take the untouchable Luis Ortega down once and for all. **This story covers some heavy topics, including discussion of off-page sexual assaults. Please read the author's content warning at the beginning of the book.** (Gr. 9+, 320 p.) Show less

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Villains Are Destined to Die

Villains Are Destined to Die

1

by Gwon, Gyeoeul

Book - 2022

Living in the world of your favorite game or novel sounds like a dream- but Siyeon wakes up as Penelope, the villainess in the fantasy game she loved. Now...Show more Living in the world of your favorite game or novel sounds like a dream- but Siyeon wakes up as Penelope, the villainess in the fantasy game she loved. Now she is stuck on in the game on hard mode, all of the characters hate her, and she only has a few months before the real heroine appears. When the slightest mistake can lead to death, can Siyeon manage to win over at least one person and prevent her own death? And is Penelope truly the villainess the game makes her out to be? A mentally tough lead makes this manhua a fascinating psychological look at the antagonist’s Point of View. Gr.8+, 254p. Show less

Living in the world of your favorite game or novel sounds like a dream- but Siyeon wakes up as Penelope, the villainess in the fantasy game she loved. Now...Show more Living in the world of your favorite game or novel sounds like a dream- but Siyeon wakes up as Penelope, the villainess in the fantasy game she loved. Now she is stuck on in the game on hard mode, all of the characters hate her, and she only has a few months before the real heroine appears. When the slightest mistake can lead to death, can Siyeon manage to win over at least one person and prevent her own death? And is Penelope truly the villainess the game makes her out to be? A mentally tough lead makes this manhua a fascinating psychological look at the antagonist’s Point of View. Gr.8+, 254p. Show less

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The Island

The Island

by Preston, Natasha

Book - 2023

Sixteen-year-old Olive finds herself stranded on a remote, mysterious island after a traumatic boating accident. With no memory of how she got there, Oliv...Show more Sixteen-year-old Olive finds herself stranded on a remote, mysterious island after a traumatic boating accident. With no memory of how she got there, Olive must navigate the harsh and unforgiving terrain while forming unlikely alliances with other survivors, including the charismatic Aidan and his loyal friend Clara. As they search for a way off the island, dark secrets about its history and dangerous forces lurking in the shadows begin to emerge. Olive and her companions must confront their deepest fears, trust one another, and fight for survival while unraveling the mysteries that shroud the island's past. Grades 9+, 336 p. Show less

Sixteen-year-old Olive finds herself stranded on a remote, mysterious island after a traumatic boating accident. With no memory of how she got there, Oliv...Show more Sixteen-year-old Olive finds herself stranded on a remote, mysterious island after a traumatic boating accident. With no memory of how she got there, Olive must navigate the harsh and unforgiving terrain while forming unlikely alliances with other survivors, including the charismatic Aidan and his loyal friend Clara. As they search for a way off the island, dark secrets about its history and dangerous forces lurking in the shadows begin to emerge. Olive and her companions must confront their deepest fears, trust one another, and fight for survival while unraveling the mysteries that shroud the island's past. Grades 9+, 336 p. Show less

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Project Nought

Project Nought

by Furedi, Chelsey

Book - 2023

It’s 1996, imagine waking up in 2122 with no idea how or why you got there. This is what happens to Ren in Project Nought. After overhearing some distre...Show more It’s 1996, imagine waking up in 2122 with no idea how or why you got there. This is what happens to Ren in Project Nought. After overhearing some distressing news, Ren runs away from home, only to end up over 120 years in the future as part of an intergalactic student exchange program. While hesitant to make friends and form connections, he soon finds himself liking his life in the future, especially with Mars. However, it came with an expiration date when he will return home soon. Together Ren and his new friends fight against a villainous tech company Chronotech, questioning their exchange program in an attempt to find real answers. Set in New Zealand and filled with characters of many colors, genders and orientations, Project Nought is a great story with mystery, love and acceptance. Show less

It’s 1996, imagine waking up in 2122 with no idea how or why you got there. This is what happens to Ren in Project Nought. After overhearing some distre...Show more It’s 1996, imagine waking up in 2122 with no idea how or why you got there. This is what happens to Ren in Project Nought. After overhearing some distressing news, Ren runs away from home, only to end up over 120 years in the future as part of an intergalactic student exchange program. While hesitant to make friends and form connections, he soon finds himself liking his life in the future, especially with Mars. However, it came with an expiration date when he will return home soon. Together Ren and his new friends fight against a villainous tech company Chronotech, questioning their exchange program in an attempt to find real answers. Set in New Zealand and filled with characters of many colors, genders and orientations, Project Nought is a great story with mystery, love and acceptance. Show less

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Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim

Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim

by Park, Patricia

Book - 2023

High school senior Alejandra Kim, known as Ale to her friends, is a second-generation Korean Argentine, living in New York. She doesn't feel like she belo...Show more High school senior Alejandra Kim, known as Ale to her friends, is a second-generation Korean Argentine, living in New York. She doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere, not as a scholarship student at her preppy private school, not in her ethnically diverse neighborhood, and not at home with her critical mother. She just wants to get through her last year of high school, keeping her head down and not making any waves. All of this changes when her best friend Laurel starts a petition against a teacher who insinuated that Ale with her multi ethnic name and Asian looks would be a shoo-in for college. Ale didn't ask to be in the spotlight, but now has to figure out what to stand up for and carve out a space for herself along the way. Show less

High school senior Alejandra Kim, known as Ale to her friends, is a second-generation Korean Argentine, living in New York. She doesn't feel like she belo...Show more High school senior Alejandra Kim, known as Ale to her friends, is a second-generation Korean Argentine, living in New York. She doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere, not as a scholarship student at her preppy private school, not in her ethnically diverse neighborhood, and not at home with her critical mother. She just wants to get through her last year of high school, keeping her head down and not making any waves. All of this changes when her best friend Laurel starts a petition against a teacher who insinuated that Ale with her multi ethnic name and Asian looks would be a shoo-in for college. Ale didn't ask to be in the spotlight, but now has to figure out what to stand up for and carve out a space for herself along the way. Show less

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By the Time You Read This I'll Be Gone

By the Time You Read This I'll Be Gone

An Original Novel

by Kuehn, Stephanie

Book - 2022

Bea Fletcher, great-grandniece of famous mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, loves true mysteries. She specifically loves local-true-crime-unsolved-cases typ...Show more Bea Fletcher, great-grandniece of famous mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, loves true mysteries. She specifically loves local-true-crime-unsolved-cases types of mysteries, to the extent that she secretly writes a true crime blog. But when the mysteries get too close to Bea- and move from the past to the present- things start getting out of control. One night Bea’s best friend, Jax, goes missing- and he’s the fifth teen from their small town to go missing in the last two years. What do these teens have in common? Why aren’t the cops looking for them? Is there a link between the missing teens and a cold case from 30 years before? All Bea knows for sure is the deeper she searches to find her friend, the harder it is to know who to trust. Show less

Bea Fletcher, great-grandniece of famous mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, loves true mysteries. She specifically loves local-true-crime-unsolved-cases typ...Show more Bea Fletcher, great-grandniece of famous mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, loves true mysteries. She specifically loves local-true-crime-unsolved-cases types of mysteries, to the extent that she secretly writes a true crime blog. But when the mysteries get too close to Bea- and move from the past to the present- things start getting out of control. One night Bea’s best friend, Jax, goes missing- and he’s the fifth teen from their small town to go missing in the last two years. What do these teens have in common? Why aren’t the cops looking for them? Is there a link between the missing teens and a cold case from 30 years before? All Bea knows for sure is the deeper she searches to find her friend, the harder it is to know who to trust. Show less

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My Flawless Life

My Flawless Life

by Woon, Yvonne

Book - 2023

Hana is a fixer. She fixes problems that her classmates don’t want parents or school admin to know. She fell into this life because her life as a popular,...Show more Hana is a fixer. She fixes problems that her classmates don’t want parents or school admin to know. She fell into this life because her life as a popular, rich kid at a prestigious high school imploded after her Senator dad was outed in a very public scandal. With her former elite friends now shunning her, Hana only has this one thing going for her. So when she receives a mysterious text from “Three” asking for an investigation on her former best friend, she’s intrigued. Little does she know that she’ll end up uncovering deep secrets and crazy twists that force her to take a closer look at her own life. 352 pages, Grades 8+ Show less

Hana is a fixer. She fixes problems that her classmates don’t want parents or school admin to know. She fell into this life because her life as a popular,...Show more Hana is a fixer. She fixes problems that her classmates don’t want parents or school admin to know. She fell into this life because her life as a popular, rich kid at a prestigious high school imploded after her Senator dad was outed in a very public scandal. With her former elite friends now shunning her, Hana only has this one thing going for her. So when she receives a mysterious text from “Three” asking for an investigation on her former best friend, she’s intrigued. Little does she know that she’ll end up uncovering deep secrets and crazy twists that force her to take a closer look at her own life. 352 pages, Grades 8+ Show less

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No Accident

No Accident

by Bates, Laura

Book - 2022

Hayley Larkin is out of place. Out of place on the cheerleading squad, out of place at the popular kid’s parties, and out of place stranded on a desert is...Show more Hayley Larkin is out of place. Out of place on the cheerleading squad, out of place at the popular kid’s parties, and out of place stranded on a desert island. The day after the big game, a private school’s basketball team and cheerleaders are on their way back home via private planes. When the plane suddenly crashes, 4 cheerleaders and 4 of the men’s team are stranded on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico. At first the teens are focused on daily survival, but the longer they go without rescue, the more tempers flare. A series of seemingly accidental incidents leads to discovery that someone is targeting various members of the group. Are they truly alone? Are they in danger? And how did their past actions lead to possible life and death encounters in their present predicament?? 277 pages, Grades 9+ **Content warning: Sexual Assult Show less

Hayley Larkin is out of place. Out of place on the cheerleading squad, out of place at the popular kid’s parties, and out of place stranded on a desert is...Show more Hayley Larkin is out of place. Out of place on the cheerleading squad, out of place at the popular kid’s parties, and out of place stranded on a desert island. The day after the big game, a private school’s basketball team and cheerleaders are on their way back home via private planes. When the plane suddenly crashes, 4 cheerleaders and 4 of the men’s team are stranded on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico. At first the teens are focused on daily survival, but the longer they go without rescue, the more tempers flare. A series of seemingly accidental incidents leads to discovery that someone is targeting various members of the group. Are they truly alone? Are they in danger? And how did their past actions lead to possible life and death encounters in their present predicament?? 277 pages, Grades 9+ **Content warning: Sexual Assult Show less

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We Deserve Monuments

We Deserve Monuments

by Hammonds, Jas

Book - 2022

Avery had big plans in Washington, D.C. She was supposed to finish out her senior year with her best friends Hikari and Kelsi. She was supposed to head to...Show more Avery had big plans in Washington, D.C. She was supposed to finish out her senior year with her best friends Hikari and Kelsi. She was supposed to head to Georgetown University with them to follow in her mother’s footsteps and study the stars—until the news arrives that Mama Letty, her estranged grandmother, is dying. Now, she’s trapped in Bardell, her mother’s hometown in rural Georgia. As a biracial queer girl from the city, Avery won't ever fit in here in this small town full of prejudice, secrets, and hate. Even Mama Letty seems to hate Avery. But, slowly, Avery befriends two of her classmates, the mysterious Jade and the beautiful Simone. Mama Letty starts opening up to her. And before Avery knows it, her big dreams and all her plans fade into the night sky as she puts down roots in Bardell. Yet the town’s dark history is entangled within those roots, and Avery and her family are caught in the middle. As Avery learns more, she must decide if it’s worth trying to heal the wounds she finds there—or whether it’s even possible to fix something that’s been festering since long before she arrived. 375 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

Avery had big plans in Washington, D.C. She was supposed to finish out her senior year with her best friends Hikari and Kelsi. She was supposed to head to...Show more Avery had big plans in Washington, D.C. She was supposed to finish out her senior year with her best friends Hikari and Kelsi. She was supposed to head to Georgetown University with them to follow in her mother’s footsteps and study the stars—until the news arrives that Mama Letty, her estranged grandmother, is dying. Now, she’s trapped in Bardell, her mother’s hometown in rural Georgia. As a biracial queer girl from the city, Avery won't ever fit in here in this small town full of prejudice, secrets, and hate. Even Mama Letty seems to hate Avery. But, slowly, Avery befriends two of her classmates, the mysterious Jade and the beautiful Simone. Mama Letty starts opening up to her. And before Avery knows it, her big dreams and all her plans fade into the night sky as she puts down roots in Bardell. Yet the town’s dark history is entangled within those roots, and Avery and her family are caught in the middle. As Avery learns more, she must decide if it’s worth trying to heal the wounds she finds there—or whether it’s even possible to fix something that’s been festering since long before she arrived. 375 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

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No Stopping Us Now

No Stopping Us Now

A Novel

by Bledsoe, Lucy Jane

Book - 2022

In 1974, Louisa sets herself a goal to start a girls’ basketball team at her local high school. Up until then, sports were dominated by the boys, sidelini...Show more In 1974, Louisa sets herself a goal to start a girls’ basketball team at her local high school. Up until then, sports were dominated by the boys, sidelining any girl who wanted to play. But now, Louisa and her friends want equal opportunities for girls to be involved in sports. The group’s request to start the girls’ team is met with vicious blowback from the school’s faculty and athletic department. But Lousia is not one to back down and must find the courage to go all-in on achieving her dream to play on the hardwood. With basketball season now warming up, check this book out and get into the game! Based on a true story. 248 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

In 1974, Louisa sets herself a goal to start a girls’ basketball team at her local high school. Up until then, sports were dominated by the boys, sidelini...Show more In 1974, Louisa sets herself a goal to start a girls’ basketball team at her local high school. Up until then, sports were dominated by the boys, sidelining any girl who wanted to play. But now, Louisa and her friends want equal opportunities for girls to be involved in sports. The group’s request to start the girls’ team is met with vicious blowback from the school’s faculty and athletic department. But Lousia is not one to back down and must find the courage to go all-in on achieving her dream to play on the hardwood. With basketball season now warming up, check this book out and get into the game! Based on a true story. 248 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

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Rust in the Root

Rust in the Root

by Ireland, Justina

Book - 2022

It’s not easy being a Black mage in the era of Prohibition against traditional magic in the wake of the Great Rust, which wiped out all of the powerful t...Show more It’s not easy being a Black mage in the era of Prohibition against traditional magic in the wake of the Great Rust, which wiped out all of the powerful technology fueled by Mechomancy—a blending of magic and machinery with evil roots in Necromancy, genocide, and Black suffering. Ten years after the Great Rust, America is still struggling to recover. Laura Ann Langston is a young Black Floramancer from Pennsylvania who came to New York City to get a license to perform magic legally. But all paths to a license are barred for Black mages, save one: Join the Colored Auxiliary of the Bureau of the Arcane's Conservation Corps, and help revitalize Mechomantic power across the country. Laura’s not thrilled about the prospect of using her powers to bolster Mechomancy. And the Skylark, the mysterious and powerful head of the Floramancy Division in the Colored Auxiliary, is not thrilled about the idea of taking Laura on as her apprentice. But the Conservation Corps' teams of Black mages have been disappearing into the Ohio Deep Blight. Laura and the Skylark must venture within to investigate the cause. 439 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

It’s not easy being a Black mage in the era of Prohibition against traditional magic in the wake of the Great Rust, which wiped out all of the powerful t...Show more It’s not easy being a Black mage in the era of Prohibition against traditional magic in the wake of the Great Rust, which wiped out all of the powerful technology fueled by Mechomancy—a blending of magic and machinery with evil roots in Necromancy, genocide, and Black suffering. Ten years after the Great Rust, America is still struggling to recover. Laura Ann Langston is a young Black Floramancer from Pennsylvania who came to New York City to get a license to perform magic legally. But all paths to a license are barred for Black mages, save one: Join the Colored Auxiliary of the Bureau of the Arcane's Conservation Corps, and help revitalize Mechomantic power across the country. Laura’s not thrilled about the prospect of using her powers to bolster Mechomancy. And the Skylark, the mysterious and powerful head of the Floramancy Division in the Colored Auxiliary, is not thrilled about the idea of taking Laura on as her apprentice. But the Conservation Corps' teams of Black mages have been disappearing into the Ohio Deep Blight. Laura and the Skylark must venture within to investigate the cause. 439 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

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The Silence That Binds Us

The Silence That Binds Us

by Ho, Joanna

Book - 2022

Maybelline Chen’s world is shattered when her beloved brother Danny dies by suicide. Everything seemed to be going so well for Danny - he had just been ad...Show more Maybelline Chen’s world is shattered when her beloved brother Danny dies by suicide. Everything seemed to be going so well for Danny - he had just been admitted to Princeton, but nobody knew that he was struggling with depression. May and her parents are devastated, made worse by racist accusations that Asians put too much pressure on their children and that this was the cause for the suicide. While May’s parents would like to keep their heads down and ignore these accusations, May wants to take back the narrative and tell her own story. But is she ready to deal with the consequences of her actions or are they bigger than she thought? Show less

Maybelline Chen’s world is shattered when her beloved brother Danny dies by suicide. Everything seemed to be going so well for Danny - he had just been ad...Show more Maybelline Chen’s world is shattered when her beloved brother Danny dies by suicide. Everything seemed to be going so well for Danny - he had just been admitted to Princeton, but nobody knew that he was struggling with depression. May and her parents are devastated, made worse by racist accusations that Asians put too much pressure on their children and that this was the cause for the suicide. While May’s parents would like to keep their heads down and ignore these accusations, May wants to take back the narrative and tell her own story. But is she ready to deal with the consequences of her actions or are they bigger than she thought? Show less

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See You Yesterday

See You Yesterday

by Solomon, Rachel Lynn

Book - 2022

Barrett is a wisecracking and outspoken aspiring journalist starting her first year at university. She was also a total social leper in high school, so sh...Show more Barrett is a wisecracking and outspoken aspiring journalist starting her first year at university. She was also a total social leper in high school, so she needs to reinvent herself. Too bad when, on her first day, she wakes up to her high school tormentor being assigned as her new dorm roomie. And then she is completely embarrassed in Physics 101 by an uptight nerd. Her college newspaper interview, of course, has to go horribly. And lastly, she burns down a frat house at a party. Barrett finishes the night on the common room couch (after being locked out of her room) while she goes viral and gets doxxed. But she wakes up on the first day of school again. And again... and again. And that uptight nerd? He’s been in this time loop for the past few months. So they team up. And throughout the process of setting the timeline back to normal, they discover the past traumas, dreams, and best food spots in this quirky romance. Show less

Barrett is a wisecracking and outspoken aspiring journalist starting her first year at university. She was also a total social leper in high school, so sh...Show more Barrett is a wisecracking and outspoken aspiring journalist starting her first year at university. She was also a total social leper in high school, so she needs to reinvent herself. Too bad when, on her first day, she wakes up to her high school tormentor being assigned as her new dorm roomie. And then she is completely embarrassed in Physics 101 by an uptight nerd. Her college newspaper interview, of course, has to go horribly. And lastly, she burns down a frat house at a party. Barrett finishes the night on the common room couch (after being locked out of her room) while she goes viral and gets doxxed. But she wakes up on the first day of school again. And again... and again. And that uptight nerd? He’s been in this time loop for the past few months. So they team up. And throughout the process of setting the timeline back to normal, they discover the past traumas, dreams, and best food spots in this quirky romance. Show less

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Messy Roots

Messy Roots

A Graphic Memoir of A Wuhanese American

by Gao, Laura

Book - 2022

Living in China with her extended family, Yuyang is suddenly plucked from Wuhan at age four to live with complete strangers (her parents) in completely fo...Show more Living in China with her extended family, Yuyang is suddenly plucked from Wuhan at age four to live with complete strangers (her parents) in completely foreign Texas. As a new American, she balances her demanding parents and “Asianness” with her desire for independence. So, she picks an American name (Laura), quits the Math Olympics, and starts playing basketball instead. And she can’t wait to leave for college. Dealing with personal crises from being too Asian versus white-washed, liking girls, to post-COVID racism, Laura finds her roots in this graphic memoir. 272 pages. Grades 9+ Show less

Living in China with her extended family, Yuyang is suddenly plucked from Wuhan at age four to live with complete strangers (her parents) in completely fo...Show more Living in China with her extended family, Yuyang is suddenly plucked from Wuhan at age four to live with complete strangers (her parents) in completely foreign Texas. As a new American, she balances her demanding parents and “Asianness” with her desire for independence. So, she picks an American name (Laura), quits the Math Olympics, and starts playing basketball instead. And she can’t wait to leave for college. Dealing with personal crises from being too Asian versus white-washed, liking girls, to post-COVID racism, Laura finds her roots in this graphic memoir. 272 pages. Grades 9+ Show less

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The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

by Ferguson, Jenny

Book - 2022

Before she can escape to the University of Alberta, Lou faces one last summer in her small town amid the prairies of Canada. One last summer helping her u...Show more Before she can escape to the University of Alberta, Lou faces one last summer in her small town amid the prairies of Canada. One last summer helping her uncles Dom and Maurice with their seasonal, all-organic, all-local family ice cream shop, the Michif Creamery. But already, things are changing around Lou. Her mother is away, having taken her traditional Métis beading business on the road. Back from Toronto for the summer is King, the best friend Lou drove away years ago with her lies. And, like a rotten cherry on top of the whole mess, Lou suddenly receives a letter from her biological father—a man Lou never wanted to meet, a man she thought would remain behind bars for the rest of his life. If the Creamery falls under, Lou won’t be able to afford her tuition. This is her last chance to mend things with King. And under no circumstances can she allow her family—especially her mother—to learn that her birth father is out of prison. Everything hangs in the balance. Everything depends on Lou’s web of careful lies, half-truths, and omissions. On anger, betrayal, and close-guarded secrets. But maybe forgiveness lies just around the corner from honesty and trust. Maybe Lou will find that she need not struggle alone in silence. After all, even in the bitterest flavors can sweetness sometimes be found. This story covers some heavy topics, including anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, racially- and sexually-charged violence, and discussion of sexual assault. Please read the author’s content warning at the beginning of the book. 360 pages. Grades 10+ Show less

Before she can escape to the University of Alberta, Lou faces one last summer in her small town amid the prairies of Canada. One last summer helping her u...Show more Before she can escape to the University of Alberta, Lou faces one last summer in her small town amid the prairies of Canada. One last summer helping her uncles Dom and Maurice with their seasonal, all-organic, all-local family ice cream shop, the Michif Creamery. But already, things are changing around Lou. Her mother is away, having taken her traditional Métis beading business on the road. Back from Toronto for the summer is King, the best friend Lou drove away years ago with her lies. And, like a rotten cherry on top of the whole mess, Lou suddenly receives a letter from her biological father—a man Lou never wanted to meet, a man she thought would remain behind bars for the rest of his life. If the Creamery falls under, Lou won’t be able to afford her tuition. This is her last chance to mend things with King. And under no circumstances can she allow her family—especially her mother—to learn that her birth father is out of prison. Everything hangs in the balance. Everything depends on Lou’s web of careful lies, half-truths, and omissions. On anger, betrayal, and close-guarded secrets. But maybe forgiveness lies just around the corner from honesty and trust. Maybe Lou will find that she need not struggle alone in silence. After all, even in the bitterest flavors can sweetness sometimes be found. This story covers some heavy topics, including anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, racially- and sexually-charged violence, and discussion of sexual assault. Please read the author’s content warning at the beginning of the book. 360 pages. Grades 10+ Show less

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The Year I Stopped Trying

The Year I Stopped Trying

A Novel

by Heaney, Katie

Book - 2021

Mary Davies misses an assignment and expects the wrath of her teacher and her world to fall crumbling before her. When nothing significant actually happen...Show more Mary Davies misses an assignment and expects the wrath of her teacher and her world to fall crumbling before her. When nothing significant actually happens, she starts to wonder what else can she stop caring about and how long it will go unnoticed. Mary then starts an experiment where she deliberately doesn’t do homework or study. The experiment slowly evolves into her defying her over-zealous manager at La Baguette, changing her look, and pursuing the school’s bad boy. As the good student and responsible child of the family, Mary finds “not trying” to be more challenging than she thought, and has to work to keep it up: "Everything I do – almost everything, anyway – I do to prevent a later guilt over not having done it. Sometimes I know where the guilt comes from: my parents or my teachers or the dentist or the law. But sometimes I can’t figure it out. Sometimes I do things in such a specific way, so convinced that it’s right, but I can’t figure out where it comes from. Nobody told me I had to wake up at exactly 5:35, but I know when I hit snooze (which I’ve only done twice in my life), I wake up feeling like the laziest scumbag on planet Earth." (Heaney 118) Funny and romantic in unexpected ways, this is a story that will have you wondering what it actually means to stop trying and what exactly would happen if you tried. 256 pages. Grades 8+ Show less

Mary Davies misses an assignment and expects the wrath of her teacher and her world to fall crumbling before her. When nothing significant actually happen...Show more Mary Davies misses an assignment and expects the wrath of her teacher and her world to fall crumbling before her. When nothing significant actually happens, she starts to wonder what else can she stop caring about and how long it will go unnoticed. Mary then starts an experiment where she deliberately doesn’t do homework or study. The experiment slowly evolves into her defying her over-zealous manager at La Baguette, changing her look, and pursuing the school’s bad boy. As the good student and responsible child of the family, Mary finds “not trying” to be more challenging than she thought, and has to work to keep it up: "Everything I do – almost everything, anyway – I do to prevent a later guilt over not having done it. Sometimes I know where the guilt comes from: my parents or my teachers or the dentist or the law. But sometimes I can’t figure it out. Sometimes I do things in such a specific way, so convinced that it’s right, but I can’t figure out where it comes from. Nobody told me I had to wake up at exactly 5:35, but I know when I hit snooze (which I’ve only done twice in my life), I wake up feeling like the laziest scumbag on planet Earth." (Heaney 118) Funny and romantic in unexpected ways, this is a story that will have you wondering what it actually means to stop trying and what exactly would happen if you tried. 256 pages. Grades 8+ Show less

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Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous

by Park, Suzanne

Book - 2021

Sunny Song is obsessed with her phone. At least that is what her principal at school thinks based on her social media postings that take place at all hour...Show more Sunny Song is obsessed with her phone. At least that is what her principal at school thinks based on her social media postings that take place at all hours of the day, including during school hours. Even though Sunny explains that she schedules her posts ahead of time and is not technically breaking any rules, she still finds herself at a digital detox camp after an accidental video posting goes viral. From California to a farm in Iowa, Sunny is far from home with no technology, no friends, and no way to document the crazy chickens tormenting her. That is, unless she can find Wi-Fi and connect to the phone she smuggled in. Does Sunny really have an obsession or is it just normal teenage activity as she claims it is? With the help of a cute farm boy and a fellow tech obsessed camper, Sunny works to define who she is beyond her social media persona and what she is really looking to gain from it. 334 pages. Grades 9+ Show less

Sunny Song is obsessed with her phone. At least that is what her principal at school thinks based on her social media postings that take place at all hour...Show more Sunny Song is obsessed with her phone. At least that is what her principal at school thinks based on her social media postings that take place at all hours of the day, including during school hours. Even though Sunny explains that she schedules her posts ahead of time and is not technically breaking any rules, she still finds herself at a digital detox camp after an accidental video posting goes viral. From California to a farm in Iowa, Sunny is far from home with no technology, no friends, and no way to document the crazy chickens tormenting her. That is, unless she can find Wi-Fi and connect to the phone she smuggled in. Does Sunny really have an obsession or is it just normal teenage activity as she claims it is? With the help of a cute farm boy and a fellow tech obsessed camper, Sunny works to define who she is beyond her social media persona and what she is really looking to gain from it. 334 pages. Grades 9+ Show less

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Medusa

Medusa

by Burton, Jessie

Book - 2021

Self-banished with little company but the snakes on her head, Medusa is lonely. She spends her days walking the deserted island and waiting for her sister...Show more Self-banished with little company but the snakes on her head, Medusa is lonely. She spends her days walking the deserted island and waiting for her sisters to fly back for the evening. This four-year long pattern is broken when Perseus lands onshore with bronzed skin and a gleaming sword. She’s careful to keep her distance. They talk with a stone wall separating them, ensuring that Medusa’s monstrous secret is hidden. Secrets and past traumas are divulged. And then, declarations of love are confessed. But as they bare their hearts, their intertwining destinies threaten the happy ending Medusa so desperately wants. 224 pages. Grades 9+ Show less

Self-banished with little company but the snakes on her head, Medusa is lonely. She spends her days walking the deserted island and waiting for her sister...Show more Self-banished with little company but the snakes on her head, Medusa is lonely. She spends her days walking the deserted island and waiting for her sisters to fly back for the evening. This four-year long pattern is broken when Perseus lands onshore with bronzed skin and a gleaming sword. She’s careful to keep her distance. They talk with a stone wall separating them, ensuring that Medusa’s monstrous secret is hidden. Secrets and past traumas are divulged. And then, declarations of love are confessed. But as they bare their hearts, their intertwining destinies threaten the happy ending Medusa so desperately wants. 224 pages. Grades 9+ Show less

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You've Reached Sam

You've Reached Sam

by Thao, Dustin

Book - 2021

High school sweethearts, Julie and Sam, are planning for an exciting future together. College, jobs, and bright days all lie ahead for the couple. But, al...Show more High school sweethearts, Julie and Sam, are planning for an exciting future together. College, jobs, and bright days all lie ahead for the couple. But, all their dreams are shattered when Sam is killed in an auto accident, leaving Julie alone in the depths of agony and despair. Julie feels it’s best to heal her broken heart by forgetting Sam and chooses not to attend his funeral or memorial services. She tries to move on by throwing away all the gifts Sam got her, along with anything that reminds her of her former boyfriend. Then, one day as Julie goes to throw away the phone she used to talk to Sam on, she dials his number and is shocked when his voice answers. Even though Sam is deceased, the two are able to communicate through the magical phones. As time passes, and the couple continues to communicate, Julie is pulled deeper into the relationship that once made her so happy, and at the same time, pulls away from her family and friends who aim to comfort and help her. Will Julie ever be able to face her grief and accept the death of her true love? Grab a box of Kleenex, because this is one tearjerker you will need them for. 304 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

High school sweethearts, Julie and Sam, are planning for an exciting future together. College, jobs, and bright days all lie ahead for the couple. But, al...Show more High school sweethearts, Julie and Sam, are planning for an exciting future together. College, jobs, and bright days all lie ahead for the couple. But, all their dreams are shattered when Sam is killed in an auto accident, leaving Julie alone in the depths of agony and despair. Julie feels it’s best to heal her broken heart by forgetting Sam and chooses not to attend his funeral or memorial services. She tries to move on by throwing away all the gifts Sam got her, along with anything that reminds her of her former boyfriend. Then, one day as Julie goes to throw away the phone she used to talk to Sam on, she dials his number and is shocked when his voice answers. Even though Sam is deceased, the two are able to communicate through the magical phones. As time passes, and the couple continues to communicate, Julie is pulled deeper into the relationship that once made her so happy, and at the same time, pulls away from her family and friends who aim to comfort and help her. Will Julie ever be able to face her grief and accept the death of her true love? Grab a box of Kleenex, because this is one tearjerker you will need them for. 304 pages. Grades 9+. Show less

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Love Is A Revolution

Love Is A Revolution

by Watson, Renée

Book - 2021

Nala Robertson knows exactly what she wants to do this summer: find a new hairstyle, spend time watching Netflix with her friends, and find love. One day,...Show more Nala Robertson knows exactly what she wants to do this summer: find a new hairstyle, spend time watching Netflix with her friends, and find love. One day, she reluctantly agrees to attend an open mic night with the group her cousin volunteers for, Inspire Harlem. It’s there she meets Tye Brown. He’s gorgeous and sweet, but unlike Nala, he’s a serious activist and vegetarian who constantly volunteers for his community. In order to impress him, Nala lies and says that she has a job at a retirement facility (when in reality she’s just hanging out at her Grandmother’s place) and is a vegetarian (when in reality she loves bacon). As time goes on, she struggles to keep up the illusion of her lies, all while trying to piece together what it really means to love herself and others. Although romance is a part of the story, “Love Is a Revolution” focuses equally on Nala’s relationships with her family, friends, and love interest. The book really shines as you watch Nala learn more about how to find her voice and secure her place in her community. Nala’s complicated relationship with her mother, the strong bond she has with her Grandmother, and the layered dynamic she has with her cousin, all add to the ways in which you see her grow throughout the book. The story also features interspersed lyrics from Nala’s favorite artist. These sections are full of words of inspiration and guidance that act as a compass for Nala. This joyful read features great role models and important messages of self-love, all set on the backdrop of a warm Harlem evening. 290 pages. Grades 8 and up. Show less

Nala Robertson knows exactly what she wants to do this summer: find a new hairstyle, spend time watching Netflix with her friends, and find love. One day,...Show more Nala Robertson knows exactly what she wants to do this summer: find a new hairstyle, spend time watching Netflix with her friends, and find love. One day, she reluctantly agrees to attend an open mic night with the group her cousin volunteers for, Inspire Harlem. It’s there she meets Tye Brown. He’s gorgeous and sweet, but unlike Nala, he’s a serious activist and vegetarian who constantly volunteers for his community. In order to impress him, Nala lies and says that she has a job at a retirement facility (when in reality she’s just hanging out at her Grandmother’s place) and is a vegetarian (when in reality she loves bacon). As time goes on, she struggles to keep up the illusion of her lies, all while trying to piece together what it really means to love herself and others. Although romance is a part of the story, “Love Is a Revolution” focuses equally on Nala’s relationships with her family, friends, and love interest. The book really shines as you watch Nala learn more about how to find her voice and secure her place in her community. Nala’s complicated relationship with her mother, the strong bond she has with her Grandmother, and the layered dynamic she has with her cousin, all add to the ways in which you see her grow throughout the book. The story also features interspersed lyrics from Nala’s favorite artist. These sections are full of words of inspiration and guidance that act as a compass for Nala. This joyful read features great role models and important messages of self-love, all set on the backdrop of a warm Harlem evening. 290 pages. Grades 8 and up. Show less

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How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love With the Universe

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love With the Universe

by Vasquez Gilliland, Raquel

Book - 2021

Moon Fuentez is the camerawoman for her famous Fotogram influencer twin sister Star. Ever since her father left, Moon has accepted her role as the dark ...Show more Moon Fuentez is the camerawoman for her famous Fotogram influencer twin sister Star. Ever since her father left, Moon has accepted her role as the dark skinned ugly sister in the shadow of Star. It is the summer after high school graduation and Moon was told – not given a choice by their mother, who has only Star’s success on her mind – that she has to go on a bus tour as the merch girl with Star and other famous Fotogram influenzers. The only upside to this is that she will make enough money to afford going to the dream college she was accepted into. Not in her plans where Santiago, the always grumpy merch boy who is also the hottest guy ever, and someone finally noticing the art she is creating. Will the universe she discovers this summer be Santiago or will it be herself creating her art? Show less

Moon Fuentez is the camerawoman for her famous Fotogram influencer twin sister Star. Ever since her father left, Moon has accepted her role as the dark ...Show more Moon Fuentez is the camerawoman for her famous Fotogram influencer twin sister Star. Ever since her father left, Moon has accepted her role as the dark skinned ugly sister in the shadow of Star. It is the summer after high school graduation and Moon was told – not given a choice by their mother, who has only Star’s success on her mind – that she has to go on a bus tour as the merch girl with Star and other famous Fotogram influenzers. The only upside to this is that she will make enough money to afford going to the dream college she was accepted into. Not in her plans where Santiago, the always grumpy merch boy who is also the hottest guy ever, and someone finally noticing the art she is creating. Will the universe she discovers this summer be Santiago or will it be herself creating her art? Show less

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This Poison Heart

This Poison Heart

by Bayron, Kalynn

Book - 2021

Briseis Greene is a high school student with magical powers. She can grow plants from tiny seeds into large blooms and bring dying plants back to life. Wh...Show more Briseis Greene is a high school student with magical powers. She can grow plants from tiny seeds into large blooms and bring dying plants back to life. While she is curious about the extent of her powers, she is also trying to keep them secret from her friends. Bri is surprised to learn that she has inherited a house in upstate New York from her birth mother’s sister that she did not know. Bri and her parents want a break from the city, so they decide to try the house out for the summer. When they get there however, they find it has a hidden past, has a garden full of some of the deadliest plants in the world (which Bri is immune to), and even more secrets they must uncover. This book is filled with suspense, magic, and Greek mythology. Briseis must figure out who is actually on her side and discover her family’s secrets before it’s too late. 373 pages. Grades 9 and up. Show less

Briseis Greene is a high school student with magical powers. She can grow plants from tiny seeds into large blooms and bring dying plants back to life. Wh...Show more Briseis Greene is a high school student with magical powers. She can grow plants from tiny seeds into large blooms and bring dying plants back to life. While she is curious about the extent of her powers, she is also trying to keep them secret from her friends. Bri is surprised to learn that she has inherited a house in upstate New York from her birth mother’s sister that she did not know. Bri and her parents want a break from the city, so they decide to try the house out for the summer. When they get there however, they find it has a hidden past, has a garden full of some of the deadliest plants in the world (which Bri is immune to), and even more secrets they must uncover. This book is filled with suspense, magic, and Greek mythology. Briseis must figure out who is actually on her side and discover her family’s secrets before it’s too late. 373 pages. Grades 9 and up. Show less

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Boys Run the Riot

Boys Run the Riot

1

by Gaku, Keito

Book - 2021

Ryo is transgender, but is not out at home or in school. He still is forced to wear the girl's school uniform and hide his crushes on girls. The only thin...Show more Ryo is transgender, but is not out at home or in school. He still is forced to wear the girl's school uniform and hide his crushes on girls. The only thing that allows him to express himself is fashion- he buys men's clothing he can wear on his days off. When new kid, Jin joins his class, Ryo thinks he looks like just another bully. But when they discover their shared interest in fashion, Jin begs Ryo to start a clothing line with him! Ryo might finally have found a way to let his true voice be heard, but there are many bumps in the road to launching a successful clothing line. A new own voices manga by a trans creator that explores LGTBQIA+ issues in Japan. Show less

Ryo is transgender, but is not out at home or in school. He still is forced to wear the girl's school uniform and hide his crushes on girls. The only thin...Show more Ryo is transgender, but is not out at home or in school. He still is forced to wear the girl's school uniform and hide his crushes on girls. The only thing that allows him to express himself is fashion- he buys men's clothing he can wear on his days off. When new kid, Jin joins his class, Ryo thinks he looks like just another bully. But when they discover their shared interest in fashion, Jin begs Ryo to start a clothing line with him! Ryo might finally have found a way to let his true voice be heard, but there are many bumps in the road to launching a successful clothing line. A new own voices manga by a trans creator that explores LGTBQIA+ issues in Japan. Show less

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Switch

Switch

by King, A. S.

Book - 2021

For Tru, her town, and the rest of the world, time has frozen on June 23, 2020. Although she has track and field to help distract her, life is tilted and ...Show more For Tru, her town, and the rest of the world, time has frozen on June 23, 2020. Although she has track and field to help distract her, life is tilted and bizarre without the consistency of time. Meanwhile, Tru’s father is feverishly guarding a mysterious switch in their house that no one is allowed to touch. His continuous work of building more and more layers of plywood boxes around the switch leaves their home a labyrinth of ever thickening and twisting tunnels. At the same time, the toxicity and darkness of their family’s secrets cannot be covered up or willed away by odd habits and good intentions. Tru is convinced that the key to fixing time is to get people to care about one another. Together, her and a few of her classmates study psychology in an attempt to unlock human empathy, and find out what it means to live and move when time stands still. This book explores what it feels like to find agency in a world where seemingly everything is out of one’s control. Through hauntingly unconventional prose, this eccentric dystopia is driven by a protagonist who is more than willing to bend the perception of reality to display the fullness of her slowly unravelling mental health. Switch is for those with a willingness to lean in to an ever shifting landscape and relinquish the need to distinguish what is real and what isn’t. This story will help one process what it was like to survive 2020, and how one can find a way, despite it all. 225 pages. Grades 9 and up. Show less

For Tru, her town, and the rest of the world, time has frozen on June 23, 2020. Although she has track and field to help distract her, life is tilted and ...Show more For Tru, her town, and the rest of the world, time has frozen on June 23, 2020. Although she has track and field to help distract her, life is tilted and bizarre without the consistency of time. Meanwhile, Tru’s father is feverishly guarding a mysterious switch in their house that no one is allowed to touch. His continuous work of building more and more layers of plywood boxes around the switch leaves their home a labyrinth of ever thickening and twisting tunnels. At the same time, the toxicity and darkness of their family’s secrets cannot be covered up or willed away by odd habits and good intentions. Tru is convinced that the key to fixing time is to get people to care about one another. Together, her and a few of her classmates study psychology in an attempt to unlock human empathy, and find out what it means to live and move when time stands still. This book explores what it feels like to find agency in a world where seemingly everything is out of one’s control. Through hauntingly unconventional prose, this eccentric dystopia is driven by a protagonist who is more than willing to bend the perception of reality to display the fullness of her slowly unravelling mental health. Switch is for those with a willingness to lean in to an ever shifting landscape and relinquish the need to distinguish what is real and what isn’t. This story will help one process what it was like to survive 2020, and how one can find a way, despite it all. 225 pages. Grades 9 and up. Show less

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Kusama

Kusama

The Graphic Novel

by Macellari, Elisa

Book - 2020

Yayoi Kusama might be one of the most famous artists you have never heard about. Or maybe you do know her from her Instagram posts? But there is so much...Show more Yayoi Kusama might be one of the most famous artists you have never heard about. Or maybe you do know her from her Instagram posts? But there is so much more to Yayoi Kusama. After a difficult childhood growing up in rural Japan, she left for New York in 1958 to create art in the pop-art movement. She became well known along Andy Warhol and Salvadore Dali, but never had their financial success. At the end of the late 1960s she got more public attention organizing a series of happenings in public places where she covered the participants bodies with brightly colored polka dots. In 1973 Kusama returned to Japan. She checked herself into an in-patient facility because of her mental health and has been staying there ever since. She continued to create art and had some of her greatest successes and exhibits since then. To fully appreciate this complicated and fascinating life of an artist, what could be better than a graphic novel? Check out Elisa Marcellari's graphic memoir Kusama. 127 pages, Grades 10+ Show less

Yayoi Kusama might be one of the most famous artists you have never heard about. Or maybe you do know her from her Instagram posts? But there is so much...Show more Yayoi Kusama might be one of the most famous artists you have never heard about. Or maybe you do know her from her Instagram posts? But there is so much more to Yayoi Kusama. After a difficult childhood growing up in rural Japan, she left for New York in 1958 to create art in the pop-art movement. She became well known along Andy Warhol and Salvadore Dali, but never had their financial success. At the end of the late 1960s she got more public attention organizing a series of happenings in public places where she covered the participants bodies with brightly colored polka dots. In 1973 Kusama returned to Japan. She checked herself into an in-patient facility because of her mental health and has been staying there ever since. She continued to create art and had some of her greatest successes and exhibits since then. To fully appreciate this complicated and fascinating life of an artist, what could be better than a graphic novel? Check out Elisa Marcellari's graphic memoir Kusama. 127 pages, Grades 10+ Show less

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