QUICK LINKS TO SECTIONS:
BROWN, RACHEL MANIJA AND SHERWOOD SMITH.
STRANGER (Science Fiction)
Set in a post-apocalyptic walled city, located in current day southern California, where people, animals, and even plants have unusual powers and where the laws are just and carried out fairly, when a young stranger who is the wanted Prospector appears and brings with him the wrath of a warlord’s army, the town desperately prepares to defend itself!
FOMBELLE, TIMOTHEE.
VANGO: BETWEEN SKY AND EARTH (Thriller/Historical Fiction)
A mysterious and athletic young man who, after surviving a shipwreck as an infant, lived on a small island until his home was invaded and his loved ones threatened. Vango’s heart-pounding adventures (around the time when World War II was about to begin,) took him to the many places, including an airship, a hidden monastery, and a posh hotel in New York City.
FINE, SARAH.
OF METAL AND WISHES (Science Fiction)
In a slaughterhouse with a deep, dark secret, Wen assists her father at the meat factory’s medical clinic. When she is humiliated by a new worker, she makes a foolish wish to the rumored “Ghost.” To her surprise, the Ghost grants her wish, with dire consequences. Now that “he” takes a special interest in her, Wen finds herself steps deeper into the danger zones: literally, in the basement of the slaughterhouse where mechanical spiders can shred intruders into bloody pieces and an all-seeing eye can monitor every move one makes.
FLEMING, CANDACE.
THE FAMILY ROMANOV: MURDER, REBELLION & THE FALL OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA (Nonfiction)
The fascinating life of Czar Nicholas II, his wife, Alexandra, and their children, their ostentatiously privileged upbringing, and their tragic deaths in the dramatic fall of the Russian Empire are captured in this moving and insightful biography.
GILES, GAIL.
GIRLS LIKE US (Realistic Fiction)
Quincy and Biddy have been in special ed classes for years. Now they have graduated and are legal adults, they have to work and survive as independently as they can manage. Due to the lack social social dexterity and the abuses they both endured when they were younger, their struggles are almost insurmountable. But with newly forged strong friendship, they can face the world and its difficulties together.
GREEN, SALLY.
HALF BAD and HALF WILD (Fantasy)
In a faux-modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, sixteen-year-old Nathan is an abomination: a “half code” of both white and black witch traits. Tortured as a young boy and trained to kill, Nathan’s only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down his father, and gain his own magical powers. Fast paced and full of unexpected twists, these two installments of a planned trilogy have wowed many readers.
JOHNSTON, E.K.
THE STORY OF OWEN: DRAGON SLAYER OF TRONDHEIM (SciFi)
In an alternative future Canada, dragons devastate cities and small towns by eating vehicles with carbon exhausts and all the humans within. Due to the toxic nature of exploded dragon bodies, talented and trained dragon slayers must confront these giant beasts one at a time. Owen set out to accomplish epic deeds and have his heroics memorialized in songs by his bard Siobhan, a genius composer.
LU, MARIE.
THE YOUNG ELITES (Fantasy)
A blood plague has turned many young people into mutants with magical powers in the kingdom of and the society treats An intense fantasy about Adelina, an outsider girl who is rescued by the legendary Reaper, the leader of the Young Elites. But can Adelina keep her friends and sister safe?
MAGOON, KEKLA.
HOW IT WENT DOWN (Realistic Fiction)
Told from many perspectives from residents of a small town after the shooting death of a young black man by a white man, this gripping story shows how although each person believes that he or she knows exactly how it all “went down,” the community has to struggle with piecing together the real picture while no two accounts were exactly the same.
PARSONS, MARK HUNTLEY.
ROAD RASH (Realistic Fiction/Humorous)
When 17-year-old Zach Ryan, a skilled drummer and music lover, joins a popular local band on a long summer tour, he experiences many ups and downs of a life on the road: the exhilaration of successful gigs, the humiliation from a bad bar manager, the ego-war between band members, and the realization that he truly is good at what he does.
REYNOLDS, JASON.
WHEN I WAS THE GREATEST (Realistic Fiction)
Living in a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, Ali, his sister, and their neighbors stay out of trouble until they go to the wrong party, where one of them gets badly hurt and another leaves with a target on his back.
RITTER, WILLIAM.
JACKABY (Mystery/Fantasy)
Set in 1890s New England, this supernatural detective adventure is a perfect blend of excitement, imagination, and humor. Abigail Rook, whose ability to notice normal details match perfectly with her employer R. F. Jackaby, an investigator who has the ability to see supernatural beings, to solve a murder mystery baffling the local police force.
SCHREFER, ELIOT.
THREATENED (Realistic Fiction/Survival Story)
Luc is an orphan, living in debt slavery in contemporary Gabon, until he meets a Professor who claims to be studying chimpanzees, and they head off into the jungle, uninhabited by humans and full of natural dangers. When the Professor disappears, Luc must survive by himself while also protecting the chimps whom he has befriended and felt a strong kinship to.
SHEINKIN, STEVE.
THE PORT CHICAGO 50: DISASTER, MUTINY, AND THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (Nonfiction)
This astonishing civil rights story chronicles the 1944 event that rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California after a massive explosion killing more than 300 sailors. The aftermath showed the prejudice that the African American men and women in America’s armed forces had to face during World War II. This title is the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award winner of nonfiction.
TAMAKI, MARIKO AND JILLIAN TAMAKI.
THIS ONE SUMMER (Realistic Fiction/Graphic Novel)
Rose’s latest summer at a beach lake house is overshadowed by her parents’ potential divorce, her friend’s secret sorrows, and the befuddling activities of older teens who seem to be dealing with complicated romantic relationship issues.
VENKATRAMAN, PADMA.
A TIME TO DANCE (Realistic Fiction/Verse Novel)
Veda, a teen from contemporary India, is a rising star in the classical Bharatanatyam dance. Right after winning the Bharatanatyam competition, one of Veda’s legs is maimed and must be amputated below the knee. Veda’s emotionally charged journey from despair to determination and enlightenment is captured in powerful free verses.
WALTON, LESLYE.
THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROW OF AVA LAVENDER (Realistic Fiction/Magical Realism)
Born with bird wings into a family cursed to be foolish in love, sixteen-year-old Ava delves into her family’s past hoping to understand her unusual nature and learn to fit in with her peers. Is she prepared for the brutal and harsh realities that she must confront in the end?
WESTERFELD, SCOTT.
AFTERWORLDS (Fantasy/Realistic Fiction)
In this unusual novel within a novel, 18-year-old Darcy has just sold her first novel for a huge sum of money and is living in New York City to finish and revise the novel, Afterworlds, a paranormal romance between a young woman and an Indian god of death Yama. Readers have a chance to peek into the Young Adult novelists’ world, follow the fiction writing process, and enjoy a thrilling dark fantasy all at once.
WHALEY, JOHN CAREY.
NOGGIN (SciFi/Realistic Fiction)
Travis Coates has lost his head—literally. Dying of leukemia, he has had his noggin surgically removed and cryogenically frozen. But when he’s revived a short while later, he realizes that adjusting to a world where he’s five years younger than all his best friends and even ex-girlfriend is quite a difficult task.
WHITE, KIERSTEN and JIM DI BARTOLO.
IN THE SHADOWS (Fantasy/Graphic Novel)
In two sets of interwoven and time-reverse segments (one in plain text and one in full-color illustrated wordless panels,) the author and artist tell the story of sisters Minnie and Cora who are unwittingly involved in a sinister plot involving Arthur, a young man with no past, and the urgent pursuit of immortality by a group of mysterious people.
WOODSON, JACQUELINE.
BROWN GIRL DREAMING (Memoir, Poetry)
In this verse memoir, vivid poems capture the joy of finding her own voice through writing stories and reflect on what it was like to grow up African American in the 1960s and 1970s Brooklyn, New York and Greenville, South Carolina. (2015 Newbery Honor book)
ADAMS, DOUGLAS.
THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (SciFi)
The hilarious journey of Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect, who escape from Earth seconds before it is demolished and travel to a variety of galactic civilizations while gathering information for a hitchhiker’s guidebook. Read the entire trilogy!
ALCOTT, LOUISA MAY.
LITTLE WOMEN (and others) (Realistic/Classic)
The March sisters come of age in Concord during the Civil War.
ANDERSON, LAURIE HALSE.
CHAINS (Historical)
Sold as a slave to an influential New York Tory family, 13-year-old Isabel spies for the patriot side during the American Revolution in a desperate hope to gain freedom for herself and her 5-year-old sister.
ANDERSON, M.T.
THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING (Historical)
Set against the disquiet of Revolutionary Boston, Octavian’s life is filled with contradictions, mysteries, and surprising revelations. The issues of slavery and human rights, racism, free will, and wars are all highly relevant today. This was a National Book Award Winner. Its sequel has received much acclaim as well: THE KINGDOM ON THE WAVES.
ANDERSON, M.T.
FEED (SciFi)
In a futuristic world in which schools are TradeMarked, run by big corporations, and everyone gets a “24/7 feed” implanted into the brain, a tragic romance occurs between Titus and Violet because Violet becomes deadly ill when her “feed” chip malfunctions. This is a chilling tale of a Dystopia.
ASIMOV, ISAAC.
FOUNDATION (SciFi)
In this classic science fiction tale, the Foundations are created by Hari Seldon to preserve human culture after the collapse of the first galactic empire. The series follows the developments as the Foundations struggle to survive and fulfill the mission.
BARNABY, HANAH.
WONDER SHOW (Historical)
After her father took off, Portia was sent to McGreavy’s Home for Wayward Girls by her aunt. The Home is a gloomy, hopeless place where Mister controlled every girl’s future. Portia, free-spirited and clever, escaped and joined the circus — more accurately, the Side Show, where she befriended and found solace from a group of unusual people.
BASIQALUPI, PAOLO.
SHIP BREAKER (SciFi)
In this fast paced adventure, Nailer has a dangerous job: to scavenge copper wire from the depths of the ancient oil tankers on the beach in a future world where many things are hidden from him, such as a riches and privileges that are promised him if only he takes some serious risks.
BAUER, JOAN.
HOPE WAS HERE (Realistic)
Sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt move to a small town in Wisconsin to join the “short order dance” of life at the Welcome Stairways Diner. In the course of just a few months, Hope encounters issues as diverse as her customers: corruption in politics, a new love, serious illness and the meaning of family. Many other titles by this author are highly enjoyable, too: SQUASHED, PEELED, and RULES OF THE ROAD are three examples.
BERRY, JULIE.
ALL THE TRUTH THAT’S IN ME (Realistic/Historical)
The townspeople of Roswell Station were astounded when Judith, who went missing two years ago, came back home with her tongue cut out and could not tell anyone exactly what happened to her and to her best friend whose corpse flowed down the river back to town soon after their assumed kidnapping. Will the compassionate Lucas be able to help Judith convince her Puritan community in this Colonial American town that she was not to be blamed for what happened?
BRADBURY, RAY.
FAHRENHEIT 451 (Classic, SciFi)
This is the classic tale of an unsettling future in which all books are banned or burned.
BRAY, LIBBA.
BEAUTY QUEEN (SciFi, Humorous)
In this slightly futuristic, sardonic fun-house mirror of our media-crazed society, a group of teen beauty pageant contestants found themselves crash landed on a (supposedly) deserted island. They must use their wits, the salvaged beauty products, and leadership skills in order to survive and win the contest. As the story goes on, readers find that all was not what it seemed and the first impression of each young woman definitely does not tell the whole story.
BUNTING, EVE.
THE PRESENCE (Horror)
In alternating point of views, the chilling story of 17-year-old Catherine and her encounter with an evil spirit (The Presence) who resides inside a church and has ensnared young girls for decades, unfolds.
CARD, ORSON SCOTT.
ENDER’S GAME (SciFi)
Ender Wiggin is destined to become the leader of a troop of child army in a space mission to completely annihilate an alien species on another planet. New York Times called this Hugo and Nebula awards winner “intense,” but it has more than just intensity. It is intelligent and full of surprises and imagination. One more title was added to this series: ENDER IN EXILE.
CARD, ORSON SCOTT.
ENDER’S SHADOW (SciFi)
This is another intriguing and gripping story based on a character from ENDER’S GAME. Bean’s story of surviving in the toughest environment and outsmarting the most vicious enemies in Battle School is as well-crafted, exciting, and insightful as its predecessor. The saga continues in SHADOWS IN FLIGHT.
CASHORE, KRISTIN.
GRACELING (Fantasy)
Cashore’s debut novel took the young adult fantasy/romance fiction field by storm! Katsa and Po, both “graced” with super-human powers, make a great couple and fighting companions in a world of assassins, conspiracies, and a hidden but hideous talent of a particular power figure. Two companion books featuring different protagonists are every bit as magical and powerful (and often harrowing) as the first: FIRE and BITTERBLUE.
CHRISTIE, AGATHA.
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Suspense/Classic)
In this gripping psychological thriller, ten formerly unconnected “guests” in a mansion on an isolated island must face their just punishments for crimes they had committed long time ago. One by one, they are dealt with in ominous ways by an unknown force.
CHRISTIE, AGATHA.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (Suspense/Classic)
Hercule Poirot investigates a variety of motives for murder as the Calais Coach races across Europe. The passengers provide the intriguing clues. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE is another masterpiece of psycho-thriller.
CLARKE, ARTHUR C.
CHILDHOOD’S END (SciFi/Classic)
In the near future, Earth is invaded and ruled by a kindly superior species, which is preparing humanity for a giant evolutionary step forward.
CLARKE, SUSANNA.
JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL (Fantasy)
This unique, dark, fantastic tale of two rival magicians, set against an “alternative” Britain during early 19th century, will fill many of the summer nights with wit and stunning feats. Not published as a children’s or young adult novel, it is nevertheless a most suitable read for teen fantasy lovers.
COLFER, EOIN.
AIRMAN (Fantasy/Adventure)
When Conor Broekhart, teenage inventor and swordsman, is wrongfully jailed, he devices a daring escape from the island prison to clear his name and keep the kingdom from falling into evil hands. This is a very exciting new story from the popular author of the ARTEMIS FOWL series.
COLLINS, SUZANNE.
THE HUNGER GAMES (SciFi/Dystopian)
Katniss, a resourceful 16-year-old, narrates her own exciting and chilling story in a futuristic world where the country is divided into 12 districts — from the Über wealthy to the barely surviving. She is among the 24 teenagers pitched against each other in the annual battle-to-the-death TV reality show: The Hunger Games. All the actions, including the gruesome deaths and surprising twists of events, are caught on camera. The sequels are CATCHING FIRE and MOCKINGJAY.
CONDIE, ALICE.
MATCHED (SciFi/Dystopian)
Cassia’s future is completely laid out for her – all will be perfect in a world where everything IS perfect, including a husband that is her perfect match. However, a computer glitch showed her a glimpse of an imperfect match, her world starts to show cracks at the seams that lead to doubts and dangerous actions. The sequels are CROSSED and REACHED.
CORMIER, ROBERT.
AFTER THE FIRST DEATH (Realistic)
When a terrorist hijacks a camp bus, everyone becomes a victim, and each is confronted with unexpected ways to live — or die.
CORMIER, ROBERT.
THE CHOCOLATE WAR (Realistic)
This is a powerful and suspenseful novel about high school politics, cruelty, and conformity.
CRANE, STEPHEN.
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE (Historical/Classic)
A young soldier comes of age under the stress of Civil War combat.
CREW, LINDA.
BRIDES OF EDEN: A TRUE STORY IMAGINED (Historical)
16-year-old Eva Mae, in 1903, became part of a small all-women religious cult that followed a charismatic leader, Joshua. This intense and tragic true historical event is recreated by Linda Crew in a most masterful way, an amazing read.
CURTIS, CHRISTOPHER PAUL.
ELIJAH OF BUXTON (Historical)
Elijah, spirited and intelligent first free born resident of Buxton, a 1850s settlement of former slaves, relates the colorful life of his hometown in humorous episodes before having to face a horrific turn of events. The companion MADMAN OF PINEY WOODS is set in 1900 and traces the story of the next generation children in the area.
DESAI HIDIER, TANUJA.
BORN CONFUSED (Realistic)
Dimple Lala, the insightful 17-year-old narrator of this story of an ABCD (American Born Confused Desi), tells about her life as a New Jersey Indian-American school girl who, as a perpetual outsider, is always trying to find herself.
DICKENS, CHARLES.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Fantasy/Classic)
One Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge, the rich and grouchy miser, receives a chance to reform his negative ways to ensure a happier life for himself and those around him after being visited by four spirits who show him how his past and present actions impact on the end of his life.
DICKENS, CHARLES.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Realistic/Classic)
Pip’s life is changed by a strange circumstance. He grows to adulthood expecting a great inheritance and marriage with his childhood sweetheart — but neither expectation is fulfilled. And if you have not read A TALE OF TWO CITIES, you might want to consider it a highly recommended option over this summer.
DICKINSON, PETER.
EVA (SciFi)
When Eva wakes up in her hospital bed after the terrible accident, she finds her mind and memory transferred into the body of a Chimp. She has to learn how to “talk” with a keyboard hanging from her neck, and how to “live” with the impulse and ancient, almost tribal, memory of the body her mind now inhabits. Incredibly convincing in details, Dickinson’s somber prophecy of the future of our society will make you look at our world differently.
DUMAS, ALEXANDRE.
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (Historical/Classic)
Young sailor Edmond Dantes, unjustly accused of aiding the exiled Napoleon, is sentenced to life imprisonment. After 14 years, Dantes makes a aring escape and uncovers a vast treasure on the island of Monte-Cristo. Adopting the persona of the Count of Monte Cristo, Dantes comes back home to seek revenge. Full of excitement and suspense, this is one to read on summer nights.
DUMAS, ALEXANDRE.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS (Historical/Classic)
This is perhaps the greatest “cloak and sword” story ever written; it is a fast-paced tale of the heroic deeds of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D’Artagnan as defenders of Louis XIV.
DUMAURIER, DAPHNE.
REBECCA (Suspense/Classic)
The mysterious atmosphere of an old English estate and the peculiar behavior of the housekeeper arouse a young bride’s suspicions about the death of her husband’s first wife.
DUNCAN, LOIS.
KILLING MR. GRIFFIN (Suspense)
A group of high-school students kidnaps a strict English teacher to get even with him — and what starts as a prank becomes a horror. Other chilling titles by this talented thriller writer are: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER; STRANGER WITH MY FACE, and LOCKED IN TIME.
EDDINGS, DAVID.
PAWN OF PROPHECY (Fantasy)
This is the beginning volume in a fantasy series set against a history of 7,000 years of the struggles of Gods and Kings and men — of strange lands and events — and a prophecy that must be fulfilled.
FARMER, NANCY.
HOUSE OF THE SCORPION (SciFi)
In a future world, young Matt is a perfect clone of the elderly (140 years old) Matteo Alacran, the “ruler” of a country called Opium. Once Matt’s vital organs are harvested to prolong Alacran’s life, he’s done for. Matt must escape. In this breathtaking and fascinating tale of survival, readers will see the strength of friendship and loyalty.
FINE, ANNE.
UP ON CLOUD NINE (Realistic)
In Ian’s words, his wacky best buddy Stolly is the most ingenious trouble-maker in history. Although hilarious recollections abound, the readers are keenly aware of a dark, suicidal streak in Stolly. Now he lies in a coma in the hospital after falling (or jumping) off of the roof. Told with wry and dark humor but full of compassion.
FINNEY, JACK.
TIME AND AGAIN and FROM TIME TO TIME (SciFi/Classic)
For mystery and romance, science fiction and nostalgia, this novel is a must-read!! One night, Si Morley steps out of his twentieth-century Upper West Side apartment – right into the winter of 1882.
FISHER, CATHERINE.
INCARCERON (SciFi)
Finn, a captive of Incarceron, the high security prison that has a mind of its own and is all-powerful, finds a key that leads to a thrilling and dangerous journey.
FLEISCHMAN, PAUL.
WHIRLIGIG (Realistic)
When sixteen-year-old Brent Bishop accidentally causes the death of a young woman, he is sent on an unusual journey of repentance, building wind toys across the land.
GAIMAN, NEIL.
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (Fantasy/Horror)
What happens when a baby is adopted by a graveyard full of (mostly) friendly ghosts? He learns all the ghostly knowledge and skills: fading, haunting, sliding from human sights. He also encounters strange and (often) frightening creatures: ghouls, sleers, hell hounds, and murderers. This is the 2009 Newbery Award winning title.
GANTOS, JACK.
DEAD END IN NORVELT (Historical/Homorous)
In a light-hearted and earnest voice, Jack Gantos, a 12-year-old boy in 1962 Norvelt, Pennsylvania, reports the many zany incidents of his summer vacation: from misfiring his father’s war rifle (and potentially caused a neighbor’s death,) to helping an old woman boil her hands in hot wax, to trying to solve the mystery of the rapid and expected series of deaths in the neighborhood.
GOING, K.L.
FAT KID RULES THE WORLD (Realistic)
Troy, a 300-plus-pound-17-year-old High School laughing-stock, narrates his encounter with Curt, the legendary teen guitarist who is homeless, sick, and addicted to prescription drugs. This unlikely duo form a punk-rock band, and a fast friendship in this quirky, intelligent, and deeply moving tale set in New York City.
GRATZ, ALAN.
SAMURAI SHORTSTOP (Historical)
Baseball and the Way of the Warriors (Bushido) share many common traits: honor, teamwork, physical and inner strengths, and serve as a unified backdrop of this tightly written and action packed school story set in 1890s Japan.
GREEN, JOHN.
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS (Realistic)
Teenagers Hazel and Augustus met at a support group for terminally ill cancer patients and their connection via witty and sophisticated dialogs and heart warming love for each other changed both of their lives (and death).
GREEN, JOHN.
LOOKING FOR ALASKA (Realistic)
Sixteen-year-old Miles’ first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks. Miles goes there to look for the “great perhaps.” But what fills his year with both ecstasy and despair is Alaska, the girl who seems so alive and vivacious and yet so vulnerable. If you like this book, there are also AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES and PAPER TOWNS by John Green to enjoy.
HARRIS, JOANNE.
RUNEMARKS (Fantasy)
Maddy was born with the “ruinmark” on her, which makes her an outcast in her world where anyone with magic is considered dangerous and shunned. Maddy’s magical power grows and she soon realizes that she has close ties with all the Gods of old. Based on Norse Mythology, this is a fast moving and very entertaining fantasy.
HARTMAN, RACHEL.
SERAPHINA (Fantasy)
Seraphina had a terrible secret: her entire existence is illegal, being half human and half dragon. She must hide her identity while working as a palace music mistress, getting more deeply involved in the investigation of the murder of the Crown Prince, discovering her very special magical talent of locating others just like her, and falling hopelessly in love with the captain of the Queen’s Guard, Prince Lucian Kiggs who is engaged to the Princess. The sequel SHADOWSCALE follows the adventures of many half dragons Seraphina encounters, and the hidden history of the species is revealed.
HEANEY, SEAMUS.
BEOWULF: A NEW VERSE TRANSLATION (Fantasy/Classic)
The epic tale of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf and his exploits vanquishing monsters and dragons is brought vividly to life with the brilliant verse translation by Nobel Literature winner Seamus Heaney. This is a must-read for fans of Lord of the Rings trilogy!
HEARN, LIAN.
ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR (Fantasy)
Drawing on elements and the tradition of Samurai stories, Lian Hearn presents an intriguing and blood-pumpingly exciting tale of The Tribe (Ninja-like assassins with super-human/natural powers,) The Hidden (a peaceful religious group whose members are being masacred,) and the Clan (warlords and their networks.) This is the first title in the Tales of Otori series. Now there are four Otori Tales and one prequel: HEAVEN’S NET IS WIDE.
HERBERT, FRANK.
DUNE (SciFi)
This is the epic series about a desert world and the immense struggle for wealth and power.
HESSE, HERMAN.
SIDDHARTHA (Historical/Classic)
A young Indian mystic, a contemporary of Buddha, sacrifices everything to search for the true meaning of life. Nobel Prize winner Hesse wove an intriguing tale of spirituality and intelligence.
HOFFMAN, NINA KIRIKI.
A STIR OF BONES (Horror)
Susan can communicate with her House. When she joins the group of new friends to venture into a haunted house, her ability to communicate with a House helps her wake up and befriend the ghost boy, Nathan, whose spirit has been trapped in the house where he died a long time ago. This book is just creepy enough, just romantic enough, and complex, but not confusing, for those who want to have a little bit of “chilling” sensation for a hot summer day!
HOLT, KIMBERLY WILLIS.
KEEPER OF THE NIGHT (Realistic)
13-year-old Isabel’s life on the Island of Guam is shattered after her mother’s suicide. Keeper of the Night chronicles, in poetic prose and sparkling imagery, Isabel’s doubts, worries, and her strong will to reconstruct life for herself and her remaining family. Holt portrays the everyday life on Guam vividly without ever slipping into exoticism.
JONES, DIANA WYNNE.
HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (Fantasy)
When a witch turns l7-year-old Sophie into an old woman, Sophie goes to live with the feared wizard Howl in his castle and becomes embroiled in the zany events that eventually lead to her happiness. This book is now a feature length animation by the Japanese animator, Miyazaki.
KEROUAC, JACK.
ON THE ROAD (Realistic/Classic)
In this fictionalized autobiography, Kerouac describes a series of frenetic odysseys back and forth across the United States by a number of penniless young bohemians who are in love with life, beauty, jazz, sex, drugs, speed, and mysticism.
KINDL, PATRICIA.
OWL IN LOVE (Fantasy)
Humorously and tenderly depicted, Owl Tycho’s joy and angst of being a “were-owl” (a shape-shifter) who falls in love with her science teacher, guarantees a light but satisfying read.
KLAUSE, ANNETTE CURTIS.
THE SILVER KISS (Fantasy)
17-year-old Zo grieves over her mother’s imminent death due to cancer. She meets Simon. Simon is startlingly handsome and has the darkest secret. Together they have to battle Simon’s younger brother who is actually a vampire in disguise. Simon’s own journey to redemption accompanied by his romance with Zo is compellingly moving. Klause also wrote a romantic story of humans and werewolves entitled BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE.
KONIGSBERG, BILL.
OUT OF THE POCKET (Realistic)
High school senior and the star quarterback Bobby Framingham is accidentally (or not so accidentally) outed in the school newspaper and goes through the ups and downs of the internal and external obstacles and revelations. An affirming and positive read. OPENLY STRAIGHT by the same author looks at what it means to go “back into the closet” in the High School years.
KONIGSBURG, E. L.
A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER (Historical)
Told in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek style, this is the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and then of England. Her wit is sharp as she recounts her life in the l2th century.
LE GUIN, URSULA.
TEHANU: THE LAST BOOK OF EARTHSEA (Fantasy)
Sparrowhawk, the archmage of Earthsea, returns from the dark land stripped of his magic powers. He finds refuge with the aging widow Tenar and a crippled girl who carries an unknown destiny. A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, TOMBS OF ATUAN, and THE FARTHEST SHORE are the first three titles in the series.
LEVINE, KRISTIN.
LIONS OF LITTLE ROCK (Historical)
In Little Rock, Arkansas, the year when governor Faubus shut down public schools to prevent further opportunities for integration, 13-year-old Marlee forged an unwavering and life-changing friendship with a new classmate Liz. Marlee and Liz shared a passion for math, but Marlee was shy and timid while Liz was outspoken and full of courage. Marlee saw first hand the ugly truths of racial discrimination. This is a well crafted story of one young woman’s power to help her friend, her city, and consequently help alter the direction of history.
LEVITHAN, DAVID.
BOY MEETS BOY (Realistic Fiction/Humorous)
Paul, a high school sophomore who came out in kindergarten, lives In an eccentric, loving, and idealized wonderland where Gay-Straight Alliance has more members than the football team and Infinite Darlene, the star 6-foot-4 quarterback often appearing in high heels, a red shock wig, and heavy makeup, is also the Homecoming Queen. So, when boy meets boy, a tender romantic comedy ensues.
LOCKHART, E.
WE WERE LIARS (Realistic)
The Sinclair Family is tightly knit and loving. Or is it? Their wealth is so vast that they own a private island near Martha’s Vineyard and they all share. Or do they? The teenage cousins and family friends will never hurt one another. Or will they? What really happened on that fatal summer day? Will the readers ever really know?
LONDON, JACK.
THE CALL OF THE WILD (Realistic Fiction/Classic)
This enduring classic tells the story of an extraordinary dog named Buck who is torn between his love of man and his love of the wild. Another Jack London classic is WHITE FANG, also highly recommended.
LU, MARIE.
LEGEND (SciFi/Dystopian)
In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, the infamous fifteen-year-old public enemy by the name of Day is on the government’s most-wanted list for his alleged murder of a security personnel. June, a prodigy soldier in the most prestigious school one can attend under the new testing system is hired to capture Day. She soon discovered that perhaps Day wasn’t the public enemy and might not even be her personal enemy as she had presumed, and that maybe she should not have trusted the government or its guard dogs the way she had done for so long. The sequels are PRODIGY and CHAMPION, rounding out an outstanding trilogy.
MAHY, MARGARET.
THE CHANGEOVER: A SUPERNATURAL ROMANCE (Fantasy)
In this chilling tale, Laura finds herself in a life-or-death struggle to save her brother from evil forces and discovers love and her own supernatural power in the process.
MARTIN, ANN M.
A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE (Realistic)
Hattie Owen divides her 12-year-old life history into Before Adam and After Adam. Adam is her mentally disabled uncle whose existence was hidden away by Hattie’s parents and grandparents, until the summer when she turns 12. Hattie and Adam become instant pals — she is Adam’s advocate and deeply affected by his eccentric behaviors and often suprisingly insightful views of the world.
MCKINLEY, ROBIN.
THE HERO AND THE CROWN and THE BLUE SWORD (Fantasy)
Seeking her birthright, Aerin, daughter of a Damarian king, becomes the legendary female warrior whose blue sword is wielded years later by Harry Crewe, a young woman destined to be another female warrior.
MCNEAL, TOM.
FAR FAR AWAY (Fantasy/Horror)
With an unusual narrator (the ghost of Jacob Grimm, the German folklorist), a small town that is subtly unsettling, and a villain that is truly creepy, this memorable story loosely based on the tale of Hansel & Gretel and that enticing but menacing gingerbread house gives readers two courageous teen protagonists and their life-or-death struggles against the inexplicable force of evil.
MIKAELSEN, BEN.
TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR (Realistic)
Cole Matthews is an angry and defiant young man. Because of his violent crime against another 9th grader, he is facing a prison sentence. But then a Tlingit Indian parole officer named Garvey offers him The Circle Justice, based on Native American traditions, in which victim, offender, and community all work together to find a healing solution. He takes the offer and thinks that he can somewhat “wiggle” out of his punishment. When Cole challenges the giant White Bear and is mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins the transition from anger to humility.
MITCHELL, MARGARET.
GONE WITH THE WIND (Historical/Classic)
This epic saga of the years before, during and after the Civil War in Georgia continues to fascinate all ages. The many characters include the unforgettable Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler.
MORIARTY, JACLYN.
THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS (Realistic/Suspense)
In an attempt to bridge the gap between the rich Brookfielders and less-fortunate Ashbury kids, a penpal club is arranged with the intention that the exchange of letters will make the two sides better understand one another, but when things don’t go as planned, a full-scale war breaks out between three Brookfield girls and some Ashbury boys. Both humorous and darkly disturbing, this book is a favorite of many readers.
MYERS, WALTER DEAN.
FALLEN ANGELS (Realistic)
This is a gripping war novel about the price five young men pay for their tour of duty in Vietnam.
MYERS, WALTER DEAN.
MONSTER (Realistic)
This Young Adult Book of the Year (Printz Award) winner tells a powerful and thoughtful story from the viewpoint of 16-year-old Steve Harmon who is accused of assisting in a murder robbery case and is undergoing trial. The book is written in the unusual form of a imaginary screenplay by Steve.
MYERS, WALTER DEAN.
SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH (Realistic)
The boredom, the fear, the moments of heroism, the homesickness, and the many different aspirations of the young men and women serving on the Iraqi war front are captured and displayed in this raw, affecting, and startlingly honest novel by master storyteller Walter Dean Myers.
NA, AN.
A STEP FROM HEAVEN (Realistic)
This story traces the life of Korean-born Young Ju from the age of four through her teenage years, from Korea to the States. Young Ju’s steady growth in language and understanding of the new culture presents a sharp contrast of her father’s inability to adapt to the new environment. Frustrated, her father becomes abusive. The not-all-happy ending is convincing and promises an uplifting path for the main character.
NICHOLLS, SALLY.
WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER (Realistic)
“My name is Sam. I am eleven years old. I collect stories and fantastic facts. I have lukemia. By the time you read this, I will probably be dead.” This moving story about a terminally ill boy who tries to live his remaining days to the fullest and thus leaving a mark forever will make you cry but also have so many hilarious scenes that will make you laugh and admire Sam and his friend Felix for their vibrant minds.
NIELSEN, JENNNIFER A.
THE FALSE PRINCE (Suspense)
Sage, an orphan, who is a practiced thief and has incredible street smarts, suddenly finds himself, along with two other orphans, captured and trained by a nobleman to impersonate a long lost prince. Only one of them will succeed — and those who don’t, will be disposed of to keep the secret. Truths and lies, alliances and plots, false steps and triumphs make this action-packed story told from Sage’s first person point of view incredibly intriguing. This is followed by THE RUNAWAY KING and the SHADOW THRONE.
NIX, GARTH.
SABRIEL, LIRAEL, and ABHORSON (Fantasy)
Sabriel, the newest Abhorsen (a necromancer who, instead of focusing on bringing back the Dead, is skilled at making sure that they stay dead), is now faced suddenly with the incredible task of rescuing her father from the land of the dead and combating the evil power in the Old Kingdom. The prequel, CLARIEL, offers additional back stories of the world and certain characters.
NIXON, JOAN LOWERY.
THE OTHER SIDE OF DARK (and many others) (Horror/Suspense)
Stacey has been in a coma for four years. When she awakens, she finds herself suddenly 17 years old and ready to locate and identify the boy who murdered her mother.
NOLAN, HAN.
SEND ME DOWN A MIRACLE (Realistic)
Life changes for 14-year-old Charity when she is left home alone with her pastor father and when the artist Adrienne Dabney comes to town. Adrienne claims she has seen a vision of Jesus sitting in her living-room chair. Charity’s father reacts with fury of the town folks’ idol worshiping. Charity is caught between her fascination with Adrienne and her father’s fury.
O’BRIEN, ROBERT C.
Z FOR ZACHARIAH (SciFi)
Seemingly the only person left alive after the holocaust of a war, Anne Burden is relieved to see a man arrive into her valley — until she realizes that he is a tyrant and she must somehow escape.
OLIVER, LAUREN.
BEFORE I FALL (Realistic/Fantasy)
Friday, February 12th was like all other days for Samantha Kingston: being the most popular girl, beautiful, and a senior in her High School, except that it ends differently for her: she died in a car crash. The death was not the end of the story, though. It’s just the beginning of her journey to relive that day 7 times and make different choices each time. Will these difference choices change how her day would end?
ORWELL, GEORGE.
1984 (SciFi/Classic)
This is Orwell’s chilling, prophetic vision of a totalitarian “future.”
ORWELL, GEORGE.
ANIMAL FARM (Fable/Classic)
This famous satirical fable chronicles the uprising of farm animals against the oppressive farmer at the Manor Farm and the subsequent regime changes from an ideal and democratic system to the centralized power structure.
PARK, LINDA SUE.
A LONG WALK TO WATER: BASED ON A TRUE STORY (Realistic)
In 1985, 11-year-old Sudanese boy Salva ran away and left his entire family after an explosion that presumably wiped out his village. He embarked on a long, cruel and treacherous walk, with many other lost boys, to safety and freedom. Salva’s true story is heart-wrenching and also inspirational. A great short read!l
PATERSON, KATHERINE.
JACOB HAVE I LOVED (Realistic)
Louise knew that she was the despised twin and that Caroline was the one everyone loved best. It took her a long time and a lot of growing up until she could accept herself as a worthwhile person. A Newbery Award Winner.
PFEFFER, SUSAN BETH.
LIFE AS WE KNEW IT (SciFi/Apocalyptic)
Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother must struggle to survive. This very realistic look at what life might be like following a global natural disaster is followed by three more titles: THE DEAD AND THE GONE, THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, and THE SHADE OF THE MOON.
PIERCE, TAMORA.
BEKA COOPER (#1 TERRIER #2 BLOODHOUND #3 MASTIFF) (Fantasy)
In the land of Tortall, the worlds of the living and the dead are not quite disconnected, and Beka Cooper, a “puppy” in the police force of old “dogs,” is one who can trace murders and crimes back to their roots by communicating with those who have passed on. In her usual breezy tone, Tamora Pierce has created another resourceful heroine and thrilling mysteries.
PIERCE, TAMORA.
WILD MAGIC (series, The Immortals) (Fantasy)
In the first book of a quartet, Daine shows her magical talent to communicate with animals. With this power and other magical training, she embarks on many quests, including combating the evil “Immortals” and raising a baby dragon as a pet. Daine’s adventures continue and get more exciting in WOLF-SPEAKER, EMPEROR MAGE, and REALS OF THE GODS.
POTAK, CHAIM.
THE CHOSEN (and others) (Historical)
This odyssey of two young men journeying from adolescence to manhood is set in Brooklyn during the 1940’s.
PRATCHETT, TERRY.
A HAT FULL OF SKY (Fantasy)
This is a wonderful sequel to THE WEE FREE MEN. Young Tiffany Aching, two years removed from saving the world with an iron skillet, returns to face two new challenges: formal education in witchcraft and an identity-eating monster. It’s the Feegles (those weird little blue men) to the rescue this time!
PRATCHETT, TERRY.
NATION (Fantasy)
After a tsunami, island native, Mau, and shipwreck survivor, soon-to-be-princess Daphne, construct a nation that blends each other’s customs, science, and faith in a multi-leveled novel of survival and politics.
PULLMAN, PHILIP.
THE AMBER SPYGLASS (Fantasy)
In this powerful ending of a thrilling trilogy, as war rages and Dust drains from the sky, the fate of the living and dead comes to depend on Lyra and Will, two ordinary children with extraordinary powers. The first two titles in the trilogy are THE GOLDEN COMPASS and THE SUBTLE KNIFE.
REEVE, PHILIP.
HERE LIES ARTHUR (Fantasy)
What if everything we knew about King Arthur and his legendary feats is simply untrue? What are the real stories beneath all the bravery, generosity, wisdom, and romance? Prepare to be surprised and impressed by Philip Reeves’ fresh re-imagining of this famed leader.
REEVE, PHILIP.
MORTAL ENGINES (Hungry Cities series) (SciFi)
In this original and fast-paced science fiction set in a post-apocalypse future, cities of the world move around on tractor treads pursuing and scavenging each other. There are four books in this highly original series.
RICE, ANNE.
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (Fantasy/Horror)
Having suffered a tremendous personal loss, an 18th-century Louisiana plantation owner named Louis Pointe du Lac becomes depressed. He is confronted by Lestat, a charismatic and powerful vampire who chooses Louis to be his apprentice. They prey on innocent victims and seek out other vampires.
ROWELL, RAINBOW.
ELEANOR & PARK (Realistic)
In this Printz Award honor book, Eleanor and Park are two unlikely and star-crossed lovers who, against all odds and embracing each other’s many quirks, move onward, unafraid, with wit and tenderness to forge a remarkable bond during one school year.
ROWLING, J.K.
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS (Fantasy)
This 7th and final volume in this international best selling series reveals many people’s pasts while bringing the war against Lord Voldemort to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.
SACHAR, LOUIS.
THE CARDTURNER (Realistic)
Alton is on a reluctant mission forced upon him by his parents to be the “card turner” of his rich great uncle who is a genius Bridge player but who is now blind and needs someone to tell him the cards dealt him. In this intriguing novel of Bridge playing, readers find a slight dosage of the supernatural, some romance, and much about trust of oneself and others.
SANDERSON, BRANDON.
STEELHEART (SciFi)
The Epics (super humans) started appeared on earth 10 years ago, gaining extraordinary and fantastic powers. No one knows why only some humans are Epics, but everyone knows that they are evil, power-hungry, and fight against each other to rule mankind. Regular humans simply succumb to their rules and live in constant fear. One group of rebels called The Reckoners alone fights back. The sequel FIREFIGHT is even more explosive!
SCHLITZ, LAURA AMY.
SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS (Fantasy)
Clara Wintermute, the young daughter of a wealthy Victorian doctor, was bewitched and turned into a ballerina puppet by the evil wizard Grisin whose tyrannic control over Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, his two orphan apprentices, resulted in their running away with the puppets. At Cassandra the witch’s castle, everything — spells, curses, the fight for power, and the search for happiness and home, all came to a breathtaking and powerful conclusion.
SCHMIDT, GARY D.
LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY (Historical)
Turner Buckminster, the bullied new preacher’s son and Lizzie Bright, an outcast, became best friends. When Lizzie and her community were threatened, Turner took a brave stand. Based on lesser known historical events, this is a moving story, although without a happy ending.
SCHMIDT, GARY.
OKAY FOR NOW (Realistic)
Doug Swieteck, age 14, just moved to a new town, into a rundown house, with his gentle mother, troubled brother, and an abusive and unstable father. Life was not treating Doug well or fairly, especially when he was punished for refusing to take off his shirts in PE when assigned to the Skins team. When he was eventually forced to remove his shirt, the classmates and teacher were shocked and finally understood his reluctance. But Doug found salvation and meaning and brilliant human spirits in the form of many new people in the town, and through the gorgeous paintings of Audubon of birds of America. Life might not be always peachy for Doug, but he is Okay for Now.
SEDGWICK, MARCUS.
MIDWINTER BLOOD (SciFi/Fantasy)
Seven intriguing and mysterious installments going back in time are each a complete, usually dark short story, and yet interconnected depicting two souls seeking each other through many lifetimes.
SMITH, BETTY.
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (Historical/Classic)
This is the delightful and moving story of the hardships, sorrows and happiness of Francie, a poor girl living in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. A popular novel for generations, it continues to find a wide audience today.
SPINELLI, JERRY.
MILKWEED (Historical)
Set during WWII, within the Warsaw Ghetto, this is the story of a little orphaned boy, who does not know his name or whether he is a Gypsy or a Jew. Being small, and good at stealing food and supplies for himself and for others in the Ghetto, he becomes a hero to his fellow sufferers. An intense and tragic story.
SPRINGER, NANCY.
I AM MORGAN LE FAY (Fantasy)
The arch-villain in the Arthurian legend, Morga le Fay, gets to tell her own story from a magically gifted little girl to the embittered grown woman whose struggle against Fate (her namesake) seems always turns back to haunt her. Another good read in the same series is I AM MORDRED.
STEVENSON, ROBERT LOUIS.
TREASURE ISLAND (Adventure/Classic)
Generations have loved this tale about Jim Wawkins who sets out to recover the hidden fortune that many dangerous men are plotting to obtain.
STEWART, MARY R.
THE CRYSTAL CAVE series (Fantasy)
This series consists of the spellbinding adventures of King Arthur’s court told by a master storyteller.
STORK, FRANCISCO X.
MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD (Realistic)
Marcelo, a high-functioning and wise teen with Asperger’s syndrome is made to work in his father’s law firm in order to experience the “real world” and all its complexities. While Marcelo learns about how to navigate amongst the “normal” people, plenty of others have a lot to learn from him.
STROUD, JONATHAN.
THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND trilogy (Fantasy)
Bartimaeus, a powerful 5,000 year old djinni with a sarcastic bent is summoned by an inexperienced but talented apprentice magician. The results are danger, death, and a big dose of comic relief. The sequels are GOLEM’S EYE and PTOLEMY’S GATE.
STROUD, JONATHAN.
THE RING OF SOLOMON (Fantasy)
Bartimaeous, the wise-cracking, powerful, but not always lucky djinni comes back in this prequel to the best-selling trilogy. This time, he has to accomplish the impossible job to steal the magical ring from King Solomon while in a reluctant alliance with a young female assassin.
TAYLOR, LAINI.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE (Fantasy)
Karou is artistic, Karou is seventeen, Karou lives in Prague, Karou is raised by Chimaeras, and Karou is often sent to different parts of the world via a magical doorway to collect teeth: from traders who obtained them from the dead bodies of animals and humans. The teeth are important; they are the ingredients needed for her surrogate father Brimstone to grant wishes, big or small. Karou seldom questioned the course of her life until she met the mysterious and dangerous Akiva, who claims to be the angel of righteousness and whose mission is to eliminate all the Chimaeras. Fantasy lovers, enjoy this dark, romantic, and brilliantly penned first novel in a trilogy. The entire trilogy, including DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT and DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS is one of the most exciting, romantic, and satisfying fantasy series of late.
THOMPSON, KATE.
THE NEW POLICEMAN (Fantasy)
Irish teenager JJ Liddy discovers that time is leaking from his world into the land of the fairies, and as he attempts to stop the leak he finds out about his family history and a crime his great-grandfather possibly committed. The sparkling sequel, THE LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS, reveals JJ as a father and his strange little daughter Jenny who talks to a ghost boy under the rock.
TOLKIEN, J.R.R.
THE LORD OF THE RING series (Fantasy)
The journey through Middle Earth, told with poetic language and vivid description of creatures and landscapes, this classic has enjoyed the highest acclaim in the realm of fantasy writings in our century.
TURNER, MEGAN WHALEN.
THE THIEF (Fantasy)
Tales of gods and goddesses are woven throughout this story of Gen, a master thief, who is on an adventurous journey for his king to steal a precious stone. A 1997 Newbery Honor Book. The sequels are: THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA and THE KING OF ATTOLIA, and A CONSPIRACY OF KINGS.
TWAIN, MARK.
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (Historical/Classic)
This is a historical fiction with a twist: Prince Edward and poor young Tom Canty swapped identities by accident and experienced and learned from each other’s life.
TWAIN, MARK.
THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (Historical/Classic)
Twain’s matchless excursion delves into the joys and troubles of boyhood on the Mississippi. It is full of wit and compassion for all humans.
UEHASHI, NAHOKO.
MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT (Fantasy)
Spear-wielding warrior woman Balsa takes on an almost impossible mission: to protect the Second Prince from being assassinated by the Emperor’s hunters and from being eaten alive by the spirit monster Rarunga. This first installment of a popular Japanese series is very exciting.
VANDERPOOL, CLARE.
MOON OVER MANIFEST (Historical)
Told through newspaper articles, letters, and a fortuneteller’s tales, this 2011 Newbery Winner follows the story of 12-year-old Abilene whose “spy hunting” game with her new friends in Manifest Missouri during the Great Depression reveals the town’s secrets of murders, bootlegging, a hidden mother, and orphans with a rewarding conclusion.
VERNE, JULES.
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (and others) (SciFi/Classic)
A huge, glowing sea monster has attacked and wrecked several ships. Professor Arronax joins a mission to hunt down the monster, and finds himself aboard a secret submarine. It’s exciting to explore the ocean’s depths, but what if he wants to leave? Captain Nemo seems to have made him a captive — 20,000 leagues under the sea!
VOIGT, CYNTHIA.
HOMECOMING (Realistic)
At the beginning of the summer, their mother left Dicey and her brothers and sister in a car in a parking lot? and never came back. So Dicey led them on a long and difficult journey to find a home with the grandmother they’d never met. This is a wonderful book with characters you’ll never forget. The sequel to the book is DICEY’S SONG, and Dicey is the most memorable heroine to come along in a long time.
VONNEGUT, KURT.
CAT’S CRADLE (SciFi/Humorous)
Filled with humor, the story tells of Earth’s ultimate end while a bunch of assorted characters chase each other around in search of the world’s most important and dangerous substance, a new form of ice that freezes at room temperature.
WEIN, ELIZABETH.
CODE NAME VERITY (Historical/Suspense)
When captured by the Nazis, our narrator was tortured to give up crucial information. She wrote persistently on some found paper. As readers are pulled further into the plot, we cannot help but wonder: who this prisoner really was, what was going to happen to her and those who were enemies and allies, and whom could the characters and the readers really trust?
WEIN, ELIZABETH.
ROSE UNDER FIRE (Historical/Suspense)
In this companion book to CODE NAME VERITY, young American pilot Rose Justice crash landed in Nazi Germany and was captured and imprisoned in the notorious women’s concentration camp Ravensbrück. Readers will be greatly shocked by the cruel medical experimentations on the prisoners but more importantly moved and inspired by the courage and enduring human spirit that saved those who survived. Although the storyline is imagined, author Elizabeth Wein based this story on detailed research of historical accounts. A third installment, BLACK DOVE, WHITE RAVEN is also recently published. Great news for the fans.
WELLS, H.G.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (SciFi/Humorous)
The Martians are landing on earth! They’ve already destroyed London. Who or what can stop them from taking over the whole world? This classic story brings the hysteria and madness of such a nightmare to life.
WELLS, ROSEMARY.
RED MOON AT SHARPSBURG (Historical)
This compelling epic of the American Civil War portrays tenacious Southern girl India Moody’s devastating experiences of the senselessness of War, the fragility of life, and ultimately the resilience of love and human spirit.
WHITE, T.H.
THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING (Fantasy/Classic)
The magnificent legend of King Arthur is retold as a novel for modern readers. Arthur’s anguish over war, the love story of Guinevere and Lancelot, and the evil Mordred comprise the story of Camelot. Also: The Book of Merlyn.
WILES, DEBORAH.
COUNTDOWN (Historical)
Twelve-year-old Franny lives with her family in Washington, DC, during the fearful days surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Franny must face the tension between herself and her former best friend and deal with many complex family issues, including a shell-shocked eccentric uncle who is obsessed with building a bomb shelter. The fictional story is made real and vivid by the accompanying real documents from the time period.
WOLFF, VIRGINIA EUWER.
TRUE BELIEVER (Realistic)
The journal-verse-style writing delivers a genuine and interesting voice of Verna LaVaughn, 15-year-old inner-city school girl who strives to better herself to “get out” of her neighborhood and the life which is constantly in poverty and in danger of violence. Readers will not be able to put down the book for the beauty of the language and style, for the truth of the characters and their emotions, and for the depth of love and friendship among the characters.
WOUK, HERMAN.
MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR (Realistic/Classic)
Nineteen-year-old Marjorie is offered the job of her dreams — working in a summer stock company where she meets her first love.
YANG, GENE LUEN.
BOXERS & SAINTS (Historical Fantasy/Graphic Novel)
Readers are challenged to consider the meaning or the senselessness of armed conflicts by following two main characters and their stories. Little Bao and Four-Girl (Vibiana) are on two opposing sides of one historical event: the Boxers Rebellion in turn-of-20th-century China. Whose cause should the readers root for? Little Bao’s, in his fight against foreigners? Or Four-Girl/Vibiana’s, in her attempts to remain faithful to her new found religion and extend the reach of Christianity? Is there a third side?
ANGELOU, MAYA.
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS (1st of series)
This is Angelou’s moving and award-winning autobiography that recalls the joy and pain of growing up in the South during the depression.
ARONSON, MARC & MARINA BUDHOS.
SUGAR CHANGED THE WORLD
In their searches for personal and family histories, this husband-and-wife team, she from India and he Jewish, discovered the interconnections of their ancestral backgrounds with the history of sugar: a history of social and cultural clashes, of slavery, of human spirit, and of science advancements.
BARTOLETTI, SUSAN CAMPBELL.
HITLER YOUTH
By weaving the stories of twelve young Germans into the larger fabric of Nazism, Bartoletti raises awareness of Hitler’s manipulations and offers readers a chance to consider how they might have acted it they had been under the same situation.
BARTOLETTI, SUSAN CAMPBELL.
THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE K.K.K.: THE BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUP
With the support of primary sources, the author presents a close examination of the formation and development of the Ku Klux Klan and those who fell victims to this terrorist group.
BOLDON, TONYA.
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION: LINCOLN AND THE DAWN OF LIBERTY
Filled with little-known and fascinating facts, this book details the history of the Emancipation Proclamation.
GUNTHER, JOHN.
DEATH BE NOT PROUD
Gunther’s moving story of his son’s courageous battle against cancer is compelling.
HERSEY, JOHN.
HIROSHIMA
John Hersey gives us the timeless and agonizing accounts of six survivors of the atomic bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima during World War Two.
KENEALLY, THOMAS.
SCHINDLER’S LIST
This is the riveting story of Oscar Schindler who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.
Lobel, Anita.
NO PRETTY PICTURES
A beloved author-illustrator recounts her childhood experiences as a Polish Jew in hiding, in transit, and in concentration camps before finding refuge in Sweden.
MAH, ADELINE YEN.
FALLING LEAVES
An international best-seller, a heart-wrenching but ultimately inspiring memoir recounts the author’s painful childhood as the unwanted daughter of a wealthy yet abusive Chinese family, from which she escaped to the West.
MATHABANE, MARK.
KAFFIR BOY
Under Apartheid, a young man comes of age in this autobiographical account.
NELSON, KADIR.
WE ARE THE SHIP
This lavishly illustrated, meticulously researched, and folkily told history of the Baseball’s negro leagues has won numerous awards and admiration from baseball fans and general readers alike. This is indeed quite a treat!
PARTRIDGE, ELIZABETH.
THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME: THE LIFE AND SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE
The creatively prolific and yet deeply troubled life of Woody Gutherie, song-writer of modern American ballads and social protest music, is documented with sensitivity and honesty in this handsome volume.
ROTH-HANO, RENEE.
TOUCH WOOD and SAFE HARBORS
A French Jewish girl is hidden in a convent during the Holocaust. After the war she begins a new life in America.
SALZMAN, MARK.
TRUE NOTEBOOKS
In late 1990s, Mark Salzman found himself become the teacher, friend, mentor, and the Northen Light to more than a dozen teenage inmates (most of them on trials for murder cases.) Salzman intersperses his soul-searching story with the actual, often heart-wrenching and surprising writings of his students from their True Notebooks.
SATRAPI, MARJANE.
PERSEPOLIS
Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It is presented in black-and-white comic strip format. Through the simple lines, Satrapi’s story is extremely powerful. A must-read for all! Check out some images and read about the book at the publisher’s website.
SHEINKIN, STEVE.
BOMB
The stage is World War II; the characters are scientists, government officials, and spies; the drama is one of scientific triumphs, international espionage, and the race to win the war. The stakes couldn’t have been higher and the storytelling couldn’t have been more compelling in this stellar, award-winning nonfiction.
SPIEGELMAN, ART.
MAUS (I & II)
The story of a Holocaust survivor (Speigelman’s father) is recounted with powerful forces in comic strip form featuring mice as the Jews and cats as the Germans.
STEINBECK, JOHN.
TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY
Steinbeck travels across the United States with his French poodle, Charley.
TAYLOR, ROB.
THE BREACH
This is an extraordinary true story of physical adventure, tragedy, and spiritual challenge at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
WARREN, ANDREA.
SURVIVING HITLER: A BOY IN THE NAZI DEATH CAMP
This is a powerful story of Jack Mandelbaum. As a teenager during WWII, he spent three horrific years in a concentration camp, and as a grown man, he chose the path of tolerance and forgiveness.
WIESEL, ELIE.
NIGHT
A terrifying account of the Nazi death camp horror that turns a young Jewish boy into an agonized witness to the death of his family and a whole people. Technically a novel, the incidences are largely based on real personal experiences of the author. The story continues in DAWN. ACCIDENT (or DAY) completes the trilogy.
BAUER, MARION DANE.
AM I BLUE? COMING OUT FROM THE SILENCE
These sixteen short stories by noted young adult authors are about growing up gay or lesbian or having gay or lesbian friends or parents.
BRADBURY, RAY.
THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES
Bradbury continues to enrich us with these short stories about the Earth and Mars.
CATHER, WILLA.
THE TROLL GARDEN
These elegant stories often deal with the conflicts faced in society by individuals of artistic temperament.
CUMMINGS, E. E.
COMPLETE POEMS
Read and look at this unique poet’s work. You will constantly be pleasantly surprised.
DOYLE, SIR ARTHUR CONAN.
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
You and Dr. Watson can attempt to figure out all the clues which Sherlock Holmes finds so simple.
IRVING, WASHINGTON.
SKETCH BOOK
In his light stories rooted in folktales, Irving makes a lasting contribution to the modern short story.
LARDNER, RING.
HAIRCUT AND OTHER STORIES
Ring Lardner, a satirist with a keen voice, writes of ordinary people with razor-sharp wit.
LONDON, JACK.
TO BUILD A FIRE AND OTHER STORIES
Jack London, author of the Call of the Wild, continues his adventures in this collection of stories.
MAUPASSANT, GUY DE.
SELECTED SHORT STORIES
Full of insights into the darker side of the human soul, and robust humor, Maupassant’s short stories are his greatest achievements.
MOON, SARAH. ED.
THE LETTER Q
In this anthology of short letters, often humorous, always honest and unflinching, sixty-three LGBTQ authors wrote to their younger selves to give wise advice, to offer comfort, to poke fun, and to celebrate who they were and who they are now in the hope to shed some light and provide some guidance to the teens who might be wondering about the ups and downs of life whether one is L, G, B, T, or simply Questioning. The contributing authors include Brian Selznick, David Levithan, Melinda Lo, Jacqueline Woodson, Gregory Maguire , Eileen Myles, Linda Villarosa, Paul Rudnick, and Howard Cruse.
MOORE, ROBIN.
WHEN THE MOON IS FULL
These six haunting, rustic tales that involve relationships between people and animals are of the supernatural and inspired by folk legends from the old Pennsylvania Mountains.
MYERS, WATLER DEAN.
HERE IN HARLEM
Borrowing from both the classical tradition and the rhythms of jazz and blues, this dazzling collection illuminates the many faces of Harlem, past and present.
NELSON, MARILYN.
CARVER: A LIFE IN POEMS
A collection of Marilyn Nelson’s (Canadian Poet Laureate) poems about the genius, the humanity, and the contribution of George Washington Carver. The poems never shy away from harsh realities and reach for the soul of their subject matter. Readers gain tremendous understanding of the man who has been simplified to “the peanut guy” in American History texts.
NELSON, VAUNDA.
NO CRYSTAL STAIR
The work and legacy of Harlem Bookseller Lewis Micheaux is tenderly and powerfully documented in this novel based on his real life story: from being a high spirited and unruly child to becoming an influential intellectual who always went against conventions but held true to his strong convictions. Photographs of the storefront, of Micheaux with civil rights movement leaders such as Malcolm X, and fictionalized FBI surveillance reports further help paint a vivid portrait of this lesser known African American community leader.
NYE, NAOMI SHIHAB.
THE SAME SKY: A collection of poems from around the world
A poetry anthology in which 120 poets from sixty-two different countries celebrate the natural world and its human and animal inhabitants. Elegantly designed and lovingly selected by poet Nye, this collection belongs on any poetry lover’s shelf.
TWAIN, MARK.
THE CELEBRATED JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY, AND OTHER SKETCHES
Twenty-seven humorous sketches include the story of a man who loved to make wagers and acquired a frog, which he claimed could outjump any frog in the county.
POE, EDGAR ALLEN.
SELECTED TALES
These horror and detective stories are timeless – to be read and re-read.
ROCKMAN, HAZEL, ed.
SOMEHOW TENDERNESS SURVIVES: STORIES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
This is a wonderful anthology of ten stories and memoirs by black and white South African writers.
SIS, PETER.
THE WALL
In his deeply felt memoir set in mid-20th century Prague, in highly sophisticated picture book format, the MacArthur Genius award recipient Peter Sis contrasts the constrictive walls of the communist state with his personal quest for artistic freedom.
SOTO, GARY.
BASEBALL IN APRIL (and others)
This group of eleven stories is about growing up Mexican-American in central California.
RYLAND, CYNTHIA.
GOD WENT TO BEAUTY SCHOOL
This collection of poems are the poet’s imagination of how God might act, think, and feel, if He/She lives among the mortals.
SIDMAN, JOYCE.
WHAT THE HEART KNOWS: CHANTS, CHARMS, AND BLESSING
A collection of poems around the theme of matters of the heart: friendship, community and the individual, happiness and sorrow, love and despair. The finely crafted and compassionate words will help readers through various phases in life — both joyful occasions and dark encounters.
TAYLOR, LAINI.
LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES
Three exquisite and deliciously haunting fantasy stories based on old tales from different cultures are collected in this gorgeously illustrated book.
WELTY, EUDORA.
A CURTAIN OF GREEN: AND OTHER STORIES
A Half-century has not dated these stories, which include “Petrified Man,” “Powerhouse,” “Why I Live at the P.O.” and more and first published in 1941.
WILDE, OSCAR.
THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER STORIES
Wilde explores the human psyche and misery through these often melancholy, at times humorous and highly poetic literary fairy tales.
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