Katherine’s favorite YA books

In honor of Teen Read Week (October 8 – 14), I’ve decided to collect all my favorite teen reads we have at the Belmont Public Library! Ok, maybe not all of them, because that would be a lot, but here’s some good ones:

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill: This book is pretty amazing. It wasn’t quite what I expected-I was expecting more of a kid’s book, and while it’s found in the children’s section, it reads like a YA fantasy. It’s not lightweight, the story is complex, and the themes are subtle. It’s the kind of book that at the end you want to cry a little, but not in a bad way, and just sit with it and absorb it. It’s about magic, and love, and loss. The story is nourishing and heartwarming. So glad I read this.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: This is a strong, powerful book, and the writing is excellent. The writing style and the emotional punch reminds of The Book Thief, although unlike the Book Thief it didn’t make me cry and feel all sad. Is it about sad, heavy stuff? Yes, but along with heartbreaking, The Hate U Give is also empowering and hopeful.
Also this is an important book, and more than just “timely.” I’ve seen this stuff on the news, I’ve read about the Black Lives Matter movement… but nothing else I’ve seen has brought the understanding and emotional connection reading this book does. This really just puts you there, puts you in her shoes, and lets you understand in a very personal, visceral way.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling & Jack Thorne: I didn’t care that this was a script for a play and not actually written J. K. Rowling! I loved getting to read about the adventures of Harry’s children.

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan: Rick Riordan is one of my favorite YA authors and this new series does not disappoint. Great for fans of mythology.  Full of magic and adventure! This stars Apollo… but transformed into a teenage boy.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Fairy tale science fiction! How cool is that? This stars Cinder as a cyborg and is loosely based of the Cinderella tale.  This is a very engrossing book – be prepared to stay up late one you start this!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater: This book was excellent! I am not usually a fan of werewolf stories, but this was a solid exception. The way the author evoked emotion and the feelings of falling in love were particularly compelling.

Some more of my favorites are:

• The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
• Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
• Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
• Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow
• Glass by Ellen Hopkins
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore

 

 

Staff picks October 2017

Log on to the catalog with your library card # and the last 4 digits of your phone number and reserve your copy! 

Eileen

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Curies discovered radium in 1898. By World War I girls as young as 15 were working as dial painters – illuminating watch faces with the element to make them glow in the dark. In the 1920s and 1930s, the women reported unusual and troubling medical symptoms and began a long quest to get their employers, and the courts, to acknowledge their plight. Full of personal details, courage, and tenacity. This is an inspiring read.

For fans of: Compelling, dramatic, and haunting non-fiction.

Already read it? Try: The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan, A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead, or Bomb Girls.

Katherine

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

This book was pretty amazing. First off, it wasn’t quite what I expected – I was expecting more of a kid’s book. While suggested for grades 4-6, there’s more layers to get for those who are older. It’s not lightweight, the story is complex, and the themes are subtle. It’s the kind of book that at the end you want to cry a little, but not in a bad way, and just sit with it and absorb it. It’s about magic, and love, and loss. The story is nourishing and heartwarming. I’m not surprised it won the Newbury.
Recommended for middle school on up, including parents and adults who enjoyed Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. So glad I read this!

For fans of: Grace Lin, Chris Colfer, Naomi Novik, and lyrical, fast-paced fantasy fiction.

Already read it? Try: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, Grayling’s Song by Karen Cushman, or Nightbird by Alice Hoffman.

 

Kelly

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

This novel takes a very strong view on modern race interactions. The story is inspired by the true life of author Sherman Alexie. The main character, Arnold Spirit (a Native American who lives on a reservation) must take on a journey to a new school consisting of all white students. He has to face being a “traitor”, physical disabilities, racism, tribalism, poverty, and his father’s alcoholism all while trying to obtain a solid education. He has to learn to work with his hindrances and make new friends along the way. This dive into culture aids in deviating from the single story of Native people. This mature, coming of age story has deep roots in reservation culture and Native American traditions and tragedy.

For fans of: Culturally diverse, coming of age stories.

Already read it? Try: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Winger by Andrew Smith, or American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

 

Ann

I Found You by Lisa Jewell

A story of love and loss on many levels. Suspenseful and surprising to the end!

For fans of: Psychological suspense, Gothic fiction, suspenseful books with a strong female lead.

Already read it? Try: The Last Night at Tremore Beach bi Mikel Santiago, Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, or In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

 

 

Sarah

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah, (a comedian and the host of The Daily Show), is the son to a Swiss father (white) and a Xhosa mother (black), this coupling rendered him a crime from birth. Trevor’s daily life included secret visits with his father, public outings in which they would walk close by together in a park but pretend not to know each other.

His trademark mischievousness, coupled with his bright, subtle, humorous, and intelligent commentary on the idiosyncrasies of growing up in a disjointed culture will transport you. Trevor’s inherited will of steel and fierce independence (courtesy of his mother), and his insatiable curiosity driven by intellect and enterprise (courtesy of his father) puts him in a variety of comical situations that he always seems to get out of.

An endearing, uplifting, and often surprisingly hilarious, (I was laughing out loud throughout the book), account of growing up in apartheid South Africa, overcoming adversity, and finding a way to make lemons from lemonade (Trevor-style) in any situation.

For fans of: Funny, candid coming of age stories, humorous family memoirs, and celebrity memoirs.

Already read it? Try: How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris, or Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris.