Young Adult

When Dora, Elena’s older sister, is diagnosed with depression and has to be admitted to the hospital, Elena can’t seem to make sense of their lives anymore. At school, the only people who acknowledge Elena are Dora’s friends and Jimmy Zenk – who failed at least one grade and wears black every day of the week. And at home, Elena’s parents keep arguing with each other. Elena will do anything to help her sister get better and get their lives back to normal – even when the responsibility becomes too much to bear.

Eddie Corazon is angry. He’s also very smart. But he’s working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he’s a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up – when they aren’t in jail. Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something in Eddie he doesn’t even see in himself. A heart, and a mind, and something more: a poet. But in Eddie’s world, it’s a thin line between tragedy and glory. And what goes down is entirely in Eddie’s hands. Great debut novel from the author of My Posse Don’t Do Homework (which became the movie Dangerous Minds).

When their teacher goes missing during an outing, eleven girls grapple with the aftermath in this haunting, exquisitely told psychological mystery. What actually happened in the seaside cave that day? And who can they tell about it? Part gripping thriller, part ethereal tale of innocence lost, this book is a poignant study of fear and friendship, and of what it takes to come of age with courage.

Thirteen-year-old Travis has a secret: he can’t read. But a shrewd teacher and a sassy girl are about to change everything in this witty and deeply moving novel. Mr. McQueen is a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world, while Velveeta’s wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. With sympathy, humor and disarming honesty, Schmatz captures the moments of trust and connection that make all the difference.

It’s freshman year of college for the winsome threesome of the Internet Girls series, and the first semester is full of surprises. Bubbly Angela dives headfirst into sorority life, but faced with mean girls and hazing, she wonders whether she’s a Greek girl after all. By choosing Santa Cruz, Maddie is finally surrounded by like-minded (i.e., not sorority-type) people, but feels lonelier than ever. And Zoe is keeping up a long-distance relationship with Doug, her high school boyfriend. She thought they’d be together forever, but after a few awful visits – not so much. In the face of all this change, what are the best friends to do? Make the most of every crazy moment, that’s what. You only go to college once, after all.

In 1848 the Crafts made one of the most daring and remarkable escapes in the history of slavery in America. With fair-skinned Ellen in the guise of a white male planter and William posing as her servant, the Crafts traveled by rail and ship―in plain sight and relative luxury―from bondage in Macon, Georgia, to freedom first in Philadelphia, then Boston, and ultimately England. Astounding story!

Offering straightforward advice on fashion, this practical handbook explains how to develop a personal style suited for one's body type and personality, offering helpful tips on how to use fashion to disguise a variety of problems, from large breasts to short legs, with long-term fashion solutions. Original, and great for teens struggling to find their own style.

Are you confounded by commas, addled by apostrophes or queasy about quotation marks? Do you believe a bracket is just a support for a wall shelf, a dash is something you make for the bathroom and a colon and semicolon are large and small intestines? If so, this book is for you. My high schoolers have always enjoyed when I read to them the musings of language humorist Lederer, and this book does not disappoint.

Good book for tweens. Every nation that invades the City gives it a new name. But before long, new invaders arrive and the City changes hands once again. The natives don't let themselves get caught up in the unending wars. To them, their home is the Nameless City, and those who try to name it are forever outsiders. Kaidu is one such outsider. He's a Dao, born and bred – a member of the latest occupying nation. Rat is a native of the Nameless City. At first, she hates Kai for everything he stands for, but his love of his new home may be the one thing that can bring these two unlikely friends together. Let's hope so, because the fate of the Nameless City rests in their hands.

Newbery Honor-winning graphic novel memoir that is perfect for September. Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here, she’s different. She’s sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom but anywhere her teacher is in the school: in the hallway, in the teacher’s lounge – in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming “El Deafo, Listener for All.” But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different – and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend? Perfect for fans of Wonder.

Another installment of the Horrible Histories series that has transformed many reluctant boy readers into avid readers. In this edition readers can discover all the foul facts about the “terrible Tudors,” including why Henry VIII thought he'd married a horse, all about terrible Tudor torture and which shocking swear words the Tudors used (don’t worry, parents; they’re “PG” by today’s standards). I’ve seen boys actually turn off electronic devices in favor of these books!

Not the typical book I recommend, but I worked with a group of teenage girl reluctant readers that practically memorized this book. A “boldly designed nail-art bible packed with step-by-step instructions to create the hottest trends for your fingertips.” Reid is a twentysomething trendsetter from London who shares twenty-five of her most popular designs, ranging from simple techniques such as newspaper print to the trickier designs like tuxedo nails, leopard print, and more.

Great book for “tweeners.” Sofarende is at war. For twelve-year-old Mathilde, it means food shortages, feuding neighbors and bombings. Even so, as long as she and her best friend, Megs, are together, they’ll be all right. But the army is recruiting children, and paying families well for their service. If Megs takes the test, Mathilde knows she will pass. Megs hopes the army is the way to save her family. Mathilde fears it might separate them forever. A touching and suspenseful novel that is a brilliant reimagining of war, where even kindness can be a weapon, and children have the power to see what adults cannot.

Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.

Stripped of all he values in life, Ronan Chantry takes up his prized Ferguson rifle and heads west – into an unknown land and an uncertain future. For an educated man, Chantry is surprisingly tough. For a civilized man, he is unexpectedly dangerous. But even he can't know the true extent of his courage until he draws the fire of a man who will do anything – kill anyone – for the glitter of gold. Great intro for teens to one of the all-time greatest Western writers.