Books for Teens
Seraphina
By Rachel Hartman
(Teen Fiction)
This splendid fantasy proves that there are still dragon tales to be told. Tensions are growing among the humans and dragons forty years after the treaty was signed, and when the prince is found murdered, war seems inevitable. It’s up to Seraphina, a gifted court musician who hides a dangerous secret, to help the king solve the mystery.
I Am the Cheese
By Robert Cormier
(Teen Fiction)
Adam Farmer suspects that something is not quite right with his life. There are a lot of blank spaces. Right now, he's furiously peddling his bicycle to visit his father in the hospital. As he travels, Adam thinks about the events that led up to his father's situation. It's up to Adam to unlock the information in his mind if he's to emerge with a clear picture of his past . . . and ensure a future for himself. This psychological thriller is a classic for teens or adults who enjoy a great story.
Rifles for Watie
Keith, Harold.
(Older Elementary/Teen fiction)
Jefferson Davis Bussey is on fire to join the Union’s cause, but is stuck on his Kansas farm. When he does join the Kansas Volunteers, he becomes a scout for the unit, and goes behind enemy lines. Soon he’s fighting not just the rebels but Indians allied with them. Stirring, suspenseful and dramatic; this Newbery Award-winner is a classic coming-of-age story.
Football Genius
by Tim Green
(Teen fiction)
Troy White has a phenomenal gift. He can predict football plays before they happen. Any position. Any player. Any team. When Troy's single mom gets a job working in public relations for the Atlanta Falcons, Troy figures it's his chance to prove what he can do. But first he has to get to the Falcons. Troy and his best friends devise a plan to get the attention of star linebacker Seth Halloway. With Seth's playing and Troy's genius, the Falcons could be unstoppable-if they'll only listen.
The Daughters
by Joanna Philbin
(Teen fiction)
In New York City, three fourteen-year-old best friends who are all daughters of celebrities watch out for each other as they try to strike a balance between ordinary high school events, such as finding a date for the homecoming dance, and family functions like walking the red carpet with their famous parents.
Surviving the Applewhites
by Stephanie Tolan
(Teen fiction)
Jake Semple is a scary kid. Word has it that he burned down his old school and then was kicked out of every other school in his home state. Now there's only one place left that will take him -- a home school run by the most outrageous, forgetful, chaotic, quarrelsome family you'll ever meet. Each and every Applewhite is an artist through and through -- except E.D., the smart, scruffy girl with a deep longing for order and predictability. The only thing E.D. and Jake have in common is the determination to survive the family's eccentricities.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs
(Teen fantasy)
Jacob has a special bond with his grandfather, who has always shared fantastic tales of his youth growing up as an orphan on an island off the coast of Wales. A horrific tragedy sends Jacob searching for the island and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. He finds the home a crumbling wreck, but as he explores further it is clear that the children were not only peculiar, but perhaps dangerous. And maybe there was a good reason that they ended up on a remote island.
All the Broken Pieces
by Ann E. Burg
(Teen fiction)
This unusual novel is written in verse. It’s a heartbreaking story with healing at its core. Matt is a Vietnamese child, adopted by a U.S. family. He’s trying hard to make it work, but at night flashes back to his “real” family. As events unfold, Matt has the opportunity to shed light on his past or be forever held in its grip. This is a powerful first novel from Burg that has generated a lot of buzz in the library community.
11 birthdays
by Wendy Mass
(Teen fiction)
Written for that tween group, it is the story of Amanda and Leo. Both were born on the same day. After overhearing Leo say something unkind, Amanda leaves their 10th birthday party – and doesn’t speak to Leo again. A year goes by, and the two are going to celebrate their birthdays separately for the first time in their lives. After a lackluster day, Amanda wakes up the next morning – not to the day after her 11th birthday, but to relive the unhappy birthday all over again! Can Amanda figure out why she keeps reliving the same day over and over again, or will she be cursed to relive her eleventh birthday for the rest of her life? This story is about forgiveness and friendship.
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