Great Teen Reads
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White Cat by Holly Black Cassel is the only one without a talent in a family full of curse workers. While his other family members illegally cast charms and manipulate memories for the right price, Cassel perfects his skills as a con artist to fit in as a “normal guy” at school. It’s the nightmares about a white cat resembling a murdered girl and bouts of sleepwalking that remind Cassel that he’s anything but normal. Catalog Link |
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Zombies vs. Unicorns by edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier In this collection of short stories, various authors including Scott Westerfeld, Meg Cabot, Garth Nix, and Maureen Johnson battle it out to see which is better; unicorns or zombies. Are unicorns arbiters of justice or do they merely fart rainbows? Are zombies truly terrifying or are they merely carriers of diseases? Catalog Link |
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Beat the Band by Don Calame Being paired with the school’s most hated girl for a project threatens to socially destroy Coop, so he decides the only way to save his reputation is to win Battle of the Bands. The only problem: he and his band mates have absolutely no talent. But that won’t stop Coop from going to hilarious lengths to get what he wants. Catalog Link |
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Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan Dash finds a notebook stashed between some books at the used bookstore urging him to follow a set of clues. Intrigued, he leaves his own clues for the notebook owner, Lily, hopeful she will reciprocate. The clues lead both teens on an exploration of New York City during the holidays. Can Dash & Lily transfer what they discovered about each other in the notebook when they meet face to face? Catalog Link |
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The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi Eva Nine survives in a bunker with her robot companion and teacher, Muthr. But nothing that she’s learned from Muthr prepares Eva for the destruction of her bunker and what she finds in the outside world. Accompanied by a colorful cast of characters, Eva embarks on a quest to find help. Is she the only surviving human left? Catalog Link |
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Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly Andi, a gifted musician, struggles with depression brought on by the belief that she is responsible for her younger brother’s death. When her mother is institutionalized, Andi’s father takes her to Paris so that she can concentrate on her studies. Andi finds a diary that sweeps her back in time to the French Revolution. In an attempt to save the dauphin, Andi learns acceptance and the power of forgiveness. Catalog Link |
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Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray After their best friend Ross dies in an accident, three teen boys take matters into their own hands. The bumbling and hypocritical efforts of the community to mourn and remember their friend inspire the boys to steal Ross’ ashes and take them on a road trip to remember. A wild journey follows, including lost money and train tickets, bungee jumping, hitchhiking and finally figuring out what really happened to Ross. Catalog Link |
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Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan Under a bizarre set of circumstances, Will Grayson meets another teenage boy with the same name who has travelled to the city on a blind date to meet his online boyfriend. Their name might be the only thing these two teens have in common. But Will Grayson’s best friend named Tiny Cooper, a gay football player who writes, produces, and performs musicals and is anything but tiny, might force both Wills to reexamine their own identities. Catalog Link |
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Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King Vera Dietz, pizza delivery technician, is a high school senior who’s just trying to stay off the radar of evil Jenny and her loser friends. But ever since Charlie, her ex-best friend and neighbor died, she’s been haunted by visions of him begging her to clear his name around his suspicious death. Will Vera be able to stand up to Jenny and tell the truth about the night that Charlie died? Catalog Link |
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Lost for Words by Alice Kuipers Sophie’s older sister Emily died during summer vacation. When she eventually returns to her London school, sixteen-year-old Sophie feels isolated from her old friends and distant with her mother. Finally taking the advice of her counselor and with the encouragement of Rosa-Leigh, the new girl at school, Sophie begins trying to express the emotions and guilt that have absorbed her life. Catalog Link |
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Party by Tom Leveen It’s Saturday night and the big end of the school year party is going down. Focusing on eleven different teens at the party, each chapter is written from one teen’s points of view. Their stories merge and intersect as we read about their problems, fears and dreams. Catalog Link |
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Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta The kingdom of Lumatere has been overpowered by an imposter and then cursed, an act which has closed the walls and left homeless those citizens who had escaped. Finnikin is the son of the head of the King’s Guard of Lumatere who grew up with the royal children, but now ten years later his life is spent traveling the neighboring countries trying to record the fate of his people. When he is introduced to Evanjelin, a mysterious girl who claims to know the location of Prince Balthazar, his childhood friend and heir to Lumatere, Finnikin and his companions face a perilous journey back to their homeland. Catalog Link |
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Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor After being born out of the head of her father Zeus fully grown, Athena becomes the goddess of warfare and of civilization. In this graphic novel the Three Fates tell tales of the Greek goddess Athena as she outsmarts humans and gods alike. Catalog Link |
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Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver When pretty, popular Samantha Kingston wakes up on Cupid Day, the last thing she expects is to die in a car crash that night. But she does. And when she dies in the crash, the last thing she expects is to wake up on Cupid Day again. But she does. Will another chance make a difference? Catalog Link |
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Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu Sixteen-year-old Lucy can’t wait to escape to college like her older siblings and put her embarrassment in her mother’s secret compulsive hording behind her. Upon returning home one night, she discovers her mother has unexpectedly died within the massive piles of accumulated stuff. What can she do to prevent this secret from being exposed to her friends, neighbors, and potential boyfriend? Catalog Link |
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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Boarding school in France was not how Anna had planned to spend her senior year. But after meeting Etienne St. Clair, the school hottie, things seem to be looking up. Too bad St. Clair has a girlfriend. Catalog Link |
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Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick Even though she and her alcoholic mother have been secretly living in an old school bus, Amber stays positive. She teaches English to Korean women using Motown music, entertains the population of a local nursing home, and organizes a group of misfit teenage boys. But when tragedy strikes Amber, it knocks her down hard, so hard that she may not be able to get back up. It is time for the people whose lives Amber has touched to return the gift. Catalog Link |
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After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick Cancer survivor Jeffrey is trying to get through the eighth grade like any other “normal” kid. The effects of his leukemia treatment have left him with a pronounced limp and difficulty processing information, particularly math. Jeff’s best friend, wheelchair-bound Tad, offers to help him pass the state test. In return, Jeff will get Tad in shape so he can walk across the stage at graduation. Catalog Link |
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Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel Bungling ghost wrangler Frank Gallows accidentally zaps Garth into the afterlife, and recruits his ex-girlfriend to help rescue the boy. Meanwhile, Garth and his skeleton horse must navigate Ghostopolis, a world filled with giant bugs, ruthless villains, special powers, and surprising friendships. Will Garth and his rescuers ever make it back to the land of the living? Catalog Link |
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Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian Natalie is a straight-laced and ambitious senior and class president hopeful who has never had the time or patience for boys, parties, football games, or fun. That all changes when Natalie meets the rebellious and daring freshman Spencer, falls into an unexpected relationship with a popular jock, and realizes that her best friend is slipping away. Now Natalie is forced to reconsider her rigid views on sex, love, friendship, and life. Catalog Link |