Staff Picks

With secret societies and international intrigue, this book is a fun, fast-paced combination of teen fiction and international spy thriller. Grace, the granddaughter of the powerful U.S. ambassador, has returned to Adria's Embassy Row for the first time since her mother died. And her family is worried because she is convinced that her mother was murdered by a man with a scar and she is certain she has seen him (this time for real). In a place where the cute boy next door just happens to be Russian, not to mention her brother's best friend, there are plenty of ways a slightly reckless teenager could cause an international incident. Especially since Grace is most certainly not okay. Grace and her new friends from The Row dive into a world of intrigue, secret societies and unravel the secrets of Adria and the truth of her mother's death.

 

Publisher description: 

After being hospitalized for insisting that her mother was murdered, not killed in an accidental fire, Grace goes to live with her grandfather for a fresh start, but when she sees her mothers murderer again, her past comes back to haunt her.

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Excellent book that illustrates what it means and feels like to be mindful. You can't help but feel better after reading it. I found myself taking deep breaths with the character. Short and sweet, making it a great choice for reading to a child aloud. I appreciate the author's note at the back informing parents how important mindfulness is and how to practice it with your children. There's even an exercise included! Susan Verde has a whole series like this and I recommend them all.

 

Publisher description:

 

A child starts to get carried away with worry and rushing thoughts before taking a breath, steadying, observing thoughts, feeling kindness, feeling thankful, and experiencing the world.

 

When Clara Evans, a book-lover, finds out her school has banned fifty books, she is shocked and angry. She can't understand how these books, some of which have changed her own life, could be deemed inappropriate to be read. Clara knows she has to fight back and so she starts a secret library in her locker where fellow students can check out the recently banned books. As Clara trades more and more books, she sees unexpected impacts among her classmates and forms unexpected friendships. When disaster strikes, she starts to question herself, her underground library, and the books themselves. 

 

This book is perfect for anyone who has a love for reading. Through it, you will learn the importance of fighting for belief instead of revenge and the true power of books. I recommend it for kids 13 and up. 

- Saskia, 9th grade teen volunteer

 

Publisher description:

Clara Evans is horrified when she discovers her principal’s “prohibited media” hit list. The iconic books on the list have been pulled from the library and aren’t allowed anywhere on the school’s premises. Students caught with the contraband will be sternly punished. Many of these stories have changed Clara’s life, so she’s not going to sit back and watch while her draconian principal abuses his power. She’s going to strike back. So Clara starts an underground library in her locker, doing a shady trade in titles like Speak and The Chocolate War. But when one of the books she loves most is connected to a tragedy she never saw coming, Clara’s forced to face her role in it. Will she be able to make peace with her conflicting feelings, or is fighting for this noble cause too tough for her to bear?

This book is powerful. It follows the story of a Black teen, Starr, growing up in Mississippi and grappling with the effects of racial violence. It’s a journey to finding one's voice, and using that voice for good. This book is a page turner, but it does cover some heavy topics. It does not shy away from displaying the effects of racial violence and uses strong language, but does so in a way where it is not overwhelming. In light of the past year, and the growing BLM movement, this book is a great way to educate yourself about social justice issues in this country in a fictional setting. The story itself instantly draws the reader in and invites them to take this journey alongside Starr. You’re always wanting to find out what happens next, and it’s a hard one to put down. I think The Hate U Give is a very worthwhile read, not just for teens, but for adults too, because it has an important message and is an entertaining read. Content warning: Violence, Language.

- Anonymous, 12th grade teen volunteer

Publisher's description: 

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

 

What a great read for anyone familiar with Hawaii, or with surfing culture. This story tells the tale of a boy-turned-man who escapes his adolescent trials through surfing, but is then forced to grow in adulthood when he causes/encounters/endures a tragedy of his own making. He's required to look at his life and take stock. The main character wasn't always sympathetic, but I did find him realistic. Theroux has again infused his writing with an intimate understanding of Hawaii, its people, its history, and also with a very heartfelt and honest take on human nature, the ways people can get stuck, and how they journey through emotional dark places toward personal growth.

 

Publisher description:

Now in his sixties, big-wave surfer Joe Sharkey has passed his prime and is losing his "stoke." The younger surfers around the breaks on the north shore of Oahu still idolize the Shark, but his sponsors are looking elsewhere. One night, while driving home from a bar after one too many, Joe accidentally kills a stranger near Waimea, a tragedy that sends his life out of control. As the repercussions of the accident spiral ever wider, Joe's devoted girlfriend, Olive, throws herself into uncovering the dead man's identity and helping Joe find vitality and refuge in the waves again.

 

Twelve lives, twelve wounds. Loo's father teaches her things, directly and indirectly. Throughout her life, she learns to live, love, interact with others through her father's penchant for brushes with the darker side of the law. Fast paces, well developed characters, with plenty of gut and heart wrenching moments.

 

Publisher description: 

Loo is twelve when she moves back to the New England fishing village of her early youth. Her father, Hawley, finds work on the boats, while she undergoes the usual heartaches of a new kid in school. But lurking over Loo are mysteries, both of the mother who passed away, of the grandmother she's forbidden to speak to. And hurtling towards both father and daughter are the ghosts of Hawley's past. Before Loo's birth, he was a professional criminal engaged in increasingly elaborate and dangerous underworld schemes. Life on the road was harsh - Samuel Hawley took "twelve bullets" in his brutal career. The scars have healed, but there is a reckoning still to come.

 

Ivy is told by a classmate that only children are spoiled. She doesn't want to be spoiled, so she takes steps to ensure she isn't. Solutions attempted include giving away all her belongings and getting her a sibling. A highly enjoyable read for both children and adults.

 

Publisher description:

When classmate Vanessa insists that all single children are spoiled, Ivy wonders whether she can become "unspoiled" by giving away all her clothes at school (which does not go over well with her teacher or parents)--but ultimately decides that all she needs to accomplish her goal is a little sister.