Gr. 9-12  Ever since her best friend Kelly died, Ava hasn’t been herself. She’s been making bad choices and feels angry at everyone and everything. When gawky, introspective Gideon starts working with her at the Magic Kebab, they begin a friendship based on honesty, enhanced by letter writing because of Gideon’s self-imposed hiatus from electronic and digital communication. As Gideon opens up about his therapy and poetry slams, Ava feels compelled to reciprocate … [Read More]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 10-12  Based on the popular graphic-novel series Giant Days, Pratt retells a part of the story through the original three protagonists. Susan, Esther, and Daisy are first-year college students who make a most unlikely trio. Susan, the premed major and self-proclaimed sleuth, has a sharp wit and overly critical eye. Esther, the English major, worships all things goth. Daisy, the sweet homeschooled girl, struggles to find her feet in such an unfamiliar place. Yet, the three click. [Read More]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 9-12 *** Starred Review *** For Rumi Seto, creating music with her younger sister, Lea, was everything. But when Lea dies in a car accident, Rumi’s life is over, too. Beset by survivor’s guilt, she is plagued by the knowledge that Lea was the outgoing, perfect daughter who was closest to their mamo (mother). When Mamo sends Rumi to live with Aunt Ani in Hawaii, Rumi plunges into bottomless grief, constantly reminding herself that Mamo abandoned her because she […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 9-12  According to family and friends, junior Morgan Kemper is sweet, smart, and together; however, since her parents split a year ago, she’s secretly been shoplifting. Despite craving the rush that comes with the act, Morgan repeatedly tells herself each time will be the last. Then she’s busted at the mall and sentenced to complete 30 hours of community service over the summer. Morgan believes she can do her time without her friends finding out, but her guilt over […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 7-10  Daisy Winters’ sister Eleanor is engaged to Crown Prince Alexander of Scotland, but when tabloids begin taking an interest in 16-year-old Daisy, she escapes Florida for the isolation of the Scottish castle. There Daisy must contend with learning the royal ropes (which is so not her) and the arrival of Prince Sebastian, Alex’s wild younger (and yummier) brother. Daisy’s big mouth unintentionally thrusts her into disfavor with elder royals, but the paparazzi adore her irreverence. [Read More]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 7-10  When the McAvoy family moves to Gull’s Head, Massachusetts, it’s for 14-year-old Quinn’s autistic younger brother’s education. Quinn, however, is eager to start anew after an alopecia areata totalis diagnosis left her bald as a cue ball and the butt of her classmates’ cruel jokes. No one in Gull’s Head knows she’s wearing a wig, so once freshman year starts, Quinn is thrilled to be welcomed by the hip girls, but the once-popular and promising football player Nick […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 9-12  At 17, writing poetry is Comet Caldwell’s passion, but she never shares it for fear of rejection. When Tobias King, a new student from America, shows up at school, he’s brash, insolent, and hangs with Stevie Macdonald and the bad-boy crowd. However, when paired for an assigned presentation, Comet slowly discovers the secrets that brought Tobias to Scotland. As Tobias and Comet begin spending all their time together, Stevie and company publicly bully her with vile and vulgar […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers

Gr. 9-12  In third grade, Emelia DeJesus was the victim of a violent attack and left for dead. Now, at the age of 16, she still grapples with the trauma she experienced. She tries to be “normal” when she’s with her boyfriend, but her protective mother hovers and worries so much that Emelia feels she can never be free. Only her older brother, Tomás, provides a refuge in her life. When word unexpectedly arrives that the boy Emelia identified as […]

Categories: Appeared in Booklist/ALA, Book Reviews, Young Adult Readers