In a world where everyone must fit themselves into one of five factions, choices about how to live your life are extremely limited. Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior has more choices than most: when she takes the compulsory test that is supposed to reveal a sixteen-year-old’s suitability for a certain faction, her results are “inconclusive”. She shows equal ability for membership in Abnegation, the selfless faction of her birth; Dauntless, the courageous faction that has always fascinated her; and Erudite, the so-called “genius” faction that she despises. In a nutshell, she is Divergent. When Beatrice chooses a faction, Dauntless, the hard part is supposed to be over. But the truth is far from it. If Beatrice, now calling herself Tris, wants to be Dauntless, she must rank in the top ten of her group of initiates, some of whom have been preparing for this all of their lives. The rankings are decided by violent fights, random acts of daring and idiocy, excruciatingly painful tests that delve into the fabric of your fears, and frankly, whether or not those in charge despise you. In the weeks that follow her choice, Tris must remake herself in the image of the Dauntless, figure out a complicated relationship with an enigmatic instructor named Four, and most of all, watch her back: Divergence isn’t safe, and there are people who want her dead. Divergent is a fascinating read, and is entirely un-put-downable. The realistic and utterly human characters of Tris, Four, and their friends and family, as well as their intriguing world, draw in you into the story and keep you there. It is a fresh and show-stopping addition to the ranks of teen literature, and is sure to delight anyone who is tired of the same-old, same-old.
Recommended by Lily
Hazel and Augustus, two teens going through very different cancers, meet in a support group that neither of them is thrilled to be attending. Augustus is in remission and Hazel knows she's terminal - her lungs struggling with metastatic tumors from thyroid cancer. Both of them find themselves tired of the experience of their disease defining them in the eyes of others. Their story is much the same as any teenager struggling with regular issues, falling in love, peer pressures, etc. But it is with the added facet of having cancer as well. Using the typically sarcastic, intelligent teenage voice, John Green nails it for many people (not just kids) who have to deal with cancer on a daily basis. Those folks are not defined by the disease (the only thing we outsiders seems to see). So, those folks wish to be greeted with normalcy rather than pity and sorrow. Hazel and Augustus approach their day-to-day lives as well as their relationship with maturity that we don't find in typical teenage situations. Or do we? Are teens more than vampire romances, mean girls and zombies? Read this book about two super-cool, intelligent teens who just happen to have cancer. A heartbreaking book in such a beautiful, rich way. Not in the typical "kid dying of cancer" way. Yes - you will cry. Recommended by Lynn
In this retelling of Cinderella, Cinder is a cyborg living in New Beijing, where humans and androids live together... but not always amicably. Cinder is approached by the prince of New Beijing to repair one of his androids so he can retrieve some highly sensitive information that may play a large role in the future of New Beijing and civilization in general. This retelling is full of the usual suspects, but most of them have a twist. Sparks fly between the Prince and Cinder, but will this retelling have the happy ending we know and love as Cinder is a cyborg and looked down upon by society? It is a fast and furious ride that will leave you waiting for the remaining three books in the quartet. Highly recommended for teens and, let's face it, adults looking for a quick romp with a little bit of romance.
Recommended by Bess
I know, I know… another dystopian society book? That’s what I thought too as I picked up Wither. What I found was a story of change, challenge and courage.
Set in the future, after the human race has been successful in genetically engineering a generation of perfect humans. Successive generations, however, have short lives with men dying at 25 and women dying at 20, from an unknown illness.
Wither follows Rhine, a 16 year old kidnapped and forced into a plural marriage with one aim: bearing children that can be studied to find a cure. Rhine struggles to accept her position in this marriage as first wife, constantly seeking escape from her prison home. However, she begins to feel for her husband and her sister wives, when push comes to shove, will Rhine be able to escape and make her way back to her twin brother in the hopes of finding him still alive?Recommended by Bess
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party (Paperback)
Octavian lives in a large, sumptuous house and is educated in the classics by scholars in Greek and Latin. Rarely does he go out and about in the town, but is rather encouraged to remain isolated, playing his violin. However, the background to his sonatas is the disquiet of revolution; the colonies of America have begun to rebel against the crown. At a time when Octavian is focused on learning rational philosophy, and measuring his own bodily waste in the name of science, he does not know what those murmurs might mean for him. Soon enough, however, a Pox Party in the country transforms his life forever. Anderson's ambitious novel introduces a new face to what we think we know about the Revolutionary war. Having wandered through the maze of The Museum of Jurassic Technology, I was prepared to believe anything about scientific theory of that era. This book is Solid History dipped in a steaming vat of Science Fiction.
Recommended by Leighanne
If there was any doubt in my mind, The Graveyard Book solidifies it. Neil Gaiman can do anything! You’ve probably heard his name dropped somewhere; the man’s got his nimble fingers in all aspects of the literary world, be it in children’s, YA or adult literature, screenwriting or graphic novels. I always know I’m getting into something good when Neil Gaiman is behind it. But, let me tell you, The Graveyard Book knocked my socks off! It’s a sad, funny, quirky little book about a special little boy named Nobody who grows up in a graveyard amongst spirits, nightwalkers, ghouls and werewolves. Needless to say, he grows up a little . . . *ahem* . . . different from everybody else. Imagine if Kipling’s Mowgli had grown up in a graveyard instead of the jungle and you’ll get the idea. Rife with adventure and witty, tongue-in-cheek writing, The Graveyard Book is a must.
Recommended by Leighanne
Imagine late 1800’s Arctic exploration with a sudden twist of the Sci-Fi and a garnish of theology and philosophy and you might just begin to understand the complex and wonderful world of The Golden Compass. Deeply imaginative and thoughtfully written, The Golden Compass, part one of the trilogy His Dark Materials, takes the reader into the heart of the mud wars of Jordan college, to the far north and into the realm of the armored bears, and eventually into another world beyond the sky, past witches and daemons and Texan aeronauts. . .an absolutely wonderful series worth reading and re-reading.
Recommended by Leighanne (and just about everyone else around here)
Julie Orringer writes of teen angst with a deep, dark, empathetic beauty that brought tears to my eyes. When I finished reading this haunting collection of stories I sent a copy to each of my girlfriends and insisted they read it too. None of them was disappointed.
Recommended by Megan
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This is a young adult novel unlike any you'll likely encounter again, and won't soon forget. The reader is led through the confused final days of a girl who has reached the end of her rope, and the tragic consequences her death has on those whom she names as the 13 reasons why she chose to end her life. Hannah is the girl who gives voice to her pain. Clay is the boy who fell for her. And one night, their stories collide.
Recommended by Katie
It happens every year--one boy and one girl, aged 12 to 18, from each of the twelve districts that are now the United States, are selected in a lottery to compete in the Hunger Games. But despite the common-knowledge rules, Katniss is still shocked by the senseless greed and bloodlust of the annual televised fight to the death. Then, when Katniss finds an unlikely companion and romance in one of her fellow competitors, survival takes on an entirely new meaning and may call for the ultimate sacrifice.
Recommended by Katie
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A chilling glimpse into the future of biological science, freedom of choice and human relationships. The story unfolds with the reader fully aware of Matt's creation from the DNA of an all-powerful dictator--no mystery there. Instead, the mystery lies in how Matt is to escape El Patron's country alive, and if he does, how he can possibly find people who will believe all that he has witnessed.
Recommended by Katie
A hauntingly beautiful tale of ancient Japan, in which Takeo is a teenage boy who has all of his life been raised as an advocate of peace. But when the boy's village is pillaged by a vicious army of foreigners, Lord Otori decides it is time for Takeo to learn the ways of the assassin. Suspenseful to the last page, this book is a brilliant work of history, legend and destiny.
Recommended by Katie
Travel to a world in which nothing more than a manmade wall divides the Old Kingdom from the New. The New Kingdom exists in a time and place eerily familiar; the Old Kingdom is home to Dark Magic, enchanted creatures and the secret to Sabriel's strange upbringing -- a secret which will inevitably determine her future. As the two worlds begin to collide, Sabriel must accept her role as necromancer and travel to the deepest level of Death if she is to save all that she holds dear.
Recommended by Katie
Brent Runyon shows no self-pity as he recounts the day he came home from high school, filled his bathtub with gasoline, stepped in, and set himself on fire. In fact, his story is one of triumph and even humor as he undergoes months of surgeries and rehabilitation to recover his once ruined body and spirit.
Recommended by Katie
It's very rare that I encounter a book that so forcibly makes me think, "this should be required reading for the entire population." Trouble is that book. It's the story of the Smith family (especially Henry and his dog), of grieving, of the unexpected, of a town consumed by prejudice and revenge, of Mount Katahdin, and of what happens when folks believe that Trouble can't possibly find them. This deeply-felt story secures Gary Schmidt's undeniable rank at the top of young adult literature.
Recommended by Katie
For anyone who has ever passed a time in life as an angsty, rebellious, uncertain, depressed, cynical, conflicted (read: normal) teenage girl, Skim couldn't hit closer to home. The cousin duo of Mariko and Jillian Tamaki use their extraordinary storytelling techniques to bring us Skim--a young woman on the ever-teetering edge of beckoning oblivion. This is a graphic novel that will make you smirk, even as it rips your heart in two.
Recommended by Katie
Meet Shakespeare Shapiro. That's right . . . Shakespeare. His parents thought that giving him a name to live up to would encourage their son to strive for excellence. (By the way, his brother is named Gandhi.) Shakespeare does not strive for excellence. In fact, he strives mostly to overcome daily high school embarrassment at the hands of his younger brother. And he strives for girls. Like his namesake, however, Shakespeare can write. Actually, he can really write -- really well. And it doesn't take long before he discovers just how mighty his pen is. You'll love to hate, and hate to love, Shakespeare Shapiro!
Recommended by Katie
Ed Kennedy leads a life of quiet desparation--to live up to his Mother's expectations, to find a girlfriend, and to quit his dead end job as a cab driver. Little does he know that an anonymous correspondant has other plans for Ed. Playing cards begin arriving in the mail with cryptic tidbits of information which Ed must decipher in order to rescue average peole from the sometimes heartbreaking routine of their daily lives. An addictive page-turner!
Recommended by Katie