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Young adult fiction

  • Author:
    Richmond, Sandra, Brooks, Martha
    Summary:

    Sally and Brian are in love. But at the end of a wonderful ski weekend together, a car accident leaves Sally fully paralyzed for life. This powerful, honest book tells of Sally's struggle immediately following the accident as she goes through rehabilitation. Her anger, her flirtation with drugs, and a dangerously angry fellow patient, and her slow, hesitant journey to finding a way to live with her new reality make this one of the strongest portraits of a life-transforming disability ever published for young adults. Yet the story and the author's life offer hope. Far too many young people continue to become paraplegic and quadriplegic in car accidents, diving accidents and other risk-taking behavior. This book lays no blame and makes no promises. But it shows that a way forward can be found.

  • Author:
    Cooney, Caroline B.
    Summary:

    The members of two families have their lives disrupted when a teenage girl who had been kidnapped twelve years earlier discovers that the people who raised her are not her biological parents.

  • Author:
    Wennick, Elizabeth
    Summary:

    Jenna Cooper was only a few days old when her father was murdered and her family was shattered. Now fifteen, she daydreams of a picture-perfect sitcom family as she struggles with the gritty realities of her life. When Jenna finds out that Travis Bingham, the man who shot her father, has been released from prison, she becomes obsessed with tracking him down and confronting him. But her search reveals that there may be more to her father's murder than she has been led to believe, and will her relationships with her family and friends survive her obsession?

  • Author:
    Walsh, Ann
    Summary:

    Sixteen-year-old Darrah is in trouble. She lost her temper and, as a result, Mrs. Johnson, was hurt. Now her parents want her to go to something called a "Restorative Justice" circle that the RCMP suggested. Darrah has to face her parents, Mrs. Johnson, a policewoman, and a "facilitator" who all sit in a circle and decide on Darrah's "sanctions." Sanctions aren't punishments, the facilitator tells her. At first Darrah doesn't believe this—helping Mrs. Johnson two afternoons a week feels like punishment. But then Darrah realizes that she likes helping the older woman, especially when Mrs. Johnson teaches Darrah how to cook and bake (her recipes are included in the book). It turns out, however, that Mrs. Johnson is hiding a secret. . .

  • Author:
    Polak, Monique
    Summary:

    A pampered child used to having her own way, Anneke Van Raalte lives outside Amsterdam, where her father is a cartoonist for the Amsterdam newspaper. Though Anneke's family is Jewish, her religion means little to her. Anneke's life changes in 1942 when the Nazis invade Holland, and she and her family are deported to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Not only are conditions in the camp appalling, but the camp is the site of an elaborate hoax: the Nazis are determined to convince the world that Theresienstadt is an idyllic place and that European Jews are thriving under the Nazi regime. Because he is an artist, Anneke's father is compelled to help in the propaganda campaign, and Anneke finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her sense of what is right. What World is Left was inspired by the experiences of the author's mother, who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt during World War II.

  • Author:
    Hartzler, Aaron
    Summary:

    The story of a town torn apart by the events surrounding the rape of a drunk girl at a house party, from the perspective of the partygoers who witnessed it. This honest, authentic debut novel -- inspired by the events in the Steubenville rape case -- will resonate with readers who've ever walked that razor-thin line between guilt and innocence that so often gets blurred, one hundred and forty characters at a time. The party at John Doone's last Saturday night is a bit of a blur. Kate Weston can piece together most of the details: Stacey Stallard handing her shots, Ben Cody taking her keys and getting her home early. ... But when a picture of Stacey passed out over Deacon Mills's shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects she doesn't have all the details. When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate's classmates, the whole town erupts into controversy. Facts that can't be ignored begin to surface, and every answer Kate finds leads back to the same questions: Who witnessed what happened to Stacey? And what responsibility do they have to speak up about what they saw? National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti calls What We Saw a smart, sensitive, and gripping story about the courage it takes to do what's right.

  • Author:
    Mitchard, Jacquelyn
    Summary:

    Allie Kim's deathly allergy to sunlight confines her to the night, and without her best friend Juliet, the night feels even darker. Allie knows Juliet killed herself to escape Garrett Tabor, whom they saw commit a horrible crime, and her quest for justice soon jeopardizes all she holds dear.

  • Author:
    Cockrell, Amanda
    Summary:

    The Boston Globe named What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay a 2011 Best Book for Children The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books named What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay to their 2011 Blue Ribbons list Angie never used to think much about God—until things started getting strange. Like the statue of St. Felix, her secret confidant, suddenly coming off his pedestal and talking to her. And Jesse Francis, sent home from Afghanistan at age nineteen with his leg blown off. Now he's expected to finish high school and fit right back in. Is God even paying attention to this? Against the advice of St. Felix (who knows a thing or two about war), Angie falls for Jesse—who's a lot deeper than most high school guys. But Jesse is battling some major demons. As his behavior starts to become unpredictable, and even dangerous, Angie finds herself losing control of the situation. And she's starting to wonder... can one person ever make things right for someone else? Praise: "An utterly engaging narrative with a witty and thoughtful protagonist." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review "Cockrell balances on the knife’s edge between comedy and tragedy. The depth and darkness of her themes makes an absorbing read for older young adults." —The Boston Globe "I loved this story with its deft use of magical realism, its wonderfully quirky yet believable characters, and its honest portrayal of relationships, good and bad." —Han Nolan, National Book Award-winning author of Dancing on the Edge

  • Author:
    Jocelyn, Marthe
    Summary:

    Teenagers in an English boarding school tell their very different stories. What they hide is who they are, and who they hope to be. Can be described as a literary Gossip Girls set in a Quaker boarding school in 1970s Yorkshire. Or, in terms of format, a sort of A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD for teens. Americans Jenny and her brother Tom are off to England. Tom to university to dodge the Vietnam draft, Jenny to be the new girl at Illington Hall, which the students call Ill Hall. This is Jenny's chance to finally be special and stand out, so when she arrives she tells everybody a lie. But in the small world of Ill Hall, everyone has secrets. Jenny pretends she has a boyfriend. Robbie and Luke pretend they don't. Brenda won't tell what happened with the school doctor. Percy won't tell about his famous dad. Oona lies to everyone. Penelope lies only to herself. Deftly told from multiple points of view in various narrative styles, including letters and movie screenplays, What We Hide ia a provocative, honest, often funny and always intriguing look at secrets.

  • Author:
    McLaughlin, Kate
    Summary:

    "Raw, unflinching, and authentic, Kate McLaughlin's thoughtful What Unbreakable Looks Like carefully crafts a story exposing the vulnerability of underage trafficked girls and what it takes to begin the process of healing from sexual trauma."-Christa Desir, author, advocate, and founding member of The Voices and Faces Project Lex was taken-trafficked-and now she's Poppy. Kept in a hotel with other girls, her old life is a distant memory. But when the girls are rescued, she doesn't quite know how to be Lex again. After she moves in with her aunt and uncle, for the first time in a long time, she knows what it is to feel truly safe. Except, she doesn't trust it. Doesn't trust her new home. Doesn't trust her new friend. Doesn't trust her new life. Instead she trusts what she shouldn't because that's what feels right. She doesn't deserve good things. But when she is sexually assaulted by her so-called boyfriend and his friends, Lex is forced to reckon with what happened to her and that just because she is used to it, doesn't mean it is okay. She's thrust into the limelight and realizes she has the power to help others. But first she'll have to confront the monsters of her past with the help of her family, friends, and a new love. Kate McLaughlin's What Unbreakable Looks Like is a gritty, ultimately hopeful novel about human trafficking through the lens of a girl who has escaped the life and learned to trust, not only others, but in herself. A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books

  • Author:
    Buxbaum, Julie
    Summary:

    When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, Kit asks David for his help figuring out the how and why of her father's tragic car accident.

  • Author:
    Dunbar, Helene
    Summary:

    In less than a second... two of the things Cal Ryan cares most about—a promising baseball career and Lizzie, one of his best friends—are gone forever. In the hours that follow... Cal's damaged heart is replaced. But his life will never be the same. Everyone expects him to pick up the pieces and move on. But Lizzie is gone, and all that remains for Cal is an overwhelming sense that her death was his fault. And a voice in his head that just... won't... stop. Cal thought he and his friends could overcome any obstacle. But grief might be the one exception. And that might take a lifetime to accept... Praise: "Recommended to fans of tragic love stories  a la John Green and Rainbow Rowell." —VOYA "Teens will enjoy this as the warm and caring story of friendship that it is." —School Library Connection

  • Author:
    Sheinmel, Alyssa B.
    Summary:

    The girls at North Bay Academy are taking sides. It all started when Mike Parker's girlfriend showed up with a bruise on her face. Or, more specifically, when she walked into the principal's office and said Mike hit her. But her classmates have questions. Why did she go to the principal and not the police? Why did she stay so long if Mike was hurting her? Obviously, if it's true, Mike should be expelled. But is it true? Some girls want to rally for his expulsion-and some want to rally around Mike. The only thing that the entire student body can agree on? Someone is lying. And the truth has to come out.

  • Author:
    Cooney, Caroline B.
    Summary:

    While still adjusting to the reality of having two families, her birth family and the family into which she was kidnapped as a small child, seventeen-year-old Janie makes a shocking discovery about her long-gone kidnapper.

  • Author:
    Rivers, Karen
    Summary:

    Dex Pratt’s life has been turned upside down. His parents have divorced and his mother has remarried. When his father attempts suicide and fails, Dex returns to their small town to care for him. But he’s not prepared for how much everything has changed. Gone are the nice house, new cars, fancy bikes and other toys. Now he and his wheelchair-bound dad live in a rotting rented house at the back of a cornfield. And, worse, his father has given up defending marijuana growers in his law practice and has become one himself. Unable to cope, Dex begins smoking himself into a state of surrealism. He begins to lose touch with what is real and what he is imagining. And then there are the aliens…and the girl-of-his-dreams…and the crop circle…

  • Author:
    Albertalli, Becky, Silvera, Adam
    Summary:

    Critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in this smart, funny, heartfelt collaboration about two very different boys who can't decide if the universe is pushing them together—or pulling them apart.

    Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it's that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn't be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend's things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them . . . ?

    Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

    But what if they can't nail a first date even after three do-overs? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work and Ben doesn't try hard enough? What if life really isn't like a Broadway play? But what if it is? What if it's us?

  • Author:
    Stinson, Kathy
    Summary:

    David’s younger sister Ivy, born with multiple disabilities, needs constant attention. She may be eleven years old, but in many ways she’s still a baby. She embarrasses him in public. She takes all of their parents’ focus, to the point where David wonders if they see him as anything more than a helper for Ivy. But despite it all, he loves her. The summer days are following their usual pattern of taking care of his sister, doing chores, and trips to the cottage. The one exception is Hannah, the new girl across the street. Hannah makes David feel anything but routine. He wants to be around her all the time. And, amazingly, she seems to be into him as well. Everything changes when Ivy has an accident while being looked after by her dad. As David wrestles with what happened to Ivy, he is forced to confront his own feelings of guilt, the meaning of mercy, and what can be forgiven.

  • Author:
    Yee, Paul
    Summary:

    This collection of short stories by Governor General’s Award winning author Paul Yee takes readers into the lives of Chinese teens in Canada, who must deal with their cultural backgrounds as well as battle parents over schooling, careers and peer relationships. Like all teens, they grapple daily with issues around sexuality, religion and fitting in.

  • Author:
    Arnold, Elana K.
    Summary:

    When Nina Faye was fourteen, her mother told her there was no such thing as unconditional love. Nina believed her. Now she'll do anything for the boy she loves, to prove she's worthy of him. But when he breaks up with her, Nina is lost. What is she if not a girlfriend' What is she made of' Broken-hearted, Nina tries to figure out what the conditions of love are. "Finally, finally, a book that is fully girl, with all of the gore and grace of growing up female exposed." -Carrie Mesrobian, author of the William C. Morris finalist, Sex & Violence

  • Author:
    Trumpis, Dan
    Summary:

    Being twelve years old is already hard enough. Being a werewolf makes it even harder. Dillon Howell and his parents have just moved to Harmony, a small town in Northern California. Like all kids, he just wants to fit in and make friends, while keeping his "condition" a secret, of course. But Dillon quickly finds out he's not the only person in town who isn't what he appears to be. Welcome to Harmony, Dillon Howell. Your life is about to change forever.

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