Let’s Get Lost – Alsaid, Adi – As Leila struggles to come to terms with her new life, she grasps for the only thing she knows is real, the northern lights. On her cross-country trip to see them, she meets four people that not only change her, but who also change because of her. She helps them in ways they didn't know they needed, and they help her more than she realizes. (Talk with the author)
Don’t Look Back – Armentrout, Jennifer L. – Samantha's mind is a blank slate after she disappeared with her best frienemy, Cassie. However, when Cassie's dead body turns up, Samantha's memories are the only clue to what happened that night. Unfortunately, Sam not having any memories may be the only thing keeping her alive. (YALSA book trailer) Midnight Thief – Blackburne, Livia – Kyra is a thief and a talented one at that. When the leader of the mysterious Assassin's Guild offers her a job, she isn't sure. Tristam of Brancel is a Palace knight. When his best friend is murdered by the Demon Riders, a clan of fierce warriors who ride on bloodthirsty wildcats, he vows to take them down. Each time, he is thwarted by a talented thief, one who can easily slip past the Palaces defenses. When they are thrown together on a raid, they realize that their best, if not only chance at survival is to join together. Loyalties are tested and a surprising secret is learned about Kyra's past -one that threatens to reshape their lives. (YALSA book trailer) Mortal Gods – Blake, Kendare – For the first time ever, Cassandra and Athena have a mutual goal: to kill the remaining gods and goddesses that have taken refuge on Mount Olympus. If they could just figure out how to work together, they might be able to accomplish it. The Bane Chronicles – Clare, Cassandra – Magnus Bane, the mysterious High Warlock of New York, has been alive for a long time and has a mysterious past unknown to most of his companions. In this thrilling novel, secrets and stories are revealed, of lovers, of adventures, and of friendships. (YALSA book trailer) The Inventor’s Secret – Cremer, Andrea In a steampunk world, after the British Empire won the Revolutionary War, a young Patriot named Charlotte finds a boy in the woods, running from British war machines. When he claims he cannot remember anything, she and the other rebels with her decide to find his true origin by going to the heart of the Empire: New York. Love Letter to the Dead – Dellaira, Ava – After the death of her older sister, Laurel tries to cope with her feelings of guilt and anger with what starts out as an English assignment: write a letter to a dead person. As Laurel adjusts to high school and makes new friends, she continues writing letters to her idols. They become more detailed and thoughtful as she tries to grieve over her sister and works up the courage to finally be able to talk about the secret of her death. (YALSA book trailer) Into the Dark: The Shadow Prince – Despain, Bree – Haden, the disgraced son of Ren Hades, King of the Underworld, has been chosen to go to the surface and bring back Daphne Vince, his boon. Daphne's alcoholic rock star father is giving her the chance she has dreamed of to further her music career, but in California, further away from home than she's ever been. Their fates are entwined, and they're about to meet for the first time. (YALSA book trailer) To All the boys I've Loved Before – Han, Jenny – Lara Jean has a teal hatbox under her bed filled with all her precious things, old feelings, and memories that should be buried forever. In that box, there are letters Lara has written to all the boys she has ever loved with no intention of ever sending them. One day, the hat box goes missing, marking the beginning of a series of confrontations she never thought she’d have to face. (YALSA book trailer) Unhinged – Howard, A.G. – Finally back in the “real world” all Alyssa has left is to ignore her darker side and enjoy the normality of high school and her life with Jeb, but does Wonderland leave her alone? Can the Red Queen let Alyssa get away with what she has done? Everything would be easier if Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest. (Book trailer) The Young Elites– Lu, Marie – Adelina Amounteru is a survivor of the plague, a Malfetto, a freak to the rest of society. The treatment of abuse over the years has caused a darkness to brew inside her. She believes there is hope for her yet as there is a group of other Malfettos, called the Young Elites. The Young Elites have not only survived the plague, but have developed unexplainable abilities. Is refuge with these people what Adelina always wanted, or are they just going to end up using her like everyone else? (Book trailer) Heir of Fire – Maas, Sarah J. – Celaena, the King’s Champion, has faced many challenges throughout her life, but none compare to what she must now face. As the King of Adarlan seeks to destroy all that she cares about, Celaena must learn to control her powers while deciding who should fight back: Celaena the assassin or Aelin the Fae princess. (Author talk) Since You’ve Been Gone – Matson, Morgan – Emily and Sloane are the bestest friends having an amazing summer, until one day Sloane disappears. Sloane leaves behind a to-do list of 13 tasks Emily would normally never try without Sloane by her side. With the help of Frank Porter, and a few other friends, will Emily finish the list? (Book trailer) The Shadow Throne – Niesen, Jennifer A. – War is on the horizon in Carthya, and Jaron needs to protect his country. However, the ruler of Avenia has also captured Jaron’s best friend and love, Imogen. Jaron needs to save both his friend and his country, but everything that possibly could go wrong, does go wrong. (YALSA Book trailer) My Life with the Walter Boys – Novak, Ali – As the perfect girl who had everything scheduled, always looked nice and studied hard, Jackie couldn't predict her parents’ accident. She also didn't see her future consisting of moving from New York to Colorado and living with twelve boys. How can she cope with her parents’ death, a dramatic change in lifestyle while still being the perfect girl she was? The Kiss of Deception – Pearson, Mary E. – As Lia tries to un from her bounty hunters, she begins uncovering one of her kingdoms deceptive secrets, hidden by the years passed. Meanwhile, she begins falling in love with two men who are not who they seem to be. (YALSA book trailer) The Winners Curse – Rutkoski, Marie – Kestrel is a noble of the vast empire Valoria. She only has two choices for her future: to become a military officer or get married. What she really wants is to be a musician. Her choice for her future becomes more complicated when she buys a slave named Arin who is in on a plot to free his people from enslavement. (Book trailer) Fire and Flood – Scott, Victoria – Tella Holloway thought her life was bad. When she gets an invitation to save her brother Cody’s life, she learns what bad really is. Tella fights for not only Cody, but herself, her Pandora, and her growing love of a contender. It’s a fight for life, but will Tella die trying? (Book trailer) I Become Shadow – Shine, Joe – Ren Sharpe was abducted at fourteen, chosen by the mysterious F.A.T.E. Center to become a shadow: an unstoppable guardian of a future leader/world changer. After four years of training, she is assigned to protect Gareth Young, one of these future beings, an easy assignment, until a team of trained and armed professionals attempt to abduct him in broad daylight. With nowhere else to turn, Ren breaks F.A.T.E. rules and tracks down the only person she can trust; a fellow Shadow named Junie Miller, and decides that her kidnappers may be able to see the future, but they are unprepared for the killing machines they've created. Grasshopper Jungle – Smith, Andrew – Grasshopper Jungle is a coming of age story revolving around three teenagers, told in layers, exploring the pitfalls and wisdom of history, complex issues of friendship and sexual confusion, and, of course, the story of how six-foot tall man-eating praying mantises from Iowa, brought on the end of the world. The Geography of You and Me – Smith, Jennifer E. – Lucy and Owen get stuck in an elevator in a New York City blackout. When they finally get out of the elevator, they spend the night looking at the stars. Soon after the blackout, Lucy moves away to Scotland while Owen heads out west. With that night ingrained into their minds, they try to stay in touch with each other while trying to figure out what that night truly meant for both of them. (Author interview) Boys Like You – Stone, Juliana – Monroe and Nathan are alike in so many ways. Their "one mistake" has hurt both of them and the ones they love. Can Monroe accept herself and help Nathan to do the same? We Should Hang Out Sometime – Sunquist, Josh – Josh is a boy who's good with math, but not with girls. He has the best pickup line – “We should hang out sometime” – but he never really gets a relationship out of it. Now, after many girlfriendless years, he tries to figure out why. (Josh is from Harrisonburg and once spoke at TA. We have others of his books in the library, as well.) (Author book trailer) Lies We Tell Ourselves – Talley, Robin – As if being one of the first black students to attend Jefferson High School wasn't enough, Sarah Dunbar has to worry about keeping her secret. Linda Hairston, is the daughter of one of Davisburg's most vocal opponents to integration in schools. She too has a secret. When these two very different girls are forced to work together on a school project, both are forced to confront the harsh truths about race, power and love. (Book trailer) In Nation by Sir Terry Pratchett, when a giant wave destroys his native village, Mau is the only one left. Daphne—a traveler from the other side of the globe—is the sole survivor of a shipwreck on Mau's island as a result of the same tsunami. Separated by language and customs, the two are united by the catastrophe. Slowly, they are joined by other refugees. As they struggle to protect the small band, Mau and Daphne defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down. Author Introduction
If you enjoy stories of survival, you might also like the following books from the TA Library:
Phantoms in the Snow by Kathleen Benner Duble taught me about a chapter of World War II history that I had not known before. I was aware that the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc., and well as Germany, had soldiers who were trained in cross-country skiing and mountain climbing, as well as all the fighting skills that every soldier needed. I had not known that the United States had also had such troops, the United States 10th Mountain Division. Other troops laughingly called them Phantoms because their white uniforms helped them disappear in the snow. Despite the jokes, they trained very hard and believed in their mission as part of the war effort in Europe. In February 1945, they were responsible for assaults on Riva Ridge and Mount Belvdere. Capturing these mountains turned the tide of war in Italy.
This story follows sixteen-year-old Noah Barstow, who was raised in Texas by pacifist parents. When his parents die, Noah is sent to live with his Uncle James Shelley, whom he has never meet. Shelley is a Phantom and in training at a military camp in the Colorado Rockies. Book Trailer Awards and Honors If you like this kind of story, you might like to try these titles from the TAHS library:
I just finished reading Ben Mikaelsen's latest book Jungle of Bones. As usual, the multi-award winning, Mikaelsen grabbed my attention right from the start with a prologue that set the tone of adventure and survival.
Dylan Barstow is a troubled teen. When his mom reaches the end of her rope after he is arrested for stealing a car and doing donuts in a farmer's field, she calls in his Uncle Todd, an ex-Marine, to see what he can do with Dylan. Uncle Todd's plan includes a trip to Papua New Guinea to search for a missing WWII B-17 bomber which was shot down during WWII. Dylan's grandfather was the only survivor of the crash to make it out of the jungle alive. Dylan's "chip on the shoulder" and refusal to listen to anyone else could cost him his life when he wanders off from the rest of the group and gets lost in the jungle. Mikaelsen dedicated the book to "...the young and courageous crews who manned the bombers during the Second World War." During his research for the book, he says, "...after hearing the personal accounts of bravery...I was humbled to tears. The adage that 'freedom is never free' became more than simple words. Those words became very real and not only imprinted themselves on my mind but are now chiseled like stone in my heart." You might also like other Ben Mikaelsen fiction book that we have in the TA library:
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AuthorI am a former high school English teacher and now a high school librarian. Archives
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