Category: Teens' Top Ten

2018 Teens' top ten winners

10/17/2018

Turtles All the Way Down – John Green – High-school junior Aza, who struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, reconnects with childhood friend Davis after his billionaire father disappears, on the run from the police. But can Aza and her friends help Davis cope with being parentless when she’s having trouble managing her own downward-spiraling thoughts?

#2 One of Us Is Lying – Karen McManus – After Simon, the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app, dies during detention, the four other students in the room are all framed for murder. But the twist is, the next day, they were all going to be on Simon's app for secrets that would ruin their lives for good. So when Bronwyn, the Yale-Bound student who never breaks a rule, Addy, the homecoming queen, Nate, the drug dealer, and Cooper the all-star baseball pitcher all come together to find out what really happened, the rest of the story unfolds.

#3 Warcross – Marie Lu – When bounty hunter and hacker Emika Chen finds herself unexpectedly entered into the exclusive Warcross championship, she is determined to get to the bottom of a dastardly plot while trying to pull off a win in the worldwide virtual reality game.

# 4 Wonder Woman: Warbringer – Leigh Bardugo – Diana has always been an outcast to the Amazons. She never truly had the chance to prove herself worthy of being an Amazon until she saves a mysterious girl from a shipwreck. The girl turns out to be a descendant of Helen of Troy. The girl will either bring an age of peace or a deadly war.

# 5 Caraval – Stephanie Garber – Everyone has heard rumors of the legendary game of Caraval, and no one wants to experience it's magic more than Scarlett Dragna. When Scarlett finally gets an invitation, she begins to realize that Caraval isn't all that she thought. She must be careful to not get swept away in the illusion or risk losing her sister forever

#6 Long Way Down – Jason Reynolds – Will's brother Shawn has been murdered. In this free-verse novel, fifteen-year-old Will steps into an elevator with a gun in the back waistband of his jeans, ready to avenge his brother's death, as he’s been taught to do. At each stop on the elevator down, someone connected to his brother gets on, giving Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows.

#7 I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter – Erika L. Sanchez – Julia is an outcast in her close-knit Mexican American family, where she dreams of going away to college. When her older sister suddenly dies, Julia begins to piece together her sister’s secret life. As she grieves, Julia embarks on a mission to discover herself, unearthing her family’s past in the process.

#8 Paper Hearts – Ali Novak – Felicity's sister has been missing for years, and Felicity and her mother have been trying to overcome the loss ever since. Felicity thought finding her was impossible until her new friend, Alec, gives her the opportunity she needs to reconnect with her lost sibling.

#9 Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor – Strange is an orphan raised by monks, and has dedicated his life to learning. His favorite story is of Weep, the lost fairytale city that was literally removed from memory. This is the story of his search for the magical city.

#10 Once and For All – Sarah Dessen – Working with her mom on a wedding planning business, Louna has more than her share of weddings and the behind-the-scene disasters. Ever since the abrupt ending of her first love, she has been more cynical about weddings and especially, love. But maybe that will change when Ambrose comes along.

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2018 Teens' top ten nominations

5/25/2018

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2018 Teens’ Top Ten Noninees*

*Annotations provided by the Teens’ Top Ten book groups.

Titles in red are part of the Turner Ashby High School Library collection.

All Rights Reserved – Gregory Scott Katsoulis – In a future America where most words and gestures are copyrighted and cost money to use, Speth is confronted with a choice: accept the rules of her society or live in defiance through complete silence.
Her decision sets off great upheaval in her world.

The Black Witch – Laurie Forest – Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last Black Witch, Carnissa. While Carnissa was a hero, Ellen, the spitting image of her grandmother, is devoid of power. She is finally granted an opportunity to embrace her own future and dreams as an apothecary at Verpax University, but Verpax has secrets that could destroy Elloren. Elloren finds that behind the things she has been told were good, is an ugly truth.

Book of Lies – Teri Terry – Piper and Quinn met for the first time at their mother's funeral. These twins look identical, but their childhoods could not have been more different. As they get to know each other, they learn that they have the power to destroy their worlds, but only one can harness it.

Caraval – Stephanie Garber – Everyone has heard rumors of the legendary game of Caraval, and no one wants to experience it's magic more than Scarlett Dragna. When Scarlett finally gets an invitation, she begins to realize that Caraval isn't all that she thought. She must be careful to not get swept away in the illusion or risk losing her sister forever.

Defy the Stars – Claudia Gray – Noemi is a 17-year-old soldier defending her planet, Genesis, against Earth. Abel is a robot programmed to fight Genesis for Earth and protect his creator. They are sworn enemies who end up trying to survive together—and, perhaps, to find a way to end the war.

The Disappearances – Emily Bain Murphy – Aila Quinn has her life changed when her mother dies and father gets drafted for the war. There have been Disappearances of ordinary things every seven years in her mother’s hometown. As Aila and her friends begin to uncover the origins of the Disappearances, they discover the role Aila's family has had it in.

How to Make a Wish – Ashley Herring Blake – Grace lives with her unpredictable, irresponsible mother, and she's all but given up on wishes. That is, until she meets Eva who quickly takes to sneaking into her window at night. Realizing they both like girls, maybe they've both found exactly what they needed, someone to anchor themselves to.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter – Erika L. Sánchez – Julia is an outcast in her close-knit Mexican American family, where she dreams of going away to college. When her older sister suddenly dies, Julia begins to piece together her sister’s secret life. As she grieves, Julia embarks on a mission to discover herself, unearthing her family’s past in the process.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life – Benjamin Alire Sáenz – High-school senior Sal has a lot on his plate as he deals with his dying grandmother, tries to control his growing anger with the prejudice of others, and ponders his relationship with his adopted father and what it takes to become a man.

Invictus - Ryan Graudin – Farway has trained to be a time-traveling history recorder but fails his final exam. Disappointed, he takes a position captaining the Invictus as part of a black-market operation stealing artifacts from the past. Soon Far and his crew are in a race to stop time itself from unraveling.

The Last Magician – Lisa Maxwell – Esta travels back in time to 1902 New York City to find a mysterious book that could save her future. But in order to do so, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

Long Way Down – Jason Reynolds – Will's brother Shawn has been murdered. In this free-verse novel, fifteen-year-old Will steps into an elevator with a gun in the back waistband of his jeans, ready to avenge his brother's death, as he’s been taught to do. At each stop on the elevator down, someone connected to his brother gets on, giving Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows.

Multiple Award Winner

Mask of Shadows – Linsey Miller – Sal, a gender fluid thief, wants to be more than a thief. When a chance to become one of the Queen's prized assassin arises, Sal takes it. Only one problem – the 'audition' is a killing game and the only way out? Survive and kill without being discovered.

Moxie – Jennifer Mathieu – Inspired by her mom’s Riot Grrrl past and infuriated by sexism at her school, Vivian creates Moxie, a feminist zine, and distributes it anonymously in the girls’ bathroom. While Moxie grows in popularity, school administration lashes out against Moxie girls. Will they continue to fight back against sexism and discrimination?

Once and For All – Sarah Dessen – Working with her mom on a wedding planning business, Louna has more than her share of weddings and the behind-the-scene disasters. Ever since the abrupt ending of her first love, she has been more cynical about weddings and especially, love. But maybe that will change when Ambrose comes along.

One of Us is Lying – Karen M. McManus – After Simon, the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app, dies during detention, the four other students in the room are all framed for murder. But the twist is, the next day, they were all going to be on Simon's app for secrets that would ruin their lives for good. So when Bronwyn, the Yale-Bound student who never breaks a rule, Addy, the homecoming queen, Nate, the drug dealer, and Cooper the all-star baseball pitcher all come together to find out what really happened, the rest of the story unfolds.

Multiple Award Winner

Paper Hearts – Ali Novak – Felicity's sister has been missing for years, and Felicity and her mother have been trying to overcome the loss ever since. Felicity thought finding her was impossible until her new friend, Alec, gives her the opportunity she needs to reconnect with her lost sibling.

Remember Me Always – Renee Collins – Shelby goes through a therapy treatment to remove all her memories of a terrible accident. When she comes home, she meets a boy and pieces of her memory come back. That is when things begin to get complicated.

Rosemarked – Livia Blackburne – Zivah, a healer who has been infected by the rose plague can no longer do what she loves. A soldier, Dineas, wants revenge against the Amparan Empire from which he has just escaped. Both of their lives are so different, yet they will need to join forces to save the people that they love.

Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor – Strange is an orphan raised by monks, and has dedicated his life to learning. His favorite story is of Weep, the lost fairytale city that was literally removed from memory. This is the story of his search for the magical city.

Turtles All the Way Down – John Green – High-school junior Aza, who struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, reconnects with childhood friend Davis after his billionaire father disappears, on the run from the police. But can Aza and her friends help Davis cope with being parentless when she’s having trouble managing her own downward-spiraling thoughts?

Warcross – Marie Lu – When bounty hunter and hacker Emika Chen finds herself unexpectedly entered into the exclusive Warcross championship, she is determined to get to the bottom of a dastardly plot while trying to pull off a win in the worldwide virtual reality game.

Waste of Space – Gina Damico – Ten teenagers are conned into boarding a (fake) spaceship, completely unaware of the fact that the entire production is staged. Once the teenagers start to find out about this secret, things go from bad to worse inside the spaceship.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer – Leigh Bardugo – Diana has always been an outcast to the Amazons. She never truly had the chance to prove herself worthy of being an Amazon until she saves a mysterious girl from a shipwreck. The girl turns out to be a descendant of Helen of Troy. The girl will either bring an age of peace or a deadly war.

Words in Deep Blue – Cath Crowley – Rachel and Henry were best friends until Rachel moved away. After her brother’s death, Rachel’s world is in shambles. She returns to their hometown to work in Henry's family bookshop, where Henry faces his own struggles.

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this is where it ends

12/11/2017

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This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is a heart-pounding thriller. Terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge against both teachers and fellow students turns into the ultimate game of survival. The first day of second semester begins as it always does with a whole school assembly. As the assembly ends and the students are about to be dismissed to their classes, A young man, who has locked all the exits from the auditorium, begins to shoot what seems at first to be random targets.

The shooter is a disturbed seventeen-year-old named Tyler Browne. The story is told from the perspectives of four students over the span of 54 harrowing minutes. The narrators include Tyler's former girlfriend Claire, Tyler's younger sister Autumn, Autumn's best friend Sylvia, and Sylvia's twin brother Tomas. All of them feel some responsibility for Tyler's emotional breakdown and therefore the deaths of so many friends and relatives.

As long as shootings continue to happen is our schools, we will need books like this one to help us understand how and why these horrible events happen. Hopefully, we will begin to pick up on the signs that students are in need of emotional and psychological help before they reach the breaking point.

Awards and Honors:

#5 on the 2017 Teens' Top Ten List
YALSA 2017 Quick Pick for Reluctant Yourg Adult Readers
Goodreads YA Best Books Pick 2017
Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for Young Adult Fiction 2017

If you are interested in other books on this topic, I would recomment the following books in the TAHS library:

Fiction:

Hate List by Jennifer Brown
After by Francine Prose
This Is Not a Drill by Rebecca Mc Dowell

Nonfiction:

She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Barnall by Misty Bernall

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YALSA's 2017 Teens' Top Ten Winners

10/20/2017

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2017 Teens' Top Ten Books

#1 - Don’t Get Caught: Let the Prank War Begin – Kurt Dinan – Think of all the pranks you have ever wanted to pull. The pranks in this story will top your wildest dreams. Don't Get Caught is story of a competition between two teams of pranksters. The new kids on the block vs. the anonymous Chaos Club. In this war, cunningness and lots of luck will be the way to victory. Let the pranks begin!

#2 - Scythe – Neal Shusterman – Humanity has overcome hunger, disease, war, and even death. Now only Scythes can take life. What will happen to Citra and Rowan when they are chosen to be Scythe apprentices? Follow them as they struggle with their task and morality.

#3 - The Sun is Also a Star – Nicola Yoon - Natasha and Daniel are polar opposites - Tasha believes in reason, science, and things that can be proven. Daniel is a poet at heart and believes in Fate, the "meant to be," and true love. When circumstances beyond their control force them together, they have exactly one day - one day to stop Tasha's family from being deported, one day for Daniel to realize that doing what's expected of you doesn't mean you should do it. And above all else, one day to fall in love.

# 4 - Lady Midnight – Cassandra Clare – It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman who just wants to prove that her parents weren't killed by Sebastian in the Dark War. Now she has the chance to do just that, and get Mark back from the wild hunt.

# 5 - This is Where It Ends – Marieke Nijkamp – Four students, all connected in one way or another, speak from their perspective over a terrifying 54 minutes when, after a school-wide assembly, the auditorium doors won’t open and someone begins shooting.

#6 - Heartless – Marissa Meyer - The infamous line "Off with his head!" made her a terror in Wonderland. But before that she was just a girl with a dream, who fell in love. In this curious prequel inspired by Lewis Carroll's famous Alice in Wonderland, Meyer’s tale of eccentricity, phenomenon, and, ultimately, ruination will keep you on the edge of your seat as you realize how Cath led her life to become the Queen of Hearts.

#7 - P.S. I Like You – Kasie West – Music has the power to bring people together. When Lily writes a lyric of her favorite indie band on her desk, someone else responds. Lily and her mysterious friend seem to get closer and closer through their anonymous notes. What happens when she finds the true author of the notes?

#8 - Love & Gelato – Jenna Evans Welch – After the death of her mother, Lina goes to visit Italy at her mother’s wish, as she’d lived in Italy for part of her life and loved it immensely. While in Italy, Lina discovers some well-kept secrets about her mother's life there and Lina's mysteriously absent father.

#9 - Genius: The Game – Leopoido Gout – Dive into a new type of teen-genius novel as Gout pulls you into a rollercoaster of a plot. Hilarious and smart, Cai, Tunde, and Rex show readers what the next generation of innovation looks like.

#10 - If I Was Your Girl – Meredith Russo – When Amanda moves to Lambertville, Kentucky after a string of bullying incidents led her to attempt suicide all she wants is to lead a normal life, make friends, and generally be happy for once. All of this seems possible until she meets Grant, who causes her to let down the walls around her heart. But the problem is that Amanda's past is haunting her. And in her past, she wasn't Amanda, she was Andrew.

Click here to see the winners of the TAHS 2017 Teens' Top Ten Survey.

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2017 yalsa Teen Read Week - Teens'top ten nominees

9/12/2017

* Annotations provided by the Teens' Top Ten book groups.

Nightstruck - Jenna Black - Becket, an ambitious but ordinary teenager, was walking her dog one night when she heard a baby cry. Going to help, Becket is tricked into opening a door between worlds, allowing a dark magic into the mortal world. As the magic trickles in, you better be inside or you'll face the changes in the night. Innocent everyday items and buildings grow fangs, tails, and eyes. People become the Nightstruck.
The Killing Jar - Jennifer Bosworth - "I try not to think about it, what I did to that boy." Kenna Marsden has a secret. She's haunted with the burden of knowing she killed a boy and she can't explain how. Now, the boy's dad seeks revenge.
Passenger - Alexandra Brachken - Etta's life has suddenly become very confusing. In a whirlwind of events, she finds herself in the 19th century on a boat filled with (legal) pirates, discovers that she had the power to time travel, and finds out that a family called the Ironwoods has her mother and wants her to find an object called the astrolabe. Nicholas, a pirate from the ship she sailed on, comes with her, and together they begin a journey to save Etta's mother. Book Trailer
Tell Me Three Things - Julie Buxbaum - A new city. A new step-monster. A new intimidatingly prissy private school. As Jessie transitions into L.A. life, she feels like everything about her is wrong. When she receives an email from a person called Somebody/Nobody, or SN for short, they offer to be a much-needed guide to her new school. As Jessie becomes increasingly close to SN, she can’t help wanting to meet them in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved? Book Trailer
Once Upon a Dream - Liz Braswell - In a battle of past, present, and future, Princess Aurora must face her true past, face her fears, and fight for the future. If she doesn't, she will lose everything at a time when she only just found something to live for--true love. In a journey of self-discovery and a quest for confidence, Liz Braswell once again succeeds in writing an excellent twist to one of the classics--Sleeping Beauty.
Lady Midnight - Cassandra Clare - It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman who just wants to prove that her parents weren't killed by Sebastian in the Dark War. Now she has the chance to do just that, and get Mark back from the wild hunt. Book Trailer
Truthwitch - Susan Dennard - The Witchlands and its three respective Empires are home to many different types of witches. Safi and Iseult, best friends, both have incredible powers. Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible threads of the world that bind people together. Her dark past, however, threatens her new found life as secrets and burdens long since forgotten come back to haunt her. Safi, a Truthwitch, is able to tell a man's truth from his lies. The rarity of her magic has forced her to keep it hidden from the world, but the wrong people have unearthed her secrets and both she and Iseult must use any means, or magic necessary to protect themselves and each other. Book Trailer
Don’t Get Caught : Ler the Prank War Begin - Kurt Dinan - Think of all the pranks you have ever wanted to pull. The pranks in this story will top your wildest dreams. Don't Get Caught is story of a competition between two teams of pranksters. The new kids on the block vs. the anonymous Chaos Club. In this war, cunningness and lots of luck will be the way to victory. Let the pranks begin!
The Great American Whatever - Tim Federle - This novel shows us inside the mind of Quinn Roberts, a 17-year-old boy who lost his sister to a car crash six months prior and who strives to write screenplays for real movies. We follow Quinn through his challenges with his grief, his new-found love, his discovery of secrets about his friend and sister, and his reluctance to let go, to stop living in the past and follow his dreams in the future.
We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler - Russell Fredman - An inspiring recounting of the brief and tragic lives of the Scholl children and their influence on the world's perception of Nazi Germany. This true story highlights everything from their early lives as members of Hitler youth programs, to their adulthood careers as Anti-Hitler activists. (Nonfiction 943.086?Fre)
Girl in Pieces - Kathleen Glasgow - Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Davis was a girl who used to cut herself with glass, until one day she tried to kill herself. We follow Charlie on her journey through rehab and beyond. Her story is one of love, heartbreak, and coming of age, about a normal girl and the painstakingly horrible truth of her pain and sorrows.
Genius: The Game - Leopolde Gout - Dive into a new type of teen-genius novel as Gout pulls you into a rollercoaster of a plot. Hilarious and smart, Cai, Tunde, and Rex show readers what the next generation of innovation looks like. Book Trailer
Rebel of the Sands - Alwyn Hamilton - Amani Al’Hiza is a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead. When Amani meets foreigner Jin, she sees him as the perfect escape route. This Aladdin-meets-dystopia fantasy follows Amani’s adventure through the desert of Miraji, using her sharpshooting skills and her wit to survive the dangers created by the djinn and the Sultan's army. Book Trailer
The Diabolic - S.J. Kincaid - Diabolics are human-like creatures genetically engineered to spend their entire life doing whatever it takes to serve the person they are bonded to. They love their masters with every fiber of their being, and are willing to kill and die for them. Nemesis is a Diabolic. And when her master, Sidonia, heir to the galactic senate, is summoned to court by the Emperor to answer for her father’s misdeeds, Nemesis must protect her at all costs. But how far will she have to go in order to protect Sidonia and the empire from crumbling in the hands of the Emperor? Book Trailer
Starflight - Melissa Landers - Solara needs to get to the outer realms, and it seems becoming an indentured servant to Doran is the only way for her to get there. When Doran discovers the secret she carefully kept from him, it seems that she won't reach her destination after all. In a bizarre turn of events, Solara becomes the master, and Doran the slave. This adventure may end up being a lot more hectic than it seemed it would be.
The Year We Fell Apart - Emily Martin - Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan. Now Declan is back from boarding school and has changed quite a bit. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis. And while she wants to make things right with Declan, he wants nothing to do with her. The Year We Fell Apart is an amazing story of love and second, maybe even third, chances.
Burning Midnight - Will McINtosh - In a futuristic world, millions of spheres have appeared, and burning them makes people a little better: an inch taller, skilled at math, better-looking. However, there are some spheres that people will do anything to get their hands on. When a sphere is found that no one has ever seen before, Sully and Hunter have to decide what to do with it.
Heartless - Marissa Meyer - The infamous line "Off with his head!" made her a terror in Wonderland. But before that she was just a girl with a dream, who fell in love. In this curious prequel inspired by Lewis Carroll's famous Alice in Wonderland, Meyer’s tale of eccentricity, phenomenon, and, ultimately, ruination will keep you on the edge of your seat as you realize how Cath led her life to become the Queen of Hearts. Book Trailer Authur Indroduction
All We Have Left - Wendy Mills - In 2016, Jesse is trying to navigate life as a teenager with the death of her brother on 9/11 still haunting her and her family. When Jesse gets caught up with the wrong crowd, one momentary hate-fueled decision turns her life upside down. In 2001, Alia, a proud Muslim, goes to see her father at his Manhattan office. When the planes collide into the Twin Towers, Alia is trapped inside one of the buildings.
This is Where It Ends - Marieke Nijkamp - Four students, all connected in one way or another, speak from their perspective over a terrifying 54 minutes when, after a school-wide assembly, the auditorium doors won’t open and someone begins shooting.
If I Was Your Girl - Meredith Russo - When Amanda moves to Lambertville, Kentucky, after a string of bullying incidents led her to attempt suicide, all she wants is to lead a normal life, make friends, and generally be happy for once. All of this seems possible until she meets Grant, who causes her to let down the walls around her heart. But the problem is that Amanda's past is haunting her. And in her past, she wasn't Amanda, she was Andrew.
Scythe - Neal Shusterman - Humanity has overcome hunger, disease, war, and even death. Now only Scythes can take life. What will happen to Citra and Rowan when they are chosen to be Scythe apprentices? Follow them as they struggle with their task and morality. Book Trailer
Love & Gelato - Jenna Evans Welch - After the death of her mother, Lina goes to visit Italy at her mother’s wish, as she’d lived in Italy for part of her life and loved it immensely. While in Italy, Lina discovers some well-kept secrets about her mother's life there and Lina's mysteriously absent father. Book Trailer
P.S. I Like You - Kasie West - Music has the power to bring people together. When Lily writes a lyric of her favorite indie band on her desk, someone else responds. Lily and her mysterious friend seem to get closer and closer through their anonymous notes. What happens when she finds the true author of the notes?
The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson - Since birth, David has felt different, and only his two best friends know the real truth: he wants to be a girl. After meeting and befriending Leo, a fellow member of the trans community, David prepares to come out to his family and transition into life as a girl, while Leo wrestles with figuring out how to deal with people who try to define him through his history.
The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon - Natasha and Daniel are polar opposites - Tasha believes in reason, science, and things that can be proven. Daniel is a poet at heart and believes in Fate, the "meant to be," and true love. When circumstances beyond their control force them together, they have exactly one day - one day to stop Tasha's family from being deported, one day for Daniel to realize that doing what's expected of you doesn't mean you should do it. And above all else, one day to fall in love. Author Interview

If you would like to take a survey on the books you think will be the top ten finalist in 2017, Fill out the sheet and drop it in the box.

2016 Teens' Top Ten Winners

10/24/2016

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Alive – Chandler Baker – Stella Cross has received a heart transplant, but it has not stopped her emotional suffering. Then a mysterious boy named Levi Zin comes into her life. Stella’s pain goes away whenever she’s around Levi. However, Stella finds out a terrible secret about Levi. Can it be true?
All the Bright Places – Jennifer Niven – Death plays a big role in the lives of high schoolers Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. He is constantly on the verge of suicide, and she is battling grief after her sister’s death. The Indiana teens come together to work on a project and soon develop a bond, showing each other what it’s like to live.
The Game of Love and Death (The Hero Agenda series)– Martha Brockenbrough – Set in Seattle in the 1920s, a romance develops between Flora, who is African American, and Henry, who is white. Despite some differences, the pair has much in common, including a shared love of jazz music. However, it turns out that Flora and Henry actually are pawns in a game played by two other characters – Love and Death. This book is full of intrigue and is, at times, heartbreaking, and will have the reader racing to the final pages.
Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo – Young criminal genius Kaz Brekker is offered the chance to pull off a dangerous theft that can make him rich. He recruits a gang of six dangerous misfits to help him with the heist. The book follows the crew’s crazy adventure and features plot twists, betrayals, and schemes aplenty.
Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon – Maddy is a teenager with a serious autoimmune disease that prevents her from leaving the house. Yet, she seems content to stay home and read books. That is until a boy named Olly moves in next door. The two meet, and their quirky relationship is chronicled through emails, journal entries,
Every Last Word – Tamara Ireland Stone – Samantha McAllister seems to have it all: she is beautiful, bright and part of the popular crowd in high school. But looks can be deceiving, and she is hiding the fact she has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Samantha’s life changes after she visits a place at school called Poet’s Corner and she begins hanging out with new friends like Caroline and AJ.
The Novice: Summoner: Book One of The Summoner Trilogy – Tran Matharu – A blacksmith’s apprentice named Fletcher discovers he can summon demons from another world. He soon gets chased out of his village for a crime he did not commit, ending up at an academy for adepts, where he is trained to serve as a Battlemage in the Empire’s war against the savage Orcs. Eventually, Fletcher discovers the fate of the Empire is in his hands.
Illuminae (The Illuminae Files series) Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Kady and Ezra have just broken up, and then their planet is bombed by a megacorporation. The pair escapes to a government ship, but must put their differences aside in order to survive and stop a plague that has resulted from the use of a bioweapon.
When – Laurie Victoria – High school junior Maddie Fynn has special powers that allow her to see numbers above a person’s forehead, which she soon discovers are death dates. She identifies the death date of a young boy, but is unable to prevent his disappearance. Then, Maddie becomes a suspect in a homicide investigation.
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls – Lynn Weingarten – June and Delia were best friends who grew apart. Then, Delia commits suicide. Or, at least that’s what others have been told. June believes her former best friend has been murdered, and she goes on a quest to find the truth . . . which, it turns out, is very complicated.

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Teen Top Ten Nominees 2016

6/2/2016

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Alive – Chandler Baker – Stella Cross has received a heart transplant, but it has not stopped her emotional suffering. Then a mysterious boy named Levi Zin comes into her life. Stella’s pain goes away whenever she’s around Levi. However, Stella finds out a terrible secret about Levi. Can it be true?
Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo – Young criminal genius Kaz Brekker is offered the chance to pull off a dangerous theft that can make him rich. He recruits a gang of six dangerous misfits to help him with the heist. The book follows the crew’s crazy adventure and features plot twists, betrayals, and schemes aplenty.
The Darkest Part of the Forest – Holly Black – In Fairfold, a place where both humans and Faeries live, siblings Hazel and Ben have grown up telling each other stories about the boy in the glass coffin in the woods. The boy has horns and ears pointy as knives, perhaps he’s a prince or a knight. Of course, they’ll never know because the boy will never wake. Then, unexpectedly, he does . . Book Trailer
The Witch Hunter – Virginia Boecker – Elizabeth Grey is a witch hunter who is suddenly accused of being a witch. She is arrested and sentenced to burn. The only way for Elizabeth to avoid this fate is to help out her former enemy Nicholas Perevil, the most dangerous wizard around. The book is filled with magic and adventure, action and mystery and features a world full of witches, pirates and ghosts. Book Trailer
The Game of Love and Death (The Hero Agenda series)– Martha Brockenbrough – Set in Seattle in the 1920s, a romance develops between Flora, who is African American, and Henry, who is white. Despite some differences, the pair has much in common, including a shared love of jazz music. However, it turns out that Flora and Henry actually are pawns in a game played by two other characters – Love and Death. This book is full of intrigue and is, at times, heartbreaking, and will have the reader racing to the final pages. Book Trailer
Powerless – Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs – In a world full of powerful heroes and villains, Kenna is just a regular, powerless teenager who works in a lab. Then, three villains break into the lab, and Kenna decides to fight back. In the midst of this battle, Kenna is saved by a villain. Suddenly, she is forced to rethink her beliefs. Book Trailer
Mechanica – Betsy Cornwell – A new take on the classic story of Cinderella. Mechanica uses her wit and her mother’s old engineering textbooks to try to escape her stepmother and stepsisters. Mechanica is a strong, smart, and capable character in a book that has an inspirational message for teenage girls.
You and Me and Him – Kris Dbinnison – Maggie is overweight. Nash is out of the closet. They are the best of friends. But that friendship is tested when they both develop feelings for the same boy, a new kid named Tom.
The Summer After You & Me – Jennifer Salvato Doktorski – Lucy Giordano lives on the Jersey Shore and has a crush on a boy named Connor Malloy, whose family spends many summer weekends at the home next door. The pair eventually shares an unexpected romance. Then, Super Storm Sandy hits and alters Lucy’s life dramatically. Lucy and Connor go their separate ways. But several months later, Connor is scheduled to return to The Shore, which should definitely make for an interesting summer.
The Devil You Know – Trish Doller – Arcadia, or Cadie for short, is 18 years old and has been longing for something more in life ever since her mother died. Then she meets two handsome boys, cousins to one another, and they invite her and a friend on a camping trip. What seems like innocent fun takes a negative turn when Arcadia discovers one of the boys is hiding a terrible secret.
Charlie, Presumed Dead – Anne Heizel – Charlie Price is presumed dead after his plane crashes. However, his body is never found. At his funeral, Lena and Aubrey meet and discover both were his girlfriend. Lena believes Charlie is still alive, and she and Aubrey set out on a journey across Europe and Asia to expose Charlie’s deceit. The girls try to work together, but the secrets they hide could prevent them from finding Charlie.
Illuminae (The Illuminae Files series) Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Kady and Ezra have just broken up, and then their planet is bombed by a megacorporation. The pair escapes to a government ship, but must put their differences aside in order to survive and stop a plague that has resulted from the use of a bioweapon. Book Trailer
When – Laurie Victoria – High school junior Maddie Fynn has special powers that allow her to see numbers above a person’s forehead, which she soon discovers are death dates. She identifies the death date of a young boy, but is unable to prevent his disappearance. Then, Maddie becomes a suspect in a homicide investigation.
The Novice: Summoner: Book One of The Summoner Trilogy – Tran Matharu – A blacksmith’s apprentice named Fletcher discovers he can summon demons from another world. He soon gets chased out of his village for a crime he did not commit, ending up at an academy for adepts, where he is trained to serve as a Battlemage in the Empire’s war against the savage Orcs. Eventually, Fletcher discovers the fate of the Empire is in his hands. Author Introduction
Mark of the Thief (Book One)– Jennifer A. Nielsen – Set in Ancient Rome, a young slave named Nic finds an amulet that gives him magic powers usually reserved for the Gods. After discovering a conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and start a war, Nic is forced to use the magic within to defeat the empire’s most ruthless leaders and save Rome. Book Trailer
All the Bright Places – Jennifer Niven – Death plays a big role in the lives of high schoolers Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. He is constantly on the verge of suicide, and she is battling grief after her sister’s death. The Indiana teens come together to work on a project and soon develop a bond, showing each other what it’s like to live. Book Trailer
I Am Princess X – Cherie Priest (author) and Kali Ciesemier (illustrator) – When they were young, best friends Libby and May created a comic character named Princess X. Then Libby was killed in a car accident. Lonely and grieving, May soon discovers an underground culture centered around a web comic at IAmPrincessX.com. The similarities between those stories and Libby’s own stories are striking. Could her friend still be alive?
Hold Me Like a Breath (Book One of Once Upon a Crime Family series) – Tiffany Schmidt – Penelope Landlow has an autoimmune disease that forces her to remain indoors. She is also the daughter of a notorious crime family that is involved in the black market for organ transplants. Penelope soon gains her independence and is forced to survive on her own in the big city. She learns about love, loss and how to survive in an often dangerous world. Book Trailer
Con Academy – Joe Schreiber – Will Shea (aka Billy Humbert) is a con man who has scammed his way into Connaughton Academy, an exclusive school for the American elite. He soon meets Andrea Dufresne, who also has conned her way into the school. The pair soon makes a bet to see who can con the school bully, Brandt Rush, out of thousands of dollars.
The Ghosts of Heaven – Marcus Sedgwick – An epic story about the journey of discovery told in four episodes. The first, takes place during prehistoric times, as a girl picks up a stick and creates some of the first cave drawings. Next, we visit the seventeenth century and a girl named Anna, whom many believe is a witch. Episode three is set in a Long Island mental institution and features a mad poet who watches the ocean. Finally, a trip to the future, as a spaceship travels to settle another world. Book Trailer
The Glass Arrow – Kristen Simmons – Set in the future, Aya is a 15-year-old girl who has spent her life hiding in the mountains in order to avoid the fate of most women, who are treated like property and auctioned off for breeding. Then, she is caught. Desperate to escape, she relies on the assistance of a wolf and a mute boy in her search for freedom. Book Trailer
Black Widow Forever Red – Margaret Stohl – Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, is one of the world’s most lethal assassins, and she once rescued young Ava Orlova from being subjected to a series of military experiments. Now, Black Widow and Orlova, who is 15 years old and living in Brooklyn, team up again to stop Widow’s former teacher, the evil Ivan Somodorov, from wreaking havoc on the children of Eastern Europe. Author Interview
Every Last Word – Tamara Ireland Stone – Samantha McAllister seems to have it all: she is beautiful, bright and part of the popular crowd in high school. But looks can be deceiving, and she is hiding the fact she has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Samantha’s life changes after she visits a place at school called Poet’s Corner and she begins hanging out with new friends like Caroline and AJ.
Zeroes – Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, and Deborah Biancotti – Six California teens have special powers that aren’t always welcome. Like Ethan, known as Scam, who has a voice inside of him that will sometimes speak out when it’s not the right time to do so. When that “power” gets Ethan in trouble, the other Zeroes are the only ones who can rescue him. However, the members of this group are not exactly the best of friends.
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls – Lynn Weingarten – June and Delia were best friends who grew apart. Then, Delia commits suicide. Or, at least that’s what others have been told. June believes her former best friend has been murdered, and she goes on a quest to find the truth . . . which, it turns out, is very complicated.
Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon – Maddy is a teenager with a serious autoimmune disease that prevents her from leaving the house. Yet, she seems content to stay home and read books. That is until a boy named Olly moves in next door. The two meet, and their quirky relationship is chronicled through emails, journal entries,

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Bella Thorne - Teen read week 2015 spokesperson

10/28/2015

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2015 YALSA Teens' top ten Nominations

10/27/2015

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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)
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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)

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The Caged Graves

9/18/2013

The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni is a spine-tingling mystery set just after the Civil War. In 1867, seventeen-year-old Verity Boone is excited to return from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Catawissa, Pennsylvania, the hometown she left when she was just a baby. Now she will finally meet the fiancé she knows only through letters! Soon, however, she discovers two strangely caged graves . . . and learns that one of them is her own mother’s. Verity swears she’ll get to the bottom of why her mother was buried in “unhallowed ground” in this suspenseful mystery that swirls with rumors of witchcraft, buried gold from the days of the War of Independence, and even more shocking family secrets.

If you enjoy mysteries set in this period, you might also like the following books which we have in the TA library:

The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme
The Butterfly Palace by Collene Coble (Coble has become one of my favorite authors.)

2018 Teens' top ten winners

2018 Teens' top ten nominations

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YALSA's 2017 Teens' Top Ten Winners

2017 yalsa Teen Read Week - Teens'top ten nominees

2016 Teens' Top Ten Winners

Teen Top Ten Nominees 2016

Bella Thorne - Teen read week 2015 spokesperson

2015 YALSA Teens' top ten Nominations

The Caged Graves

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