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High School Reads February 2019
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| The Gilded Wolves by Roshani ChokshiWelcome to: 1889 Paris, where the ancient, magical Order of Babel calls the shots, and disinherited Order member Séverin is gathering a crew of talented misfits to pull off a heist that could change everything.
Read if for: high stakes, luxe settings, an inventive blend of magic and science, and richly drawn characters with intersecting identities.
For fans of: Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. |
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| 29 Dates by Melissa de la CruzWhat it is: a sweet, surprising rom-com with a distinct, bicultural perspective.
Starring: South Korean high school senior Ji-su, who's just moved from Seoul to San Francisco, where she struggles to keep up with school and exciting new friendships while also going on a series of parent-ordered, matchmaker-arranged dates.
For fans of: books by Jenny Han, Maurene Goo, or Sandhya Menon. |
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Sawkill Girls
by Claire Legrand
The setting: Sawkill Rock, home to wealthy people, beautiful horses, and a legendary monster that preys on young women.
Featuring: outsider Zoey, who refuses to give up on her missing best friend; newcomer Marion, whose sister just disappeared; and privileged Val, who might be trapped by her family's dark legacy.
Read it for: atmospheric, magic-tinged horror starring diverse teen girls who band together to battle evil.
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| The Girl King by Mimi YuWhat it's about: When two princesses -- strong-willed, battle-ready Lu and quiet, secretly magical Min -- vie for power, the future of the empire hangs in the balance.
Read it for: intricately layered storytelling, sweeping adventure, and complex, powerful female characters.
Author alert: This East Asian-inspired fantasy is author Mimi Yu's debut. |
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| Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America by Ibi Zoboi, editorWhat it is: an authentic, wide-ranging collection of short stories by black authors celebrating and exploring the various ways of being young and black.
Featuring: romance from Justina Ireland, fantasy from Rita Williams-Garcia, self-discovery from Varian Johnson, and a slice of life from Jason Reynolds, plus stories from Nic Stone, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Coe Booth, and many more.
Why you might like it: You saw that author line-up, right? |
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| The Pros of Cons by Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, and Michelle SchustermanWhat happens: Three very different girls form an instant bond as they attend three different conventions at one busy convention center.
Starring: Callie, who's hoping to reconnect with her dad at the World Taxidermy Championships; Vanessa, who's finally meeting her fanfic coauthor/girlfriend at WTFCon; and Phoebe, who's determined to win the Indoor Percussion Association's snare solo competition.
Reviewers say: "Adorkable" (School Library Journal). |
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| Ship It by Britta LundinWhat it's about: When 16-year-old fanfic writer Claire gets a rare invitation to travel the con circuit with the people who make her favorite TV show, she accepts, hoping that her favorite ship might become canon...and that she might get to see cool fellow fan Tess again.
Who it's for: fans in search of a snarky, knowing look at the debates surrounding shipping and representation.
Author alert: Debut author Britta Lundin writes from experience, both in fandom and as a writer for TV's Riverdale. |
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| Geekerella by Ashley PostonWhat it is: a feel-good fandom fairy tale for anyone who loves a Cinderella story.
What happens: An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball -- as well as some romantic, anonymous texts -- set the stage for a fateful meeting between sci-fi fangirl Elle and teen heartthrob/secret geek Darien.
Look for: the companion book, The Princess and the Fangirl, which hits shelves in April. |
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| All the Feels by Danika StoneWhat it's about: Heartbroken over the death of Spartan, her favorite character from the Starveil movies, first-year college student Liv begins a campaign -- complete with a trip to Dragon Con -- to revive him.
Who it's for: Anyone who's lost their fictional fave or had trouble balancing fandom with school and relationships.
You might also like: Anna Breslaw's Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here, another contemporary read about a teen girl who's more confident on the internet than she is IRL. |
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Fangirl
by Rainbow Rowell
What it's about: It's Cath's first year of college, and without the support of her twin sister Wren, Cath is socially adrift. She's much better at writing (especially fanfiction about Simon Snow, a Harry Potter-esque book character) than she is at talking to people, so she's surprised to find herself becoming friends with her brash roommate Reagan… and maybe more than friends with Reagan's charming ex-boyfriend, Levi.
Who's it's for: Anyone who feels more comfortable reading and writing than they do putting themselves out there
Look for: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, a book version of Cath's Simon Snow fanficiton
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Contact your librarian for more great books! |
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