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| The Gilded Ones by Namina FornaWhat it's about: In the kingdom of Otera, intuitive 16-year-old Deka discovers that her blood runs gold, a sign of impurity that marks her as one of the alaki, near-immortal women warriors who must battle the fearsome deathshrieks and defend the society that shuns them.
Read it for: breathless action, a twisty plot, and a bold, fierce heroine.
For fans of: the Afrofantasy world-building of Jordan Ifueko's Raybearer or the feminist themes of Tracy Banghart's Grace and Fury series. |
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| A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David HutchinsonFeaturing: Noa, Jenny, and DJ, three Earth teens who wake up on a deserted spaceship with no memories of how they got there.
What happens: The ship's Quantum Fold Drive keeps catapulting the trio randomly across space and into outlandish situations, leaving Noa and DJ doubting the reality of their romance, and leaving all three wondering if they'll ever get home.
Who it's for: Simultaneously funny and profound, this love story will resonate with readers who prefer offbeat science fiction. |
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| Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda LoWelcome to: San Francisco's Chinatown, 1954, where 17-year-old Lily Hu dreams of space travel, but finds a different kind of exhilaration at a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.
What happens: Even as she finds herself and falls for her new friend Kath, Lily faces strict parental expectations at home and racism outside of her Chinese American community.
Why you might like it: Packed with immersive historical details and heartfelt emotion, this own voices story offers a complex look at identity and belonging. |
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| The Project by Courtney SummersThen: Recently orphaned, Bea Denham abandoned her sister Lo and joined The Unity Project, a charitable organization led by magnetic miracle-worker Lev Warren.
Now: Lo, scarred and suspicious, won't stop trying to expose The Unity Project as a cult -- not even if it means getting close to Lev, who challenges her understanding of reality.
Is it for you? Similar to the author's previous book, Sadie, this thriller uses shifting perspectives to reveal the unsettling side of love and loyalty. |
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| Love is a Revolution by Renée WatsonWhat it's about: Nala's plans to spend her summer watching movies and trying new ice cream flavors evaporate when she meets charismatic teen activist Tye. Hoping to impress, Nala claims to be an activist herself, a lie that seems innocent enough -- until things get serious between her and Tye.
Why you might like it: This refreshingly realistic romance focuses on Nala's efforts to be loved for who she really is...once she figures it out herself. |
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| The Speed of Falling Objects by Nancy Richardson FischerStarring: anxious Danny Warren, who's pushing her limits by joining her estranged father as he films an episode of his reality TV survival show with young Hollywood heartthrob Gus Price.
What happens: Instead of mere entertainment, survival becomes a necessity when the show's plane crashes in the Peruvian rainforest, forcing Danny to face her fears if she wants to make it out alive.
Try this next: Kate Alice Marshall's I Am Still Alive, which also blends psychological exploration with a gripping tale of endurance. |
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| #murdertrending by Gretchen McNeilIn a world... where prison is livestreamed and executions are a popular public spectacle, wrongly convicted murderer Dee Guerrera is determined to survive Alcatraz 2.0 and prove her innocence.
Is it for you? While the inventive violence and campy tone in this Black Mirror-style tale might be too much for sensitive readers, fans of horror and dark comedy will be riveted.
Series alert: For further gruesomely funny social commentary, check out the sequel, #murderfunding, and the prequel, #noescape. |
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| Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters by Emily RobersonWhat it is: a clever, high-drama mash-up of Greek mythology, reality TV, and celebrity culture.
What happens: Ariadne, princess of Crete and reluctant host of her family's kill-or-be-killed reality show, The Labyrinth Contest, unexpectedly falls for charming competitor Theseus. In order for Theseus to survive, however, he'll have to slay the monster that Ariadne is sworn to protect.
Who it's for: mature fans of the Percy Jackson books who want an edgier take on the Greek pantheon. |
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| The Gravity of Us by Phil StamperStarring: 17-year-old social media journalist Cal, who has to abandon his dream internship when his family moves across the country so that his dad can be an astronaut for NASA’s Mars mission.
What happens: While a reality TV crew follows the astronauts and their families, Cal hangs on to his ambition even as he starts falling for neighbor and fellow “Astrokid” Leon.
About the author: This quietly charming own voices romance is the 1st book by author Phil Stamper. |
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| Life in a Fishbowl by Len VlahosWhat it's about: The bad news just keeps coming for 15-year-old Jackie: not only does her dad have a terminal brain tumor, he's also agreed to have his last days filmed for reality TV.
How it's told: from multiple points of view, including those of rebellious Jackie, her family members, the scheming reality show producer, and even the tumor itself.
Read it for: humor and humanity, all wrapped up in biting satire and can't-look-away tragedy. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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