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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
by Suzanne Collins
A prequel to the smash hit series "The Hunger Games".
It is the morning of the reaping and 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. Every choice he makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute...and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
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| Deeplight by Frances HardingeWhat it’s about: After scavenging the pulsing, disembodied heart of a monstrous god from the waters near his home on Lady’s Crave island, storyteller Hark uses the grisly relic to revive his half-drowned friend, Jelt, kicking off a sinister transformation that challenges Hark’s understanding of faith, fear, and friendship.
Reviewers say: “Chilling and provocative, this dark fantasy will appeal to thrill seekers” (Booklist). |
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| Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha MabryStarring: Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa Torres, three sisters who feel trapped not only by their controlling father and their old San Antonio neighborhood, but also by the restless spirit of their older sister Ana, who died a year ago.
Why you might like it: Told from multiple perspectives, Tigers, Not Daughters offers a moving, unsettling, and quietly otherworldly portrait of grief and sisterhood.
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| Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen YangWhat it it’s about: Graphic novelist and self-proclaimed comic book geek Gene Luen Yang delves into sports, history, and memoir in an illustrated account of the year he spent with the Dragons, a diverse high school basketball team striving to become state champions.
Art alert: With clean lines and vivid colors, Yang’s artwork emphasizes the humor, exhilarating sports action, and true-to-life details in this unconventional nonfiction read.
For fans of: the gripping documentary style of Netflix’s Cheer. |
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Imagining Your Story: Write It Out
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The Poet X
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Starring: 15-year-old Xiomara, who isn't afraid to speak with her fists when she's harassed on the street, but who discovers that poetry offers an outlet for her family frustrations, her doubts about her Catholic faith, and her feelings about her secret boyfriend.
About the author: Slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo makes her debut with this bittersweet, hard-hitting novel in verse.
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| Dear Ally, How Do You Write a Book? by Ally CarterWhat it is: an honest, easy-to-read guide for aspiring writers that covers the entire process of writing a book, from outlining to editing to publishing.
Featuring: tried-and-true advice from popular author Ally Carter, as well as cameos from David Levithan, Marie Lu, and Holly Black (to name just a few).
Is it for you? If you’ve ever struggled through NaNoWriMo or gone to an author event just so you could ask for writing tips, this book is for you. |
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| 500 Words or Less by Juleah Del RosarioWhat it’s about: After everyone at school finds out that Nic Chen hooked up with her boyfriend’s best friend, Nic tries to rebuild her reputation by writing college admissions essays for her classmates. It’s easy enough to write about other people...but is she losing herself in the process?
Why you might like it: Written in a spare, reflective style, this story-in-verse gives you insight not just into Nic’s life, but also into the lives of everyone she writes for. |
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Belzhar
by Meg Wolitzer
Unable to cope with the death of her boyfriend, Reeve, Jam Gallahue is sent to a therapeutic boarding school in Vermont, where she confronts her loss in an exclusive, mysterious English class through journal writing assignments.
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| Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca ZappiaWhat it’s about: No one at school knows that friendless, introverted Eliza is also LadyConstellation, creator of the popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza never has cause to question her careful anonymity -- at least not until she bonds with Wallace, a new classmate and Monstrous Sea superfan.
Including: illustrated pages from Monstrous Sea, as well as snippets of Wallace’s fanfic.
Further reading: For another thoughtful story featuring the particular challenges of internet fame, pick up Alice Oseman’s Radio Silence. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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Chester Library 250 W Main St. Chester, New Jersey 07930 (908) 879-7612
chesterlib.org
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