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| Stars and Smoke by Marie LuWhat it is: a suspenseful, romantic adventure pairing Winter Young, a Chinese American pop star, with Sydney Cossette, a 19-year-old spy hiding her fatal lung condition.
What happens: To gather intelligence on a notorious crime boss, Winter performs at a private party while Sydney plays bodyguard. As their mission unfolds, Winter and Sydney's grudging respect turns into something deeper.
Author alert: Fans of author Marie Lu's action-packed Skyhunter, Legend, and Warcross series will enjoy this glamorous and thrilling series opener. |
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| Into the Light by Mark Oshiro
The set-up: The Sullivans adopt Manny and Elena, ending the siblings' years in foster care. But after Manny is sent to -- and kicked out of -- a manipulative religious leader's camp called Reconciliation, he's alone in the wilderness.
The journey: Manny connects with the kind Varela family to solve the mystery surrounding the body found outside Reconciliation. Is it Elena?
How it's told: This compelling thriller's nonlinear structure, offering shifting points of view and flashbacks, mimics Manny's disorienting experiences.
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| While You Were Dreaming by Alisha RaiTo the rescue: Sonia Patil saves her crush James Cooper when he falls into a canal. Because this happened on the day of a Comic-Con, Sonia was in full superhero cosplay.
Behind the mask: Sonia’s rescue goes viral, threatening her family's low profile. Her mom has been deported, her sister is undocumented, and Sonia would rather stay in her daydreams than face reality.
Read it for: a thought-provoking exploration of immigration policies and toxic social media alongside a romantic coming-of-age story. |
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| A Door in the Dark by Scott ReintgenMeet: Ren, a talented scholarship student at Balmerick University. She'll graduate with magical skills, but finding work after graduation will take the right connections too.
What happens: A botched spell lands six students in dangerous wilderness, one already dead. Ren can prove herself, if the group's tangled secrets or the lurking monsters don’t kill them first.
Is it for you? This compelling fantasy blends a magic school setting like Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education with a twisty mystery like Karen McManus' One of Us is Lying. |
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| We Didn't Ask For This by Adi AlsaidLocked in: The privileged students at the Central International School look forward to their annual lock-in. The night promises new friends, memorable adventures, and possibly even romance.
Speaking truth to power: When student activist Marisa Cuevas refuses to let anyone leave until her environmental protest's demands are met, the lock-in stretches over multiple days.
How it's told: This engrossing novel dives into the inner lives of the six students who form an unlikely alliance protecting Marisa from furious students. |
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| Golden Boys by Phil StamperSummer plans: The summer before senior year marks the first time four best friends, all gay, will be apart since preschool.
Their destinations: Gabriel is working for an environmental nonprofit in Boston, and Sal has a congressional internship in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Reese is studying fashion in Paris, and Heath is working at his aunt's arcade in Florida. These life-changing experiences might change their friendships, too.
Sequel alert: The other half of this angsty duology, Afterglow, is already available. |
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A Song Below Water
by Bethany C. Morrow
In a world... where mythical beings exist alongside and among humans, teen siren Tavia longs to proudly claim her identity, even though sirens are demonized for their powerful voices; meanwhile, Tavia's best friend/chosen sister Effie wonders if the curious symptoms she's having might reveal a powerful heritage of her own.
Try this next: Darcie Little Badger's Elatsoe, another contemporary tale that uses a fantasy lens to sharpen its focus on prejudice, marginalization, family, and solidarity.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
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