Young Adult Staff Picks
Ocean's 11 for teens.
— Maslen
A dark and eerie graphic novel anthology that captures the unsettling in its beautiful artwork. The five fairy tale like stories, from a newly wife finding her husbands secret, to a girl spending her summer vacation with her older brother and his strangely cheery wife. Carrol is able to built the tension of what lurks in the dark while giving you lingering questions as to what exactly happened.
— Stephanie
How do you approach food allergies? What are some of the best crafts for kids? Who do you contact in an emergency? How do I go about looking for families who need sitters? This is the ULTIMATE guide for babysitters. All your questions will be answered, and you will feel ready to make some extra cash!
— Maci Z
Princesses, wise old women, children, and many more historically sidelined characters take center stage in this fantasy, fairy tale collection! What if you didn't want to marry the attractive prince? What if the giant who abducts women is utopian? Reject the hierarchy, patriarchy, and monarchy of times past for a power embedded within love and community in these queer, feminist fables!
— Kasey
Ahhhh...you won me at grilled cheese sandwich. The humor in this graphic novel is just as quirky and offbeat as the title, even as it touches on serious, heavy feelings and issues. The author's partner's also right about the butter.
— Aurora
A sick girl is sent to a haunted castle in the woods to get better. But will she?
— Kyle
What do you do when a new friend becomes your first crush? For Tuva, this question is plaguing the start to seventh grade and putting friendships to the test. Kids are either 'Team Maturity and Kissing' or 'Team War by the River', but belonging to one thing isn't really her style. A sensitive, sweet, and fresh take on the queer coming-of-age novel that'll make your heart leap out of your chest!
— Kasey
Half way through the 6th grade, Noah's best-friend Lewis, the only other trans boy in school, suddenly passes away. What follows is a haunting exploration of the childhood grieving process told through letters written and left outside for the elusive Mothman. Embark on an heartbreakingly beautiful journey through unimaginable loss and the complexity of self-discovery and coming out.
— Kasey
This collection of poems and prose and art pieces from Transgender youth is a beautiful glimpse into the very real world of what being Trans is. No one is speaking for Trans youth herein, it is very much "in our own words" There is no glossing over the pain, but also no diminishing the triumphs and joys. With helpful tips for allies included, this book can make everyone feel a little more seen.
— Cass
Mums are best friends. Attached at the hip from "nappies." Then puberty hits. Growing back together, after growing apart, with the help of a not-exactly-planned wilderness adventure. And a super compassionate view of living with OCD.
— Genay
I loved this: the cover, title & story of friends creating a fake gang to scare away gentrifiers while they work out their dramas. It's also a great whodunit. Jade satirizes landlords, Marxists who oppress the black & brown kids they say they're fighting for & people who put their dogs in strollers with perfect pitch.
— Aurora
A queer Black girl tries to make the most of a second chance while trying to endure her violent, dysfunctional home life. Intimate and vulnerable, it reads like a late night chat with a close friend. A story that will stay with you for a long time.
— Aurora
I probably should not have read this right after a break up... but alas. This book made me wish I could've been a Charlie who found his Nick in high school. Despite the dreamy wish fulfillment romance at the center of the story, Oseman still packs the characters with an emotional depth that rings true.
— Ben
One of the most original novels I've ever read: an angel and demon from Jewish folklore immigrate to America in the early 20th c. to track down a missing young woman & befriend another along the way. Heartbreaking, funny and full of the supernatural, its gender fluidity & labor activism undercurrents make it timeless.
— Aurora
A heavy memoir that showcases a young Korean immigrant's experience with her overbearing and abusive mother. Deborah's cultural identity and mental illness alienate her from everyone as she copes with the relentless bullying and racism. Nothing is sugarcoated in this emotional and beautifully illustrated memoir.
— Darline
A young adult graphic memoir that will make you feel the pain of being adopted through the lens of the adoptee. Sarah's story is an honest and realistic portrayal of an adoptee surviving through racist, homophobic, and constant microaggressive comments from her peers and communities. Sarah escapes into art to survive.
— Darline
A refreshingly nuanced take on Black success, wealth, communal responsibility, freedom, joy, and of course, love. We do love a good love story...or 4! Based on a real family, building a life, business, and legacy in America's post-slavery north. The best part, the series is just getting started!
— Genay
Before Katniss or Celaena, Katsa was the first YA heroine I really obsessed over. I love her, and I love disappearing into the world Cashore creates around her.
— Maslen