Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star details the relationship between teenagers Natasha Kingsley—a Jamaican American faced with the threat of deportation, and Daniel Bae—a Korean American struggling to live up to his parents’ expectations. Natasha hopes to stay in the United States; she spends her final day in New York City seeking legal help to avoid deportation. The two meet in New York, and Daniel decides to miss out on a potentially life changing interview to spend the day with Natasha.
Marieke Nijkamp’s This is Where it Ends is a young adult fiction novel that depicts the tragic events of a school shooting at Opportunity high school. The novel’s main characters Claire, Tomas, Autumn, and Sylv serve to represent the intricacy of each individual life affected by school shootings; they represent that each life affected is more than a name or a number—that they are human, too.
John Green’s Looking For Alaska is a Young Adult novel that tells the complex story of the relationship between main character Miles Turner—also known as Pudge—and Alaska Young. Pudge’s fascination with searching for deeper meaning in life leaves him fascinated with Alaska Young when he transfers to her high school. Miles struggles with attempting to understand both Alaska and the world around him as he encounters the complexities of relationships, friendships, and simply being human.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart follows four unique children, Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance, each who have their own specific talent that they excel in. After a series of difficult exams, in which giving the correct answer isn’t always necessary to pass, the four are escorted to a mansion owned by the odd, yet kind, Mr. Benedict. He gives them a mission, to infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened and find out exactly what is going on behind the scenes.
Wendy Mass’ A Mango Shaped Space is a Young Adult novel that tells Mia Winchell’s story, a young girl with synesthesia—a phenomenon that causes her to see colors and shapes when she hears sounds. Mia struggles with not being able to relate to her peers at school, as her synesthesia affects her relationships and ability to succeed in school.
Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees is a dramatic fiction novel set that illustrates the novel’s main character, Taylor Greer, on her journey to escape her hometown and become a strong, independent woman—one who is not limited by her upbringing. Taylor’s life significantly changes at her discovery of a child in her car—she later discovers the child’s name is Turtle, an abandoned young girl.
Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown is a domestic fiction novel that exhibits Willis Wu’s quest to break free from the entertainment industry’s expectation for him to play stereotypical roles such as “Generic Asian Man.” His hope is to acquire the role of “Kung Fu Guy,” a highly regarded character on the TV show “Black and White.” On his journey, Wu faces the deeply rooted stereotypes and prejudices held by the entertainment industry and the deficient representation of Asian actors in the media.
Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights is a gothic novel set in northern England. The novel illustrates the complex relationship between Heathcliff—an orphan taken in by the Earnshaw family—and Catherine Earnshaw. Heathcliff’s desire to be with Catherine is made more complicated due their differing desires—Heathcliff’s desire for revenge, and Catherine’s desire to uphold her social status. Their differing desires, individual flaws, and family difficulties additionally stand in the way of their relationship.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a powerful novel following a black teenage girl named Starr Carter who is forced to see two of her childhood best friends brutally murdered at a young age. Starr struggles to fight against the discrimination and police brutality her entire community has faced--she is put in a situation where she must stand up for what is right. She has the choice to either stay quiet to protect herself, or speak up for those she has lost.
“It seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart.”
