The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Fiction) is a story the world knows all too well. Starr is an African-American teenage girl from Garden Heights, what most would call the hood, yet she goes to Williamson High School, an expensive private school with not a lot of minorities. Starr and her brothers were put in Williamson because when Starr was a child she saw her friend die in a drive by, which made her parents question whether Garden Heights was safe for their children.
Adam Stillwater is a boy who’s attached to what’s left of his father and is willing to defend it with his life. He is determined to keep his old time-y pinball arcade even if gaming cafés are all the rage right now. It doesn’t help that the daughter of the founder of said café is his childhood best friend that he became enemies with. But one day a snowstorm hits. The two of them find that when they don’t care as much about the business and just see each other for who they are, there’s something there. But what about when the snowstorm is over?
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (Fiction) is a novel that describes the life of a teenage girl, Xiomara Batista. Xiomara lives in Harlem and can’t seem to be enough for her mother. Her mother is a devout Catholic who wants her children to be as well, which isn’t a problem for her brother Xavier, better known as Twin, or so Xiomara thinks. Twin has always been the better of the two, being confirmed first, and being ridiculously smart. Whereas, Xiomara doesn’t even know if the Catholic faith is right for her.
Agnes at the End of the World is an eye-opening and interesting dystopian fiction novel by Kelly McWilliams. This book is about an oppressed 16-year-old girl named Agnes. Agnes lives in Red Creek, the place of the faithful. Red Creek is a Christian based community, with a mad prophet who oppressed his people into believing in his lies. Agnes runs outside her home with her youngest brother and into a dangerous world with Petra, a virus that turns anyone infected into a smooth red stoned creature.
Fighting Words is an inspiring and eye-opening realistic fiction novel by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This book is about a 10-year-old girl named Della, and her sister Suki. Della and Suki’s mom had been sent to prison for blowing up a motel bathroom while cooking meth. Della and Suki go into foster care, where they meet Francine. Suki hurts herself, Della fights for what’s right, and both siblings decide to testify against their childhood abuser.
This book follows the story of teenager Craig Gilner. He wants to succeed but nearly kills himself over it. The book follows his journey with his mental health and all the ups and downs along the way. To me, the book was in a way very relatable, which I personally always love in a book. The way that Craig reacted to situations and simply the things he struggled with as a teen, is very compelling and I sort of saw myself in him a little bit, as I am also a teenager.
Darling is a story about Wendy, your average new girl in town. She misses the life she left behind and wants to finally meet her online friend despite her parent’s refusal. But instead, she quickly finds herself swept up into a night of chaos. After a strange encounter she ends up spending the night with Peter and his gang. But it doesn’t take long for her to realize that there’s something off about Peter. That maybe his gang isn’t as much of a family as they originally seemed.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, is a Teen Romance Novel. Hazel is a young girl who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She falls in love with a boy named Augustus Waters. One day, Augustus receives an invitation to meet someone. They both embark on a journey to find their favorite author.
Kim Jiyoung is a novella detailing the discrimination South Korean women face at school, the workplace, and in their personal lives. The book is written as if you are Kim Jiyoung’s psychologist, listening to her recount her life after her psychic deterioration. Interspersed with personal stories are statistics detailing how common her experiences are – just like the name Kim Jiyoung was the most common name for Korean baby girls in 1982.
In this alternate reality, America is ruled by the Washington family. After the death of her beloved father, Beatrice is now the first queen of America. Beatrice will do anything to win over the American public, even if that means she must marry Teddy Eaton.
