Getting to Know...Fayth

Introducing another valuable member of our YA Volunteer Team, Fayth Wagner! An 11-year-old 6th grader, Fayth completed her first hour of service today!


Favorite Book Genres: Fantasy (Wings of Fire, Harry Potter)

Someone That I Look Up To: Mrs. Jesswein

A Topic That I Can Talk About For An Hour: Animals

An Invention That I Would Uninvent: Homework

My Happy Place: Small Spaces

My Spirit Animal: Dragon

Favorite Movie: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Person I Would Want With Me On A Deserted Island: My Best Friend

Possible Career Path: Biologist

Recently Added to the YA Bookshelf

Taking a look at some of the most recent additions gracing the shelves of our YA department:

Crying Laughing by Lance Rubin

Winnie Friedman has been waiting for the world to catch on to what she already knows: she's hilarious. It might be a long wait, though. After bombing a stand-up set at her own bat mitzvah, Winnie has kept her jokes to herself. Well, to herself and her dad, a former comedian and her inspiration. Then, on the second day of tenth grade, the funniest guy in school actually laughs at a comment she makes in the lunch line and asks her to join the improv troupe. Maybe he's even...flirting?

"A touching look into one girl's high school experience as she seeks the funny moments even in the midst of tragedy. Charming and affecting." -- Kirkus Reviews

I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson

Sixteen-year-old Jemma, who has severe cerebral palsy, must grapple with dark truths that only she knows, and is unable to communicate.

"Joelson writes a compelling, emotional story with a mystery tied in...Hand to fans of character-driven thrillers." -- Booklist

Hero by Michael Grant

When an alien-virus infested rock hits New York, giving rise to a powerful rockborn sociopath, the Rockborn gang members race to prevent him from spreading deadly disease while uncovering truths about the Rock Watchers and the Fourth Dimension.

"New characters and old favorites abound in this follow-up. The cast is fairly diverse, covering a wide variety of skin colors, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Longtime fans will surely be excited by the novel's final moments. A bombastic, engaging start to a sequel series full of potential." -- Kirkus Reviews

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White

Sent by a banished Merlin to protect King Arthur, a sixteen-year-old impersonating the deceased Guinevere struggles to fit in at Camelot where the magic she practices is banished.

"With immersive prose, White captures the spirit of Arthurian legend while adding diversity and a bit of powerful feminist flair in this appealing series opener...Leaves much to be explored in future installments." -- Publishers Weekly

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality. Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it. Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer...and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed.

"We have not yet finished loving these characters and exploring their world." The Bulletin, Starred Review

The Toll by Neal Shusterman

In the finale of the Arc of a Scythe trilogy, dictator, prophets, and tensions rise. In a world that's conquered death, will humanity finally be torn asunder by the immortal beings it created?

"Shusterman weaves together story lines of old and new characters to create an explosive series end...Fans of the first two books will be (and have been) clamoring for this finale. Get it to them as soon as possible." -- School Library Journal, Starred Review

Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters by Emily Roberson

In a reality TV retelling of the myth of the Minotaur, seventeen-year-old Ariadne fights to save her brother, Asterion, and make her own destiny in a world of celebrity, surveillance, and feigned authenticity.

"Roberson expertly modernizes Greek mythology with a very Kardashian twist." -- Publishers Weekly

Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia

Zora Novak is framed for a crime she didn't commit--in a town obsessed with ghosts, will she be able to find the culprit and clear her name before it's too late?

"Doesn't skimp on supernatural spookiness, slapstick, or teenage snark...A darkly humorous, rapid-fire read in which the living are sometimes scarier than the dead." -- Kirkus Reviews

Conceal, Don't Feel: A Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita

What if Anna and Elsa never knew each other? As the future Queen of Arendelle, Princess Elsa's life is full of expectations and responsibilities--not to mention, questions. What type of ruler will she be? When will she have to pick a suitor? And why has she always harbored the feeling that some critical piece of herself is missing?

"Dive back into the world of Frozen with stories that twist and turn and go far to explore Arendelle and beyond in new ways." -- Disney Press

Rebel by Marie Lu

In this fourth installment of the Legend series, Lu revisits Daniel "Day" Altan Wing; his brilliant younger brother, Eden Bataar Wing; and Day's love interest, June Iparis.

"This tale of intrigue, alliances, and love will draw Legend fans and new readers into a fascinating world whose combined layers of privilege and surveillance draws comparisons to many present-day social ills." -- Publishers Weekly

Recently Added to the YA Bookshelf

Taking a look at some of the most recent additions gracing the shelves of our YA department:

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

Tierney James, sixteen, struggles to endure the year in which she and other young women are banished to the wild until, purified, the survivors are allowed to return home and marry.

"Liggett's immersive storytelling effortlessly weaves horror elements with a harrowing and surprising survival story." -- Kirkus, starred review

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

In 19th century New Orleans, Celine, a dressmaker from Paris, becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that's connected to a glamorous supernatural cohort.

"The Beautiful, which kicks off a new series, returns the vampire novel to popular form, evoking the style of Anne Rice and breathing fresh life into the genre." -- Entertainment Weekly

Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart

One year after the fire that claimed her parents' and cousin's lives and left her severely disfigured, sixteen-year-old Ava faces the return to high school.

"A tender, frank coming-of-age story about the pain and power of survival." -- Kirkus Reviews

The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman

Twenty-year-old college undergraduate Lyra is once again thrown together with Malcom Polstead, now a professor, after Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, receive secrets from a dying man about a daemon-haunted city and the origins of Dust.

"The Secret Commonwealth reasserts Pullman's affection for the wondrous and those pieces of reality which can be seen only by those willing to see." -- Newsweek

The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future by Veronica Roth

A collection of six short stories imagines future lands with new technologies and beings, where in spite of advanced capabilities, people still must confront deeply human problems.

"In these stories, Roth invokes romance, action, family, revenge, and loss. They serve as an introduction to Roth's work and a showcase of her versatility, though existing fans will get the most out of these offerings." -- Publishers Weekly

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler

Nimue grew up an outcast. Her connection to dark magic made her something to be feared in her Druid village, and that made her desperate to leave. That is, until Red Paladins slaughter her entire village, and Nimue's fate is forever altered.

Soon to be a Netflix original series.

Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby

When Frankie's mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an orphanage in Chicago, it was supposed to be only temporary -- just long enough for him to get back on his feet and be able to provide for them once again. That's why she is not prepared for the day when he arrives for his weekend visit with a new woman on his arm and out-of-state train tickets in his pocket.

National Book Award 2019 Finalist!

The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan

A devastated but determined Apollo travels to Camp Jupiter, where he must learn what it is to be a hero, or die trying.

The Trials of Apollo, Book Four

Hunger Games

On October 4th, fans of Suzanne Collins bestselling Hunger Games trilogy were given an epic treat.

With the latest installment in the series set for release on May 19, 2020, the long-awaited title and cover were unveiled!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will greet the public to the tune of 2.5 million copies. Furthermore, the title will be published simultaneously in print, digital, and audio formats.

The prequel takes place in the fictional country of Panem, 64 years prior to the events of the Hunger Games. When announcing the book, publishing house Scholastic noted Collins' desire "to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival."

The cover of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes spotlights a green target with what appears to be a gleaming gold mockingjay pin in the center; a pin differing from the one Katniss wears in the original books. As further described in Publishers Weekly, "this new-to-readers rendition of the pin features an upright mockingjay encircled by a thorny branch and a tongue-flicking snake slithering at its feet."

Spring can't get here soon enough!

Young Adults Recommend

Dorcas Plank recommends...

Shattered (Alaskan Courage) - Volume 2 by Dani Pettrey

Piper McKenna's brother returns home after years of being gone, then gets arrested for murder almost right away. Piper is determined to prove his innocence and won't stop for anything. The biggest problem is that the police officer working on the case is good friends with her family and she has started falling for him.

I like how this book keeps you in suspense. There's always something interesting happening.

Brylee Murphy recommends...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

In this book, a boy named Christopher is caught in a mystery when discovering his neighbor's dog has been killed. Even though his father wants him to have nothing to do with it, Christopher can't help but do some detective work to solve the murder. However, along the way he discovers some truths that rock his world and lead him to travel by train to an unfamiliar place.

I thought this was a very good book that was written in a visual, yet intriguing, way.

Yahaira Valderrama recommends...

Evan Almighty

Evan Baxter is all under control. He just moved to Prestige Crest, VA with his family. His new job as a congressman makes him remember his promise to change the world. So he prays one night, asking God to help him. God must have heard his prayer because a shipping of wood and tools end up at his doorstep. Plus, animals in pairs of two start following him. A man claiming he is God asks him to build an ark. Evan is shocked. Soon the man is doing miraculous things and then Evan knows he is God! But will he build the ark? You will be swept away by this heartwarming film!

I thought that the movie was touching because you could tell how much the Baxter family cares for each other. The setting is a suburban neighborhood with ginormous houses! Evan Baxter was a news reporter before he moved and became a congressman. When Evan starts building the ark, his wife thinks he is crazy and questions why he believes. The movie made me feel happy because there were jokes and funny scenes. One quote I enjoyed is, "One random act of kindness at a time." There are lots more, though!

Recently Added to the YA Bookshelf

Taking a look at some of the most recent additions gracing the shelves of our YA department:

Snowflake, AZ by Marcus Sedgwick

Ash has lived in eight states in as many years. Mom has gone walkabout, but stepdad Jack is like a father, and stepbrother Bly the best anyone could wish for. When Bly goes missing, too, Ash sets off to search for him and finds something much bigger: the sickness of the world.

"An ominous, relevant, and uniquely compelling read." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

Torn between his love for his white girlfriend and his sense of duty to the matchmaking parents who made hard sacrifices to move to the United States, a Korean American teen looks for solutions along with a friend who has a similar problem.

New York Times Bestseller
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Summer/Fall 2019 Indies Introduce Title

Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi

Nineteen-year-old Pablo Neruda Rind is working in an upscale health food store in New York City when pop star Leanna Smart rushes in and turns his life upside-down.

"Choi has penned a smart and funny read that is as much about finding your path as it is about falling in love." -- Booklist, starred review

American Royals by Katharine McGee

In an alternate America, princesses Beatrice and Samantha Washington and the two girls wooing their brother, Prince Jeffrey, become embroiled in high drama in the most glorious court in the world.

"For readers looking for intrigue - and for those who like their royal fever with a twist - this is a quick and delicious read." -- Booklist 

Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

After the banishment of his only friend, the sorceress Amora, to Earth, a young Loki travels to nineteenth-century London to investigate a string of murders but finds much more than he expects.

"This deft, nuanced examination of identity, destiny, and agency is a surprisingly tender addition to the Marvel canon." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review 

Wild Savage Stars by Kristina Perez

Branwen has a secret mighty enough to destroy two kingdoms. Her ancient magic led to a terrible betrayal by both her best friend, the princess Essy, and her first love, Tristan. Now this same magic is changing Branwen.

"The female characters are vivid, powerful, and passionate...a thrilling roller coaster." -- Kirkus Reviews

Song of the Abyss by Makiia Lucier

As the granddaughter of a famed navigator, seventeen-year-old Reyna has always lived life on her own terms, despite those who say a girl could never be an explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar. She is determined to prove them wrong, and as she returns home after a year-long expedition, she knows her dream is within reach.

Teen Magazine Best YA Books of 2019
Barnes & Noble Teen Best YA Books of August
Hypable.com 10 Most Anticipated YA Sequels
Book Riot 10 New Enemies-to-Lovers YA Books You Need to Read

Mind Games by Shana Silver

Arden sells memories. Whether it's becoming homecoming queen or studying for that all important test, Arden can hack into a classmate's memories and upload the experience for you just as you'd lived it yourself. Business is great, right up until the day Arden whites out, losing fifteen minutes of her life and all her memories of the boy across the school yard.

"An edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep readers guessing. The complex plot, the occasional twists, and the quick pacing make this a difficult read to put down." -- School Library Journal

Getting to Know...RJ

Introducing another valuable member of our YA Volunteer Team, Richard Steven Hamby Jr.! A 16-year-old 10th grader, RJ has accumulated 5 hours to date.

Favorite Book Series: Science Fiction

Someone I Look Up To: My mom

Favorite TV Show: Bunk'd

A Topic That I Can Talk About For An Hour: Hunting

An Invention That I Would Uninvent: Bullying

My Happy Place: Magical Unicorn Place

My Spirit Animal: Squirrel

Possible Career Path: Welder

Favorite Quote: "Don't let people take your passion, show them you are strong." -- RJ Hamby