VCL Young Adult Reading Suggestions: Katrina's Picks for High School Students Summer 2019

Madeline lives in the woods of Northern Minnesota, where she pretty much sticks to herself. When a new family moves to the area Madeline ends up babysitting their young child, Paul, and family dynamics begin to change for Madeline. A poetic story about growing up, making choices, and feeling the consequences. Disclaimer: there are no actual wolves in this book.

After months of watching YouTube videos about survival skills, Sal is finally ready to take her little sister Peppa and run for it. Traversing the Scottish Highlands, Sal and Peppa try to survive in a whole new way. Sal is an unforgettable character with a distinctive voice, and her bravery carries this fast-paced story forward through a slew of tough topics like abuse and addiction.

This is not your typical romance. Two very different teens find their similarities through music and build a relationship despite the odds. Your heart will probably break a little and you will probably want to date one of these characters by the time you finish the book

Not for the faint of heart! The format of this book is unusual, and jumps around to different character perspectives. The story follows five seemingly unrelated teenagers as they find their way to each other. Some of them have easier journeys than others, but it can all be traced back to the Hemmings family. This is an intense, contemporary read that tackles racism, classism, and abuse with a dose of magical realism.

In the wake of a terrible tragedy, two grieving teens deal with their loss as best they can. Jess and Lucas are both mourning their brothers, struggling with their new family dynamics, and feeling lost. It might be that they can help each other carry on. This is an emotional story that deals with fierce loss, being vulnerable, and trying to rebuild.

Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago's life has been about making the tough decisions--doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it's not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.

Lazlo Strange is an orphaned librarian with a taste for adventure. When the opportunity arises to travel to a mysterious city and aid the hero they call the Godslayer, Lazlo jumps at the chance. Watching Lazlo and the other characters make difficult choices is very engaging. If you pick up this book you will find mystery, battles, some fairly terrifying ghosts, and a super-hot goddess. Plus, there’s a sequel!

When she accidentally brings her brother back from the dead, Tea discovers she is a bone witch. Needing training, she must travel far from home to learn how to use her unexpected skill. But what will she use it for? This is an immersive world with lots of description. Sufficiently chilling and also touching at times with a strong willed female lead, this book is perfect for people who enjoy dark fantasy, action, and descriptive world building.

Fairfold is a normal town, except for all the faeries. Hazel and her brother Ben have grown up alongside the mischievous fae, the creepy woods, and the mysterious horned boy sleeping in an unbreakable glass coffin. But when the boy wakens, everything Hazel and Ben thought they knew about their hometown and themselves begins to change.

At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband's household or raise his children. Both paths promise a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class. Daniela Vargas is the school's top student, but her pedigree is a lie. She must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society. And school couldn't prepare her for the difficult choices she must make after graduation, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio. Will Dani cling to the privilege her parents fought to win for her, or will she give up everything she's strived for in pursuit of a free Medio--and a chance at a forbidden love?

Were you looking for a supernatural murder mystery? This is it. 17-year-old Adele can see dead people. This is normally an inconvenience, but when she stumbles across the ghost of her classmate Tori, she knows she has to get to the bottom of this death. Adele works to solve Tori’s murder without revealing her own secrets, resulting in a fast-paced mystery with a twist.

This Graphic Novel follows 16-year-old Amanda as she grapples with buried family secrets, peer pressure, and figuring out whom to kiss. Dynamic illustrations that deal with tough topics make this story a quick and worthwhile read.

King Arthur as you've never imagined! This bold, sizzling YA retells the popular legend with the Once and Future King as a teenage girl -- and she has a universe to save.