Young Adult
Hey, kiddo
Jarrett Krosoczka
362.2913 /Krosoczka
Graphic Novels, Memoir, Young Adult
"In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery -- Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents -- two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along"--
The hate u give
Angie Thomas
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Thomas Angie
Young Adult
After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.
A lot of other staff have already added this to Staff Picks, and there's a good reason for that: It's essential reading. -Brian
We all looked up
Tommy Wallach
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Wallach Tommy
Young Adult
The lives of four high school seniors intersect weeks before a meteor is set to pass through Earth's orbit, with a 66.6% chance of striking and destroying all life on the planet.
This compelling and well-written YA novel explores what would happen if everyone knew the world was ending. -Brian
I'll give you the sun
Jandy Nelson
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Nelson Jandy
Young Adult, LGBTQ+
"A story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal told from different points in time, and in separate voices, by artists Jude and her twin brother Noah"--
This achingly beautiful novel follows twin siblings as they experience loss and love. -Brian
Emergency contact
Mary H. K. Choi
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Choi Mary
Young Adult
"After a chance encounter, Penny and Sam become each other's emergency contacts and find themselves falling in love digitally, without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other"--
Absolutely charming book! I haven't been this invested in a fictional couple for quite a while. Also, I'm still not over how gorgeous the cover is. -Brian
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe
Benjamin Alire Sáenz
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Saenz Benjamin
LGBTQ+, Young Adult
Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.
Added by Beth
Wandering son
Takako Shimura
MANGA Shimura Wandering
Graphic Novels, LGBTQ+, Young Adult
V. 1: "The fifth grade. The threshold to puberty, and the beginning of the end of childhood innocence. Shuichi Nitori and his new friend Yoshino Takatsuki have happy homes, loving families, and are well-liked by their classmates. But they share a secret that further complicates a time of life that is awkward for anyone: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy "-- back cover.
This is a beautiful and touching series about friends supporting one another through thick and thin. -Casey
Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Rowell Rainbow
Young Adult
Cath struggles to survive on her own in her first year of college while avoiding a surly roommate, bonding with a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words, and worrying about her fragile father.
Added by Casey
And I Darken
Kiersten White
YOUNG ADULT FICTION White Kiersten
Young Adult, Fantasy
In this first book in a trilogy a girl child is born to Vlad Dracula, in Transylvania, in 1435--at first rejected by her father and always ignored by her mother, she will grow up to be Lada Dragwlya, a vicious and brutal princess, destined to rule and destroy her enemies.
Added by Casey
The hate u Give
Angie Thomas
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Thomas Angie
Young Adult
After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.
"Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy with dimples. I called him Khalil. The world called him a thug. He lived, but not nearly long enough, and for the rest of my life I'll remember how he died."--I'll remember for the rest of mine too, Starr. -Casey
This book is getting rave reviews and was easy to see why. Hey, Kiddo is the graphic memoir of author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Raised by his colorful grandparents, who adopted him because his mother was an incarcerated heroin addict, Krosoczka didn't know his father's name until he saw his birth certificate when registering for a school ski trip. Hey, Kiddo traces Krosoczka's search for his father, his difficult interactions with his mother, his day-to-day life with his grandparents, and his path to becoming an artist. The artwork does, as intended, look like a memory or dream sequence and adds to the intensity of the book. It is a very honest description of his life growing up and at times can be very dark. Knowing the books he now writes and illustrates for children, it is amazing to see him overcome his upbringing to be the success he is today, it proves to be a very powerful message for everyone to take away. -Angie