For the History Buff
- Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the siege of Leningrad by M. T. Anderson. Ages 12 to 120. This impeccably researched book offers a rare look not only at the unimaginable suffering of the residents of Leningrad during WWII but also during Stalin’s merciless purges. The writing is amazing.
- The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller. Grades 7 and Up. All I knew about Lizzie Borden was from a schoolyard rhyme. I was surprised to read the real story. For instance, she was 32 years old when her parents were killed. Beyond learning about the murder and the ways in which it was reported in the news, I found the descriptions of 19th century police work and forensics fascinating.
For the Social Justice Warrior
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Grades 8 to adult. Starr Carter lives in inner-city New York but attends a fancy prep school in the burbs where she is one of very few black students. Navigating too very different worlds is her superpower. But when Starr witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed childhood best friend she finds it increasingly difficult to keep her two worlds separate. When her friend’s death becomes a flashpoint for riots and protests that separation may be untenable and silence may not be an option. This title is a 2017 Goodreads Choice winner, among many other honors.
- The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater. Grades 7-12. Sasha and Richard both lived in Oakland, but it was as if they came from different worlds, but their paths crossed on their bus ride home for eight minutes. One day Richard's action would ensure that they would be linked for much longer when he lit Sasha’s skirt on fire. Their story is a story of justice and what it means to forgive.
- Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu Grades 9-12. Vivian Carter discovered her mom’s Riot Grrl past while deal with misogyny at her Texas high school. Will her handcrafted ‘zines help start a revolution? A great choice for the teen feminist in your life.
- Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Ages 12 and up. Publisher’s blurb: "Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him."
For People Who Love to Cry
- Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. 13 and up. It’s John Green. Grab some tissues. Publisher’s blurb: “Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.”
- Satellite by Nick Lake. Grades 9 and up. Leo, Libra, and Orion are not your average teens. Born on Moon 2, they have been raised by a rotating set of astronauts, but as their 16th birthdays approach they prepare to return “home” to Earth. Although it is written in an unconventional manner, I promise that the emotional punch that the narrative delivers is worth reading all the lowercase i’s and u’s and ampersands.
- Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner. Grades 9-12. This makes be a great next book to pass on to the John Green fans in your life. This is a lovely portrait of grief and how one teen deals with it. The main character Carver lost his three best friends in a car accident. Could Carver’s text message have distracted the driver? Do the parents blame Carver? A great, powerful read.
- Kindness for Weakness by Shawn Goodman. Grades 9 and up. James will do anything for his older brother, even deliver drugs and, when he’s caught, keep his mouth shut. But is he tough enough to survive in prison. This is a heart-wrenching story of an abused boy betrayed by those who should protect him.
For the Athlete
- The Quarterback Whisperer: How to Build an Elite NFL Quarterback by Bruce Arians and Lars Anderson. Ages 14 and up. The man who helped turn Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Andrew Luck into household names shares his philosophy, practices, and plenty of anecdotes. NFL fans will eat this up.
For Strong Women and People Who Love Them
- Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. Ages 12 and up. This is NOT a novelization of the movie and it is NOT a graphic novel. This is a standalone novel that features 2 badass females fighting impossible odds to save the world. If you like action, adventure, and good writing this is for you.
