YA Fiction
A FIERCE AND SUBTLE POISON by Samantha Mabry
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Lucas has always been an outsider to San Juan: the rich white developer’s kid who only visits in the summers. But all his life he has soaked up the culture, especially the stories the old women tell about the scientist’s house and the supposed witch-girl who lives there. As Lucas gets older, the stories begin to seem less real. Until the summer that the island girls begin to disappear and everything leads Lucas back to the old house and the mysterious girl shrouded in the trees.
A poetic literary thriller nestled somewhere between realistic and science fiction, this novel gripped me from the start. I actually read it in one sitting, a rare occurrence for me. Mabry immerses readers in a vivid setting of blended reality and folklore as Lucas struggles to define himself, caught between two worlds and a disappointing relationship with his father. One of the best written books I’ve read this year and a stunning debut novel. I highly recommend it!
HOUSE ARREST by K. A. Holt
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Timothy wouldn’t be writing in a journal if the court hadn’t ordered it. He’s supposed to show that he’s sorry. Only he’s not sorry he stole the wallet to buy his baby brother’s medicine–just sorry he got caught. And that they took the medicine away. Now he’s on house arrest, which is better than juvie. In fact, it’s not that different from his life before–staying home, helping change the bandages on Levi’s trach, wishing his mother didn’t have to work overtime, that they could afford a nurse more than two days a week, that his father hadn’t left. But he had better get things right this year, or else he’ll end up in juvie after all.
Through poetry, Holt reveals Timothy’s evolving relationships with family, friends, and authority figures, and his own transformation. His love and care for his brother is beautiful, and his resentments toward his father and probation officer believable and complex. The ending left me waffling back and forth between depression and hope. I highly recommend this nuanced novel to teen and adult readers who enjoy realistic fiction!
CARRY ON by Rainbow Rowell
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Watford School of Magic changed Simon’s life. When he was eleven, the Mage plucked him from the orphanage and told him he was the most powerful magician ever to live–the one who was prophesied centuries ago and who is destined to defeat the Insidious Humdrum which has been stealing magic. Of course Simon wishes he were born into a magic family, and that his magical abilities were not quite so unpredictable and destructive, and that the Insidious Humdrum weren’t making his life quite so miserable. Perhaps most of all, he wishes the Humdrum didn’t inexplicably look exactly like him. But when in his final year the Mage suggests that he leave Watford for his own safety, Simon’s answer is an emphatic no. He couldn’t possibly leave his brilliant and brave friend Penny or his girlfriend Agatha. And he couldn’t ever leave Baz, his vampire archnemesis/roommate, unmonitored–especially now when Baz’s parents and the other old magic families are planning a rebellion against the Mage. Unfortunately, Baz doesn’t show up for the start of term. Although he is initially worried the vampire might be planning something evil, when the ghost of Baz’s mother shows up looking for him, Simon begins to worry for his safety. When Baz finally does return, released from an embarrassing kidnapping, Simon feels obligated to help him find his mother’s killer–even if it means trusting the person he knows is destined to kill him.
Carry On, Simon was the hypothetical “Simon Snow” fan fiction novel written by character Cath in Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, a novel inspired by the Harry Potter fan fic world. In actually writing Carry On, Rowell created a vivid and nuanced fantasy world that has many direct parallels to Harry Potter, which makes the differences and twists all the more meaningful. I wish there really were eight books set in this world, but the one is brilliantly crafted, engaging, and poignant. It will be most appreciated by older teen and adult Potter fans. It is not necessary to read Fangirl first, but I recommend it.
DOLL BONES by Holly Black
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It’s not that Zach doesn’t care what other kids think of him. He does his best to hide his secret imaginative life from his friends on the basketball team. But it’s worth the risk of getting caught in order to keep playing the game with Poppy and Alice. When Zach is being William the Blade, it is like his whole identity changes; he becomes a pirate. And the creepy bone China doll they pretend is their queen really seems to have deadly powers. When Zach’s dad throws away all of his action figures, Zach feels like his world is falling apart. He can’t get up the courage to tell Poppy and Alice why he can’t play anymore. But the bone China doll isn’t about to let Zach go so easily. A ghost appears to Poppy in a dream and suddenly Zach and his friends find themselves on a real adventure every bit as dangerous and magical as any of their games.
This creepy adventure story combines the family and friendship tensions of growing up with an intriguing ghost story. I wouldn’t call it scary, but it definitely has a chilling tone at times. The main thrust of the book, however, is the evolving character relationships and Zach’s coming of age. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy adventures set in the real world.
UNDERTOW by Michael Buckley
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As she heads to school on the first day of its integration, Lyric Walker has strict instructions from her father: keep your head down. Don’t do anything that would make them suspect you are anything other than fully human. When the Alpha emerged from the sea three years sgo, Coney Island was thrown into turmoil. The government claims to want to help the Alpha assimilate with the humans, yet nearly all of the original Alpha who assimilated in secret 17 years ago have disappeared along with their families. Lyric’s mom might be the last one left. And being taken by the government might not even be as bad as the lynchings and beatings administered by so many hateful civilians. But even knowing what is at stake, Lyric can’t help but try to break up a fight between a human and Alpha student and finds herself punished by being assigned to tutor the Alpha prince. As violence at the school escalates, Lyric hopes she can keep herself safe and her secret hidden until her family is able to make their escape.
I had trouble putting this book down! With political tensions reminiscent of the last century’s school integration movement (and some timely commentary on building walls), family tensions and danger for the Walkers, friendship issues for Lyric, a love triangle, and some fantasy battles, there is no shortage of reasons to turn pages. Yet the story flows well and does not seem overburdened by its many complex attributes. I highly recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy dystopias and urban fantasy! I am excited to read the sequel.
SAINT ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen
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Sydney has always lived in her older brother’s shadow. But when Peyton winds up in prison after driving drunk and crippling a young bicyclist, Sydney feels more ignored and isolated than ever. Her parents seem to be treating Peyton as the victim in the tragedy, and Sydney feels like she is shouldering all of the guilt for her entire family. But when she transfers to a new school, Sydney meets Layla and her brother Mac and through their friendship begins to discover who she really is, independent of her brother and her parents. As Sydney grows in self confidence, her relationship with her family begins to evolve as well.
This is probably the best book I’ve posted lately. It is well written, with strong, realistic characters, and an engaging premise. I would recommend it to teen readers who enjoy realistic fiction.
ALL FALL DOWN by Ally Carter
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Everyone thinks Grace is crazy, but she’s not. She saw the scar-faced man shoot her mother. She knows the fire wasn’t an accident. But the lack of a bullet wound in the coroner’s report and the lack of evidence on security cameras led to years of shrinks and being shuffled from school to school. Now she’s been sent to Adria to live with her grandfather the ambassador who hasn’t seen her since her mother’s death. After so long away, Adria is both familiar and foreign, and reminders of her mother are everywhere. But when Grace stumbles into a secret meeting in the abandoned Iranian embassy, she recognizes the scar-faced man instantly. Dismissed by her grandfather as fatigued and confused, Grace must seek the help of new friends and friends from her childhood to navigate the hidden tunnels of Embassy Row and find her mother’s killer before he kills again.
This fast-paced, suspenseful mystery features a spirited and mischievous heroine and a cast of colorful supporting characters. The gradual revelation of clues and an unreliable narrator make the ending difficult to guess but allow the reader to remain constantly involved in puzzling out the mystery. A thrilling start to what promises to be a compelling series! This book will likely appeal to mystery/thriller loving teens of a variety of ages.
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black
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Growing up in a small town at the edge of the Faerie realm, Hazel and Ben learn what you should and should not do to be sure that the folk don’t play they’re dangerous mischiefs on you. You may visit the glass casket of the horned boy, but you must never try to break the glass lest you be cursed. Hazel and Ben fell in love with the horned boy, dreaming that he was their prince and that one day they would rescue him. In the meantime, they spent their days playing the knight and the Bard–using Ben’s magical music gift and Hazel’s skill with a sword to take revenge on the monsters that tormented tourists. But when Ben’s gift faltered, Hazel made a costly bargain with the folk. Five years later, when someone breaks the horned boy’s glass casket, Hazel struggles to get her memories back, to figure out whether the horned boy is a prince or a villain, and to find a way to stop the sinister monster that walks in his shadow.
This modern fairytale is a thrilling read. Hazel, Ben, and their changeling friend Jack are fantastically interesting characters and the mysterious plot keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy fantasy and fairy tales.
If you liked The Darkest Part of the Forest, you might like Reckless by Cornelia Funke and The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff.
WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart
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They called themselves the Liars–Cadence, her cousins Mirren and Johnny, and their friend Gat. They had been coming with their families to their grandfather’s private island every summer since forever. Although they didn’t see one another all year long, in the summers they were confidantes, co-conspirators, best friends. But everything changed in summer fifteen when Cadence had her accident. It left her with crippling migraines and took almost all of her memories of that summer and the accident itself. All she remembers is Gat and the beach roses and holding hands under the stars. Since her mother won’t tell her what happened, and the Liars seem to be doing their best to ignore her questions, it is up to Cady to piece together her memories of summer fifteen. What was so horrific the her brain won’t let her remember? How did her relationship with Gat change so much in so short a time? And is there really such a thing as a second chance?
I didn’t figure this book out before the big reveal. I actually ended up reading it twice to find all the clues I missed. This suspenseful novel starts off deceivingly light, but be prepared for an intense read. I’m still thinking about it. I would recommend this book to teens who like heavy realistic fiction.
If you liked We Were Liars, you might like If I Stay by Gayle Forman, The Book of Lies by Mary Horlock, and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
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The day started out like an ordinary, happy snow day for Mia. She, her mom, her dad, and her brother pile into the car to visit her grandparents. But suddenly, Mia is standing on the side of the road staring at the mangled remains of the car. She sees her parents lying in the road and realizes their bodies are so damaged that they must be dead. She searches for her brother in the wreckage, and instead finds herself–her own body half buried in destroyed car parts. But Mia is not dead. As the paramedics whisk her off to the hospital, Mia follows, watching her body go through surgery, hearing the word “coma,” trying to process what has happened. As her grandparents sit by her bedside in the ICU, the nurse tells them to encourage Mia, because really it is up to her whether she wakes or not. Mia realizes she has a choice. As her extended family, her boyfriend, and her best friend struggle with their grief and fears, Mia wrestles with whether or not she should stay in world without the people she loved most.
This heartbreaking novel is sad but hopeful. Mia’s internal debate in the hospital is intermingled with memories from her past, stories of the friendships and relationships that have shaped her life. Readers can relate to Mia’s experiences of growing up, which encourages them to step into Mia’s shoes. What would you choose? Mia’s choice emphasizes both the incredible pain and beauty of life. A great novel for teen readers who enjoy heavy realistic fiction.
Susan the Librarian 