The Charlotte & William Bloomberg Medford Public Library
April, 08 2025 21:22:58
A Constellation of Minor Bears
By Ferguson, Jen
Award-winning author Jen Ferguson has written a powerful story about teens grappling with balancing resentment with enduring friendship - and how to move forward with a life that's not what they'd imagined. Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with a traumatic brain injury filled Molly with anger.While she knows the accident wasn't Tray's fault, she will never forgive him for being there and failing to stop the damage. But she can't forgive herself for not being there either.Determined to go on the trio's postgraduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, even without Hank, Molly packs her bag. But when her parents put Tray in charge of looking out for her, she is stuck backpacking with the person who incites her easy anger.
Publisher: n/a
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9780063334229
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Hardcover
With Love, Miss Americanah
By Igharo, Jane
With Love, Miss Americanah -- the Young Adult contemporary romance debut from Jane Igharo -- sees a teenager move from Nigeria to America and navigate her senior year with the help of classic teen movies and a new crush, all while working through grief and the rigid expectations of her mother.. 17-year-old Enore Adesuwa doesn't dive into things, she walks in carefully. So when she, her mother, and her sister move from Nigeria to America shortly after her father's death, she wants to be extremely prepared before attending an American high school. Her cousin, Adrian, doesn't have time to explain the ins and outs to her but, luckily, he recommends the perfect research tool: teen movies.. Still dealing with grief but armed with a set of rules of survival gathered from these movies (including the crucial rule of keeping a low profile) , Enore is ready for her senior year.
Publisher: n/a
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9781250873378
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Hardcover
Made Glorious
By Eagar, Lindsay
In a vicious, delicious contemporary novel inspired by Shakespeare's Richard III, thelauded author of The Family Fortuna lifts the curtain on a high school thespian who'll stop at nothing to land the lead.. Rory is an antihero for the ages. Like Shakespeare's Richard III, she confides in her audience, telling us exactly the lengths she'll go to to secure the leading role in Bosworth Academy's senior musical, confessing without shame that she is charming and conniving and brutally ambitious, that we will watch and root for her even as she manipulates and endangers those around her. And we do. Perhaps it's because we don't want to believe that she's as relentless as she claims. Rory is an underdog, after all, a scholarship kid teased for her weight. Surely there will be redemption? Surely our dread and patience will be rewarded? Intricately plotted with an ingenious narrative that blends multiple viewpoints with script excerpts and an original musical score, Lindsay Eagar's whip-smart, precision-crafted, and gleefully compulsive page-turner taps into the dark side of high school theater production.
Publisher: n/a
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9781536204674
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Hardcover
Ariel Crashes a Train
By Cole, Olivia A.
"A gorgeously kind, wonderfully gentle, and unfailingly compassionate depiction of OCD...bursting with light." - Ashley Woodfolk, critically acclaimed author of NOTHING BURNS AS BRIGHT AS YOU. Exploring the harsh reality of OCD and violent intrusive thoughts in stunning, lyrical writing, this novel-in-verse conjures a haunting yet hopeful portrait of a girl on the edge. From the author of Dear Medusa, which New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed called "a fierce and brightly burning feminist roar.". Ariel is afraid of her own mind. She already feels like she is too big, too queer, too rough to live up to her parents' exacting expectations, or to fit into what the world expects of a "good girl." And as violent fantasies she can't control take over every aspect of her life, she is convinced something much deeper is wrong with her.
Publisher: n/a
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9780593644669
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Hardcover
There Is a Door in this Darkness
By Cashore, Kristin
A magic-tinged contemporary YA about grief and hope from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm novels.
Wilhelmina Hart is part of the infamous class of 2020. Her high school years began with the election of Donald Trump and they ended with COVID. Now Wilhelmina, like so many of her peers, is in limbo, having deferred college because of the pandemic. Compounding the national trauma of 2016 to 2020, Wilhelmina has wrestled with the devastating loss of one of her three beloved aunts shortly after the 2016 election. This is a loss she felt so keenly that she's spent the last years deep in her personal depression, only obscured by the seemingly endless waves of national trauma. Now on the cusp on the most consequential election in living memory, Wilhelmina may have found a door in her darkness and perhaps the courage to pass through it, if she can decipher the bizarre messages that keep appearing in her life.
Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour, This is Me Trying is a profound and tender YA contemporary novel exploring grief, love, and guilt from author Racquel Marie.
Growing up, Bryce, Beatriz, and Santiago were inseparable. But when Santiago moved away before high school, their friendship crumbled. Three years later, Bryce is gone, Beatriz is known as the dead boy's girlfriend, and Santiago is back.
The last thing Beatriz wants is to reunite with Santiago, who left all her messages unanswered while she drowned alone in grief over Bryce's death by suicide. Even if she wasn't angry, Santiago's attempts to make amends are jeopardizing her plan to keep the world at arm's length -- equal parts protection and punishment -- and she swore to never let anyone try that again.
Publisher: n/a
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9781250891389
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Hardcover
Forever Is Now
By Lockington, Mariama J.
A poignant and lyrical young adult novel-in-verse about a Black teen coming of age in an anxiety-inducing world, from the author of For Black Girls Like Me and In the Key of Us.. I'm safe here.. That's how Sadie feels, on a perfect summer day, wrapped in her girlfriend's arms. School is out, and even though she's been struggling to manage her chronic anxiety, Sadie is hopeful better times are ahead. Or at least, she thought she was safe. When her girlfriend reveals some unexpected news and the two witness a violent incident of police brutality unfold before them, Sadie's whole world is upended in an instant.. I'm not safe anywhere.. That's how Sadie feels every day after -- vulnerable, uprooted. She retreats inside as the weeks slip by and relies on her phone to stay connected to the outside world.
Publisher: n/a
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9780374388881
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Hardcover
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim
By Park, Patricia
A multicultural teen struggles to fit into her elite prep school, her diverse Queens neighborhood, and even her own home. A hilarious, poignant, and powerful YA novel from the award-winning author of Re Jane.
"Simply brilliant!" - David Yoon, New York Times best-selling author of FRANKLY IN LOVE
"Scathingly funny." - Gayle Forman, New York Times best-selling author of IF I STAY
Alejandra Kim feels like she doesn't belong anywhere.
Not at home, where Ale faces tense silence from Ma since Papi's passing. Not in Jackson Heights, where she isn't considered Latinx enough and is seen as too PC for her own good. Certainly not at her Manhattan prep school, where her predominantly white classmates pride themselves on being "woke".
Publisher: n/a
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9780593563403
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Hardcover
Dear Wendy
By Zhao, Ann
An Instant Indie Bestseller! "The platonic love story of my dreams!" -- Alice Oseman, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Heartstopper. Dear Wendy's Sophie and Jo, two aromantic and asexual college students, engage in an online feud while unknowingly becoming friends in real life, in this dual POV debut from Ann Zhao. Sophie Chi is in her first year of college and has long accepted her aroace (aromantic and asexual) identity. She knows she'll never fall in love, but she enjoys running an Instagram account that offers relationship advice to students at her school. No one except her roommate can know that she's behind the incredibly popular "Dear Wendy" account.. When Joanna "Jo" Ephron (also a first-year student and aroace) created their "Sincerely Wanda" account, it wasn't at all meant to take off or be taken seriously.
Publisher: n/a
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9781250885029
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Paperback
The Boyfriend Wish
By Teerdhala, Swati
A charming romantic comedy about a South Indian American teen girl who makes a wish upon a flower for her perfect boyfriend ... and then a new boy moves in right next door. With love triangles, prank wars, and a sizzling sweet romance - this is perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon and Jenny Han.There's only one item left on Deepa Josyula's high school bucket list: finding the perfect boyfriend. But when her meticulously planned Homecoming proposal crashes and burns thanks to Vik Mehta - both neighbor and long-term nemesis ever since he started their neighborhood prank war - she's not sure how she's going to finish the list. To make things even worse, she's stuck working with Vik on a Student Council committee. So when her grandmother gifts her a jasmine flower and tells her to make a wish, Deepa doesn't see the harm.
Publisher: n/a
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9780063279155
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Hardcover
Kween
By Chum, Vichet
A searing, joyful YA debut about a queer Cambodian American teen's journey to find her voice and step into her legacy, perfect for fans of Ibi Zoboi and Elizabeth Acevedo.Soma Kear's verses have gone viral. Trouble is, she didn't exactly think her slam poetry video through. All she knew was that her rhymes were urgent. On fire. An expression of where she was, and that place ... was a hot mess. Following her Ba's deportation back to Cambodia, everything's changed. Her Ma is away trying to help Ba adjust to his new life, and her older sister has taken charge with a new authoritarian tone. Meanwhile, Soma's trending video pushes her to ask if it's time to level up. With her school's spoken word contest looming, Soma must decide: Is she brave enough to put herself out there? To publicly reveal her fears of Ba not returning? To admit that things may never be the same? With every line she spits, Soma searches for a way to make sense of the world around her.
Publisher: n/a
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9780063223356
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Hardcover
House Party
By Reynolds, Justin A.
Ten bestselling, critically acclaimed authors deliver a fresh novel of interconnected stories that follows a group of young adults over the course of a few wild, transformative hours at an epic house party!. The biggest event of the year is happening, and you're invited! Join us for Florence Hills High School seniors' last hurrah before graduation.THE LOCATION: A megamansion in one of Chicago's wealthiest suburban enclavesTHE HOST: DeAndre Dixon, aka FHHS's golden boyTHE GUESTS: The populars, the jocks, the artists, and heck, even that one kidTHE HOPE: All the drama ensues. Kisses are swapped between old friends, new friends, and could've-sworn-they-were-enemies kind of friends. Relationships get tested. Animals roam free. Secrets are spilled. Add dope music that's thumping, and there's a good chance the whole neighborhood will be disrupted.
Publisher: n/a
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9780593488157
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Hardcover
No Boy Summer
By Spalding, Amy
Lydia and her younger sister Penny make a pact to avoid boy drama for the summer - but Lydia can't help looking for a loophole when she falls for a cute girl. Lydia Jones and her younger sister Penny have had it with boy drama. Last year was marred by relationship disasters for both of them, threatening Lydia's standing with her school's theater tech club and Penny's perfect GPA. Penny has, naturally, diagnosed the problem and prescribed a drastic solution: a summer off from boys.. Lydia and Penny decide to stay with their Aunt Grace and her boyfriend Oscar in Los Angeles while their parents are off on a European cruise. Penny follows her future-business-school dreams with an internship at Oscar's office, and Lydia gets a part-time job at Grace's neighborhood coffeeshop, Grounds Control.
Publisher: n/a
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9781419757525
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Hardcover
Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution
By Callender, Kacen
From National Book Award-winner Kacen Callender, a contemporary YA that follows Lark's journey to speak the truth and discover how their own self-love can be a revolution Lark Winters wants to be a writer, and for now that means posting on their social media accounts--anything to build their platform. When former best friend Kasim accidentally posts a thread on Lark's Twitter declaring his love for a secret, unrequited crush, Lark's tweets are suddenly the talk of the school - and beyond. To protect Kasim, Lark decides to take the fall, pretending they accidentally posted the thread in reference to another classmate. It seems like a great idea: Lark gets closer to their crush, Kasim keeps his privacy, and Lark's social media stats explode. But living a lie takes a toll - as does the judgment of thousands of Internet strangers.
Publisher: n/a
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9781419756870
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Hardcover
Love & Resistance
By Chen, Kara H.l.
Moxie meets Mary H.K. Choi in this funny, whip-smart YA debut about love, resistance, and the enduring friendships that make it all worthwhile. Seventeen-year-old Olivia Chang is at her fourth school in seven years. Her self-imposed solitude is lonely but safe. At Plainstown High, however, Olivia's usual plan of anonymity fails when infamous it-girl Mitzi Clarke makes a pointed racist comment in class. Tired of ignoring things just to survive, Olivia defends herself. And that is the end of her invisible life. Soon, Olivia joins forces with the Nerd Net: a secret society that's been thwarting Mitzi's reign of terror for months. Together, they plan to unite the masses and create true change at school.But in order to succeed, Olivia must do something even more terrifying than lead a movement: trust other people.
Publisher: n/a
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9780063237834
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Hardcover
Briarcliff Prep
By Peppins, Brianna
Set at a luxe, aspirational boarding school inspired by the author's beloved alma mater Spelman College, this debut is a captivating celebration of the friends we choose, the family we protect, and the love we owe ourselves.It's fourteen-year-old Avielle "Avi" LeBeau's turn to do what everyone in her family has done: leave home to attend Briarcliff Prep -- a Historically Black Boarding School (HBBS) . And as scared as she is to say goodbye to her parents and move to Georgia, she knows her fearless big sister Belle will be there to show her the ropes.Before long, Avi settles into life at Briarcliff. New friends (and foes) , challenging classes (at times too challenging) , and maybe a cute tutor-turned-something-more (if her brothers don't get in the way) .
Publisher: n/a
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9781368078375
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Hardcover
Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl
By Goffney, Joya
Joya Goffney, author of the acclaimedExcuse Me While I Ugly Cry,delivers a powerful second novel about a preacher's daughter in small-town Texas and her journey toward loving herself and her body, filled with heart, humor, family drama, and a dynamic love triangle.Perfect for fans ofNot So Pure and Simpleby Lamar Giles andCalling My Nameby Liara Tamani!"Powerful, boundary pushing, and charmingly funny." - Camryn Garrett, author of Full Disclosure and Off the Record"Deeply empowering, sweet yet candid. A fearless story about the path to self acceptance." -Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan, authors of Unpregnant and Save SteveMonique is a preacher's daughter who detests the impossible rules of her religion. Everyone expects her to wait until marriage, so she has no one to turn to when she discovers that she physically can't have sex.
Publisher: n/a
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9780063024847
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Hardcover
Kings of B'more
By Thomas, R Eric
Two Black queer best friends face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimore in this magnetic YA debut by bestselling author of Here for It R. Eric Thomas.With junior year starting in the fall, Harrison feels like he's on the precipice of, well, everything. Standardized testing, college, and the terrifying unknowns and looming pressures of adulthood after that - it's like the future wants to eat him alive. Which is why Harrison is grateful that he and his best friend, Linus, will face these things together. But at the end of a shift at their summer job, Linus invites Harrison to their special spot overlooking the city to deliver devastating news: He's moving out of state at the end of the week. To keep from completely losing it - and partially inspired by a cheesy movie-night pick by his Dad - Harrison plans a send-off à la Ferris Bueller's Day Off that's worthy of his favorite person.
Publisher: n/a
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9780593326183
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Hardcover
The Chandler Legacies
By Nazemian, Abdi
A novel about the enclosed world of privilege and silence at an elite boarding school and the unlikely group of friends who dare challenge the status quo through their writing.
Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of judgment from her roommate, Sarah.
But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story.
Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah.
Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms.
And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but has fallen hard for Spence and knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin.
At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born—and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?
Publisher: n/a
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9780063039322
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Book
TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
By Deo, Jesmeen Kaur
A charming rom-com about high school debater TJ Powar who - after becoming the subject of an ugly meme - makes a resolution to stop shaving, plucking, and waxing, and prove that she can be her hairy self and still be beautiful...but soon finds this may be her most difficult debate yet. Perfect for fans of Netflix's Never Have I Ever.When TJ Powar - a pretty, popular debater - and her cousin Simran become the subject of a meme: with TJ being the "expectation" of dating an Indian girl and her Sikh cousin who does not remove her body hair being the "reality" - TJ decides to take a stand. She ditches her razors, cancels her waxing appointments, and sets a debate resolution for herself: "This House Believes That TJ Powar can be her hairy self, and still be beautiful.
Publisher: n/a
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9780593403396
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Hardcover
Queen of the Tiles
By Alkaf, Hanna
They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen's Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.CATALYST 13 points noun: a substance that speeds up a reaction without itself changing When Najwa Bakri walks into her first Scrabble competition since her best friend's death, it's with the intention to heal and move on with her life. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to choose the very same competition where said best friend, Trina Low, died. It might be even though Najwa's trying to change, she's not ready to give up Trina just yet. But the same can't be said for all the other competitors. With Trina, the Scrabble Queen herself, gone, the throne is empty, and her friends are eager to be the next reigning champion.
Publisher: n/a
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9781534494558
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Hardcover
Gideon Green in Black and White
By Henry, Katie
Truly Devious meets Turtles All the Way Down in critically acclaimed author Katie Henry's YA contemporary comedic mystery, a hilarious send-up of the hardboiled detective genre that spotlights family, friendship, and love. Gideon's short-lived run as a locally famous boy detective ended when middle school started, and everyone else - including his best friend, Lily - moved on while Gideon kept holding on to his trench coat, fedora, and his treasured film noir collection. Now he's sixteen and officially retired. That is, until Lily shows up suddenly at Gideon's door, needing his help.He might be mad at her for cutting him off with no explanation, but Gideon can't turn down a case. As a cover, Gideon joins Lily on the school paper. Surprisingly, he finds himself warming up to the welcoming, close-knit staff .
Publisher: n/a
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9780062955739
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Hardcover
Running
By Natalia, Sylvester,
When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Marianna Ruiz's father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your hero--while the whole country is watching.
Publisher: n/a
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9780358124351
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Not So Pure and Simple
By Giles, Lamar
An Indie Next List Pick!In his first contemporary teen novel, critically acclaimed author and two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles spotlights the consequences of societal pressure, confronts toxic masculinity, and explores the complexity of what it means to be a "real man."Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she's finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del's right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he's inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn't believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del's not about to lose his dream girl, and that's where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers' questions ... about sex ed.With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can't think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it'll all sort itself out. Right?
Publisher: n/a
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9780062349194
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Hardcover
Once Upon a Quinceaera
By Gomez-hira, Monica
"Eighteen-year-old Carmen takes on a summer internship that has her reuniting with estranged family for an over-the-top quinceanera, reluctantly reconnecting to a long-lost ex-boyfriend, and finding happiness in the chaos"--
Publisher: n/a
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9780062996831
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Hardcover
When You Were Everything
By Ashley, Woodfolk,
For fans of Nina LaCour's We Are Okay and Adam Silvera's History Is All You Left Me, this heartfelt and ultimately uplifting novel follows one sixteen-year-old girl's friend breakup through two concurrent timelines--ultimately proving that even endings can lead to new beginnings. "Stunning." --Nic Stone, bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out You can't rewrite the past, but you can always choose to start again. It's been twenty-seven days since Cleo and Layla's friendship imploded. Nearly a month since Cleo realized they'll never be besties again. Now Cleo wants to erase every memory, good or bad, that tethers her to her ex-best friend. But pretending Layla doesn't exist isn't as easy as Cleo hoped, especially after she's assigned to be Layla's tutor.
Publisher: n/a
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9781524715915
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After the Shot Drops
By Ribay, Randy
A powerful novel about friendship, basketball, and one teens mission to create a better life for his family in the tradition of Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers, from National Book Award Finalist Randy Ribay. "Belongs on the shelf alongside contemporary heavy-hitters like Angie Thomass The Hate U Give, Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynoldss All-American Boys, and Nic Stones Dear Martin." - School Library Journal, starred review Bunny and Nasir have been best friends forever, but when Bunny accepts an athletic scholarship across town, Nasir feels betrayed. While Bunny tries to fit in with his new, privileged peers, Nasir spends more time with his cousin, Wallace, who is being evicted. Nasir cant help but wonder why the neighborhood is falling over itself to help Bunny when Wallace is in trouble. When Wallace makes a bet against Bunny, Nasir is faced with an impossible decision - maybe a dangerous one. Told from alternating perspectives, After the Shot Drops is a heart-pounding story about the responsibilities of great talent and the importance of compassion.
Publisher: n/a
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9781328702272
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Paperback
Alma Presses Play
By Cane, Tina
Alma's life is a series of halfways: She's half-Chinese, half-Jewish; her parents spend half the time fighting, and the other half silent; and she's halfway through becoming a woman. But as long as she can listen to her Walkman, hang out with her friends on the stoops of the Village, and ride her bike around the streets of New York, it feels like everything will be all right. Then comes the year when everything changes, and her life is overtaken by constant endings: friends move away, romances bloom and wither, her parents divorce and--just like that--her life as she knew it is over. In this world of confusing beginnings, middles, and endings, is Alma ready to press play on the soundtrack of her life?
Publisher: n/a
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9780593121146
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Hardcover
Where You See Yourself
By Forrest, Claire
By the time Effie Galanos starts her senior year, it feels like she’s already been thinking about college applications for an eternity―after all, finding a college that will be the perfect fit and be accessible enough for Effie to navigate in her wheelchair presents a ton of considerations that her friends don’t have to worry about.
What Effie hasn’t told anyone is that she already knows exactly what school she has her heart set on: a college in NYC with a major in Mass Media & Society that will set her up perfectly for her dream job in digital media. She’s never been to New York, but paging through the brochure, she can picture the person she’ll be there, far from the Minneapolis neighborhood where she's lived her entire life. When she finds out that Wilder (her longtime crush) is applying there too, it seems like one more sign from the universe that it’s the right place for her.
But it turns out that the universe is full of surprises. As Effie navigates her way through a year of admissions visits, senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a lot of firsts--and lasts--she starts to learn that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of. And maybe being more than just friends with Wilder is one of those dreams...
A Constellation of Minor Bears
By Ferguson, Jen
Award-winning author Jen Ferguson has written a powerful story about teens grappling with balancing resentment with enduring friendship - and how to move forward with a life that's not what they'd imagined. Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with a traumatic brain injury filled Molly with anger.While she knows the accident wasn't Tray's fault, she will never forgive him for being there and failing to stop the damage. But she can't forgive herself for not being there either.Determined to go on the trio's postgraduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, even without Hank, Molly packs her bag. But when her parents put Tray in charge of looking out for her, she is stuck backpacking with the person who incites her easy anger.
With Love, Miss Americanah
By Igharo, Jane
With Love, Miss Americanah -- the Young Adult contemporary romance debut from Jane Igharo -- sees a teenager move from Nigeria to America and navigate her senior year with the help of classic teen movies and a new crush, all while working through grief and the rigid expectations of her mother.. 17-year-old Enore Adesuwa doesn't dive into things, she walks in carefully. So when she, her mother, and her sister move from Nigeria to America shortly after her father's death, she wants to be extremely prepared before attending an American high school. Her cousin, Adrian, doesn't have time to explain the ins and outs to her but, luckily, he recommends the perfect research tool: teen movies.. Still dealing with grief but armed with a set of rules of survival gathered from these movies (including the crucial rule of keeping a low profile) , Enore is ready for her senior year.
Made Glorious
By Eagar, Lindsay
In a vicious, delicious contemporary novel inspired by Shakespeare's Richard III, thelauded author of The Family Fortuna lifts the curtain on a high school thespian who'll stop at nothing to land the lead.. Rory is an antihero for the ages. Like Shakespeare's Richard III, she confides in her audience, telling us exactly the lengths she'll go to to secure the leading role in Bosworth Academy's senior musical, confessing without shame that she is charming and conniving and brutally ambitious, that we will watch and root for her even as she manipulates and endangers those around her. And we do. Perhaps it's because we don't want to believe that she's as relentless as she claims. Rory is an underdog, after all, a scholarship kid teased for her weight. Surely there will be redemption? Surely our dread and patience will be rewarded? Intricately plotted with an ingenious narrative that blends multiple viewpoints with script excerpts and an original musical score, Lindsay Eagar's whip-smart, precision-crafted, and gleefully compulsive page-turner taps into the dark side of high school theater production.
Ariel Crashes a Train
By Cole, Olivia A.
"A gorgeously kind, wonderfully gentle, and unfailingly compassionate depiction of OCD...bursting with light." - Ashley Woodfolk, critically acclaimed author of NOTHING BURNS AS BRIGHT AS YOU. Exploring the harsh reality of OCD and violent intrusive thoughts in stunning, lyrical writing, this novel-in-verse conjures a haunting yet hopeful portrait of a girl on the edge. From the author of Dear Medusa, which New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed called "a fierce and brightly burning feminist roar.". Ariel is afraid of her own mind. She already feels like she is too big, too queer, too rough to live up to her parents' exacting expectations, or to fit into what the world expects of a "good girl." And as violent fantasies she can't control take over every aspect of her life, she is convinced something much deeper is wrong with her.
There Is a Door in this Darkness
By Cashore, Kristin
A magic-tinged contemporary YA about grief and hope from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm novels. Wilhelmina Hart is part of the infamous class of 2020. Her high school years began with the election of Donald Trump and they ended with COVID. Now Wilhelmina, like so many of her peers, is in limbo, having deferred college because of the pandemic. Compounding the national trauma of 2016 to 2020, Wilhelmina has wrestled with the devastating loss of one of her three beloved aunts shortly after the 2016 election. This is a loss she felt so keenly that she's spent the last years deep in her personal depression, only obscured by the seemingly endless waves of national trauma. Now on the cusp on the most consequential election in living memory, Wilhelmina may have found a door in her darkness and perhaps the courage to pass through it, if she can decipher the bizarre messages that keep appearing in her life.
Shut Up, This Is Serious
By Ixta, Carolina
An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Erika L. Sánchez.Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro wants the normal stuff: to experience love or maybe have a boyfriend or at least just lose her virginity. But nothing is normal in East Oakland. Her father left her family. She's at risk of not graduating. And Leti, her super-Catholic, nerdy-ass best friend, is pregnant - by the boyfriend she hasn't told her parents about, because he's Black, and her parents are racist.Things are hella complicated.Weighed by a depression she can't seem to shake, Belén helps Leti, hangs out with an older guy, and cuts a lot of class. She soon realizes, though, that distractions are only temporary.
This Is Me Trying
By Marie, Racquel
Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour, This is Me Trying is a profound and tender YA contemporary novel exploring grief, love, and guilt from author Racquel Marie. Growing up, Bryce, Beatriz, and Santiago were inseparable. But when Santiago moved away before high school, their friendship crumbled. Three years later, Bryce is gone, Beatriz is known as the dead boy's girlfriend, and Santiago is back. The last thing Beatriz wants is to reunite with Santiago, who left all her messages unanswered while she drowned alone in grief over Bryce's death by suicide. Even if she wasn't angry, Santiago's attempts to make amends are jeopardizing her plan to keep the world at arm's length -- equal parts protection and punishment -- and she swore to never let anyone try that again.
Forever Is Now
By Lockington, Mariama J.
A poignant and lyrical young adult novel-in-verse about a Black teen coming of age in an anxiety-inducing world, from the author of For Black Girls Like Me and In the Key of Us.. I'm safe here.. That's how Sadie feels, on a perfect summer day, wrapped in her girlfriend's arms. School is out, and even though she's been struggling to manage her chronic anxiety, Sadie is hopeful better times are ahead. Or at least, she thought she was safe. When her girlfriend reveals some unexpected news and the two witness a violent incident of police brutality unfold before them, Sadie's whole world is upended in an instant.. I'm not safe anywhere.. That's how Sadie feels every day after -- vulnerable, uprooted. She retreats inside as the weeks slip by and relies on her phone to stay connected to the outside world.
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim
By Park, Patricia
A multicultural teen struggles to fit into her elite prep school, her diverse Queens neighborhood, and even her own home. A hilarious, poignant, and powerful YA novel from the award-winning author of Re Jane. "Simply brilliant!" - David Yoon, New York Times best-selling author of FRANKLY IN LOVE "Scathingly funny." - Gayle Forman, New York Times best-selling author of IF I STAY Alejandra Kim feels like she doesn't belong anywhere. Not at home, where Ale faces tense silence from Ma since Papi's passing. Not in Jackson Heights, where she isn't considered Latinx enough and is seen as too PC for her own good. Certainly not at her Manhattan prep school, where her predominantly white classmates pride themselves on being "woke".
Dear Wendy
By Zhao, Ann
An Instant Indie Bestseller! "The platonic love story of my dreams!" -- Alice Oseman, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Heartstopper. Dear Wendy's Sophie and Jo, two aromantic and asexual college students, engage in an online feud while unknowingly becoming friends in real life, in this dual POV debut from Ann Zhao. Sophie Chi is in her first year of college and has long accepted her aroace (aromantic and asexual) identity. She knows she'll never fall in love, but she enjoys running an Instagram account that offers relationship advice to students at her school. No one except her roommate can know that she's behind the incredibly popular "Dear Wendy" account.. When Joanna "Jo" Ephron (also a first-year student and aroace) created their "Sincerely Wanda" account, it wasn't at all meant to take off or be taken seriously.
The Boyfriend Wish
By Teerdhala, Swati
A charming romantic comedy about a South Indian American teen girl who makes a wish upon a flower for her perfect boyfriend ... and then a new boy moves in right next door. With love triangles, prank wars, and a sizzling sweet romance - this is perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon and Jenny Han.There's only one item left on Deepa Josyula's high school bucket list: finding the perfect boyfriend. But when her meticulously planned Homecoming proposal crashes and burns thanks to Vik Mehta - both neighbor and long-term nemesis ever since he started their neighborhood prank war - she's not sure how she's going to finish the list. To make things even worse, she's stuck working with Vik on a Student Council committee. So when her grandmother gifts her a jasmine flower and tells her to make a wish, Deepa doesn't see the harm.
Kween
By Chum, Vichet
A searing, joyful YA debut about a queer Cambodian American teen's journey to find her voice and step into her legacy, perfect for fans of Ibi Zoboi and Elizabeth Acevedo.Soma Kear's verses have gone viral. Trouble is, she didn't exactly think her slam poetry video through. All she knew was that her rhymes were urgent. On fire. An expression of where she was, and that place ... was a hot mess. Following her Ba's deportation back to Cambodia, everything's changed. Her Ma is away trying to help Ba adjust to his new life, and her older sister has taken charge with a new authoritarian tone. Meanwhile, Soma's trending video pushes her to ask if it's time to level up. With her school's spoken word contest looming, Soma must decide: Is she brave enough to put herself out there? To publicly reveal her fears of Ba not returning? To admit that things may never be the same? With every line she spits, Soma searches for a way to make sense of the world around her.
House Party
By Reynolds, Justin A.
Ten bestselling, critically acclaimed authors deliver a fresh novel of interconnected stories that follows a group of young adults over the course of a few wild, transformative hours at an epic house party!. The biggest event of the year is happening, and you're invited! Join us for Florence Hills High School seniors' last hurrah before graduation.THE LOCATION: A megamansion in one of Chicago's wealthiest suburban enclavesTHE HOST: DeAndre Dixon, aka FHHS's golden boyTHE GUESTS: The populars, the jocks, the artists, and heck, even that one kidTHE HOPE: All the drama ensues. Kisses are swapped between old friends, new friends, and could've-sworn-they-were-enemies kind of friends. Relationships get tested. Animals roam free. Secrets are spilled. Add dope music that's thumping, and there's a good chance the whole neighborhood will be disrupted.
No Boy Summer
By Spalding, Amy
Lydia and her younger sister Penny make a pact to avoid boy drama for the summer - but Lydia can't help looking for a loophole when she falls for a cute girl. Lydia Jones and her younger sister Penny have had it with boy drama. Last year was marred by relationship disasters for both of them, threatening Lydia's standing with her school's theater tech club and Penny's perfect GPA. Penny has, naturally, diagnosed the problem and prescribed a drastic solution: a summer off from boys.. Lydia and Penny decide to stay with their Aunt Grace and her boyfriend Oscar in Los Angeles while their parents are off on a European cruise. Penny follows her future-business-school dreams with an internship at Oscar's office, and Lydia gets a part-time job at Grace's neighborhood coffeeshop, Grounds Control.
Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution
By Callender, Kacen
From National Book Award-winner Kacen Callender, a contemporary YA that follows Lark's journey to speak the truth and discover how their own self-love can be a revolution Lark Winters wants to be a writer, and for now that means posting on their social media accounts--anything to build their platform. When former best friend Kasim accidentally posts a thread on Lark's Twitter declaring his love for a secret, unrequited crush, Lark's tweets are suddenly the talk of the school - and beyond. To protect Kasim, Lark decides to take the fall, pretending they accidentally posted the thread in reference to another classmate. It seems like a great idea: Lark gets closer to their crush, Kasim keeps his privacy, and Lark's social media stats explode. But living a lie takes a toll - as does the judgment of thousands of Internet strangers.
Love & Resistance
By Chen, Kara H.l.
Moxie meets Mary H.K. Choi in this funny, whip-smart YA debut about love, resistance, and the enduring friendships that make it all worthwhile. Seventeen-year-old Olivia Chang is at her fourth school in seven years. Her self-imposed solitude is lonely but safe. At Plainstown High, however, Olivia's usual plan of anonymity fails when infamous it-girl Mitzi Clarke makes a pointed racist comment in class. Tired of ignoring things just to survive, Olivia defends herself. And that is the end of her invisible life. Soon, Olivia joins forces with the Nerd Net: a secret society that's been thwarting Mitzi's reign of terror for months. Together, they plan to unite the masses and create true change at school.But in order to succeed, Olivia must do something even more terrifying than lead a movement: trust other people.
Briarcliff Prep
By Peppins, Brianna
Set at a luxe, aspirational boarding school inspired by the author's beloved alma mater Spelman College, this debut is a captivating celebration of the friends we choose, the family we protect, and the love we owe ourselves.It's fourteen-year-old Avielle "Avi" LeBeau's turn to do what everyone in her family has done: leave home to attend Briarcliff Prep -- a Historically Black Boarding School (HBBS) . And as scared as she is to say goodbye to her parents and move to Georgia, she knows her fearless big sister Belle will be there to show her the ropes.Before long, Avi settles into life at Briarcliff. New friends (and foes) , challenging classes (at times too challenging) , and maybe a cute tutor-turned-something-more (if her brothers don't get in the way) .
Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl
By Goffney, Joya
Joya Goffney, author of the acclaimedExcuse Me While I Ugly Cry,delivers a powerful second novel about a preacher's daughter in small-town Texas and her journey toward loving herself and her body, filled with heart, humor, family drama, and a dynamic love triangle.Perfect for fans ofNot So Pure and Simpleby Lamar Giles andCalling My Nameby Liara Tamani!"Powerful, boundary pushing, and charmingly funny." - Camryn Garrett, author of Full Disclosure and Off the Record"Deeply empowering, sweet yet candid. A fearless story about the path to self acceptance." -Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan, authors of Unpregnant and Save SteveMonique is a preacher's daughter who detests the impossible rules of her religion. Everyone expects her to wait until marriage, so she has no one to turn to when she discovers that she physically can't have sex.
Kings of B'more
By Thomas, R Eric
Two Black queer best friends face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimore in this magnetic YA debut by bestselling author of Here for It R. Eric Thomas.With junior year starting in the fall, Harrison feels like he's on the precipice of, well, everything. Standardized testing, college, and the terrifying unknowns and looming pressures of adulthood after that - it's like the future wants to eat him alive. Which is why Harrison is grateful that he and his best friend, Linus, will face these things together. But at the end of a shift at their summer job, Linus invites Harrison to their special spot overlooking the city to deliver devastating news: He's moving out of state at the end of the week. To keep from completely losing it - and partially inspired by a cheesy movie-night pick by his Dad - Harrison plans a send-off à la Ferris Bueller's Day Off that's worthy of his favorite person.
The Chandler Legacies
By Nazemian, Abdi
A novel about the enclosed world of privilege and silence at an elite boarding school and the unlikely group of friends who dare challenge the status quo through their writing.
Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of judgment from her roommate, Sarah.
But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story.
Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah.
Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms.
And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but has fallen hard for Spence and knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin.
At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born—and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?
TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
By Deo, Jesmeen Kaur
A charming rom-com about high school debater TJ Powar who - after becoming the subject of an ugly meme - makes a resolution to stop shaving, plucking, and waxing, and prove that she can be her hairy self and still be beautiful...but soon finds this may be her most difficult debate yet. Perfect for fans of Netflix's Never Have I Ever.When TJ Powar - a pretty, popular debater - and her cousin Simran become the subject of a meme: with TJ being the "expectation" of dating an Indian girl and her Sikh cousin who does not remove her body hair being the "reality" - TJ decides to take a stand. She ditches her razors, cancels her waxing appointments, and sets a debate resolution for herself: "This House Believes That TJ Powar can be her hairy self, and still be beautiful.
Queen of the Tiles
By Alkaf, Hanna
They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen's Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.CATALYST 13 points noun: a substance that speeds up a reaction without itself changing When Najwa Bakri walks into her first Scrabble competition since her best friend's death, it's with the intention to heal and move on with her life. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to choose the very same competition where said best friend, Trina Low, died. It might be even though Najwa's trying to change, she's not ready to give up Trina just yet. But the same can't be said for all the other competitors. With Trina, the Scrabble Queen herself, gone, the throne is empty, and her friends are eager to be the next reigning champion.
Gideon Green in Black and White
By Henry, Katie
Truly Devious meets Turtles All the Way Down in critically acclaimed author Katie Henry's YA contemporary comedic mystery, a hilarious send-up of the hardboiled detective genre that spotlights family, friendship, and love. Gideon's short-lived run as a locally famous boy detective ended when middle school started, and everyone else - including his best friend, Lily - moved on while Gideon kept holding on to his trench coat, fedora, and his treasured film noir collection. Now he's sixteen and officially retired. That is, until Lily shows up suddenly at Gideon's door, needing his help.He might be mad at her for cutting him off with no explanation, but Gideon can't turn down a case. As a cover, Gideon joins Lily on the school paper. Surprisingly, he finds himself warming up to the welcoming, close-knit staff .
Running
By Natalia, Sylvester,
When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Marianna Ruiz's father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your hero--while the whole country is watching.
Not So Pure and Simple
By Giles, Lamar
An Indie Next List Pick!In his first contemporary teen novel, critically acclaimed author and two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles spotlights the consequences of societal pressure, confronts toxic masculinity, and explores the complexity of what it means to be a "real man."Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she's finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del's right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he's inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn't believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del's not about to lose his dream girl, and that's where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers' questions ... about sex ed.With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can't think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it'll all sort itself out. Right?
Once Upon a Quinceaera
By Gomez-hira, Monica
"Eighteen-year-old Carmen takes on a summer internship that has her reuniting with estranged family for an over-the-top quinceanera, reluctantly reconnecting to a long-lost ex-boyfriend, and finding happiness in the chaos"--
When You Were Everything
By Ashley, Woodfolk,
For fans of Nina LaCour's We Are Okay and Adam Silvera's History Is All You Left Me, this heartfelt and ultimately uplifting novel follows one sixteen-year-old girl's friend breakup through two concurrent timelines--ultimately proving that even endings can lead to new beginnings. "Stunning." --Nic Stone, bestselling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out You can't rewrite the past, but you can always choose to start again. It's been twenty-seven days since Cleo and Layla's friendship imploded. Nearly a month since Cleo realized they'll never be besties again. Now Cleo wants to erase every memory, good or bad, that tethers her to her ex-best friend. But pretending Layla doesn't exist isn't as easy as Cleo hoped, especially after she's assigned to be Layla's tutor.
After the Shot Drops
By Ribay, Randy
A powerful novel about friendship, basketball, and one teens mission to create a better life for his family in the tradition of Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers, from National Book Award Finalist Randy Ribay. "Belongs on the shelf alongside contemporary heavy-hitters like Angie Thomass The Hate U Give, Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynoldss All-American Boys, and Nic Stones Dear Martin." - School Library Journal, starred review Bunny and Nasir have been best friends forever, but when Bunny accepts an athletic scholarship across town, Nasir feels betrayed. While Bunny tries to fit in with his new, privileged peers, Nasir spends more time with his cousin, Wallace, who is being evicted. Nasir cant help but wonder why the neighborhood is falling over itself to help Bunny when Wallace is in trouble. When Wallace makes a bet against Bunny, Nasir is faced with an impossible decision - maybe a dangerous one. Told from alternating perspectives, After the Shot Drops is a heart-pounding story about the responsibilities of great talent and the importance of compassion.
Alma Presses Play
By Cane, Tina
Alma's life is a series of halfways: She's half-Chinese, half-Jewish; her parents spend half the time fighting, and the other half silent; and she's halfway through becoming a woman. But as long as she can listen to her Walkman, hang out with her friends on the stoops of the Village, and ride her bike around the streets of New York, it feels like everything will be all right. Then comes the year when everything changes, and her life is overtaken by constant endings: friends move away, romances bloom and wither, her parents divorce and--just like that--her life as she knew it is over. In this world of confusing beginnings, middles, and endings, is Alma ready to press play on the soundtrack of her life?
Where You See Yourself
By Forrest, Claire
By the time Effie Galanos starts her senior year, it feels like she’s already been thinking about college applications for an eternity―after all, finding a college that will be the perfect fit and be accessible enough for Effie to navigate in her wheelchair presents a ton of considerations that her friends don’t have to worry about.
What Effie hasn’t told anyone is that she already knows exactly what school she has her heart set on: a college in NYC with a major in Mass Media & Society that will set her up perfectly for her dream job in digital media. She’s never been to New York, but paging through the brochure, she can picture the person she’ll be there, far from the Minneapolis neighborhood where she's lived her entire life. When she finds out that Wilder (her longtime crush) is applying there too, it seems like one more sign from the universe that it’s the right place for her.
But it turns out that the universe is full of surprises. As Effie navigates her way through a year of admissions visits, senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a lot of firsts--and lasts--she starts to learn that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of. And maybe being more than just friends with Wilder is one of those dreams...