Books for Older Teens
5 Centimeters per Second
By Makoto Shinkai; art by Yukiko Seike
(Teen Graphic Novel)
This beautiful anime-to-book adaptation tells a different sort of love story about those individuals you can never quite forget. When Takaki Tohno and Akari Shinohara meet in grade school, they immediately form a special bond. As time goes on, they inevitably drift apart, but still try to stay in touch. This manga is perfect for the otaku in your life.
Out of the Easy
By Ruta Sepetys
(Teen Fiction)
It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test. With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.
The Name of the Star ( Shades of London series #1)
By Maureen Johnson
(Teen Fiction)
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper in the autumn of 1888. Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police now believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.
Eleanor and Park
By Rainbow Rowell
(Teen Fiction)
This is a story about first love. Two misfit teens, Eleanor and Park, find themselves sitting together on the bus, and over the course of time overcome their shyness to find bittersweet romance.
No Safety in Numbers
By Dayna Lorentz
(Teen Fiction)
A bio-toxin bomb has gone off in a mall, and we learn the story of what’s going on through the voices of four teens who are among the thousands trapped inside. Information is scarce, but the pages will keep turning as the claustrophobia and desperation grow. Perfect for the reluctant reader who prefers a good thriller.
The Brimstone Journals
By Ron Koertge
(Teen Fiction)
This book is narrated by 15 fictional teenage characters from the 2001 class of Branston High School; each with their own teenage stereotype, such as the jock, the smart one, the good girl, the fat kid, the anorexic, the rich boy, etc. Boyd, one of the teen boys, who had been neglected by his alcoholic father, decides to make a target list of people from the school, and along with his new friend Mike has devised a plan to take them all out. Hearing this news leads other characters to think of ways to take care of their own problems. The violence aspect makes this book more appropriate for older readers.
Pavement Chalk Artist; the Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever
By Julian Beever
(Teen Non-fiction)
Teens will spend hours poring over this fascinating book chronicling the unique art of Julian Beever, the creator of three-dimensional street art. Included are images of his best work, his creative process, and the challenges he overcame.
Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers
Betsy Franco, ed.
(Teen Non-fiction; Poetry)
A book compiled of love poems from youth, all of different backgrounds. These poems are written by teens in which only names and ages are given, and they touch on topics such as the intensity of love, breaking up, interracial relationships, being gay, flirting, and even jealousy. No matter which stage or shade is expressed, by reading these poems, you will find that love is exquisitely, excruciatingly, and endlessly fascinating.
Tell the World: Teen Poems from WritersCorps
(Teen Non-fiction; Poetry)
This book shares an astounding collection of poems by teens who have taken part in workshops run by WritersCorps, which is a national alliance of literary arts programs for youth. Their words represent the thoughts, hopes, and dreams of teens everywhere, as they offer both insight and empathy. It describes their lives; how they feel, what they love, how they think, and why they hope.
Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing
By Gary Soto
(Teen Non-fiction; Poetry)
Love is like the weather: sometimes stormy, sometimes, sunny, sometimes partly cloudy. The excitement of young love is portrayed in these poems through first kisses to heartbreaks; this book has just enough lighthearted romance to appeal to the younger teenage crowd.
Soulbound; the Legacy of Tril
By Heather Brewer
(Teen Fiction)
In a world where the warrior Barrons and Healers are bound to one another, training Healer Kaya wants to be a warrior. Hoping to go against Protocol and learn in secret, she asks two men to train her; the regulation adherent Barron she is bound to and a mysterious man who seems determined to make Kaya’s life difficult. Who will be the one to change her destiny?
