YA Booktalks Quick and Simple

Charbonneau, Joelle. VERIFY

2019-10-07T06:18:00.001-04:00

Charbonneau, Joelle.
VERIFY
New York, NY : HarperTeen, [2019]
IL YA
ISBN 9780062803627

Meri Beckley is trying very hard to move on from her mother's death. It is hard. Her father drinks himself to sleep every night and is just not there for her. All she has left is her mother's art. There is one painting that isn't finished and Meri wants to be able to finish it. But it is so different from what her mother usually painted. Actually, the last few paintings have been different. As Meri walks around the city, she starts seeing what her mother painted. And then it happens. A stranger hands her a piece of paper with the word "verify" written on it. Paper has been outlawed for years. And there is no such word as verify. Now Meri is on a quest to understand this word and to find a way to finish what her mother started.

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. HEY, KIDDO

2019-09-05T08:09:00.001-04:00

Krosoczka, Jarrett J.
HEY, KIDDO
New York : Scholastic, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 9780545902489

You may have read Krosoczka's graphic novels. But do you know the story of the man growing up to be a famous author? Jarrett was born in Worcester, MA to a single mother and absent father. His mother was also a heroin addict. When he was in preschool, his grandparents stepped in and took custody of him. He lived with them and several of his aunts. The family dynamics were complicated and Jarrett seldom got to see his mother. This is his memoir about growing up with his grandparents. They sometimes drank too much and fought too much. But above all, they loved Jarrett and wanted him to have a wonderful life.

Stone, Peter. THE PERFECT CANDIDATE

2019-05-26T05:36:00.001-04:00

Stone, Peter.
THE PERFECT CANDIDATE
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 9781534422179
Cameron Carter can't believe this is happening. He has been chosen to spend the summer in Washington DC. He is going to be a summer intern for one of the most powerful congressmen in the country. This is an opportunity that someone like him usually doesn't get. He comes from a small town in California and his father is a struggling landscaper. But now his is working for the next Speaker. Cameron has always dreamed of this. His mother had interned in DC when she was his age. She was killed in a car accident years ago but Cameron feels a bit closer to her as he follows her journey. But as exciting as it all is, it doesn't take Cameron long to figure out that things are not what they seem.

Charbonneau, Joelle. EDEN CONQUERED

2019-05-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

Charbonneau, Joelle.
EDEN CONQUERED
New York : HarperCollins, 2019
IL YA
ISBN 9780062453884

When their father and older brother were killed, they were the next in line for the kingdom. But as twins, there was no clear successor to the throne. And no one knows which twin was born first. The elders decided to put Carys and Andreus through the Trials of Virtuous Seccession. As the first book ends, Carys is assumed dead and Andreus has become king. But Andreus is not sure he is ready to rule. There are many around him who are plotting against him. And the lights in the city are going out. The lights are the only thing that are keeping the monsters in the hills from invading the city. Then Andreus finds a note from Carys that says she is alive and will be coming back to claim the throne. Join Andreus and Carys as they each try to save the kingdom of Eden.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. SHOUT

2019-05-10T10:17:00.002-04:00

Anderson, Laurie Halse.
SHOUT
New York : Viking, 2019
IL YA
ISBN 9780670012107
Best selling author, Laurie Halse Anderson has written a memoir of her own childhood and coping with sexual assault. When she was just thirteen years old, Anderson was attacked by a boy she trusted. This changed her world. She writes how she tried to cope and how she eventually turned her life around and now is an advocate for children who find themselves as victims.

Lippincott, Rachael. FIVE FEET APART

2019-02-05T08:09:00.001-05:00

Lippincott, Rachael.
FIVE FEET APART
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 9781534437333

Stella is back in the hospital. She has been in and out forever. Stella has cystic fibrosis and it is getting worse. This time she needs to miss the big school trip to Cabo because her lung function is so low. She is now at the top of the list for a lung transplant. Her best CF friend Poe is back in the hospital again also. Stella and Poe met on her first visit to the hospital and have become besties. This year there is a new teen on the floor. Will has CF but he has contracted a virus that makes him ineligible for a transplant. He is taking part in a trial of a new medicine. He is defiant and doesn't take his meds or use his vest. He is determined to walk away from all this treatment when he turns 18 in a few weeks. Stella knows she has to stay away from Will. The rule with CF patients is they need to stay six feet apart. No exceptions. But as they get to know each other, Stella wonders if maybe five feet is safe enough.

Del Rosario, Juleah. 500 WORDS OR LESS

2018-09-25T17:25:00.000-04:00

Del Rosario, Juleah.
500 WORDS OR LESS
New York : Simon Pulse, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 9781534410442

Nic is a senior in a high school where everyone is obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college. Nic is taking all AP courses and studying whenever she can. She tries not to think about Ben, her ex-boyfriend. The love of her life that she cheated on. He has transferred to another school and many of her classmates won't let her forget it. As she tries to figure out who she is, she finds an escape. She starts writing college essays for those same kids who blame her for Ben leaving. But in writing the essays, Nic finds she is getting to know the kids better and maybe learning about herself.

Ness, Patrick. THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE

2018-08-10T06:03:00.001-04:00

Ness, Patrick.
THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE
New York : HarperTeen, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 978-0-06-240316-2
Mikey and his friends just want to get through the next few weeks. Prom and graduation and then off to college. But things are happening in the town that are going unnoticed by many. If you aren't the Chosen One, it's easy to ignore things. But the Indie kids are there to help. All Mikey wants to do is go out with Henna. The story is told in separate narratives -- one about the Indie kids and the coming of the Immortal Ones. And then the rest of the kids who just live there.

Strasser, Todd. PRICE OF DUTY

2018-08-01T06:54:00.001-04:00

Strasser, Todd.
PRICE OF DUTY
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 978-1-48149-709-1
Jake Liddell has been sent home to recover from his wounds. And he has come home as a hero. He is probably going to be presented the Silver Star. Jake comes from a tradition of military heroes so it makes sense that he is now also considered a hero. His grandfather is a retired general and has lined up lots of events to honor Jake. But Jake cannot shake the horrors of war. Nor can he shake his doubts about the war. The forever war that has no end. Thinking about all his training in JROTC and the promises of the recruiter just make him angrier. All the promises that lure boys into the military with hefty signing bonuses and thoughts of college after service. If they live through it.

Silvera, Adam. THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END

2018-07-09T07:27:00.000-04:00

Silvera, Adam.
THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END

Mateo freezes when the phone rings a little past midnight. It can't be. He is only 18 and hasn't even lived yet. Rufus is beating up Peck when his phone rings a bit later. He tries to ignore the call but knows he can't. Death Cast has called them both. In a future world, Death Cast decides who lives and dies. When you get your call, you are told you will die within the next 24 hours. You don't know when or how but it will happen. Rufus and his friends at the orphanage decide to hold his funeral so he can go out laughing with friends. But Peck has filed a complaint and called the police about the beating. Now Rufus is alone and on the run. Not a great way to spend your last day. Mateo usually stays in the apartment playing video games and is afraid to go outside. Both boys decide they don't want to spend their last day alone so reach out to Last Friend. This is a site where you can find someone to spend your day with. The two boys with nothing in common spend the day together finding out about each other. And about themselves. One thing we know. They both die in the end.

Shusterman, Neal. SCYTHE

2018-06-29T06:09:00.002-04:00

Shusterman, Neal.
SCYTHE
New York : Simon and Shuster, 2016
IL YA
ISBN 978-1-44247-242-6

Way back in the year is 2042, humans conquered death and now everyone is immortal. That's right. No one can die. Well they can be deadish but then revived. And they can even decide to become younger. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? But of course if no one can die, the world gets more and more crowded. So Scythes came into being. The Scythes are specially hand picked and trained in the art of gleaning. Gleaning is killing. But when a Scythe gleans someone, they stay dead. This helps keep the population from becoming overwhelming. When Citra and Rowan are picked to be scythe apprentices, they are both confused. Neither one wants to be a scythe and find the thought of gleaning abhorrent. They do agree to be apprentices because their families are granted immunity during their training. The apprenticeship is hard and neither particularly want to be successful. They are both apprenticed to the same Scythe which is unheard of. The Conclave of Scythes allows it to continue on the condition that whoever becomes a scythe must glean the other. There are many unexpected events along the way which will keep the reader going and trying to figure out what is going to happen.

Lockhart, E. GENUINE FRAUD

2018-06-22T06:18:00.001-04:00

Lockhart, E.
GENUINE FRAUD
New York : Delecorte Press, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 978-0-385-74477-5

Starting the book with Chapter 18, we meet Julie. She is at a Mexican resort pretending she is something she is not. She is using a fake accent and you just get the feeling she is on the run. But from what? Julie's story is told in reverse chronicle order so we are left to figure out what is going on. We know that her best friend, Imogen, has committed suicide but we don't know why. As the story unfolds, we follow Julie as she tells her story of her childhood and her meeting Imogen and how they become friends. This is a suspenseful mystery and we keep trying to figure out what is happening. And many times we are wrong.

Iturbe, Antonio. THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ

2018-06-21T06:15:00.001-04:00

Iturbe, Antonio.
THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ
New York : Godwin Books, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 978-1-62779-618-7
This is a Holocaust story but one you may not have heard before. We meet Dita as a prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau. But she is part of Block 31, a group of prisoners who allowed to keep their own clothing and have a bit more freedom than the others but it is still a hard existence. A young man named Freddy Hirsch is able to provide schooling to the children and some adults in secret. Dita is 14 and loves reading. The Nazis have burned books and very few remain. But there are 8 books in Block 31. Eight precious books that must be hidden from the guards for fear they will be taken away. Dita finds a way to hide the books and actually loan them out to other prisoners. If she is caught, it could mean her death. This is based on a true story from the camps. Many of the people in the story survived the camps and were able to tell their story. Do you cherish books as much as those in the camps did?

Engle, Margarita. JAZZ OWLS : A NOVEL OF THE ZOOT SUIT RIOTS

2018-06-11T06:15:00.001-04:00

Engle, Margarita.
JAZZ OWLS : A NOVEL OF THE ZOOT SUIT RIOTS
New York : Atheneum Books, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 978-1-53440-943-9

It's the 1940s in LA and the United States is at war. But that doesn't stop some teens from wanting to have fun. There is a dance club that they love to go to. Two Mexican American sisters work at a peach cannery during the day and go to the dance club at night. They are escorted by their brother who loves the club also. He loves getting dressed up in his zoot suit and dancing the night away. Jazz music plays and salsa rhythms entice the teens to dance. They welcome the sailors from the local port and the Jazz Owl girls are always happy to dance with the sailors. But as the summer goes on, things get tense. The young white sailors start beating the Mexican Americans. They begin targeting anyone wearing a zoot suit as do the police. It has become know as the zoot suit riots and Engle tells the story of racial riots in 1943.

Charbonneau, Joelle. TIME BOMB

2018-06-10T06:21:00.001-04:00

Charbonneau, Joelle.
TIME BOMB
New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 978-0-544-41670-3

Another school year starts tomorrow. This may be a time when many students are looking forward to the new year. But not all of them. Diana is tired of being the perfect daughter of a politician. Cas knows that this school is no different from the other and she knows this year will not any better. Rashid who is so sick of people looking at him and judging him for being Muslim. Frankie, the star football player who made a mistake this past summer with Tad, who is biracial and gay. Then there is Z, the angry young man who has just lost his mother and everything he had. They each have a plan to change things up in the school today. But only one of them is planning to bomb the school. And now they are trapped together trying to survive. All but one of them.

McGhee, Alison. WHAT I LEAVE BEHIND

2018-05-25T06:22:00.001-04:00

McGhee, Alison.
WHAT I LEAVE BEHIND
New York : Atheneum, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 978-1-48147-656-0

Walking helps Will cope with his life. His father died and Will is coping. That is when he started walking. He works at the Dollar One store and then walks around LA. He meets people along the way and forms a type of relationship with them. There is Butterfly boy and others along his route. He has real friends too. Playa has been a good friend since they were little. When bad things keep happening, Will knows he has to get out of his funk and start making a difference in his world. Is that even possible?

An, Na. THE PLACE BETWEEN BREATHS

2018-04-17T06:43:00.001-04:00

An, Na.
THE PLACE BETWEEN BREATHS
New York : Atheneum, 2018
IL YA
ISBN 9781481422253

Grace King is smart and very mature for her 16 years. Having grown up with a father who was studying schizophrenia and trying to find a cure, Grace has had the opportunity to work in a lab that was doing genetic research. She is a quiet young lady and takes her internship seriously. Her mother left the family many years ago suffering with schizophrenia and Grace is determined to help her father find a cure. Her attention to detail uncovers a coding mistake in some of the testing. Could this lead to the breakthrough the lab needs to find the cure? And will Grace be able to find her mother to offer the cure? Full of twists and turns, and told in first, second and third person, this is a story that will keep you wondering what is really going on.

Ness, Patrick. RELEASE

2018-02-20T06:18:00.001-05:00

Ness, Patrick.
RELEASE
New York : HarperTeen, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0062403192

A day in the life of Adam, a rising senior who is having a very full day. It may just be the worst day of his life. His ex-boyfriend is leaving. His best friend has been murdered by her meth-addicted boyfriend. He is being harassed by his boss. And he is going to come out to his homophobic evangelical pastor father. Oh, did I mention that his brother who is a seminary student has gotten his girlfriend pregnant? What a day. Come along with Adam as he tries to get through it all.

Zoboi, Ibi. AMERICAN STREET

2018-02-19T06:23:00.003-05:00

Zoboi, Ibi.
AMERICAN STREET
New York : Balzer + Bray, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0062473042

Fabiola Toussaint and her mother are on their way to America. Life in Haiti is hard and they are looking forward moving to Detroit with her aunt and cousins. But at the airport, the unthinkable happens. Fabiola's mother is detained by ICE and taken away. She tells Fabiola to keep going and get to Detroit. This is not how it is supposed to be. But Fabiola has no other option. She arrives in Detroit and is taken in by her family. But this is not the way she pictured life. The life in Detroit is not easy. There is abuse and drugs everywhere. Fabiola must survive in this and she must find a way to get her mother here. This is a stark look at what many immigrants find on their search for the American dream.

Bardugo, Leigh. WONDER WOMAN : WARBRINGER

2018-02-10T06:46:00.001-05:00

Bardugo, Leigh.
WONDER WOMAN : WARBRINGER
New York : Random House, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0399549730

I know, I know. You have heard the backstory of Wonder Woman many times. But I think this one is new and enjoyable. Yes all the things you love about Wonder Woman are here but it is a new story. We meet Diana on the island and she is trying to prove herself to the others. But she can't leave a teenage girl out in the ocean to die. So she rescues Alia from a shipwreck and brings her back to the island. This is not just any girl. The oracle tells Diana that Alia is the warbringer and unless the two can reach Themyscira, global war will be inevitable. Alia doesn't make it easy though.

Aguirre, Ann. VANGUARD

2018-02-01T06:20:00.001-05:00

Aguirre, Ann.
VANGUARD
New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 1250089824

The war is over and now we find our heroes settling into ordinary life. But not Tegan. She still longs for adventure and is not content just living this new life. So she takes her medical skills and signs on as a ship's doctor. Accompanying her is Millie and Morrow. And the Uroch Vanguard, Szorak. He is on a mission to find a new homeland for his people. Tegan decides to help him and the two will find adventure enough to last a lifetime. And maybe more than they could have hoped for.

Macgregor, Virginia. WISHBONES

2018-01-29T06:25:00.001-05:00

Macgregor, Virginia.
WISHBONES
New York : HQ, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0008217297
When Feather returns home on New Year's Eve, she finds her mother unconscious on the floor. When the paramedics come to take her to the hospital, they are faced with a difficult task. You see, Feather's mom is overweight. Not just overweight but morbidly overweight. She weighs over 500 pounds and the paramedics need to get a crane to lift her out of the house. Needless to say, there are a lot of people watching, laughing and taking pictures. This is why she never leaves the house. Feather overhears the nurses in the hospital say that Jo has only about 6 months to live if she doesn't do something about the weight. And now Feather is determined to get her mother healthy through diet and exercise. It won't be easy when her mother won't cooperate and her father won't help. Feather enlists the help of her best friend and the new boy in the neighborhood who if fighting his own battles. Can Feather find out why her mother is like this? Will she be able to help her mother?

Reynolds, Jason. LONG WAY DOWN

2018-01-21T06:41:00.002-05:00

Reynolds, Jason.
LONG WAY DOWN
New York : Atheneum, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 1481438255

Will is on his way to avenge his brother's shooting. That's the rule. The rules that Shawn taught him. "Don’t cry, don’t snitch, always get revenge." And now 15-year-old Will has his brother's gun tucked into his waistband and he will get revenge. He gets in the elevator and pushes the button on the way to his brother's killer. Seven floors away. At each floor, the elevator stops and someone gets in. But these are people who Will knows. And they are all people who have died from gun violence. As Will takes the short ride in the elevator, he begins to learn about the Rules. And what they have cost.

Farish, Terry. THE GOOD BRAIDER

2018-01-12T06:20:00.001-05:00

Farish, Terry.
THE GOOD BRAIDER
New York : Skyscrape, 2012
IL YA
ISBN 1477816283
Viola's life began in Juba in Sudan. The country is a war and it isn't safe for anyone. The family would love to leave but the village is surrounded by land mines and trying to escape is a very dangerous venture. But Viola, her mother and younger brother are able to get out and make the long trek to Khartoum and eventually Cairo. After years in the refugee camp, they finally get their paperwork to go to the United States. But they have lost so much on the way, including her brother. Life in Portland Maine is so different and Viola reflects on her life and the differences between her old life and the new one.

Alexander, Kwame. SOLO

2018-01-07T06:34:00.001-05:00

Alexander, Kwame.
SOLO
New York : Blink, 2017
IL YA
ISBN 0310761832

Boy, you would think that Blade has it made! He is the son of a famous rock star. He lives in a mansion and has everything he could possible want. And he is smart. He is even asked to give the commencement speech at graduation. Blade writes a song for the event and is looking forward to sharing it with everyone. But just as he starts to play, up rides a crazy man on a motorcycle, screaming and hooting and crashing into the stage. Yep, this is the famous rock star -- Rutherford. And he is drunk again. And he has ruined Blade's big day. Blade has had enough of this fool and his antics. But his sister begs him to give her father another chance. In a heated argument with her, the truth comes out. Blade is adopted. How could he not know that? This is when his journey begins. He is determined to find his birth mother and ask her why she gave him up. The journey eventually takes him to Africa and to some truths that he could never have imagine.