For Young Readers, Continued

More to the Story

by Hena Khan

Realistic fiction
Ages 9 and up

I adored this modern retelling of Little Women! Jameela wants to be a writer, but life gets hard for her family when their dad has to work overseas for six months. Then her younger sister gets seriously ill, and Jameela’s world turns upside down.

Restart

by Gordon Kormon

Realistic fiction
Ages 9 and up

After Chase falls of his roof, he remembers nothing of his previous life. When he returns back to school, he finds that the students either worship him or fear him, leading him to wonder what kind of person he was before his accident. After confronting his own past, Chase realizes that he has the chance to completely redefine himself.

Legend

by Marie Lu

Sci-fi / Dystopian thriller
Ages 10 and up

What was once the United States is now home to the Republic, a nation constantly at war. Born into an elite family, June is a prodigy being groomed for the Republic's highest military position. Meanwhile, Day grew up in the slums and is now a notorious criminal. Chapters alternate between the two characters, revealing that things are not always as they seem.

Rain Reign

by Ann M. Martin

Realistic fiction
Ages 9 and up

Rose has Asperger's syndrome and is obsessed with homonyms and prime numbers. Her dog Rain is her constant companion, especially since her father doesn't have much patience for his special-needs daughter. When Rain goes missing during a storm, it forces Rose to abandon her routines and safe spaces as she is faced with a very difficult choice.

Nowhere Boy

by Katherine Marsh

Realistic fiction
Ages 10 and up

Ahmed fled a life of uncertainty in Syria, only to lose his father on the perilous journey to Europe. Now Ahmed’s struggling to get by on his own, but starting to lose hope. Then he meets Max, an American boy who is struggling at his new school and just can’t seem to do anything right. With one startling discovery, Max and Ahmed’s lives collide and a friendship begins to grow.

Breakout

by Kate Messner

Realistic fiction

Ages 10 and up

Nora Tucker is working on her contributions to the town's time capsule when two inmates escape from the nearby maximum security prison. Fear can help a community come together, but it can also bring out the worst in people. Told through artifacts for a time capsule, this book sheds lights on important issues like systemic racism and generational prejudices.

The Stars Beneath Our Feet

by David Barclay Moore

Realistic fiction
Ages 10 and up

Lolly and his mom are still reeling from his older brother's death in a gang-related shooting when he receives a gift of Legos, and puts all his frustrations and anger into building something... something big. What a beautiful story about finding your own place in the world, no matter how unconventional it may be.

A Monster Calls

by Patrick Ness

Magical realism
Ages 10 and up

Every day at seven minutes after midnight, Conor wakes up to find a monster outside his window. The monster has several lessons for Conor to learn and wants something terrifying from him in return: the truth. The story is accompanied by haunting illustrations and is a heart-shattering tale of dealing with grief.

Wish

by Barbara O'Connor

Realistic fiction
Ages 9 and up

Charlie knows every possible way to make a wish, and she's been wishing for the same thing forever. But when she's sent to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a stray dog who captures her heart.

Inkling
by Kenneth Oppel

Fantasy, humor
Ages 9 and up

The Rylance family is stuck. Dad's got writer's block. Ethan promised to illustrate a group project, even though he can't draw. Sarah's still pining for a puppy. And they all miss Mom. One night, the ink in Dad's studio leaps off the page, and that small burst of creativity changes everything.

The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Pérez

Realistic fiction

Ages 9 and up

Malú is miserable when her mom announces that they are moving from Florida to start a new life in Chicago. It initially seems like she and her mom have nothing in common, but they learn how to look past these differences and support each other.

Ghost (Track series #1)

by Jason Reynolds

Sports, realistic fiction
Ages 10 and up

A long time ago, Ghost and his mom had to run for their lives, and he still carries the anger from that moment with him. Now, he wants to turn that anger into speed on the track. An engaging read with dynamic and well-developed characters.

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Don't miss the rest of the Track series!

Ghost Boys

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Realistic fiction
Ages 10 and up

When 12-year-old Jerome is mistakenly shot and killed by a police officer, the ghost of Emmett Till guides him through the afterlife. Among friends and family members, Jerome's spirit also communicates with the daughter of the cop who fired the fatal shot, and he realizes that more than one life was shattered by his untimely death.

Amal Unbound

by Aisha Saeed

Realistic fiction
Ages 10 and up

Life is quiet in the Pakistani village where Amal lives. But then the unimaginable happens; after a run-in with the son of her village's corrupt landlord, Amal must work as a servant to pay off her debt. Her dream of becoming a teacher is shattered, and her life will never be the same.

The Rithmatist

by Brandon Sanderson

Fantasy
Ages 10 and up

Joel wants to be a Rithmatist so he can learn how to bring Chalkings to life and fight evil forces... but as the son of a lowly chalkmaker, this can never be his future. But when students start disappearing, Joel is assigned to help the professor investigating the crimes, and he finds himself on the trail of a dangerous discovery.

The Blackthorn Key

by Kevin Sands

Mystery, historical fiction
Ages 10 and up

As an apprentice to Benedict Blackthorn, Christopher was learning how to decipher codes and create potions. But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, and the trail of murders grows closer to Blackthorn’s shop, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover a secret with the power to tear the world apart.

Nightbooks

by J.A. White

Horror/suspense
Ages 10 and up

When Alex is kidnapped by a witch in his own apartment building, telling her the scary stories from his notebook is the only thing keeping her happy and sparing his life for the moment.

Front Desk

by Kelly Yang

Realistic fiction

Ages 8 and up

Mia and her parents are Chinese immigrants who came to America with only $200 in their pockets. They accept a job managing a motel for a horrible man who constantly exploits them, but Mia is strong and earnest and learns how to use the power of words to persuade.