The following young adult books have been checked out of Abbot Public Library most often in 2022:
“All My Rage,” by Sabaa Tahir
A family extending from Pakistan to California deals with generations of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness.
“The Bone Spindle,” by Leslie Vedder
Fi is a bookish treasure hunter with a knack for ruins and riddles, Shane is a tough-as-dirt girl warrior from the north, and Briar Rose is a prince under a sleeping curse, who’s been waiting a hundred years for the kiss that will wake him. Cursed princes are nothing but ancient history to Fi–until she pricks her finger on a bone spindle. Now she’s stuck with the spirit of Briar Rose until she and Shane can break the century-old curse on his kingdom.
“Family of Liars,” by E. Lockhart
A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts. A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow. A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy. A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes.Carrie Sinclair tells the ghost of her son Johnny about the summer of 1987, when “the boys” arrive on Beechwood Island, setting off events that will haunt her for years to come.
“Firekeeper’s Daughter,” by Angeline Boulley
Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother. After witnessing a shocking murder that thrusts her into a criminal investigation, she agrees to go undercover. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. How far will she go to protect her community if it means tearing apart the only world she’s ever known?
“The Girl from the Sea,”by Molly Knox Ostertag
Fifteen-year-old Morgan can’t wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. Morgan’s biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl.Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn’t seem so stifling anymore. But Keltie has some secrets of her own.
“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” by Holly Jackson
As her senior capstone project, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is determined to find the real killer in a closed, local murder case, but not everyone wants her meddling in the past.
“Heartstopper (Series),” by Alice Oseman
Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player NIck Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.
“I Must Betray You,” by Ruta Sepetys
In a country governed by isolation, fear, and a tyrannical dictator, seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer, but he decides to use his position to try to outwit his handler, undermine the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country.
“The Inheritance Games (Series),” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
When a Connecticut teenager inherits vast wealth and an eccentric estate from the richest man in Texas, she must also live with his surviving family and solve a series of puzzles to discover how she earned her inheritance.
“Loveless,” by Alice Oseman
Georgia has parents who are still in love, two sets of grandparents that are still together, and a brother who married his girlfriend, but at eighteen she has never even kissed someone (not even her lesbian best friend, Felipa) or particularly even wanted to; at the prom afterparty she is surrounded by couples making out, and she really does not know what is wrong–but in college she comes to understand herself as asexual/aromantic, and to capture the part of her identity that has always eluded her.
Young adult staff favorites
Young adult librarian Bianca Hezekiah, the head of teen services at Abbot Library, recommends this list of recently published books for teens. Having just returned home to the North Shore after 10 years in New York City, Hezekiah is excited to connect with a new generation of teen readers.
“Ain’t Burned All the Bright,” by Jason Reynolds
Nonfiction and poetry can be intimidating genres to try out, but this spectacular graphic novel is a great entry point. Across dozens of pages of artwork, three powerful sentences illustrate the unique blend of trauma felt by Black communities in 2020. A short but profound must read.
“Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again,” by Shakirah Bourne, Dana Alison Levy
Do you tend to freeze when social situations get awkward or intense? In this collection of essays, 17 YA authors share their experiences with allyship and let readers know that it’s okay to ask for respect, it’s empowering to stand up for others, and there’s always room to grow. A range of engaging voices and perspectives makes this collection as relatable as it is insightful.
“Dreyer’s English: Good Advice for Good Writing (Adapted for Young Readers),” by Benjamin Dreyer
Who knew language could be this fun? Whether you dread writing papers or love penning new stories, there’s still a ton to learn about grammar, writing, and the way we form sentences. It’s neat to read (and think) about how technology has changed the way we communicate through writing, and the lighthearted tone in this book makes it fun and accessible.
“Enemies,” by Svetlana Chmakova
The Berrybrook Middle School books are some of my favorite graphic novels, and this new installment does not disappoint! Sibling rivalry, changing friendships, and complicated feelings all come together in a delightfully relatable story perfect for readers who like realistic fiction.
“If You Could See The Sun,” by Ann Liang
When quiet student Alice gets so stressed out that she actually becomes invisible, she’s convinced that becoming a spy is the answer to all her problems. Set in Beijing, this is a great blend of contemporary fiction, hopeful romance, and a bit of thrilling danger. It’s always nice to read a story that takes place in a totally different cultural setting, and the magical realism element here makes this book even more special.
“Message Not Found,” by Dante Medema
When Bailey loses her best friend Vanessa to a fatal accident, she is overwhelmed by the tragedy. Suspicious of foul play and consumed by grief, Bailey uses texts and social media posts to create an AI program of Vanessa. It’s better to have some version of her best friend than have her totally gone… right? An exploration of friendship, loss, and grief, this is also a totally riveting mystery.
“See You Yesterday,” by Rachel Lynn Solomon
You only get one chance to make a first impression… Unless you’re stuck in a time loop. Barrett is determined to reinvent herself as she starts college, but does personal growth even count if you keep reliving the same day for weeks? This quirky, lighthearted romance is a nice readalike for Nicola Yoon’s Instructions for Dancing.
YA librarian’s most anticipated
These three books are at the top of Hezekiah’s to-read list:
“Foul Lady Fortune,” by Chloe Gong
“The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen,” by Issac Blum
“The Killing Code,” by Ellie Marney
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