YA Fiction (Young Adult)

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

NATIONAL BESTSELLER An achingly beautiful novel about grief, the enduring power of friendship, and the healing effects of kindness, from the award-winning author of Hold StillWINNER OF THE MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD ONE OF TIME S BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF ALL TIME KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY Short, poetic and gorgeously written . . . The world LaCour creates is fragile but profoundly humane. The New York Times Book ReviewYou go through life thinking there s so much you need. . . .

Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother. Marin hasn t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.An intimate whisper that packs an indelible punch, We Are Okay is Nina LaCour at her finest. This gorgeously crafted and honest portrayal of grief will leave readers urgent to reach across any distance to reconnect with the people they love.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki

One of FORBES Best Graphic Novels of 2019 On BCCB 2019 Blue Ribbons List

One of NPR’s Best Books of 2019Booklist 2019 Editors’ Choice

One of Bitch Media s Best Queer YA Novels of 2019

Author Mariko Tamaki and illustrator Rosemary Valero-O Connell bring to life a sweet and spirited tale of young love in Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, a graphic novel that asks us to consider what happens when we ditch the toxic relationships we crave to embrace the healthy ones we need.

Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley’s dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There’s just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend.Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy’s best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it’s really Laura Dean that’s the problem. Maybe it’s Freddy, who is rapidly losing her friends, including Doodle, who needs her now more than ever. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnists like Anna Vice to help her through being a teenager in love.

Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera

‘F***ing outstanding.’–Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling authorJuliet Milagros Palante is a self-proclaimed closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx. Only, she’s not so closeted anymore. Not after coming out to her family the night before flying to Portland, Oregon, to intern with her favorite feminist writer–what’s sure to be a life-changing experience. And when Juliet’s coming out crashes and burns, she’s not sure her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan–sort of. Her internship with legendary author Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff, is sure to help her figure out this whole ‘Puerto Rican lesbian’ thing. Except Harlowe’s white. And not from the Bronx. And she definitely doesn’t have all the answers . . . In a summer bursting with queer brown dance parties, a sexy fling with a motorcycling librarian, and intense explorations of race and identity, Juliet learns what it means to come out–to the world, to her family, to herself.

A fist-pumping intersectional feminist power anthem with powerful ideas about sexual, racial, and political identity.
The book addresses white privilege and unintentional racism within feminist circles.

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan

In this YA contemporary queer romance from the author of Hot Dog Girl, an openly gay track star falls for a closeted, bisexual teen beauty queen with a penchant for fixing up old cars. Earnest, wistful, romantic, and real. Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal BlueMorgan, an elite track athlete, is forced to transfer high schools late in her senior year after it turns out being queer is against her private Catholic school’s code of conduct. There, she meets Ruby, who has two hobbies: tinkering with her baby blue 1970 Ford Torino and competing in local beauty pageants, the latter to live out the dreams of her overbearing mother. The two are drawn to each other and can’t deny their growing feelings. But while Morgan–out and proud, and determined to have a fresh start–doesn’t want to have to keep their budding relationship a secret, Ruby isn’t ready to come out yet. With each girl on a different path toward living her truth, can they go the distance together? Beautiful, necessary, and completely irresistible. Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera

‘Even if Holden Caulfield was born in the Bronx in the 1980s, he could never be this awesome.’ Inga Muscio, author of Cunt Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole ‘Puerto Rican lesbian’ thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.

A fist-pumping intersectional feminist power anthem with powerful ideas about sexual, racial, and political identity.
The book addresses white privilege and unintentional racism within feminist circles.

Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst

A sweeping, action-packed, and romantic fantasy full of dangerous magic and dark choices, perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore set in the same world as Of Fire and Stars. Asra is a demigod with a dangerous gift: the ability to dictate the future by writing with her blood. To keep her power secret, she leads a quiet life as a healer on a remote mountain, content to help the people in her care and spend time with Ina, the mortal girl she loves.But Asra s peaceful life is upended when bandits threaten Ina s village and the king does nothing to help. Desperate to protect her people, Ina begs Asra for assistance in finding her manifest the animal she ll be able to change into as her rite of passage to adulthood. Asra uses her blood magic to help Ina, but her spell goes horribly wrong and the bandits destroy the village, killing Ina s family.Unaware that Asra is at fault, Ina swears revenge on the king and takes a savage dragon as her manifest. To stop her, Asra must embark on a journey across the kingdom, becoming a player in lethal games of power among assassins, gods, and even the king himself.Most frightening of all, she discovers the dark secrets of her own mysterious history and the terrible, powerful legacy she carries in her blood.