Staff Picks
Spring Has Sprung
- Kei G.
- Saturday, March 30
Collection
Lighthearted reads perfect for the season; These spring-themed teen novels whisk readers away on delightful adventures filled with budding romance, refreshing growth, and self-discovery. From blooming friendships to whimsical escapades, these stories capture the essence of springtime.
Writing in Color
Fourteen Writers on the Lessons We've Learned
Published in 2023
"Rethink the way you approach writing in this revolutionary and informative new anthology from fourteen diverse authors that demystifies craft and authorship based on their experiences as writers of color--perfect for fans of Fresh Ink and Our Stories, Our Voices"-- Provided by publisher.
How Maya Got Fierce
Published in 2022
"She may be a California farm girl, but seventeen-year-old Maya's vision board is all about Fashion and Fierce--the New York City women's magazine she's been reading since she was ten. As the oldest daughter of Punjabi garlic farmers, though, Maya's path is set, and it's off to Cow camp for the summer. When she lands in the New York City area, Maya learns that her cousin's girlfriend works at Fierce--and realizes that her wildest dreams may just be in reach. She scores a coveted internship interview and gets an offer. But accepting the position means secretly quitting Cow camp and rejecting her parents' plans for her. One other (major) glitch: Maya's bosses at Fierce, thinking she's twenty-six, hire her as the assistant editor, not an intern. Oops. May is well on the way to making her dreams come true, even if the glam life at Fierce isn't quite as shiny and fun as she had hoped. When she suggest the perfect candidate for a big story--and manages to get the scoop--all eyes are on her. How long can Maya keep her real age from her boss ... and her real life from her parents?"--Provided by publisher.
All-American Muslim Girl
Published in 2019
Sixteen-year-old Allie, aged seven when she knew her family was different and feared, struggles to claim her Muslim and Arabic heritage while finding her place as an American teenager.
The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad
Published in 2022
Aspiring screenwriter Altuna Rashad has big plans for the last summer before she leaves Ontario, California, for the college in Georgia, the most important of which is securing the loving attention of her crush, Tristan Dangerfield; however she also has to get out from the obsessive over-protectiveness of her older brother, Robby, who mocks their family's devotion to the old Caribbean traditions and superstitions, while grieving the loss of his life partner, David--Tuna is convinced the omens prove that the ancestors are on her side, but sometimes the ancestors need a little help from the living.
Tokyo Ever After
Published in 2021
After learning that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan, Izumi travels to Tokyo, where she discovers that Japanese imperial life--complete with designer clothes, court intrigue, paparazzi scandals, and a forbidden romance with her handsome but stoic bodyguard--is a tough fit for the outspoken and irreverent eighteen-year-old from northern California.
Getting over Max Cooper
Published in 2022
Sixteen-year-old Jazz worries when her best friend Macy displays obsessive behavior over an ex-boyfriend.
My Fair Brady
Published in 2024
"Wade Westmore is used to being in the spotlight. So when he's passed over for the lead in the spring musical, it comes as a major blow--especially when the role goes to his ex-boyfriend, Reese...Shy sophomore Elijah Brady is used to being overlooked. Forget not knowing his name--most of his classmates don't even know he exists. So when he joins the stage crew for the musical, he seems destined to blend into the scenery. When the two have a disastrous backstage run-in, Elijah proposes an arrangement that could solve both boys' problems: If Wade teaches Elijah how to be popular, Wade can prove that he cares about more than just himself"-- Provided by publisher.
Forever is Now
Published in 2023
When sixteen-year-old Sadie, a Black bisexual recluse, develops agoraphobia the summer before her junior year, she relies on her best friend, family, and therapist to overcome her fears.
This Might Get Awkward
Published in 2022
"Seventeen-year-old Gemma's favorite kind of beach is an empty one. Social interactions are too much for her to handle. She always says the wrong thing--if she manages to say anything at all. She can't even bring herself to speak to her longtime crush, Beau Booker, without losing sleep over her own awkwardness. During a solo outing to her favorite beach, Gemma realizes--to her horror--that the popular kids from school have shown up to throw a party. Before she can sneak away (and possibly puke behind her car) Gemma is pulled into the action and ends up talking to Beau, who asks her to pretend that they're 'close.' Gemma is too flustered and flattered to refuse, and mostly, she's wondering why Beau is talking to her at all . . . right up until the moment when he falls off the boat, hits his head, and ends up in a coma. After rescuing Beau from the water, Gemma is mistaken for Beau's girlfriend by his friends and family, including his mysterious older brother, Griff, who has returned to town after a year away. Gemma tries to correct the record, but her social anxiety (and a nosy reporter) gets in the way at every turn. Before she knows it, she's in too deep to backtrack. And when Beau's warm, boisterous family pulls Gemma into their orbit, she realizes how much she wants to keep them in her life. For the first time, Gemma has everything she's ever wanted: friends, big family dinners, and Griff--a boy who she can be herself around. But how can she embrace her new dream life when everything is built on a lie?"--Dust jacket.
Self-made Boys
A Great Gatsby Remix
Published in 2022
"Three teens chase their own version of the American Dream during the Roaring 20s in this YA remix of The Great Gatsby"-- Provided by publisher.
With a Little Luck
Published in 2024
After being magically gifted with incredible luck, sixteen-year-old Jude discovers this gift just may be a curse when it comes to love.
Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things
Published in 2022
Sisters Nidhi, Avani, Sirisha, and Rani experience romance and coming-of-age while working at their family's inn on Orcas Island.
Pride and Premeditation
Published in 2020
Seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seeks to solve a murder before her rival Mr. Darcy beats her to it.
You Asked for Perfect
Published in 2019
Ariel Stone is the perfect college applicant until a failed Calculus quiz sends his grades into a tailspin that can only be halted by a handsome tutor, but adding a burgeoning romance to his other commitments may push Ariel past his limit.
Give Me a Sign
Published in 2023
Seventeen-year-old Lilah, who wears hearing aids, returns to a summer camp for the Deaf and Blind as a counselor, eager to improve her ASL and find her place in the community, but she did not expect to also find romance along the way.
Nick and June Were Here
Published in 2019
Nick and June were best friends for years, until their relationship suddenly turned into something more. Now, June is coping with a new diagnosis of schizophrenia, a secret she asked Nick to keep for too long. Between managing her symptoms and her parents, June is just trying to keep it together. Nick is a reluctant car thief, supporting his aunt with the money and focusing on his art whenever he can. But when June's condition sends her to the hospital and Nick's latest crime threatens to land him in prison, the two decide to run away. When the world is trying to tear them apart, can Nick and June find a way to stay together? This emotional, lyrical novel will tug at your heartstrings and make you think twice about what you would give up for love, even if it's a piece of yourself.
Fatima Tate Takes the Cake
Published in 2023
Aspiring baker seventeen-year-old Fatima navigates the challenges of parental and communal expectations in her strict Muslim community while staying true to her dreams.
Going off Script
Published in 2019
"Seventeen-year-old Bex is thrilled when she gets an internship on her favorite tv show, Silver Falls. Unfortunately, the internship isn't quite what she expected... instead of sitting in a crowded writer's room volleying ideas back and forth, Production Interns are stuck picking up the coffee. Determined to prove her worth as a writer, Bex drafts her own script and shares it with the head writer--who promptly reworks it and passes it off as his own! Bex is understandably furious, yet...maybe this is just how the industry works? But when they rewrite her proudly lesbian character as straight, that's the last straw! It's time for Bex and her crush to fight back.."--Amazon.