In June and July, we'll be hosting Read with Pride book clubs featuring Fat Angie by E.E Charlton-Trujillo, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Drop in and see us. Below are some great new YA picks to check out!
BABY TEETH.
GREHAN, MEG.
ON ORDER BOOK
Love, loss, and identity form the core of this sparse, free-verse vampire story from Ireland. Immy narrates a small slice of her eternal life, a time when she experiences a love like never before. In this interesting take on vampires, Immy lives numerous consecutive lives as different people: Although she mostly doesn’t remember her past selves, she feels them all inside herself, leading to constant internal turmoil. In the present day, Immy meets human mortal Claudia at a flower shop, and the two begin a relationship. Immy believes this love is stronger than anything she’s ever felt, but as her love turns more and more into a desire for blood, she questions the kinds of relationships she’s capable of having. The main consistent thread through all Immy’s lives is her found family. Freddie and Henry are vampires like her, and the three of them have managed to find one another in each of their lives, always caring for and loving each other. This poetic tale captures so much emotion through meaningful word choices, repetition, and line breaks. It’s incredible how deep characterization comes through in so few words: Immy’s longing and grief are potent, the Sapphic love is consuming and heartbreaking, and the unconditional support among Immy, Freddie, and Henry feels pure and comforting. Readers who feel seen in these pages will pore over the feeling-laden verses again and again. Characters are assumed White. Emotionally rich and gloriously queer. (author interview) (Verse fiction. 14-18)
Home field advantage
Adler, Dahlia, author.
ON ORDER BOOK
Amber McCloud's dream is to become cheer captain at the end of the year, but after the football team's quarterback dies in an accident and is replaced by a girl, Amber knows she should work against this unliked Jaclyn to keep her cheer status but the two fall for each other.
Kings of B'more
Thomas, R. Eric, author.
ON ORDER BOOK
Propelled by his best friend's impending move out of state and inspired by Ferris Bueller's Day Off, sixteen-year-old Harrison plans a farewell through Baltimore that includes a road trip, their first Pride, and a rooftop dance party.
Man o' war
McCarthy, Cory, author.
ON ORDER BOOK
On a field trip to SeaPlanet, seventeen-year-old Arab-American high school swimmer River McIntyre has a chance encounter with Indy, a happy, healthy queer person, which sets off a wrenching journey of self-discovery, from internalized homophobia and gender dysphoria, through layers of coming out, affirmation surgery, and true love.
The comedienne's guide to pride.
Thomson, Hayli.
ON ORDER BOOK
Taylor Parker isn't out yet, but she's keeping an even bigger secret: she entered a sketch contest where the grand prize is an internship at SNL. When Taylor applied to this opportunity for marginalized writers, she checked the "LGBTQ" box on the application without really thinking about it. But now that she's a finalist, she realizes she'll need to be out to win. Whether she's ready or not. In the month leading up to the competition results, Taylor befriends Charlotte Grey, whom Taylor's had a crush on for years. As they spend more time together, they realize they're genuinely falling for each other--and while Charlotte is willing to take it slow, Taylor doesn't want to ask her to keep their relationship secret forever. Taylor just hopes she can muster the courage to come out before all her secrets do.- review form Goodreads
Only on the Weekends.
Atta, Dean.
ON ORDER BOOK
From the Stonewall Award-winning author of The Black Flamingo comes a romantic coming-of-age novel in verse about the beautiful--and sometimes painful--fallout of pursuing the love we deserve. The ideal next read for fans of Kacen Callender, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Becky Albertalli. Fifteen-year-old Mack is a hopeless romantic--likely a hazard of growing up on film sets thanks to his father's job. Mack has had a crush on Karim for as long as he can remember and he can't believe it when gorgeous, popular Karim seems into him too. But when Mack's father takes on a new directing project in Scotland, Mack has to move away, and soon discovers how painful long-distance relationships can be. It's awful to be so far away from Karim, and it's made worse by the fact that Karim can be so hard to read. Then Mack meets actor Finlay on set, and the world turns upside down again. Fin seems fearless--and his confidence could just be infectious. Award-winning author Dean Atta crafts a beautifully nuanced and revelatory story in verse about the exquisite highs and lows of first love and self-discovery.
When you call my name
Shaw, Tucker, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Shaw Tucker
In 1990 New York City, eighteen-year-olds Adam and Ben learn to navigate life, love, and loss as gay teens during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
She gets the girl
Lippincott, Rachael, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lippinco Rachael
Alex Blackwood is really good at getting the girl she wants, but coming from a broken home with an alcoholic mother, she finds commitment difficult - even when she thinks she is in love. Impossibly awkward Molly Parker has a crush on the cool Cora Myers, but she does not know how to even start a conversation, much less make a connection. At college together in Pittsburgh, Alex decides that helping Molly snag Cora will prove to her own flame that she is not totally selfish - but things do not work out as the two have planned.
A million quiet revolutions
Gow, Robin, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Gow Robin
Two seventeen-year-old trans boys in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, struggling to understand themselves and their love for each other, are inspired by an online story about trans soldiers who fell in love during the American Revolution.
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe
Sáenz, Benjamin Alire.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Saenz Benjamin
Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.