Young Adult
The downstairs girl
Stacey (Stacey Heather) Lee
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lee Stacey
Historical Fiction, Young Adult
"1890, Atlanta. By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel Caroline Payne, the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for 'the genteel Southern lady'"--
Beauty : a retelling of the story of Beauty & the beast
Robin McKinley
YOUNG ADULT FICTION McKinley, Robin
Kids, Fantasy, Young Adult
Kind Beauty grows to love the Beast at whose castle she is compelled to stay and through her love releases him from the spell which had turned him from a handsome prince into an ugly beast.
A very detailed and descriptive adaptation of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast! The pace of the story moves more slowly, allowing the reader to really understand the character development, relationships, and the magical setting of the tale. Beautifully written! -Becky
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Kerri Maniscalco
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Maniscal Kerri
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Young Adult
A gothic murder mystery set in gritty Victorian-era London, where an intrepid society girl finds herself embroiled in the investigation of a serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.
The mixing of old Whitechapel London, family secrets, and a killer on the loose gives off the perfect recipe for a dark, atmospheric who-dun-it mystery. -Callie
The luxe
Anna Godbersen
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Godbersen, Anna
Historical Fiction, Young Adult
In Manhattan in 1899, five teens of different social classes lead dangerously scandalous lives, despite the strict rules of society and the best-laid plans of parents and others.
Beautiful dresses, deceptive suitors, and high-society galas...what more could you need? -Callie
With the fire on high
Elizabeth Acevedo
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Acevedo Elizabet
Young Adult
"Teen mother Emoni Santiago struggles with the challenges of finishing high school and her dream of working as a chef." --
This book tugged at my heart strings in the best possible way. Seeing a young woman's determination to tread water in a world set against her made this book an instant favorite. Plus, there are some wonderful recipes included in the book! -Callie
Wayward son
Rainbow Rowell
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Rowell Rainbow
Young Adult
"Simon Snow is back and he's coming to America! The story is supposed to be over. Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after... So why can't Simon Snow get off the couch? What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light... That's how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West. They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place... With Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first. It's another helping of sour cherry scones with an absolutely decadent amount of butter. Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero's journey might be over--but your life has just begun"--
Rainbow does it again! I know of no other author with such a knack for writing and creating characters to absolutely fall in love with (SHEPARD <3 <3 <3). If you liked "Carry On," you're going to like this--no doubt about it. It ends on a cliffhanger (curses!), but Rainbow has already announced a follow up: "Any Way the Wind Blows." I can't wait! -Brian
The Giver
Lois Lowry
GRAPHIC NOVEL Lowry
Graphic Novels, Young Adult
Jonas' life assignment is as the Receiver of Memory, where he will apprentice the Giver and become a storehouse of all the things humanity left behind when it entered utopia: color, emotion, and even more complicated secrets.
Lois Lowry's classic novel smoothly makes its transition to comics, and fans of and newcomers to the book will be captivated by the visual storytelling. -Angie
Carry on : the rise and fall of Simon Snow
Rainbow Rowell
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Rowell Rainbow
Young Adult
"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here -- it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up"--
I'm re-reading this in anticipation of its sequel "Wayward Son." I wasn't wild about this book the first time that I read it, which is shocking since I usually love anything Rainbow writes. I think it was an expectations things, because I'm liking it A LOT more this time. -Brian
Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone
J. K Rowling
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Rowling, J. K.
Fantasy, Young Adult
Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
Added by Beth
When we collided
Emery Lord
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lord Emery
Young Adult
Can seventeen-year-old Jonah save his family restaurant from ruin, his mother from her sadness, and his danger-seeking girlfriend Vivi from herself?
Added by Brian
This is such a wonderful historical fiction story! I loved learning about the different social classes of 1980's Atlanta! Also, the main character is SO great! -Callie