The Agathas

The Agathas 

By Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

Delacorte Press, 2022. 405 pages. Young Adult Mystery 

Alice Ogilvie's disappearance last summer is the biggest scandal at Castle Cove High School--until her ex-boyfriend is accused of murdering his new girlfriend, and Alice must pair up with her tutor Iris Adams to clear his name by relying on the wisdom of Agatha Christie. 

This is a beautiful blend of two authors each writing a character. The plot has some surprises, with just enough hints that the ending isn't a total shocker. But, there is more than just a fluffy mystery. Both Alice and Iris deal with family issues, including abuse, neglect, loneliness, and classism. The ending wraps up the mystery well and feels complete, but leaves room for more books in the future. Perfect for fans of mysteries, teenage friends, and a lack of romance.

If you like The Agathas, you might also like: 

Truly Devious 

By Maureen Johnson 

Katherine Tegen Books, 2018. 420 pages. Young Adult Mystery 

When Stevie Bell, an amateur detective, begins her first year at a famous private school in Vermont, she sets a plan to solve the cold case involving the kidnapping of the founder's wife and daughter shortly after the school opened. 

Ace of Spades 

By Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé 

Feiwel & Friends, 2021. 422 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

At Niveus Private Academy, Devon and Chiamaka are the only students chosen to be Senior Prefects who are also black, which makes them targets for a series of anonymous texts revealing their secrets to the entire student body. Both students were on track toward valedictorian and bright college futures, but this prank quickly turns into a very dangerous game and they are at more than one disadvantage as it looks like things could turn deadly. 

You’re So Dead 

By Ash Parsons 

Philomel Books, 2021. 382 pages. Young Adult Mystery 

When her sister, famous influencer Peach Winter, is invited to an exclusive trip to an art and music festive, Plum intercepts the invite and asks her two best friends to come along. But, the island is not like the invitation at all; its run-down, creepy, and there is no festival. Then people start to die because someone has a vendetta against every person on the island and no on is supposed to leave alive.

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Isn't It Bromantic?

Isn’t It Bromantic? 

By Lyssa Kay Adams 

Jove/Berkley, 2021. 342 pages. Romance 

As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, Elena Konnikova escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville. Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience, but it's become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he's learned is that he deserves more. The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love, so they join forces with Vlad's neighbors, a group of meddling widows. But just when things finally look promising, Elena's past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt. 

This might be the best Bromance Book Club book yet. Vlad is sweet, kind, and endearing. He is the sincerest of all of the book club bros, and is even writing his own romance novel. And Elena is spunky, independent, and just learning how to open herself up. Her backstory is heartbreaking and Vlad has supported and cared for her for years. There are lots of romance tropes, but they are done in a refreshing and fun manner. This is a great book for anyone who likes contemporary romances or bromances. 

If you like Isn’t It Bromantic, you might also like: 

By Any Other Name 

By Lauren Kate 

G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2022. 286 pages. Romance 

With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her curated list, Lanie's killing it. Then she's given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa's writer's block and she'll get the promotion she's always dreamed of. But there's a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Name can still be as sweet. 

Book Lovers 

By Emily Henry 

Berkley, 2022. 377 pages. Romance 

Nora Stephens' life is books--she's read them all--and she is not a heroine. Not the plucky one or the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her little sister Libby. She agrees to a girls’ trip for Libby, but Libby has visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she's convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they've met many times and it's never been cute. If Nora knows she's not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he's nobody's hero, but as they are thrown together again and again--in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow--what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they've written about themselves. 

The Love Hypothesis 

By Ali Hazelwood 

Jove, 2021. 373 pages. Romance 

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and on her way to a happily ever after will require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when he agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

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Girl On Fire

Girl on Fire 

By Alicia Keys 

HarperAlley, 2022. 224 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Lolo Wright always thought she was just a regular fourteen-year-old dealing with regular family drama, but when a cop pulls a gun on her brother James in a case of mistaken identities, Lolo discovers powers she never knew she had. Using only her mind, she literally throws the cop out of the way. Problem is that secrets like Lolo’s don’t stay a secret for long. Skin, a dangerous drug dealer with designs on taking over the neighborhood, hears of Lolo’s telekinetic abilities and decides that he needs her in his crew. Lolo’s not willing to let Skin use her to hurt the people—and neighborhood—that she loves. But it’s going to take a whole different kind of bravery to stand-up for what’s right, but this time, it’s on her … and she’s not backing down. 

Lolo is a strong, fierce teenager who is ready to fight for her family and her community. I appreciated that the characters have flaws and make mistakes, but are still able to be heroes for others. Lolo and James’ father is a great example of hard work and perseverance in trying circumstances. This story felt authentic and fun, while also dealing with tough issues like racism, gangs, and poverty. This is a great read for anyone who loves superheroes, strong female characters, Alicia Keys, or graphic novels. 

If you like Girl on Fire, you might also like: 

Mister Miracle: The Great Escape 

By Varian Johnson 

DC Comics, 2022. 208 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Scott Free, a student at the Goodness Academy on the planet Apokolips, wants to escape to Earth but falls in love with the head of the Female Furies--the one person tasked with ensuring he never escapes.

Quincredible Volume 1, Quest to be the Best! 

By Rodney Barnes 

Oni-Lion Forge Publishing, 2021. 144 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Quinton West went from being a small guy getting beaten up to a small guy with the superpower of invulnerability. To supplement his only superpower, he realizes he can use his hobby of creating Rube Goldberg devices to outsmart opponents.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven 

By Kami Garcia 

DC Comics, 2021. 190 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

While Raven Roth is finding a way to get rid of her demon father Trigon, Garfield Logan is understanding his newly found shapeshifting ability, and when their paths cross in Nashville they both feel a strong connection to one another.

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Harry Potter: Feasts and Festivities

Harry Potter: Feasts and Festivities 

By Jennifer Carroll 

Insight Editions, 2021. 191 pages. Nonfiction 

Every event is magical when it’s inspired by Harry Potter. With loads of photos, this book features five unique Harry Potter-themed events, from a movie marathon to a wedding to a Halloween party. Under each party, there are decoration ideas, invitations, food, activities, and more. There are 40 different printables available through the publisher’s website for all the different parties, and many come in multiple languages. This book offers step-by-step instructions to create, craft, and cater a beautiful Harry Potter event. 

As someone who has planned a Harry Potter event before, I appreciated the variety of ideas, foods, and activities presented in this book. Almost every idea or recipe comes with a photo, so you know what you are creating. The printables are easy to use and available to everyone. My favorite ideas are the Sorting Ceremony Ice Cream Sundaes (there are different color sprinkles hidden in the ice cream cones) and the phoenix invitation. I would recommend this to anyone who is hosting a Harry Potter party, looking for decoration ideas or printables, or just loves to throw elaborate events. 

If you like Harry Potter: Feasts and Festivities, you might also like: 

Entertaining with Disney 

By Amy Croushorn 

Insight Editions, 2019. 189 pages. Nonfiction 

Celebrate your love of Disney with this gorgeous guide to creating magical and memorable events. Does your best friend love The Little Mermaid? Is your Lion King-obsessed sister hosting a baby shower? Would your family movie night benefit from a little Aladdin magic? This is the party planning guide for you, with exceptional events ranging from Halloween pumpkin carving, elegant dinner parties, fun birthday bashes, and sophisticated New Year eve soirees. 

Knitting Magic 

By Tanis Gray 

Insight Editions, 2020. 207 pages. Nonfiction 

Channel the magic of the Harry Potter films from the screen to your needles with the ultimate knitter's guide to the Wizarding World. Featuring over 25 magical knits pictured in gorgeous full-color photography, this book includes patterns for clothing, home projects, and keepsakes pulled straight from the movies -- and even includes a few iconic costume pieces as seen on-screen. With yarn suggestions based on the true colors used in the films, projects range from simple patterns like the Hogwarts house scarves to more complex projects like Mrs. Weasley's Christmas sweaters.

Supernatural: the Official Cookbook 

By Julie Tremaine 

Insight Editions, 2019. 127 pages. Nonfiction 

Filled with delicious recipes inspired by the hit television series, this cookbook allows fans to experience the world of Supernatural like never before. Whether you’re a seasoned chef, beginner cook, or diner food enthusiast like the Winchester Brothers, Supernatural: The Official Cookbook brings a variety both savory and sweet recipes from the show to life. When they aren’t keeping humanity safe from all kinds of otherworldly threats, Dean and Sam often take time to eat and devise their next steps for hunting monsters at a small-town diner. This complete culinary guide features some of the brothers’ favorite dishes, such as Dean’s breakfast Pigs N A Poke, cheeseburger and fries, angel food cake, Sam’s salads, and, of course, pie!

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The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections 

By Eva Jurczyk 

Poisoned Pen Press, 2022. 323 pages. Mystery 

Liesl Weiss has been happy working behind the scenes in the rare books department of a large university for many years. But when her boss suffers a stroke, she must take over and soon discovers that the library’s more prized manuscript is missing. Everyone tells her to keep quiet and keep the donors happy, but when a librarian goes missing as well, it becomes clear that someone in the department must be responsible. Amidst the dusty manuscripts are secrets about her colleagues that have been years in the making, and Liesl must unravel them all in order to find the missing books. 

This is a witty mystery with great character development and lots of little secrets that keep the reader engaged. I especially loved all the details about the special collections and the politics that occur at universities. Liesl has a wealth of personal issues, but is relatable and easy to sympathize with. As someone who has worked in special collections, I found the book authentic and addressed many of the issues that continue to influence academia today. This is a good read for anyone who loves old books, mysteries, or flawed main characters. 

If you like The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, you might also like: 

Anxious People 

By Fredrik Backman 

Atria Books, 2020. 341 pages. Fiction 

Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers--including a redemption-seeking bank director, two couples who would fix their marriages, and a plucky octogenarian--discover their unexpected common traits. 

The Unkindness of Ravens 

By M. E. Hilliard 

Crooked Lane, 2021. 329 pages. Mystery 

Greer Hogan is a librarian and an avid reader of murder mysteries. She also has a habit of stumbling upon murdered bodies. The first was her husband's, and the tragic loss led Greer to leave New York behind for a new start in the village of Raven Hill. But her new home becomes less idyllic when she discovers her best friend sprawled dead on the floor of the library. Though Greer admires the masters of deduction she reads about in books, she never expected to have to solve a mystery herself. Fortunately, she possesses a quick wit and a librarian's natural resourcefulness. But will that be enough to protect her from a brilliant, diabolical murderer? 

The Shadow of the Wind 

By Carlos Ruiz Zafon 

Penguin Press, 2004. 486 pages. Fiction 

Barcelona, 1945--just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes on his eleventh birthday to find that he can no longer remember his mother's face. To console his child, Daniel's widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona's guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world. Daniel's father coaxes him to choose a volume and Daniel so loves the novel he selects, The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax's work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last one in existence. Before Daniel knows it his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love. 

The Personal Librarian 

By Marie Benedict Berkley, 2021. 341 pages. Fiction 

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and well-known advocate for equality. The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go-for the protection of her family and her legacy-to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

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Crushing

Crushing 

By Sophie Burrows 

Algonquin, 2022. 156 pages. Graphic Novel 

A young woman, pale and rosy-cheeked with a straight black bob, lives alone in London--except for her cat--surrounded by lovers on Hampstead Heath and crowds on the Tube. One night she runs down to the local kebab and pizza shop in her pajamas and encounters a young man, pale and freckled with floppy red hair, also wearing pajamas. Unfortunately, they don't notice each other surreptitiously noticing each other and head their separate ways, the young man returning to his flat--empty except for his dog and the glare of his laptop screen. The young woman tries a dating app, and a man sends her unsolicited, intimate selfies; the young man gets spattered in bird poop while working a temp job dressed as an avocado. The story conveys life as a series of small indignities, slight misses, and minor connections but ends on a hopeful note. 

This is a sweet, funny, and emotional story about two lonely people. The illustrations are black and white with red highlights, and the story contains almost no words. The main characters are endearing and relatable, while also being a little bit sad. This is a tender-hearted, funny romance that is great for anyone who feels lonely or tired of trying to find love. 

If you like Crushing, you might also like: 

Friends with Boys 

By Faith Erin Hicks 

First Second, 2012. 169 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and three older brothers, Maggie enrolls in public high school, where interacting with her peers is complicated by the melancholy ghost that has followed her throughout her entire life. 

 

Yes No Maybe So 

By Becky Albertalli 

Balzer + Bray, 2020. 436 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Jamie Goldberg, who chokes when speaking to strangers, and Maya Rehrman, who is having the worst Ramadan ever, are paired to knock on doors and ask for votes for the local state senate candidate. Going door to door isn't exactly glamorous, but maybe it's not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer--and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural crush of the century is another thing entirely.

Skim 

By Mariko Tamaki 

Groundwood Books, 2008. 141 pages. Graphic Novel 

16-year-old "Skim" (Kimberly Keiko Cameron) is a not-slim would-be Wiccan goth who goes to a private girls' school. When her classmate Katie is dumped by her boyfriend, who then kills himself, the entire school goes into mourning overdrive. The popular clique starts a club to boost school spirit, but Skim sinks into an ever-deepening depression.

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Huda F Are You?

Huda F Are You? 

By Huda Fahmy 

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021. 184 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Huda and her family just moved to Dearborn, Michigan, a small town with a big Muslim population. In her old town, Huda knew exactly who she was: She was the hijabi girl. But in Dearborn, everyone is the hijabi girl. Huda is lost in a sea of hijabis, and she can't rely on her hijab to define her anymore. She has to define herself. So she tries on a bunch of cliques, but she isn't a hijabi fashionista or a hijabi athlete or a hijabi gamer. She's not the one who knows everything about her religion or the one all the guys like. She's miscellaneous, which makes her feel like no one at all. Until she realizes that it'll take finding out who she isn't to figure out who she is. 

This is a sweet, funny, and emotional story about self-discovery and making friends. Huda is relatable and funny and makes you root for her throughout the book. I would suggest this to anyone, especially teens, who feel out of place or lost in the crowd. 

If you like Huda F Are You?, you might also like: 

Bloom 

By Kevin Panetta 

First Second, 2019. 351 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Baked with love! Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band--if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom ... that is, if Ari doesn't ruin everything. 

Fangirl: the Manga Vol. 1 

By Sam Maggs 

Viz Media, 2020. 208 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life - and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to. Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? Open her heart to someone? Or will she just go on living inside somebody else's fiction?! 

Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijab 

By Priya Huq 

Amulet Books, 2021. 224 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Nisrin is a 13-year-old Bangladeshi-American girl living in Milwaukie, Oregon, in 2002. As she nears the end of eighth grade, she gives a presentation for World Culture Day about Bangladesh while wearing a traditional cultural dress. On her way home, she is the victim of a hate crime when a man violently attacks her for wearing a headscarf. Deeply traumatized by the experience, Nisrin spends the summer depressed and isolated. Other than weekly therapy, Nisrin doesn't leave the house until fall arrives and it's time for her to start freshman year at a new school. The night before class starts, Nisrin makes a decision. She tells her family she's going to start wearing hijab, much to their dismay. Her mother and grandparent's shocked and angry reactions confuse her--but they only strengthen her resolve. This choice puts Nisrin on a path to not only discover more about Islam, but also her family's complicated relationship with the religion, and the reasons they left Bangladesh in the first place. On top of everything else, she's struggling to fit in at school--her hijab makes her a target for students and faculty alike. But with the help from old friends and new, Nisrin is starting to figure out what really makes her happy.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating 

By Adiba Jaigirdar 

Page Street Publishing, 2021. 345 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Everyone likes Humaira 'Hani' Khan--she's easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can't be bi if she's only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she's in a relationship...with a girl her friends absolutely hate--Ishita 'Ishu' Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She's an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl. Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.

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Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven 

By Kami Garcia 

DC Comics, 2021. 190 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

While Raven Roth is finding a way to get rid of her demon father Trigon, Garfield Logan is understanding his newly found shapeshifting ability, and when their paths cross in Nashville they both feel a strong connection to one another. 

There are so many things to love about this book. The romance is sweet and develops naturally. The characters are true to their comic book selves while still feeling fresh and contemporary. The story builds slowly, but is action-packed once things start. This is a classic superhero story, but has enough romance, self-discovery, and humor to entertain any reader. 

If you like Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven, you might also like: 

Steelheart 

By Brandon Sanderson 

Delacorte Press, 2013. 386 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superhuman powers, and now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners--the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny. 

Miles Morales: Spider-Man 

By Jason Reynolds Marvel, 2017. 261 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

As a student at Brooklyn Visions Academy, Miles Morales knows he's lucky. Not all kids get this opportunity, especially not kids from his neighborhood. With his quirky best friend Ganke, this school year is gonna be a blast. Right? Wrong. Miles has a secret. He's actually Spider-Man. Well not THE Spider-Man but A Spider-Man. Pretty much the only Spider-Man in town now that Peter Parker is gone. Miles is doing his best to save every little old lady but it's getting to be too much. He's got more important stuff to worry about like homework, girls, family, the perfect Halloween costume, and girls. Did we mention girls? Ok well maybe just one girl. But when Miles accidentally discovers a villainous teacher's plan to turn good kids bad, he will need to come to terms with his own destiny as the new SPIDER-MAN.

I am Number Four 

By Pittacus Lore 

Harper, 2010. 440 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

In rural Ohio, friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting to a fifteen-year-old who has hidden on Earth for ten years waiting to develop the Legacies, or powers, he will need to rejoin the other six surviving Garde members and fight the Mogadorians who destroyed their planet, Lorien. 

Quincredible Volume 1, Quest to be the Best! 

By Rodney Barnes 

Oni-Lion Forge Publishing, 2021. 144 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Quinton West went from being a small guy getting beaten up to a small guy with the superpower of invulnerability. To supplement his only superpower, he realizes he can use his hobby of creating Rube Goldberg devices to outsmart opponents.

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Creepy Cat Volume 1

Creepy Cat Volume 1 

By Cotton Valent 

Seven Seas Entertainment, 2021. 180 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Flora moves into a mysterious mansion and finds it inhabited by a strange creature--Creepy Cat! Thus begins her strange and sometimes dangerous life with a feline roommate. This Gothic comedy brings the chuckles...and the chills! With full-color illustrations, this graphic novel originated as a webcomic by Thai artist Cotton Valent. 

This is an absolutely hilarious comic about living with cats and the creepy things they do. There is romance, humor, mystery, all wrapped up in a gothic setting. This is a great read for anyone who loves cats, paranormal adventures, or funny comic books. 

If you like Creepy Cat, you might also like: 

Fangs 

By Sarah Andersen 

Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020. 100 pages. Graphic Novel 

Elsie the vampire is three hundred years old, but in all that time, she has never met her match. This all changes one night in a bar when she meets Jimmy, a charming werewolf with a wry sense of humor and a fondness for running wild during the full moon. Together they enjoy horror films and scary novels, shady strolls, fine dining (though never with garlic), and a genuine fondness for each other's unusual habits, macabre lifestyles, and monstrous appetites. 

How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You 

Edited by TheOatmeal.com 

Andrew McMeel Publishing, 2012. 130 pages. Graphic Novel 

A hilarious, brilliant offering of cat comics, facts, and instructional guides from the creative wonderland at TheOatmeal.com 

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? : Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death 

By Caitlin Doughty 

W. W. Norton & Company, 2019. 222 pages. Nonfiction 

Best-selling author and licensed mortician Caitlin Doughty answers real questions from kids about death, dead bodies, and decomposition. Every day, funeral director Caitlin Doughty receives dozens of questions about death. What would happen to an astronaut's body if it were pushed out of a space shuttle? Do people poop when they die? Can Grandma have a Viking funeral? In the tradition of Randall Munroe's What If?, Doughty's new book blends her scientific understanding of the body and the intriguing history behind common misconceptions about corpses to offer factual, hilarious, and candid answers to thirty-five urgent questions posed by her youngest fans. Readers will learn what happens if you die on an airplane, the best soil for mummifying your dog, and whether or not you can preserve your friend's skull as a keepsake. Featuring illustrations from Dianne Ruz, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? will delight anyone interested in the fascinating truth about what will happen (to our bodies) after we die. 

The Promised Neverland Volume 1 

By Kaiu Shirai 

Viz Media, 2017. 183 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

Emma, Norman and Ray are the brightest kids at the Grace Field House orphanage. And under the care of the woman they refer to as 'Mom, ' all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable life. Good food, clean clothes and the perfect environment to learn-- what more could an orphan ask for? One day, though, Emma and Norman uncover the dark truth of the outside world they are forbidden from seeing.

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The Ivies

The Ivies 

By Alexa Donne 

Crown Books for Young Readers, 2021. 312 pages. Young Adult Mystery/Thriller 

A ruthless band of prep-school elites, or the Ivies, competing for admission into the Ivy League colleges of their dreams disrupt class ranks, club leaderships and academic competitions. But, when one of the girls fails to get into Harvard and another girl (or two) does, someone resorts to more deadly measures. 

I love a good YA murder mystery and this hits all those boxes. Olivia has always been on the outer edges of the Ivies, mostly because she is a scholarship student at her elite prep school. But, when one of her friends is murdered after being accepted to Harvard University, she suspects that one of their group might be to blame. This is a quick read, with lots of tension, mystery, and a bit of romance all rolled together. There is some strong language, but is a great teen thriller that keeps you guessing until the end.

If you like The Ivies, you might also like: 

Truly Devious 

By Maureen Johnson 

Katherine Tegen Books, 2018. 420 pages. Young Adult Mystery 

When Stevie Bell, an amateur detective, begins her first year at a famous private school in Vermont, she sets a plan to solve the cold case involving the kidnapping of the founder's wife and daughter shortly after the school opened. 

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder 

By Holly Jackson 

Delacorte Press, 2020. 390 pages. Young Adult Mystery 

Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town. But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer? Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger. 

The Inheritance Games 

By Jennifer Barnes 

Little, Brown, and Company, 2020. 376 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

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.

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years after the 9/11 attacks
By Don Brown
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. 121 pages. Young Adult Graphic Nonfiction

This graphic novel chronicles the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City through moving individual stories that bear witness to history and the ways it shapes the future.

This is a beautiful, haunting, and reflective work that reminds us all about the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. This is minimal text on each page, with the illustrations carrying the brunt of the emotional weight. It was easy to become immersed in the story and reflect on my own feelings about the fallen towers, while also gaining new knowledge and perspective on today’s world. This is a quick, but highly emotional, read and reminds each of us about the strength of uniting under a common goal.

If you like In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers, you might also like:

Hope and Other Punch Lines
By Julie Buxbaum
Delacorte Press, 2019. 306 pages. Young Adult Fiction

The tragic 9/11 event in NYC that changed the world, altered the life of Abbi Hope Goldstein as well as that of Noah Stern. They did not know each other back then, but they know each other now, and while Abbi is trying to move forward with her life, Noah still has unanswered questions that he believes Abbi can help answer.

With Their Eyes: September 11th, the View from a High School at Ground Zero
Edited by Annie Thoms
Harper, 2021. 256 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction

Tuesday, September 11, started off like any other day at Stuyvesant High School, located only a few blocks away from the World Trade Center. The semester was just beginning, and the students, faculty, and staff were ready to start a new year. But within a few hours on that Tuesday morning, they would share an experience that would transform their lives--and the lives of all Americans.

This powerful play, written by students of Stuyvesant High School based on their interviews with the school community, remembers those who were lost and those who were forced to witness this tragedy. Here, in their own words, are the firsthand stories of a day we will never forget. This 20th anniversary edition includes an updated introduction and a new foreword.

The Red Bandanna
By Welles Crowther and Tom Rinaldi
Viking, 2017. 167 pages. Young Adult Biography

Welles Crowther didn't see himself as a hero. He was just an ordinary kid who played sports, volunteered for the fire department in his town, and eventually headed off to college and then to Wall Street to start a career. Throughout it all, he always kept a red bandanna in his pocket, a gift from his father when he was little. On September 11, 2001, Welles was at his job on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when the Twin Towers were attacked. What he did next would alter the course of many lives. That day, the legend of the Man in the Red Bandanna was born. ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi brings Welles's compassion to life in this young readers' adaptation of his book.

TT

Storm Front

Storm Front: Dresden Files #1

By Jim Butcher 

Roc, 2000. 322 pages. Fantasy 

As far as he knows, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of importance, Harry needs to find work soon. A call from a distraught wife, and other from Lt. Murphy of the Chicago Police, makes Harry believe that things are looking up. In fact, they are about to get much worse. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. 

If you like Storm Front, you might also like: 

Thin Air 

By Richard K. Morgan 

Del Rey, 2018. 528 pages. Science Fiction 

On a Mars where ruthless commercial interests violently collide with a homegrown independence movement, as Earth-based overlords battle for profits and power, Hakan Veil is an ex-corporate enforcer equipped with military-grade body tech that's made him a human killing machine. But he's had enough of the turbulent red planet, and all he wants is a ticket back home--which is just what he's offered by the Earth Oversight organization, in exchange for being the bodyguard for an EO investigator. It's a beyond-easy gig for a heavy hitter like Veil . . . until it isn't. When Veil's charge, Madison Madekwe, starts looking into the mysterious disappearance of a lottery winner, she stirs up a hornets' nest of intrigue and murder. And the deeper Veil is drawn into the dangerous game being played, the more long-buried secrets claw their way to the Martian surface. Now it's the expert assassin on the wrong end of a lethal weapon--as Veil stands targeted by powerful enemies hellbent on taking him down, by any means necessary 

Clean Sweep 

By Ilona Andrews 

CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2013. 227 pages. Science Fiction/Fantasy 

On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shi-tzu, and is a perfect neighbor. But Dina is different: her broom is a deadly weapon and her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can't leave the grounds because she's responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, 'normal' is a bit of a stretch for Dina. And now, something with wicked claws and teeth has begun to hunt at night. Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans, an alpha-strain werewolf, and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she's facing is unlike anything she's ever encountered before. It's smart, vicious, and lethal; and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

TT