Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

GENRE
Mystery; Thriller

GRADE

Gr 9 Up for language, child abuse themes

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

When Monday Charles, a middle school student from the poor side of town, disappears without a trace, Claudia, her sheltered best friend, sets out to solve the mystery of her disappearance. 

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT

Readers who found themselves captivated by Courtney Summers’s Sadie will be equally moved by this devastating thriller about poverty, abuse, and trauma.

WHERE CAN I FIND THIS TITLE?

• Click here for ebook availability: Overdrive or Hoopla
• Click here for audiobook availability: Hoopla

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

GENRE

LGBTQ+; Thriller

GRADE

Gr 9 Up for violence and some language.

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

During a welcome-back assembly at a rural American high school, Ty Browne, a former student, slips inside the auditorium and locks the doors, trapping everyone inside with him. By the time staff and students realize that something is wrong, Ty pulls out a gun and starts shooting. The ensuing horror is seen through the eyes of four students, each of whom struggles valiantly to live through the next fifty-four minutes. But not all will survive…

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT

Nijkamp interweaves the narrative with blog posts, Twitter feeds, and text messages to produce a page-turning thriller.

WHERE CAN I FIND THIS TITLE?

• Click for ebook availability: Overdrive or Hoopla

Al norte de la felicidad de Adi Alsaid

GÉNERO
Realismo magico

GRADO
Gr 8 Up por malas palabras

¿DE QUE ES ESTE LIBRO?

Al norte de la felicidad es una novela del autor mexicano Adi Alsaid. Está disponible en español e inglés (ver abajo).

Seis meses después de la prematura muerte de su hermano, Carlos huye de su vida privilegiada en la Ciudad de México y consigue un trabajo como lavaplatos en Provecho, un restaurante de alto perfil en la costa de Seattle, Washington. Secretamente acompañado por el fantasma de su hermano, Carlos lucha por ganarse la aprobación de Elise, su jefe y el chef del restaurante, sus compañeros de trabajo, y en secreto busca una relación romántica con Emma, ​​la hija de Elise.

¿POR QUÉ DEBERÍAS LEERLO?

Los toques de romance y realismo mágico condimentan la historia, mientras que las ricas descripciones de la comida y una mirada detrás de escena de cómo funcionan las cocinas profesionales harán de esta una lectura intrigante para los amantes de la comida.

¿DÓNDE PUEDO ENCONTRAR ESTE TÍTULO?

Español

• Haga clic para ver la disponibilidad del libro electrónico: Hoopla

Inglés

• Haga clic para ver la disponibilidad de libros electrónicos: Overdrive

North of Happy by Adi Alsaid

GENRE

Magical Realism

GRADE
Gr 8 Up for language

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

North of Happy is a stand-alone book by Mexican author Adi Alsaid. It is available in both English and Spanish (see below).

Six months after his vagabond brother’s untimely death, grief-stricken Carlos flees his life of privilege in Mexico City and gets a job as a dishwasher at Provecho, a high-profile restaurant off the coast of Seattle, Washington. Secretly accompanied by his brother’s playful ghost, Carlos struggles to win the approval of Elise, his boss and the restaurant’s head chef, his coworkers, and covertly pursue a romantic relationship with Emma, Elise’s daughter.

WHY SHOULD YOU READ IT?

Hints of romance and magical realism spice up the story, while rich descriptions of food and a behind-the-scenes peek at how professional kitchens are run will make this an intriguing read for food-lovers.

WHERE CAN I FIND THIS TITLE?

English

• Click to see ebook availability: Overdrive

Español

• Click to see ebook availability: Hoopla

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

GENRE

Graphic Novel; Fairy Tale; LGBTQ+; Romance

GRADE
Gr 6 Up

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

In this standalone graphic novel, Frances, a young seamstress, becomes personal fashion designer to Sebastian, a young prince with a big secret: he secretly likes to wear dresses. With the help of Frances’s sewing skills, Sebastian is able to slip from the palace unnoticed and become an overnight sensation as Lady Crystallia, Paris’s biggest—and most mysterious—fashion icon. Frances will do anything to keep her friend’s secret safe—but will it come at the cost of the greatness and recognition she so longs for?

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT

This is a sweet, gender-positive love story about identity, self-acceptance, and friendship that will appeal to readers of all ages.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT

• Check to see ebook availability: Overdrive/Libby

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

GENRE

LGBTQ+; Romance

GRADE

Gr 7 Up

WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

Boy Meets Boy is a standalone novel narrated by Paul, a gay teen, as he completes one academic year at his very non-conventional high school. How non-conventional? Well, the football team’s quarterback is also this year’s homecoming queen, the cheerleaders ride Harleys, and being straight-out gay is perfectly okay. But even in this oasis of tolerance, Paul still has normal teen problems. First, he starts dating quiet newcomer Noah, but soon discovers he might still have feelings for his ex, Kyle. Then, his best female friend, Joni, starts dating not-so-nice-guy Chuck, and begins drifting away from their close-knit circle of friends. What’s a boy to do? Can he sort out his feelings and keep his friend group together before everything falls apart?

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT

A treasured classic in the LGBT community, Boy Meets Boy is a funny, touching tale about acceptance of self and the true love our friends and family give us, despite the stupid mistakes we make. Recommended for all walks of life.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT

• Check to see audiobook availability: Overdrive or Hoopla

Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry

GENRE

Magical Realism

GRADE

Gr 9 Up for mature romantic content and language.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Two months before she fell to her death from her own bedroom window, Ana Torres united her sisters in a final, unsuccessful attempt to flee their widower father, a possessive man consumed by his own misery. Now, one year after the accident, the surviving Torres sisters are all but lost to each other in their attempts to cope: pure-hearted Rosa seeks understanding through religion and her almost supernatural connection with animals; dreamy Iridian uses her notebook and pen in an effort to exorcise the memory of harsh words exchanged days before Ana’s death; and sharp-tongued Jessica sets about claiming her sister’s earthly possessions for herself—including Ana’s demanding, abusive boyfriend. But when Ana’s spirit suddenly returns to haunt them, destroying their things and frightening them with her eerie laughter, the Torres girls reunite once more in an attempt to understand their sister’s final message to them.

While this can be read as a stand-alone piece, a sequel to Tigers, Not Daughters is planned for release in 2021.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT

A fresh, loosely based take on Shakespeare’s King Lear (a tragedy about fathers, daughters, and sisters), this story is a unique, well-written, and uplifting meditation on female introspection and self-discovery in the wake of terrible loss.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT

• Click to see ebook availability: Hoopla