2021 Teen Summer Reading List

This week, I'm sharing my annual summer reading list for teens.  It includes books of all genres -- mystery, science fiction, romance, fantasy, etc.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

When Jeremy Johnson Johnson's strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate, Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown.

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson

In 1888 New York City, sixteen-year-old governess Verity Newton agrees to become a spy, whatever the risk, after learning that the man for whom she has feelings sympathizes with rebels developing non-magical sources of power, via steam engines, in hopes of gaining freedom from British rule.

Hiding by Henry Turner

When a teen boy who excels at being unseen finds himself hiding in his ex-girlfriend's house, he uncovers carefully concealed truths about her, her family, and himself.

Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly

Before she can rescue her twin sister, sixteen-year-old magic-wielding spy Aissa must choose between pursuing revenge against the ruling Technocrats or abandoning her mission and trusting her sworn enemies.

We'll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss 

Toby and Luke are best friends, bound by a goal of leaving their hometown for Luke's wrestling scholarship, but a series of events during their senior year will test their resolve.

More Books --

36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant

The Afterward by E.K. Johnson

All Is Fair by Dee Garretson

The Companion by Kate Alender

Crier's War by Nina Varela

Divided Fire by Jennifer San Filippo
Frankly in Love by David Yoon

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz
Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron

The Liar's Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson
Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters by Emily Roberson

Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

The Secret Life of Kitty Granger by G.D. Falksen

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund
We'll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 23, 2021.

Haunted Tales

As this is the week of Halloween, today I am sharing ghost stories for teens.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
When Jeremy Johnson Johnson's strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown

The Invisible by Mats Wahl
A Swedish teenager is assaulted and killed, but returns as a ghost to find his killer.

Jade Green: A Ghost Story by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
While living with her uncle in a house haunted by the ghost of a young woman, recently orphaned Judith Sparrow wonders if her one small transgression causes mysterious happenings.


More Ghost Stories --
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
The Agony House by Cherie Priest
Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward
The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington
Defriended by Ruth Baron
The Fade by Demetria Lunetta
The Gone Away Place by Christopher Barzak
The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
Invisible Ghosts by Robyn Schneider
The Lonely Dead by April Henry
Nightspell by Leah Cypess
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Paranormalcy by Kierstin White
Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin
The Poe Estate by Polly Shulman
The Rattled Bones by S.M. Parker
Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier
Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris
Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore
The Suffering by Rin Chupeco
Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich
The Things She's Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton
White Moon of the Road by Rachel Neumeier

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through November 15, 2019.

Missing!

This week, I'm sharing some teen books featuring missing kids.  Here's some of my favorites . . . .

Emily's Dress and Other Missing Things by Kate Burak
A new girl in Amherst, Massachusetts, comes to terms with her mother's suicide and her best friend's disappearance with the help of Emily Dickinson's poetry--and her dress.

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
When Jeremy Johnson Johnson's strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
Flynn's girlfriend is missing, and people are suspecting him of knowing something, so he struggles to uncover her secrets as he must also face the truth about himself.


More Stories of the Missing --
At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson
The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
Crossing Montana by Laura Torres
The Leaf Reader by Emily Arsenault
The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer
The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos
The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Panic by Sharon Draper
Period 8 by Chris Crutcher
Pretending to Be Erica by Michelle Painchaud
She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 1, 2017.

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

Jeremy Johnson Johnson is left alone in his town because of the voice he hears in his head -- the ghost of fairy tale writer Jacob Grimm.  Very few people will even talk to Jeremy - one of the few being classmate Ginger.  But that isn't the only problem Jeremy has.  The bank is about to foreclose on his house as his father hasn't left the house in years to work.  Jeremy is further ostracized when Ginger convinces him to play a prank on the town baker.  And then he becomes the fixation of a man who has been kidnapping children from around the area.

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal was on several best book lists for the past year including YALSA's Best Books for Teens.  It was also a finalist for the National Book Award. 

It is a great mix of fairy tale, paranormal, suspense, mystery and romance.  It has an old-fashioned feel to the story as if it was taking place many years in the past yet is timely in its portrayal of a recession and bank foreclosures.  This is a great book for teens and adults who enjoy fairy tale retellings and mysteries.