Unassigned Reading!
/Teens, Tweens & InBetweens…
I have begun to notice an inclination amongst my friends to allow their eyes to glaze over when I talk about books. So, I’ve decided to give up on indoctrinating them in the art of being a booklover for life and go after their children instead. Three down…eight to go! And full disclosure, given my position of trust I have taken certain liberties with book suggestions for them and plucked a few recommendations from the grown-up section. Alas, no such prerogative will be taken here. I will colour inside the lines no matter how much it pains me. And trust me when I tell you, it pains me greatly!
The challenge for this feature was in pulling titles together while both straddling those lines and pushing boundaries. Because the only way to transform a young reader into a booklover is by letting them catch glimpses of what’s in store for them on the other side. One must blur the edges to feed the hunger.
As we mark birthdays in our lives, we won’t observe much difference in three to five-year increments, only in the milestones. The exception being every single one of the years under twenty. The maturation levels, intellectual capacity and emotional progression expand as rapidly as a physical growth spurt. So, it’s rather laughable that we define age ranges for tweens and teens when its likely they will be entirely different human beings from one age to the next. That being said, these groups are having a moment in terms of creativity and quality available in the books geared towards them. It’s a vast and plentiful bounty of literary delights!
In choosing the books included here I wanted to ensure that they were deeply engaging to the reader and appropriate from the parent’s standpoint. And given that for a book to truly leave a mark it must rouse in a reader a sense of recognition, that required a varied and diverse assortment for you to peruse.
I have separated the lists into fun categories for focus and for each title I have provided a floor in terms of age, a brief description and a heads up for parents. I researched sites like common sense media to ensure I was highlighting areas of potential concern.
Before I get going, should you desire a list that is outside those lines I speak of above, feel free to reach out! That too is vast and plentiful!
The Warriors:
Champions who stand up for what they believe in and protect others; someone with courage and fortitude…
The Between – David Hofmeyr – Teen – 14+
Seventeen-year-old Ana is having a rough week. It starts with a fight after school, then suspension followed by a mandatory psych evaluation. Then life gets really bizarre as her best friend is taken by a terrifying beast right in front of her. World bending adventure set in a grand multiverse.
Heads Up – fights, menacing forces but nothing that is going to haunt any dreams…
Tarnished Are The Stars – Rosiee Thor – Teen – 14+
Anna has an illegal clockwork heart and works to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured. Now the son of the tyrannical leader is out to capture her, and a third person mysteriously appears in the triangle. Definite steampunk vibes in this book.
Heads Up – themes of right and wrong, ethics of technology, societal challenges of being queer…
Who Put This Song On – Morgan Parker – Teen – 16+
Trapped in sunny, stifling, small town suburbia, Morgan can’t count the number of times she’s been the only non-white person at a sleepover, been teased for her fashion sense and been told she’s not really black. Irreverent, unflinching and funny!
Heads Up – teen depression, sexual encounters and language. All handled is a powerful and sensitive manner…
The Unwilling – Kelly Braffet – Teen – 16+
The story of Judah, born with a special gift and raised alongside Gavin, the heir to a vast empire. They share a unique bond that is key to their survival, or possibly their undoing. An epic tale of greed and ambition, cruelty and love with lots of adventure and magic.
Heads Up – while there are plenty of machinations going on, this is ultimately fantasy and reads as such...
City Spies – James Ponti – Tween – 10+
Five kids from all over the world are brought together and transformed into real life spies. When not attending boarding school, they are honing unique skills; hacking, pick pocketing, breaking and entering…to name a few. Full of adventure and thrills.
Heads Up – shows kids they can save the world! Parents may want to keep a closer eye on their secrets…
The Bitter Side Of Sweet – Tara Sullivan – Tween – 10+
Two boys who wanted to help their impoverished family, instead find themselves tricked into forced labor. With no hope of escape, they do their best to stay alive. They bring another into their circle and discover the power of found family. A story that is both gripping and harrowing.
Heads Up – elements of slavery and violence against children are both depicted at times, be prepared for possible conversation on these subjects…
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie – Jordan Sonnenbick – Tween – 10+
Steven has a totally normal life; he plays the drums in a band, has a crush on the hottest girl in school and is constantly annoyed by his little brother. Then his brother is diagnosed with cancer. A heartwarming and often humorous journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.
Heads Up – the realities of cancer are revealed but such is life. This is a book not to be missed!
The Quirky:
They are weird and wonderful, unique and fun. And always beat to the sound of their own drum…
A Song Only I Can Hear – Barry Jonsberg – Tween – 10+
Rob, a painfully shy wallflower, starts getting texts from an unknown number with challenges designed to encourage him to step out of his comfort zone. Poignant and powerful novel about dreaming big and being brave!
Heads Up – explores some LGBTQ themes as characters seek to figure out who they are…
Counting By 7’s – Holly Goldberg Sloan – Tween – 10+
Willow is a genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds comfort in counting. As tragedy changes her life, she must find a way to connect with others.
Heads Up – death and grief are a consistent theme, but this exceptional novel is a triumph rather than a tragedy. You’ll laugh…you’ll cry…
The Unteachables – Gordon Korman – Tween – 8+
This medley of wayward characters will have you believing they are incorrigible one minute and misunderstood the next! With Korman you are always guaranteed antics and life lessons in equal measure. A wonderful depiction of the importance of friendships.
Heads Up – the lessons are contained and quick, none delved into too deeply. Dyslexia, dementia, infidelity and a few more…
The Mighty Odds – Amy Ignatow – Tween – 10+
A diverse crew of kids develop limited superhero powers after a strange accident and become unlikely friends. The nerd, the artist, the outcast and the popular one. Breakfast club for the younger generation. Full of snappy dialogue and zany action!
Heads Up – bullying and ethnic profiling make an appearance…
Miscalculations Of Lightning Girl – Stacy McAnulty – Tween – 8+
Lucy was struck by lightning and the zap gave her genius level math skills. Now at twelve she’s technically ready for college, but first she must go to middle school for a year. Her toughest test of all! Lovely story about how it’s okay to be different.
Heads Up – Lucy’s OCD is portrayed as a quirk and a gift…
Mostly The Honest Truth – Jody Little – Tween – 9+
Jane arrives at her newest foster home determined to stay on the straight and narrow to ensure she gets back to her dad when he gets out of rehab. A moving story of family, both related and found.
Heads Up – growing up too fast and being let down by grown-ups play a part in this story…
The Past & Other Things That Should Stay Buried – Shawn David Hutchinson – Teen – 14+
Dino doesn’t mind spending time with the dead, his parents own a funeral home. But he’s not used to them talking back! When his ex-best friend dies suddenly, she comes back to life. Kinda. Sorta. Deft and hilarious writing!
Heads Up – an honest autopsy of a lost friendship…
Layoverland – Gabby Noone – Teen – 13+
A cheeky take on the afterlife brimming with sass, angst and heart! Bea thinks she deserves to go to hell after ruining her little sisters’ life. Then she lands in purgatory with a mandate to help 5000 souls who can’t move on figure out why.
Heads Up – despite death being a backdrop this is a story full of life…
The Changemakers:
Those with a desire to make the world better. They will work to gather knowledge and resources to make change happen…
Say Her Name – Zetta Elliot – Teen – 14+
Inspired by the #sayhername campaign, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists of Black Lives Matter. Provocative, reflective and a celebration of creativity as power.
Heads Up – some truths hurt, but that is life…
Feminist Agenda Of Jemima Kincaid – Kate Hattener – Teen – 13+
Jemima has decided to use her feminist power to outlaw prom and all its medieval rituals. Unsurprisingly she finds herself caught up in finding an alternative that fits with the times. Lots of smart banter and knotty complications.
Heads Up – a smidge on the militant side but forms a good portrayal of picking your battles…
Monstress – Marjorie M. Liu – Teen – 15+
Tells the story of a teenage girl struggling to survive the trauma of war who shares a mysterious link with a monster of tremendous power. Accompanied by stunning drawings!
Heads Up – violence is fairly prevalent, but likely no more than you would find in a video game…
Eight Will Fall – Sarah Harian – Teen – 14+
In a world where magic is illegal, eight criminals led by the rebellious Larkin are sent on a mission to rid their realm of an ancient evil. The crew must use their forbidden magic to survive. Adventurous and imaginative.
Heads Up – an overall spooky and sinister vibe but nothing to worry about for the age range…
Front Desk – Kelly Yang – Tween – 8+
Mia has of lot of secrets; she lives in a motel; her parents hide immigrants and she wants to be a writer. A lovely book with messaging about fighting for what’s right, not judging people by the colour of their skin and being kind and respectful.
Heads Up – both racism and bullying are depicted in ways that might spark questions…
Restart – Gordon Korman – Inbetween – 9+
Chase forgets everything after falling off a roof and losing consciousness. His name. His parents. That he’s the biggest bully in school. Determined to reinvent himself he joins the AV Club to befriend those he had bullied.
Heads Up – all Korman books should be in your middle schooler’s library – he is a gem…
The Rebels:
Those who rise up against something that causes harm or hurt to themselves or others. They are bold and unafraid…
The Burning – Laura Bates – Teen – 14+
New school. New town. New surname. Social media profiles…none. There’s nothing to trace Anna back to her old life. Nothing to link her to the incident. Compelling and mysterious. Concepts of blame and shame are woven into the story.
Heads Up – what librarians said…read this book if you are a teenager. Read this book if you are the parent of a teenager. Read this book if you have contact with teenagers…
Silence Of Bones – June Hur – Teen – 14+
Homesick and orphaned, Seal is living out an ancient curse. Indentured to the police, she has to navigate curiosity in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else. Depth in writing combined with a lush setting make for a wonderful read.
Heads Up – political, religious and class struggles woven into a high caliber mystery…
Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo – Teen – 13+
X feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But there is plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her passion onto the page. Powerful story of finding your voice and power.
Heads Up – a bit of parental abuse and street harassment as well as language…
The Disasters – M.K. England – Teen – 14+
Nax finds himself kicked out of space academy with a one-way ticket back to earth. During an attack he and three other washouts escape. On the run they must pull off the impossible to spread the truth. High stakes action and subversive humor!
Heads Up – nothing to worry about, more of a high-octane romp than a message story…
The Secret Runners – Matthew Reilly – Teen – 14+
Privileged twins find themselves caught up in this pending end of the world adventure. They join a secret society that has access to the horrifying truths about the future. Great for fans of Marie Lu and James Dasher.
Heads Up – some fights and violence but overall harmless…
Amal Unbound – Aisha Saeed – Tween – 10+
Amal must live as a servant to her villages corrupt landlord to pay off her family’s debt. As she becomes aware of nefarious dealings, she has to find a way to work with others in order to change the cruel status quo. A very feisty heroine!
Heads Up – showcase for the often-devalued place girls have in many cultures which may raise some questions…
Nevermoor: Trails of Morrigan Crow – Jessica Townsend – Tween – 9+
A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world where she will be tested beyond her wildest imagination. Readers will no doubt draw many comparisons to Harry Potter, but this magical world is all its own. And who doesn’t love a misfit?
Heads Up – all kinds of good messaging here, but none that takes away from the utterly engaging adventure…
Sweet Pea – Julie Murphy – Tween – 8+
Sweet Pea finds herself having to divide her time between the two homes of her divorcing parents and dealing with sitting next to her ex best friend in class all day. When her eccentric neighbor, a famous advice columnist, goes on a trip she leaves Sweet Pea in charge of her mail. And what she does with it might change everything…
Heads Up – divorce, changing relationships and a parent coming out are part of the story…
The Masterminds:
Brainiacs! Great at brainstorming, problem solving, organizing and anything else they put their mind to…
Infinity Son – Adam Silvera – Teen – 14+
Two brothers are caught up in a magical war in this gritty, fast paced adventure. One brother, Brighton, has always wished he had the power of the Spell Walkers, while Emil just wants the fighting to end. When Emil suddenly manifests the power desired by his brother, love and loyalty are put to the test.
Heads Up – fights and violence but all relevant to the story…
Most Likely – Sarah Watson – Teen – 14+
Four friends since kindergarten face their fears about growing up and growing apart as college looms on the horizon. As we gain insight into each girl’s individual story, we realize that one of them will grow up to be the President of the United States. An empowering and intriguing premise.
Heads Up – friendship is the core theme here; how they build us up and push us forward…
Slay – Brittany Morris – Teen – 14+
Follow a fierce game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther inspired video game she created. She has secretly built this space for herself and others to belong and then it goes sideways as someone is murdered in real life for hoarding game currency. Insightful and entertaining.
Heads Up – sexual relationship between teens but not detailed…
Girl Gone Viral – Arvin Ahmadi – Teen – 12+
For Opal, code is magic. She builds entire worlds from scratch. She joins a contest in order to meet the billionaire founder of the biggest virtual reality platform who just happened to have worked closely with her absent Dad. More about messaging then mystery.
Heads Up – typical high schooler angst; popularity, friendship, lure of being bad…
The Binding – Bridget Collins – Teen – 14+
Young Emmet is summoned from his home to begin an apprenticeship as a book binder. Within each book he will capture a memory. Within each book secrets can be concealed and the past lock away. A beautiful homage to the allure and life changing power of books.
Heads Up – secrets are sometimes meant to be kept that way…
Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – Chris Grabenstern – Tween – 8+
Kyle wins a coveted spot as one of the twelve kids invited for an overnight sleepover in the new town library. Built by the most notorious and creative game maker they are in for a night of puzzles and mystery. Coolest. Library. Ever.
Heads Up – harmless in every way! With an added mystery to be solved at the end…
Nightbooks – J.A. White – Tween – 9+
A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. What happens when the pages to read from run out? An ode to the art of storytelling and a fantastic read.
Heads Up – a creepy factor for sure, but nothing worse than those Grimm brothers…
The Seekers:
They are hungry for knowledge and understanding. Always searching for something, tangible or otherwise…
Solo – Kwame Alexander – Teen – 12+
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. He’d give anything not to be the son of a washed-up rock star and drug addict. He battles the assumption of his girlfriend’s parents that he will end up just like his Dad. Gorgeously written with lots of depth.
Heads Up – death of a parent, identity and forgiveness are themes captured in this story…
Library Of Lost Things – Laura Taylor – Teen – 12+
Literary genius Darcy has spent most of her life living in the worlds of her books. There she can escape the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding. Faced with a new building manager who is taking a more active role she is forced out of her seclusion.
Heads Up – very special book dealing with themes of mental illness and shame…
Quintessence – Jess Redman – Tween – 10+
After moving to a new town, Alma starts to have panic attacks. Homesick and friendless, one day she finds a telescope in the towns junkshop and sees what looks like a child falling from the sky into her backyard. Whimsical and wonderful.
Heads Up – themes of isolation and loneliness are balanced with hope and just a little bit of magic…
New Kid – Jerry Craft – Tween – 8+
Jordan is an artist who finds himself one of the only kids of colour in a private school. He expresses himself in new ways as he balances between two different worlds. A beautiful graphic novel that explores topics such as race and class.
Heads Up – a conversation starter of the best kind…
Speechless – Adam P. Schmitt – Tween – 10+
How do you give a eulogy when you can’t think of one good thing to say? Jimmy racks his brain for a decent and meaningful memory to share. As he steps up to the mic, he realizes that it’s not the words spoken that matter most, but those that are truly heard.
Heads Up – complicated, honest and heartfelt look at mental illness in children…
Roller Girl – Victoria Jameison – Tween – 8+
As she signs up for roller derby camp, Astrid begins to learn that friendship can struggle in the face of diverging interests. A great graphic novel about friendship, sportsmanship and girl power!
Heads Up – the term “ass-turd” is used. I may be stealing that…
The Daydreamers:
They have the ability to lose themselves in other worlds; to be someone else, somewhere else…
More Than Maybe – Erin Hahn – Teen – 12+
Luke is hiding his true talent from his famous punk rocker father. As he hoards songs he has written and hosts a podcast, he nurses his crush on a music blogger. A lovely coming of age story with a musical backdrop.
Heads Up – the crush is a little sickly sweet, but I’m a cynic so there’s that…
Good Enough – Paula Yoo – Teen – 12+
A Korean American daughter strives to make her parents happy by following the rules. One of which is don’t talk to boys. As she readies herself to compete for assistant concert master, she begins to see the world differently.
Heads Up – nothing to worry about here, the rebellion is quite mild…
We Set The Dark On Fire – Tehor Kay Meiga – Teen – 14+
A daring fantasy about society wife in training Dania as she has an awakening after being recruited by rebel spies. She has long felt she belonged on the fringes of society rather than within it.
Heads Up – some sex and romance and rebellion against oppression…
First Rule Of Punk – Celia C. Perez – Tween – 8+
A heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place and rocking out like no one’s watching! On her first day at a new school, Malu makes a mess of things. Upsetting the Queen Bee, violating dress code and disappointing her Mom. How can she find a way to fit in and stay true to herself?
Heads Up – a great role model here…
Nightlights – Lorena Alvarez – Tween – 8+
Every night, tiny stars appear out of the darkness in Sandys bedroom. She catches them and creates wonderful creatures to play with until she falls asleep. A beautiful story about fear, insecurity and creativity.
Heads Up – sweet and harmless. Our main character is a bit lonely so if that’s a trigger…
The Secret Series Complete Collection – Pseudonymous Bosch – Tween – 9+
Not only is the name of this series a secret, but the story is too! That’s all I can say about that…
Heads Up – nothing here to worry about…
That Time I Got Kidnapped – Tom Mitchell – Tween – 11+
Fourteen-year-old Jacob is thrilled when he wins the chance to feature in the next Marvel movie. But after missing his flight he tries to complete his journey by bus and meets up with a girl on the run. From something…or someone. Hilarious and fun!
Heads Up – no warnings here…
