Young Adult

Presents the stories of ten African-American men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically to provide a scope from slavery to the modern day. The stories are accessible, fully-drawn narratives offering the subjects’ childhood influences, the time and place in which they lived, their accomplishments and motivations and the legacies they left for future generations as links in the “freedom chain.”

After surviving a car accident with my oldest daughter last month, I thought this would be an appropriate entry. Covering virtually every scenario a new driver may face – from changing a tire to negotiating privileges with parents to handling a car in bad weather – Gravelle helps teen drivers navigate through tricky new territory.

Coming-of-age novel about friendship and loyalty across neighborhood lines and the hardship of life for an urban teen from one of the best young adult authors in the business.

Groundhog Day gets a hilarious French twist in this delightful upper middle grade novel about first crushes and friendship when an eighth-grade class trip to Paris goes horribly wrong and the worst day of one girl's life keeps happening over and over.

Printz Award–winning novel about a Korean girl who tells her firsthand account of trying to find her place and identity in America from the day she leaves Korea as a child to her rocky journey through the teenage years.

A teen girl hiding the scars of a past relationship finds home and healing in the words of strong Black writers. A beautiful sophomore novel from a critically acclaimed author and poet that explores how words have the power to shape and uplift our world even in the midst of pain.

Young Ada is troubled, prone to violent fits. Born “with one foot on the other side,” she begins to develop separate selves within her as she grows into adulthood. And when she travels to America for college, a traumatic event on campus crystallizes the selves into something powerful and potentially dangerous, making Ada fade into the background of her own mind as these alters – now protective, now hedonistic – move into control.

Miguel has dreamed of joining his parents in California since the day they left him behind in Mexico six years, eleven months, and twelve days ago. On the morning of his fifteenth birthday, Miguel's wait is over. Or so he thinks. The trip north to the border – la línea – is fraught with dangers in this page-turner that will lead to some great classroom discussions.

Two-time Newbery Honor winner Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he’s placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

Graphic novel about choice and responsibility that will be a hit with any of your teens interested in DC comics (the characters were originally developed by legendary cartoonist Jack Kirby) or graphic novels. Excited that this is the first in a series.

In this pulse-pounding tech-thriller, Heath creates a world where everyone knows when you lie – and telling the truth doesn’t always set you free. First book in a series of five.

Forgive me for not having put this book on a previous list. Shame on me, as Draper is one of my favorite young adult authors and I love this trilogy about life at Hazelwood High. After the death of his longtime friend in a car accident, Andy, the driver, blames himself and cannot get past his guilt and pain. While his other friends have managed to work through their grief and move on, Andy allows death to become the focus of his life. In the months that follow the accident, the lives of Andy and his friends are traced through a series of letters, articles, homework assignments and dialogues, and it becomes clear that Tigers do indeed need to cry.

Ideal book for Black History Month. In this essential autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most powerful figures, Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine explores not only the oppressive force of racism, but the ability of young people to change ideas of race and identity.

The extraordinary memoir of an orphan who danced her way from war-torn Sierra Leone to ballet stardom, most recently appearing in Beyonce’s Lemonade and as a principal in a major American dance company.

I want my middles schoolers and high schoolers to start the year off right, especially during these trying times. This book insists students should stop comparing themselves to others. After all, Teddy Roosevelt said that “comparison is the thief of joy.” In this fun, practical guide, teens will learn how to silence their nit-picky inner critics, cultivate self-compassion and discover what really matters to them.