Staff Suggestions — Young Adult
As life changing as The Book Thief, Bridge of Clay is an epic tale of the bond that five brothers share as they head on an incredible journey of healing and forgiveness after the death of their mother. Written and told by Matthew, the oldest, it is the story of the fourth brother, Clay, and the bridge that he ultimately builds. Simply amazing and so worth the 18 year wait. This is Markus Zusak at his very best. Unforgettable!
— Karen
What do you do when you have a hobby that people expect you to turn into your future career, but your heart is no longer in it? Not only that, but how do you decide on conception or abortion as a result of an unplanned pregnancy? Finding Yvonne is a story about learning how to make big life decisions for yourself, and learning how it is ok to ask for support. Dealing with issues of race, class, parents who aren't present, life post-high school, and teenage pregnancy, you will appreciate seeing these issues from different perspectives.
— Taryn
Art Boss is full of energy, art, and excitement! Piper Perish is a young artist who moves from Texas to NYC to work and save money before her first semester at art school. Written in journal entries, this is truly a delight to read! I wanted to be doing what Piper was doing - finding her voice, her Art, and her place - all in NYC! This novel stands alone, but can be read as a companion novel to Piper Perish.
— Tonya
The second book in The Last Magician’s series, this new tale offers magic (latent, list, unwanted, stolen), time travel (across the country and across the centuries), fractured loyalties, and rediscovered animosities.
— Laura
This was a strange book—there is no denying that! But it was a good one. The story moved at a quick pace and never left me bored. Alex London kept adding more and more problems and layers, keeping me in suspense. I really loved seeing how it played out and learning more about the fantastical world where it took place. With falconry and a legendary ghost eagle, this is a great read for anyone looking for an adventure.
— ARC REVEIWER Jenna U., age 14
Check Please! is what got me through my freshman year of college. Following along with this web comic was a joy and I’m so excited that it’s now in print! It’s romantic and good-hearted. If you’re not already a hockey fan, this sweet graphic novel will surely turn you into one.
— Kate
I read this book overnight! Annabelle doesn’t want to think about what happened. With the support of her friends and family, she decides to run about it instead. And she runs!! Along the way, we learn pieces of her story. Very emotional, touching and certainly inspirational!
— Lori
Smart, smooth writing engaged me right from the get go in this survival story. Then tension built from page to page in such a way that by the time I was done, I found myself thinking twice about all the things I get with such ease: electricity, food and…most importantly, water!
With a super clever plot, I loved how this book was written from multiple points-of-view, which allowed me to drop into the minds of various characters. The Shustermans have shown me humanity at its worst and its best. This is one I’ve added to my list of favorite Young Adult novels.
— Susan
Uniquely written as a podcast – a radio personality traces the journey of a missing young girl. When Sadie’s little sister is found murdered, Sadie disappears. The radio podcaster is intrigued by the mystery and follows clues to determine if she left on her own, and if she can be found. An exhilarating read – I finished it in one weekend!!
— Terri
A completely fascinating take on a classic! I loved seeing Victor Frankenstein and his Monster through the eyes of Elizabeth, a companion whose entire purpose is to keep Victor in line – beginning when they meet around age 12. Determined to save herself by saving Victor, Elizabeth adapts her very self… and then later discovers that maybe she isn’t who she thinks she is. I love, love, loved this book. A new, fresh take on Victor and his Monster that made my skin crawl with a strong female character who kept me intrigued and looking forward to see what she would do next. Perfect autumn reading!
— Lindsey
Yes! This book is heart wrenching, smart, soulful and educational but above all - for me it was the perfect example of learning and respecting our histories! The importance of storytelling is right here in this book. The suffering and pain of these five generations of the same African American/ African family shows us just how vital it is to understand each other. The relevance of knowing our pasts and seeing how we all connect in some way. Hearing the stories of our ancestors help us make peace and pave a path of hope for the future!
— Tonya
A beautiful, sweet coming of age story of friendship, depression, fathers, tea, family, and men. And how it's okay to not be okay. I absolutely adored this book and I loved how infused it was with Lord of the Rings and Star Trek references. Never over the top, the references really helped explore who Darius is and his relationships to other people.
Darius is half Persian and travels to visit family in Iran, and I loved learning about a different culture that I don't know much about. Food, holidays, terminology, is all explained in an easy to read way that doesn't feel condescending or like too much "telling." It fits right into the book perfectly.
The story built beautifully to an emotionally powerful finale that left me in tears. It's an important book. One that should be read and talked about.
— Lindsey
When aspiring journalist Penny returns to her hometown, she is there to write her journalistic piece for Northwestern. But then her dad goes missing and the townspeople give eerily similar answers to her questions. Meanwhile, townsfolk are turning up dead and smoked to a crisp. Her friend suggests it was aliens, but Penny is a realist. So it can’t be, right? A great read for those who like intriguing mysteries and a little bit of fright. If you enjoyed Stranger Things, this book is for you!
— ARC REVIEWER David A., age 14
Dario Heyward was a movie star. But that was before he got emancipated from his family and moved into an orphanage. Then he gets invited back to Moldavia Studios for his dad’s funeral, and is tasked with saving the studio. Soon he finds himself back in the world of Moldavia and the horrors he thought he’d left behind.
I’ve been thinking about how to accurately talk about this book without sounding crazy or spoiling it! What an amazing story! It’s a great mix of dark comedy, tragedy and hope. I loved the characters and the story they told.
— ARC REVIEWER Jenna U., age 14
This mystery/adventure had me enthralled up until the very last page! I really enjoyed it—not only because the writing was great, but also because there was a really good story line and it wasn’t at all predictable. The ending surprised me; with most stories you can kind of guess what’s going to happen, but not with this one. I recommend this to fans of detective stories because throughout the book you have to notice all of the clues the characters leave in order to figure out what happens.
— ARC REVIEWER Kaatje W., age 14
With Sarah J. Maas' steady hand on the wheel: hold on for a wild ride! This look into Catwoman's world is fully satisfying with plenty of action and complicated superheroes.
— Jamie
Five best friends, all cheerleaders, are dead. Police say it’s a coincidence, but Monica’s sister was one of them and Monica isn’t buying it. Twists and suspects abound in this thriller that will make you wonder how well you know the people you’re closest to. Thomas’ best book yet!
— Jamie
A well-plotted story from start to finish! Scott Reintgen knows how to hold back just the right amount of information to keep you on the edge of your seat. In fact, he so totally kept me wondering what would happen next that I read this book in three days! And trust me, I don’t go out of my way to read sci-fi, but that’s how good his writing is. Join Emmet and his team on the next leg of their journey in Book 2 of this tension-filled, character-driven sci-fi trilogy. Great for guys & girls!
-Susan
Quinn’s life was great last summer. But now that winter is upon Winship, her life couldn’t be any worse & she’s to blame. But the new boy in town doesn’t see her as the monster she thinks she is & suddenly Quinn finds herself opening up & learning the truth about the real monster. This was a really good book! It had that perfect kind of world-building that makes you want to just jump into the story. Not only that, but the characters were great too. I enjoyed reading this story, especially with the chapters alternating between the summer & winter months. A definite summer read!
— ARC REVIEWER Jenna U., age 14
I couldn’t put down this story, told perfectly through emails. With the imagined support of a media hero, Brynn asks herself, what would Rachel Maddow do when life gets rough and no one seems willing to step up? A reluctant hero, Brynn finds support in unexpected places, and that sometimes, not giving up IS success.
For fans of realistic fiction.
— Laura
Sloane Sullivan, a member of the witness protection program, has been 19 different people in six years. But, she is hoping that she will be able to have a normal life after this last identity. It’s hard enough to blend in being a new student in senior year but it gets harder for Sloane when she sees someone from her past. This engaging book will keep you on the edge of the seat until the very end. I loved this story because of all the unexpected twists & turns. This thrilling book is a must-read.
— ARC REVIEWER Ellie C., age 14
Sandhya Menon strikes a fine balance of what it feels like to be a teen in high school & the challenges they have to face—feeling invisible, dating, and the relationships with friends, classmates & parents—all while keeping it light. A fun read that still has depth & a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. Join Twinkle on her journey of self-discovery & film-making.
— Susan
Absolute fun! Mila just wants to know who killed her best friend. So she does what any teenage Wiccan would do... she brings her best friend back from the dead. How was she to know she was strong enough to bring back two recently deceased popular girls as well? But here's the rub, none of them can remember how they died and if they go more than 100 feet away from Mila they start decaying.
A hilarious, yet dark, look at high school through the eyes of an outsider as she tries to get justice for her deceased (and slowly decaying) friend (and two popular girls she's growing to like). Wonderful characters and relationships, honestly funny, dark at times, I really loved this book.
— Lindsey
Jules is tired of filtering her voice. Jamie is tired of filtering his past. Together, they test the boundaries of how far they must go to expose the sickening amount of male privilege on their school’s campus. Tradition shows how having the courage to share your story may help others in the same situation. Such a well written book that discusses the practical responses to the dark emotions surrounding sexual assault. It was interesting to read as it was written from both the POV of the victim as well as the bystander.
— ARC REVIEWER, Samantha E., age 15
Featured Merch
Tenzi
"Best Toys for Kids."* It's a fast, fun FRENZY! Everyone gets ten dice. Someone says "Go." Then everyone rolls as fast as they can until someone gets...
Lollipop Tree Address Book
Keeping track of your busy family and friends is a snap with this luscious address book! Personal address book packs a punch with space for over...
RJ Julia "Peace Love Books" Apron
Get cooking in our RJ Julia Apron! Peace Love Books logo and RJ Julia logo on front
2018 R.J. JULIA BOOKSELLERS
DESIGN BY JULIA BALFOUR, LLC