Teen
The Last Apprentice
The Last Apprentice This series is downright spooky and extremely bingeable. I first read it in middle school and instantly loved it. As the seventh son of a seventh son, Tom Ward has the opportunity to become a Spook and learn how to cast out boggarts, demons, and other evils lurking in the dark. But … Read more
Everlost
Everlost Eerie and peculiar, Everlost scratches that itch for a story that’s riveting and simultaneously a bit unsettling. Not quite dead, but not quite alive the Everlost is a place of in-betweens.
Last Star Burning
Last Star Burning There’s something about a good dystopian novel that just hooks me. Add an outcast criminal, a forbidden relationship, and headstrong characters and it’s over – I’m reading way past my bedtime.
Shade’s Children
Shade’s Children I waited until well past my 14th birthday to read Shade’s Children because my older brother used to scare me with stories from it. “It’s about evil overlords who harvest human children on their 14th birthday to build war machines!” While he wasn’t wrong about that, Shade’s Children is much more than horror. … Read more
Finnikin of the Rock
Finnikin of the Rock Torn between responsibility and personal desire, Finnikin must choose what’s really important to him. Outcasts, curses, and a land divided come together to weave an epic tale of personal struggle and triumph. This series was among my favorites in high school. If you read it, let me know what you think!
Never Fall Down
Never Fall Down The true story of Arn-Chorn Pond and how he survived the Cambodian Genocide as a child. Told from a first person point-of-view this story is extremely potent and emotional. It looks at the best sides of humanity and some of the worst. Recommended for high schoolers and above.
The Elements of Pop-up
The Elements of Pop-up Have you ever read a pop-up book and wondered how it was created? The Elements of Pop-Up gives concise instructions on paper engineering that allow you to make your own pop-up art! Perfect for hands-on teenage artists who are looking for something new.
Pumpkinheads
Pumpkinheads While Josiah struggles to say goodbye to a place he loves, Deja tries to encourage him to enjoy the present moment. While especially sweet in the fall, this story is one I enjoy all year round.
The Queen of Attolia
The Queen of Attolia This book will stay with you. Complex emotional relationships and intricate character arcs are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s war, love, betrayal, trauma, and not a small amount of mischief. It is technically the second book in the Queen’s Thief series, but could be read as a stand-alone. If … Read more