Don’t know what to get the teenager(s) on your list this holiday season? Try a book! Jennifer, Hayden and Abby, three Teen Services Librarians at The Seattle Public Library, have compiled a list of recent favorites that are sure to appeal to the teens in your life, be they fans of science fiction, mystery, comics, fantasy, or just great stories about real teenagers.
Jennifer’s picks:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Try The Maze Runner for teens who loved The Hunger Games or dystopias in general. Every month, a teenage boy is delivered to the Glade, remembering nothing but his name. Inside the Glade, there is a farm, a forest, and a maze where deadly, disgusting cyborgs lurk. As they try to solve the maze and escape the Glade, the boys survive through a rigid division of labor and supplies that show up like clockwork. But when a girl bearing a cryptic message is sent to the Glade, the teens realize that time is running out.
Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez
Need something for the Twilight fan on your list? Try this fun, light, supernatural-romance/mystery series. The first volume, Dead is the New Black, introduces teenage psychic-sleuth Daisy and her hot shape-shifting best friend and romantic interest Ryan Mendez.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Another sure-fire winner for Twilight fans. For something a little darker, and more intense, try the Mortal Instruments series. The first volume, City of Bones, is set in the hot spots of NYC complete with angelic demon hunters, creatures of the night, and lots of parties, romance and intrigue.
Marvel Zombies by Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips
Marvel Zombies is a humorous, gross-fest of zombified superheroes. What could be more perfect for the teen who says reading is boring?
Hayden’s picks:
We Were Here by Matt de la Peña
Miguel has done something so horrible that he can’t admit it to anyone—not even himself. When he and two other boys escape their juvenile detention facility and set off for the Mexican border, each boy at first seems to be nothing more than a stereotype of troubled youth. But de la Peña gradually shows that there is far more to each of these characters than is immediately apparent. Give this book to high school boys who’ve faced tough situations of their own.
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
This book has everything traditional fantasy fans are looking for: a vaguely “long ago, far away” setting, a lovable rogue, a rebellious princess, and of course, maps on the end pages. But it is also more politically and psychologically complex than the average contemporary fantasy, making it a great gift for fantasy fans ages twelve and up.
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
Abrahams, author of the wonderful Echo Falls mystery series for middle readers, here turns out a suspenseful mystery for high school students. When high school football star Cody hears that his girlfriend is missing from her prestigious East Coast boarding school, he packs up his car and drives across the country to find her. Cody is a smart, likeable hero who, though undiagnosed, probably has a learning disorder. A great pick for mystery fans ages thirteen and up.
The Homeschool Liberation League by Lucy Frank
Everyone hates middle school, but Katya REALLY hates it. She’s determined to find a way to avoid attending the 8th grade, and hits on the idea of homeschooling. After some initial resistance, her busy working-class parents actually agree to give it a try—but not all goes as planned. This is a fun pick for anyone who has tried homeschooling, or for any middle school girl looking for a fun read with a little romance. Jessica is filled with exuberance at learning and despair at attending middle school, and who can’t relate to that?
Abby’s picks:
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Australian author/illustrator Tan turns bland suburban living on its head in this breathtakingly beautiful collection of illustrated short stories. These funny, melancholy and otherworldly stories are brief – some only a page long – but teens will spend hours poring over Tan’s intricate, captivating drawings.
The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon, — and me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
Ruby Oliver is having a rough time. She’s back at Tate Prep and trying to rebuild her reputation and repair her friendships by voluntarily remaining in the dismal state of Noboyfriend. But the boys in her life aren’t making it easy for her. Teens will laugh and root for Ruby as she struggles to figure out what she wants and who her true friends are. Bonus for Seattle residents: Familiar local landmarks such as Judy Fu’s Snappy Dragon and Bailey/Coy Books (RIP) pop up throughout the book.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
Want to know what it’s really like to be a vampire? Nina Harrison, vampire at age 15 and member of the Reformed Vampire Support Group, is here to set the record straight. Vampires aren’t the sexy, powerful and sparkling creatures you read about in Twilight. No, the vampires Nina knows are weak, pathetic creatures that survive on guinea pig blood and suffer from constant headaches, nausea and hemorrhaging. And someone is trying to destroy them all.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Marcelo, a Latino teen with an Asperger’s-like condition, knows he is different from other kids. But his father thinks Marcelo’s just being difficult, and decides that he needs to enter the “real world” by spending the summer working at his law firm. When he discovers a photo of a terribly disfigured young girl in a file, Marcelo must make the most difficult decision of his life. A wonderful coming-of-age story that will appeal to teens who enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and other books with unusual narrators.
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