March Recommendations for Teens

Fiction

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel - A Printz Honor author follows up his bestselling Skybreaker with a prequel to the Silverwing trilogy, in this powerfully imaginative look at life as it might once have been--an adventure story with Oppel's trademark action and keenly honed sense of character.

Shadow Falling (Avatars, Book 2) by Tui T. Sutherland - Set in post-apocalyptic New York, a group of teens learns they are avatars of immortal gods chosen from their own ranks to be raised as humans on Earth for one purpose. Now they are bound to fight one another, do they resist the forces controlling them or fight until only one survives, the survivor gaining immortality?

Undercover by Beth Kephart - Elisa's talent for ghostwriting love letters for the boys at her school brings her to the attention of Theo Moses who employs her to woo the popular beauty Lila. The problem is Elisa has fallen for Theo. Elisa's dad likes to say that they like were undercover operatives who see the world better than the world sees them, though her courageous realism does not keep her from hoping. Undercover was nominated for the National Book Award last year.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron - Alienated from his family and social group, 18 year old Manhattanite James Sveck fantasizes about moving to a farmhouse in the middle of Kansas and spending his days lazing about on the wraparound porch (sound familiar?) rather than contemplating the reality of attending Brown University in the fall. Readers of all ages will appreciate James' sardonic humor and compassionate insight into life in a world on the brink of catastrophe.

Leftovers by Laura Wiess - Following her stunning and critically acclaimed debut Such a Pretty Girl, Wiess crafts an emotionally compelling tale of the circumstances that lead two young women to commit a desperate and regrettable act in the name of justice.

Princess Mia by Meg Cabot - Now that Michael has broken things off, Mia can barely get out of bed, and her parents are making her see a therapist. Just when things cannot get any worse, Mia uncovers an old family secret that could change the fate of the Renaldos forever.

Snitch (Occupational Hazards) by Rene Gutteridge - Convinced that he's going to die of boredom, Las Vegas police sergeant Ron Yeager comes out of retirement to head an auto theft undercover team filled with inexperienced egos and eccentrics who couldn't sneak up on a statue. Will Yeager's force be transformed in time to stop a bigger crime than any of them expected?

Something Rotten: A Horatio Wilkes Mystery by Alan Gratz - Something is rotten in Denmark, Tennessee. Hamilton Prince's father has been murdered, according to a video message. Horatio Wilkes, Hamilton's best friend, is visiting the Prince mansion when the video turns up. The guys need to find the killer before he strikes again. Gratz delivers a smart, hip, and funny twist on the tale of Hamlet.


Nonfiction

I’ll Ask You Three Times, Are You OK? Tales of Driving and Being Driven by Naomi Shihab Nye - This anecdotal collection of stories will change your perspective on chance encounters. Nye, a four-time winner of the Pushcart Prize, writes with a lively, fast-paced, and poetic prose.

Tweak: (Growing Up On Methamphetamines) by Nic Sheff - Nic's addictions to pot, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, and crystal meth left him no time for college, for family, for friends, for anything except getting high. Even so, he felt like he could quit anytime he wanted to, which he does for eighteen months. Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. Consider also reading A Beautiful Boy, his father's story about how his son's addiction affected their family.