Shelf Talkers

As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

Madison, a town in the middle of the Mojave Desert, is not like most towns. In fact, it’s a town with a secret–not like Area 51 and aliens–a different kind of secret. Every resident of Madison gets one wish on their 18th birthday. And that wish is granted. Other than wishing for world peace or more wishes, what would you wish for? If you liked Elsewhere or Before I Fall, you’ll like this.

This is Not a Love Letter by Kim Purcell

On a Friday night one week before graduation, Chris Kirk goes out for a run and doesn’t return. Jessie, his girlfriend, tells the story of what happens next in a letter she writes to Chris. Multilayered storytelling keeps the reader turning pages. If you liked The First Time She Drowned or Lock and Key, you’ll like this.

Mr. 60% by Clete Barrett Smith

Matt Nolan does just enough to pass; hence, Mr. Nash, his counselor, dubs Matt Mr. 60%. Mr. Gil, the VP, is out to get Matt–actually he’s out to rid the school of his most notorious drug dealer. However, nothing is as it appears to be–even for Matt. If you liked Holding Smoke, you’ll like this.

Slider by Pete Hartman
David Miller is a fan of competitive eating. But after a misplaced decimal point on a Buy Buy bid, David becomes a competitor. As David trains for the Pizza Bowl, his brother Mal “coaches” him. Ultimately–through pizza–David learns the meaning of family and commitment. If you liked Rules of Out of My Mind, you’ll like this.

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

The Das women have a complicated history and identity. Perkins’ novel spans 40+ years, three generations, and four continents. Through multiple voices, the reader quickly learns the complicated narrative shared by mothers and daughters and discovers what it is that ties us all together. If you liked All We Have Left or Still Life with Tornado, you’ll like this.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Jane Sinner has a secret–a secret she’s trying to keep from everyone who doesn’t already know her past. Something happens Jane’s senior year of high school to cause her to drop out of school and finish her diploma at the local community college. When Jane begins the online reality show House of Orange, it appears that secret Jane is trying to keep will be exposed. So how well did Jane want it hidden? Told through diary entries, Jane’s voice is loud and snarky. If you liked We Were Liars or Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, you’ll like this.

Revolution by Deborah Wiles

Greenwood, MS is preparing for hot, muggy summer days, but they are also preparing for “Invaders.” Sunny is confused about why they are being invaded. As she navigates Freedom Summer, everything she thought she knew about her world changes. She’s suddenly not sure of anything. Wiles tells the story of Freedom Summer and the beginning of the Vietnam War through Sunny’s and other’s voices. A beautiful story–it will make you cry. If you liked The Rock and the River or Sources of Light, you’ll like this.

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

Corey and Kyra are best friends. When Corey moves away, she promises to return; however, days before she can, Kyra is found drowned under the ice. They say she committed suicide, but Corey knows something is wrong, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. This novel is part mystery/thriller and part lyrical search for identity. The town and setting are as much a character as Corey and Kyra. Haunting and scary, Before I Let Go is the perfect book to curl up with. If you liked We Were Liars, you’ll like this.

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

At first glance, Bone Gap seems like a typical small town–everyone knows everyone else’s business. But as the reader looks more closely, Bone Gap is anything but typical. After all, why use the term gap in the name of the town when there are no geographical gaps nearby? When Roza shows up quite unexpectedly with injuries she doesn’t care to talk about, Sean and Finn take her in and give her a place to heal. Then Rosa mysteriously disappears, and it may just mean that gaps do surround the town–just not gaps people can see. If you like Tear You Apart, Holding Up the Universe, or Full Tilt, you’ll like this.

Blood Will Tell by April Henry

Alexis, Ruby, and Nick are home from a SAR operation only a few hours before they get called out for an evidence search. By the time the search is over, Nick will be the prime suspect in the murder of the young woman found in the vacant lot they were searching. But did Nick do it? Ruby and Alexis race to clear Nick’s name. If you liked Holding Smoke, you’ll like this.

The Body in the Woods by April Henry

Ruby, Alexis, and Nick are training to be part of Portland’s SAR team. When they are on a search for a missing person, they find the body of a teenaged girl. Did the three just stumble on the work of a serial killer? Who will be next? If you liked, The Christopher Killer, you’ll like this.

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Work

Crow washed up on the shore of an island next to Cuttyhunk and was rescued by Ohs when she was hours old. Now 12, Crow wants to know where she came from. Her quest to find her biological family lands her smack in the middle of a hunt for Captain Kidd’s treasure. This is beautifully written with a strong characters and fast plot. If you liked Anne of Green Gables, you’ll like this.

Midnight at the Electric

Adri has been chosen to be part of a group to colonize Mars. She heads to Kansas for training and stays with Lily, a cousin she didn’t know she had. While she’s there preparing for her future, she begins to dig into her past. As she slowly uncovers a mystery, the reader wonders if she will go to Mars after all. I couldn’t put this one down. If you liked A Northern Light, you’ll like this.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Josh and JB are twins who are exactly alike. They both love basketball, and they are the stars of the team. As their team heads to the championships things happen that could end the championship title and the brothers’ relationship. If you like Tangerine, you’ll like this.

Just Fly Away by Andrew McCarthy

Lucy, 16, learns she has an 8 year old brother, and her world turns upside down. Lucy sets out to discover what it means to be a family. If you like Why We Broke Up or Seth Baumgartner’s Love Manifesto you’ll like this.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

This is typical Sarah Dessen. Meet Emaline and her family–her mom, dad, sisters, father and brother. Yes. Dad and father. Throughout the book Emaline struggles with who she is and who she’s becoming. She works through family and boyfriend issues the summer before she leaves for college. This is a light, summer read. If you liked Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, you’ll enjoy this.

Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

What would it be like if you had unlimited versions of yourself and unlimited do overs? After accepting an invitation to Tu Reviens (because Aunt Magnolia told her never to turn down and invitation to the house), Jane gets to find out the answer to these questions. When she arrives, she realizes the house and its inhabitants aren’t what she expected, and she can’t possibly begin to explain what’s happening to anyone. If you liked The Phantom Tollbooth you’ll enjoy this quirky setting.

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