Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Taking place in the '80s, Eleanor & Park is about two high school students who both stand out and as a result become an unlikely couple. It's a sweet story.

     

Eleanor's new to the high school. She's big and has crazy, unruly red hair. Plus she doesn't try to fit in -- she dresses outside the norm.

     

Park is Asian and isn't quite at the bottom of the social ladder where he gets picked on so survives when others are targeted instead of him.

     

When Eleanor needs a seat on the bus and the only one available is Park's, the two will slowly bond over comic books and music and come  to share a love story neither thought they'd be able to have.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Rowell, R.

Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

A book review by Madeline Soucie


Ileni used to be one of the most powerful sorceresses of her age. Now she is
slowly losing her magic, her status, her life, and her home.  Ileni is forced into exile and must teach magic to assassins hidden in the mountains.

She is sent, and expected never to return, to follow the fate of her successors, both of whom were killed within weeks of each other. Ileni is determined to find the truth behind their deaths before she follows their fate. This may not be easy if the mystery doesn't want to be uncovered and her only friend and ally can only protect her so much.

Read more about how Ileni will risk everything in Death Sworn.


Find it in APL TEEN New Books YA FIC Cypess, L.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Love is a disease. It kills and drives people crazy. In order to prevent this, all citizens -- at the age of eighteen -- must undergo the cure, a process that prevents this disease.

This is the society that seventeen-year-old Lena is growing up in and used to believe in until recently. Now, everything has changed -- that's what love does to a person. Love changes people, only it's amazing, not bad like society says it is.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Oliver, L.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A book review by Madeline Soucie

We Were Liars is a mystery in its own way, unwound by a girl as she regains her memories after a traumatic event from two years ago. And, of course, everyone is not as they seem.

I cannot tell you anymore, least I ruin the story for you. But I will say this; The Sinclairs are a rich family who spends their summers on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts, and they are liars.

Find it in APL TEEN New Books YA FIC Lockhart, E.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

A book review by Kat Seevers

The Moon and More doesn’t contain that much romance. It’s more about change, family relationships, and figuring out who you are in the midst of all of that.  As a general rule, Emaline doesn’t like change, but she’s forced to deal with it over and over again.  I really enjoyed her character because while she’s struggling, she’s still very focused and true to herself.  She’s trying to balance her mom holding on to her -- and not wanting her to make the same mistakes she did -- along with new friendships and her biological father visiting for the summer.  Emaline's character stood out in different ways depending on who she was dealing with.  She’s patient with her mom and sisters, she’s pretty strong with her biological father, she’s tough around Ivy, and she’s trying out a different version of Emaline with Theo.  All of it connects and changes as the story progresses.

Find it in APL Teen New Fiction YA FIC Dessen, S.