BOOKS FOR BIG KIDS

If you enjoyed She Gets the Girl, then you’ll love I Kissed Shara Wheeler.

“Another audiobook that I could not stop listening to! A fun, light high school romance that should immediately be turned into a movie and will launch the new brat pack. I loved that these characters got to fight against their school and it's outdated beliefs (especially since I saw college graduates do the same thing in real life on tiktok just the other day). It was clever and funny and sweet and worth every second.”

Kimi, Buttonwood Books and Toys

A striking debut novel about a college freshman grappling with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist history, which may not be as distant as it seems.

"A searing debut.” –Entertainment Weekly

Savannah Howard thought everyone followed the same checklist to get into Wooddale University:
Take the hardest classesGet... Read more »

Becoming a legend is not easy, as young Alanna of Trebond discovers when she disguises herself as a boy and begins training to be a knight. Alanna's skills and stubborness help her befriend Prince Jonathan and alienate his evil uncle, Duke Roger. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, this book is a rousing... Read more »

Twelve-year-old Emmie is working to raise money for a tricked-out wheelchair to get serious about WCMX, when a mishap on a poorly designed ramp at school throws her plans into a tailspin. Instead of replacing the ramp, her school provides her with a kind but unwelcome aide and, seeing a golden media opportunity, launches a public fundraiser for... Read more »

The first book in a witty, suspenseful new trilogy about a brilliant new crime-solving duo: the teen descendants of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. This clever page-turner will appeal to fans of Maureen Johnson and Ally Carter.Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of... Read more »

Home Is Not a Country

“I'm not even finished with the book and already know it is a standout of the year. The fresh, tender, unique way that Nima struggles to find a place to call home within herself is so much more than a coming-of-age novel or an immigrant story. Through the surreal exploration of who she could have been, Nima tells a wrenchingly real, oh-so-human story that transcends genre. This is a novel that asks readers of any age 'what will you do with your one, wild and precious life?.' ”

Summer, Books Inc.

Vinyl Moon

“Bahni Turpin's narration of Mahogany L. Browne's Vinyl Moon was spectacular. The story and the performance pulled me into the protagonist, Angel's, world and kept me engaged there as she navigated a new school and city in her junior year of high school....I highly recommend this listen for anyone who needs to see that we're not defined by what's happened in the past, and that we deserve and are capable of good things regardless of what we've been through. Let Turpin's narration sweep you up in the warmth that Angel and her peers deserve.”

Julie, Pocket Books Shop

Sasha Masha

“I wish I'd had this book in high school. I wish I'd had these kind of friends in high school—what an incredible found family (once Sasha Masha found it). Agnes has written an incredibly wholesome, hopeful, and real coming-of-age story that grapples with gender identity and social anxiety in particular. The style of writing is perfectly suited to the story, and Borinsky's own narration made for an incredibly enjoyable listening experience. More please.”

Britt, Second Star to the Right

From National Book Award finalist Akwaeke Emezi comes a companion novel to the critically acclaimed PET that explores both the importance and cost of social revolution--and how youth lead the way.

After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special school where she can focus on her painting... Read more »

National Book Award Finalist

Stonewall Book Award Winner

"[A] beautiful, genre-expanding debut...Pet is a nesting doll of creative possibilities." (The New York Times)

The award-winning, genre-defying novel by the New York Times best-selling author of The Death of Vivek Oji that explores themes of identity and justice and asks: How do you share the... Read more »

A Snake Falls to Earth

“This book truly transported me to another world. I was swept away by world building and so charmed by each of the characters. Nina and Oli both having their own talents and struggles with translation was such a wonderful way to tie these characters together until they met. A Snake Falls to Earth was a breath of fresh air, wholly original, and a story I will treasure forever. ”

Gina, BookPeople

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

“This was just so darned delightful. I loved Moon, and her sharp retorts (she comes up with the best insults!), as well as her determination to succeed at her goals even though she constantly doubts herself. She and her twin sister, Star, are opposites in all ways. Star is the beautiful one, and Moon is not. Star is loved, and Moon is not. Star is a social influencer, and Moon, well, you'll find out. While there is a great enemies to lovers romance, with a wonderful cinnamon bun, Santiago, to me, this is more about Moon's family dynamics and how she reconciles them with her life. I listened to this and the narrator is fantastic.”

Audrey, Belmont Books

Raybearer

“Such a cool fantasy novel with an incredible magic system! Perfect for fans of "Children of Blood and Bone." I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to further immerse yourself in this beautiful world that Ifueko has created.”

Coleen, An Unlikely Story

Lois Lowry’s The Giver is the quintessential dystopian novel, followed by its remarkable companions, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive... Read more »

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.There are some differences. This America has been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly every day, like the ability to make an orb of... Read more »

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse... Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

"A dazzling fairytale full of breathtaking storytelling." --Stephanie Garber,... Read more »

Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.#1 New York Times bestseller * 4 starred reviews * A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * A Kirkus Best Book of the Year * A Booklist... Read more »

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

“This coming of age story about a young woman growing up queer in 1950s Chinatown, San Francisco, was brilliant. I loved the rich historical detail, believable characters, exploration of intersectional identities, romance, and sense of place, made even stronger by the excellent narration. Best book I've read in quite some time and highly recommended for adults or teens!”

Tracey, Turning the Tide Bookstore

With the Fire on High

“This was a great listen. Emoni, a single teen mom, has so much on her plate and has maturity beyond her years. She’s realistic and responsible and navigates high school, parenting, college decisions and a budding love interest. She’s becoming a talented chef and her feelings are expressed in her food. The author narrates and she had me hooked from the first sentence.”

Audrey, Belmont Books

Children of Blood and Bone

“A sprawling fantasy teeming with deep and meaningful magic. One of the things I like most about this debut is that it raises very real and important issues of our time through multiple character's perspectives. No character is one-dimensional, and every character must learn from failure and introspection to become who they were meant to be.”

Kelly, Mysterious Galaxy Books