Koelbel Staff Young Adult Book Club Picks 2021Like this list

9 items

• One of Us Is Lying

  McManus, Karen M.,

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  We read "One of Us is Lying"- a YA mystery soon to be Peacock TV series! Described as "Pretty Little Liars" meets the "Breakfast Club", the novel opens with five diverse high school seniors who land in detention. Like the "Breakfast Club", there's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Frankly in Love

  Yoon, David,

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  Our group read "Frankly In Love", one of our district's Summer Reading freebies. This novel about the son of Korean immigrants dating a white classmate, deceptively reads initially, like a light, pool-bag selection. As the story unfolds, it's packed…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Punching the Air

  Zoboi, Ibi Aanu,

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  The club read "Punching the Air" by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam. For those too young to remember, Dr. Salaam was one of the five young teens imprisoned in the Central Park jogger case, now exonerated. Recommended after a member attended a YA webinar…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Henna Wars

  Jaigirdar, Adiba,

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  A timely choice preceding Pride Month, this is a light romance that deals with heavy issues. The novel chronicles the experience of a Muslim teen who faces challenges with friends and family in her process of coming out. Henna Wars delicately…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• More Than Just a Pretty Face

  Masood, Syed,

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  To quote club member, Morgan "As a Pakistani American, teenager Danyal attempts to win the title of Renaissance Man during a school competition. He matures along the way with help from a fellow Desi teen with her own complicated relationships."

• Sawkill Girls

  Legrand, Claire, 1986-

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  We decided to read outside our comfort zone this month with the horror selection, Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand. For those who read it (the cover was creepy!), the novel did not disappoint. Packed (some thought too packed) with heavy themes like…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Instructions for Dancing

  Yoon, Nicola,

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  From Nicola Yoon, the master of cynical YA romance, this latest effort is lovely, yet humorous tale of two unlikely teens paired up to compete in a ballroom dance contest. Dance lovers will enjoy the references to various styles and those looking…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Darius the Great Is Not Okay

  Khorram, Adib,

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  This isn't a new book, but it was such an amazing journey through the eyes of a young Iranian/American man. Named after a famous ruler, Darius feels inadequate to live up to his namesake. Bullied and lonely at school and feeling disconnected from…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Firekeeper's Daughter

  Boulley, Angeline,

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  We chose this debut novel to read during Indigenous People's month and along with an author's visit from Angeline Boulley. We agreed that it was an impressive first effort and fascinating look into the traditions of the Ojibwe tribe. The mystery…Read moreRead more of this annotation