Best of 2020: Teen

After Sam is removed from her abusive home and sent to live with an aunt in rural Oregon, all she wants is for things to go back to the way they were. But when she agrees to undertake a quest for the mischievous fox Ashander, she's forced to confront the wounds from her past and the possibilities for her future. This tender and heartbreaking urban fantasy novel shines a light on the intricacies of abuse and trauma.

A debut novel that spins a tale of adventure, betrayal, magic and romance, with diverse and inclusive characters, a wide range of ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds. The novel has a sense of wonder and discovery, whether it is regarding the world around us or who we are as individuals. It is a rousing swashbuckling romance with just the right amount of magic and wonder.

Yadriel wants to prove to his family that he is a real brujo. He intends to summon the spirit of his cousin who had just recently passed away, but instead summons the spirit of Julian Diaz, resident bad boy. Yadriel and Julian are stuck together while they solve the mystery of what happened to Julian. Set in East L.A., in the days celebrating Dia de los Muertos, the novel is full of magic and mystery, but it is also about family and Latinx traditions, love and acceptance.

Felix gets more than he bargained for when he gets to know the boy he thinks is responsible for a cruel act, and his best friend becomes something more than his friend. Can he find his happily ever after?

Screaming for more! OMG! This sequel is as good as it gets. The ending is definitely not what I expected. The beginning was a little slow but boy does the middle and end make up for it! KAL!!!!!

A beautiful short story collection, with a myriad of genres represented, including historical fiction, realistic, science fiction, fantasy with magic, mermaids, vampires and more. You’ll find many new favorites among these stories full of love and strength.

In this series opener, Clara escapes her abusive home and joins a monster-hunting squad that kills scabs, creatures that are destroying the world. This fast-paced book with memorable characters, action sequences, and heart will leave you wanting the next in the series—immediately.

Beautifully written novel in verse about friends divided in the aftermath of an accidental shooting. Will their wounds heal enough to embrace each other again?

A wonderful debut YA novel that blends Nigerian folklore with other influences to create a rich, brilliant, fantasy world. The world building was extraordinary. Once I picked up the book I couldn't put it down until the end.

In 1935, ten-year-old Alex Maki is not pleased when he has to become pen pals with Charlie Levy of Paris, France, who turns out to be a girl. Even though they have a rocky start, the letters continue as their friendship grows, and they share their hopes, dreams and fears. The attack on Pearl Harbor happens, and teenage Alex, and his family are sent to the Japanese concentration camps, while Charlie faces the horrors of the Holocaust. Their friendship and love do not abate, and nothing can take away the light between them.

Excellently paced novel about a teen who, while mourning her mother’s death, stumbles into the reality of magic and discovers how it ties into her life. Full of mystery, suspense, romance and friendship, the start of this series will have you turning the pages well into the night.

An interesting Science Fiction book that explores Artificial Intelligence and makes us question what it means to be human.

World War II has just ended and concentration camps have been liberated. 18-year-old Zofia is free but traumatized and malnourished, without a home, money, possessions or family. She is determined to find her missing brother and make a new life for herself. This is a beautifully written historical novel that portrays a young woman who comes to terms with the past, her scars and slowly picks up the pieces of her shattered life.

This is one of the most satisfying series finales ever created, hands down. Eugenides, the titular Thief, reaches new heights of intelligence, craftiness, and misdirection as he struggles to bring three formerly warring kingdoms together to defeat a common foe, while not insulting the gods, who have long taken an interest in him. Featuring epic battles, the return of many characters, and elephants, this is a fantastic ending to a great series!

This is an action packed first book in a series based on African mythology. It involves Malik, who escaped his dangerous home with his sisters, hoping for a new life, and Karina, the land’s princess, who is grieving for her mother and apprehensive about her new role.

A middle grade YA novel about 10-year-old Della, who has always had sister Suki to protect her, especially that one fateful night with her mother’s boyfriend, but who was looking out for Suki? Two sisters have to find their voices in trauma, in order to come out the other side.

Thanks to a dare made at a high school party, popular jock Bryson Keller has to date ten people for one school week each, whoever asks him out first on each Monday. On the ninth week, in a fit of pique, closeted senior Kai Sheridan blurts out an invitation for a date. Unwilling to lose the dare, Bryson accepts, but neither teen is prepared for what their one-week relationship has in store.

Liz, a shy, black lesbian living in a very white midwestern community, finds her dreams shattered when her financial aid doesn’t come through for her dream college. She pursues her school scholarship, but must run for prom queen to get it, and must conquer her fears to pave the way for her dreams to become a reality.

A fun YA fantasy mystery read! A combination of Knives Out and Cinderella. In order for the protagonist to get the inheritance she must play the game. Full of twists, puzzles, and secrets! Very enjoyable.

A captivating read, written in verse. This story is about loss, grief, shame, family secrets, resentments, regrets, but also about hope and love. This marvelous book masterfully moves between the stories of Yahaira, who lives in NYC, and Camino, who lives in the Dominican Republic, as they learn about the death of their father, about each other's existence, and how they come to trust  and love each other. A real-life tragic accident that devastated the Dominican community, both in the US and the island, is the backdrop of this story.