This is the second in a series of three posts, each covering a different type of children's book. Today we will be looking at books written for Teens. Because this is the collection that I order for at the library, I have read more of this type of book than anything else this year, and there have been lots of great books to choose from!
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde has made a name for himself writing fantasy novels for adults, and he branched out to writing for teens late last year. Set in a world much like ours but where wizards are contracted to use their magical abilities for mundane tasks, the story follows a girl named Jennifer Strange, who has no magical ability herself but is the acting manager of Kazam, an employment agency of wizards. Unfortunately, magic is drying up and there is concern that it will disappear altogether. In The Last Dragonslayer Jennifer Strange finds herself helping Big Magic return after a series of visions predict that a dragon will be slain. In the sequel, Song of the Quarkbeast, Kazam's rival company challenges the wizards to a contest that will determine who will take on the role of Court Mystician, but first Jennifer must put a stop to the rival manager's shady dealings. Both books are plenty quirky and will appeal to fans of authors like Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers
Kiki Strike and her companions have finally returned in this third installment to the series, and her latest adventure does not disappoint. Kiki travels to Paris to confront her parents' killers and finds herself caught up with the titular underground organization who tries to protect the city's underground catacombs. Meanwhile in New York, Ananka and the other girls find themselves tangled up in their own messes, most notably with an upscale girls' finishing school. When they realize that the two mysteries might not be so unrelated and that Kiki might be in some real trouble, it's up to master of disguise Betty Bent to travel to Paris and save the day. Strong girls and much better-than-average writing make this latest book in the series well worth the wait.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
In 1986, Eleanor and Park find themselves sitting together on the bus. They become friends as they share a love of comic books, and then they become something more. The two teens know that high school romance never lasts, but are they brave enough to try anyway? But as their relationship grows, we are reminded that Eleanor's life isn't anything close to sunshine and roses, and her complicated home life provides just the right amount of tragedy to keep this book interesting. This novel will be appealing to a wide range of readers, and it's my top pick for this year's Printz Award.
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Ezra was once his school's golden boy - captain of the tennis team, pretty girlfriend, likely to be elected Homecoming King. But when a car accident messes up his knee and Ezra finds himself unable to play tennis during his senior year, his world is suddenly turned upside down. He finds himself reconnecting with his less-popular childhood friend, joining the debate team, and drawn to Cassidy, a girl with a mysterious past who just transferred to their school. I love the smart characters in this debut novel and the clever way in which they all deal with their own tragedies.
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Josie is the daughter of a prostitute in New Orleans, but she wants more for herself than this underworld life. She wants to go to college and really make something of herself. Unfortunately, a mysterious death leaves Josie wrapped up in an investigation that she wants no part of but cannot seem to escape. This piece of historical fiction is great for older teens. It packs in lots of atmospheric details, plenty of mystery, and characters that really draw readers in.
Poison by Bridget Zinn
Kyra is a sixteen-year-old potions master, and unfortunately she is also the only one who knows that the kingdom is in some serious trouble. Her solution? Poison the princess, who is unfortunately also her former best friend. When that doesn't work out, Kyra finds herself on the run from the palace guards with a tiny piglet and a very handsome boy for company. The novel is light, fluffy, and funny. In a genre that sometimes seems to be filled with nothing but depressing reads, a books like this is a welcome change of pace.
Tell me about your favorite teen reads of 2013 in the comments.
Also, it should be noted that this is my little blog's 300th post. Wow! Big thanks to my small following of regular readers, and also to the thousands of people who have stumbled upon it while looking for images, program ideas, etc. I'd probably still enjoy keeping a record of all of the cool stuff that I get to do at my job even if I didn't have any readers, but knowing that there are a few of you out there really means a lot to me. Sometimes it's the only thing forcing me to use the spellcheck, so thank you.
The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde has made a name for himself writing fantasy novels for adults, and he branched out to writing for teens late last year. Set in a world much like ours but where wizards are contracted to use their magical abilities for mundane tasks, the story follows a girl named Jennifer Strange, who has no magical ability herself but is the acting manager of Kazam, an employment agency of wizards. Unfortunately, magic is drying up and there is concern that it will disappear altogether. In The Last Dragonslayer Jennifer Strange finds herself helping Big Magic return after a series of visions predict that a dragon will be slain. In the sequel, Song of the Quarkbeast, Kazam's rival company challenges the wizards to a contest that will determine who will take on the role of Court Mystician, but first Jennifer must put a stop to the rival manager's shady dealings. Both books are plenty quirky and will appeal to fans of authors like Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers
Kiki Strike and her companions have finally returned in this third installment to the series, and her latest adventure does not disappoint. Kiki travels to Paris to confront her parents' killers and finds herself caught up with the titular underground organization who tries to protect the city's underground catacombs. Meanwhile in New York, Ananka and the other girls find themselves tangled up in their own messes, most notably with an upscale girls' finishing school. When they realize that the two mysteries might not be so unrelated and that Kiki might be in some real trouble, it's up to master of disguise Betty Bent to travel to Paris and save the day. Strong girls and much better-than-average writing make this latest book in the series well worth the wait.
In 1986, Eleanor and Park find themselves sitting together on the bus. They become friends as they share a love of comic books, and then they become something more. The two teens know that high school romance never lasts, but are they brave enough to try anyway? But as their relationship grows, we are reminded that Eleanor's life isn't anything close to sunshine and roses, and her complicated home life provides just the right amount of tragedy to keep this book interesting. This novel will be appealing to a wide range of readers, and it's my top pick for this year's Printz Award.
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Ezra was once his school's golden boy - captain of the tennis team, pretty girlfriend, likely to be elected Homecoming King. But when a car accident messes up his knee and Ezra finds himself unable to play tennis during his senior year, his world is suddenly turned upside down. He finds himself reconnecting with his less-popular childhood friend, joining the debate team, and drawn to Cassidy, a girl with a mysterious past who just transferred to their school. I love the smart characters in this debut novel and the clever way in which they all deal with their own tragedies.
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Josie is the daughter of a prostitute in New Orleans, but she wants more for herself than this underworld life. She wants to go to college and really make something of herself. Unfortunately, a mysterious death leaves Josie wrapped up in an investigation that she wants no part of but cannot seem to escape. This piece of historical fiction is great for older teens. It packs in lots of atmospheric details, plenty of mystery, and characters that really draw readers in.
Poison by Bridget Zinn
Kyra is a sixteen-year-old potions master, and unfortunately she is also the only one who knows that the kingdom is in some serious trouble. Her solution? Poison the princess, who is unfortunately also her former best friend. When that doesn't work out, Kyra finds herself on the run from the palace guards with a tiny piglet and a very handsome boy for company. The novel is light, fluffy, and funny. In a genre that sometimes seems to be filled with nothing but depressing reads, a books like this is a welcome change of pace.
Tell me about your favorite teen reads of 2013 in the comments.
Also, it should be noted that this is my little blog's 300th post. Wow! Big thanks to my small following of regular readers, and also to the thousands of people who have stumbled upon it while looking for images, program ideas, etc. I'd probably still enjoy keeping a record of all of the cool stuff that I get to do at my job even if I didn't have any readers, but knowing that there are a few of you out there really means a lot to me. Sometimes it's the only thing forcing me to use the spellcheck, so thank you.
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