At the end of the world, what matters more than loyalty?

Teenage Griz is one of only a few thousand people left in the world after the “soft apocalypse” of the Gelding, a mysterious event that left the vast majority of the world’s population unable to have children. Scattered families and other small enclaves live on, but most days, out on their tiny island off the coast of Scotland, Griz’s family sees nobody but themselves—and their dogs. Griz’s dogs are Jip and Jess, and when a strange traveler with long red hair shows up and snatches Jess in the middle of the night, Griz doesn’t even stop to think before going after them with Jip. The hunt that begins that night will take Griz and Jip through the ruins of the old world and bring them face to face with the best and worst of humanity—what it was and what it still is even after civilization has ground to a halt. Fletcher’s debut novel paints an engrossing picture of our familiar world after it’s been left to crumble and populates this haunted landscape with thoroughly compelling characters. The hunt for Jess propels this story forward like a rocket, and Fletcher does a masterful job keeping the stakes high and the suspense crackling while still creating plenty of space for readers to get to know Griz and explore this fascinating not-quite-empty world.

This un-put-down-able story has everything—a well-imagined post-apocalyptic world, great characters, incredible suspense, and, of course, the fierce love of some very good dogs.

"This has become my favorite dystopian novel! I recommend it to anyone who loves dogs and loves adventure!" Mrs. Peterson

At 16, Charlie, who has a White mom and Puerto Rican dad, has never been kissed. This is just one of the many reasons she views herself as second fiddle to Amelia, her charming, confident, pansexual best friend who is “the walking embodiment of Black excellence.” Another big reason is that Amelia is beautiful—and Charlie is fat. Though Charlie is working to inculcate the body-positive messages of the #fatfashion influencers she follows, she cannot deny that classmates, especially boys, and even her own mother seem to prefer Amelia to her. She cannot blame them. To her, Amelia is perfect too, as well as being an amazing best friend. When Brian, her Korean American co-worker and classmate, begins to pursue Charlie, it is a dream come true. But a dark seed of mistrust lies buried within her. Before Charlie can truly love herself, let alone others, she has to address insidious self-doubt about her own worth caused in no small part by the constant comparisons she makes. Though readers will expect a happy ending, it is not a foregone conclusion. Charlie’s struggles are authentic and raw while Maldonado’s bright prose makes for a page-turner. Charlie inhabits an inviting, diverse world in an unnamed Connecticut town.

"This is a heartwarming, tear-jerking novel recommended for anyone who struggles with body image or self-confidence. Good for middle and high schoolers." - Mrs. Stewart

IT STARTED AS A JOKE.
When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Alicia was always to blame for everything.
NOW THE GAME IS ALL GROWN UP.
The girls are seniors, and they use Alicia as their cover to go out with guys who they'd never, ever be with in real life. But sometimes games just aren't worth playing. A boy has turned up dead, and DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect—Alicia. The girl who doesn’t exist.
IDENTICAL TWINS. IDENTICAL DNA. IDENTICAL SUSPECTS.
Ava insists that if they keep following the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But Lexi isn't so sure. She must find the truth before another boy is murdered.
BECAUSE EITHER AVA IS A KILLER . . . OR ALICIA IS REAL.

"This is a great, suspenseful mystery!" - Robin Ninker

We survived the zombie apocalypse, but how many of us are still haunted by that terrible time? We have (temporarily?) defeated the living dead, but at what cost? Told in the haunting and riveting voices of the men and women who witnessed the horror firsthand, World War Z is the only record of the pandemic.
The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

"This story of a zombie outbreak is told from different viewpoints from all around the world." - Gavin

Summer is trapped in a cellar with the man who took her―and three other girls: Rose, Poppy, and Violet. His perfect flowers. His family. But flowers can't survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out...

"This suspenseful book is about some girls who are kidnapped and abused, and how they try to escape." - Anonymous high school student

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

"A kick-ass protagonist has many secrets and a mysterious past. I love the depth of this story, the lore and the LOVE TRIANGLES!!! " - Mykel Schmitz

In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone sixteen and older is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh. Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living a Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London. But their fight is far from over-the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it.

"In this series all the adults got sick and became kid-eating zombies! The kids are left to try to survive and find their way out. It is pretty intense and has a lot of great adventure!" - Angel

Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

"The book explores the journey of a girl attending high school. It contains heartbreak, romance and comedy. I especially liked the characters - they're hilarious!" - Molly Walker

Prepare to be swept into a world of breathless fairy-tale romance, swoonworthy characters, glittering gowns, and fierce intrigue perfect for readers who loved Divergent, Delirium, or The Wrath & the Dawn.For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

"Girls are chosen to compete to marry the prince. I love the challenge of trying to figure out who will win. I recommend this book to people who like 'The Bachelor'." - Angel Reed

After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

"This series is about the Ancient Greece/Roman Gods and Goddesses' children. I especially liked the characters' personalities." - Robin Ninker

Ever since Zoey was a kid she’s been caring for her mom and her little sister, defending them from her violent father. She’s been the strong one, the responsible one as she sacrificed her wants and dreams to keep her family together.
Now the life they’ve built for themselves in California is about to be upended. Her father, just released from prison, has discovered where they’re hiding and has come looking for them.
Enter Tristan. A former Marine and now member of the Coast Guard, Tristian promises his best friend, and Zoey’s Marine brother, that he will take care of Zoey and her family. Protect them, watch over them, and be the rock they need in their lives.
And as Tristan starts to help Zoey deal with the emotional fallout of her childhood, their relationship turns from protector and protected to something more. The two grow closer as a romance blooms into a heart-pounding and powerful relationship that Zoey hopes will be strong enough to fight off the damage her father has done to her and her family.
But not everyone can be kept safe forever, and when Zoey’s father does show up, a confrontation ensues that will change Zoey’s world forever.

"Zoey and her mom were both abused by her father. When Zoey met Tristan, she forgot everyone and fell for him. She thought her dad was gone, until he came around spying on her. I loved the detail and the romance of this book!" - Courtney Volgamore

Naval aviator Jeremiah Denton was shot down and captured in North Vietnam in 1965. As a POW, Jerry Denton led a group of fellow American prisoners in withstanding gruesome conditions behind enemy lines. They developed a system of secret codes and covert communications to keep up their spirits. Later, he would endure torture and long periods of solitary confinement. Always, Jerry told his fellow POWs that they would one day return home together. Although Jerry spent seven and a half years as a POW, he did finally return home in 1973 after the longest and harshest deployment in US history.Denton's story is an extraordinary narrative of human resilience and endurance.

"This book is about a man who was captured during the Vietnam War, and his feelings about his experiences." - Gavin Lee

When Calypso returns from Los Angeles to her English boarding school for the summer term, she is determined to fit in with the popular crowd. Her plan is to pretend her mother's gay assistant back home is her boyfriend. And to her surprise, the trick works...at least at first. She makes a whole batch of new friends, and even finds herself winning the unwritten contest to woo the prince at the boys' school next door. But one girl, Honey, undermines all her efforts. When Calypso and Prince Freddy end up in the tabloids and everything seems set to go down the drain, it's Calypso's parents and sense of humor that save her from utter humiliation.

"The girl goes to a fancy school and does fencing. She falls in love with a boy. I really liked the romance of the story!" - Kaitlin Lamborne

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough, and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, the teenaged Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh-eating zombies--and he's next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chain saw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

"These are my favorite books. I like the mystery, and all of the  demons/witches and magic in this series. I recommend them because they are fun tales of adventure!"     -Robin Ninker

Not every dragonet wants a destiny ... Clay has grown up under the mountain, chosen along with four other dragonets to fulfill a mysterious prophecy and end the war between the dragon tribes of Pyrrhia. He's not so sure about the prophecy part, but Clay can't imagine not living with the other dragonets; they're his best friends. So when one of the dragonets is threatened, all five spring into action. Together, they will choose freedom over fate, leave the mountain, and fulfill their destiny -- on their own terms.

"This series has lots of thrills and gives a nice overall image of dragons. My favorite book of the series so far is 'The hidden kingdom', which is book #3. The graphic novels are great to study from if you like to draw dragons!"     -Olivia Weber

Mackenzie and six of her friends head out to a secluded cabin for fun, but two of them are murdered and since they are all suspects, Mackenzie launches her own investigation, revealing secrets and sins among the original seven friends.

"I recommend this book because it has a great plot! It has amazing detail and I recommend it to people who love suspense books."     -SHS student

Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray, thanks to a rare phenomenon called synesthesia that makes her senses overlap.

That’s why Nikki decides to answer the phone the night a mysterious call lights it up bright orange—the color of emergencies. It’s the hospital and they need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack. Nikki IDs the victim as Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from her school who she hardly knows. As Nikki tries to discover why her number was the only one in Peyton’s phone, she finds herself swept up in the mystery behind Peyton’s attack—and she finds herself drawn toward Peyton’s handsome, rebellious older brother, Dru…who may be the primary suspect.

"It has great adventure between a police officer and a girl who sees emotion as color. They end up in a relationship that ends with the officer almost dead. This series is very suspenseful and will hold your attention until the very end!"     -SHS student

Moby Dick is the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that on the ship's previous voyage bit off Ahab's leg at the knee.

" My favorite classic book is Moby Dick. It's depth is quite extensive, and it tells the tale of an entire lifetime in a way I have never seen before."     -Toby Diaz

Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she'd be spending at her mom's home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there's no reason Sloane shouldn't enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn't always play by the rules, she knows he's the perfect distraction from everything that's so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn't nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane's carefree summer might not be as easy to come by as she'd hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

"This is a love story and I really like all the details."     -Courtney Volgamore

When a marauder destroys the underground sanctuary where Eva Nine was raised by the robot Muthr, the twelve-year-old girl is forced to flee aboveground. Eva Nine is searching for anyone else like her, for she knows that other humans exist, because of an item she treasures—a scrap of cardboard on which is depicted a young girl, an adult, and a robot, with the strange word, “WondLa.” Tony DiTerlizzi honors traditional children’s literature in this totally original space-age adventure: one that is as complex as an alien planet, but as simple as a child’s wish for a place to belong.

"I recommend this series because it is a very impressive story that instills a sense of wonder and alien-ness about the creatures and plants described. I cannot stress this enough - this series is GREAT! I love it so much!"     -Mykel Schmitz