Book Recommendations:
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (14+)
Written by Holly Jackson
The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure.
When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?
All My Rage (14+)
Written by Sabbaa Tahir
A young adult novel following two Pakistani-American teenagers, Salahudin (Sal) and Noor, as they navigate family struggles, grief, addiction, and the oppressive weight of cultural expectations in their small desert town, all while grappling with a profound rift in their friendship.
The story, told through multiple perspectives including Sal, Noor, and Sal's recently deceased mother, Misbah, explores themes of intergenerational trauma, the immigrant experience, and the search for identity and belonging, highlighting the devastating impact of addiction and loss on their lives and their fight for a better future. (Content Warning)
Fable (13+)
Written by Adrienne Young
A young adult fantasy novel that follows 17-year-old Fable, a powerful trader's daughter abandoned on an island after her mother's death, as she uses her survival skills to earn her passage back to the mainland and find her father. The story, set in a world defined by the sea and trade, features themes of survival, romance, a strong female protagonist, and a world with secrets and dangers.
The Hunger Games (11+)
Written by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games is a young adult dystopian novel by Suzanne Collins that follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen as she volunteers to take her sister's place in a brutal, televised competition where tributes fight to the death. The story is set in Panem, a post-apocalyptic nation consisting of a wealthy Capitol and twelve impoverished districts, and explores themes of survival, societal inequality, and rebellion.
As Katniss navigates the arena, she not only battles physical danger and psychological manipulation but also becomes a growing symbol of resistance against the Capitol’s oppressive control.
The Selection (12+)
Written by Kiera Cass
America Singer, a girl from a low caste, is forced to compete in a televised competition to win the heart of Prince Maxon and become the next princess of the kingdom of Illéa. Set in a post-apocalyptic world with a rigid caste system that determines every citizen’s opportunities and limitations, America initially enters the “Selection” only to support her struggling family.
However, once inside the palace, she begins to realize that the competition is far more complex than she expected. As she forms an unexpected connection with Prince Maxon, America becomes torn between her growing feelings for him and her lingering love for Aspen, the boy she left behind. Throughout the Selection, she must navigate jealousy, political pressure, and the harsh realities of a kingdom on the brink of unrest.
Simon VS. The Homosapiens Agenda (13+)
Written by Becky Albertalli
Follows sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, a closeted gay teen who secretly exchanges emails with an anonymous classmate known as “Blue.” As their connection deepens, Simon starts to fall for him, even though he doesn’t know Blue’s real identity.
When a classmate discovers their emails and blackmails Simon, he’s forced to protect Blue’s privacy while juggling friendship drama, school pressures, and the fear of being outed. Through humor, romance, and emotional challenges, Simon learns what it means to be honest with himself and others, and how important it is to have the freedom to come out on his own terms.
The Book Thief (14+)
Written by Markus Zusak
Set in Nazi Germany and narrated by Death, who follows the life of Liesel Meminger, a young girl sent to live with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. After losing her brother and being separated from her mother, Liesel finds comfort in books, many of which she steals, and in the bonds she forms with the people around her. She grows especially close to her gentle foster father, Hans, her bold best friend Rudy, and Max, a Jewish man the Hubermanns hide in their basement.
As Liesel learns to read, books become her escape and a way to understand the world collapsing around her. Meanwhile, the war intensifies, bringing fear, hunger, and loss to her street and community. Through Liesel’s eyes, the novel explores the power of words, the brutality of hatred, and the small acts of kindness that keep people going during dark times.