YA Book Recs from the Wonderful Librarian, Sara Swenson
Heeyyyy All! So, in my last post I showcased the fantastic Sara Swenson, YA librarian at Edina High School. Lucky for us, she gave us her book recs so we can prolong the awesome a little longer. Below is a list of seven books that Sara recommends we read right now. To be clear, this isn't an exhaustive list of all YA books Sara thinks you should read--these are the ones she's read recently thinks you may like, too!
BEHOLD! The book recs of the Sara Swenson!
(General note on any of my articles showcasing book recs from others: Book synopses are my own)
Say you're a prime athlete and have spent your entire life training for one sport. Say, then, that something happens that makes it so you can't be that person any more. What would that look like? Well, this book is your answer! Follow 16-year-old Abby as she finds out how to live her life without the one thing that has defined her. More »
Gayle Forman is a master at holding us in between life and death and the repercussions of it all. In this novel, we follow Cody as she reels from the aftermath of her friend, Meg's, suicide. Cody finds that she knew a lot less than she thought about Meg--including the way she died. Gripping, romantic, and mysterious, Forman does it again in this great book. More »
Speaking of suicide . . . here again in Michelle Falkoff's book we come to grips with death, loss, and culpability. Sam has to find a way to cope with the death of his friend and the note he left him--a mysterious playlist and a message that it should help him understand. Sam must navigate his own life while reeling from the end of another's. More »
You know, this is my opinion (Megan Atwood's, not Sara's), but I feel like Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen are the same people. Insightful, prolific, and always a fantastic read, Dessen doesn't disappoint with SAINT ANYTHING. In this novel, Sydney feels unseen in the shadow of a brother bent on destruction. But she finds unconditional acceptance in a family and for the first time, she truly feels seen. More »
Remember young love? Perhaps you're young and in love now? Well, this book will either mirror or remind you of the whirlwind force that love exerts on us. Eva, a romantic at hearts, falls for a boy at school only to have him ripped away when moves across the country. But she's not taking "across the country" for an answer. Eva and her friend will find a way to get to her love and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way. More »
Let's take a turn now into some darker territory, shall we? DIME is a heartbreaking, hard look at the realities of a teen--the eponymous Dime--who ends up in prostitution. Looking for love where she can get it, joining the prostitution ring was a way to be a part of the family. But when a new girl begins to take her place, she has to find the courage to leave--if she can. More »
Finally, we slide back into the lighter end of the pool--perhaps the Sarah Dessen end of the pool--again with this romance about young love and the trials and tribulations that accompany it. The title characters must find a way to navigate a wonderful relationship that is still fraught, family, connection, and the business of being a teen in today's world. More »
BEHOLD! The book recs of the Sara Swenson!
(General note on any of my articles showcasing book recs from others: Book synopses are my own)
1. A MATTER OF HEART by Amy Fellner Dominy
Say you're a prime athlete and have spent your entire life training for one sport. Say, then, that something happens that makes it so you can't be that person any more. What would that look like? Well, this book is your answer! Follow 16-year-old Abby as she finds out how to live her life without the one thing that has defined her. More »
2. I WAS HERE by Gayle Forman
Gayle Forman is a master at holding us in between life and death and the repercussions of it all. In this novel, we follow Cody as she reels from the aftermath of her friend, Meg's, suicide. Cody finds that she knew a lot less than she thought about Meg--including the way she died. Gripping, romantic, and mysterious, Forman does it again in this great book. More »
3. PLAYLIST FOR THE DEAD by Michelle Falkoff
Speaking of suicide . . . here again in Michelle Falkoff's book we come to grips with death, loss, and culpability. Sam has to find a way to cope with the death of his friend and the note he left him--a mysterious playlist and a message that it should help him understand. Sam must navigate his own life while reeling from the end of another's. More »
4. SAINT ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen
You know, this is my opinion (Megan Atwood's, not Sara's), but I feel like Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen are the same people. Insightful, prolific, and always a fantastic read, Dessen doesn't disappoint with SAINT ANYTHING. In this novel, Sydney feels unseen in the shadow of a brother bent on destruction. But she finds unconditional acceptance in a family and for the first time, she truly feels seen. More »
5. KISSING IN AMERICA by Margo Rabb
Remember young love? Perhaps you're young and in love now? Well, this book will either mirror or remind you of the whirlwind force that love exerts on us. Eva, a romantic at hearts, falls for a boy at school only to have him ripped away when moves across the country. But she's not taking "across the country" for an answer. Eva and her friend will find a way to get to her love and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way. More »
6. DIME by E.R. Frank
Let's take a turn now into some darker territory, shall we? DIME is a heartbreaking, hard look at the realities of a teen--the eponymous Dime--who ends up in prostitution. Looking for love where she can get it, joining the prostitution ring was a way to be a part of the family. But when a new girl begins to take her place, she has to find the courage to leave--if she can. More »
7. EMMY AND OLIVER by Robin Benway
Finally, we slide back into the lighter end of the pool--perhaps the Sarah Dessen end of the pool--again with this romance about young love and the trials and tribulations that accompany it. The title characters must find a way to navigate a wonderful relationship that is still fraught, family, connection, and the business of being a teen in today's world. More »
Well, there you have them!
A HUGE thank you to Sara Swenson for her time this week to answer my questions and my fingerling. She was truly a star. And so are you, readers. So, as usual: Read on!
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