Recommended Reads

The spellbinding story Scott Anderson weaves is one of a dictator, the Shah of Iran, blind to the disdain of his subjects and a superpower blundering into disaster. The Iranian Revolution, Anderson convincingly argues, was as world-shattering an event as the French and Russian revolutions. In the Middle East, in India, in Southeast Asia, in Europe, and now in the United States, the hatred of economically-marginalized, religiously-fervent masses for a wealthy secular elite has led to violence and upheaval - and Iran was the template. King of Kings is a bravura work of history, and a warning.

On the run from a mercenary dragon, among other dangers, thirteen-year-old Charl seeks refuge in an abandoned abbey haunted by an assemblage of ghosts.

Sixteen-year-old Jaelyn Coleman falls in love for the first time at her local, beloved roller-skating rink, just as news hits it is shutting down amidst her neighborhood quickly gentrifying.

From first crushes to first heartbreaks, complicated family dynamics to community relationships, this powerful collection of stories explores race, class, culture, language, and the very idea of home as both a place and a feeling. Edited by Samira Ahmed and Sona Charaipotra and featuring some of the most acclaimed, bestselling South Asian authors writing for teens today--this is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it means to be South Asian.

Seventeen-year-old Delia's frustrating journey to find a diagnosis for her excruciating menstrual pain leads to a fateful decision to self-medicate with marijuana, putting her future in jeopardy.

Lara's dream job aboard a luxury train takes a strange turn when she discovers the mysterious botanical cargo in the caboose.

New folklore-inspired tales abound in this anthology of eight fantasy stories written and drawn by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, featuring a bonus sketchbook section. From a search for the beating heart of a long-dead sorcerer, to a pirate girl who makes a deal with the devil, to the titular boy who wins a grim prize in a game with some undead interlopers, and more.

Young Todd Cooper has a dream: Run away and join the Doodah Brothers’ Astral Traveling Entertainment and Fun Brigade, traveling from planet to planet with its incredible cast of Greebles, Flurps, Bearded Plankton, and Klone-Klowns—and avoiding the deadly Sky-Pirates!

In People Like Us, two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is riven with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. And as their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds.
 

Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. When Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe before the wedding, the king turns to his magician Anatole and orders him to brew a potion that will ensure Tullia agrees to the wedding. With one chance to save the marriage, the kingdom, and, of most importance to him, his reputation, will Anatole betray the princess—or risk ruin?

An amnesiac sword-for-hire and a village girl with a strange magical power become entangled in worlds-altering events, and each other's destinies.

Grieving the loss of her classmate and childhood friend, eighteen-year-old Monika searches for a legendary tunnel, said to resurrect one soul from the dead for anyone brave enough to face their inner demons.

In a world where past lives determine your future, a sharp-witted girl confronts a major twist of destiny, embroiling her in a high-stakes game of danger, corruption, and heartbreak.

1989, Soviet Estonia. In sixteen-year-old Vik's village -- and the cursed forest that looms beyond -- danger is everywhere. Deep in the heart of the wood, a lantern-eyed spirit lies in wait to disappear those who wander too far past the trees. Vik knows because five years ago, she led her little sister Anna over that invisible line -- and never saw her again. The only thing Vik has wished for since then is her sister's safe return. So when Anna stumbles back through the tree line on the anniversary of her disappearance, it's a miracle... Or is it a lie? Whoever she is, one thing is clear: she was never meant to escape the trees. 

Gwen is sick of hiding--hiding the fact that she's taken over her father's blacksmithing duties, hiding her attraction to girls, hiding her yearning for glory as a knight. Meanwhile, Lady Isobelle of Avington, queen bee of the castle, has never once considered hiding who she is--until now. She's been chosen as the grand prize in the Tournament of Dragonslayers, to be given to whichever knight can claim her hand. And for the first time in her life, she can't talk her way out of trouble. When Isobelle discovers Gwen's knightly ambitions, they hatch a scheme together--Gwen will joust in the tournament, disguised as Sir Gawain. Winning means freedom for Isobelle, and glory for Gwen. Losing means ... well, let's not go there. One thing's for sure: Falling in love was never the plan. But the best laid plans ... are often trampled all over by dragons.

Black genius sits at the heart of the American story. In his probing essay collection, Black Genius, cultural critic Tre Johnson examines how Black American culture has, against all odds, been the lifeblood of American ingenuity. At times using his own personal and professional stories,  Johnson surveys Black cities, communities, and schools with an ever-watchful eye of what transpires around Black mobility.

Cold canning is a revolutionary new approach to preserving the best produce of the season, without the headache of traditional canning methods. Bestselling authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough are among America's most trusted culinary experts, and here they gather 425 recipes showing how to pickle and preserve foods from across the world. With Cold Canning, it is easier than ever to save a taste of the summer for any time of the year.

Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner Doug. Doug says he loves that Annie's AI makes her seem more like a real woman, so Annie explores human traits such as curiosity, secrecy, and longing. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie's relationship with Doug grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: Does Doug really desire what he says he wants? 

In the final days of Pompeii, two boys--Felix and Loren--must grapple with closely-guarded secrets and untangle myth, magic, and memory to escape the burning city alive

Underhill's trans romantic comedy follows the separate moves of two teenage boys, Arden and Gabe. Arden is reluctant to leave his supportive queer community in Los Angeles for Winifred, Michigan, while Gabe is eager to start anew and openly express his identity in Pasadena, California, away from his small Illinois hometown. The two meet unexpectedly in Nebraska and connect over their shared love for the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. After spending an evening together, they part ways knowing only each other's first name. As they navigate their new environments, both find themselves thinking about their brief encounter, raising the question of whether their connection was significant enough to bring them together again.

After the death of her father, Margo is on her way to a new boarding school in a new city. But when Margo suddenly appears one day on Moon's train, their fates become inextricably linked. If Margo wants to survive, she has to pass as a traveling salesman, too--except it's not that easy. Move north on the train line and time speeds up, a day passing in mere hours. Move south and time slows down--a day can last several weeks. As Margo moves between worlds and her attachment to Moon intensifies, she feels her youth start to slip between her fingers. But is Moon everything he seems? Is Margo?

The beautiful Valla travels through dangerous Gottyar Wood to get to Count Leonid's castle, but her face is torn to shreds en route and the Count is unhappy, in a female-forward narrative that borrows from horror, fairy tales and folklore.

A talented dancer, fifteen-year-old Esme struggles to regain her sense of self after an assault, as she navigates the complexities of friendship, first love, family problems, and the emotional challenges of growing up.

Two teenage girls from opposite worlds both end up as prime suspects when a rich classmate is murdered.

When Sydney Michaels stops for breakfast in order to put off scholastic ruin a little longer, she never expected to--quite literally--bump into cute-boy stranger, Marcus Burke. After a magical day together in, Sydney is finally willing to believe that maybe, after years of loss and heartache, she's finally reached the good part. But when it comes time to say goodbye, as they linger in a crosswalk, something happens. An accident? Sydney isn't sure--all she knows is that she opens her eyes and is back in her bed. On September 24--the morning of her big exam--again.

Sixteen-year-old Talia delves into her memories of the hidden feminist commune she grew up in and plots her way back to it after her mother is arrested for murder.

Mariel, the granddaughter of Robin Hood, tries to prove herself to her father while suspecting a mole in the Merry Men's ranks but mistakenly kidnaps cheerful healer Clem, and together they embark on a dangerous rescue mission and grow closer along the way.

Gloria and Xia, two very different high school seniors in a small South Carolina town, form an unexpected friendship that blossoms into more intense feelings and challenges their identities, forcing them to confront their hidden truths.

One year after Nan's three best friends disappear, no one is more surprised than her when one of them returns--because she is the one who killed them.

Xavier Oaks doesn't particularly want to go to the cabin with his dad and his dad's pregnant new wife, Nia. But family obligations are family obligations, and it's only for a short time. So he leaves his mom, his brother, and his other friends behind for a week in thewoods. Only... one morning he wakes up and the house isn't where it was before. It's like it's been lifted and placed... somewhere else. When Xavier, his dad, and Nia go explore, they find they are inside a dome, trapped. And there's no one else around... Until, three years later, another family arrives. Is there any escape? Is there a reason they are stuck where they are? Different people have different answers -- and those different answers inexorably lead to tension, strife, and sacrifice

When seventeen-year-old Nina Riley is saved by a cute guy, she doesn't get his number, and after tracking him down, she finds he's different than remembered, and a few dates later, she meets his family, including his twin brother.

Before Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, there was a tinkerer named Jerry Lawson. As a boy, Jerry loved playing with springs, sprockets, and gadget-y things. When he grew up, Jerry became an engineer—a professional tinkerer—and in the 1970s, he turned his technical know-how to video games.

Back then, if players wanted a new video game, they had to buy an entire new console, making gaming very expensive. Jerry was determined to fix this problem, and despite roadblocks along the way and having to repeat a level or two, it was never game over for his mission. Eventually, he leveled up and built a brand-new kind of video game console: one that allowed players to switch out cartridges! He also founded Video Soft, Inc., the first African American–owned video game company in the country.

Nothing’s gone right for Lawrence since he had to move from Charlotte to Larenville, North Carolina, to live with his granny. When Lawrence ends up in one too many fights at his new school, he gets expelled. The fight wasn’t his fault, but since his pop’s been gone, it feels like no one listens to what Lawrence has to say.

Instead of going to school, Lawrence starts spending his days at the rec center, helping out a neighbor who runs a chess program. Some of the kids in the program will be picked to compete in the Charlotte Classic chess tournament. Could this be Lawrence's chance to go home?

Lawrence doesn’t know anything about chess, but something about the center—and the kids there—feels right. Lawrence thought the game was over . . . but does he have more moves left than he thought?

"Do you want to leave the world behind? Then this game is for you. The first one to finish and shout 'Jumanji' wins the game." But you must finish. Because with the first throw of the dice strange things start to happen. Peter and Judy find they must face lions, crocodiles, rhinoceroses and a hunter with a big gun. Can they finish the game before it finishes them?

When Kyle learns that the world's most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town's new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, he's determined to be there! But the tricky part isn't getting into the library—it's getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must solve every clue and figure out every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route! 

Izzy has an incredible secret -- she can enter the world of her new video game! She meets Rae, a robot who says Izzy is destined to save Dungeon City from the Big Boss. How is this possible?! And how can she fight for this virtual world when she's got a whole real life to keep up with: her family (though she could do without her mom's annoying cat), and her best friend, Eric. Things get even weirder when Izzy loses a life while inside the game, and she starts to worry about what might happen if she gets a Game Over for good. Meanwhile, Eric has been super upset with Izzy since she's been keeping secrets and bailing on their plans. Can Izzy survive Dungeon City and save their friendship?

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a high-fantasy heist film based on the popular role-playing game! 

A laugh-out-loud hilarious picture book about the epic tale of the classic game Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Growing up in 1900s Vienna, Elsa’s brothers are always playing chess. “No girls!” they tell her when she first asks to learn; but she wears them down, and soon she’s such a pro that they give her a special chess set of her own. 

Elsa plays chess whenever she can. When she grows up, she even meets her husband over games in the park. But when World War II grips Europe, the young Jewish family must emigrate to America, where they find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar languages. 
Luckily, Elsa knows one language that can always bring people together: chess!

Founded in 1889, Nintendo started out as a small playing card company in Japan. Though the cards sold well, Nintendo really became popular when it began creating toys in the 1960s, and then became internationally renowned after developing video games and consoles in the 1970s and '80s. 

A girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception, pair up in a plot to bring down the gods.

Harper Reid's summer is not off to a great start. After the death of her grandpa, she moves across the country, leaving her friends and Dungeons & Dragons group behind. She wasn't exactly planning to start her senior year on the farm where she spent her childhood summers, but running into Ollie Shifflet--former best friend and first crush--makes things much better. When Harper discovers Ollie and her friends are starting a new D&D campaign, she quickly joins the group. As Harper and Ollie reconnect in the real world, romantic tension begins to build between Harper's brash barbarian and Ollie's proud paladin, but it's all just part of the game...right? Ollie's future depends on keeping her bisexuality private while Harper's dreams include an out-and-proud life in their rural town, but as their feelings continue to grow with each gaming session, their relationship begins threatening everything they've worked so hard to build. As the school year comes to a close and the campaign's final boss looms on the horizon, Harper and Ollie must decide: are their feelings more than just a fantasy? Because if they want a second chance at love, they'll have to fight for it, both in-game and in real life.

Book 1 of Throne of Khetara series

Four strangers connected by a forgotten oracle must work together to save their divided kingdom from destruction amidst the brewing conflict and struggle for the pharaoh's throne.

After taking time off from Yates Academy to grieve his best friend Ari's death, Milo returns to school, only to find himself drawn into a dangerous web of secrets involving the school's most popular student, Liam, who is accused of murdering Ari.

Amelia Applebaum thinks she is in love with Walter Holland, a moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber, so she drags her friends, including newly single, always-cynical, guitar-toting best friend Natalie, on a road trip to meet Walter.

Every dino has one day / to spend in their own special way.

Playful rhyming verse from Lisa Wheeler and action-packed illustrations from Barry Gott highlight four dino birthday parties in four different seasons. Each party has a kid-friendly theme, and there are presents, cake, and lots of games for everyone!

Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she’s whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn’t earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs?

Odder spends her days playing underwater and learning life lessons from her mother. But when Odder’s life takes a dramatic turn, she is rescued by humans. The people are kind and introduce Odder to other rescues. Soon, it’s clear that Odder has a talent for teaching other pups how to otter. Adapted from Katherine Applegate’s bestselling novel of the same name and inspired by the true story of a program that pairs orphaned otter pups.

In a vast, open desert, Boulder is convinced that today is the day he’ll see his shy friend Cactus’s flowers bloom. “I’ve dreamt of seeing them up close,” he tells her. But Boulder is too far away, and he can’t move anyway! Nonetheless, Boulder is certain today will be different. Cactus isn’t so sure, but Boulder believes. Unbeknownst to the two friends, enterprising Rabbit observes their plight and decides to help out. As Boulder and Cactus talk more about their dreams, Rabbit works harder and harder to make their wish a reality.

The past three years have been tough for Lucifer's Creek, Arkansas, a small town quietly tucked away in the Ozark mountains. More than two dozen people have disappeared on the local hiking trails; there one moment, gone the next, not a trace left behind, until their buried bodies are discovered. 17-year-old Dovie doesn't believe in magic even though she comes from a long line of women who can hear the bones of the dead sing, and for the past few years the bones have been crooning nonstop, calling out to Dovie to dig them up. Dovie doesn't believe her best friend Lo when he tells her he is being haunted by dark shadows. The shadows follow him everywhere. He soon learns they're the murdered hikers and they want answers. But the truth of their deaths isn't buried with their bones; it's hidden somewhere deep in the hills. And Lo and Dovie must unearth it before anyone else is killed.

When a high school tarot reader's latest client goes missing after a troubling reading, she must apply everything she has learned from her private investigator mother to solve a case of her own

Eliza Park's senior year will be perfect: She's going to be salutatorian, give a tear-jerking graduation speech in front of her parents, and enjoy her last year with her equally ambitious best friends. But when a scheduling mishap enrolls her in Culinary Arts, Eliza is suddenly the most clueless person in the class. Her typical title of star student belongs to the aggravatingly arrogant Wesley Ruengsomboon, a charming Thai American boy whose talent in the kitchen leaves Eliza both awed and annoyed. With her rank on the line, Eliza's only hope is to snatch the midterm cooking contest win from Wesley. 

When Sully's fashion internship goes up in smoke, they're trapped in Hearst, Pennsylvania with no cash and no car. Desperate, they go to the thrift store, their personal sanctuary and discover a vintage bag--like "put this baby in an airtight case at the MET" vintage. If Sully can authenticate it, the resale value would be enough for a new life in the city. But when they begin to investigate, Sully finds themself haunted with the ghost of Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with no memory of how he died. Sully's summer has a new purpose: 1) help this ghostly honey unlock his past and move on and 2) make bank.

Book 2 in Snowglobe duology

Seventeen-year-old Chobahm's discovery of the truth behind the Yibonn Media group sets off a chain of events that exposes dark secrets and raises the temperature, and when she is framed for murder, she must fight to clear her name with the help of Bonwhe, the disgraced Yibonn heir.

After a hit-and-run leaves Greg, a closeted jock, unconscious, Brian, the secret host of a popular podcast, uses his platform to investigate the crime and reveal harsh truths about their small town, which inspires others to show support and organize a pride festival that gains national attention.

Told in alternating voices, African American Deja and Nepali American Raja fall in love the summer before Deja starts college, diverging from their parents' expectations for their futures.

Ada Castle finally has the chance to prove her worth: she just needs to gain access to a hidden school that her family has been trying to locate for generations. After securing an invitation, Ada goes undercover at the Genesis Institute to steal their innovations for the rest of the world. But Genesis nurtures her creativity and challenges her views, and she can't help but fall for the school. Ada's tangle of lies starts to unravel when one of her new friends goes missing. And when the information she's shared with her family puts her missing friend and all of Genesis in peril, she'll have to choose whom to betray: the family she loves or the school that has helped her find herself.

High schooler Wayne and his best friend Kermit participate in a university health study that turns out to be riddled with conspiracies pointing to a sinister government plot.

Crow, a teen descended from the god of Death, must keep their true identity hidden while navigating a dangerous gladiator-style competition, fighting to win freedom for their family and challenge the gods who killed their ancestors.

Book 1 in Titan of the Stars series

Celeste knows every inch of this ship. She's proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars -- this new life. Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him -- a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind. Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life.

Against her parents' wishes, nineteen-year-old Libby uses her college savings to buy an old Victorian house and teams up with Tish to fix it, but as they navigate their own struggles with family, they uncover a journal revealing a forbidden love story from a century ago that mirrors their growing connection.

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this riveting YA traces Lorena Hickok--or Hick's-- rise from devastating childhood to renowned journalist, and follows the most significant friendship and romantic relationship of her life with first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt

Book 3 in They Both Die at the End series

Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn't have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he's done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he's not dying, he'll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life. Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn't feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It's time to live. Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it's now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.

Seventeen-year-old Jamie Taher-Foster has big plans for senior year. She's made a list of things and places in Toronto she and her boyfriend of three years, Ben Cameron, need to check off before graduating. And the biggest plan of all: a very special night for the two of them at the upcoming Winter Formal. But then Ben arrives back home after a summer away with an unthinkable announcement: he wants to break up. And when Jamie discovers him with Olivia Chen the next day, she is determined to get him back. Even if that means fake dating the younger, curly-haired, TikTok dancer Axel Dahini, whose bicycle she accidentally ran over. Though she and Axel have nothing in common aside from their shared Arab heritage -- she's a messy, type A with anxiety; he's carefree but meticulous -- their forced time together brings them to better understand one another. And for Jamie, it just might mean learning that not all experiences or people need to be crossed off a list.

Ossie Brown's entire future is in jeopardy when atorn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now Ossie . . . must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose . . . Everything changes when some students' viral 'anti-woke' video puts the teacher's job, the writing program, and even Ossie's friends' safety at risk--and Ossie must find his true voice.

Struggling with anxiety and feelings of abandonment, Aaliyah secretly contacts her parents who left her as a toddler, upsetting her grandfather and the family who has always supported her.

Dera Edwards knows her life is over when she's shipped off to live with her estranged father in the middle of White Suburbia. To make matters worse, Dera learns that her new school doesn't have a girls' track team, shattering her dreams of getting a track scholarship and, one day, competing in the Olympics. Not one to give up easily, Dera joins the boys' team instead. But while she has the school administration's blessing, her new teammates and classmates are less than welcoming. Between that and her frustratingly distant father, Dera is positive her junior year is ruined. Just as she starts to accept her status as an outsider, Dera's approached by her classmate Rosalyn, who wants to feature Dera's story in her blog. Eager to change the narrative and spend more time with Rosalyn's gorgeous cousin Gael-also known as one of the few teammates who will talk to her-Dera agrees. But when she goes viral and gains attention across the state, Dera's new notoriety opens the door for trolls both online and at school

Sixteen-year-old Emily spends her summer as a companion to an elderly woman with Alzheimer's, and grapples with being both a loyal friend and a responsible caregiver. Struggling with family tensions, friendship fallout, and her mother's illness, Emily Chen-Sanchez finds solace in a summer job assisting the spirited but forgetful Mrs. Granucci. Their bond deepens--until a shocking accusation shatters Emily's trust, forcing her to confront hard truths and make a life-altering choice.

When high-ranking exorcist Selene and mysterious soldier Jules form an alliance despite their forbidden attraction, they uncover a terrible conspiracy about the centuries-old war between demons and the Vatican.

Growing up in the public eye, Kia would gladly give up her privileged life as the daughter of a reality star for the freedom to find her own way. Then she meets Cass, and he offers a glimpse at the ordinary life she craves. But Cass is a rising star in his own right, and what starts as something sweet and undefined soon becomes a magnet for rumor and speculation--as if first love wasn't messy enough on its own. The pressure of the spotlight takes its toll, chipping away at Kia's sense of self. Can her fragile new relationship survive the fallout?

Kai knows who he is to others: the good grandson, the reliable best friend, the romantic back-up. But he doesn't quite know who he is to himself. Kai wants to come out at school, but his best friend there, Matt, stays closeted for fear of getting kicked out by his conservative parents--and wants Kai to do the same. Kai unhappily agrees, but when a rumor goes around that Kai and Matt are dating, Matt starts acting differently anyway. Kai's other best friend Vass is proudly nonbinary and thinks Matt is a negative influence--though maybe that's just their crush on Kai talking. Kai has always turned to writing to express his emotions, but when his on-page emotions erupt into the real world, he might just be putting the delicate balance of his life at risk