The Children’s Book Review | May 18, 2017
Popular Books for Teens
This month, you’ll discover five books that we’re highlighting from The New York Times’ best selling hardcover young adult titles including The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas; and The Sun is Also a Star, by the talented Nicola Yoon.
Nationwide Best Selling Young Adult Books
Written by Nicola Yoon
Publisher’s Synopsis: Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?
Ages 12+ | Publisher: Delacorte Press | November 1, 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-0553496680
Written by Angie Thomas
Publisher’s Synopsis: Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty. Soon to be a major motion picture from Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions.
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
Ages 14+ | Publisher: Balzer + Bray | February 28, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-0062498533
Written by Jay Asher
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker – his classmate and crush – who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and learns the truth about himself-a truth he never wanted to face.
Thirteen Reasons Why is the gripping, addictive international bestseller that has changed lives the world over. It’s an unrelenting modern classic.
Ages 12 and up | Publisher: Razorbill | 2011 (Reprint) | ISBN-13: 978-1595141880
Written by Nicola Yoon
TCBR Review: Nicola Yoon’s debut novel, Everything, Everything, is a must-read, inviting a broad spectrum of audiences, from preteens to the older generations. This trendy-styled book illustrates the life of eighteen year-old Madeline Whittier through plain text as well as with pictures, instant messages, journal entries, and emails. Through Madeline’s innovative narrative, the reader is immersed into her life of an “allergic to everything” teenage girl. Read the full review …
Ages 12+ | Publisher: Delacorte Press | 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-0553496642
Written by Beth Revis
Publisher’s Synopsis: When Jyn Erso is eight years old, her mother is murdered and her father taken from her to serve the Empire. Saw Gerrera, a man willing to go to any extremes necessary in order to resist Imperial tyranny, takes her in as his own. But fighting alongside Saw brings danger – and the question of just how far Jyn is willing to go. When she faces an unthinkable betrayal that shatters her world, Jyn will have to decide what she truly believes in…And who she can really trust. New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis brings to life the early adventures and heartbreaks of the heroine of the smash hit movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Set before Star Wars: A New Hope, Rogue One follows a rag-tag group of rebel commandos who must steal the plans to the Empire’s new superweapon, the Death Star. This standalone story transports fans to unseen corners of the Star Wars universe and strange new planets not to mention an encounter with a familiar adversary, Darth Vader. Have you collected all the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Books? Rogue One Book and Model: Make Your Own U-wing; Rogue One: Art of Colouring; Rogue One: Mission Files; Rogue One: Profiles and Poster Book.
Ages 12+ | Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd | June 1, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1405285070
This information for the best selling books was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list for hardcover young adult books, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit www.nytimes.com for their most current and up-to-date list.
For more best selling fiction Young Adult books, follow along with our Best YA tag.