The Scorpion Queen

Fears, Mina. The Scorpion Queen. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781250392350.

Amie, a young woman from a wealthy Timbuktu family in Renaissance Mali. Her older sister was accused of an improper relationship with a noble, and rejected the blame on Amie. As a result, Amie suffers a tragic fall from grace. Disinherited by her angry father, and separated from her sister, Amie is forced to serve Princess Mariama in the imperial palace almost as a slave, as all of her wages are to be paid to her father, and not to her. Amie will never again see the boy she loves, Kader.

Princess Mariama is also a prisoner in her own palace. Her father, the Emperor of Mali, has devised a series of deadly trials for her suitors. Designed to weed the nobility of its sons, the trials have resulted in ninety-nine deaths. Despite the hardships and the princess's volatile personality, Amie and Mariama form an unexpected bond. When Amie discovers a map that leads them to the desert and to the home of one of the exiled gods, who could provide a hammer that would end the trial once and for all, she devises a desperate plan to escape the palace with Kader and two other maids, and make their way to the desert and retrieve the hammer. Only then will the trial end, freeing Mariama from her father's control, and allowing Amie and Kader to live happily every after.

Only, things don't go according to plan. Caught by the god after suffering in the desert, Amie makes a startling discovery. Faced with a difficult choice, Amie must decide for whom she is fighting, and whether the effort is worth it. 

The Scorpion Queen is inspired by a Malian folktale, and features a strong character with divided loyalties. Amie often makes the wrong decision for the right reasons, adding to her challenges. Family dynamics and rebellion are also explored as Amie attempts to reassert control over her own life. Fans of fantasy with a touch of light magic will appreciate this story told from a perspective we are not familiar with, but will enjoy the universal themes of betrayal and love.

Inheritance of Scars

Seitz, Crystal. Inheritance of Scars. 2024. 416p. ISBN 9781665959926.

When Astrid's grandmother goes missing, she returns home to her ancestral village, a place her father removed her from when she was young. As a child, she loved spending time with her grandmother, who would tell her stories about the creatures that dwell in the Tiveden Forest, and especially of the King of the forest and of his bloodthirsty draugrs.  But her father feared something in this village, and he took Astrid away. Now she's back, and not much seems to have changed in the village.

Searching her grandmother's house, Astrid discovers a hidden chamber and inadvertently awakens Soren, a centuries-old warrior imprisoned within. Initially fearing him as a monstrous creature who has been imprisoned by Skaga, one of her ancestors. Soren at first believes Astrid to be Skaga, and it takes effort to convince him otherwise. As they spend time together, Astrid gradually realizes that Soren, while possessing supernatural strength, is not the villain he is perceived to be by the forest's residents.

As they delve deeper into the forest, facing perilous encounters with mythical creatures and uncovering a long-buried family secret, Astrid and Soren develop an unexpected connection. When Astrid suddenly discovers that her family, including her grandmother, is responsible for the horrors inside the forest, she must decide whether love or blood is stronger.

Inheritance of Scars explores themes of identity, family legacy, and the blurred lines between good and evil. While the world-building within the modern-day setting could be further developed. The captivating atmosphere within the ancient forest, filled with danger, intrigue, and a touch of forbidden romance help the story move along, and fans of fantasy and romance will enjoy this story set in an unfamiliar setting.

The Other Side of Infinity

Smith, Joan F. The Other Side of Infinity. 2023. 336p. ISBN 9781250843388.

When seventeen-year-old December, who possesses the unique ability to foresee the future, intervenes to save a drowning man named Nick during a poolside incident, she inadvertently alters the course of both their lives. Not only does this unexpected act lead to a burgeoning romance between the two, but December also foresees that Nick's life is now in danger. This realization forces December, who has always avoided deep connections due to her precognitive abilities, to embark on a mission to protect Nick, while also navigating the complexities of a newfound love.

Simultaneously, Nick, grappling with the shame of his initial hesitation during the rescue, seeks to redeem himself by helping December search for her missing mother. As their bond deepens, December's precognitive visions become increasingly erratic, and unsettling truths about Nick's family begin to surface. Both characters must confront their fears, learn to trust their instincts, and ultimately discover the true meaning of heroism before time runs out and the consequences of December's actions become irreversible.

Under the Same Stars

Bray, Libba. Under the Same Stars. 2025. 480p. ISBN 9780374388942.

Under the Same Stars weaves together three interconnected stories across generations, all centered around a mysterious oak tree in a forest in Germany believed to possess magical powers.

In the late 1930s Nazi Germany, Sophie, a young woman yearning for love, discovers a cryptic message hidden within the oak, sparking a romantic intrigue. Her best friend, Hanna and her have always looked to the oak tree to provide guidance on their lives, to the point of being insulted by the local boys who mocked them. As Germany provokes a war, however, the girls start using the tree for a more urgent purpose: to communicate with the resistance movement against the Nazi regime. But Sophie is still hopeful that one day she will find love.

In the 1980s, American teenager Jenny has just moved to West Germany and is struggling to adapt to her new life away from her friends. Jenny finds herself drawn to Lena, a rebellious punk rocker determined to break down the Berlin Wall. Their lives intertwine with Frau Hermann, an elderly woman harboring secrets connected to the oak tree's past.

Finally, in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, two friends, Miles and Chloe, stumble upon a forgotten mystery while investigating the disappearance of two teenagers linked to the Bridegroom's Oak eighty years prior. As Miles and Chloe suffer through lockdowns and a loss of social contacts, they come across information that shed a light on what happened in the forest back in 1942, and that connect their lives to that of Sophie, Hanna, and Jenny.

This book explores themes of love, loss, resistance, and the enduring power of history. It weaves together the past and present, connecting the lives of these diverse characters through the enigmatic oak tree, revealing its secrets and the profound impact it has had on their lives and the world around them. Fans of coming of age story, or who want to learn more about living in Nazi Germany or another totalitarian society will enjoy Under the Same Stars.

A Queen's Game

McGee, Katharine. A Queen's Game. 2024. 368p. ISBN 9780593710708.

Queen Victoria rules over the British Empire. Despite her advanced age, she continues to be concerned for the survival of the monarchy. With several granddaughters and eligible foreign royals, Victoria is looking for the perfect match for her grandson Eddie, who will become the future King of England. She would prefer Eddie marry her favorite granddaughter, Princess Alix of Hesse, in Germany. Alix is beautiful, well-spoken, and genteel. But Alix has a dark secret. Under stress, she hyperventilates and even passes out, something a royal should not do. Plus, she feels responsible for the death of her younger brother.

Princess Hélène is the unfortunate daughter of the former King of France, who has been removed from the throne following yet another revolution. Without a kingdom, Hélène's prospects for a royal marriage are slim. This has given her a liberty most girls her age do not have, allowing her to escape conventions that are strictly enforced against British royalty. When she catches Eddie's eyes, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a web of power.

May has always been on the fringes of the royal family. Her father has depleted the family estate, and they are essentially living on handouts. Unlike other royals, May can ill afford the clothes and the experiences others have, and her prospects of marrying a prince are slim. But armed with information, she may be able to eliminate her rivals and attract Eddie's attention.

Based on historical events, A Queen's Game illustrates the strictures that governed the British royal family and those who hoped to marry into it. Fans of historical romance and royalty will enjoy reading a story told from three different perspectives. As the three young women compete with each other in a cut-throat environment, will they be able to secure their dreams and desires? 

Sing If You Can't Dance

Casale, Alexia. Sing If You Can't Dance. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9780571373802.

Living in a small town, Ven is a fiercely independent and determined British high schooler. Her family runs a music festival every year, and Ven has always been involved. But in the last few years, she has secretly been battling a chronic illness which has affected her physical abilities. Ven had to give up dance, abandoning her best friend Maddie and causing a rift in their relationship. A new arrival, Ren, a mysterious American, changes the dynamics at school. Ven is attracted to Ren, and he seems interested as well.

Since she can't dance, Ven is teamed up with other students in her Chorus class, and they start working together to create a competitive singing group, Ven juggles demanding rehearsals, the pressures of schools, and the complexities of her relationships increase the tension in her body, affecting her ability to function. 

As she struggles through these challenges, Ven unexpectedly discovers a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her. Her journey of self-discovery demonstrates that even when faced with adversity, there is always room for joy, creativity, and new beginnings. Hers is a poignant and uplifting story that celebrates the strength of the human spirit and the importance of finding your own rhythm in life, regardless of the obstacles you may encounter.

Behind the Mask

Girardi, Tamara. Behind the Mask. Book 2 of the Carnivalesque series. 2023. 294p. ISBN 9781953944887.

This summer before Dinah's senior year is shaping up to be dreadful. She broke up with her boyfriend Todd. Todd cheated on her numerous times, but the last time, done in front of people, was the last straw. Unfortunately, Todd lives next door, and her bedroom window looks at his bedroom window. And her parents and his parents are best friends. How can she explain this situation to them, when they think that Todd and Dinah were destined to be together? Worse, Todd is not over this breakup and keeps trying to get her back. She feels hounded down by her neighbor.

Her best friend Max had driven their career agenda for as long as she could remember. Max has known she wanted to be a journalist all her life, and Dinah went along mainly out of atrophy. But now she's becoming serious about her artistic abilities, and her goal is to go to art school and one day be hired to paint a mural. When she finally attends the famous masked Carnivalesque one night with Max, who has a seat on the planning board of the organization, Dinah meets the charismatic Harvey, a smooth talker who loves the dating game but who has made many female enemies along the way due to his poor treatment of his dates. 

As Harvey and Dinah dance, they are interrupted by a gaggle of Harvey's exes, who throw milkshakes at him before dropping water balloons as additional punishment. Harvey needs help to remediate his dating profile, and Dinah agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend. If they can fake date for long enough, Harvey should regain some credibility, and Dinah should be able to avoid Todd's more and more insistent demands that they be together again. And, as a bonus, Dinah can design and pain Carnivalesque's new ride, a merry-go-round. The only rule? If they ever feel like they are falling for each other, they need to voice their feelings. After all, Dinah has seen enough rom-coms to know this could happen.

As the two of them successfully fool their friends, the social media pressure on Harvey builds up, Dinah becomes involved with the drama, but gets to focus on his art. With days passing by, Dinah finds herself falling for Harvey, just in time for Harvey's ex to enter the picture. Is Dinah too late?

A Bánh Mì for Two

Nguyen, Trinity. A Bánh Mì for Two. 2024. 224p. ISBN 9781250910837. 

Lan is a dutiful and loving daughter working with her mother in their small bánh mì food stall in Saigon, Vietnam. Ever since her father died, Lan has needed to put her dreams of writing and attending university on ice. Her cousin, who lives with them, pursues his studies and works at the stall too, helping the family get by. With Lan's mother being sick, Lan feels caught and hopeless. Even her famous food blog, A Bánh Mì for Two, which is read by people all over the world and often mentioned by tourists who visit their stall, has suffered from Lan's writing block.

Vivi lives in California, and her parents are also from Vietnam. But their past lives are shrouded in mystery. For her father, it's because he immigrated when he was a toddler, and doesn't remember much about the country. For her mother, it's because dark secrets have shut down any discussion about the past and what life was like there. Vivi doesn't even know if she has relatives still in Vietnam.

When the opportunity to study abroad presents itself, Vivi jumps on it. Weary that her mother would not approve, Vivi tells her parents she's heading to Singapore for a semester, but instead she travels to Saigon. Armed with old photos she stole from her mother, Vivi hopes she can track down her relatives, try all of the places she discovered on A Bánh Mì for Two, and, perhaps even meet the writer, with whom she shared a writing contest application worth a lot of money.

Vivi's dorm is located across the road from Lan's stall, and soon Vivi discovers that Lan is her favorite writer. Vivi makes a deal with Lan. She will help her come up with ideas for the writing contest, and Lan will help her track down her family. As their relationship blossoms into love, both Lan and Vivi learn about their past, gain a better understanding of their parents, and take steps towards their own independent futures.

Fans of light romance will love A Bánh Mì for Two, with its realistic portrayal of two older teen searching themselves for a future that is hidden. The description of food and of Saigon, with its smells and tastes makes the reader salivate and wish they were in Vietnam with Vivi.

Give Me A Sign

Sortino, Anna. Give Me A Sign. 2023. 303p. ISBN 9780593533796.

Lilah has hearing loss. She is not profoundly deaf, but she has a hard time following multiple conversations at the same time, or when music is playing, or even sitting in the back seat of a car. But because she can still hear some, she feels like standing on both side of a large divide. She's not deaf enough to fully master American Sign Language or to understand the intricacies of the deaf community. She's too deaf for a society organized for the hearing. 

The spring of her junior high school year, Lilah is observing her friends all making plans for the summer. Due to her poor grades, her mother has enrolled her in a tutoring program, so Lilah is facing eight weeks of struggling with courses that don't really interest her. On a whim, she applies to work as a counselor-in-training and the summer camp for the deaf and the blind she attended when she was a child. To her surprise, she is hired and soon finds herself in the woods with campers. Not fluent in American Sign Language, Lilah has difficulty communicating with the profoundly deaf, including Isaac, the super attractive Deaf counselor.

Though Lilah was not looking for romance over the summer, she finds herself intensely attracted to Isaac. But with many campers to supervise, a non-deaf Youtuber who enjoys a level of notoriety with her sign-language videos, and other counselors who have a serious history, Lilah is soon overwhelmed with the complexities that are present in the Deaf community. Will Lilah finally be able to find her voice?

The diversity of the deaf culture is explored in Give Me a Sign, and all of the characters are realistically written and convey accurate emotions and relationships. Fans of light romance and interpersonal relationships will enjoy exploring a different culture.

If He Had Been With Me

Nowlin, Laura. If He Had Been With Me. 2013. 336p. ISBN 9781402277825. Available as an ebook from Overdrive.

Autumn and Phineas have been neighbors their whole lives. The two of them share backyards, schools, quirks, and hopes and dreams. Autumn is always a little weird, and one day she wants to be a writer. Finn doesn't know what he would like to do, but maybe something dealing with medicine. Finn's father is out of the picture, Autumn's father is also frequently absent, so their mothers spend a lot of time together. Autumn and Finn are inseparable, until something happens in 8th grade that tears their relationship. Suddenly, Autumn is lost without her anchor, and Finn seems just as miserable.

Throughout high school, Autumn and Finn grow apart, but are never far from each other, what with family dinners and special events. Finn has a girlfriend among the popular crowd, a group they would never have joined when they were younger. Autumn has a boyfriend among the oddball crowd, and her group of friends are all weird and eclectic. The groups run into each other frequently, and they attempt to outdo the other's actions.

Through all four years, however, Autumn is fighting the gnawing feeling that her boyfriend is not the right one, that perhaps she is in love with Finn after all. But how do you reconcile with someone who broke your heart back in 8th grade?

Autumn is a flawed character, who either ignores the facts in front of her, or is willfully blind to Finn's attempts at repairing a friendship he broke. Her self pity make her a relatable if annoying character. Readers who enjoy books without a clear and happy conclusion will appreciate Autumn's struggle. 

The No-Girlfriend Rule

Randall, Christen. The No-Girlfriend Rule. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9781665939812. 

Hollis knows she's fat and big. Hollis also knows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes life can be hard, and Hollis would enjoy an easy day once in a while. Living as a fat girl with anxiety is not for the faint of heart, and with her senior year starting, things are about to change. Fortunately, Hollis still has her boyfriend Chris. Their relationship is not like the roller coaster she read about in young adult books. It's more of a slow lane, where everything is comfortable and familiar, if a little stifling.

Chris plays Secrets and Sorcery every Friday night, and there's one inviolable rule at their gaming table: No girlfriends are allowed. So Hollis has never had the opportunity to join Chris in his hobby. Hoping to improve her relationship with Chris, Hollis joins a group of girls who play Secrets and Sorcery in Cincinnati, across the Ohio river from Covington, Kentucky. Run by experienced game master Gloria, six girls gather at the gaming table to adventure together through imaginary realms. 

What begins as a desire to impress Chris and rekindle a connection with him slowly turn into an activity Hollis does for herself. As she learns to play and makes new friends outside of school, Hollis realizes that being fat and anxious are not characteristics that define her. Instead, her mind and her outlook on life are what make her interesting to the other girls. Her character develops a crush on one of the other characters, and Hollis is forced to admit that she's attracted to Aini, who gives her stomach butterflies every time she sees her. And Aini seems to feel the same way Hollis does.

But Hollis has a boyfriend. And this whole thing was to try to get closer to him their senior year. When then she finds out that Chris' best friend is now bringing his own girlfriend at their gaming table, Hollis begins questioning everything. Perhaps it is time to stop playing pretend, and act on her feelings ...

Fans of Dungeons and Dragons will appreciate the plot within the plot as Hollis and her friends complete a campaign at Gloria's table. As a character, Hollis is realistic and her relationship with Aini evolves organically. Readers who enjoy a satisfying conclusion will appreciate The No-Girlfriend Rule.

Pardilita

Estrela, Joana. Pardilita. 2023. 244p. ISBN 9781646142552.

Life in a small town can be painful when you're a teen, whether you're in the United States or in another country. Everybody knows everyone else, and people have their noses in your business all the time. Raquel is 16, and she yearns for more. Her parents went through an acrimonious divorce, and her father recently remarried. Feeling sensitive about the topic, she gets very angry at a paraprofessional at her school when she's questioned about her father's new bride, and as a result she is suspended from school. Raquel's best friends, Luísa and Fred, are very supportive, but they can't seem to cheer her up. Raquel wants more from life than what her town can offer.

Joining a play, Raquel makes the acquaintance of Pardalita, a senior she's seen before but never interacted with. Pardalita is brash, bold, colorful, and artistic. The two of them hit it off very quickly, and soon Raquel is head over heels for Pardalita. But Pardalita is leaving town to attend university in Lisbon in the fall, and Raquel will be left behind along. Fortunately, there's a whole summer to go through before that happens, so Raquel will live life to the fullest, ensuring that each and every day spent with Pardalita is the best one yet!

Told through poems, illustrations, and graphic novel vignette, the story of Raquel and Pardalita beautifully portrays teenage angst and the desires, effects, and repercussions of a first love. Readers who are looking for an experience that is both sad and joyful will appreciate Pardalita and its real-life representation of formative teenage years.

A First Time for Everything

Santat, Dan. A First Time for Everything. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781626724150. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

As an only child, Dan loved spending time with his parents and with his friends. He loves drawing, but he discovers in Middle School that standing out makes you a target for bullies. So it's better to be invisible, even if this means denying part of who you are and what you want. Halfway through his last year in middle school, Dan discovers that his English teacher is organizing a field trip to Europe during the summer. With his mother being sick, his parents' idea of a vacation is to go some place, then take a picture of Dan there. They're not all that fun. 

Dan is surprised when his mother agrees he can go on the trip, but as the day nears, Dan is regretting his decision. He'd rather stay home. But it's too late, and Dan finds himself on a plane with girls from his school, who have been making fun of him for three years, as well as other American kids from Missouri. Though there are still people who claim to know him, Dan suddenly finds himself in Paris with kids who don't know anything about him. This is an opportunity to rediscover who he truly is underneath that layer of invisibility.

Falling in love with Fanta and the local food, Dan also meets Amy on the tour, and she's as interested in him as he is in her. The trip he dreaded becomes more interesting with every passing day, and slowly but surely Dan's life changes for the better, as he builds confidence and realizes that his past is not important in the grand scheme of things.

Inspired from the author's own trip to Europe when he was 14, A First Time for Everything relates the anxieties of growing up and leaving home, and then discovering that who you are is not tied to where you come from or what people think they know about you. The illustrations are amazing, and the story is engaging. If you've ever thought about traveling but were concerned, this is the book for you!

Friends Like These

Rosoff, Meg. Friends Like These. 2022. 320p. ISBN 9781774881101.

In the summer of 1983 and fresh out of high school, Beth scores the perfect internship. She joins the crew of one of New York City's most prestigious newspaper as an intern, learning the business from the inside. But life in New York City is expensive, the city is hot and dirty, her lodgings with her sister and her boyfriend, who are fighting all the time and obviously on the way to a nasty breakup, are cramped, and Beth has lost her reference points. New York feels like it will suck her soul out. 

Thankfully, Beth meets Edie, a Jewish girl with a larger than life personality. Edie has met everyone that is anyone, she knows where all of the good parties take place, and she is very experienced sexually, unlike Beth who has yet to be kissed. She also meets Daniel and Oliver, two boys who loom large in Edie's life. 

Through one hot and sweaty summer, Beth learns what it is like to become an adult. She has to navigate drama, relationships, work, and family as she learns more about herself, her wants and desires, and where she hopes to go. 

Never Trust a Gemini

Woolf, Freja Nicole. Never Trust a Gemini. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781536230543.

Cat Phillips will die alone. At least, that is her biggest fear. Astrology tells her so, and her friends reinforce this belief. A 9th grader who is also a member of the popular crowd at school, Cat holds a secret only her best friend knows. Oh, and maybe her younger sister. Cat is attracted to girls, especially Alison Bridgewater, a really good friend. Cat has known for a long time that she is a lesbian, but her friends always mock and demean girls who are attracted to other girls. To them, if you don't like boys, you're nothing. 

Caught in a lie about a relationship, Cat ends up dating Jamie, a guy who thinks he can write wonderful lyrics and sing them, but really can't. By dating him and having her first kiss, a nonplus experience, Cat throws off her friends' suspicions, but when Jamie throws her favorite sketchbook into the river, ruining all of the drawings of princesses kissing other princesses, it is Morgan, a girl so obviously queer, that saves the book and rescues Cat from a boring relationship.

Still pinning for Alison, and concerned that Morgan is a Gemini, and Cat's horoscope once told her she should never go for a Gemini, Cat nonetheless discovers that she has much in common with Morgan. But with her desire for Alison hanging over her, will the stars find themselves in alignment after all, allowing Cat to discover the love that stands right in front of her?

Belle of the Ball

Casta, Mari. Belle of the Ball. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781250784131. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Regina is driven and dedicated. As a senior who's already mapped her future, Regina is both an overachiever who needs high grades to become a surgeon, the head cheerleader for the school varsity cheer team, and, of course, the school's most popular girl. Regina's girlfriend, Chloe, is by far the school's best soccer player and all around athlete, but academics are not her strengths. She'd rather play sports, videogames, or go to renaissance fairs. She most likely will get recruited to play in college, but she's got to finish her senior year first. Hawkins is the school's mascot. She tried out for the cheer squad in 9th grade, but found hiding in the mascot costume easier emotionally. Also a senior, Hawkins doesn't have a roadmap in front of her. She's not sure what she wants to do with her life in the future, but for now she wishes she and Regina could be a couple.

Hawkins gets her chance when she hears the rumor that Regina and Chloe have broken up. Unfortunately, they're already back together, but Regina, always the schemer, sees this crush as a great opportunity. Hawkins offers tutoring services, and Chloe desperately needs to pass her English class. Plus, Regina is pretty sure her charms will convince Hawkins to do it for free. Unfortunately for Regina, her plan works too well. Hawkins and Chloe start spending a lot of time together, and, unbeknown to Regina, both of them knew each other as children in elementary school, way back when Hawkins used to dress up as a princess every day, and Chloe was strangely attracted to her. 

As Chloe and Hawkins' relationship is rekindled and grows into something more, Regina struggles with identifying what she really wants from life. With the end of senior year getting closer with every passing day, with prom and other events quickly filling up their calendar, will Hawkins, Chloe, and Regina figure themselves out?

Swing

Alexander, Kwame. Swing. 2018. 448p. ISBN 9780310761914. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Seventeen-year-old Noah is in love with his best friend Sam, ever since she saved him from a pounding in third grade. But Sam likes Noah as a friend, and nothing more. His mind filled with poetry, Noah keeps trying to convince himself to speak to Sam and confess his love for her. His friend Walt, who calls himself Swing, keeps pushing for Noah to finally step up and take a chance that his love for Sam might be reciprocated. And Walt knows just how to get the girl: Noah needs to talk to his cousin, who bills himself a relationship guru. The cousin's advice? Listen to the Woohoo Woman podcast, and learn what women like!

The boys have tried out for the school's baseball team for three years in a row, and each time they haven't made the cut. Swing swears that he will play on the team, despite the fact that he is not really good. Noah doesn't really care, and wouldn't mind to stop trying for it. For his mother's birthday, Noah scours the thrift store and finds a keepall, a type of bag that can be used to keep papers. Inside are dozens of love letters, each a spark of inspiration for Noah, who begins writing anonymous poems to Sam.

As Noah navigates the choppy waters of unrequited love, he also learns about jazz, and discovers that to be cool does not mean following the crowd. Risking his friendship with Sam, Noah decides to take a swing, hoping for a home run ....

Written in the free verse style, Swing will not leave the reader indifferent. The characters are realistic, and their relationships are complicated and representative of a turbulent period in one's life. Fans of poetry will appreciate this story with a bittersweet ending.

Catching Jordan

Kenneally, Miranda. Catching Jordan. Book 1 of the Hundred Oaks series. 2011. 252p. ISBN 9781402262289. Available as an ebook from Overdrive.

As a senior in high school, everyone watching her would think Jordan has everything going for her. Her father is the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. Her brother Mike is now in college, playing for his favorite team. And over 6 feet tall, Jordan also has the best throw on her football team. She's the captain and quarterback for Hundred Oaks' high school team, and a top prospect for any team, if only she weren't a girl.

Jordan really wants to join the University of Alabama's football program, but she keeps getting hints from the athletic director, the coach, and some of the players that she will never see field time if she goes to Alabama. Her father is no help. He never comes to her games, and has not seen her play. She's never kissed a boy, because who would want to date a girl that taller than they are? Thankfully, Jordan has plenty of friends on the football team, including Sam Henry and J.J. This season is shaping up to be a great one, and Jordan is ready to lead her team all the way to the state championship.

Except the arrival of Tyler changes everything. A new senior from Texas and a quarterback, Ty has an arm that rivals Jordan, and the coach agrees to give him play time. How can Jordan shine if she's not playing? Compounding these difficulties, Jordan is falling hard for Ty, and he's falling for her too. With mixed emotions and a roller coaster of a ride, Jordan will need to play the best football, and sort out her own desires and determine what is really important to her before the season is over!

Fans of sports and football stories who enjoy reading about Jordan's exploits and struggles should take a look at Play the Game, a real-life story of a girl who joined the 7th grade football team at her school.

Teen Idol

Cabot, Meg. Teen Idol. 2004. 304p. ISBN 9780060096168. 

Jenny Greenley is everyone's friend at Clayton High School. Regardless of cliques, sports, or tastes in music, Jenny gets along with everyone, and no one has a bad thing to say about Jenny. She's so good, in fact, that no one has ever asked her out on a date. Who would want to date their friend? Despite this not so little hurdle, Jenny is enjoying her junior year. Her favorite activity is to serve as the school newspaper's anonymous advice columnist, a position that she takes very seriously. In fact, not even her best friend knows she's the person behind the Ask Annie column.

Jenny is surprised to be called to the main office to attend a hush hush meeting. During this meeting, the principal reveals that America's favorite actor and teenage hottie Luke Striker will be attending Clayton High School for a few weeks as an undercover student, and the principal would like Jenny to be his buddy. Luke is getting ready to film a high school comedy, and he wants to immerse himself in the life of a high school to prepare. Jenny is sworn to secrecy, but she's confused as to how no one will know it's Luke Striker, especially best friend Trina, who knows everything there is to know about Luke Striker! 

Surprisingly, however, though everyone notices Luke, no one identifies him as the actor. Everyone wants to know who the cool guy is, but that's about it. Luke, however, is surprised at the behavior of students in the cafeteria in particular, and in classrooms in general, and he points out to Jenny that she could effect changes if she wanted. Will Jenny accept advice from a stranger, change life at her school, and find true love in the process?

Fans of romantic comedy will appreciate this fun story. Though it's hard to believe Luke would not be recognized, the characters are all too human, with their strengths and weaknesses, and their foibles are entertaining throughout the story. Let all jazz hands unite and enjoy Jenny's junior year!

Defending Taylor

Kenneally, Miranda. Defending Taylor. Book 7 of the Hundred Oaks series. 2016. 304p. ISBN 9781492630081. Available as an ebook from Overdrive.

As a senior in an elite private academy, Taylor had everything going for her. She was the captain of her soccer team, had excellent grades, and was looking forward to early admission at Yale, following in the footsteps of her sister and father, the senior Senator from Tennessee. Unfortunately, everything unravels for Taylor when she gets caught in the woods near the school with a backpack containing pills. The backpack belongs to Ben, her boyfriend, who is on scholarship and will most likely get expelled if he's caught, so she takes the blame, thinking she'll receive some punishment.

To her surprise, she is expelled from the school, and her father does not lift a finger to help her. Engaged in a heated reelection campaign, he can't afford to be seen as soft on illegal drugs, even if it is to help his own daughter. Even if he could help, he would not as he is a big proponent of taking responsibilities for your own actions. Taylor is thus forced to attend the local high school, Hundred Oaks. There, she attends mandatory daily meetings with the school counselor, and joins the soccer team where the captain, Nicole, attempts to make her life miserable.

Meanwhile, Ezra, who is the best friend of Taylor's older brother and who was Taylor's first crush, is back in town. He has taken a leave from Cornell, and currently works in construction. Even though his parents are wealthy, he lives in a rundown apartment building, and he has issues of his own. Taylor and Ezra reconnect, and she soon learns that he is dyslexic, and cannot read well enough to keep up with college work. Plus, he doesn't want to study business per his father's wishes, but would rather learn to be an architect. 

Motivated by Ezra, Taylor seeks to undo some of the damages that took place when she took the blame for Ben, but fixing a secret often leads to more troubles. As Taylor learns some hard life lessons, she eventually realizes that the way out is to come clean with her own actions and accept personal responsibility, just like her dad suggested...

A light romantic story peppered with soccer games and underlined by twin stories of drug abuse consequences and doing things for others and not for yourself, Taylor and Ezra's relationship blossoms and grow, not without encountering some turbulence, but in the end they manage to work out their differences. Fans of romance will appreciate this book.