Book Recommendations for Gaithersburg Youth

Youth Book Club

Attention all readers! Here are the Top 10 books you need to read this season!  If you’re a fan of  adventure, history, diverse storytelling, fantasy, or novels that will make you feel empowered, we’ve got you covered. So grab a cup of hot cocoa, get comfy on the couch, and immerse yourself in an exciting new world!

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway- “If [you’re] a fan of This is Us, you’ll love this novel about an adopted “only child” who comes to find out that she is actually a middle child. Robin Benway takes us on a journey as she goes to find her two other siblings, weaving in interconnected storylines of all three along the way” (Hall, 2023).

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt- “A heart-warming story about the power of labels to define us and what it looks like to break through them. A young boy acting out and deemed a “teen thug” moves to a new school where he continues his same old behavior. That is until he’s taken under a librarian’s wing and finds a new friend that sees deeper than the tough exterior” (Hall, 2023).

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez- “In this often hilarious book, we meet a young Mexican-American girl who’s trying to navigate the loss of her sister and the pressures put on her by her family” (Hall, 2023).

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller- “When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger” (Google books).

American Royals (Series) by Katharine McGee- “What if America had a royal family? As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything… except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart. Katharine McGee imagines an alternate version of the modern world, one where the glittering age of monarchies has not yet faded--and where love is still powerful enough to change the course of history” (Google Books).

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo- “A talented teen girl with a tough exterior pours all her hopes and dreams and feelings about her current crush into the pages of her poetry journal. Even though her mother imposes strict rules she is drawn to join the school Poetry Slam and finally get the chance to let her true voice be heard” (Hall, 2023).

Escape from Mr. Limoncello’s Library by Chris Garbenstein- “Twelve kids are invited for a sleepover in their town’s brand-new library built by Mr. Lemoncello, who is like the Willy Wonka of books. Adventure, mystery, and humor abound as the kids work to solve various book-related puzzles and riddles that will enable them to be the first one to escape the library” (Riedel, 2017).

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis- “The girls at the center of Krystal Marquis’s debut novel are based on the real-life daughters of C.R. Patterson, founder of the first Black-owned car company in the United States. The Davenports takes place in 1910 Chicago and is riddled with the hallmarks of turn-of-the-century success, such as grand estates, ball gowns, young love, and ambition. ‘Marquis perceptively explores the history and momentous impact of Black achievements and wealth during an underreported period in U.S. history,’ says Publishers Weekly” (Lambert, 2022). 

House of Marionne by J. Elle- “House of Marionne offers a unique twist on the elite — the families who send children to a magical finishing school in the South. Seventeen-year-old Raquell Janae Marionne, known as Quell, finds herself there because she has toushana (power) in her blood and must learn to control it. Amidst the magic, politics, and intrigue, she also finds forbidden love. This is the first book in an exciting new series” (Lambert, 2022).

Sources

Lambert, Laura. “The Best Young Adult Books of 2023.” Brightly, 14 Dec. 2022,
www.readbrightly.com/young-adult-books-2023/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023

‌ Hall, Leah. “Looking for a Book for Your Teen? We Found the Best YA Picks of the Year.” Country Living, 20 May 2023, www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/g43220482/best-books-for-teens/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.

Riedel, Kari Ness. “Reads for Super Readers: 9 Books for 8- to 12-Year-Old Bookworms.” Brightly, 4 Oct. 2017, www.readbrightly.com/reads-for-super-readers-books-for-8-12-year-old-bookworms/.