CHPL Staff Picks: Best Books of 2023 - TeenLike this list

23 items

• The Grimoire of Grave Fates

  Hanna Alkaf

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  In an intricately constructed fantasy told in 18 uniquely rendered narratives--written by 18 authors such as Kat Cho, Karuna Riazi, and Julian Winters, and edited by contributors Owen (Painted Devils) and Alkaf (Hamra and the Jungle of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Warrior Girl Unearthed

  Boulley, Angeline,

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  Black and Anishinaabe high schooler Perry Firekeeper-Birch tackles issues surrounding U.S. repatriation laws as well as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in this page-turning companion taking place 10 years after Firekeeper's Daughter by…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Promise Boys

  Brooks, Nick, 1989-

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  J.B., Ramón, and Trey, students of the Urban Promise Prep School, must follow the school's strict rules, but when their principal is murdered, the three boys must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested.

• Gwen & Art Are Not in Love

  Croucher, Lex,

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  In medieval England, the bickering, bethrothed duo Arthur and Gwen find common ground in their secret romantic interests, leading them to form an unexpected alliance while navigating Camelot's summer festivities.

• Gather

  Cadow, Kenneth M.,

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  Ian Gray isn't supposed to have a dog, but a lot of things that shouldn't happen end up happening anyway. An unforeseen tragedy results in Ian and his dog taking off on the run, trying to evade a future that would mean leaving their house and their…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Unraveller

  Hardinge, Frances,

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  Fifteen-year-old Kellen's unique ability to unravel curses unfortunately does not protect him from becoming cursed, and unless he and his best friend and ally Nettle can remove his hex, Kellen is in danger of unravelling everything--and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Check & Mate

  Hazelwood, Ali,

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  Inadvertently wiping the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer, which opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes to keep her family afloat, Mallory’s love for the game of chess rekindles, as do her feelings for her competitor, against her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Wrecker

  Hiaasen, Carl,

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  When fifteen-year-old Valdez Jones VIII, a.k.a. Wrecker, unwittingly becomes entangled with a group of smugglers and grave robbers, he must deep-dive into their shady dealings in order to escape their twisted net.

• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

  Hibbert, Talia,

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  Here's a a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors--and each other.

• What the River Knows

  Ibañez, Isabel (Novelist),

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  Set in 1884, nineteen-year-old Inez travels to Egypt after the sudden death of her parents to uncover the truth about their deaths, and as she attempts to unravel the mysteries her parents sought, she becomes a pawn in a larger game that threatens…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Stars and Smoke

  Lu, Marie, 1984-

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  Nineteen-year old Winter Young, the world's hottest superstar, is recruited by a covert organization to take down a criminal tycoon and finds himself paired with Sydney Cossette, a fierce and unpredictable secret agent, but suspicions soon turn to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Jump

  Morris, Brittney,

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  The stress of an oil refinery being built in their backyard, threatening their families' livelihood, prompts four working-class teens to join a dangerous scavenger hunt where the reward of power could change their families' fates and save the city…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Wicked Bargain

  Novoa, Gabe Cole,

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  Exciting and swooney adventure featuring queer pirates, gender euphoria, and magical powers. "Sixteen-year-old Mar, a transmasculine Latinx pirate hiding magical abilities, must learn to use their magic to save their papá and newfound pirate familia…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• City of Nightmares

  Schaeffer, Rebecca,

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  After a con goes wrong, nineteen-year-old Ness finds herself at the center of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.

• Fire Among Clouds

  Moncada Lozano, Camilo, 1994-

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  Donají is a fearless Zapotec girl who, even though she's only fifteen, is heralded as a hero by her village. She sets out on an adventure-accompanied by the god that lives inside of her poncho-to find her missing father. Along the way, she meets a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Brooms

  Walls, Jasmine,

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  It's 1930s Mississippi. Magic is permitted only in certain circumstances, and by certain people. Unsanctioned broom racing is banned. But for those who need the money, or the thrills...it's there to be found.

• The Infinity Particle

  Xu, Wendy

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  Set on Mars, this book features cute stuffed-animal-esque AIs, and a gentle romance between a humanoid AI and a young researcher. Great read alike for fans of Molly Ostertag (Witch Boy), and K. O'Neill (Tea Dragon Society).

• !Ay, Mija¡

  My Bilingual Summer in Mexico

  Suggs, Christine,

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  In this memoir, Christine Suggs explores a trip they took to Mexico to visit family, as Christine embraces and rebels against their heritage and finds a sense of belonging.

• Hidden Systems

  Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day

  Nott, Dan,

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  What was the first message sent over the internet? How much water does a single person use every day? How was the electric light invented? For every utility people use each day, there's a hidden history below the surface - a story of intrigue,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Book of Mysteries, Magic and the Unexplained

  Macfarlane, Tamara,

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  Traces the story of myth and magic from ancient superstitions to medieval alchemy and divination to the modern-day fascination with UFOs.