Resources for recommended YA titles
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by ISBN: 9781524881139Publication Date: 2024-03-05From award-winning verse novelist Shari Green comes an unforgettable story of friendship, first love, and an impossible choice between integrity and duty, family and friends, all while fighting for a dream. Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams is a historical YA novel in verse that centers around a young pianist in East Germany trying to make sense of love, duty, and the pursuit of dreams during the unsettled months of protest that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in the late 1980s. Written in stunning lyrical verse, Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams is a story of hope, courage, romance, and the power of music not only to change lives, but to save them.
Ariel Crashes a Train by ISBN: 9780593644690Publication Date: 2025-04-01Exploring the harsh reality of OCD and violent intrusive thoughts in stunning, lyrical writing, this novel-in-verse conjures a haunting yet hopeful portrait of a girl on the edge. From the author of Dear Medusa, which New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed called "a fierce and brightly burning feminist roar."
Long Way Down by ISBN: 9781534444966Publication Date: 2022-02-01Jason Reynolds's Newbery Honor, Printz Honor, and Coretta Scott King Honor-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling novel Long Way Down is now a gripping, galvanizing graphic novel, with haunting artwork by Danica Novgorodoff. Will's older brother, Shawn, has been shot. Dead. Will feels a sadness so great, he can't explain it. But in his neighborhood, there are THE RULES: No. 1: Crying. Don't. No matter what. No. 2: Snitching Don't. No matter what. No. 3: Revenge Do. No matter what. But bullets miss. You can get the wrong guy. And there's always someone else who knows to follow the rules...
The Firefly Letters by ISBN: 9781250110961Publication Date: 2017-03-07In this quietly powerful novel in verse, which is young adult historical fiction based on a true story, award-winning poet Margarita Engle paints a portrait of early women's rights pioneer Fredrika Bremer and the journey to Cuba that transformed her life.
Crank by ISBN: 9781442471818Publication Date: 2013-08-06The #1 New York Times bestselling tale of addiction--the first in the Crank trilogy--from master poet Ellen Hopkins. Life was good before I met the monster. After, life was great, At least for a little while. Kristina Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. Then, Kristina meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul--her life.
- An Interview with Jason ReynoldsThis is an interview between Audible (Amazon) and award-winning author, Jason Reynolds. Highlights include Reynolds’ commentary about his powerful storytelling voice, characters, motivation for writing, and awards received. The readability of the text feels accessible for young adult readers/students. Reynolds comments on his mature themes of violence and trauma, which feels honest and genuine, particularly to an audience of young people. He reminds readers that diversity in literature can contribute to a culture of empathy.