This is the reality that Cassie faces in The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. An ominous spaceship descends and drops an electromagnetic bomb which knocks out the power, then a deadly virus claims the majority of the world population. Things just continue to get worse, because those are only the first few waves. After her brother is taken away on a bus full of other children to a military base and the rest of the adults, including her father, are murdered, Cassie escapes to survive on her own in the woods and is left wondering if she is the last person on Earth, though her goal is to find her younger brother, if she can avoid being killed by a Silencer.

Though this story is action-packed, it’s also character-driven. Though there is plenty of death and gore, what differentiates The 5th Wave from other similar titles is it’s philosophical nature. What does it mean to be human? How do you trust someone? How do you go on if you are the last person on Earth? Readers are invited to contemplate these questions, though the book doesn’t offer easy answers.

Though there is violence, the fear is more psychological. Why it’s scary to have someone put a gun in your face, it’s even more frightening to have the enemy map your mind and discover more about you than you know about yourself. Monsters are scary, but they are even scarier when they look just like you, when there is no way to tell if the person in front of you is like you, or one of them.

The 5th Wave is bound to appeal to a variety of different types of readers. Even those who don’t usually go for sci-fi thrillers or people who think they are done with post-apocalyptic novels will likely enjoy this complex story that is more about humanity being tested by an alien invasion. This will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games; in fact, I’d say it’s likely to be the next YA series to be a hit sensation!

– Molly, YA

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson 

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake 

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kawaga 

The Hunt by Andrew Fukada

Have you recently read a great book and don’t know what to read next? Do you have a suggestion for fans of a certain title? Let us know and we’ll feature it in our next like—try—why post!

A pink waterpark walks like a stone Sailor Moon.

Lousy cuetips think of fluffy popsicles

The softness of peace running with blue Juliet

Electronic poop hugging like a boring dog

Sticky Empire State Building will run like a human mask

Blue as if orange juices were eating a big pineapple

Lost like a cow running big McDonalds

Or crunchy stores running red Mr. Orlando

With whimsical toys grabbing the Rojo dog

The small dog enveloped by the enormous Dillon’s

Pink stuff running through the MalMart Tent

Athletic Volvos smelling like a kaka Luigi

Thanks to all those who participated!

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul by Leanna Renee Hieber

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Shadowfell by Juliet Mariller

Have you recently read a great book and don’t know what to read next? Do you have a suggestion for fans of a certain title? Let us know and we’ll feature it in our next like—try—why post!

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Leviathan

To break his curse of invisibility, a boy is helped by a girl, who is the only one who can see him.

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato

Placed under a temporary restraining order for torching her former boyfriend’s car, seventeen-year-old Rosie embarks on a cross-country car trip from New Jersey to Arizona while waiting for her court appearance.

The Cyodian Pyramid by Pete Hautman

More than half a millennium in the future, in the shadow of the looming Cydonian Pyramid, a pampered girl named Lah Lia has been raised for one purpose: to be sacrificed through one of the mysterious diskos that hover over the pyramid’s top. The much-anticipated sequel to The Obsidian Blade transports readers to the terrifying and thrilling world of Lah Lia, the enigmatic girl who changed Tucker Feye’s life.

School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Fifteen-year-old Izzy, who comes from a long line of monster hunters, investigates a series of hauntings at her new high school.

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies. The third installment in The Elementals series.

The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan

Residing in a desolate abbey protected by gargoyles, two beautiful teenaged sisters in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Paris discover deadly and otherworldly truths as they search for their missing brother.

If I Should Die by Amy Plum

The Parisian revenants have been betrayed by their trusted ally, Violette. Now Vincent is dead and Violette has destroyed his body so that he canot be reanimated. Refusing to give up on her love, Kate searches for a way to reincarnate him in time to prevent an all-out war between the bardia and the numa.

The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni

17-year-old Verity Boone expects a warm homecoming when she returns to Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in 1867, pledged to marry a man she has never met. Instead, she finds a father she barely knows and a future husband with whom she apparently has nothing in common. One truly horrifying surprise awaits her: the graves of her mother and aunt are enclosed in iron cages outside the local cemetery.

Don’t forget to check out April amd March new releases. You can always browse the catalog for what’s on order, too!

87 Ways to Throw a Killer Party by Melissa Daly

Want an excuse to get friends together? Or looking for an idea for a party your friends will never forget? This ultimate party-planning book for teens includes eighty-seven original ideas (and original takes on classic ideas) for great bashes. Inside you’ll find parties of all kinds, such as an Anti-Valentine’s Day soiree, a haunted house party, and a season finale get-together. Also includes party-planning tips, hosting etiquette, and how to avoid typical party pitfalls.

What If: Answers to questions about what it means to be gay and lesbian by Eric Marcus

All the basics–and not-so-basics–are covered in more than one hundred questions asked by real teens. Whether you’re curious about your own sexual orientation or looking to understand and support someone close to you, this book contains an abundance of answers. Expert, Eric Marcus, candidly and clearly pushes aside the myths and misinformation about being gay and lesbian, answering all the questions that are on your mind.

The Truth about Breaking up, Making up, and Moving On by Chad Eastham 

Relationships are like road trips. Sometimes they’re an exciting adventure. But sometimes they’re like a traffic jam going nowhere. Or even worse, they’re a wrong turn that’s taken you hundreds of miles off your course. With much-needed humor and honest advice, best selling author and speaker Chad Eastham helps you think through tough but necessary relationship issues such as: · Why some people find happiness, while others find heartache · Why pain hurts so much · When to break up · When to make up. Chad’s conversational tone, facts, and advice people to rethink life’s conversations, even the difficult stuff like heartbreak.

Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects : Fun and Funky Projects for Fashion and Flair by Marisa Pawelko

Marisa shares 24 of her best DIY Duct tape ideas, with step-by-step instructions and how-to pictures. You’ll learn how to make fashionable wearables like gloves, leg warmers, a kilt and a halter top. You’ll also find crafty ideas for functional items like a vase or night light. Projects cover a variety of skill levels, so you’ll get plenty of creative inspiration whether you’re just a beginner or an experienced Duct tape aficionado.

Doing It Right : Making Smart, Safe, and Satisfying Choices about Sex by Bronwen Pardes

An experienced sex educator provides insightful information and advice on the issues of sex, STDs, ethics, teen pregnancy, the pleasures of intimacy and other sex-related topics, in an updated reissue of a useful and candid guide written specifically for teens.

Macbeth -  Set in Scotland in the year 1040, Macbeth is thought by many to be Shakespeare’s finest tragedy – it is certainly one of his best known and most dramatic plays. Macbeth is a general  in King Duncan’s army who is highly thought of amongst his fellow countrymen. Returning victorious from a battle, he encounters three witches who convince him that he will be king of Scotland. When Lady Macbeth learns about this, they formulate an evil plan to secure their future.

The Merchant of Venice - Here is the tale of young Bassanio, who, to win the love of fair Portia, entangles his dearest friend, Antonio, in a dangerous bargain with the moneylender Shylock. Only Bassanio’s heartfelt efforts – and a clever intervention by Portia – will save Antonio from paying Shylock “a pound of flesh.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream -  In one of Shakespeare’s funniest, most enduring stories, meddling fairies create unexpected love triangles among a group of teenagers. Hermia is in love with Lysander. Demetrius is in love with Hermia. Helena is in love with Demetrius. Add to the mix Puck, a fairy with a powerful love potion, and chaos is sure to follow. Now everyone’s in love with Helena, Hermia is hopping mad, and the fairy queen Titania is in love with a man with a donkey’s head!

Romeo and Juliet - Ideally suited for the manga format, Shakespeare’s classic tragedy has teenage heroes, scheming and villainous adults, heartbreaking tragedy, and the ultimate romantic plot about star-crossed lovers.

Here are some other non graphic novel works by Shakespeare! Click to see them in our catalog!
Hamlet  
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Much Ado About Nothing

• Crewel by Gennifer Albin—In a futuristic world, Spinsters are women with the power to weave everything into form, whether it be food, buildings, or peoples’ very lives. Adelice Lewys has this talent, and she is whisked away into a world of luxury and elegance because of it. Although it is often advertised at the perfect life, it is far from it as things are never how they seem.

• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks—Emma has never really questioned her ability to communicate with fish, her strange violet eyes, or her awkwardness on land, but when her best friend, Chloe, dies in a shark attack and the attractive, mysterious Galen keeps showing up in her life, Emma soon learns that she belongs in a different world –- one that is underwater. In the meantime, Galen, the prince of the Syrena, must learn why Emma seems to not quite fit in with either the humans or the Syrena while battling the strong attraction he feels towards her. As the relationship between the two develops, they are faced with difficult decisions between duty and desire that could lead to a huge change of Syrena history.

• Underworld by Meg Cabot—In the second book of the Abandon series, Pierce Oliviera has been — yet again — kidnapped by John Hayden, the ruler of the Underworld. However, this time she can’t escape, and when she gets a video on her phone predicting her cousin Alex’s death, Pierce panics and begs John for help. She will do anything if only he will help her cousin out, including staying with him forever in the Underworld.

• Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore—When her evil father, King Leck, dies, Bitterblue is made queen of a kingdom she knows nothing about. As she struggles to come to terms with both who she is and the legacy her father left on the city, Bitterblue tries to discover the secrets of her father’s crimes by walking the streets of her own city in disguise. Filled with struggle, suspense and surprises, will she be able to turn her kingdom into a better place.

• Poison Princess by Kresley Cole—What really happens at the end of the world? Cannibals, Baggers, people try to sell you — and in this world, sixteen-year-old Evie is one of the few healthy teen girls. Evie sets out on a quest to find herself, all while things heat up between her and Jackson, the troubled bad boy from across the tracks. She knows life will get even worse as she comes to realize that she isn’t like other people. Luckily, or maybe unluckily for her, Jackson is the only one that can help her survive.

• Skinny by Donna Cooner—Ever has always wanted to live in a fairy tale, but with 302 pounds weighing her down, it’s difficult to achieve. It’s even harder with Skinny, her own private critic, constantly belittling her. In this inspirational tale, Ever discovers the truth of learning how to overcome and accept the issues that plague her.

• Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross—After being raised her whole life by her fairy godmothers, Mirabelle runs away to the town where they said her parents died. But when she gets there, she starts to notice that it isn’t any ordinary town and that the teens who live there are fated to play out the Grimms’ fairy tales. So when Mira finds out that she, too, has a role to play, it’s only a matter of time before her story could lose its happy ending.

• Croak by Gina Damico—Lexington “Lex” Bartleby is a juvenile delinquent who is sent to her uncle Mort’s after her latest stunt. Once there she discovers that she is a Grim Reaper. She was born to have the ability to take the souls from dead bodies and send them to the Afterlife. On the job, she feels the need for justice for the poor people who have died, but they aren’t allowed to do anything but transport the souls. As she deals with this struggle, her limits are tested as she discovers how far she will go to help the souls and herself.

• The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda—For as long as he can remember, Gene’s father has always taught him how to keep a low profile so no one can notice that he’s different. He can’t run as fast, he can go outside in the daytime, and he doesn’t have a lust for blood. Gene is human, and each day is a battle to keep his secret locked away or be devoured by everyone around him. When he is chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hunt the last few remaining humans, he is thrust into the fight of his life and into the orbit of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible. Little does he know, however, she has a few secrets of her own.

• 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad—When NASA holds a world-wide contest for returning to the moon, no one — not even the three teenage participants — can fathom what is really in store for them up on the airless, empty gray mass. Or is it truly empty … ? Unbeknownst to them, what they find up there will change not only their lives, but the lives of everyone on Earth.

• Seraphina by Rachel Hartman—Dragons and humans have finally achieved peace, and the anniversary celebration is fast approaching. For Seraphina Dombegh, who is half dragon and half human, life is about blending in. However, a series of events will place her in the path of the Prince Lucian, Captain of the Queen’s Guard, and a hunt for a killer determined to start a war.

• Wake by Amanda Hocking—Three mysterious girls have just blown into town, and everyone has their eyes on them. Little does everyone know, they also have their eyes on the towns’ residences. Gemma in particular has caught their eyes, and they want her. Little does Gemma know, she’s about to be thrown into a situation she might not be able to get out of.

• Tilt by Ellen Hopkins—Tilt tells the story of three teenagers, all wondering about who they are and how they fit into the world. One struggles with a teen pregnancy, another deals with AIDS, while the last must overcome an abusive relationship. As things begin to change drastically, with them not in control, all they can do is hang on for the ride.

• Enchanted by Alethea Kontis—Sunday loves to write stories; the only problem is that when she reads them aloud, they tend to come true. So when a frog claiming to be a cursed human comes along, he asks her to do two things: to read a few stories that won’t harm anyone and to kiss him. When you kiss an enchanted animal — or in this case, a frog — the enchanted will return to his true self. What Sunday doesn’t know is that if she kisses him, her life will change forever.

• Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers—Ismae is the daughter of the God of Death. After a near escape to a convent from her arranged marriage, Ismae is trained in the arts of a handmaiden of Death: assassination. Sent to the household of a possible traitor, Gavriel, Ismae begins to see glimpses of faults within her convent and honor in the man she is sent to spy on. Despite any feelings or doubts, she knows her first duty is to Death, but she has to wonder: what will her duty cost her and the man she is coming to love?

• Butter by Erin Jade Lange—Butter is a morbidly obese teenager who is sick of being invisible but who doesn’t really want to make a splash either. One day, he’s finally pushed over the edge, and he posts a blog about his last meal, the one that he plans will kill him. This blog post brings him instant popularity, making Butter happy for once in his life. But Butter knows that his life is still far from perfect, and he must struggle with himself to determine who he will be and what course his life will take.

• Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne—Monument 14 is a book filled with terror, fear, and love, all inside a supermarket where fourteen kids are trapped . They are unable to leave as a monster hailstorm has hit, leading to variety of other disasters like a chemical weapon spill. Now they must find a way to escape their town, Monument, and get to safety in Alaska.

• Every Day by David Levithan—A wakes up in a different body every day. It has always been that way for A, and A has rules to live by, like not getting too involved in the person’s life. Then A meets Rhiannon, the girlfriend of Justin, the boy whose body A is inhabiting. Suddenly, none of the rules apply because A is falling for Rhiannon and she won’t leave A’s mind even after A has left Justin’s body…

• Son by Lois Lowry—In this new branch of the dystopian story started by The Giver, we follow the life of Claire, a birthmother in Jonas’s community. When Claire gives birth and her baby is taken from her, we see the first signs of emotion from someone besides Jonas in the community. In this riveting tale about the strength of a mother’s love, you’ll be whisked through an epic adventure of good vs. evil that explores the concepts of freedom, love, and sacrifice.

• I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga—Jazz is the son of an infamous serial killer and has witnessed crime scenes from the killer’s point of view. So when a body is discovered, Jazz wants to use the skills he knows to help find the killer. However, he’s not just trying to prove to other people that he’s not like his father; he’s also trying to prove it to himself despite what he already knows.

• Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry—Echo is a high school girl with “freaky” scars on her arms and no memory of how it happened. Noah is the high school stoner who uses girls and has no future. Over the course of their senior year, their lives will intersect in a way they never could have imagined, going through a journey that will prove to thems and each other that they are more than what their reputations demand.

• The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen—In a faraway land, civil war is brewing. To unify his kingdom’s divided people, a nobleman named Conner devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him on the throne. Four orphans are forced to compete for the role, including a defiant and clever boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point — he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. His rivals have their own agendas as well, so Sage must trust no one and keep his thoughts hidden. As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of lies unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that may very well prove more dangerous than all the lies taken together.

• Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult—Delilah is a lonely, straight-A, freshman student who is shunned by nearly everyone at her school except for her punk best friend, Jules. Her mother pushes her to get out more by making her join the swim team even though she always gets last place. Her father left her for another family and never visits. So it’s no wonder she would rather spend her days reading. She finds a fairy tale that she can’t stop reading and falls in the love with the prince of the story. Too bad he’s not real … or is he?

• Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes—War is brewing and unrest is widespread. The breaking point is a single incident in the dying nation of Paelsia. While three kingdoms battle for power, four young people find themselves greatly affected by it as they experience things like betrayal and war.

• Insurgent by Veronica Roth—In the sequel to Divergent, Tris Prior is safe at the Amity compounds with her fellow survivors. With the whole city at war with itself and Jeannine looking for all the Divergent, Tris must learn to embrace her own divergence and understand it, though it might prove a dangerous task.

• Immortal City by Scott Speer—The Immortal City: where guardian angels only protect the richest people and it’s the hottest, trendiest thing to be an angel. Maddy doesn’t quite understand what all the hype on angels is about, but when the most desired angel, Jacks, asks her for help, she finds out more about angels than she ever expected possible. Soon after, they immediately fall in love. But when someone threatens this love, what will they do about it?

• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater—The Raven Boys is a thrilling adventure that captures you and takes you down the supernatural path with a daring girl named Blue, four complicated guys, and one life-altering quest and mystery of finding the Glendower King.

• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein—Verity is held captive by the Gestapo in 1943. She is told to reveal the secrets of the pilot who brought her to France or face the brutal consequences. As she does this, she weaves a story of an unlikely friendship and the bonds formed by it. Their tales intertwined form a suspenseful, breathtaking narrative of espionage — hope — horror — and friendship that spans untold secrets!

Which of these have you read? Check them all out over the summer so you can vote for the finalists in August!