The Hate You Give, by Angie Thomas, is a fiction novel about a sixteen-year-old Starr and how she becomes the only witness to the fatal shooting of her friend Khalil by the hands of the police. Throughout the story, Starr is looking for ways she can bring justice to Khalil but she does not want the public to know that she was the witness. Starr talks to the police, district attorney, and grand jury anonymously hoping that will be enough to bring justice to Khalil.
Loveless, by Alice Oseman, is a realistic fiction LGBTQ+ novel about a girl who is on a path of self-discovery. Georgia Warr is eighteen and hasn't had her first kiss nor has she had a crush but she's certain that one day she will. When she starts university with her best friends and has a roommate who she idolizes, she thinks that it is her time to find the person that she will spend the rest of her life with.
American Royals is teen romance set in a reimagined America - one where there is a monarchy descended from Washington instead of a democracy. The story switches between several girls: Beatrice, the serious and restrained future ruler and first-ever queen; Samantha, the wild party-girl princess; Nina, Samantha’s best friend who’s fallen for her twin brother; and Daphne, a conniving social climber who wants to be a princess as well - and who sees Samantha’s twin, Jeff, as her best route.
Monique is offered the opportunity to interview the Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo however when Hugo throws her for a loop she can't refuse the great offer. Evelyn Hugo is a famous Hollywood actress who originally came from nothing but she worked very hard to achieve her dreams through perseverance. Hugo wants to start plain and simple however many things come in her way or rather people come into her life that alters it. Such as not being able to find the “right” husband and rising competition as the leading actress award.
Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli, is a realistic fiction novel. The book is about Simon Spier, a sophomore in high school, who is gay but not out. He hasn't told anyone except Blue, his secret pen pal. Neither Simon nor Blue know each other's real identities and correspond through emails. However, Simon forgets to log out of his email account on a school computer and his secret is threatened.
Siblings Isaac and Ivy both have a lot going on in their life. Isaac has an ankle injury that has left him unable to play and needing pain relief. Ivy’s ADHD is affecting her schoolwork and she needs something to keep her focused. Isaac turns to Roxy and Ivy turns to Addison. They follow different journeys with the drugs they’re taking but both end up in the same precarious situation. How will they deal with the repercussions of the things they’re taking?
The adventurous story of Devon and Chiamaka is a mysterious one that tells the story of how they are being targeted. Even though they want different things such as being a head girl and going to an ivy league school. As well as just trying to stay out of everyone's way just enough to graduate. However, both of their plans are ruined when a bully online threatens to expose all of their secrets. To try and find out who this bully is they both go through traumatic events that lead them to the truth about their “prestigious” and its history.
Me Before You is the first novel in a series of the same name by Jojo Moyes. Louisa Clark is desperate for a job, so she becomes the companion of a wealthy disabled man, Will, even though he despises her presence. Louisa and Will soon learn to get along, but Louisa is shocked when she learns of Will's plans for his life. Although she wants to leave Will before she gets hurt, Louisa makes it her mission to show Will that life is worth living.
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a short story that follows the life of a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, after he mysteriously transforms into a bug. When Gregor wakes up as a bug, he cannot support his family, open his bedroom door, or even get out of bed. This story provides great commentary on societal expectations while maintaining its hilarity. Kafka manages to spell out all of modern society’s great faults through the eyes of his insect narrator.
