Anthem by Ayn Rand explores individualism, freedom, and the role of the collective in society. The main character Equality 7-2521 is faced with the harsh decision between giving in to the great "We", thereby giving his life to the idea that everyone has a place in society, but you do not get a personal identity or abandoning everything he had ever been taught in the sake of learning about what it means to be a unique person.
In Kristy Boyce’s novel Dating and Dragons, Quinn Norton moved across Ohio to be closer to her eccentric grandma and to start a fresh chapter in her friendships, but now she has to face entering a brand-new school in the middle of her junior year. Things start looking up for Quinn when she meets and flirts with a cute guy named Logan Weber. Additionally, she is invited to join a D&D party at her new school, perfect since her last one utterly imploded.
“And I was so afraid, only I didn’t know what I was afraid of.”
Gemma lives with her mother Virginia in house next to a forest with an enchanted gateway. Despite constant warning from her mother never to go near the fairyland, her curiosity gets the better of her and she wanders into a new world. But not everything is as it seems, and her mother has been hiding the truth from her. Whether it was for her own protection or not, remains to be seen.
“Some people will never believe you no matter how hard you explain yourself. Trust me, there's no pleasing people. If they're determined to think the worst of you, they will.”
When she’s found walking through the streets covered in her best friend’s blood, everyone assumes Lucy killed her. Years later, a famous crime podcast called Listen for the Lie is looking into the death of her best friend, and Lucy is determined to get to the bottom of the night she can’t remember, even if she was the one to kill her friend, like everyone else believes.
Being only a junior in high school, Avery Grambs has been through a lot. The tragic loss of her mother, her less than desirable father, and her half-sister’s boyfriend who doesn't seem to get the memo on how to treat a girl right; whilst living in her car to escape such frustrations, Avery is called to a will reading of not only a total stranger, but the one of the most wealthy in America; even more shockingly she inherits most of the fortune… but why?
Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service directed by Hayao Miyazaki is a fantastical tale of a young witch named Kiki starting a new adventure alongside her faithful cat, Jiji. Kiki sets off, beginning a customary tradition for witches to leave their homes for one year to pursue and train magical skills. When Kiki lands in a bustling city on the water, she forms a delivery service as her special talent.
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz follows three natural disaster stories of four teenage kids and how they handle the situations they’re in. Akira, who lives in California, encounters a wildfire, Owen and George, who live in Canada, encounter polar bear attacks, and Natalie, who lives in Florida, encounters a hurricane.
Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down takes Greg Heffley’s imagination to new levels as he tries to prove he’s meant for fame. Inspired by his mom’s belief that he should be more creative, Greg sets out to make a movie—hoping it’ll launch him to stardom. However, his big plans don’t quite work out, leading to one hilarious failure after another.
Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School throws Greg Heffley into an unfamiliar world—one without modern technology. When Greg’s mom pushes for a “simpler life,” he finds himself stuck at a weeklong wilderness camp, dealing with no electronics, gross chores, and unpredictable disasters. Meanwhile, at home, his grandpa moves in, bringing even more chaos to Greg’s already complicated life.
