Yolk

by Mary H.K. Choi

YA FIC CHOI

Ambitious older sister June and impulsive Jayne had a love-hate relationship throughout their Texas childhood, and though they both now live in New York City, they’ve become fully estranged. The silence between the two ends when June reveals that she has cancer. For the first time, Jayne plays the supportive role, cooking and cleaning June’s posh Manhattan apartment.

Words in Deep Blue

by Cath Crowley

YA FIC CROWLEY

Rachel moved away from Melbourne 3 year ago. There, she left Henry, her best friend and everything she knew. Now, her younger brother is dead. He drowned. Rachel decides to go back to Melbourne. Henry, missing his best friend, has also just gone through a break-up and he’s losing his family bookstore. Will Rachel and Henry be able to repair each other’s broken parts?

Three Things I Know are True

by Betty Culley

YA FIC CULLEY

Liv has been caring for her brother, Jonah, after his recklessness with a neighbor’s gun resulted in a near-mortal head wound. Now Jonah requires 24/7 support just to stay alive. Liv’s mother is balancing a lawsuit against the neighbor with her efforts to keep her family out of poverty. Will a split-second decision by her brother determine how Liv will live the rest of her life?

The Fault in our Stars

by John Green

YA FIC GREEN

Hazel Grace is a 16-year-old cancer survivor. When she deals with depression, her doctor decides to send her to a weekly support group. There, she meets Augustus Waters. The two form a bond like no other, and travel to Amsterdam when Gus plans a trip for Hazel Grace to meet her favorite author. As time goes on, Hazel and Gus will discover what it means to love and to live.

The How and the Why

by Cynthia Hand

YA FIC HAND

Growing up in Idaho with loving parents, Cassandra McMurtrey has always known she was adopted, but now, at 18, she’s curious about her birth mother. Because the adoption was closed, her parents have little information to give. But with the support of her best friend, Nyla, an adopted orphan from Liberia, Cassandra begins a search that leads to a stack of letters written by “S,” her birth mother.

We Can be Heroes

by Kyrie McCauley

YA FIC MCCAULEY

Beck and Vivian never could stand each other, but they always tried their best for their mutual friend, Cassie. After the town moves on from Cassie’s murder too fast, Beck and Vivian finally find common ground: vengeance. They memorialize Cassie by secretly painting murals of her around town, a message to the world that Cassie won’t be forgotten.

Early Departures

by Jason Reynolds

YA FIC REYNOLDS

What if you could bring your best friend back to life - but only for a short time? Jamal’s best friend, Q, doesn’t know that he died, and that he’s about to die again. He doesn’t know that Jamal tried to save him. And that the reason they haven’t been friends for two years is because Jamal blames Q for the accident that killed his parents. But what if Jamal could have a second chance?

The Castle School (for troubled girls)

by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

YA FIC SHEINMEL

Paralyzed by grief, Moira feels punished when her parents send her to a therapeutic boarding school in Maine where she meets eleven other troubled girls and gradually begins to understand her parents’ true intentions behind sending her there.

The First to Die at the End

by Adam Silvera

YA FIC SILVERA

Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first round of End Day calls goes out, their lives are changed forever - one of them receives a call, and the other doesn’t. Though neither boy is certain how the day will end, they know they want to spend it together... even if that means their goodbye will be heartbreaking.

All My Rage

by Sabaa Tahir

YA FIC TAHIR

Salahudin and Noor are caught in the throes of life in the small California desert town of Juniper, where being a working-class person of color means being treated differently. With pervasive racism coming from everyone from classmates to police officers and doctors, Juniper is a sinkhole that the estranged best friends are desperate to leave.

You’ve Reached Sam

by Dustin Thao

YA FIC THAO

Julie must find a way to navigate life after her boyfriend, Sam, dies in a car accident. She thinks that maybe removing everything of his from her life will help - so she throw away CDs and clothes he’s left at her house. Then, one night, in desperation, she calls Sam’s cell phone - just to hear his voicemail. Except, Sam answers. Julie doesn’t know how, but she must decide if she wants to keep their connection strong or let his family speak to him one last time.

The Beauty that Remains

by Ashley Woodfolk

YA FIC WOODFOLK

Autumn, Shay, and Logan have one thing in common: they’ve lost a loved one. Autumn’s best friend died in a car wreck. Shay’s twin sister died from leukemia. Logan’s boyfriend died by suicide. The three must learn to navigate life as teenagers feeling big feelings.