List
2024 Staff Picks: Teen
Our expert staff members look back at the year and share their favorite titles.
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A Tempest of Tea
2024 by Faizal, HafsahGet this itemThis mesmerizing fantasy hooked us right away. Along with a thrilling plot of a heist, vampires, and vengeance, and an excellent cast of characters, there are serious underlying issues of colonialism and the struggles immigrants face. The gasp-inducing ending left us reeling, and we can not wait to see what happens next! Suggested by Rummanah and Suzanne.
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Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories
2024Get this itemI loved how these authors took classic stories like Goldilocks and The Little Mermaid and gave them modern, often wicked twists (vampires, witches, monsters). The story "Trespassers Will Be..." was a thrilling scare and probably my favorite in this short story collection. Suggested by Amanda.
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Where the Dark Stands Still
2024 by Poranek, A. B.Get this itemWe were swept away by this rich and fantastical romantasy is inspired by old Polish folklore. Readers will relish exploring the Forbidden Woods, which feels like it has been pulled from Brothers Grimm or another fable that promises wicked curses, long-lost love, and dangerous battles. Fans of Studio Ghibli will love this book. Suggested by Aubree and Grace.
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Twenty-Four Seconds from Now: A Love Story
2024 by Reynolds, JasonGet this itemJason Reynolds' writing is effortless, and I loved his foray into romance. Told in reverse order, the book explores Neon's relationship with his girlfriend Aria. This book is vulnerable, and I appreciated that it highlighted the many different and messy love stories that exist. Suggested by Amber H.
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The Unfinished
2024 by Isaacs, CherylGet this itemThis book had me eying bushes that were rustling in the wind and watching the shadows moving at night! It was bone-chillingly scary while also having great characters and backstory. If you want a horror novel that will have you shivering at shadows, you won't want to miss this. Suggested by Amanda.
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Twelfth Knight
2024 by Follmuth, Alexene FarolGet this itemA clever take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this modern update is young adult romantic comedy gold. I loved the author’s use of concealed identities and the slow-burn hating to dating trope to make the storyline relatable and hilarious all at once. Suggested by Sharon.
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Sky's End
2024 by Gregson, Marc J.Get this itemThis fantasy series opener completely delivers on the vibes of Hunger Games and Attack on Titans. The nonstop action, fascinating world-building, and complex. well-developed characters made this book very hard to put down. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! Suggested by Rummanah.
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Otherworldly
2024 by Lukens, F. T.Get this itemI loved reading this cozy fantasy novel! Yes, you're on a contemporary fantasy adventure, but also, it's just really nice characters hanging out and having a good time, the perfect comfort read. Suggested by Amanda.
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The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories
2024Get this itemThis book features Black female protagonists in a genre that historically has not seen them as the main character. The collection covers all sorts of horror, from sci-fi horror, to the supernatural, to the very human. This was a well curated collection, with tons of winners! Suggested by Amber H.
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For She Is Wrath
2024 by Varga, EmilyGet this itemA standalone romantasy and retelling of Alexandre Duma's revenge classic The Count of Monte Cristo, with a South Asian twist. The romantic tension between Mazin and Dania and the lengths of Mazin's thirst of revenge kept me turning the pages. Suggested by Rummanah.
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Better Left Buried
2024 by Roach, Mary E.Get this itemWhat do you get when you combine an abandoned amusement park, a dead body, and a small town with too many secrets to count? You get a very tired librarian who couldn’t go to sleep until she finished just "one more chapter." I was hooked, and anybody who loves Holly Jackson, true-crime teen sleuths, and gorgeous queer romance should strap in for a wild, roller-coaster ride. Suggested by Grace.
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Heartless Hunter
2024 by Ciccarelli, KristenGet this itemA witch-in-hiding plays a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse while trying to save other witches from being purged. This fast-paced story full of tension is perfect for an older teen audience. I am eagerly waiting for the next book. Suggested by Amber H.
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Shut Up, This Is Serious
2024 by Ixta, CarolinaGet this itemBelen's voice is powerful and demands your attention. I love how all of the characters are extremely messy and make bad choices, but still come across as realistic in this debut novel. The journey of self discovery is excellent, and I loved the in-depth analysis of trying to find your authentic self when everyone already seems to know who you are. Suggested by Rummanah.
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With Love, Miss Americanah
2024 by Igharo, JaneGet this itemAfter her father dies, a young Nigerian girl and her family move to upstate New York. She's determined to lay low and be the perfect African daughter, but befriending the popular boy thrusts her into the spotlight and trying things she never could do. This sweet coming-of-age story reminded me of Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I loved watching main character Enore come into her own and set some boundaries. Suggested by Amber H.
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Looking for Smoke
2024 by Cobell, K. A.Get this itemAn intense and fast-paced mystery/thriller told from multiple points of views sheds a light on the incredibly real and often ignored crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirits. This book had me at the edge of my seat, with twists and turns in the plot and characters who are dealing with real issues. I also enjoyed learning more about the Blackfeet culture and ceremonies. Suggested by Rummanah.
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Heir
2024 by Tahir, SabaaGet this itemSabaa Tahir's new series might be even better than her last! This high-stakes fantasy revisits the world of An Ember in the Ashes in a very accessible way. Even if you haven't read her popular debut series, it's easy to understand the world and characters of this new duology. Full of magic, intrigue, and mystery, it kept me up past my bedtime. Suggested by Amber H.
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Silent Sister
2024 by Davidhizar, MeganGet this itemI thought this was a really engrossing debut mystery. I really appreciated how the author explored complex family relationships, in particular sisters, grief, memory, and friendship in the story. Suggested by Rummanah.
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If You're Not the One
2024 by Rishi, Farah NazGet this itemAnisa spent high school trying to be perfect. Her family expects her to marry her childhood friend, and she has to prove she's worthy of him. While the two were super close, they drifted apart once they started college, and Anisa is determined to keep his focus on her. Her classmate Marlow agrees to be her love coach, and she learns that you don't have to be perfect to be deserving of love. Anisa is a fascinating character; she is a make-up and hair pro to the outside world, but a total video game-playing gremlin behind closed doors. Suggested by Amber H.
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What the River Knows
2023 by Ibañez, IsabelGet this itemWe could not get enough of this great mix of adventure, mystery, Egyptian mythology, and a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance. The ending made our jaws drop, and we are so happy that the sequel comes out soon! Suggested by Grace, Rummanah, and Sharon.
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The Space Between Here & Now
2023 by Suk, SarahGet this itemI really enjoyed this book that explores time travel. A coming-of-age story about Aimee, a Korean-Canadian teen that who discovers she has a condition that throws her back into different times when she encounters different scents. An emotional story that explores family secrets and identity. Suggested by Sheena.
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