National Network for Equitable Library Service

Lucky loves her grandparents, and they are all the family she really has. True, her grandma forgets things... like turning off the stove, or Lucky's name. But her grandpa takes such good care of them that Lucky doesn't realize how bad things are. That is until he's gone. When her grandma accidentally sets the kitchen on fire, Lucky can't hide what's happening any longer, and she is sent into foster care. She quickly learns that some foster families are okay, some aren't, and some really, really aren't.

The New York Times Bestseller! "An absolute page turner, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight is a compelling and powerful novel that is sure to make an impact." — Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give. An NAACP Image Award Nominee, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight follows two teen girls—one Black, one White—who must confront their assumptions about racial inequality as they depend on each other to navigate the violent race riot that sets their city ablaze with civil unrest. Lena has killer style, an awesome boyfriend, and a plan to make it big.

Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis is used to being left out of conversations. Though she's been deaf since the age of six, Joey's mother has never allowed her to learn sign language. She strains to read the lips of those around her, but often fails. Everything changes when Joey meets Dr. Charles Mansell and his baby chimpanzee, Sukari. Her new friends use sign language to communicate, and Joey secretly begins to learn to sign. Spending time with Charlie and Sukari, Joey has never been happier. She even starts making friends at school for the first time.

From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.—Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbors. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.—There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy.

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature. In this New York Times bestselling novel, two teens—one black, one white—grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension. A bag of chips. That's all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega.

A powerful novel about friendship, basketball, and one teen's mission to create a better life for his family. Written in the tradition of Jason Reynolds, Matt de la Peña, and Walter Dean Myers, After the Shot Drops now has three starred reviews!

The unexpected responsibility of caring for her autistic brother during her summer in Paris turns out to be just the adventure that Clara needed. Growing up in the shadow of a famous mother, Clara has never felt good about her body. Now, at sixteen, she has an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. After a social media disaster, she decides to escape for the summer to Paris to stay with her estranged dad and her six-year-old brother, Alastair, who is on the autism spectrum. Charged with his care, Clara and Alastair set out to explore the city.

The Beauty of the Moment meets Exit, Pursued by a Bear. Award-winning thriller writer Sheena Kamal delivers a kick-ass debut YA novel that will have fans crying out for more. Love and violence. In some families they're bound up together, dysfunctional and poisonous, passed from generation to generation like eye color or a quirk of smile. Trisha's trying to break the chain, channeling her violent impulses into Muay Thai kickboxing, an unlikely sport for a slightly built girl of Trinidadian descent.

The number one New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don't miss this gut punch of a novel about mental health, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love. Scars exist to remind us of what we’ve survived. Detached: Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won’t be there very long, she hasn’t bothered making friends.

Family ties are tested and transformed in this novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. With her wise, wry, and poignant novels of families and friendships, Terry McMillan has touched millions of readers. Here, in her eighth novel, McMillan gives exuberant voice to characters who reveal how we live now-at least in a racially diverse Los Angeles neighborhood. Kaleidoscopic, fast-paced, and filled with McMillan's inimitable humor, Who Asked You?