100 Books for Teens and Tweens

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement… if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For””unknown to Arin””Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret. As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

When Courage Came to Call by L.M. Fuge

Everything changed when the first bomb fell. Now there is the Resistance. Now there are the rules. RULE ONE. We do our work under the cover of darkness. RULE TWO. If you trust me, I will trust you. RULE THREE. We work for the good and safety of Zamascus. This will include killing. Imm is about to find out if he has what it takes to survive – and what it will cost him.

Vulpi by Kate Gordon

Vulpi continues the story of Tasmania begun in Thyla. It is the story of how the shape-shifters were created, and a clue to what they might become. It is the story of what happened to Cat, and about the decisions we all must make as we learn how to be.

The Dead of Night by John Marsden

A few months after the first fighter jets landed in their own backyard, Ellie and her five terrified but defiant friends struggle to survive amid a baffling conflict. Their families are unreachable; the mountains are now their home. When two of them fall behind enemy lines, Ellie knows what must happen next: a rescue mission. Homer, the strongest and most unpredictable among them, is the one to take charge. While others have their doubts about his abilities, Homer has no choice but to prove them wrong – or risk losing everything to the enemy.

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humour and effortless precision–a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic.

Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock

Willa and Louie could not be more different. Louie wants to be a lawyer and is an outstanding student. Willa lives in a pub and just wants to get through the year so she can graduate and become a chef. But they are completely attracted to one another when they first meet at a fast-food restaurant. Soon they fall in love fast and furiously, and everything the girls are sure of – their plans, their faith, their families, their identities – is called into question.

Ebony Hill by Anna Mackenzie

Vidya- a city in ruins- and Ebony Hill: two halves of a community trying to find a way forward from the tragedy of the past. But theirs are not the only way. In a Battle for survival, is endurance enough? Is there more than one kind of courage? As conflict rages, Ness and her fellow islander Ronan must come to terms with themselves, with each other and with their attitudes towards violence and belonging. Will they be strong enough to survive the decisions they must make?

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys’ school that pretends it’s co-ed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumoured slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player. The boys are no better, from Thomas, who specializes in musical burping, to Will, the perpetually frowning, smug moron that Francesca can’t seem to stop thinking about. Then there’s Francesca’s mother, who always thinks she knows what’s best for Francesca””until she is suddenly stricken with acute depression, leaving Francesca lost, alone, and without an inkling of who she really is. Simultaneously humorous, poignant, and impossible to put down, this is the story of a girl who must summon the strength to save her family, her social life and””hardest of all””herself.

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

Told in alternating voices and filled with music, friendship, and romance, Charlie and Rose’s “little wanting song” is about the kind of longing that begins as a heavy ache but ultimately makes us feel hopeful and wonderfully alive.

Alex As Well by Alyssa Brugman

Alex As Well is a confronting and heartfelt story of adolescent experience””of questioning identity, discovering sexuality, navigating friendships and finding a place to belong. Alex is a strong, vulnerable, confident, shy and determined character, one you will never forget. With the same tenderness and insight as YA stars such as John Green and David Levithan, Alyssa Brugman has crafted a knock-out story about identity, sexuality and family that speaks effortlessly to a universal teen experience.