Teen Readers Share the Last Books They Loved: Wicked Fey, Undercover Royalty, and Life at the Crossroads

Invictus, by Ryan Graudin
Fast-paced, exciting, and always on the edge, that’s what you’ll be getting when you read this beautifully crafted standalone time travel story. Ryan Graudin’s historical fiction expertise is in full force in Invictus, which follows a crew of rebel time travelers, reminiscent of the Six of Crows squad, through times as far away as Ancient Rome on the hunt for historical artifacts. Their leader, Farway (Far), is fearless and talented, but when a mission to the sinking Titanic goes awry thanks to the appearance of mystery girl Eliot, Far realizes history isn’t as stable as he thought. What started as a black-market scheme quickly evolves into a race against the clock as Far and his crew fight to save the world from a dark force that traces its origins back to Far’s birth and may end up requiring the ultimate sacrifice to defeat. This eclectic crew, with its quirky personalities and diverse skill set, is funny and badass and begs for your love as they struggle through their group dynamic and heart-pounding adventures. There are plot twists upon plot twists (perhaps most notably parallel universes) that create an addictive chaos, and with a nailbiter of an ending, Invictus will keep you hooked until the very last page.
–Kelvin L., 17, is a figure skater and audiobook lover and thinks teleportation is the most useful superpower. He is definitively a Ravenclaw, a water type Moroi (who secretly wants to be fire type), and an Erudite; he cannot see Hollowgasts and would 100% not survive the Hunger Games.

The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is fantastical novel that cements Holly Black as the true queen of Faerie, once and for all. It tells the story of a human girl named Jude who, at the age of seven, watched her parents get brutally murdered and along with her two other sisters are forced to live in the dangerous High Court of Faerie. Jude has a complicated relationship with Faerie: she wishes for nothing more than to be accepted by these people and is willing to do anything to secure her place in Court. But she faces opposition the entire way, especially from one in particular: Prince Cardan, who Jude hates with a passion given his ill attitude toward humans. I loved this book so much, it was a wild ride from start to finish. Holly Black created a mesmerizing world of faeries you could get lost in for days. If you’re looking for something dark and original, this is the novel for you!
–Tatiana J. is a teenaged reader who always carries a book around and constantly has her headphones in. She is also intersectional feminist who spends her time uplifting black and brown women. She also spends way too much time listening to KPop and playing video games.

I Am Princess X, by Cherie Priest
On a scale of red Chucks to katanas this badass book is a ninja princess.
The story’s plot line is just as jam packed and exciting as Seattle, the Starbucks-powered city in which the book is set. From reading comic books on the playground to scouring the city for clues in order to locate her dead best friend, Libby lives a life as action-filled as Princess X herself. I had so much fun reading this book. While it is geared toward younger teens, I immensely enjoyed the characters and the adventure within the story, not to mention the gorgeous illustrations that made me feel like a little kid again reading comics in a couch fort.
I would recommend this book to adventure-seeking princesses, ninja-obsessed coffee drinkers, and murder mystery lovers.
–Kaitlin D., 16, self-proclaimed bibliophile, hardcore selfie taker, and lover of the oxford comma. Secretly a superhero. May have taken a bite out of the moon. Current status: Trapped in a romance novel. 

Prince in Disguise, by Stephanie Kate Strohm
Dylan is used to being labeled “Dusty’s younger sister.” After all, Dusty is the beautiful Miss Mississippi and the most popular girl in town. But things change for Dylan when Dusty lands a Scottish royal as her fiancé on new reality TV show Prince in Disguise. With the wedding set to take place in Scotland on Christmas Eve, Dylan is sent to a castle in the middle of nowhere to be cold and bored in the weeks before the wedding—that is, until she meets Jamie. The handsome British gentleman who saves Dylan from frostbite is the only thing keeping her sane as the show’s production crew invades her privacy and throws unexpected surprises at her family, all to capture a little more drama to increase ratings on their reality show. But Dylan and Jamie’s romance quickly becomes another plot line for the show, and their secrets could be exposed for the whole world to see. File this story under “perfect holiday books to read by the fire while it snows outside,” and be ready for a swoonworthy Christmastime romance that will sweep you off your feet. Strohm managed to write an enchanting yet nerdy story that had me captivated and snuggling deeper into my blankets at every page, wishing for an English royal of my own and a Gothic castle to call home. Anyone wishing for the perfect holiday romance novel has come to the right place.
–Ellie T. is a Ravenclaw, an avid reader, and an excessive listener of Broadway musical soundtracks. When she is not reading or talking about books, you can find her binge-watching shows like Arrow, Gilmore Girls, or The Office.

Jane, Unlimited, by Kristin Cashore
With her aunt dead after a tragic accident, Jane is directionless and uncertain of her future. But a half-forgotten promise leads her to accept an invitation from an old friend to Tu Reviens, an extravagant mansion on a private island owned by her friends’ family. But what begins as an idyllic sabbatical becomes something greater, brighter, and more dangerous than Jane—or anyone else in Tu Reviens—could have possibly imagined. The mansion is full of secrets, and no one has all the answers. Do you?
Jane, Unlimited is perfect for any fan of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. In a dizzying blend of various genres, from mystery to piracy, we follow Jane’s journey(s) of self discovery. As five stories unfold simultaneously, readers will be left wondering what to make of seemingly incomprehensible clues they will later recognize with unabashed delight.
–Assaf T., 17, likes his books very interesting and very heavy, because exercise isn’t as fun but is still important.

A List of Cages, by Robin Roe
Two former foster brothers separated by the younger’s angry uncle are finally reunited because of their school counselor. Adam is the counselor’s aide, Julian the one in need of counseling. As they become closer, the tensions in Julian’s home life mount, threatening to ruin the newly recovered friendship.
This is an emotional book. I had an idea what would happen, and I still couldn’t prepare my heart for the pain. (I have to say there’s a trigger warning for physical abuse.) I felt for Julian and wanted to do anything to help him, and adored the relationship between the two brothers. They had a rocky relationship at first, but truly loved each other. This is a book that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you want to cry and scream at the same time.
–I’m Wren L., your friend who likes anime and books. I’m a word nerd, a language lover. I’m a huge fan of fantasy and science fiction. My favorite authors are V.E. Schwab, Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera, and Leigh Bardugo. I’m a graphic designer who is still learning about graphics. But my favorite color scheme consists of anything and everything pastel. It’s so soothing.

Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
This is a recently released YA novel told in verse from one of the kings of YA, Jason Reynolds. It tells the story of Will, a fifteen-year-old black teen seeking revenge because his brother has recently been killed. Will gets on an elevator with a gun tucked in his pants, heading down to the lobby of the building to kill someone, but on each floor, someone gets on the elevator and offers a piece of the story that Will doesn’t know. It’s perfect for both reluctant and interested readers because it shows that books in verse don’t have to be unapproachable and that books don’t have to be 500 pages long to tell a complete story and leave a lasting impact on the reader. This book needs to become a classic in YA, placed on shelves with the novels of John Green, Angie Thomas, and Rainbow Rowell, because Long Way Down is going to change the world.
–Ava M. is a teenage blogger, reader, and writer who drinks too much tea and eats too much chocolate.

Stalking Jack the Ripper, by Kerri Maniscalco
Audrey Rose Wadsworth is not your typical young woman presiding in Victorian-era England. She’s captivated by corpses, not the latest gossip, and would much rather be using her knife to slice into a cold, dead body than a piece of cold, expensive cheese. To foster her fascination with forensics, Audrey Rose begins an apprenticeship with her uncle and soon finds herself knee deep in the blood of the Ripper murders. Stalking Jack the Ripper is a delightfully scientific and smart take on the infamous unsolved serial killings, and Audrey Rose might be one of my new favorite Strong Female Heroines: her blatant determination to follow her dreams (despite society’s expectations) was inspiring, and this fierce spirit made her someone I would want to befriend. I also loved swooning over our other main character, Thomas Cresswell. A man made of snark, arrogance, and “mystical powers of deduction,” he was the perfect balance to Wadsworth, and their Holmes/Watson-like dynamic was to die for. Maniscalco also explored themes of feminism, grief, and the complexities of good vs. evil throughout her novel, all while maintaining a truly compelling plot. I suggest you make like Audrey Rose and slice open Stalking Jack the Ripper (or a cadaver, whichever is more your cup of tea), before it’s too late.
–Maddie M., 18, loves Michelle Obama, waffles, and corgi mixes—they’re like regular pups, but shorter!

They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera
Adam Silvera is absolutely one of my favorite authors, but it took me a few months before I was able to read his most recent book. The wait was well worth it, as it is with all of his books. They Both Die at the End takes place in a world where a company called Death-Cast calls people on the day they are going to die to warn them of their deaths. Two teenagers, Rufus and Mateo, get the phone call one night and meet each other through an app connecting people with a friend on their death day. Throughout the story, Rufus and Mateo go on a journey of self-discovery together, living as much as they can in one day and helping each other become the people they want to be along the way. As a whole, this book was very uplifting (despite its blunt title) and offered a very optimistic message about how we should be living every day of our lives to the fullest. Silvera has such a gift for developing characters and telling stories with incredible depth; it never ceases to amaze me how I can fall in love with his writing style with each read. I highly recommend everyone read this book, and of course his other two if you haven’t already!
–Eileen M., 18, is a lover of books, coffee, and Notre Dame football. In her spare time, she can be found playing clarinet or obsessing over her latest read.

One Of Us Is Lying, by Karen McManus
My friend recommended this book, and I can’t express how glad I am that she did. Full of twists and turns, One Of Us Is Lying is impossible to put down, and keeps you on the edge of your seat page after page. With four complicated heroes and one gruesome death, this book creates an incredibly tense atmosphere, and makes sure every character feels it. Fortunately for the protagonists, the author squeezes plenty of well-developed and passionate romance into the book. Complete with an astonishing final reveal and a heart-pounding finale, this book more than deserved a spot on my shelf.
–Katelyn L., 16, reads too much and sleeps too little.
 

Every Day, by David Levithan
Maybe there are some things you’d like to change about your life. Everyone has something they’d maybe like to switch up or tweak about their house, their family, their school, or themselves. Maybe their routine has just gotten too familiar, and they feel themselves falling into a rut. Maybe they’re just unsatisfied with their world. A has never had that problem. From the time they were born, every day, they wake up in a completely different body and life. Every day, a different name, a different appearance and family and house. Different memories every day. They’ve gotten used to the way life shifts, and have gotten pretty good at fixing other people’s small problems in twenty-four hours or less. They’ve resigned themselves to a life of living not-so-vicariously through other people—and then they meet Rhiannon. In the body of Justin, her boyfriend, A spends an intoxicating day with a girl named Rhiannon, and feels a connection they’ve never experienced before. Usually, they can forget the people they’ve been and the people they’ve met, but this time they can’t get Rhiannon out of their head. They try their hardest to encounter her again and get through to her, as well as coming to terms with their desire to finally experience life as their own person. David Levithan is an absolute genius. This concept is pretty wild and revolutionary—you’ve never read a body-swap story like this. The constant struggle for a concrete identity is something every teenager can identify with, even if it’s not quite to such an extreme. The diversity, intricate story, and amazing characters are ones not easily forgotten. Give this book a try—you’ll want to read it every day.
–Jamie R., 14, is an avid reader, writer, and Broadway fan. She can often be found reading, singing, or memorizing lines, though usually the first two are done when she should be doing the third.

American Street, by Ibi Zoboi
Fabiola’s new life begins on the corner of American Street and Joy Road. She spent her childhood in Haiti with her mother until her aunt could finance their journey to America. However, once Fabiola’s plane lands, her mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving her to navigate her new life alone. Though she lives with her American cousins, Fabiola feels isolated. Her accent is too strong, her clothes too Haitian, and her hair is too “natural.” She finds comfort in lwas (spirits), including Papa Legba, who, like Fabiola, stands at a crossroad. Meanwhile, the novel discusses immigration, poverty, and drugs with honesty and with heart. Knowing Fabiola was hardened by her experiences in Haiti, it broke my heart when she discovers America has its own set of inequalities. Still, she remains strong, resilient, and unapologetically true to herself. Though occasionally her thoughts become lost in the surrounding chaos, Fabiola’s voice is never lost in the narrative. As she adjusts to this new life, she also must decide how far she will go to help her mother. Like many courageous heroes, Fabiola must determine which battles are worth fighting or suffer the consequences of doing nothing at all.
–Nicole S., 16, a writer with a passion for biology. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading, and playing the ukulele. 

Jane, Unlimited, by Kristin Cashore
Months after the death of her beloved Aunt Magnolia, Jane has been struggling to adjust to life by herself. When a chance run-in with former tutor Kiran Thrash results in an invitation to Tu Reviens, the Thrash family’s mysterious island mansion, Jane accepts. Although Jane loves the old house and its extensive art collection, she still finds herself feeling somewhat out of place. Kiran is dealing with family drama, the servants are preoccupied with preparations for an upcoming gala, and though the other guests try to be friendly, Jane can’t help but feel they’re all a bit odd. Her only real friend seems to be the family’s rather eccentric dog. When a priceless piece of art is found missing, a curious Jane begins to uncover the secrets of Tu Reviens. The house seems to be tangled up in a web of mystery involving umbrellas, art theft, and alternate dimensions, and Jane is right in the middle of it all.
I’m not usually into the Clue-esque “lets stick a bunch of suspicious people in an old house” trope, but as soon as I picked up Jane, Unlimited I knew I wasn’t going to be able to put it back down. This compelling, beautifully written mystery is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Not only did it manage to satisfy my curious brain, but it also kept me on my toes until the very last page.
–Evalyn H., 16, loves scented candles, Broadway musicals, and strong female characters. She can usually be found hoarding books, struggling with character development, or daydreaming about having a pet dragon.

The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black
Faeries are my ultimate favourite fantasy creatures; even my Twitter and blog name are a tribute to them. I started The Cruel Prince with high expectations, and this engrossing tale satisfied them while offering some pleasant surprises. The world of faerie Holly Black has created is gorgeous in a twisted way, and the writing has an addicting flow that kept me hooked. I loved how all the characters were in their own realm of grey. Jude is an unapologetic, ambitious, and antiheroic MC I adored, who made me root for her even when her choices and deeds were not moral—that’s how invested in her and her story I was. And of course I loved the titular cruel prince, Cardan, to bits: he’s hands down my favourite character in the book. Cardan is complicated, he has so many layers and will keep surprising you every time he appears on page. He’s an unforgettable character who, along with Jude, makes the story memorable and great.
–Mishma N., die-hard fan of Victoria Schwab, lover of villains and antiheroes, old movies and a capella covers, dreams of working in publishing and opening a bookstore in the future.