Teenreads Monthly Update
Early August 2017
 August 16, 2017 Quick Links to Features on Teenreads.com Buying a book online? Use these links and support Teenreads.com!
Teenreads Gets UltimateUltimate nachos, ultimate pizza, ultimate sticker books, ultimate Frisbee...things are just better when they’re ultimate. For years, our Ultimate Reading List has been one of our most popular features on our site. Teens tell us they love it because it differs from the regular reading lists they receive from school; teachers and librarians tell us they love it because it helps them stay in the loop about new books that teens love, and many of them have been telling us they are looking at it for Summer Reading ideas. Now we’re making our list even more accessible because…drumroll, please…we will now be updating our Ultimate Reading List every month, instead of annually each spring. Here are five of the titles we’re adding this month; we'll talk about three additional titles in our next update.
Last week, John Green --- the "ultimate" young adult author --- revealed the cover of his highly anticipated next book, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. You can see the cover above. Fun fact: it was created by my favorite book cover designer, Rodrigo Corral, who also created the cover for THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. I don't know about you, but I'm still seeing that uber-popular conversation bubble design everywhere. ICYMI, TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN will release on October 10th. Speaking of YA celebs, congratulations to Nicola Yoon, whose book, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, won a Teen Choice Award for its movie adaptation, which is now on DVD. Before I wrap up this newsletter, I want to get one more book on your radar. Tomorrow night, I'll be heading to a dinner in honor of debut young adult author Jared Reck, whose book, A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, will be releasing on September 26th. This book introduces readers to Matt Wainwright, a regular teenager who is good at basketball and writing, but cannot seem to get the girl of his dreams, Tabby --- who also happens to be his best friend. Matt's laugh-out-loud commentary on the woes of teenagerdom and his hilarious male take on things like Instagram had me giggling throughout the whole book. But when tragedy strikes, Matt teeters on the edge of losing everything and he is forced to really examine himself and decide what it means to forgive, accept and move on. I think that when adults recommend books to teens, one of the most common phrases you hear is "this is the book I wish I had when I was a teenager." As cliché as it may sound, this is seriously the book I wish I had when I was a teenager. Jared Reck is an eighth grade teacher IRL, and it's obvious that he took great care to make this book as realistic as possible. You can almost hear the voices of his students shining through the supporting cast. And, oh yeah, this one made me ugly cry...on the subway, on the bus and just about everywhere in between. Click here to find out more about the book. Last, but certainly not least, be sure to vote in our poll, where we're asking what you do when you are reading a book, but find that you are not enjoying it. I'm curious to see your answers! Happy reading, --- Rebecca Munro (rebecca@bookreporter.com) 
Ultimate Reading List: Our MUST-Reads for August:
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August's Books On Screen
August's Books on Screen roundup includes the feature films The Glass Castle and The Dark Tower; and the DVD releases of The Circle, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul and Everything, Everything.
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August's Books to Add to Your Guy-Brary Bookshelf
Our August Guy-Brary selection includes MILES MORALES: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds, which follows Miles, who is pretty much a regular teenager dealing with school and family --- except for the fact that he is Spider-Man; BACKFIELD BOYS: A Football Mystery in Black and White by John Feinstein, a story of friendship, football and the fight for racial equality; and MR. 60% by Clete Barrett Smith, which introduces readers to Matt, a drug-dealing kid who is very close to flunking out of high school, but what no one knows is that he is taking care of his dying uncle at the same time.
August's Teen Board Update
Monthly Question: The September 2016 - August 2017 cycle of the Teen Board is officially wrapping up, and we thought we'd take a moment to look back on all of the good times with this month's questions. Click here to find out what our Teen Board members enjoyed most about their time on the board, their favorite book of the year and what advice they have for members of the next group.
Blog: A Night with YA Authors Becky Albertalli and Mackenzi Lee --- Guest Post by Teen Board Member Grace P.
Attending the Book Launch for ROSIE GIRL by Julie Shepard --- Guest Post by Teen Board Member Rachel D.
Litjoy Magical Edition Crate Year 2 Unboxing --- Guest Post by Teen Board Member Shannon C.
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More New Reviews
THE AUTHENTICS by Abdi Nazemian (Fiction)
Daria Esfandyar is Iranian-American and proud of her heritage, unlike some of the “Nose Jobs” in the clique led by her former best friend, Heidi Javadi. Daria and her friends call themselves the Authentics, because they pride themselves on always keeping it real. But in the course of researching a school project, Daria learns something shocking about her past, which launches her on a journey of self-discovery. It seems everyone is keeping secrets. And it’s getting harder to know who she even is any longer. Reviewed by Rachel D., Teen Board Member.
KISSING MAX HOLDEN by Katy Upperman (Romance/Friendship)
After his father’s stroke, Max Holden isn't himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows she shouldn't let him kiss her. But she can’t resist, but Jill swears it'll never happen again. The two starts spending more and more time together. And even though her father disapproves and Max has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all? Reviewed by Grace P., Teen Board Member.
SPARKS OF LIGHT by Janet B. Taylor (Historical Fantasy)
For the first time in her life, Hope Walton has friends...and a (maybe) boyfriend. She’s a Viator, a member of a long line of time-traveling ancestors. When the Viators learn of a plan to steal a dangerous device from the inventor Nikola Tesla, only a race into the past can save the natural timeline from utter destruction. Navigating the glitterati of The Gilded Age in 1895 New York City, Hope and her crew will discover that high society can be as deadly as it is beautiful. Reviewed by Jeanna Michel.
WE NOW RETURN TO REGULAR LIFE by Martin Wilson (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Will Ropp and Whitney Dykhouse.
Sam Walsh had been missing for three years. His older sister, Beth, thought he was dead. His childhood friend, Josh, thought it was all his fault. They were the last two people to see him alive. Until now. Because Sam has been found, and he’s coming home. Beth desperately wants to understand what happened to her brother, but her family refuses to talk about it --- even though Sam is clearly still affected by the abuse he faced at the hands of his captor. And as Sam starts to confide in Josh about his past, Josh can’t admit the truths he’s hidden deep within himself. Reviewed by Reanna H., Teen Board Member.
LITTLE & LION by Brandy Colbert (Contemporary Romance)
Audiobook available, narrated by Alisa Wainwright.
When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her bipolar step-brother Lionel before he hurts himself or worse. Reviewed by Bryn D., Teen Board Member.
PROJECT PANDORA by Aden Polydoros (Romantic Suspense/Thriller)
Tyler Bennett trusts no one, but when strange things start happening, he starts to wonder if he can even trust himself. Even the girl he’s falling for has a burner phone just like his. Finding out what’s really happening only leads to more questions that could get them both killed. It’s not like someone’s kidnapping teens lost in the system and brainwashing them to be assassins or anything, right? In a race against the clock, they’ll have to uncover the truth behind Project Pandora and take it down. Reviewed by Jeremy H., Teen Board Member.
THE WOOD by Chelsea Bobulski (Fantasy/Horror)
Winter didn't ask to be the guardian of the wood, but when her dad inexplicably vanishes, she's the one who must protect travelers who accidentally slip through the wood's portals. The wood is poisoned, changing into something more sinister. Once brightly colored leaves are now bubbling inky black. Vicious creatures that live in the shadows are becoming bolder, torturing lost travelers. Winter must now put her trust in Henry --- a young man from eighteenth century England who knows more than he should about the wood --- in order to find the truth and those they've lost. Reviewed by Rachel R., Teen Board Member.
OUR BROKEN PIECES by Sarah White (Romance)
The only thing worse than having your boyfriend dump you is having him dump you for your best friend. For Everly Morgan the betrayal came out of nowhere. One moment she had what seemed like the perfect high school relationship, and the next, she wanted to avoid the two most important people in her life. Every time she sees them kiss in the hallways her heart breaks a little more. The last thing on Everly’s mind is getting into another relationship, but when she meets Gabe in her therapist’s waiting room she can’t deny their immediate connection. Reviewed by Juliette G., Teen Board Member.
WHENEVER I'M WITH YOU by Lydia Sharp (Fiction)
After Gabi's parents' divorce, she moves from California to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment --- until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. But as winter approaches, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He's quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears. Reviewed by Rachel A., Teen Board Member.
SOLDIER BOY by Keely Hutton (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Kevin R. Free with an afterword by Ricky Anywar.
SOLDIER BOY begins with the story of Ricky Richard Anywar, abducted at age 14 in 1989 to fight with Joseph Kony's rebel army in Uganda’s decades-long civil war. Ricky is trained, armed, and forced to fight government soldiers alongside his brutal kidnappers, but never stops dreaming of escape. The story continues 20 years later, with a fictionalized character named Samuel, representative of the thousands of child soldiers Ricky eventually helped rehabilitate as founder of the internationally acclaimed charity Friends of Orphans. Reviewed by Zoe I., Teen Board Member.
WHAT GOES UP by Katie Kennedy (Science Fiction/Adventure)
Audiobook available, narrated by Gary Furlong.
Rosa and Eddie are among hundreds of teens applying to NASA's mysterious Interworlds Agency. They're not exactly sure what the top-secret program entails, but they know they want in. Rosa has her brilliant parents' legacies to live up to, and Eddie has nowhere else to go--he's certainly not going to stick around and wait for his violent father to get out of jail. Even if they are selected, they have no idea what lies in store. But first they have to make it through round after round of crazy-competitive testing. And then something happens that even NASA's scientists couldn't predict… Reviewed by Zoe I., Teen Board Member.
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK by Tonya Bolden (Historical Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Robin Eller.
When Mariah and her young brother Zeke are suddenly freed from slavery, they join Sherman's march through Georgia. Mariah wants to believe that the brutalities of slavery are behind them, but even as hope glimmers, there are many hardships yet to come. When she meets a free black named Caleb, Mariah dreams in a way she never dared...of a future worth living and the possibility of true love. Reviewed by Zoe I., Teen Board Member.
MORE OF ME by Kathryn Evans (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Bailey Carr.
Teva goes to school, studies for her exams and spends time with her friends. To the rest of the world, she’s a normal teenager. But when she goes home, she’s anything but normal. Due to a genetic abnormality, Teva unwillingly clones herself every year. As her birthday rolls around, Teva is all too aware that time is running out. She knows that the next clone will soon seize everything she holds dear. Reviewed by Isabel C., Teen Board Member.
IN SOME OTHER LIFE by Jessica Brody (Fiction/Fantasy)
Three years ago, Kennedy Rhodes secretly made the most important decision of her life. She declined her acceptance to the prestigious Windsor Academy to attend the local public school with her longtime crush, who had finally asked her out. It seems it was the right choice... until she walks in on Austin kissing her best friend, and she wonders if maybe her life would have been better if she'd made the other choice. As fate would have it, she's about to find out… Reviewed Ryan H., Teen Board Member.
BAD GIRL GONE by Temple Mathews (Paranormal Mystery)
Audiobook available, narrated by Katie Schorr.
Sixteen year-old Echo Stone finds out she’s in Middle House, an orphanage filled with mysteriously troubled kids. There’s just one problem: she’s not an orphan. Soon, she escapes...only to find out that her home is sealed off by crime scene tape and that her parents' car drives away...right through her. Her parents are alive, but she is not. A ghost desperate to get her life back and reconnect with the living, Echo embarks on a quest to solve her own murder. As the list of suspects grows, the quest evolves into a journey of self-discovery in which she learns she wasn’t quite the girl she thought she was. Reviewed by Sabina Z., Teen Board Member.
HOW TO MAKE A WISH by Ashley Herring Blake (Fiction)
Grace, tough and wise, has nearly given up on wishes, thanks to a childhood spent with her unpredictable, larger-than-life mother. But this summer, Grace meets Eva, a girl who believes in dreams, despite her own difficult circumstances. One fateful evening, Eva climbs through a window in Grace’s room, setting off a chain of stolen nights on the beach. When Eva tells Grace that she likes girls, Grace’s world opens up and she begins to believe in happiness again. Reviewed by Taylor F., Teen Board Member.
ALL THE WAYS THE WORLD CAN END by Abby Sher (Fiction/Romance)
Lenny (short for Eleanor) feels like the world is about to end. Her best friend is moving to San Francisco and her dad is dying. To cope with her stress Lenny is making a list of all the ways the world can end --- designer pathogens, blood moon prophecies, alien invasion --- and stockpiling supplies in a bunker in the backyard. In a time of complete uncertainty, one thing's for sure: Lenny's about to see how everything is ending and beginning. All at the same time. Reviewed by McKenzie S., Teen Board Member.
GIFTED by H.A. Swain (Science Fiction/Dystopian)
Zimri Robinson, a natural musical prodigy, is a "plebe" --- a worker at the enormous warehouse that supplies an online marketplace that has supplanted all commerce. Her grueling schedule and her grandmother's illness can't keep her from making music --- even if it is illegal. Orpheus and Zimri are not supposed to meet. He is meant for greatness; she is not. But sometimes, rules are meant to be broken. Reviewed by Alison Stewart.
LITTLE WRECKS by Meredith Miller (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Khristine Hvam.
Ruth, Magda and Isabel are different from everyone else. They can see beneath the seemingly perfect, cookie-cutter exterior of their small town of Highbone, Long Island. They know that below the surface, each house is filled with secrets, indifference and violence. When the opportunity to commit the perfect crime appears, the girls finally start to see their way out of Highbone. But for the first time, Ruth, Magda and Isabel are keeping secrets from each other. Reviewed by Emily G., Teen Board Member.
COUNT ALL HER BONES by April Henry (Mystery/Thriller)
Six months ago, Griffin Sawyer meant to steal a car but he never meant to steal the girl asleep in the backseat. Panicked, he took her home. His father, Roy, decided to hold Cheyenne --- who is blind --- for ransom. Griffin helped her escape and now Roy is awaiting trial. As they prepare to testify, Griffin and Cheyenne reconnect and make plans to meet. But the plan goes wrong and Cheyenne gets captured by Roy’s henchmen --- this time for the kill. Can Cheyenne free herself? And is Griffin a pawn or a player in this deadly chase? Reviewed by Isabel C., Teen Board Member.
VANGUARD by Ann Aguirre (Dystopian/Adventure)
Since the war ended, Tegan has dreamed of an epic journey, so when she has the opportunity to sign on as ship’s doctor, she can’t wait. Millie Faraday, the kindest girl in the free territories, also yearns to outrun her reputation, and warrior-poet James Morrow would follow Tegan of the staff to the ends of the earth. So their company seems set but fate brings one more to their number. Tegan will battle incredible odds while aiding the Uroch vanguard, but through stormy seas and strange lands, she will become stronger than she ever knew. Reviewed by Caitlyn K., Teen Board Member.
BLIGHT by Alexandra Duncan (Mystery/Thriller)
Seventeen-year-old Tempest Torres has lived on the AgraStar farm north of Atlanta, Georgia, since she was found outside its gates at the age of five. Now she’s part of the security force guarding the fence and watching for scavengers --- people who would rather steal genetically engineered food from the Company than work for it. When a group of such rebels accidentally sets off an explosion in the research compound, it releases into the air a blight that kills every living thing in its path --- including humans. Reviewed by Grace P., Teen Board Member.
FAIREST OF ALL by Serena Valentino (Fairy Tale/Retelling)
For anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Snow White, you’ll know that the Wicked Queen is one evil woman! After all, it’s not everyone who wants to cut out their teenage step-daughter’s heart and have it delivered back in a locked keepsake box. Now, for the first time, we’ll examine the life of the Wicked Queen and find out just what it is that makes her so nasty. Here’s a hint: the creepy-looking man in the magic mirror is not just some random spooky visage --- and he just might have something to do with the Queen’s wicked ways! Reviewed by Flor H., Teen Board Member.
THE HUSH by Skye Melki-Wegner (Fantasy)
Chester has taken to the road, desperately searching for his father, who has disappeared. One night he accidentally connects to the Song --- the music that fuels every aspect of the world, and that it’s illegal for him to interact with. He’s caught and sentenced to death for his crime. But someone in the crowd stages a daring rescue and whisks Chester into the Hush. Susanna, the Captain of the Nightfall Gang, needs him to pull off an elaborate plan that will take down the governing body that keeps her an outlaw and made her the fragment she is. Susanna needs him to exact her revenge, even if he dies doing it. Reviewed by Jessica K., Teen Board Member.
THE SECRET HISTORY OF US by Jessi Kirby (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Erin Spencer.
When Olivia awakes in a hospital bed following a near-fatal car accident, she can’t remember how she got there. She figures it’s because she was in a coma for a week, but as time goes on, she realizes she’s lost more than just the last week of her life --- she’s lost all memory of events that happened years ago. Gone is any recollection of starting or graduating high school; the prom; or her steady boyfriend Matt. Trying to figure out who she is feels impossible when everyone keeps telling her who she was. Reviewed by Breck G., Teen Board Member.
BE TRUE TO ME by Adele Griffin (Historical Romance)
Audiobook available, narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Laura Knight Keating.
Jean is accustomed to living in her glamorous older sister’s shadow. So when Gil Burke, a handsome newcomer with uncertain ties to one of the most powerful families in the exclusive enclave of Sunken Haven, notices Jean --- not her sister --- Jean is smitten. Then Fritz, a girl from outside the gilded gates who humiliated Jean in the Island’s tennis championship last year, meets Gil. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and she quickly falls for Gil herself. Soon the girls are competing for much more than a tennis trophy, with higher stakes than either of them can imagine. Reviewed by Taylor F., Teen Board Member.
THESE THINGS I'VE DONE by Rebecca Phillips (Fiction)
BEFORE: Dara and Aubrey have been inseparable since they became best friends in sixth grade. Dara is the fearless one, Aubrey the prodigy, yet despite their differences, they support each other unconditionally. However, as they begin their sophomore year of high school, cracks in their friendship begin to form, testing the bond they always thought was unbreakable. AFTER: It's been fifteen months since the accident that killed Aubrey, and not a day goes by that Dara isn't racked with guilt over her role in her best friend's death. Reviewed by Alyssa L., Teen Board Member.
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August Poll
If you are reading a book and find that you are not enjoying it, what do you do?
- I finish the book anyway in hopes that it will surprise me.
- I ask for friends' opinions or read reviews to see if it gets better.
- I skip ahead a few pages or chapters to see if it gets better.
- I do not finish the book, but save it for another time when it might interest me more.
- I do not finish the book or save it for another time.
