FICTION A Different Sun: A Novel of Africa by Elaine Neil Orr In the early eighteen hundreds, a newlywed American couple signs up to become missionaries in Africa. She seeks redemption from her participation in the institution of slavery; he from a youth of violence and debauchery. Both the physical journey and their interior journeys make compelling reading for thoughtful, experienced teen readers. A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore The gate at the stairs is metaphor for college as an entryway for the climb through adult life, in this case for a daughter of an eccentric, but small-town farmer. However, the college part is the background for this lively book; in the foreground is the girl's struggle to accumulate real tools of value for the demanding journey ahead. Particularly, an older teen girl preparing to go to college or already in college would like this book. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr An orphaned German boy and a blind French girl are thrown into WWII as they enter their teens. Their separate and ultimately uniting stories, as well as flash-forwards, are expertly pieced together like an intricate puzzle. This novel will appeal to the avid teen reader who likes realism and a strong story. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky This translation of one of the greatest novels ever written will appeal to serious teen readers, especially girls. Tolstoy depicts with great poignancy the daily lives of individuals caught up in the mores and values of their times (19th century imperial Russia). In addition, it is truly the most gripping, taut, and tragic love story of all times. Atonementby Ian McEwan A thirteen-year-old girl in pre-War II England witnesses and misinterprets a flirtation between her sister and the son of a servant. A series of events follows that tragically affects all their lives. For advanced teen readers, especially girls. Before We Were Yoursby Lisa Wingate Based in truth, this novel tells a story of survivors from Tennessee orphanage that abused children and parents in mid twentieth century. Many teens, especially girls, will enjoy this engrossing tale of children fighting cruel adults to save themselves. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks Set on the island Martha's Vineyard during the 17th century, this fictional account of a young girl's life unfolds upon that fleeting moment in history when it appeared as if a civilization materializing from across the sea could transplant itself on top of a native civilization and everything would work out fine. A great narrative and historically informative, it will appeal to all ages of teens. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan A New York City girl accepts an invitation to visit her boyfriend's family in Singapore. She expects modest accommodations and is taken aback by the splendor. This is a humorous page-turner that will appeal to all teens, but especially girls. Crooked Heartby Lissa Evans An orphan story, somewhat in the style of Charles Dickens, but set during WWII. This more modern version forays into moral ambiguity and flawed but likable characters. For mid-to-upper level teen readers who like a wry story, well-told. Everybody Riseby Stephanie Clifford A classic story about one young woman's drive to claw her way into the upper classes, this book is set in the New Millenium. Engaging, rewarding, and emotionally charged, it will appeal to mature teens who would have liked Jane Austen in an earlier era. Flowers for Algernonby Daniel Keyes Fifty years ago when this book was written, surgically improving IQ was pure fantasy. It is not anymore. This classic novel about a mentally disabled man who gains in an experiment more intelligence than his doctors is well appreciated by even the youngest teens. In the Midst of Winterby Isabel Allende A dense NYC snowstorm and a fender-bender brings the destiny of three individuals together in this tale that also details the perspective of the illegal South American immigrant in today's America. Teens of all ages with interest in wider world, probably more girls than boys, would enjoy this book. Girl at War by Sara Novic In 1991, a ten-year-old girl lives with her family in Zagreb, Croatia when the Yugoslavian Civil War erupts. She survives the very worst, yet this book, though deeply sad, does not resort to sensationalism. It is also timeless, in that children are caught up in similarly savage wars today. For teens interested in the wider world and for all but the youngest of teen readers. Jamrach's Menagerieby Carol Birch This story is a contemplation of humankind’s double-edged relationship to nature, set in nineteenth-century England and centered around a perilous sea voyage. Teen readers who appreciate an endearing central character in an adventure-laden period piece will like this book. Love and Treasure by Ayelet Waldman What is one necklace worth, found at the end of WWII on a train filled with possessions taken from Hungarian Jews before being sent to death camps? A gifted storyteller, Waldman follows this question through three separate time periods and sheds fresh light on history and humanity. Great for mature teen readers who like both story and intellectual stimulus. Neopolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante Three novels follow the lives of two girls born into poverty in mid-twentieth century Naples and on into their adult lives. Mature teen readers who enjoyed Little House on the Prairie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and/or Little Women as younger readers will enjoy these books. Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes Written over a period of thirty years by a decorated Vietnam War veteran, this novel is about a specific company in a specific part of one war but is essentially about the essence of war itself--its siren song as well as its brutal futility. Mature teen readers who want to gain an understanding of the nature of war will appreciate this book. Never Let Me Goby Kazuo Ishiguro The narrator, Kathy, looks back at her childhood in a "special" English boarding school. The reader and the narrator discover together what that "special" means: basically a farm for growing humans as organ donors. Teen girls with a taste for dystopia and fine literature will enjoy this book. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline Kline juxtaposes the life of an orphaned girl in the early twentieth century with a girl in our modern day foster care system in this work of historically-based fiction. For teen girls of all ages. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Set in a grim near-term future, characters in this story spend their time in a new form of the Internet that is a realistic virtual multi-verse called the OASIS. A sure thing for video game fans, full of clever puzzles and enemies to outwit. Experienced younger teen readers and older teens. Salvage the Bonesby Jesmyn Ward A Mississippi family awash with a myriad of personal hurricanes suddenly has to face the real thing: Hurricane Katrina. The central character is a teen girl and as such it will appeal mostly to teen girls. Winner of National Book Award and the Alex Award. Shantaramby Gregory David Roberts Set in the underworld of Bombay, India, this adventure-laden novel is narrated by an escaped convict from Australia. By scouring the darkest depths, it brings forth basic truths about the clearest of light. Roberts second book, The Mountain Shadow continues the journey. For more mature readers. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult Jodi Picoult has written many novels with subject matter of interest to mature teens and in a style accessible to the teen reader, particularly girls. This book addresses with great sensitivity and depth the subject of racial prejudice. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein A story of the love, hopes, and dreams of one family as told by their dog, this is an emotional and riveting story that teens of all ages will enjoy, whether they have a dog or not. The Bees: A Novel by Laline Paull Reads like a popular teen apocalypse novel yet provides the reader with insight into the world seen through the eyes of a bee. Lead character is a female bee, so this book will most appeal to teen girls of all ages The Blind Man's Gardenby Nadeem Aslam A tragic and bitingly beautiful book, this page-turner tells the story of an extended Pakistani family at the outset of America's War on Terror. At its core, it is a story about the un-extinguishable bright light of human decency flickering amidst a maelstrom of brutality, hate, deception, cruelty, corruption, and ignorance. For the sophisticated, older teen reader with a clear eye for truths of the wider world. The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant Told from the perspective of a young Jewish girl born to immigrant parents during the first years of the twentieth century, this is essentially the story of the birth of the modern woman. Since that process is still ongoing, teen girls of all reading levels will find this book interesting, particularly if they liked the ambiance of Little House on the Prairie books in their younger years. The Boy in the Striped Pajamasby John Boyne A Holocaust story told through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy whose father becomes Commandant of a Nazi prison camp, this novel avows the truth in the saying, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." For teens of all ages. The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett Covering world history from the World War I through the Cold War, this engrossing fictional account brings history to life and leaves a clear picture of all the forces involved. Great for mature teens who like big books and who like history, this series will give them more than several years of history classes. The Dive from Clausen's Pier, by Anne Packer A young woman decides it's time to leave her high school sweetheart and leave town. Later that day he dives from a pier into shallow water and breaks his neck, becoming paralyzed. Full of exact detail, emotional turmoil, and moral complexity. Great for teen girls. The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline England colonized Australia in the nineteenth century by marginalizing the natives and populating it with their own convicts. Kline tells this story through the lives of young native and convict women. Great story-telling for teen girls. The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam A story of violent religious intolerance set in modern-day Pakistan, this beautifully composed book illustrates the dark depths of corruption and hate possible in any culture. Sophisticate teen readers with an interest in the wider world as well as fine literature will enjoy this book. The Good Lord Bird by James McBride Winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction, this novel tells the story of John Brown, major contributor to the onset of the Civil War, from the perspective of a young slave who Brown "frees," mistakes for a girl, and takes along as a kind of "good omen" on his various raids. Great for all teens with an interest in American history and in a well-told story. The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent Based on the true story of one of the first women to be hanged as a witch during the Salem witch trials, the story is narrated from the perspective of the woman's daughter. A vivid portrait of early American history, this book will be appreciated by teens of all ages who are interested in early American history. The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh Consisting of three books--Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire---this trilogy tells the tale of Britain's forced opium trade with China in the mid-nineteenth century from the indigent farmers of India, forced to grow opium poppies and loose money doing so, to the numerous middlemen hoping to get rich, to the people of China, decimated by the drug and the military might behind it. It is a character-driven tale, rich in language, thought-provoking and immensely satisfying as a read. For all teens who love good historical fiction. The Invisible Bridgeby Julie Orringer A Hungarian-Jewish young man arrives in Paris to study architecture on a scholarship. Sounds good but the year is 1937. Advanced teen readers will gain insight into the experience of Hungarian Jews during WWII while enjoying an intricate story of intrigue, courage, resilience, and romance. The Jaguar's Children by John Vaillant All of John Vaillant's books are great choices for all teens. This is his first work of fiction. Sealed in a water tanker and abondoned somewhere on an illegal border crossing, the main protagonist records his and his native Mexico's history into his cell phone as he waits desperately for rescue. The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman Set in post-World War I Australia, a battle-weary soldier and his young bride set up housekeeping on a lonely island where the soldier will manage a lighthouse. Sounds quiet and peaceful, but this story is highly dramatic, heart-wrenching, suspenseful, and deeply satisfying. For mid to older teens The Martian by Andy Weir An astronaut abandoned after a dust storm must figure out how to survive alone on Mars. Nail-biting space fiction for all teen readers. The Metamorphosisby Franz Kafka First published in 1915, this short, clearly written novel has held its place on assigned reading lists for one hundred years. It is a fascinating, surreal, and metaphorical novel about a man who wakes up one day to find that he has turned into a bug, one that many avid teen readers will enjoy by choice, not assignment. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Inspired by the true story of a young French woman who led many downed Allied pilots to safety over the Pyrenees during the Nazi occupation of France, this page-turning, tear-jerking, thriller-romance delivers big time. Great for the reluctant younger teen all the way to older avid teen reader; with two female heroines, most likely appreciated by girls. If enjoyed, this writer has many more for a reader to enjoy. The Parade by Dave Eggers Two Western contractors are sent to pave a road on a time schedule through a foreign countryside at the end of a devastating civil war. Taut and dark, this beautifully written novel will appeal to mid and high-level teen readers. The Power of Oneby Bryce Courtenay A fatherless English boy grows up in South Africa around the time of the Second World War. He suffers severe bullying in his youngest years but lucks into a series of sterling mentors as he grows up into a strong young man who can more than stand on his own. Addresses the brutality of power and the commonality of humanity. For older or more experienced teen readers. The Riverby Peter Heller This nature thriller tells the story of two good friends who take an extended canoe trip in the far northern wilderness,exquisitely capturing both the beauty and terror of nature, human and otherwise. For all teens. The Round Houseby Louise Erdrich An attack on 13-year-old Joe's mother near their North Dakota Ojibwe reservation home leads him and his friends on a quest to solve the crime. This coming-of-age story addresses loyalty, courage, and moral ambiguity. All ages. The Secret Riverby Kate Grenville Nineteenth-century Britain colonized Australia by dropping off prisoners on Australia's shores. The thought was that if they put all their thieves on the other side of the earth, eventually they would breed out the local criminal element. This exquisite novel follows one lad from poverty on the streets of London, to being nabbed for stealing, and finally to figuring out how to survive in a land too foreign to even imagine. A great study on the nature of need and desire and how the pursuit of fulfillment bends character. For older teens. The Sport of Kings by C. E. Morgan A sweeping fictionalized history of Kentucky through the lens of one multi-generational family of the landed and powerful gentry. Ties human fascination with genetic superiority to the high stakes breeding of horses to race for status and fortune. For the well-read, sophisticated, older teen reader The Soloistby Mark Salzman An internationally acclaimed child prodigy cellist loses his touch as he grows into adulthood. Narrated in the first-person, this elegantly written page-turner delves into the heart of conscience and art. Great for all teens who love music and art. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris Recently freed slaves and war-shattered white southerners pick up the pieces at the conclusion of the Civil War. Slivers of the best of humanity waft up out of the overwhelming mire of the worst. This book is a masterwork. For all experienced teen readers who enjoy the finest literature. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselvesby Karen Joy Fowler The best way to read this novel is by knowing as little about it as possible before you read it. I will say that it reminded me of a more complex and nuanced version of Kenneth Oppel's YA novel Half Brother. Give it to older teens who feel a connection to animals and to those with an interest in understanding the complexity of parent/child relationships, but let the story unroll as they read it. Wolf Totemby Jiang Rong Translated from Chinese, this novel tells the parallel story of the dying Mongol Culture and the extinction of the Mongolian Wolf during a time in Chinese history when famine was singed into the collective memory. The in-depth portrayal of the nature of a wolf will be enjoyed by older teens with an interest in animals and nature.