RELUCTANT READER A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah A former child soldier from Sierra Leone recalls how he was transformed from an innocent 12-year-old into a cold- blooded killer. A story of resilience and survival that will interest all teens. A Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans A large, wild black wolf initiates friendly relations with a number of Juneau residents and their dogs. The inevitable negative consequence for wildlife interacting with humans creates the tension for this book. A moving story filled with the history and biology of nature in the far north, this book will particularly appeal to teens who have a soft spot for dogs and/or wild animals. Before We Were Yours by 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. Beyond the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo Boo tells the true story of families living on the margins in a Mumbai slum as if she was telling a fictional story. Appropriate for teens of all ages--it is a complete immersion into a different culture, a different life. Bossy Pants by Tina Fey Saturday Night Live comedian Tina Fey recounts her life and her experiences being a comedian with great humor and verve. Excellent book, particularly for girls, for both avid readers and for less enthusiastic readers who might not yet know how much fun it is to read books Crazy Rich Asiansby Kevin Kwan A New York City girl accepts an invitation to visit her boyfriend's family in Singapore. She expects modest accomodations and is taken aback by the splendor. This is a humorous page-turner that will appeal to all teens, but especially girls. Everybody Rise by 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. 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. 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 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 Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls A classic memoir of a girl growing up in an unstable family across the American landscape, this book that has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over six years is very popular with younger teen girls 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 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 River by 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 House by 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 Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand An airman goes down with his plane in the Pacific during World War II. First he must survive the ocean, then a Japanese concentration camp. A first-person narrative that rivets even the youngest teens.