Spring 2021 Young Adult Book Recommendations

Set in 1950s San Francisco, this is a beautiful coming-of-age story of a young Chinese lesbian girl. Lily enters her senior year with newfound curiosity about herself and why she was interested in a club that features Tommy Andrews: Male Impersonator. Upon befriending Kathleen, she has an in at the club and, in turn, discovers a place where she belongs. This book was nothing like I’d read before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it to the very end. —Andrea

Eighteen-year-old Daunis was meant for great things; unfortunately, an injury and a family tragedy have required her to stay in her small hometown. With a white mother and an Ojibwe father, she feels a constant sense of both belonging and distance in her community. Integrating Ojibwemowin with English, this crime thriller is lyrical and suspenseful. It’s one of the most important books I’ve read this year. —MJ

Wendy and her brothers went missing when she was thirteen. She returned home after six months, without her brothers or any memories of her time away. Five years later, kids begin to go missing again and Wendy must face her own trauma if she’s to help the mysterious Peter save them. A very loving retelling of a classic fairy tale, but full of unexpected turns that keep you on your toes. I couldn’t put it down until the mystery was solved. —Ivy