#NotYourPrincess edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale

Beautiful, angry and insistent, this collection of the voices of Native women belongs on the shelves of every library serving teens.

Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor

Start with the first in the series, because you don’t want to miss a moment of this intoxicating blend of fantasy, horror and Nigeria.

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Complex and riveting, this debut novel is one that is dazzling, deep and dark.

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Beautifully written with strong characters and danger, this book is exceptional.

At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson

I hope you find it just as compelling and wondrous as I did. Enjoy!

City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

A thriller of a teen novel, this book has a unique setting and one dynamic female protagonist bent on revenge.

Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden

An important book on a little-known episode during the Civil War, this book is intensely personal and a dangerous mix of romance and horror.

Dress Codes for Small Towns by Courtney Stevens

Complicated and incredibly poignant, this novel for teens rocks.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Perhaps one of the greatest things about this book, though there are many great elements is Zappia’s portrayal of introverts. There is a coziness here, a feeling of safety in the pages, as if they are forming a critical spot for introverts to bloom, just like an online community.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

This is an exceptional teen novel and definitely one of the best of the year.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This debut novel is breathtakingly honest, searingly angry and exactly what we need right now. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Honestly Ben by Bill Konigsberg

A powerful and wildly funny look at sexuality, this novel makes me hope that future books in the series will be told from the perspectives of the other friends in the group.

A List of Cages by Robin Roe

A stunning debut novel that is deeply moving and wondrously hopeful.

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

A very special book for teens, this book is diverse and filled with moments of triumph and pain.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Moving and deep, this verse novel is one of the best. Get this into the hands of teens, particularly reluctant readers who will discover they love poetry after all.

Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Engrossing, intelligent and incredibly rich, this novel for teens is truly exceptional.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

This book raises its voice for feminism and fighting back. It’s a book for all genders and all libraries.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Powerful, strong and filled with writing that calls for action, this book is simply stellar.

Release by Patrick Ness

A successful and sexy mix of LGBT realism and magic, this novel is a delight.

A Single Stone by Meg McKinlay

Strong writing and a delicious tension make this book a stand out teen fantasy.

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Throughout the book, there are questions asked that are deep, about wealth and poverty, about privilege and race, about addiction and recovery, about parenting and failure. This is a rich book filled with lots to discover and discuss.

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

A book that celebrates individuality, art and survival, this novel is fresh and deeply moving.

Stone Mirrors: The Sculpture and Silence of Edmonia Lewis by Jeannine Atkins

Timely and simply amazing, this verse novel is uplifting and deeply moving.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

One of the best young adult books on loss and grief that I have ever read, this one will find a place in your heart.

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

A triumph of a novel for teens that celebrates family, diversity and love.