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(All book descriptions from Goodreads, except where noted!)<\/p>\n
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo(#1)<\/strong><\/span> \u201cThat book. It was about two women, and they fell in love with each other.\u201d And then Lily asked the question that had taken root in her, that was even now unfurling its leaves and demanding to be shown the sun: \u201cHave you ever heard of such a thing?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can\u2019t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.<\/p>\n America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father\u2014despite his hard-won citizenship\u2014Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden (#2)<\/strong><\/span> Throughout the deepest reaches of space, a crew rebuilds beautiful and broken-down structures, painstakingly putting the past together. As new member Mia gets to know her team, the story flashes back to her pivotal year in boarding school, where she fell in love with a mysterious new student. Soon, though, Mia reveals her true purpose for joining their ship\u2014to track down her long-lost love.<\/p>\n An inventive world, a breathtaking love story, and stunning art come together in this new work by award-winning artist Tillie Walden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson<\/strong><\/span>(#3)<\/strong><\/span> Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.<\/span><\/p>\n But she can’t shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?<\/p>\n Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn’t want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.<\/p>\n This is the story of an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you’ll never expect.<\/p>\n One of Us is Lying by Karen M McManus <\/strong><\/span>(#4)<\/strong><\/span> One of Us Is Lying<\/i>\u00a0is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.<\/span><\/p>\n On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose? The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (#5)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.<\/p>\n The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.<\/p>\n A high-action story written with a poet’s hand,\u00a0The Name of the Wind<\/i>\u00a0is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.<\/p>\n Student review by William King (November newsletter):<\/strong><\/p>\n The Name of the Wind was described to me by a friend as \u201cthe best book to ever exist.\u201d Just a few pages in, I was convinced. A story told in the hero\u2019s own voice, this fantasy adventure shows the growth of one of Temerant\u2019s finest wizards and most notorious adventurers, Kvothe. Rothfuss\u2019s captivating storytelling makes even the dullest chapters hard to look away from, and his detailed and layered\u00a0 writing lets you find something new every reread.<\/p>\n Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (#6)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price\u2014and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can\u2019t pull it off alone. . . .<\/p>\n A convict with a thirst for revenge Kaz\u2019s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction\u2014if they don\u2019t kill each other first.<\/p>\n Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (#7) Dante can swim. Ari can’t. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art. Ari gets lost in thoughts of his older brother who is in prison. Dante is fair skinned. Ari’s features are much darker. It seems that a boy like Dante, with his open and unique perspective on life, would be the last person to break down the walls that Ari has built around himself.<\/p>\n But against all odds, when Ari and Dante meet, they develop a special bond that will teach them the most important truths of their lives, and help define the people they want to be. But there are big hurdles in their way, and only by believing in each other\u2015and the power of their friendship\u2015can Ari and Dante emerge stronger on the other side.<\/p>\n The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (#8) Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.<\/p>\n Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil\u2019s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.<\/p>\n But what Starr does\u2014or does not\u2014say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.<\/p>\n Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.<\/p>\n Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen (#9) Seventeen is nothing like Codi Teller imagined.<\/p>\n She\u2019s never crashed a party, never stayed out too late. She\u2019s never even been kissed. And it\u2019s not just because she\u2019s gay. It\u2019s because she and her two best friends, Maritza and JaKory, spend more time in her basement watching Netflix than engaging with the outside world.<\/p>\n So when Maritza and JaKory suggest crashing a party, Codi is highly skeptical. Those parties aren\u2019t for kids like them. They\u2019re for cool kids. Straight kids.<\/p>\n But then Codi stumbles upon one of those cool kids, Ricky, kissing another boy in the dark, and an unexpected friendship is formed. In return for never talking about that kiss, Ricky takes Codi under his wing and draws her into a wild summer filled with late nights, new experiences, and one really cute girl named Lydia.<\/p>\n The only problem? Codi never tells Maritza or JaKory about any of it.<\/p>\n The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic (#10) Neil Josten is the newest addition to the Palmetto State University Exy team. He’s short, he’s fast, he’s got a ton of potential\u2014and he’s the runaway son of the murderous crime lord known as The Butcher.<\/p>\n Signing a contract with the PSU Foxes is the last thing a guy like Neil should do. The team is high profile and he doesn’t need sports crews broadcasting pictures of his face around the nation. His lies will hold up only so long under this kind of scrutiny and the truth will get him killed.<\/p>\n But Neil’s not the only one with secrets on the team. One of Neil’s new teammates is a friend from his old life, and Neil can’t walk away from him a second time. Neil has survived the last eight years by running. Maybe he’s finally found someone and something worth fighting for.<\/p>\n Student review by Jacque Butts (March Newsletter)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Foxhole Court is the first book in the All for the Game Trilogy. It follows Neil, an 18 year old about to graduate high school when he gets scouted by the Palmetto State Foxes to play exy\u00a0 (a fictional twist on lacrosse). The thing is, Neil isn\u2019t his actual name: he\u2019s been through several identities while on the run from his mafia-involved father. He joins the Foxes, while still trying to stay out of the public eye. This is a really good series and it\u2019s currently my top favorite. I recommend it to all of my friends, especially if they love books with\u00a0 plot twists and secret identity. It does get pretty graphic at some parts, but is well worth your time!<\/p>\n Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (#11) When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.<\/p>\n Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop’s owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.<\/p>\n But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo’s help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.<\/p>\n When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.<\/p>\n They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (#12) On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They\u2019re going to die today.<\/p>\n Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they\u2019re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There\u2019s an app for that. It\u2019s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure\u2014to live a lifetime in a single day.<\/p>\n Bleach<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0by Tite Kubo (#13) Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts\u2014he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow\u2014a malevolent lost soul\u2014Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo\u2019s\u00a0Bleach<\/i>\u00a0has become an international manga smash-hit!<\/p>\n Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn’t change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukia–who is slowly regaining her powers–it’s Ichigo’s job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace.<\/p>\n Orange by Ichigo Takano(#14) On the day that Naho begins 11th grade, she receives a letter from herself ten years in the future. At first, she writes it off as a prank, but as the letter\u2019s predictions come true one by one, Naho realizes that the letter might be the real deal. Her future self tells Naho that a new transfer student, a boy named Kakeru, will soon join her class. The letter begs Naho to watch over him, saying that only Naho can save Kakeru from a terrible future. Who is this mystery boy, and can Naho save him from his destiny? This is the heart-wrenching sci-fi romance that has over million copies in print in Japan!<\/p>\n Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (#15) Aideen has plenty of problems she can\u2019t fix. Her best (and only) friend is pulling away. Her mother\u2019s drinking problem is a constant concern. She\u2019s even running out of outlandish diseases to fake so she can skip PE.<\/p>\n But when Aideen stumbles on her nemesis, overachiever Meabh Kowalski, in the midst of a full-blown meltdown, she sees a problem that\u2014unlike her own disaster of a life\u2014seems refreshingly easy to solve. Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars. Aideen volunteers to help. By pushing Meabh down the stairs.<\/p>\n Problem? Solved. Meabh\u2019s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming schedule. But when another student learns about their little scheme and brings Aideen another \u201cclient\u201d who needs her \u201chelp,\u201d it kicks off a semester of traded favors, ill-advised hijinks, and an unexpected chance at love. Fixing other people\u2019s problems won\u2019t fix her own, but it might be the push she needs to start.<\/p>\n Student review by Callie Standerfer (September Newsletter)<\/strong><\/p>\n Not My Problem By Ciara Smyth is a hilarious queer YA book following main character Aideen who, as a distraction from her own problems, starts a business of helping fix people’s problems. There is never a dull plot moment since the main character always has an issue to solve. One aspect of the book I really liked was the main character’s dynamics. Very chaotic -good friend group energy! Be warned, this book does not stray away from hitting heavy topics like addictions and mental health. I recommend this to anyone looking for an eventful coming of age story.<\/p>\n Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (#16) Frances has been a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret \u2013 not even the person she is on the inside. Then Frances meets Aled, and for the first time she’s unafraid to be herself.<\/p>\n So when the fragile trust between them is broken, Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be. Now Frances knows that she has to confront her past. To confess why Carys disappeared\u2026<\/p>\n Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.<\/p>\n Engaging with themes of identity, diversity and the freedom to choose,\u00a0Radio Silence<\/i>\u00a0is a tour de force by the most exciting writer of her generation.<\/p>\n Student Review by Savindi Devmal (October Newsletter)<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019ve encountered yet\u00a0another<\/i>\u00a0pointless romance between the lead female and male characters. Annoying, right? Then I recommend\u00a0Radio Silence<\/i>\u00a0by Alice Oseman! The novel follows Frances Janvier as she discovers that her past best friend\u2019s brother created her favorite podcast, starting an incredibly close friendship; its representation of close male-female friendships is commendable, and when there is romance, it includes gay and asexual representation. If you\u2019re bored with many YA novels\u2019 relationships, then\u00a0Radio Silence<\/i>\u00a0will be a breath of fresh air!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (All book descriptions from Goodreads, except where noted!) Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo(#1) A story of love and duty set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the Red Scare. \u201cThat book. It was about two women, and they fell in love with each other.\u201d And then Lily asked the question that had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":657,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=843"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/843\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":856,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/843\/revisions\/856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/uni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n![\"35224992\"](\"https:\/\/i.gr-assets.com\/images\/S\/compressed.photo.goodreads.com\/books\/1593457992l\/35224992.jpg\")
<\/b>A story of love and duty set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the Red Scare.<\/p>\n
\n![\"36952615\"](\"https:\/\/i.gr-assets.com\/images\/S\/compressed.photo.goodreads.com\/books\/1524076164l\/36952615.jpg\")
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\nBronwyn,\u00a0the brain,\u00a0<\/b>is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
\nAddy,\u00a0the beauty,\u00a0<\/b>is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
\nNate,\u00a0the criminal<\/b>, is already on probation for dealing.
\nCooper,\u00a0the athlete<\/b>, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
\nAnd\u00a0<\/b>Simon,\u00a0the outcast<\/b>, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.<\/p>\n
\nEveryone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.<\/p>\n![\"186074\"](\"https:\/\/i.gr-assets.com\/images\/S\/compressed.photo.goodreads.com\/books\/1270352123l\/186074.jpg\")
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\nA sharpshooter who can\u2019t walk away from a wager
\nA runaway with a privileged past
\nA spy known as the Wraith
\nA Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
\nA thief with a gift for unlikely escapes<\/i><\/p>\n![\"12000020\"](\"https:\/\/i.gr-assets.com\/images\/S\/compressed.photo.goodreads.com\/books\/1328320260l\/12000020.jpg\")
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