8 Books for Teens and Tweens

It may be August, but there's still plenty of summer left for youngsters to sleep late and read away their afternoons. The books recommended today range from fantasy to contemporary stories, and though they are geared to a school-age audience, all have great crossover appeal for adults.

Speculative Fiction

• Venturess by Betsy Cornwell (Clarion, young adult, Aug. 1) A fresh take on fairy tales: After a young woman escapes the clutches of her evil stepmother, she makes her own way rather than marrying the prince. Plot points: adventure, magic, war, and friendship.
• Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller (Sourcebooks Fire, young adult, Aug. 29) First of a two-book dark fantasy series: A street urchin has personal reasons for entering the bloody and dangerous competition to become the next queen's assassin. Plot points: gender (LGBTQ), revenge, and politics.
• All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis (Harlequin Teen, young adult, Aug. 29) The first in a new science fiction series: A teen living in a land in which citizens must pay for every word they utter chooses total silence, inadvertently sparking a grass-roots rebellion. Plot points: individuality, family, and the effects of (over)branding.
• The List by Patricia Forde (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, middle grade, Aug. 1) A dystopian story of the power of words: In a world in which vocabulary is under strict government control, Letta, the newly appointed keeper of all words, discovers a plot to deprive her people of the ability to talk. Plot points: censorship, authoritarian government, and the importance of creativity.

General Fiction

• Sunshine Is Forever by Kyle T. Cowan (Inkshares, young adult, Aug. 29) A frank look at teen depression: When Hunter's personal coping mechanisms fail, he is sent to a rehab camp for treatment of his depression; there he faces the difficult choice of accepting help or running away. Plot points: mental health, teen suicide, recovery, and friendship; lightened with dark humor.
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez (Viking Books for Young Readers, middle grade, Aug. 22) A music-loving girl copes with a brand-new life: Adjusting to a new school is bad enough, but Malu is also in a new town for mom's new job, which temporarily divides the family. Plot points: ethnic diversity, friendship, and being oneself; illustrated with fun graphics.
• Confessions from the Principal's Kid by Robin Mellom (HMH Books for Young Readers, middle grade, Aug. 1) A story of finding the balance between being cool and being yourself: The truth is Allie doesn't mind that her mom's the principal, but she still wishes the popular girls would let her in. Plot points: friendship, social pressures, and standing up for others.
• Orphan, Agent, Prima, Pawn by Elizabeth Kiem (Soho Teen, young adult, Aug. 22) A cold-war thriller involving a ballerina and the KBG: A Russian teenage dancer is given the chance for a better life if she's willing to use her special talents to spy for the Soviet government. Plot points: communism, romance, and politics.