Aslan, Austin. The Islands at the End of the World
A powerful story enriched by fascinating elements of Hawaiian ecology, culture, and warfare, The author has a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The protagonist is mixed race and has epilepsy.
Bardugo, Leigh. Six of Crows
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and 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’t pull it off alone. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
Bauer, Joan. Backwater
While compiling a genealogy of her family of successful attorneys, sixteen-year-old history buff Ivy Breedlove treks into the mountain wilderness to interview a reclusive aunt with whom she identifies and who in turn helps her to truly know herself and her family.
Bowman, Erin. Vengeance Road
When her father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers–and justice.
Cashore, Kristin. Graceling
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.
Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones
Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.
Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl Series
Artemis combines James Bond with an IQ beyond Einstein’s, the astuteness of Sherlock Homes and the attitude of Attila the Hun. Toss in a world of technologically superior fairies, clever and lively plots laced with action and humor for a wild, riveting read. (Titles include: Artemis Fowl; The Arctic Incident; The Eternity Code; The Opal Deception; The Lost Colony; The Time Paradox)
Courage, Nick. Storm Blown
A little rain and wind don’t worry Alejo–they’re just part of life at the beach. As his padrino says, as long as there are birds in the waves, it’s safe. When people start evacuating, though, Alejo realizes things might be worse than he thought. And they are. A hurricane is headed straight for Puerto Rico.
Dashner, James. The Maze Runner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. Hes surrounded by strangersboys whose memories are also gone.
Davies, Stephen. Outlaw: A Novel
The children of Britain’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, fifteen-year-old Jake, who loves technology and adventure, and thirteen-year-old Kas, a budding social activist, are abducted and spend time in the Sahara desert with Yakuuba Sor, who some call a terrorist but others consider a modern-day Robin Hood.
Farmer, Nancy. A Girl Named Disaster
While journeying to Zimbabwe from Mozambique, eleven-year-old Nhamo struggles to escape drowning and starvation and in so doing comes close to the luminous world of the African spirits.
Greci, Paul. The Wild Lands
Natural disasters and a breakdown of civilization have cut off Alaska from the world and destroyed its landscape. Now, as food runs out and the few who remain turn on each other, Travis and his younger sister, Jess, must cross hundreds of miles in search of civilization.
Griffin, Paul. Skyjacked
Cassie, Tim, Emily, Brandon, and Jay are on their way back from a camping trip, flying from Idaho to New York City on Cassie’s family’s private plane. This might be a usual thing for the others, but for Jay, it’s only his second time ever on a plane. And what starts as a normal flight soon veers desperately out of control. One of the regular pilots is sick, so there’s a replacement. Cassie has suddenly fallen ill for no reason. And Jay notices the plane is flying west instead of east.
Grant, Michael. Gone
In a small town on the coast of California, everyone over the age of fourteen suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between the remaining town residents and the students from a local private school, as well as those who have “The Power” and are able to perform supernatural feats and those who do not.
Graudin, Ryan. Wolf by Wolf
In a world where the Axis powers won WWII, the Axis Tour, an annual motorcycle race across the continents, gives death camp survivor Yael the chance to win the race and assassinate Hitler in the process.
Higson, Charles. Silverfin: a James Bond Adventure
Fans have a chance to read about the teenage life of one of the most famous fictional characters of all time. From the opening scene where a boy disappears in a Scottish loch, to the thrilling conclusion, this exciting novel holds the reader’s attention.(Additional titles in series include: Blood Fever; Double or Die)
Hobbs, Will. Far North
After the destruction of their floatplane, sixteen-year-old Gabe and his Dene friend, Raymond, struggle to survive a winter in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories.
Hobbs, Will. Jason’s Gold
When news of the discovery of gold in Canada’s Yukon Territory in 1897 reaches fifteen-year-old Jason, he embarks on a 5,000-mile journey to strike it rich. (sequel is Down the Yukon)
Holmes, Kathryn. The distance between lost and found
Sophomore Hallie Calhoun, her former friend Jonah, and new friend Rachel leave a church youth group hike in the Great Smoky Mountains and become lost for five days, struggling to survive as Hallie finally speaks about the incident that made her a social pariah and Jonah admits why it hurt him so much.
Horowitz, Anthony. Alex Rider Series
Nonstop thrillers featuring Alex Rider, a 14-year old member of the British Secret Service. (Titles include: Stormbreaker; Point Blank; Skelton Key; Eagle Strike; Scorpia; Ark Angel; Snakehead)
Jinks, Catherine. Evil Genius
Child prodigy Cadel Piggot, an antisocial computer hacker, discovers his true identity when he enrolls as a first-year student at an advanced crime academy. A no-holds-barred roller coaster ride. (Additional titles in series: Genius Squad)
Kaufer, Amie and Kristoff, Jay. Aurora Rising
In this science fiction adventure story taking place in the year 2380, the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to build the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with some quirky recruits.
Klass, David. Caretaker Trilogy
a series of science fiction thrillers with an ecological theme. The first book in the series, Firestorm, was the first book to be endorsed by Grenpeace. The story focuses on Jack Danielson, a teenager sent back from the future to save the world’s oceans.
Morgan, Kass. The 100
When 100 juvenile delinquents are sent on a mission to recolonize Earth, they get a second chance at freedom, friendship, and love, as they fight to survive in a dangerous new world.
Nielsen, Jennifer A. The False Prince
In the country of Carthya, a devious nobleman engages four orphans in a brutal competition to be selected to impersonate the king’s long-missing son in an effort to avoid a civil war.
Paulsen, Gary. Brian’s Hunt, Brian’s Return, and The River
The further adventures of Brian from “Hatchet” as he returns to the wilderness and faces many more challenges.
Paulsen, Gary. Woods Runner.
From his 1776 Pennsylvania homestead, thirteen-year-old Samuel, who is a highly-skilled woodsman, sets out toward New York City to rescue his parents from the band of British soldiers and Indians who kidnapped them after slaughtering most of their community. Includes historical notes.
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon
In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.
Pratchett, Terry. Nation
After a devastating tsunami destroys all that they have ever known, Mau, an island boy, and Daphne, an aristocratic English girl, together with a small band of refugees, set about rebuilding their community and all the things that are important in their lives.
Pullman, Phillip. The Golden Compass
Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.
Rhodes, Morgan. Falling Kingdoms
After centuries of peace, the three kingdoms of Mytica stand on the brink of war. As rulers struggle for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed and four key players find their fates forever intertwined amidst betrayal, murder, secret alliances, and even unforseen love.
Ritter, William. Jackaby
Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which, Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature.
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit
Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to share in an adventure from which he may never return.
Yancey, Richard. The 5th Wave
Cassie Sullivan, the survivor of an alien invasion, must rescue her young brother from the enemy with help from a boy who may be one of them.
Yancey, Richard. The Monstrumologist
A gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does man become the very thing he hunts?
