Contemporary YA

Updated November 20, 2024
C
CU Catalog Champaign Teen Team
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Contemporary YA

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I'll be waiting for you
Turk, Mariko
Paper Book
★ "By turns funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful, [I'll Be Waiting for You] deftly handles the complexities of grief, the possibilities of the universe, and the power of belief." - Booklist, starred review Perfect for fans of the tearjerker...
Prom babies
Magoon, Kekla
Paper Book
A compelling, multi-generational novel from the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and The Minus-One Club, Prom Babies chronicles the stories of three teen girls who become pregnant on prom night. Eighteen...
Not your average Jo
Shim, Grace K.
Paper Book
From the author of THE NOH FAMILY, a second standalone YA novel that follows a Korean American teen as she navigates the treacherous world of nepo babies and cultural appropriation that is the Los Angeles music scene. Perfect for fans of Mary H. K. Choi, Maurene Goo, and Emiko Jean.
Dinner at the Brake Fast
Lute, Renee Beauregard
Paper Book
Dinner at the Brake Fast is a hilarious and heartfelt story about road-trip mishaps, a murderous rooster, facing down anxieties, and unexpected friendship that is a must-pick for readers who loved The Science of Unbreakable Things and The First Rule of Punk. Tacoma Jones...
Four Eids and a funeral
Àbíké-Íyímídé, Faridah
Paper Book
Ex-best friends must work together in this romantic story of rekindling and rebuilding, from award-winning authors Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades) & Adiba Jaigirdar (Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating)! South Asia Book Award Honor Book!<...
The quince project : a novel
Parra, Jessica
Paper Book
Most Anticipated by HipLatina Castillo Torres, Student Body Association event chair and serial planner, could use a fairy godmother. After a disastrous mishap at her sister's quinceañera and her mother's unexpected passing, all of Cas's plans are crumbling. So when a local...
Wild dreamers
Engle, Margarita
Paper Book
Longlisted for the National Book Award A Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Book In this stirring young adult novel-in-verse from award-winning author Margarita Engle, love and conservation intertwine as two teens go on a "transformative journey celebrating the...
Finding famous : a Mashad family novel
Jalili, Candice
Paper Book
The Princess Diaries meets reality television in a story about fame (the kind you definitely didn't ask for), first love (the kind you didn't even know you wanted), and most importantly, family (the kind you can't live without). Ever since her mom died, Josie Lawrence has...
On the bright side
Sortino, Anna
Paper Book
A hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign. "Poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt." -Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be Ellie's Deaf boarding...
What's eating Jackie Oh?
Park, Patricia (Fiction writer)
Paper Book
A Korean American teen tries to balance her dream to become a chef with the cultural expectations of her family when she enters the competitive world of a TV cooking show. A hilarious and heartfelt YA novel from the award-winning author of Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra...
Rules for camouflage
Cronn-Mills, Kirstin
Paper Book
Atypical meets Every Last Word in this relatable and heartfelt coming of age story about a neurodivergent teen navigating school, friendships and first love. ​ Evvie Chambers is doing her best to skate through the last month of high...
Not if you break up with me first
Miller, G. F.
Paper Book
Two friends who have unhappily found themselves accidentally dating try to drive the other one to call things off in this witty and heartfelt middle school romance. Childhood friends Eve and Andrew are destined to be together--everyone says so, especially their friends and...
Shooting for stars
Webb, Christine
Paper Book
A charming romantic dramedy from the author of The Art of Insanity High schooler Skyler Davidson spends most of her time with her pet rat, Five. The daughter of scientists, she's determined to finish her late mother's research on neutron stars. So she teams up with...
We're never getting home
Badua, Tracy
Paper Book
HBO's Insecure meets Dazed and Confused in this messy, tender YA novel about a friendship breakup, set against the backdrop of a chaotic night at a music festival, from rising talent Tracy Badua. Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, have an epic...
Every time you hear that song
Voris, Jenna
Paper Book
"Beautifully explores the high and low notes of fame. . . . A must-read for anyone who loves layered characters, true-to-life personalities, and country music!"--Jason June, New York Times best-selling author Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and...
Keeping pace
Morrison, Laurie
Paper Book
Laurie Morrison's Keeping Pace is a poignant middle-grade novel about friends-turned-rivals training for a half-marathon--and rethinking what it means to win and what they mean to each other. Grace has been working for years to beat her former friend Jonah...
Bite me, Royce Taslim
Ho, Lauren
Paper Book
Acclaimed author of Last Tang Standing and Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic in her YA debut: a sharp yet sweet rivals-to-romance romp through Kuala Lumpur--perfect for fans of Emiko Jean, Abigail Hing Wen, and Kat Cho. Agnes Chan never expected to be the punchline of her...
Unstuck
Dee, Barbara
Paper Book
"Both relatable and inspiring...an entertaining and heartfelt read." --Janae Marks, New York Times bestselling author of On Air with Zoe Washington From critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee comes a middle grade novel that's "this generation's Dear Mr....
House party : a novel
Reynolds, Justin A.
Paper Book
How many love stories can play out over the course of a single house party? Find out in this vibrant collaborative novel from ten bestselling and critically acclaimed authors- Angeline Boulley . Jerry Craft . Natasha Diaz . Lamar Giles . Christina Hammonds Reed . Ryan La Sala...
Fake famous : a novel
Davis, Dana
Paper Book
In this breezy novel from the author of Somebody That I Used to Know, one Iowa farm girl--a dead ringer for a global pop star--gets an unlikely shot at stardom. Will she choose fame...or the family farm? Red Morgan is fresh out of high school. With signature red curls and a...
Gloria Buenrostro is not my girlfriend
Hoàng, Brandon
Paper Book
A contemporary YA debut about a Vietnamese-American boy who tries to attain popularity by befriending the most beautiful girl in school, inspired by the Vietnamese-American author's teen experience. Gary Võ is one of the few Vietnamese kids in his school and has been shy for as...
The Blackwoods
Colbert, Brandy
Paper Book
Big Mouth ARE mailing to a curated list of influential librarians and educators "Best Books for Your Teen Book Club" campaign, including discussion guide, advertising, conference feature, possible virtual event, and HarperStacks outreach Teens' Top 10/YALSA ARE mailing to...
Look no further
Robinson, Rioghnach
Paper Book
The Parent Trap meets The Vanishing Half in Rioghnach Robinson and Siofra Robinson's Look No Further, a gripping YA novel about estranged siblings who meet for the first time at art camp and confront their differing experiences of race and identity.
The boy you always wanted
Quach, Michelle
Paper Book
Featured title in Shake Up Your Shelves, a campaign to promote inclusive texts in curriculum, library collections, and bookstores
Something more
Khalilieh, Jackie
Paper Book
Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical...
Be that way
Larson, Hope
Paper Book
Seventeen-year-old Christine keeps a journal of an eventful year in her life in mid-90s, while juggling troubled friendships and looking for love. It's January 1, 1996, and high school junior Christine wants more than anything to be that cool girl everyone notices, like her...
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