Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Rosalyn "Ross" is tired of living with just her mother and her aunt. But that comes with the territory when you live in a multi-generational household of female,  high-end thieves.

But Ross is ready to change that,  and at  the family’s  next heist she's planning to disappear. That is until she receives an invitation to the Thieves' Gambit, a competition where only the world's best thieves are invited. The prize? One wish. The price? Maybe Ross's life. 

Readers looking for elaborate plots and high-risk heists with a little Hunger Games thrown in will find this an enjoyable read.--Claudio Leon

Lewis, Kayvion. Thieves’ Gambit. New York: Random House, 2023. Print.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

These Violent Delights takes one of the most recognizable stories - that of the lovers Romeo and Juliet - and twists it around.  Juliet and Roma belong to opposing families and although they were lovers in the past,  they’ve both been thrust into their family businesses and are now antagonists.  But when their respective gang members start to kill themselves rather than fight each other,  both Juliet and Roma have to discover what is happening before the "plague" destroys both their houses. Students who enjoy romance, suspense, or are interested in reading a take on a classic should be sure to pick up These Violent Delights.--Claudio Leon

Gong, Chloe. These Violent Delights. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2020. Print.

Overturned by Lamar GIles

 

After having his death sentence commuted, Nikki’s dad is eager to come home and get back to his casino business in Las Vegas. This spells bad news for Nikki, who’s been running her father’s show for the past five years while he’s been in prison. Nikki now finds herself needing to expedite her plans to leave Vegas before her father learns too much. Middle school students and older looking for a suspenseful, who-done-it mystery will be glad they picked Overturned up.--Claudio Leon

Giles, Lamar. Overturned. New York: Scholastic, 2017. Print.

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe by Theodore Gray, Photographs by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann

Plutonium is illegal to buy anywhere in the United States, but some Americans carry it inside their pacemaker batteries.  Bananas are radioactive, but only slightly more so that many other things we consume.  Gray mixes fascinating tidbits like these with narrative descriptions of each element’s properties and finds a way to inject the end of each page with a bit of suspense sprinkled with humor.   The two-page spreads dedicated to each element are preceded by Gray’s introduction to the periodic table.  Gray’s writing is remarkable science writing on its own, but the accompanying photographs illustrating both the element being described and some of its uses with captions is a winning formula for readers who may not think they like to read about chemistry.   Backmatter includes a narrative walk through the names of elements 101 to 118 on the table and is followed by an author’s note on the joys of element collecting, an image of the author,  a bibliography, acknowledgements, and an index.  All patrons may enjoy browsing and reading the images within; students reading at upper elementary/middle school levels and beyond may enjoy the text, and science teachers may reach for this in designing lessons to familiarize students with the variety of elements on Earth.  Highly recommended for every school library collection serving middle school and high school readers.—Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Gray, Theodore and Nick Mann.  The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe.  New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2009.  Print.

Princess Jellyfish Volume 1 by Akiko Higashimura

Tsukimi is a young woman whose passion in life is jellyfish and whose mother has passed away, leading Tsukimi to move into a women-only building in Tokyo. While she finds community with her new neighbors, her newfound independence amongst the like-minded amars is threatened when she is befriended by an attractive cross-dressing boy who happens to be the son of a powerful Japanese politician.   Will the amars be able to accept Tsukimi’s new friend?  Will their community survive a developer’s attempt to take it over?  These volumes collect the Princess Jellyfish series which was originally published in 2008 in serial format and was released as anime in 2010.  Fans of anime will enjoy reading the print, and female manga readers who are not yet familiar with the characters will enjoy the discovery that awaits them, blending otaku culture, humor, suspense, and romance, along with a plotline that involves the politics of gentrification.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Higashimura, Akiko.  Princess Jellyfish (Book 1).  New York: Kodashna Comics, 2016.  Print.

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

Shawn McDaniel is fourteen years old and has a great sense of humor about his life in Seattle, Washington. He appreciates his older brother and sister and his special ability to remember everything he has ever heard since he was three or four years old.  Especially since he can’t talk, or walk, or move much at all.  Reluctant readers may not immediately be able to relate to the narrator, but will be hooked when they learn of his plight and that his father might actually be trying to kill him.  Literally.  A post-novel FAQ and followed by an author Q & A reveals Trueman’s personal connection to the protagonist of this suspenseful short novel which, among other things, can go a long way in helping readers develop empathy.  A great selection for a mixed-age book club.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Trueman, Terry.  Stuck in Neutral.  New York: HarperCollins, 2000.  Print.

Click here for some discussion questions for Stuck in Neutral put together by the Arrowhead Library System in Wisconsin.

World War Hulk by Greg Pak, illustrated by John Romita Jr.

When the Illuminati (Iron Man, Namor, Mr. Fantastic, Black Bolt, Professor X and Dr. Strange) decided to send the Hulk into deep space, they had no idea of the repercussions their action would have. It was only a matter of time before the Incredible Hulk found his way back home and he’s returned with a vengeance. Shortly following the events of Planet Hulk, this direct sequel follows Bruce Banner’s return to planet Earth seeking revenge on those who deep-sixed him. The Hulk returns under the impression that the Illuminati wanted to make sure he stayed away permanently by bombing the planet where the Hulk had made his new home. Little did the perpetrators know that the Hulk would survive both his wife and son. The Illuminati become the Hulk’s primary target as he wages war on some of Earth’s most intellectual heroes. Can they survive the full might of an angry Hulk? This all-out brawl between the smartest and the toughest will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. --Claudio Leon

Pak, Greg. World War Hulk. New York: Marvel Entertainment, 2014. Print.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Cassie is seventeen and has preternatural profiling abilities.  She can size up most people without even thinking about it and often make predictions about future behaviors.  When the FBI recruits her for a top secret initiative, it doesn’t take her long to decide that she wants to press her natural talent into service working on cold cases.  Flown by private jet to live in a group home, of sorts, with other talented teens, she has some big adjustments to make, teen drama to live through, and minor mysteries to solve until a bigger one with higher stakes reveals itself and sucks her in.  Will her talent allow her to save others?  Or will it become her downfall?  

Chapters alternating between Cassie’s first-person narration and an anonymous serial killer’s second-person narration keep the suspense going and ratchet it up as the story progresses.  A thriller along the lines of I Hunt Killers geared toward readers under sixteen, The Naturals features a female protagonist with a sharp mind looking for a feeling of belonging.  Recommended for independent reading, this book will appeal to those looking for a mystery and those who enjoy psychological drama and bloody murder descriptions.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Barnes, Jennifer Lynn.  The Naturals.  New York: Hyperion, 2013.

Pretty Girl 13 by Liz Coley

Angie disappeared on a camping trip several years ago and walks into her parents’ house now, three years older, with thick scars around her ankles and no explanation.  She is unaware that three years have passed and she has no memory of what has happened.  While not an urban book by any stretch, teen girl readers at Belmont continue to clamor for this book, drawn in by the horror, mystery and suspense of Angie’s situation.  Teachers and counselors will want to know that this novel includes instances of sexual abuse and a gentle exploration of Disassociative Identity Disorder (DID).  Back matter includes an author’s note explaining her authorial decisions and suggested resources for more information.  Recommended for independent reading for teens and bookclubs for teen girls. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Coley, Liz.  Pretty Girl 13.  New York: HarperCollins, 2013.  Print.

Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Eighteen-year-old Nikki is in love with her twenty-year-old boyfriend, Dee. She had no idea when he took her on a ride over the weekend that he would point a gun, pull a trigger, and leave a man dead.  She loves him so much she would do anything for him.  When the police call Dee in for questioning in conjunction with the murder of a retired police officer over the weekend, Nikki doesn’t question Dee’s directions to lie, to provide an alibi, and to attest to his innocence.  But what Nikki can’t do is tolerate Dee’s order not to speak with him.   When the police seem to be closing in on the killer, will she tell the truth or take responsibility for what she didn’t do?  Recommended independent reading for older high school students who enjoy suspense and characters in trouble with the law.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

McVoy, Terra Elan.  Criminal.  New York: Simon Pulse, 2013.  Print.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers will make your spine tingle as the protagonist tries to navigate his relationships with other humans, while thinking of the best ways to kidnap them and kill them.  Every social interaction is an internal battle for Jazz, who was raised by the United States’ most notorious serial killer - his father Billy Dent.  Billy took Jazz on nearly every outing and Jazz witnessed almost every one of Billy’s murders.  Billy is now in prison, Jazz’s mother is nowhere to be found, and a new serial killer mimicking Billy’s murders has appeared.  Now, Jazz has a choice to make: use his experience to catch a copycat killer, or follow in his father’s infamous footsteps.  Jazz wants to be a normal teen with a normal life, but with Billy’s voice echoing in his ears, that is far easier said than done.

Readers of titles like Hell’s Horizon and The Escape From Furnace series should enjoy reading I Hunt Killers. This title is best suited for experienced independent readers looking for a riveting read. --Claudio Leon

Lyga, Barry. I Hunt Killers. New York City: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012. Print.

Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

Mix top-notch YA writing with tight plotting, suspense, and a mystery to be solved and you have Paul Griffin’s latest.  A gorgeous girl takes a shot of acid to the face and the narrator, a teen hacker who can flip over the wrestling team but is rendered helpless by a seizure disorder every so often, is on the case.  While there’s nothing urban about the book, Passages' students are reading it on the strength of Griffin’s sterling reputation with them.  One student who told me she has spent most of her life in institutions of one kind or another recently stated to me that this book is her current favorite.  A crossover hit with independent urban readers!--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Griffin, Paul.  Burning Blue.  New York: Penguin, 2012.