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Every girl wants to celebrate her quinceañera, or 15th birthday, right? Not necessarily, as half-Cuban, half-Polish Violet can barely speak Spanish. As the plans move forward, Violet comes to terms with her heritage in this warm and funny novel.

“IF SHE DIES, I’ll die,” are the words 15-year-old Mia Perlman writes in her journal the night her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Nine days later, Mia’s mother is dead, and Mia, her older sister, and her father must find a way to live on in the face of sudden, unfathomable loss. But even in grief, there is the chance for new beginnings in this poignant, funny, and hopeful novel.

D.J. spends the summer helping her father with their farm work, while also getting coerced into training the rival football team’s quarterback. D.J. is one of the best athletes in their small Wisconsin town, but her relationships — with her family, her best friend, and quarterback Brian — are making her life so complicated.

In the shadow of their mother’s suicide, twin sisters Destiny and Livvy have grown and healed in their summer as camp counselors. But a bewildering encounter with a fellow counselor on the eve of her departure leaves Destiny reeling, and when she returns home, she learns he was keeping a terrible secret. He’s a vampire. And he won’t stop until he’s made her one, too.

From Hitler Youth to hunted “mischling,” Daniel’s world unravels when he discovers his mother’s hidden history “taints” him with Jewish blood and marks him for extermination.

Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He’s a Fractional Persian — half, his mom’s side — and his first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life. Adib Khorram’s brilliant debut is for anyone who’s ever felt not good enough — then met a friend who makes them feel so much better than okay. Winner of the 2019 William C. Morris Award and Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature.

In Wisconsin, Rico could blend in. His light hair and lighter skin wouldn’t make him the “dark dude” or the punching bag for the whole neighborhood. Trading Harlem for Wisconsin, though, means giving up on a big part of his identity. And when Rico no longer has to prove that he’s Latino, he almost stops being one — except there are some things that can’t be left behind.

When his nemesis makes an origami Darth Vader, chaos ensues. Dwight gets kicked out of school and sent to a school for bad broods! Humor abounds in this silly but satisfying saga that combines parody of popular figures with comedy.

Twelve-year-old David has only known life in a concentration camp in Eastern Europe. When the opportunity to escape presents itself, David seizes it and then begins his journey to Denmark and freedom. Walden Media made a movie of this book, originally published in Denmark in 1963, by the same name in 2004. Since then, it has been mass marketed to educators. For teaching materials, visit their website.

Thirteen-year-old Azad knows nothing but war while growing up in a predominantly Kurdish town in Sardasht, Iran. Iran’s new religious leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini wants to eliminate the Kurds while Iraq’s Saddam Hussein’s would like to occupy that part of Iran. Readers get a glimpse into the heart of this young Kurdish refugee and will experience the loss and hope of emigration.

This humorous and heartwarming novel takes place during the summer of 1962, when narrator Jack Gantos turns 12 and has been “grounded for life” by his parents. He takes on a summer job writing obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his Utopian town, Norvelt. Gantos expertly mixes truth and fiction in this book, which won the Newbery award in 2012. For mature readers 9-12 and teens.

When Sunny gets a letter from Jazz, her dead sister, she’s not sure what to expect next. When “Jazz” shows up at their door, it quickly becomes obvious that all is not as it seems. The ending will prove to be a good discussion starter for readers.

After Justyce is handcuffed when simply trying to help his girlfriend in a parking lot, he begins keeping a journal of sorts in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When a needless shooting takes the life of someone close to him, Justyce questions whether Martin’s visions of peace are possible.

When a death god accidentally drops a notebook, teenager Light finds it and discovers that simply writing someone’s name in the book will cause their death. Deciding to rid the world of evil, Light goes on a killing spree. The violent and horrific premise makes this most suitable for older teens who will find that it reads just like a horror film.

At 16, Johnny is checking out of rehab and going to live with his uncle. Johnny loves old punk music and is obsessed with Debbie Harry. When he meets Maria, she helps him understand that this obsession might go even deeper, and she encourages him to get in touch with his feminine side, the one that might want to look like Debbie Harry.

When sixteen-year-old Walker gets caught up in a witch-hunt against homosexuals, he is left to stand by and watch as a tragedy unfolds.

It’s the first day of school for Dexter and he’s already mad at everyone in the building. When his teacher tells the class to write a story, Dexter writes about how tough he is — and how he’s already gotten into a fight. Is any of Dexter’s story true?

Greg Heffley’s mom makes him keep a journal — NOT a diary! — Greg forcefully asserts. In his journal, Greg uses words and comics to recount life in middle school beginning at the end of summer school. Greg’s voice and stick figures ring true and set the tenor for tales told in other Wimpy Kid books.

One of the four novellas in this King classic is The Body, which became the basis for the movie Stand by Me. Four young guys find out about a body on the train tracks and decide to go see it. Often cited as one of King’s finest works, this story has that “things will never be the same after this summer” feel to it.

Danny decides to spend the summer after his freshman year in college working with his estranged Dad at a resort town in Maine. Danny doesn’t know until he gets to Ogunquit that the restaurant he’s working in had largely gay staff and clientele. Danny doesn’t mind, but it’s strange being one of the only straight guys in town.

What would you be willing to trade if you could have all of the knowledge and power in the world? Would you be willing to sell your soul to the devil? That’s what Dr. Faustus does in exchange for 24 years of service from a devil named Mephistopheles. With his help, Faustus is able to perform unbelievable magic tricks and feats, impressing famous dignitaries and exploiting others as he demonstrates his great power. But as the time approaches when Lucifer will take his soul to Hell, Dr. Faustus reconsiders his choice.

Summer, according to Greg, is all about video games and other indoor activities. His mom does not agree, however. Of course, that Greg had a falling out with his best buddy doesn’t help calm his mother’s enthusiasm for getting Greg involved in other things. Another recognizable saga comes to life in word and comics.

Something is bothering Russel Susskit. He hates waking up to the sound of his father’s coughing, the smell of diesel oil, the noise of snow machines starting up. Only Oogruk, the shaman who owns the last team of dogs in the village, understands Russel’s longing for the old ways and the songs that celebrated them. But Oogruk cannot give Russel the answers he seeks; the old man can only prepare him for what he must do alone. Driven by a strange, powerful dream of a long-ago self and by a burning desire to find his own song, Russel takes Oogruk’s dogs on an epic journey of self-discovery that will change his life forever.

Liliana Cruz is a hitting a wall — or rather, walls. There’s the wall her mom has put up ever since Liliana’s dad left — again. There’s the wall that delineates Liliana’s diverse inner-city Boston neighborhood from Westburg, the wealthy — and white — suburban high school she’s just been accepted into. And there’s the wall Liliana creates within herself, because to survive at Westburg, she can’t just lighten up, she has to whiten up. But then light is shed on some hard truths: It isn’t that her father doesn’t want to come home — he can’t…and her whole family is in jeopardy. And when racial tensions at school reach a fever pitch, the walls that divide feel insurmountable. But sometimes a wall can be a foundation for something better. And Liliana must choose: Use this foundation as a platform to speak her truth, or risk crumbling under its weight. ALA/YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults List.