Our teen book spotlight this week is on books that feature books that are either anti-romance or have no romance at all!! I think that YA gets a bad rap sometimes as many people think they are just all romance books or every book and series has to have a love triangle and I am here to show you that is so not the case. There are storylines that have zero romance at all and even more, there are others that the storyline is all about how they do not believe in romance and they still do not fall in love! There is literally something for every YA reader; this week we have realistic, historical, fantasy, and even a bit of murder. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #yaantiromance as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford--When Beatrice begins attending a private school after moving to town with her mother, she surprises all of her peers when she immediately befriends Jonah, dubbed “Ghost Boy” by those who know him as a loner. Beatrice begins to find a close kinship in Jonah, coming to rely more and more on him for support even as she starts to uncover the truth of his mysterious past. A final, startling secret throws their entire friendship into disarray, leaving Beatrice to wonder whether she can help Jonah before all is lost.
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge--On an island off the south coast of Victorian England, fourteen-year-old Faith investigates the mysterious death of her father, who was involved in a scandal, and discovers a tree that feeds upon lies and gives those who eat its fruit visions of truth.
Someday We Will Fly by Rachel DeWoskin--In 1940, fifteen-year-old Lillia and her family escape Warsaw after the disappearance of her mother. They head to Shanghai, which was under Japanese control, yet still relatively safe for Jewish refugees. But once in China, Lillia and her family struggle to live in a country they don't understand. Coming from a family of circus performers, Lillia finds solace in making puppets, but soon realizes she will need to do whatever it takes to help feed her family.
The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty--Class brain Bindy Mackenzie has alienated her entire high school but when she realizes someone is trying to kill her, she has to make friends in order to get help.
Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner--Brynn Harper idolizes liberal television host and political commentator Rachel Maddow. After writing to her once for a school project and receiving a reply, Brynn decides to draft emails to Maddow--but never send them--about all her problems: breaking up with her first girlfriend, her brother Nick's death, her parents, and trouble at school. Then Brynn decides to run against her archnemesis Adam and her ex-girlfriend Sarah for student representative to the board that selects the next school superintendent. When things turn ugly, Brynn asks herself: What would Rachel Maddow do?
Jackaby by William Ritter--When she arrives in New England in 1892, Abigail Rook lands a job with R.F. Jackaby, an investigator who insists the supernatural is real. Their first case is tracking down a serial killer the police refuse to say is an inhuman creature, except for handsome detective Charlie Cane, who joins them in the investigation.