Standout Books for Teens

Standout Books of 2025

Mary's review of A Most Perilous World5/5: The years leading up to the American Civil War were some of the most tumultuous in the history of the United States. The concept of slavery was the most prominent topic on people’s minds, and it was not just the established adults who were involved in the struggle. Young people around the country observed what was happening and made waves in their own circles, as well, especially the children of some of the most active abolitionists of the time. And these youth all helped contribute to the great changes that emerged as a result of their stalwart efforts. This narrative nonfiction novel high...

Mary's review of The Story of My Anger5/5: Yulieta Lopez dreams of becoming a theatre star and performing on Broadway. Unfortunately, the backwards, restrictive, and racist Texas community in which she lives refuses to see the potential Yuli has inside. Despite practicing hard all summer and nailing her audition, Yuli is cast as the understudy to the lead role, who is to be played by a stereotypical Southern Belle with blonde hair and fair skin. Snide comments, inappropriate requests, and an overall disregard for equity threaten to turn Yuli away from her dreams for good. But luckily, with a supportive family and friends, Yuli finds...

Mary's review of Until the Clock Strikes Midnight5/5: Darling is the only fairy in her school, and she is determined to secure a coveted mentorship with the Mortal Outcome Council. Assigned to a mortal named Lucy whose life is teetering on the edge of joy, Darling is prepared to use her skills to help Lucy find her “happily ever after.” Little does Darling know that Calam, a Misfortune, has also been assigned to Lucy for his own mentorship opportunity, and the two immortals have markedly different goals. With only seven days to complete the challenge and a future career on the line, the two must focus if they are to win. But what begins as a c...

Mary's review of Parlor Poetry5/5: The Victorian Era was a period of great change and advancement. From early computing to X-rays, from fashion to modern conveniences, humans were particularly intrepid during this time period. Though not everything from the Victorian era continues to be used today, it would be remiss not to appreciate all the ways in which Victorian-era developments continue to influence contemporary society. This intriguing and informational text introduces readers of all ages to many of the most prominent people and inventions of the Victorian era. Written as an abecedary, the book breaks down history in a...

Mary's review of The Executioners Three5/5: For a small town, Berm is a place with a surprising number of secrets, and seventeen-year-old Freddie Gellar is determined to uncover them all. Following in the footsteps of her late father, Freddie is frequently on the hunt for clues and answers to the myriad questions she encounters. When Freddie unwittingly becomes involved in a string of grisly murders, however, the evidence is not as straightforward as she expects. And in order to uncover the truth, Freddie must set aside generations of conflict and rivalry while doing her best to protect those she loves most. This young adult suspense...

Mary's review of A Spell to Wake the Dead5/5: Best friends Mazzy and Nora have been dabbling in witchcraft throughout much of their friendship. But as much as Mazzy enjoys the process, she is not the believer Nora inherently is. When the girls venture to the beach one night to perform a special ritual, they stumble upon a corpse of an unidentified woman who is missing both of her hands as well as her teeth. And as strange occurrences continue following the friends, Mazzy becomes increasingly more convinced of the veracity of the situation. With each new discovery comes the potential for ever greater danger, and the girls must tread car...

Mary's review of The Secret Flight (Wright Cousin Adventures Book 16)5/5: On the small tropical island of Talofa, the Wright cousins and their friends the Straunsee sisters are excitedly awaiting Tim Wright’s presentation about the art that won them a trip to the island. While Tim is nervous about the presentation, however, bigger problems are making their way to the group of friends. Slugdovian hired hands are determined to take down the land of Gutenberg in any way they can, and the youth must lean into their friendship and their skills in order to not only thwart the enemy, but also to return home safely. This sixteenth in the Wright Cousin adventures series p...

Mary's review of The Dark Cove Theatre Society5/5: The school year has just begun at the Dark Cove Arts Academy, where the illustrious Dark Cove Theatre Society reigns supreme. As a scholarship student, Violet must constantly prove herself not only to her classmates but to the school leadership, as well, and because her end of term performance last year did not go so well, Violet is walking on thin ice. Violet is cast in the Halloween play, but she soon believes she is the target of a fabled curse that will undoubtedly end in disaster. Luckily, Violet’s best friend and roommate Kay is there to support her, and with each forward step, Violet...

Mary's review of The Remnant5/5: Basha never wanted this life. As the second born–the Remnant–Basha grew up knowing her older sister Sara would inevitably bear the heavy mantle of their family’s legacy. But when Sara unexpectedly dies, Basha must begrudgingly step in to take Sara's place. Blinded by her grief and her mother's unrelenting expectations, Basha does not initially realize how dire her community’s situation happens to be. When Basha and a childhood friend find their lives threatened by the catastrophic events occurring beneath the surface, however, Basha must decide to either embrace the influence of her new rol...

Mary's review of Fitting Indian5/5: Nitasha is the second child in her family, and it seems like nothing she does is good enough for her parents. Growing up in the United States as the daughter of Indian parents, Nitasha frequently feels as though she is not enough of either side of herself in order to truly fit in. As pressures mount, Nitasha turns to alcohol and self harm in order to avoid the strong feelings brewing within her. It requires reaching rock bottom for Nitasha to recognize the good in her life and to see how her experience can help others in similar situations find their own way back to the light. This young ad...

Mary's review of All the Noise at Once5/5: Sixteen year old Aiden loves football more than almost everything else in the world. Aiden also has Autism, and the overwhelm created by human contact and noise makes playing on a football team difficult. Aiden's older brother Brandon is the senior quarterback and Aiden's greatest supporter, though, which helps give Aiden second chances to prove his abilities on the field. But when Brandon is wrongly accused of assaulting a police officer, Aiden must bring out his own inner advocate to help his brother in a time of greatest need. This contemporary fiction young adult novel is told in the fi...

Mary's review of Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)5/5: The second Quarter Quell–the fiftieth anniversary of the first Hunger Games–has finally arrived, and communities across Panem are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the four tributes from each district who will be forced to participate. In District Twelve, Haymitch Abernathy believes he has somehow avoided the inevitable, until a terrible incident drives Haymitch into the fray and makes him stand out in the eyes of the gamemakers. Thrust into a new world away from everyone and everything he has ever known, Haymitch must learn to play the game if he expects to survive. And with each new ...

Mary's review of The Tale of Iśva Raman5/5: For all of his life, fifteen-year-old Iśva Raman was homeschooled by his aunt. But when Raman begins taking classes at the local public high school, everything begins to change. Strange feelings begin overwhelming Raman, and an unexpected encounter with destructive characters wreaks havoc on his school and community. Little does Raman know that the unusual sensations he has been feeling are linked to a complex heritage he knew nothing about. And when Raman is invited to hone his fledgling talents in a school made just for people like him, all the previously disparate pieces of his life begi...

Mary's review of His Face Is the Sun (Throne of Khetara, #1)5/5: Thousands of years ago, the great land of Egypt was in turmoil, caught between the relentless demands of a heartless king and the people who suffered at his hand. An ancient prophecy foretells impending doom for the kingdom, and when the predictions begin coming true, the lives of a group of otherwise unconnected youth quickly become entwined. However, the prophecy only tells the beginning of the story; together, the key players united by the mysterious prediction must ultimately determine how the story ends. This gripping young adult novel takes place in ancient Egypt, a land filled with m...

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