Sophomore

*2023 PRINTZ AWARD WINNER*

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir **

Flipping between past and present, a young Pakistani couple is looking for a fresh start by moving to a small California town and buying a hotel. Fast forward to present day, and their son, Sal, is struggling to hold it all together. The hotel which once held so much promise is now weighing them down, and his parents’ lives are unraveling at the seams.

*2021 PRINTZ AWARD WINNER*

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee * MC

Fourteen narratives all with a unique voice and experience reveal stories of the tight knit community of Japantown teens and their families’ removal to incarceration camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

*2021 MORRIS AWARD WINNER*

If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley

Living in a house that magically conceals her volatile father’s rampages, Leighton Barnes finds nothing strange in the thousands of crows descending on her town. A devastatingly authentic tale of intergenerational trauma and violence written in lyrical prose.

*2020 PRINTZ AWARD WINNER*  GRAPHIC NOVEL

The Beast Player By Nahoko Uehashi, translated by Cathy Hirano *

Orphaned Elin learns to use her ability to communicate with animals as she navigates through political unrest. The beauty and power of the natural world are at the heart of this captivating, nimbly translated Japanese fantasy.

Bear Town by Frederik Backman **

Beartown is a tiny community nestled deep in the forest, slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys about to compete in the national semi-finals for junior ice hockey.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak ** MC

A novel told by “Death” is about a young girl sent to live at a foster home in Germany during World War II, who struggles through the horrors of the war but still manages to treasure many small things like learning to read.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo * MC

When Camino Rios and Yahaira Rios learn that their father has died in a plane crash, they also learn that their father has kept secrets from them-the biggest of which is each other.

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner *

A poignant coming-of-age novel about two best friends whose friendship is tested when they get the opportunity to leave their impoverished small town for an elite prep school.

The Truth About Keeping Secrets by Savannah Brown **

This mystery thriller explores the grief and mental health implications of losing someone you love, as Sydney Whitaker searches for answers and belonging following her father’s fatal car accident.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by Mary Eisenhart

In this contemporary fantasy, an uptight caseworker is pushed out of his comfort zone when he is sent to observe a remote orphanage for magical children.

The Good Braider by Terry Farish ** MC

In spare free verse laced with unforgettable images, Viola's striking voice sings out the story of her family's journey from war-torn Sudan, to Cairo, to Portland, Maine.

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfah Katouh **

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the Syrian Revolution began; she still had a normal teenage life. Now she is volunteering at a hospital in Homs, navigating the violence of a tyrannical regime while planning her escape. She is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive.

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan **

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. The more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow  by Gabrielle Zevin **

Two friends, Sam Masur and Sadie Green, come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and ultimately, a kind of immortality.

Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer * MC

Sixteen-year-old Jenna gets a job driving the elderly owner of shoe stores to confront the owner’s son; along the way Jenna finds the strength to face her alcoholic father.

Matched by Ally Condie ** MC

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe.  But when it comes to matching her with someone she will be with forever, she starts to doubt the society she has always known.

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson *

Adrift after her sister Bailey's sudden death, Lennie finds herself torn between quiet, seductive Toby—Bailey's boyfriend who shares her grief—and Joe, the new boy in town who bursts with life and musical genius. Each offers Lennie something she desperately needs... though she knows if the two of them collide her whole world will explode.

One of Us Is Lying  by Karen M. McManus *  MC

Five Bayview High School students are in detention when one of the students, Simon, suddenly dies while the teacher is out of the room. After Simon’s gossip blog goes public, the four remaining students from detention all become suspects and drama ensues.

Thanks for the Trouble by Tommy Wallach ** MC

Parker Santé hasn’t spoken a word in five years. While his classmates plan for bright futures, he skips school to hang out in hotels, killing time by watching the guests.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour ** MC (Printz award 2018)

California native Marin, devastated by grief and questioning her reality, plans to spend her winter break in an empty dorm in upstate New York. But now her best friend, Mabel, is on her way to visit, and Marin must confront the loneliness that is threatening to take over her heart.

The Nightingale  by Kristin Hannah ** MC

Set in WWII, Vianne Mauriac’s husband, Antoine, heads for the Front. When the Nazis invade France and a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose; she joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.

*2021 EXCELLENCE IN NON-FICTION FINALIST*

The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess

In 1992 Amra's life is forever changed when Serbian troops seize her hometown of Bihać, Bosnia. Her family and other Muslims face hate, violence, and unimaginable horrors of war.

*2020 ALEX AWARD WINNER*

In Waves  by AJ Dungo *

This graphic memoir and series of narratives has been called “arresting in its beauty.” Dungo’s is a story of love-- for his girlfriend who is bravely battling cancer-- and of their passion for surfing.

We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu *

The star of Marvel's first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.

Atomic Women by Roseanne Montillo **

Bomb meets Code Girls in this nonfiction narrative about the little-known female scientists who were critical to the invention of the atomic bomb during World War II.

Ain't Burned All the Bright   by Jason Reynolds **

Graphic Novel   A mashup of art and text that explores what it means to breathe, to exist, and to move closer to those you love through the eyes of a young Black man.

Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War by Sallah and Weiss *** MC 

A compelling story drawn from firsthand accounts in interviews with victims' families and members of the Tiger Force, as well as a suppressed document that came out of an army investigation. The result is one of the most important books on the Vietnam War.

Funny and Farsi: A memoir of growing up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas ** MC

In 1972 Firoozeh Dumas and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with little knowledge of this country. The novel humorously depicts the family’s struggles to understand American traditions and culture as they assimilate to the United States.

Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom and Modern Fame by Ty Burr **

Why do we obsess about Hollywood and its stars? Burr’s history of cinema and acting illuminates why we love—and sometimes love to hate—the idea of celebrity.

Art That Changed the World  by Ian Chilvers, Iain Zaczek, and others *

This beautiful and extensive collection examines the history of art. Organized chronologically, the combination of visuals and informative text is both approachable and easy to grasp.

Die Young with Me: A Memoir by Rob Rufus **  MC

A story of punk rock, first love, cancer and the incredible power of music to get us through the hardest times in our lives. Rufus details his brave fight for his life in this tender and contemplative memoir.

Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by P.S. Turner **  

Bushido, or samurai culture is presented for a teen audience with the tale of the "ultimate samurai," Minamoto Yoshitsune. A fast-paced and unexpectedly funny tale filled with family feuds, bloody battles, and sweeping romance.

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw *

In this hilarious memoir, Shane Burcaw recalls both the normal and deeply unique experiences he has endured living with spinal muscular atrophy. Burcaw is witty and self-deprecating but never beaten down, even in the face of his terminal condition.

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix ** Middle School MC

A true and gripping spy story, this graphic biography describes pivotal moments in the career of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose religious faith led him to devote his life to the German Resistance to Hitler. Visual metaphors in the powerful illustrations convey the looming danger.

Hey, Kiddo:  How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction  by Jarrett J. Krosoczka **

A raw graphic memoir, author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka depicts his complex upbringing - including a search for his father, difficult interactions with his heroin-addicted mother, and day-to-day life with his grandparents. Illustrations conjure the feeling of vague memories.

#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Lisa Charleyboy **

A stereotype-busting, zine-like collection of personal essays, illustrations, and photos about the marginalized experiences of indigenous young women. Demonstrates the strength and vitality of living heritages.