Purpose:

These books have been nominated to win the prestigious title of "Beehive Book 2026."  We will read these 11 books and meet on Thursdays (usually) during lunch to discuss the books and vote on our favorites.  

Books We're Reading for 2025-2026:

Books from Previous Years:

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2025:

Frizzy by Claribel Ortega & Rose Bousamra. Tired of going to the salon to have her curls straightened, Marlene learns to embrace her natural curly hair.  Graphic Novel.  Realistic Fiction.

Mexikid by Pedro Martin. After growing up with stories about his legendary abuelito, Pedro takes a family road trip to Mexico, connects with his grandfather, and learns more about his own Mexican identity.  Graphic Novel.  Autobiography.  

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt. Selah (7th gr) knows that to be 'normal' she has to keep her feelings controlled, but after hitting a fellow student, she needs to figure out what makes her different--and why that is ok. Realistic Fiction. 

The Labors of Hercules Beale by Gary Schmidt. Hercules must live up to his namesake's legacy, when one of his teacher's assigns him a project to complete the mythical twelve labors in real life.  Realistic Fiction.  Mythology. Adventure.

The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman. The new teacher in Oliver's class may be everyone's favorite, but Oliver knows there is something a bit off about him.  Realistic Fiction.  Science Fiction.

Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Huey. A young Japanese American girl's life is completely upended when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Her community turns against long time members and Samantha is forced to grow up and gather her courage in order to save herself and her family. Historical Fiction.

It Happened on Saturday by Sydney Dunlap. Thirteen-year-old Julia would much rather work with horses at the rescue barn than worry about things like dating and makeup. But when her older sister gives her a makeover and she starts getting positive comments online, Tyler enters her life and his plan is not exactly what it seems to be. Realistic Fiction.

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks. Dark academia mystery about three teens of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names. Mystery.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu. A smoldering-enemies-to-lovers novel that puts a superstar global phenomenon and a hotshot young spy on a collision course with danger―and Cupid’s arrow.  Mystery.  Adventure.  Romance.

American Murderer:  The Parasite that Haunted the South by Gail Jarrow. Doctors in the late 1800s never guessed that hookworms were making patients ill, but zoologist Charles Stiles knew better.  Nonfiction.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2024:  

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez.   Can five overlooked kids make one big difference? They’re stuck together when they’re forced to complete their school’s community service hours. Although they’re sure they have nothing in common with one another. . . just five Spanish-speaking kids. Then they meet someone who truly needs their help, and they must decide whether they are each willing to expose their own secrets to help . . . or if remaining invisible is the only way to survive middle school. Graphic Novels.  Realistic Fiction. 

Worst -Case Collin by Rebecca Caprara. Collin is always prepared for something to go wrong. Ever since he lost his mom in a car accident, he's been journaling about how to overcome things like avalanches, riptides, or even a bad case of halitosis. Meanwhile, Collin's father grows more distant by the day, and has started hoarding things throughout their house. Determined to hide his home life from his friends, Collin navigates middle school alongside the hilarious and clueless Liam, and Georgia, who Collin may have feelings for. Can Collin learn to be vulnerable around those he loves, even when he can't control every possible scenario? Novel in Verse. Realistic Fiction.  

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao.  After spending her early years in Wuhan, China, riding water buffalos and devouring stinky tofu, Laura immigrates to Texas, where her hometown is as foreign as Mars—at least until 2020, when COVID-19 makes Wuhan a household name. Graphic Novels.  Nonfiction.  Autobiography. World Literature.   

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser.  As their friendship grows over a shared love of classical music, biracial six-graders June and Tyrell confront a new housing policy that puts homeless families in danger.   Realistic Fiction.  

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee.  Maizy Chen (11yo) visits her estranged grandparents, who own and run a Chinese restaurant in Last Chance, Minnesota; as her visit lengthens, she makes unexpected discoveries about her family's history and herself.  Realistic Fiction.  Historical Fiction.  World Literature. Award-Winning.

Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed.  Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school. Realistic Fiction.  World Literature. 

A Perfect Mistake by Melanie Conklin.  Max (11yo) struggles with his ADHD and making mistakes, so when a mistake leaves one friend in a coma and another shutting him out, Max resolves to find out what really happened that night.  Mystery.  Realistic Fiction.

Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry. When Cameron and his friends are transported through the pages of an ancestral book to a fabled West African country, they find a kingdom in extreme danger and have to find a way to save it. World Literature. Fantasy.  Mythology. Adventure.

 Flirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes.  Ava Grandado's Nana appears as a ghost asking for help so Ava, with the help of her sisters and spiritual guide, Medardus, must befriend the boy who received the blessing the night of the storm.  Romance.  

** The Fort by Gordon Korman.   After a hurricane hits, five friends who need to stick together set up a hideout in an abandoned bomb shelter and discover that the only way to be true friends is to reveal their secrets and help each other out.   Realistic Fiction.   Award-Winning.

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed. After discovering the body of Jawad Ali (14yo) in Jackson Park, journalism student Safiya Mirza (17yo) begins investigating his murder and ends up confronting white supremacy in her own school.    Realistic Fiction.  Mystery.  World Literature. 

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys.  In a country governed by isolation, fear, and a tyrannical dictator, Cristian Florescu (17yo) is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer, but he decides to use his position to try to undermine the regime and expose to the world what is happening.   Historical Fiction.  World LIterature.

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen.  Gigi (HS Jr) wants to be picked for a contest that could lead to a tech internship, but when her matchmaking app goes viral, Gigi must deal with the consequences of helping her friends find love.  Romance. 

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride. Moth, who lost her family in an accident, and Sani, who is battling ongoing depression, take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors.    Novels in Verse.  Romance.  Horror.

Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams. Biracial twin sisters -- one who presents as black and the other as white -- are determined to put the ghosts of the past to rest and uncover the truth behind their parents' murders in the Jim Crow South.  Horror.  Historical Fiction.

** The Fort  is the state winner.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2023:  

Starfish by Lisa Fipps.  Bullied and shamed her whole life for being fat, twelve-year-old Ellie finally gains the confidence to stand up for herself, with the help of some wonderful new allies. Novel in Verse.  Realistic Fiction.

Alone by Megan E. Freeman.  Perfect for fans of Hatchet and the I Survived series, this harrowing middle grade debut novel-in-verse from a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet tells the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to find herself utterly alone in her small Colorado town.  As months pass, Maddie escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But her most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie's stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life? Novel in Verse. Realistic Fiction.  Adventure.

Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman.  In Chennai, India, after spending his whole life in jail with his mother, who is serving time for a crime she did not commit, nine-year-old Kabir is suddenly released and has to figure out how to survive on his own in the outside world. Realistic Fiction.  Diverse Fiction.

Clues to the Universe by Christina Li.  The only thing Rosalind Ling Geraghty loves more than watching NASA launches with her dad is building rockets with him. When he dies unexpectedly, all Ro has left of him is an unfinished model rocket they had been working on together.  Benjamin Burns doesn't like science, but he can't get enough of Spacebound, a popular comic book series. When he finds a sketch that suggests that his dad created the comics, he's thrilled. Too bad his dad walked out years ago, and Benji has no way to contact him.  Though Ro and Benji were only supposed to be science class partners, the pair become unlikely friends: Benji helps Ro finish her rocket, and Ro figures out a way to reunite Benji and his dad. But Benji hesitates, which infuriates Ro. Doesn't he realize how much Ro wishes she could be in his place?  As the two face bullying, grief, and their own differences, Benji and Ro must try to piece together clues to some of the biggest questions in the universe.  Realistic Fiction.  

Curses by Lish McBride.  Forced to live as a beast forever unless she agrees to marry a man of her mother's choosing before her 18th birthday, Merit Cravan joins forces with a con artist who is her only hope in finding the best match. Fantasy. 

Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder.  The author shares her story of her mother's first oncology appointment to facing reality as a motherless daughter in this frank and refreshingly funny graphic memoir. Graphic Novel. Nonfiction.  Biography. 

Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini by Betsy Uhrig. Realistic Fiction.  While brainstorming ideas to improve his aunt's boring children's book, twelve-year-old Alex recruits his friends to act out new scenes that will make the plot more exciting--and dangerous. 

Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez.  Seventeen-year-old Camila Hassan, a rising soccer star in Rosario, Argentina, dreams of playing professionally, in defiance of her fathers' wishes and at the risk of her budding romance with Diego. Sports.  Romance. Realisitic Fiction.  World Literature.

 ** Ground Zero by Alan Gratz.  Brandon is visiting his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 when the attack comes; Reshmina is a girl in Afghanistan who has grown up in the aftermath of that attack but dreams of peace. Both are struggling to survive, changed forever by the events of 9/11. Realistic Fiction.  

History Smashers:  Pearl Harbor by Kate Messner.  A perspective-changing reanalysis of the events of the Pearl Harbor attacks investigates theories that the U.S. Navy Base was a known possible target and that early warning signs were accidentally or deliberately ignored. Nonfiction.   

** In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner. When his best friend, Delaney, gets them both full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash must choose between his need to love and protect Delaney and his loyalty to his grandparents and their small Appalachian town. Realistic Fiction.  

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon.  After picking up a book from the library, Yvette--who has given up on love--gains the ability to see how other people's romantic relationships will end. Romance.  Realistic Fiction.

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix. Searching for the father she has never met in an alternate-world 1983 London, Susan is drawn into an extended family of magical, left-handed, fighting booksellers who police intruders from the mythical Old World of England. Fantasy.

The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross. In 1946 Hollywood, eighteen-year-old Clara Berg dreams of becoming a film editor and going on a real date with handsome yet unpredictable screenwriter Gil, until she stumbles upon a murder mystery. Mystery. 

** Ground Zero state winner. ** In the Wild Light Sand Ridge winner.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2022:

Major Impossible by Nathan Hale.  Looks at geologist, explorer, and soldier John Powell Wesley with emphasis on his participation in the Colorado River Exploring Expedition. Graphic Novel.  Humorous Nonfiction. 

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson.  Omar and his younger brother Hassan live in a refugee camp, and when an opportunity for Omar to get an education comes along, he must decide between going to school every day or caring for his nonverbal brother in this intimate and touching portrayal of family and daily life in a refugee camp.  Graphic Novel.  Nonfiction.  Diverse Fiction. 

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman.  On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work--Chernobyl--has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who've always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person. Oksana must face the lies her parents told her all her life. Valentina must keep her grandmother's secret, one that could put all their lives in danger. And both of them discover something they've wished for: a best friend. But how far would you go to save your best friend's life? Would you risk your own? Historical Fiction.  Diverse Fiction.

** Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  Ten-year-old Della can rely on her older sister, Suki, for anything, but when Suki attempts suicide, Della must seek help and speak out about the sexual abuse they've both suffered at the hands of their mother's boyfriend.  Realistic Fiction.  

Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson.  The author shares her life excelling in math as a young girl and her eventual career as a NASA mathematician. Explores her work on the Apollo 11 mission.  Nonfiction.  Autobiography.  

Becoming RBG:  Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy.  A portrait of the Supreme Court Justice and modern feminist icon that reveals the personal experiences that shaped her philosophy about how lasting change can be accomplished one step at a time. Graphic Novel. Nonfiction.  Biography. 

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei.  Graphic novel memoir of George Takei's childhood imprisoned in American concentration camps for people of Japanese descent during World War II.  Graphic Novel.  Autobiography.  Diverse Fiction.  

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.  When a Connecticut teenager inherits vast wealth and an eccentric estate from the richest man in Texas, she must also live with his surviving family and solve a series of puzzles to discover how she earned her inheritance. Realistic Fiction.  Mystery. 

Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie.  Trained since birth to become the matriarch of the ancient Bone Crier guides for the dead, Ailesse prepares to complete her rite of passage only to be kidnapped by the man and soulmate she is supposed to kill.  Fantasy.  Romance.  

**** A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson.  As her senior capstone project, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is determined to find the real killer in a closed, local murder case, but not everyone wants her meddling in the past.  Mystery.   

Frankly in Love by Frank Yoon.  High school senior Frank Li takes a risk to go after a girl his parents would never approve of, but his plans will leave him wondering if he ever really understood love--or himself--at all.  Realistic Fiction.  Romance.  Diverse Fiction.  

When the Ground Is Hard by Malla Nunn.  At Swaziland's Keziah Christian Academy, where the wealth and color of one's father determines one's station, once-popular Adele bonds with poor Lottie over a book and a series of disasters. Realistic Fiction.  Diverse Fiction.  

The Paper Girls of Paris by Jordyn Taylor.  Now: Sixteen-year-old Alice is spending the summer in Paris, but she isn't there for pastries and walks along the Seine. When her grandmother passed away two months ago, she left Alice an apartment in France that no one knew existed. An apartment that has been locked for more than seventy years. Then: Sixteen-year-old Adalyn doesn't recognize Paris anymore. Everywhere she looks, there are Nazis, and every day brings a new horror of life under the Occupation. When she meets Luc, the dashing and enigmatic leader of a resistance group, Adalyn feels she finally has a chance to fight back.  Historical Fiction.  Romance. 

Verify by Joelle Charbonneau.  Chicago teen Meri Beckley's pride of living in a land of peace, prosperity, and truth crumbles when questions following her mother's death reveal buried facts, especially that words can have great power. Science Fiction.  

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2021:

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel.  When an inkblot, who can write, listen, learn, and draw, jumps out of Mr. Rylance's sketchbook, Ethan believes he may be the answer to their problems and names him Inkling.  Graphic Novel.  Humorous Fiction.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga.  Jude never thought she'd be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven't quite prepared her for starting school in the US --and her new label of 'Middle Eastern,' an identity she's never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises--there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude just might try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is. Realistic Fiction.  Diverse Fiction. 

Shouting at the Rain by Lydia Mullaly Hunt.  Delsie loves tracking the weather, living with her grandmother, and the support of friends and neighbors, but misses having a "regular family," especially after her best friend outgrows her.  Realistic Fiction.

The Unteachables by Gordon Korman.  'The Unteachables' never thought they'd find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again. Over the course of a school year, though, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction--and maybe even a shot at redemption.  Realistic Fiction.  Humorous Fiction.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Perry. A young wolf cub, separated from his pack, journeys 1000 miles across the Pacific Northwest, dealing with forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before finding a new home. Based on the true story of a wolf called OR-7"--Provided by publisher. Includes facts about wolves and their habitats. Realistic Fiction.  Animal Stories.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Told in separate voices, eighteen-year-old Tyler Jones, top graduate of Aurora Academy, and a group of misfits and troublemakers embark on their first mission with Auri, a stowaway from the distant past.  Science Fiction.  

Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer.  Once-popular Rob and overachiever Maegan, both dealing with serious family issues, quickly form a bond that is threatened when Rob confides plans to repair damage his father caused.  Realistic Fiction.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White.  Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her caregiver, and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything except a friend. Science Fiction. 

Illegal by Eoin Colfer.  Ebo is alone. His brother, Kwame, has disappeared, and Ebo knows it can only be to attempt the hazardous journey to Europe, and a better life, the same journey their sister set out on months ago. But Ebo refuses to be left behind in Ghana. Ebo's epic quest takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his family. Graphic Novel.  Realistic Fiction.

Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen.  In 1942 sixteen-year-old Chaya Lindner is a Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied Poland, a courier who smuggles food and documents to the isolated Jewish ghettos in southern Poland, depending on her forged papers and "Aryan" features--but when a mission goes wrong and many of her colleagues are arrested she finds herself on a journey to Warsaw, where an uprising is in the works. Historical Fiction.  

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen. Unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her late mother's estranged relatives at scenic North Lake, a teen finds herself torn between her mother's working-class relatives and her father's wealthier associates.  Realistic Fiction. 

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.  When a long-term attack against her world by the alien Krell escalates, Spensa's dream of becoming a pilot may come true, despite her deceased father being labeled a deserter.  Science Fiction.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi.  It's 2002, a year after 9/11. It's an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who's tired of being stereotyped. Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She's tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments--even the physical violence--she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she's built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James. He's the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her--they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds--and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she's not sure she'll ever be able to let it down. Realistic Fiction.  Romance.  Diverse Fiction.

We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler.  Seventeen-year-old Victoria escapes an abusive father by joining the VanDrexel Family Circus in 1965, and fifty years later her writings guide her granddaughter, sixteen-year-old Callie, in facing the uncharted waters of public high school. Historical Fiction. Realistic Fiction.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2020:

You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly.   Charlotte, twelve, and Ben, eleven, are highly-skilled competitors at online Scrabble and that connection helps both as they face family issues and the turmoil of middle school.  Realistic Fiction. 

Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him. Realistic Fiction.  Historical Fiction.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him. Realistic Fiction.  Historical Fiction.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F. C. Yee. Sixteen-year-old Genie's focus on getting into a top-tier college is destroyed when an enigmatic transfer student, Quentin, helps her transform into a demon-fighter.  Mythology. 

Fake Blood by Whitney Gardner. In order to get the attention of Nia, the girl he likes, eleven-year-old A.J. pretends to be a vampire, unaware that she intends to be a slayer.  Graphic Novel.  Horror.

The Faithful Spy:  Deitrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix. Uses text and illustrations to tell the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who spoke out against the Nazi regime.  Non-fiction.  Memoir.

**The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani.  Shy twelve-year-old Nisha, forced to flee her home with her Hindu family during the 1947 partition of India, tries to find her voice and make sense of the world falling apart around her by writing to her deceased Muslim mother in the pages of her diary.  Historical Fiction.  World History.

****Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter.  Six years ago Maddie lived in Washington D.C. with her father, a Secret Service agent assigned to the President's family, and her best friend was Logan, the President's son; but after her father was wounded in an attempted kidnapping the two of them moved to a remote cabin in Alaska and Logan never replied to her letters--but now he has suddenly turned up on her doorstep, and, while she has no intention of forgiving him for his silence, she soon realizes that first she has to save him from the winter wilderness and the men who are pursuing him. Realistic Fiction.  Adventure. 

The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby.  Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least, to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet. But when she breaks down and posts a video confessing she’s been living a lie—that she isn’t the happy, in love, inspirational online personality she’s been trying so hard to portray—it goes viral and she receives a major backlash.  To get away from it all, she makes an impulsive decision: to hike the entire John Muir Trail. Mari and her late cousin Bri were supposed to do it together, to celebrate their shared eighteenth birthday. But that was before Mari got so wrapped up in her online world that she shut anyone out who questioned its worth—like Bri. With Bri’s boots and trail diary, a heart full of regret, and a group of strangers that she meets along the way, Mari tries to navigate the difficult terrain of the hike. But the true challenge lies within, as she searches for the way back from to the girl she fears may be too lost to find: herself. Realistic Fiction. 

Rebound by Kwame Alexander.  In the summer of 1988, twelve-year-old Chuck Bell is sent to stay with his grandparents, where he discovers jazz and basketball and learns more about his family's past.  Free Verse Poetry.  Realistic Fiction. 

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning. Ever since her best friend Anna died, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. Hiding her talents, mourning her loss, drowning in her guilt. Then a girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears on the shore, and the two girls catch the eyes of two charming princes. Suddenly Evie feels like she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after. But magic isn't kind, and her new friend harbors secrets of her own. She can't stay in Havnestad--or on two legs--without Evie's help. And when Evie reaches deep into the power of her magic to save her friend's humanity--and her prince's heart--she discovers, too late, what she's bargained away.  Fantasy. 

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson.  New at Ellingham Academy, Stevie Bell tries to both solve a murder at campus and the cold case of a double kidnapping.  Mystery.  Thriller. 

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston.  Princess. Captive. Gladiator. Always a Warrior. Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king and the younger sister of the legendary fighter Sorcha. When Fallon was just a child, Sorcha was killed by the armies of Julius Caesar. On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her place in her father's war band. She never gets the chance. Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators—owned by none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon's family might be her only hope of survival. Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, deadly fights in and out of the arena, and perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier and her sworn enemy. A richly imagined fantasy for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Cinda Williams Chima, The Valiant recounts Fallon's gripping journey from fierce Celtic princess to legendary gladiator and darling of the Roman empire. Historical Fiction.  Mythology. 

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Cowley.  Teenagers Rachel and Henry find their way back to each other while working in an old bookstore full of secrets and crushes, love letters and memories, grief and hope. Romance.  Realistic Fiction. 

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2019:

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk.  Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands off the coast of Massachusetts. Her only companions are Osh, the man who rescued her from a tiny skiff as an infant and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their neighbor across the sandbar. But it isn't until the night when a mysterious fire appears across the water that an unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart and an unstoppable chain of events is triggered. Using her bravery and perseverance, Crow must follow clues that not only lead to a personal treasure, but to uncovering her lost identity and, ultimately, understanding what it means to be a family.  Realistic Fiction.  Adventure.

Refugee by Alan Gratz.  Although separated by continents and decades, Josef, a Jewish boy livng in 1930s Nazi Germany; Isabel, a Cuban girl trying to escape the riots and unrest plaguing her country in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 whose homeland is torn apart by violence and destruction, embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge, discovering shocking connections that tie their stories together.  Historical Fiction.  Realistic Fiction.  Adventure.

****Restart by Gordon Korman.  Chase does not remember falling off the roof, in fact he does not remember anything about himself, and when he gets back to middle school he begins to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids--trouble is, he really is not sure he likes the Chase that is being revealed, but can he take the opportunity amnesia has provided and restart his life? Realistic Fiction. 

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappa.  Eighteen-year-old Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of Monstrous Sea, a wildly popular webcomic, but when a new boy at school tempts her to live a life offline, everything she's worked for begins to crumble.  Realistic Fiction.  Romance.  

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerhill.  Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is the outcast daughter of a bounty hunter who must use her powers to track her father's killer in a world of warring kingdoms, and dangerous magic. Fantasy.  Adventure.  Romance.

Exo by Fonda Lee.  For a century now, Earth has been a peaceful colony of an alien race, and Donovan Reyes is a loyal member of the security forces, while his father is the Prime Liaison--but when a routine search and seizure goes bad Donovan finds himself a captive of the human revolutionary group, Sapience, terrorists who seem to prefer war to alien rule, and killing Donovan just might be the incident they are looking for.  Science Fiction.  Adventure.

Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry.  When her mother breaks up with yet another boyfriend, Calliope meets Jinsong at her latest middle school, who becomes her friend despite her Tourette Syndrome and the embarrassment it can cause.  Realistic Fiction. 

** ****Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer.  Juliet Young has always written letters to her mother, a world famous photojournalist--even after her mother's death, she leaves letters at her grave. When Declan finds a haunting letter left beside a grave, he can't resist the urge to write back. Soon, he is sharing his pain with a perfect stranger. When real life interferes with their secret life of letters, Juliet and Declan discover truths that might tear them apart.  Realistic Fiction. 

Scythe by Neal Shusterman. In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ('gleaned') by professional reapers ('scythes'). Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe--a position neither of them wants. The one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't.  Science Fiction. 

Starflight by Melissa Landers. Former high school enemies Solara Brooks and Doran Spaulding must team up when they find themselves aboard a renegade spaceship.   Science Fiction.  Adventure.

A Taste for Monsters by Matthew Kirby.  n 1888 seventeen-year-old Evelyn Fallow, herself disfigured by the phosphorus in the match factory where she worked, has been hired as a maid to Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man--but when the Jack the Ripper murders begin she and Merrick find themselves haunted by the ghosts of the slain women, and Evelyn is caught up in the mystery of Jack's identity.  Adventure.  Mystery.  Ghost Story.

Warcross by Marie Lu. When teenage coder Emika Chen hacks her way into the opening tournament of the Warcross Championships, she glitches herself into the game as well as a sinister plot with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.  Action/Adventure.  Science Fiction.  

The Wingsnatchers: Carmer & Grit by Sarah Jean Horowitz.  Aspiring inventor and magician's apprentice, Felix Carmer III, is aided by Grit, a fiery, flightless faerie princess, in winning a magic competition, in exchange for him helping Grit investigate a string of faerie disappearances.  Fantasy.  Mystery.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2018:

Ada's Violin:  The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay. Tells the true tale of an orchestra made up of children playing instruments built from recycled trash called the 'Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood. Non-fiction.

Bubonic Panic:  When Plague Invaded America by Gail Jarrow. In March 1900, San Francisco's health department investigated a strange and horrible death in Chinatown. A man had died of bubonic plague, one of the world's deadliest diseases. But how could that be possible? 'Bubonic Panic' tells the true story of America's first plague epidemic--the public health doctors who desperately fought to end it, the political leaders who tried to keep it hidden, and the brave scientists who uncovered the plague's secrets. Non-fiction.

The Secret Subway by Shana Corey. In 1870, Alfred Ely Beach invents New York's first underground train. Non-fiction. 

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom:  My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowrey. The author recounts her experiences as the youngest marcher on the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.  Non-fiction/Autobiography. 

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. Twelve-year-old Annabelle must learn to stand up for what's right in the face of a manipulative and violent new bully who targets people Annabelle cares about, including a homeless World War I veteran. Historical Fiction. 

****Booked by Kwame Alexander. Twelve-year-old Nick loves soccer and hates books, but soon learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Realistic Fiction/Sports.

**The Fixer by Jennifer Lynne Barnes. When her grandfather develops dementia, sixteen-year-old Tess, who has been keeping his Montana ranch going, is whisked away to Washington, D.C., by a sister she barely knows and thrown into a world of politics, power, wealth, love triangles, and family secrets. Mystery/Thriller.

Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy. Brought over from Russia to help NASA prevent an asteroid from colliding with Earth, seventeen-year-old physics genius Yuri feels awkward and alone until he meets free-spirited Dovie. Science Fiction/Adventure/Romance.

The Novice by Taran Matharu. Discovering his rare ability to summon demons from another world, blacksmith's apprentice Fletcher practices his skills at a magical academy where he prepares to serve his Empire in the war against the Orcs. Fantasy.

Railhead by Philip Reeve. In a world of drones and androids, Zen Starling is a human thief, but mostly he just likes to ride the Interstellar Express, the sentient trains that travel through the K gates from planet to planet, something only the Guardians understand. But now the mysterious Raven wants him to steal the Pyxis, an object that could either open up a new gate, challenging the Guardians, or put the entire gate system, and the universe itself, in  danger. Science Fiction.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. As World War II draws to a close, refugees try to escape the war's final dangers, only to find themselves aboard a ship with a target on its hull. Historical Fiction.

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum. Sixteen-year old Jessie, still grieving over her mother's death, must move from Chicago to "The Valley," with a new stepfamily but no new friends until an anonymous fellow student emails and offers to help her navigate the school's treacherous social  waters. Realistic Fiction/Romance.

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson . Lee Westfall, a young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold, must flee her home to avoid people who would abuse her powers, so when her best friend Jefferson heads out across Gold Rush-era America to stake his claim, she disguises herself as a boy and sets out on her own dangerous  journey. Historical Fiction.

Zero Day by Jan Gangsei. Eight years after being kidnapped Addie Webster, now sixteen, resurfaces under mysterious circumstances, significantly changed, and her childhood best friend, Darrow Fergusson, is asked by a national security advisor to spy on her to uncover whether she is a threat to her father's Presidency or the nation. Adventure/Mystery/Thriller.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2017:

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler:  Knud Pederson and the Churchill Club by Philip Hoose. Tells the story of a group of boy resistance fighters in Denmark after the Nazi invasion during World War II. Non-fiction.  

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands. In 1665 London, fourteen-year-old Christopher Rowe, apprentice to an apothecary, and his best friend Tom try to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult, following a trail of puzzles, codes, pranks, and danger toward an unearthly secret with the power to tear the world apart. Fantasy. 

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker. A young disabled girl and her brother are evacuated from London to the English countryside during World War II, where they find life to be much sweeter away from their abusive mother. Historical Fiction. 

** ****A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen. When the Berlin Wall went up, Gerta, her mother, and her brother Fritz were trapped on the eastern side where they were living, while her father, and her other brother Dominic were in the West--four years later, now twelve, Gerta sees her father on a viewing platform on the western side and realizes he wants her to risk her life trying to tunnel to freedom. Historical Fiction.  

The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz. Fourteen-year-old Joan Skraggs, just like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a hardscrabble farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary as she seeks a new, better life for herself--because maybe, just maybe, a hired girl cleaning and cooking for six dollars a week can become what a farm girl could only dream of--a woman with a future. Historical Fiction.

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest. Years after writing stories about a superheroine character she created with a best friend who died in a tragic car accident, 16-year-old May is shocked to see stickers, patches and graffiti images of the superheroine appearing all over town. Adventure.

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine. Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly, but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden ... When his friend inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life--and soon both heretics and books will burn. Dystopia. 

Jackaby by William Ritter. Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which, Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature. Fantasty/Mystery/Paranormal.

Kissing in America by Margo Rabb. Seeking comfort in romance novels and poetry after the death of her father, 16-year-old Eva forges a bond with Will and begins coming out of her shell until Will's sudden move to California forces her to confront painful realities. Romance/Realistic Fiction.  

The Leveller by Julie Durango. Nixy Bauer, a sixteen-year-old self-made video-game bounty hunter, gets in over her head when she attempts to rescue a game developer's son from a virtual trap. Science Fiction. 

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. Lord Ballister Blackheart seeks to bring down the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics with the aid of his new shapeshifting sidekick, Nimona. Graphic Novel/Fantasy. 

The Six by Mark Alpert. Adam, crippled by muscular dystrophy, and five other terminally ill teenagers sacrifice their bodies and upload their minds into weaponized robots to battle a dangerously advanced artificial intelligence program bent on destroying  humanity. Science Fiction. 

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee. In 1845, Sammy, a Chinese American girl, and Annamae, an African American slave girl, disguise themselves as boys and travel on the Oregon Trail to California from Missouri. Historical Fiction.  

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2016:

Eruption!  Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch. An account of volcanologist Andy Lockhart, John Pallister, and their group of scientists who risk their lives, investigating three deadly volcanoes that remain constant threats to the people of Columbia. Non-fiction.

Fighting Fire!  Ten of the Deadliest Fires in American History and How We Fought Them by Michael Cooper. Photographs and text describe ten of the deadliest fires in the history of the United States, including the Witch Creek Fire in San Diego County, California, the Great Chicago Fire, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York, and more, and discusses the strategies used to fight these fires. Non-fiction. 

Imprisoned:  the Betrayal of Japanese American during World War II by Martin Sandler. Examines the American internment of Japanese Americans and immigrants in concentration camps during World War II, and the struggle of internees to rebuild their lives after they were freed at the end of the war. Non-fiction.

Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuth. Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California. Non-fiction Biography Picture Book. 

All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry. Judith can't speak. But when her close-knit community of Roswell Station is attacked by enemies, Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice.  Historical Fiction/Romance.

Buzz Kill by Beth Fantasky. Seventeen-year-old Millie joins forces with her classmate, gorgeous but mysterious Chase Colton, to try to uncover who murdered head football coach "Hollerin' Hank" Killdare--and why. Fantasy.

**Counting by 7s by Holly Goldburg Sloan. Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident.  Realistic Fiction.

Grandmaster by David Klass. A father-son chess tournament reveals the dark side of the game. Realistic Fiction.

If We Survive by Andrew Klavan. When revolutionaries seize control of a country in Central America where sixteen-year-old Will is serving at a mission, he and the other volunteers find themselves in a desperate race to escape the violence and return home. Realistic Fiction/Adventure.

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. Since her father's death in a factory in the Dragonfly territories, thirteen-year-old Piper has eked out a living as a scrapper in Merrow Kingdom, but the arrival of a mysterious girl sends her on a dangerous journey to distant lands. Fantasy.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynne Barnes. Seventeen-year-old Cassie, who has a natural ability to read people, joins an elite group of criminal profilers at the FBI in order to help solve cold cases. Mystery/Adventure.

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake. In 1871 Wisconsin, thirteen-year-old Georgia sets out to find her sister Agatha, presumed dead when remains are found wearing the dress she was last seen in, and before the end of the year gains fame as a sharpshooter and foiler of counterfeiters. Historical Fiction/Adventure/Mystery.

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. Follows three young operatives of a Psychic Detection Agency as they battle an epidemic of ghosts in London.  Paranormal/Mystery.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superhuman powers, and now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners, the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny. Science Fiction.

**** Tesla's Attic by Neal Shusterman. With a plot combining science and the supernatural, four kids are caught up in a dangerous plan concocted by the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla. Science Fiction.

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban. While preparing for a dreaded assignment at the prestigious Irving School, the Tragedy Paper, Duncan discovers the tragic tale of Tim Macbeth, a former student who had a secret relationship with the wrong girl, and his own ill-fated romance with Daisy. Realistic Fiction/Romance.

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2015:

Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles. n 1940, thirteen-year-old Evvy Hoffmeister and her newfound friends struggle to get well at Loon Lake Sanatorium, where they are being treated for tuberculosis. Historical Fiction. 

Duke by Kirby Larson. In 1944 Hobie Hanson's father is flying B-24s in Europe, so Hobie decides to donate his beloved German shepherd, Duke, to Dogs for Defense in the hope that it will help end the war sooner--but when he learns that Duke is being trained for combat he is shocked, frightened and determined to get his dog back.  Historical Fiction. 

Escape from Mr. Lemomcello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight in the new town library, designed by his hero (the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello), with other students but finds that come morning he must work with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape. Adventure. 

One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale. Retells, in graphic novel format, the history of the author's namesake, an officer and spy for the American rebels during the Revolutionary War, revealing facts about Nathan Hale's earlier days at Yale and his unlucky experiences as an military officer. Graphic Novel/Biography.

Paperboy by Vince Vawter. When an eleven-year-old boy takes over a friend's newspaper route in July, 1959, in Memphis, his debilitating stutter makes for a memorable month. Historical Fiction.

Wild Born:  Spirit Animals #1 by Brandon Mull. As a dark force engulfs the land, the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers who each have forged a rare bond with their spirit beasts -- a bond that gives great powers to all of them. Fantasy. 

Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss. Looks at Japanese American baseball player Kenichi Zenimura's time spent in the internment camps during World War II and his creation of a baseball field there. Non-fiction Picture Book.

Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares. An illustrated biography of Babe Ruth that describes his childhood and how he became a famous baseball player. Biography Picture Book. 

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson. Text and illustrations presents a biography of the former South African president best known for his political activism and fight to end apartheid.  Biography Picture Book.

The Boy on the Wooden Box:  How the Impossible Became Possible on Schindler's List by Leon Leyson. Leon Leyson describes growing up in Poland, being forced from home to ghetto to concentration camps by the Nazis, and being saved by Oskar Schindler. Biography. 

Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin. Describes the 1876 attempt to steal and ransom Lincoln's body to secure the release of an imprisoned leader of a counterfeiting ring. Non-fiction.

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown. Set in 1920s New York City, this is the story of budding magician Anna Van Housen, who has spent her whole life playing sidekick to her faux-medium mother, and trying to hide the fact the she actually possesses the very abilities her mother fakes. Historical Fiction/Paranormal.

The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni. Returning to her hometown of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in 1867 to marry a man she has never met, seventeen-year-old Verity Boone gets caught up in the a mystery surrounding the graves of her mother and aunt and a dangerous hunt for Revolutionary-era gold. Historical Fiction/Mystery/Romance.  

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel. Cam gets a cardboard box for a birthday present that he makes into a man which comes to life, but when his neighbor Marcus takes the cardboard box, he creates his own evil creations that threaten to destroy them all. Graphic Novel/Fantasy. 

**** Guitar Notes by Mary Amato. Tripp, who plays guitar only for himself, and Lyla, a cellist whose talent has already made her famous but not happy, form an unlikely friendship when they are forced to share a practice room at their high school.  Realistic Fiction/Romance.  

Insomnia:  The Night Walkers #1 by J.R. Johansson. Sixteen-year-old Parker Chipp spends his nights experiencing other people's dreams and getting no rest, so when he discovers that new friend Mia's dreams are different he becomes fixated on her until memory blackouts lead him to question exactly what their relationship is. Mystery/Thriller. 

My Family for the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve. Ten-year-old Franziska Mangold escapes Nazi Germany on the kindertransport she boards in Berlin, and when she arrives in London, she takes on the name Frances and struggles with her identity as she pieces together a new life without her family.  Historical Fiction.

The Name of the Star:  Shades of London #1 by Maureen Johnson. Rory, of Boueuxlieu, Louisiana, is spending a year at a London boarding school when she witnesses a murder by a Jack the Ripper copycat and becomes involved with the very unusual investigation. Mystery/Thriller.

Ship Out of Luck:  Antsy Bonano #3 by Neal Shusterman. Antsy and his family embark on a week-long adventure on a cruise ship to celebrate Old Man Crawley's eightieth birthday, and Antsy finds himself in trouble when he becomes involved with a stowaway and thief named Tilde. Realistic Fiction.

Skinny by Donna Cooner. After undergoing gastric-bypass surgery, a self-loathing, obese teenaged girl loses weight and makes the brave decision to start participating in high school life, including pursuing her dream of becoming a singer and finding love. Realistic Fiction/Romance.

Slated:  Slated #1 by Teri Terry. in a future England, sixteen-year-old Kyla is one of the "slated, " those whose memories have been erased usually because they have committed serious crimes, but as she observes more and more strange events, she also gains more memories which put her and her boyfriend, Ben in danger.  Dystopia.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. Hadley and Oliver fall in love on the flight from New York to London, but after a cinematic kiss they lose track of each other at the airport until fate brings them back together on a very momentous day. Realistic Fiction/Romance.

The Testing:  The Testing #1 by Joelle Charbonnaeu. Sixteen-year-old Malencia (Cia) Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, Cia is fearful when she figures out her friends who do not pass The Testing are disappearing. Dystopia/Science Fiction. 

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2014:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Cinder, a gifted mechanic and a cyborg with a mysterious past, is blamed by her stepmother for her stepsister's illness while a deadly plague decimates the population of New Beijing, but when Cinder's life gets intertwined with Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle.  Science Fiction/Romance. 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. In 1943, a British fighter plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France and the survivor tells a tale of friendship, war, espionage, and great courage as she relates what she must to survive while keeping secret all that she can. Historical Fiction.

**** The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. In the country of Carthya, a devious nobleman engages four orphans in a brutal competition to be selected to impersonate the king's long-missing son in an effort to avoid a civil war. Fantasy. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Sixteen year old Hazel, who has cancer, meets Augustus at a kids-with-cancer support group and as they fall in love they both wonder how they will be remembered.  Realistic Fiction/Romance. 

Legend by Marie Lu. In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, fifteen-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy. Dystopia.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine. Twelve-year-old Marlee develops a strong friendship with Liz, the new girl in school, but when Liz suddenly stops attending school and Marlee hears a rumor that her friend is actually an African American girl passing herself off as white, the two young girls must decide whether their friendship is worth taking on integration and the dangers it could bring to their families. Historical Fiction.  

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter. Dystopia/Adventure.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater. Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races, both trying to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Fantasy/Romance.  

Shadow and Bone:  Grisha Trilogy #1 by Leigh Bardugo. Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the proteg of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.  Fantasy/Romance.

Ungifted by Gordon Korman. Due to an administrative mix-up, troublemaker Donovan Curtis is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special program for gifted and talented students, after pulling a major prank at middle school.  Realistic Fiction. 

Welcome Caller:  This Is Chloe by Shelley Corriel. When big-hearted Chloe Camden's best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor puts a stop to her junior independent study project, Chloe is forced to take on a "more meaningful" project by joining her school's struggling radio station. Realistic Fiction. 

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury. Seventeen-year-old Agnes Wilkins dreams of being an Egyptologist and what it would be like to arrive in Cairo on the back of a camel to study Egyptian mummies, but she is stuck in 1817 London at the beginning of her debut season as a debutant. Historical Fiction/Romance. 

BEEHIVE BOOKS 2013:

**Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys. In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil.  Historical Fiction.

Blood Red Road: Dustlanders #1 by Moira Young. In a distant future, eighteen-year-old Lugh is kidnapped, and while his twin sister Saba and nine-year-old Emmi are trailing him across bleak Sandsea they are captured, too, and taken to brutal Hopetown, where Saba is forced to be a cage fighter until new friends help plan an escape.  Dystopia. 

Dead Cloud by Andrew Lane. In 1868, with his army officer father suddenly posted to India, and his mother mysteriously "unwell, " fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes is sent to stay with his eccentric uncle and aunt in their vast house in Hampshire, where he uncovers his first murder and a diabolical villain. Mystery/Thriller/Adventure.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal. For sixteen years, Nalia has been raised as the princess of Thorvaldor, but one day she learns that her real name is Sinda and that she is part of a complicated plot that would change the future of her country forever.  Fantasy.

The Last Things I Remember:  Homelanders #1 by Andrew Klavan. High school student Charlie West awakens bloody and bruised in a concrete bunker only to discover that he has lost a year of his life and remembers nothing about escaping from prison after being convicted of murdering his former best friend, or why he is being pursued by both the law and a group of terrorists trying to bring down the government of the United States. (realistic fiction/mystery/thriller)

Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt. Fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck faces many challenges, including an abusive father, a brother traumatized by Vietnam, suspicious teachers and police officers, and isolation, but when he meets a girl known as Lil Spicer, he develops a close relationship with her and finds a safe place at the local library. Historical Fiction.

Ruby Red:  Ruby Red #1 by Kerstin Gier. Gwyneth discovers that she has a time-travel gene, and she journeys with Gideon, who shares the gift, through historical London to find who they can trust.  Fantasy/Romance.

****The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. When a school bus accident leaves sixteen-year-old Jessica an amputee, she returns to school with a prosthetic limb and her track team finds a wonderful way to help rekindle her dream of running again.  Realistic Fiction.  

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt. After discovering that her father has multiple sclerosis, fifteen-year-old Payton begins counseling sessions at school, which lead her to become interested in a boy in her biology class, have a falling out with her best friend, develop an interest in bike riding, and eventually allow her to come to terms with life's uncertainties.  Realistic Fiction/Romance.  

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell. Because living with "modern-hippy" parents on a goat farm means fourteen-year-old Janie Gorman cannot have a normal high school life, she tries joining Jam Band, making friends with Monster, and spending time with elderly former civil rights workers. Realistic Fiction. 

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore. Seventeen-year-old Amy Goodnight has long been the one who makes her family of witches seem somewhat normal to others, but while spending a summer with her sister caring for their aunt's farm, Amy becomes the center of weirdness when she becomes tied to a powerful ghost.  Paranormal/Mystery/Thriller.  

Variant:  Variant #1 by Robison Wells. After years in foster homes, seventeen-year-old Benson Fisher applies to New Mexico's Maxfield Academy in hopes of securing a brighter future, but instead he finds that the school is a prison and no one is what he or she seems. Dystopia/Science Fiction.

** Sand Ridge Winner

**** State of Utah Winner