Teen Books by Nicole Katz, Library Associate I at LPLS's Columbia Branch Library
1) The Dead-Tossed Waves Book 2 of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan, 14 years old and up
In the second installment of The Forest of Hands and Teeth books, the story follows the life of Mary’s daughter, Gabry, a rather quiet girl that enjoys the safety that her town provides from the never-ending mass of zombie hordes, referred to as “unconsecrated” or “mudo”. Her world is turned upside down after going on an adventure with her friends over the barrier and they are attacked by mudo, infecting the one boy she thought she could ever love. This dystopian page-turner is full of rich descriptions and has an excellent plotline. It tests the limits of love and society. If you’re looking for an awesome Zombie book, this is the one for you.
2) The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, 14 years old and up
Charlie is starting high school tomorrow and he is really nervous about it. Written through letters to an anonymous reader, Charlie writes about his thoughts and experiences about family, friends, music, books, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the complexities of relationships and abuse, and how girls are just plain weird. This is a very thought-provoking book about being a teenage boy and coming of age while coping with a difficult past and dealing with an equally difficult present.
3) City of Bones Book 1 of The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, 14 years old and up
(City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls)
Clary Fray is just your typical run-of-the-mill teenage girl out having fun at a club in New York with her best friend Simon, when she witnesses a boy being murdered and no one else, even Simon, can see the boy or his attackers. Little did she know that the boy was a demon being tracked by Shadowhunters, a secret society of hunters that police the unseen world of fairies, werewolves, vampires, demons, nephilim and the like. Clary’s life is soon turned completely around as she is thrown head first into this new world and tries to figure out how she fits into it all. This is an excellent series full of adventure, scandal, romance, and a world of secrets.
4) Zombies Vs Unicorns Edited by: Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier, 14 years old and up
Zombies Vs Unicorns is a fabulous anthology of short stories about Zombies and Unicorns. The two editors argue their case back and forth between stories about what is better, Zombies? Or Unicorns? They also argue over which types of Zombies and Unicorns are better: fast-moving Zombies, Unicorns that fart rainbows, slow-stumbling Zombies, Man-eating Unicorns, Zombies in love, lactose intolerant - chocolate milk-loving Unicorns and more.