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The NCW Libraries Teen Council is excited to bring you another installment of its recommendation series for teens, TLC Top 5.

The Teen Library Council is composed of teens in 8th-12th grade from across North Central Washington who work together with library staff to develop programs and services for teens. Find out more about the council HERE.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

The Gilded Wolves is the start to an astoundingly unique and beautifully worded historical-fiction book trilogy that I just recently finished. It was written by Roshani Chokshi, who is known for her diverse and beautiful writing style. This first book details the adventure of Séverin Montagnet-Alarie and his group of carefully selected misfits as they go off to steal an ancient artifact from the famed House Kore, in order to prove Séverin as a true patriarch. However, along the way Séverin begins to show another side of himself as he begins to yearn for something beyond just mortal power and the greed that sprouts from that. Reading this I was dazzled by the delicate imagery and the way that Chokshi can make you feel the emotions of the characters on a deeper level. What I found most intriguing was the way that she depicted religion and something beyond just the belief. I enjoyed just about every second of it and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys having the ability to really dive deep and find a further meaning to what is already put before you.

-Grace, Chelan County

Solito by Javier Zamora

Solito is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while now and I’m so glad I’ve recently been able to read it. In this true story, the author recounts his journey when he was 9 years old traveling alone from El Salvador to the United States. You follow not only his journey but also him growing up. You can see the simple things a typical 9-year-old feels and gets excited about, coupled with a terrifying reality. This story was fascinating. Not only because of the writing style Zamora adopted, but because of my ability to see the other side. My parents are Mexican immigrants and seeing these topics, that I’ve heard small recounts of, being expanded and explained in a way I’ve never thought about, was something I deeply appreciated. If you’d like to learn more about our world, or have a good cry, I would definitely recommend Solito.

-Stacy, Chelan County

 

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

The Girl With All the Gifts is a beautifully written thriller set in a post-zombie apocalypse. It follows a young, brilliant zombie girl, a human teacher who cares too much for her “hungry“ (zombie) children, a scientist whose life work is to dissect and study hungry children, and a weathered anti-hungry apocalypse survivor and soldier. From this book’s gory descriptions, heart-achingly sad relationships, and fleshed-out characters, it is a great read for anyone who enjoys horror or even just books about love and loss. I also enjoy the effort put into exploring the logic behind the zombies’ biology and the world’s reaction to the outbreak. 

– Andria, Douglas County

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are by Lewis Carrol, a very fascinating fellow. There are different variations of the story and illustrations. I personally enjoy this story because it can be interpreted in many different ways. Alice could really be going on a strange adventure where she finds the strange and confusing almost normal or there can be a deeper meaning. It could be a metaphor for her growing up, becoming an adult, and seeing the strangeness of the real world. She could also be suffering from mental illness, which is a common theory. But as the story states, the idea of her being mad isn’t a completely bad thing. I like the theories that come with this story. I absolutely recommend the book, especially if you’re able to get the unabridged story with the original illustrations.

-Jaden, Okanogan County

Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit

Guns for General Washington is a historical fiction novel. The author is Seymour Reit, an American author who has written over eighty books. This book details the true account of Will Knox, a 19-year-old, as he goes on a top-secret mission with his older brother, Henry Knox. General Washington is held up outside of Boston with the British ready to attack. The problem is that they have very little gunpowder and almost no artillery. Without these, the quest for America’s independence from Great Britain will fail in weeks. So, this secret mission entails a group of heroic men, many of them teens, obtaining cannons, artillery, and gunpowder from New York’s Fort Ticonderoga – in the dead of winter – and traveling 300 miles south to the Boston camp. We know the outcome, that the guns make it, because this is a true story and we did defeat the British with a surprise attack in Boston using these cannons. However, this story, with its many perils, obstacles, and valiant soldiers wanting freedom is filled with excitement. I absolutely recommend the novel for a quick read that makes American Revolutionary history exciting.

-James, Chelan County

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