The NCW Libraries’ Teen Council is excited to bring you five new book recommendations written by members of the council.
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
The False Prince is about a boy named Sage, living in poverty in the kingdom of Carthya. A nobleman named Connor vows to change Sage’s life if he can survive long enough to disguise himself as the dead prince. Sage quickly learns that if he will ever live as a prince, he must learn to tell his enemies from his friends, if he has any. I recommend this book to anyone who loves royal fantasy! I liked it because of the intriguing plot and well-developed characters!
~Ava, Okanogan County
Crying in H Mart: a Memoir by Michelle Zauner
Crying in H Mart is a memoir by Michele Zauner (lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast), focusing on her connection to Korean food and culture as associated with her mother’s cancer diagnosis and death. This book is incredibly sensitive, thoughtful, and deeply personal, with descriptions of food and settings that feel tangible and nostalgic, and descriptions of familial relationships that feel real in their complexity. I’d recommend this book to anyone who has had experience with cancer or the death of a loved one, anyone with a complicated relationship with their parents, or anyone who connects with a Korean identity.
~Andria, Douglas County
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Legends and Lattes is a DnD inspired fantasy novel about a battle-worn adventurer who’s gotten tired of the questing life. After one final adventure, she packs up her sword and leaves her crew to set up shop in a new city. A coffee shop to be specific, never mind that no one has the faintest idea what coffee is. Legends and Lattes is a very heartwarming story that has quickly become a favorite despite my usual taste for bloody horror and thrills. I wholeheartedly recommend this to any DnD player who’s ever wondered what comes after “Happily Ever After” or to anyone looking for a new comfort read. It’s certainly mine.
~Lowe, Grant County
The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
The Grisha Trilogy is filled with dynamic characters and paints a vivid picture of a mythical world. Everything from the entertaining magic system down to the history of regions and folklore is experienced in this world. This trilogy blends together a political story with magic and drama that kept me hooked until the very end.
~James, Chelan County
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
The play Romeo and Juliet was written over 400 years ago by William Shakespeare. It is a story of a pair of young and idealistic teenagers who become romantically obsessed with each other, and the social implications and effects of their relationships with each other and their feuding families. This play is classic and timeless because of how it explores themes of formation of identity, love, freedom, and privilege, and how the social and societal roles people play influence how our culture has been shaped.
~Andria, Douglas County