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Teen Best Reads of 2024

Our Teen Best Reads interns read over a hundred books this year and, using the same criteria that our Teen Services librarians use for our Best of the Best lists, the teens chose these titles as their favorite books published in 2024.

Chicago Public Library

40 items

  • In 49 days we follow Kit after death. There are 49 days between life and passing or rebirth. We see Kits's journey in the in-between. This poignant story explores grief from multiple perspectives, as Kit’s loved ones cope with her passing…
    Paperback[Hoboken, New Jersey] : Levine Querido, [2024] — PN6727.L44F6789 2024
  • Arya Khanna is juggling her senior year as student council VP, family drama surrounding her sister’s shaadi preparations, and a growing rivalry-turned-romance with Dean Merriweather. This heartwarming coming-of-age story explores culture,…
    BookNew York : Wednesday Books, [2024] — FIC AVACHAT
  • After a falling out with her best friend Becca, Nora must follow cryptic messages to uncover the truth behind Becca’s disappearance. The messages lead her to the dangerous “goddess game” they once adored as children. Perfect for fans of…
    BookNew York : Flatiron Books, 2024. — FIC ALBERT
  • Contracting blood cancer at twenty-five tips Walela Nehanda’s world on axis, their life and ambitions forced on pause, while their mind continues on. Throughout their cancer journey, Nehanda is forced to witness firsthand the injustices of…
    BookNew York : Kokila, [2024] — PS3614.E42B54 2024
  • Born a Girl talks about what it's like to be a femme person around the world and all the things that come with that. Inspired by real stories Born a Girl speaks on and informs the reader of the injustices and violence women and girls…
    PaperbackVictoria, British Columbia : Orca Book Publishers, [2024] — HQ798.D8713 2024
  • The Boy Lost in the Maze is a book written in verse that compares the experience of Theo, a modern-day boy searching for his father whom he’s never met, and the ancient story of Theseus. In the same way that Theseus encounters many enemies…
    BookSomerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2024. — FIC COELHO
  • Brownstone is a heartwarming story about 14-year-old Almudena, who has to spend the summer with her father, Xavier, whom she’s never met. Almudena struggles with her identity as she navigates a new culture, a language barrier, and her…
    PaperbackNew York, NY : Versify, Harper Alley, imprints of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2024] — PZ7.7.T44Br 2022
  • Rafie is the 3-time winning lead singer of his Texas high school’s Mariachi group, and he plans to end his senior year with a final win. Mariachi is everything to Rafie, it’s a big part of his culture, and his late grandfather’s passion.…
    BookNew York : Wednesday Books, 2024. — FIC GARZA VI
  • Jay Wong is about done with everything. She’s going into her senior year, has no clue what she wants to do for college, can’t seem to land her kick flip, and is desperate for anything to make her last year at home different. When Ash Chan,…
    PaperbackToronto : Annick Press, [2024] — FIC LI
  • Leti Rivera is a 17-year-old girl who’s determined to prove herself as a top street racer in a male-dominated world. Her brother taught her everything she knows about driving, and with the support of her crew, Leti dreams of making a name…
    BookNew York : Henry Holt and Company, 2024. — FIC CALLEN
  • After a near-death experience, Andres turns to music to cope with his family conflicts. When his girlfriend Liora faces her own brush with death, Andres and Renee, their partner, journey to the underworld to bring her back. This modern…
    Book[Atlanta, Georgia] : Peachtree Teen, [2024] — FIC ROMERO
  • In a remote desert home, Magdalena Herrera is hiding a secret. She’s used to being alone, keeping her darkness to herself while caring for her ailing grandmother, working her part-time job, and desperately trying to keep it together. But…
    PaperbackNew York, NY : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2024. — PZ7.7.O767De 2024
  • Hanalei has been living in exile for ten years, despite being a descendant of one of Tamarind’s most respected families. Her banishment stems from her father’s theft of a sea dragon egg meant to save the island’s ailing princess.…
    BookNew York, NY : Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2024] — FIC LUCIER
  • Lucia is used to feeling isolated, but when her mother secretly plans the debut she refused to have, she’s torn between honoring her family’s wishes and staying true to herself. With themes of Filipino traditions, family dynamics, and…
    PaperbackNew York : Feiwel and Friends, 2024. — FIC ROGERS
  • Quill, a young dryad, has lived his entire life confined to his family’s apartment, tending their magical garden and working in their flower shop. His overprotective mother and sister believe it’s too dangerous for him to venture outside.…
    BookShrewsbury, PA : Entangled Publishing, LLC, [2024] — FIC GREENLEE
  • In a small Arkansas town, Darren Purchase dreams of leaving her roots behind to become a renowned journalist. When her favorite singer, Deckelee Cassel, dies, Darren enters a race to find Deckelee’s lost time capsule, with a $3 million…
    PaperbackNew York : Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC, [2024] — FIC VORIS
  • Everything I Learned About Racism, I Learned in School is a powerful exploration into the systemic, racist, and painful experiences faced by Black and Brown students within the American Education System. Through a combination of personal…
    Book[New York, New York] : Versify, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2024] — LC212.2.J49 2024
  • Set in 1967 Portugal, Eyes Open follows Sónia, a determined young poet living under a harsh dictatorship. Inspired by the anti-government art of her boyfriend Zé Miguel, Sónia writes poems challenging the oppressive regime. But when her…
    BookMinneapolis, MN : Carolrhoda Lab, 2024. — FIC MILLER-L
  • Rowan’s life changes forever when she is initiated as a Harrow by the Rosewood Institute. Mysteries about her life begin to unravel—why her mother always wore gloves and the strange premonitions Rowan has experienced. Harrows possess the…
    PaperbackNew York : Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, 2024. — PN6728.H3687K54 2024
  • Here I Am, I Am Me

    An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health

    Bean, Cara,
    This nonfiction graphic novel uses fun illustrations and approachable commentary to explore mental health topics, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and the science behind brain chemicals and hormones. With its accessible…
    BookNew York : Workman Publishing, [2024] — RA790.B422 2024