Best of 2016: Books for High Schoolers

As the year comes to a close, library staff members and volunteers reflect on the best books they've read in 2016. Here are their suggestions for the best books for readers in high school:

The Sun is Also a Star
by Nicola Yoon
Recommended by Cleo Joyce, Youth Services Supervisor, Sharon Forks Library
Cleo says: "This book hit me hard and has stuck with me since (and that’s saying something as I read a lot of realistic teen fiction this year!). Natasha, the daughter of illegal immigrants, is hours away from deportation. Daniel, whose parents are also immigrants, is on his way to a medical school interview for Yale. When Natasha and Daniel’s paths collide in New York, what follows is the most memorable day of their lives. A great romance for everyone who believes in love at first sight."

The Girl at Midnight
by Melissa Grey
Recommended by Jennifer Anderson, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

March (Books One, Two, and Three)
by John Lewis
Recommended by Cleo Joyce, Youth Services Supervisor, Sharon Forks Library
Cleo says: "This award-winning graphic novel follows John Lewis from his childhood on an Alabama farm through pivotal moments in the Civil Rights movement, culminating with the march from Selma to Birmingham. A powerful must-read for any American. Please note: This book contains violence and strong language."

The Sleeper and the Spindle
by Neil Gaiman
Recommended by Jennifer Anderson, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

The Darkest Part of the Forest
by Holly Black
Recommended by Jennifer Anderson, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Nimona
by Noelle Stevenson
Recommended by Jennifer Anderson, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Lumberjanes, Vol 1, Beware the Kitten Holy
by Noelle Stevenson
Recommended by Jennifer Anderson, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Ms. Marvel, Vol 1, No Normal
by Willow G. Wilson
Recommended by Jennifer Anderson, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Bone Gap
by Laura Ruby
Also available as CD Audiobook and eBook
Recommended by Julie Boyd, Youth Services Supervisor, Cumming Library

The Here and Now
by Ann Brashares
Recommended by Julie Boyd, Youth Services Supervisor, Cumming Library

Winter
by Marissa Meyer
Also available as eBook
Recommended by Julie Boyd, Youth Services Supervisor, Cumming Library

Challenger Deep
by Neil Schusterman
Also available as eAudiobook
Recommended by Holly Raus, Youth Specialist, Cumming Library
Holly says: "This is a powerful and uniquely told story about mental illness that was inspired by the author’s teenage son’s artwork as he suffered from schizophrenia in a psychiatric facility. This National Book Award winner weaves a complex tale of a story which becomes clear to the reader is a mirror to reality."

Ink and Bone
by Rachel Caine