2021 Staff Picks for Teens

Our staff read a wide range of Teen titles this year including bone-chilling thrillers, adventure-filled fantasies, inspiring and educational nonfiction, heartwarming romances, historical fiction, coming of age tales, and so much more.

Checkout our list below for some of our favorites!

• Ace of Spades  by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé - recommended by Gina F. at Gayton
• All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys Soccer Team  by Christina Soontornvat - recommended by Amy B. at Libbie Mill
• Angel of Greenwood  by Randi Pink - recommended by Demetria E. at Sandston/Varina
• A Pho Love Story  by Loan Le - recommended by Amy C. at Tuckahoe
• Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre  by Brandy Colbert – recommended by Kelsey C. at Varina
• Blackout  by Various Authors (Dhonielle Clayton,  Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone , Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, & Nicola Yoon) - recommended by Teshawna T. at Twin Hickory
• The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War and Survival  by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan – recommended by Jamie C. at Library Administration
• Chain of Iron  by Cassandra Clare - recommended by Emily H. at Fairfield
• Concrete Rose  by Angie Thomas - recommended by Logan F. at Gayton
• Don't Hate the Player  by Alexis Nedd - recommended by Trisha K. at Fairfield
• Dragon Hoops  by Gene Luen Yang - recommended by Drew C. at Gayton
• Eat Your Heart Out  by Kelly DeVos - recommended by Alicia A. at Library Administration
• Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown  by Steve Sheinkin - recommended by Rick S. at Library Administration
• Firekeeper’s Daughter  by Angeline Boulley - recommended by Kristyn S. at Libbie Mill
• The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures  by Noelle Stevenson - recommended by Barbie B. at Tuckahoe
• Fragile Remedy  by Maria Ingrande Mora - recommended by Barbra S. at Fairfield
• Gearbreakers  by Zoe Hana Mikuta - recommended by Courtney W. at Libbie Mill
• Grown  by Tiffany Jackson - recommended by Nideria B. at Sandston/Varina
• Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman - recommended by Dee D. at Libbie Mill
• Horrid  by Katrina Leno - recommended by Erica T. at Glen Allen
• Instructions for Dancing  by Nicola Yoon - recommended by Aimee H. at Glen Allen
• King and the Dragonflies  by Kacen Callender – recommended by Fae S. at Twin Hickory
• Last Night at the Telegraph Club  by Malinda Lo - recommended by Amanda S. at Fairfield
• The Left-Handed Booksellers of London  by Garth Nix - recommended by Seana T. at Glen Allen
• Little Thieves  by Margaret Owen - recommended by Rachel S. at Fairfield
• Nubia: Real One  by L.L. McKinney - recommended by Lea M. at Fairfield
• Redemptor  by Jordan Ifueko - recommended by Naila P. at Tuckahoe
• The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep  by Allan Wolf - recommended by Cammy K. at Varina
• Song of Wraiths and Ruin  by Roseanne C. Brown - recommended by Kendall H. at Library Administration
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You  by Jason Reynolds - recommended by Jodi H. at Glen Allen
• To Break a Covenant  by Alison Ames - recommended by Kristina C. at Library Administration
• (Un)popular Vote  by Jasper Sanchez - recommended by Lisa K. at Glen Allen
• You Should See Me In A Crown  by Leah Johnson - recommended by Lauren M. at Libbie Mill

Looking for more suggestions? Try My Next Read! Submit a request and receive a custom list of book recommendations from our expert librarians.