2018 was a banner year for young adult books. According to our staff, these titles, including three graphic novels, are the best of the best.
See 2018 Staff Picks for Children’s Books, Adult Fiction, and Adult Nonfiction.
Fiction
- The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk: Told from three diverse points of view, this is a touching story of life and love after loss. Despite the odds, one band’s music will reunite them and prove that after grief, beauty thrives in the people left behind. — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough: This is a young adult historical novel written in verse about Artemisia Gentileschi, a young woman living in Rome in the 1600s. She was one of Rome’s most talented painters, even if no one knew her name, for her father sold her paintings signed with his name. Living in a city where men took what they wanted, and in the aftermath of rape, Artemisia has to make a difficult choice: stay silent or speak up. — Stacy M., Bensalem Branch
- Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak (Audiobook): Narrated by the author who gave us the extraordinary bestseller The Book Thief, comes “the breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father’s disappearance. At the center of the Dunbar family is Clay, a boy who will build a bridge — for his family, for his past, for greatness, for his sins, for a miracle. The question is, how far is Clay willing to go and how much can he overcome?” (from the publisher) — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas: I blame it on Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew and, more recently, the CW’s “Riverdale” series — something about the teen-sleuths solving crimes and getting justice with just a dash of added classic high school drama in this book really brings out the YA lover in me. — Olivia W., Levittown Branch
- Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Audiobook): From the show’s creators comes the brilliant novel inspired by the hit Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: My favorite teen book of 2018. An alternate history of the Civil War that explores race issues through the voices of one of the most memorable characters in teen literature. And, oh yeah, there are zombies, too! — Holly A., Doylestown District Library Center
- For Everyone by Jason Reynolds: Although this essay-in-poetry is usually classified as a middle-grade book, it really is “for everyone.” It captures the uncertainty of dreams and planning for the future, and it is an elegant ode to growing up — no matter how old you are. — Mindi P, Yardley-Makefield Branch
- The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (Audiobook): Seventeen-year-old Alice’s mother gets stolen away by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother’s stories are set. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother’s tales began — and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong. Perfect for fans of dark fairy tales. — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman: “A fateful accident draws three strangers together over the course of a single day. As the day progresses, their secrets start to unravel and they begin to understand that the way out of their own loss might just lie in helping the others out of theirs” (from the publisher). — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter (Audiobook): Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the President’s son, sometimes life has other plans. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a compelling, fast-paced thriller. — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: It’s the third book in a trilogy. The story is told through a series of classified documents, censored emails, and interviews. Not only is the narration is interesting but the layout of the text on the page is different from every other book I’ve read. It’s a great science fiction novel with a splash of romance. — Sarah C., Bensalem Branch
- Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand: “From the New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, comes a breathtaking and spine-tingling novel about three teenage girls who face off against an insidious monster that preys upon young women. Perfect for fans of Victoria Schwab, Stephen King, and Stranger Things” (from the publisher). — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Swing by Alexander Kwame: Music, art, poetry, baseball, and love make this young adult novel-in-verse unique. It is a powerful, painful, poignant, and devastating story set on a modern backdrop of police brutality against African Americans and political and social unrest. — Stacy M., Bensalem Branch
- Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now by Dana L. Davis: “Sixteen-year-old Tiffany Sly has seven days to come clean to her new dad and to tell the truth. Tiffany finds herself discovering unexpected truths about her father, her mother and herself, and realizing that maybe family is in the bonds you make —and that life means sometimes taking risks” (from the publisher). Perfect for fans of Kwame Alexander, Natasha Friend, and An Na. — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Twelve Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn: “James Patterson presents this emotionally resonant novel that shows that while some broken things can’t be put back exactly the way they were, they can be repaired, and made even stronger. Life, love, and loss come crashing together in this visceral, heartfelt story about a girl who struggles to piece together the shards of her once-normal life before her father’s alcoholism tore it apart” (from the publisher). — Kathleen L., Doylestown District Library Center
- Wildcard by Marie Lu: The fabulous sequel to Warcross, which came out in 2017. In the not too distant future, billions of people log on every day to play Warcross. A great read for fans of online gaming, Ready Player One, and heroines who are true to themselves and stand up for what they believe in! — Holly A., Doylestown District Library Center
Graphic Novels
- On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden: By an award-winning cartoonist, On a Sunbeam is a space odyssey that features breathtaking art, an imaginative and easily-digestible world, non-binary and queer characters, and a relatable tale of growing up and discovering your place in the world. — Gabrielle B., Warminster Township Library
- The Unsinkable Walker Bean and the Knights of the Waxing Moon by Aaron Renier: It’s been eight years since the publication of The Unsinkable Walker Bean, but it was worth the wait. Renier’s art is just as stylistic and colorful as before (a mix between the Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time and Martin Handford’s Where’s Waldo), and the world is still creative and adventurous. The characters definitely carry the story as they are endearing, brave, and developed. — Gabrielle B., Warminster Township Library
- Wallace the Brave by Will Henry: This graphic novel is kind of Peanuts meets Calvin & Hobbes, but lots of fun and laughs. Our hero, Wallace, his buddy Spud, his parents, and brother all have adventures in Snug Harbor, Rhode Island. — Ceil H., Doylestown District Library Center
More Staff Picks 2018:
