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My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows 

She was devastated! How could he NOT be in love with her? She saved his life, gave up her tail for him, and he wanted to marry someone else? Mary couldn't believe it was happening to her. And why hadn't she turned into sea foam. Any Mer person that had their heartbroken always did! Mary decides to throw herself overboard, but even then, no sea foam....and she doesn't drown either. In fact, she gets picked up by a ship, and it is a pirate ship. She has a choice - join, or walk the plank. Turns out, Mary is quite the pirate!

Recommended for grades 7 and up. 

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It Happened to Anna by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Sadie is alone - or so it feels. She has her dad, but in terms of friends, she has none, and that is just how she wants it, sort of. Because the last good friend that she had was killed, and Sadie feels for sure it was her fault. Due to the jealous ghost that lives in Sadie and has since Sadie can remember. What Sadies doesn't know is why and if she will ever be able to be free from it to live her life. 

Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

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Tig by Heather Smith

Tig and her older brother, Peter, have been abandoned by their mother a few months prior to them being discovered living on their own. They are taken in by their mother's brother, their Uncle Scott and his partner, Manny. The problem is, everything is too perfect, for Tig anyway. After all, people can say they love you but leave you when you are not perfect. 

Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

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Internment by Samira Ahmed

The future is here and for Muslims, like Layla, things are not good in the United States. The president has made it very clear that Muslims are to blame for everything (sound familiar - think World War II and Jewish people) and many are losing their jobs and having their lives restricted. In fact, Layla's father, a professor at a university, has lost his job and people are now burning his books - and other muslim authors and books that the president and his followers don't think are appropriate for American society to have access to read.

It is in this atmosphere that Layla and her family and others find themselves in. One night when her family is taken from their home - right as night has fallen - and ordered to leave, Layla can't believe this is happening to her, an American citizen, all because of her religious beliefs.

Recommended for grades 8 and up. 
*the word "damn" is used in this podcast

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Places We've Never Been by Kasie West

Norah is super excited to be heading out on an RV trip with her mom, her older brother and her mom's good friend  along with her three kids. Especially since one of those kids is Skylar, her bestie from four years before - all through elementary and part of middle school. But in the years since, Norah and Skylar have lost touch, for the most part. Still, Norah is eager to begin just where they left off.

However, when Skylar shows up, he doesn't appear to want to have anything to do with Norah, let alone resume their close friendship! Norah is confused and frustrated and not a little hurt. What happened to her fun friend that she could confide anything to? Has she really changed as much as Skylar seems to be implying?

Recommended for grades 7 and up. 

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Viveca is ready! This is her year for it all to be done and great! She is a senior and on track to be the valedictorian of her class. She has a good friend, Wren, who helps Viveca through her anxiety and helps get her out of her comfort zone, but in a good way. So, all is on track to go to the college of her dreams - the one that her mom went to for one year until she had to come back home and take care of her dad. Viveca just needs to get into the college and everything will be as she has always dreamed it would be.

Enter Jamison Sharpe, a transfer student into their prep high school and he is good lucking, popular right from the get go, and seems like he can do no wrong. AND he is gunning for Viveca's spot for valedictorian. Viveca is incensed! How can he come in and just take her spot with his perfect everything???? It isn't fair!

Recommended for grades 7 and up. 

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Warrior on the Mound By Sandra W. Headen

Cato loves baseball and plans to follow in his father and big brother's footsteps to become a professional pitcher in the Negro League....just as soon as he can convince his grandfather he is old enough to head out. But there are secrets surrounding his father's death that no one wants to reveal to Cato. And when he and his teammates trespass onto a whites only ball field, some of those secrets come to light. 

Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

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Star Splitter By Matthew J. Kirby

The year is 2199 and people can visit deep space, because teleportation is  possible. Jessica is going to be with her parents for a year on a planet that has been designated Carver 1061c, to examine it for possible habitation by humans. But she isn't happy about it. She wants to stay on Earth, with her grandparents and her friends. Still, she doesn't appear to have a choice. When she wakes up though, it isn't on the ship, orbiting the planet, but it is on the planet in a lander that has crashed. And she isn't alone. 

Recommended for grades 8 and up. 

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It Found Us by Lindsay Currie

It started out as a harmless game of hide and seek in the local graveyard, but Hazel and her brother, Den, realize quickly, there is nothing normal about the graveyard, or maybe who is buried there. When Den's best friend disappears during the game, the race is on to figure out where he is and if they can get him back!

Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

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The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

When Jo loses her job, unexpectedly, at the milliner's hat shop, she isn't sure what she will do next for employment. After all, she and Old Gin need her wages to help them keep them going. Luckily, they don't have to worry about where they live, since they have been squatting in the basement of a printing shop for all of Jo's life. The owners of the print shop have no idea that Jo and Old Gin have been there for years, but when she hears the owners might have to move, she worries that means the end of their free living space.  Jo gets an idea for how she can help the owners of the shop stay in business - by becoming an advice columnist for their paper! 

Recommended for grades 8 and up.