Young Adult Fiction - Social Themes - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

The government sends Brian back to the Canadian wilderness in this beloved follow-up to the award-winning classic Hatchet from three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary Paulsen! Two years after Brian Robeson survived fifty-four days alone in the Canadian wilderness, the government wants him to head...

A promising young singer recovers from a traumatic experience by traveling to Venice and connecting with the work of a 17th-century female composer in this gorgeous and sensual novel-in-verse from the acclaimed author of Call Me Athena. Introverted and homeschooled, vocal prodigy Luciana "Lula"...

Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with the first book of the #1 New York Times bestselling duology from Holly Black. A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both. Eight...

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! An Instant #1 Indie Bestseller! Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this first book of a captivating new duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly...

A New York Times bestseller. In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel "is a poignant book that realistically looks at the lasting effects of trauma on love, relationships, and life" (School Library Journal, starreAuthor: Amber SmithPublisher: Margaret K. McElderry BooksPublished: 03/07/2017Pages: 400Binding...

A 2025 YALSA William C. Morris Award Finalist, An Indie Next Pick, A B&N Best Book of 2024An unflinching YA debut about a troubled teen who discovers a pack of feral girls in the woods and is swept up in the ensuing mystery: Are...

A 2025 YALSA William C. Morris Award Finalist, An Indie Next Pick, A B&N Best Book of 2024 An unflinching YA debut about a troubled teen who discovers a pack of feral girls in the woods and is swept up in the ensuing mystery:...

Clap When You Land meets Monday's Not Coming in this "compelling, introspective" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel told in two timelines as one teen searches for her biological mother and the other copes with giving up her baby from the acclaimed author of SLAY....

Third Sister in the Tao family, Ailin has watched her two older sisters go through the painful process of having their feet bound. In China in 1911, all the women of good families follow this ancient tradition. But Ailin loves to run away from...

Through her school days, where she must negotiate a precarious balancing act between her culture and fitting in, to her teenage years where appetites must be managed to keep up appearances, to her early adulthood where responsibilities feel overwhelming, Divya journeys from feelings of...

Perfect for fans of Justin A. Reynolds and Talia Hibbert, this comedic romp explores the social hierarchy of high school, the ego of a teenage boy raised in a culture marred by toxic masculinity, and the meaning of "the truth will set you free."As...

Featuring spray-painted and stenciled edges, metallic foil designs on the jacket and case, detailed map endpapers, an annotated chapter and a ribbon, this beautifully packaged adventure marks Tricia Levenseller's triumphant return to the Daughter of the Pirate King universe, which has sold nearly a...

Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Mummy in Tricia Levenseller's Vengeance of the Pirate Queen, which follows fan-favorite Sorinda and is a must read for anyone who loves fierce heroines and swoon-worthy romance. You can't be afraid of the dark when you're the monster...

In her own singularly beautiful style, Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her...

An Indigenous teen girl is caught between two worlds, both real and virtual, in the YA fantasy debut from bestselling Indigenous author Wab Kinew. Perfect for fans of Ready Player One and the Otherworld series. In the real world, Bugz is a shy and...

"Don't let them know you're smart. They don't like smart."Moments later, Andrew's world shatters.After a violent regime sweep, Andrew is taken from his parents' Pennsylvania farm by the Queens of Freedom-powerful women who govern a rigid theocratic society shaped by pandemics, fear, and control....

Theater star Teddy McGuire is ready for all his dreams to come true. He and his best friend, Annie, have been counting down the days to the end-of-the-year drama club trip to New York City. To make it even more magical, if they can...

What if the Blue Fairy wasn't supposed to help Pinocchio? This New York Times best-selling series twists another Disney classic into a harrowing story in which the Blue Fairy defies fairy law, setting off a dramatic chain of events. "Star light, star bright, first...

What if the Blue Fairy wasn't supposed to help Pinocchio? Now in a deluxe paperback edition featuring gorgeous printed edges! Uncover whale-sized dreams and dark secrets in this tale inspired by Pinocchio, from the New York Times bestselling series that reimagines beloved Disney films....

I swear Connor looks over at me. My heart skips a beat again. I'm not quirky like Ruby, or confident like Cher-why would Connor like me anyways?Emma Bishop is your typical 14-year-old girl. She's got besties, a major crush, zits (don't use the P-word),...