Spring Reading 2024: Recommended reads for teens!

Good news – spring break isn’t over yet! And with a week or so left, we’re rounding out our Spring Reading series with some suggested books for secondary students to enjoy.

Our Grade 8-12 recommendations come from Clayton Heights Secondary teacher-librarian Leigh Husieff – here are four books she thinks teens should read, and what they’re all about!

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley

A captivating young adult mystery! The main character, Perry Firekeeper-Birch, is spending her summer interning at the tribal council with the museum curator in charge of repatriating Ojibwe items from local museums. When Perry is faced with a troublesome bureaucracy that is standing in the way, Perry and her friends take it upon themselves to do whatever it takes to return the artifacts and ancestral remains home. A beautifully written and engaging book that touches on several important topics. You won’t want to put this one down.

The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka

Gracie Byrne is your average teenager about to start at a new school. Her mom, her brother and Gracie have just moved in with her grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. When Gracie starts using a journal of her grandmother’s that she found, she finds that whatever she writes actually happens. Gracie can change the future with the stroke of a pen. But how should she wield this newfound power? The characters in this story are sweet and relatable as Gracie finds out what is important in life.

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

This story is a thrilling ride. The Thieves’ Gambit is a challenge that pits the world’s greatest teenage thieves against each other to win the ultimate prize – anything you could wish for. Ross Quest is thrust into the game to save her mom who has been kidnapped. Who can she trust, who can she con and how far will she go to win? This book reads like an action movie – one you don’t want to miss.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Chess had destroyed her family years ago and left Mallory, her sister, and her mother struggling. When Mallory’s best friend asks her to play in one more tournament, she reluctantly agrees and what happens next will change her life forever. Mallory finds herself battling her way through the male-dominated chess world building friendships, coming to terms with the past and finding love along the way. This novel is Hazelwood’s first foray into young adult writing, and she has nailed it with this one.

There are lots of great books to choose for youth readers this spring! See also some primary reads recommended by École Laronde Elementary teacher-librarian Emily Montgomery and intermediate reads suggested by Surrey Centre Elementary teacher-librarian Mandip Bains.

Thanks for checking out our Spring Reading series!