New Fiction

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies; Book One

“Michael, to whom Liz Buxbaum gave her heart long ago, has returned but to get his attention and, perhaps, a prom date she must scheme with her nemesis Wes, her next-door neighbor.” -WorldCat

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

If He Had Been with Me; Book One

“Autumn and Finn used to be inseparable. But then something changed. Or they changed. Now, they do their best to ignore each other. Autumn has her boyfriend, Jamie, and her close-knit group of friends. And Finn has become that boy at school, the one everyone wants to be around. That still doesn't stop the way Autumn feels every time she and Finn cross paths, and the growing, nagging thought that maybe things could have been different. Maybe they should be together. But come August, things will change forever. And as time passes, Autumn will be forced to confront how else life might have been different if they had never parted ways.” -Publisher

If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin

If He Had Been with Me; Book Two

"Finn has always loved Autumn. She is a constant in his life, except it's in the role of friend, not girlfriend. Finn wants her to see him as more, wants to prove HE should be the man by her side. Even if that means heartache for the people they are each dating. It would be worth the pain to be with the right person. Finn knows he and Autumn are fated to be together. But sometimes fate can be cruel to those in love.” Publisher

Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody

Darling Devils; Book One

“When Violet is left heartbroken by the captain of her school’s ice hockey team, she vows never to date a jock again. But to prove she’s moved on, she turns to the most unlikely person: her ex’s biggest rival, the notorious captain of the Ransom Devils.

Reed Darling is gorgeous, mysterious, and intimidating—the only thing people love to talk about more than his hockey skills are his exploits as a ruthless heartbreaker and bad boy. Who better to serve as Violet’s fake boyfriend until her ex gets the message, right?

But Violet soon starts to wonder if there’s more to Reed than the gossip suggests. And Reed is determined to win her over and show her he’s not the guy everyone thinks he is. Is this jock about to break all her rules?” -Amazon

Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me: The New Republic; Book One

“Lose yourself in this exhilarating return to the #1 global bestselling Shatter Me universe, the first book in a new series set ten years after the fall of The Reestablishment.

Brimming with pulse-pounding action and torturous romance, Watch Me is an explosive journey through a dystopian landscape where enemies-to-lovers has never felt more impossible. Step into a beloved and breathtaking world that demands an answer to a desperate question. Who are we when no one is watching?” -Amazon

New Fiction

 

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

“By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society. Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a taxidermy shop. Unbeknownst to Inesa, their cruel and indolent mother has accrued an enormous debt, enough to qualify one of her children for Caerus's livestreamed assassination spectacle : the Lamb's Gauntlet. Melinoe is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. The product of neural reconditioning and physiological alteration, she is a living weapon, known for her cold brutality and deadly beauty. She has never failed to assassinate one of her marks. When Inesa learns that her mother has offered her as a sacrifice, at first she despairs, the Gauntlet is always a bloodbath for the impoverished debtors. But she's had years of practice surviving in the apocalyptic wastes, and with the help of her hunter brother she might stand a chance of staying alive. For Melinoe, this is a game she can't afford to lose. Despite her reputation for mercilessness, she is haunted by painful flashbacks. After her last Gauntlet, where she broke down on livestream, she desperately needs redemption. As Mel pursues Inesa across the wasteland, both girls begin to question everything : Inesa wonders if there's more to life than survival, while Mel wonders if she's capable of more than killing. And both wonder if, against all odds, they might be falling in love.” -WorldCat

Love at Second Sight by F.T. Lukens

“Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds, a human at a paranormal high school, discovers his rare ability to see the future when he has a vision of a murder, prompting him and his friends to work together to stop the killer before time runs out.” -WorldCat

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

“Evelyn, who remembers each of her past lives in which she is always murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being to whom she is tethered, must break their deadly curse to save her sister while resisting the pull of forbidden love.” -WorldCat

Serpent Sea by Maiya Ibrahim

Spice Road; Book Two

Told from dual perspectives, Imani and Taha embark on separate journeys in order to protect their homeland from the impending invasion. -Summary

The Prisoners Throne by Holly Black

Stolen Heir; Book Two

“Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he's always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign--even if it means ending Wren, too.” -WorldCat

New Nonfiction

Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby

“Israel. The small strip of arid land remains a hot button issue and a thorny topic of debate. But while everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Israel, how many people actually know the facts? Here to fill in the information gap is Israeli American Noa Tishby. Offering a fresh, 360-degree view, Tishby brings her straight-shooting, engaging, and slightly irreverent voice to the subject, creating an accessible and dynamic portrait of a tiny country of outsized relevance.” -WorldCat

Putin and the Return of History: How the Kremlin Rekindled the Cold War by Martin Sixsmith

An original history of Russia's thousand-year past, tracing the forces and the myths that have shaped Putin's politics and rekindled the Cold War. - Summary

Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre by Mark Bourrie

“Pierre Poilievre has enjoyed most of the advantages that a middle-class life in Canada offers. Yet he's long been the angriest man on the political stage. In Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre, bestselling author Mark Bourrie, winner of the Charles Taylor Prize, charts Poilievre's rise through the political system, from precocious teenage volunteer to outspoken Opposition critic known for savage soundbites and theatrics. Bourrie outlines the historical roots of this divisive moment in our history, one in which rippers are poised to capitalize on our division, and illuminates how Poilievre and this new style of politics have gained so much ground--and what it could cost us if they succeed." -Publisher

The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party by Dana Milbank

"A scathing history of twenty-five years of Republican attempts to hold on to political power by any means necessary, by a hugely popular Washington Post political columnist." -Publisher

Values: Building a Better World for All by Mark Carney

“A bold and urgent argument by economist and former bank governor Mark Carney on the radical, foundational change that is required if we are to build an economy and society based not on market values but on human values.” -Publisher

New Graphic Novels

Huda F Wants to Know by Huda Fahmy

Huda; Book Three

“Huda Fahmy is ready for junior year. She’s got a plan to join all the clubs, volunteer everywhere, ace the ACTs, write the most awe-inspiring essay for her scholarship applications. Easy. But then Mama and Baba announce the most unthinkable news: they’re getting a divorce.

Huda is devastated. She worries about what this will mean for her family, their place in the Muslim community, and her future. Her grades start tanking, she has a big fight with her best friend, and everything feels out of control. Will her life ever feel normal again? Huda F wants to know.” -Amazon

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity Vol. 6 by Saka Mikami

"Rintaro has begun to acknowledge his growing feelings for Kaoruko, but keeps them close to his chest. Until, one summer day when the two of them are alone, he's overwhelmed by affection and the words, ‘I like you,’ spill from his lips without warning. With things still left unspoken between them, Rintaro knows he owes Kaoruko an explanation and vows to tell her his real feelings...but how will Kaoruko react?" -Publisher

unOrdinary Vol 1 by uru-chan

"Nobody pays much attention to John--just a normal teenager at a high school where the social elite happen to possess unthinkable powers and abilities. John prefers it that way. The more he stays under the radar, and stays close to the Royal's most powerful Ace, Seraphina, the safer he is in the halls of Wellston High. But John has a secret past that threatens to bring down the school's whole social order--and much more. And when the other students start to suspect John has something to hide, he becomes their latest target. Suddenly, John is pulled into a world of turf wars, betrayals, and deadly conspiracies."--Back cover

unOrdinary Vol 2 by uru-chan

“Ever since Wellston High’s Ace, Seraphina, was suspended, the hierarchy of the school has been unstable. Not only are the high-tiers on edge, but the carefully crafted persona John has built to survive his bullying is crumbling, and Arlo is beginning to suspect that John may be a real threat to the social order.

But when a new danger from the outside world hits too close to home, everyone has to put their differences aside to save one of their own and uncover a conspiracy that threatens them all.” -Amazon

unOrdinary Vol. 3 by uru-chan

“When Seraphina finds herself powerless in a world that prizes powers, she becomes an unexpected target. As Arlo grapples with the task of keeping Seraphina's predicament a secret, a rogue group called Ember begins attacking students without remorse.

Tensions come to a head in this struggle of power dynamics, loss, and the weight of secrets in a world where abilities reign supreme. -Amazon

New Fiction

Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews

"Two teen boys attempt to stop terrifying creatures that seem to be coming to life from macabre drawings." -WorldCat

Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin

“Fourteen-year-old Eva Brown is coping with difficulties at home and at school, most significantly her mother's alcoholism. When Eva's nohkum (grandmother) is hospitalized, her mother struggles to care for Eva and her younger brother. After Eva's brother wanders away, he is sent to live with a foster family and Eva finds herself in a group home. Furious at her mother's weakness, Eva struggles to adjust to the group home--and reuniting with her family seems less and less likely. During a visit to the hospital, Nohkum gives Eva Shirley's diary. Can Eva find forgiveness for her mother in its pages?” -WorldCat

The Floating World by Axie Oh

"An amnesiac sword-for-hire and a village girl with a strange magical power become entangled in worlds-altering events, and each other's destinies."- WorldCat

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

"Ivy Benton must enter into a marriage contest with a fae prince in order to free her sister from a bargain previously made with the vicious fae queen of England.” -Publisher

Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft

"It's been centuries since a warm-season fairy in Pixie Hollow has crossed into the Winter Woods, and while most fear the legends of monsters lurking in the frozen lands, Clarion, can't help being intrigued by Winter's stoic beauty. But under the watchful eyes of the current monarch and the court's seasonal ministers, Clarion has little time to dwell on daydreams while the days to her coronation dwindle away. That is, until reports of a monster crossing from Winter into Spring make their way to the palace. Clarion sees defeating this threat as an opportunity to prove that she is worthy of her new role. But instead of finding a monster at the edge of Winter, she finds Milori, a young guardian of the Winter Woods. Together, they form an unlikely bond as they race to save their lands. But as their alliance warms to something more, they will discover there is a reason a warm-season fairy and a winter fairy must not be together. And the cost could be just as deadly as the monsters that prowl the Winter Woods.” -Publisher

Infinity Cycle series by Adam Silvera

The Infinity Son

“Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers, a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day. Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.” -WorldCat

The Infinity Reaper

"Emil and Brighton defied the odds. They beat the Blood Casters and escaped with their lives -- or so they thought. When Brighton drank the Reaper's Blood, he believed it would make him invincible, but instead the potion is killing him. In Emil's race to find an antidote that will not only save his brother but also rid him of his own unwanted phoenix powers, he will have to dig deep into the very past lives he's trying to outrun. Though he needs the help of the Spell Walkers now more than ever, their ranks are fracturing, with Maribelle's thirst for revenge sending her down a dangerous path. Meanwhile, Ness is being abused by Senator Iron for political gain, his rare shifting ability making him a dangerous weapon. As much as Ness longs to send Emil a signal, he knows the best way to keep Emil safe from his corrupt father is to keep him at a distance. The battle for peace is playing out like an intricate game of chess, and as the pieces on the board move into place, Emil starts to realize that he may have been competing against the wrong enemy all along." -Publisher

The Infinity Kings

“This electrifying conclusion to the Infinity Cycle finds Emil, the Infinity Son, and Brighton, the Infinity Reaper, facing off in an epic battle that threatens to destroy them both and everyone they love.” -WorldCat

New Fiction

A Language of Dragons: An Epic Tale of Forbidden Romance, Dragon Languages, and Civil War in an Alternate 1920's London by S. F. Williamson

“In an alternate London in 1932, a girl breaks a truce between dragons and humans, and to save her family she must work at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker, in a story about language, loyalty, love and redemption.” -WorldCat

Bingsu for Two by Sujin Witherspoon

“Meet River Langston-Lee. In the past 24 hours, he’s dumped his girlfriend, walked out of his SATs, and quit his job at his parents’ cafe in spectacularly disastrous fashion—even for him.

Somehow, he manages to talk his way into a gig at a failing Korean cafe, Bingsu for Two, which is his lucky break until he meets short, grumpy, and goth: Now he and Sarang must fake a relationship online to save Sarang's Korean family café from going under.” -Amazon

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough

“For as long as she can remember, Carmela Tofana has desperately wanted one thing: to be allowed behind the counter of her mother’s apothecary in Campo Marzio, Rome. When she turns sixteen, she’s finally allowed into the inner sanctum: the workroom where her mother, Giulia Tofana, and two assistants craft renowned remedies for their customers. But for every sweet-smelling flower extract in the workroom, there’s another potion requiring darker ingredients. And then there’s Aqua Tofana, the apothecary’s remedy of last resort for husbands who are just as deadly as any disease. In all Carmela’s years of wishing to follow in her mother’s footsteps, she never realized one tiny vial could be the death of them all.” -Amazon

His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora

Throne of Khetara; Book One

“Four strangers connected by a forgotten oracle must work together to save their divided kingdom from destruction amidst the brewing conflict and struggle for the pharaoh's throne.” -WorldCat

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue

"Based on an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train's crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more"-- Back cover.

TRCA Winners

The results are in! 301 student votes were cast and the winner is The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson. Described as a “meticulously crafted thriller,” Jackson's novel received 67 votes.

Thirty-two staff also cast a vote for their favourite, with The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters emerging as the winner. The Berry Pickers, described as a novel that “beautifully explores loss, grief, hope, and the invisible tether that keeps families intact even when they are ripped apart,” is a debut novel written by a Nova Scotian author.

Full details of the results can be found here. 

Read! Vote! Win!

Attention all CEC students! It’s time to participate in the annual CCRCE Teen Reader's Choice Award. This year's top ten incredible titles represent many genres, voices, and worlds. 

Participants are encouraged to read one or more of these books. You can share your thoughts on our TRCA blog. Remember to like, share, and comment. In addition to in-person discussions, and the TRCA blog, CCRCE is introducing the hashtag #ROAR2025. Students are encouraged to use the hashtag when voicing their thoughts and opinions of these books online.

Vote for your favourite between May 20th and May 30th. A winner will be announced on June 6th. Students will be able to vote electronically online or in the library by paper ballot. 

   

The Color Purple Series by Alice Walker

The Color Purple: A Novel by Alice Walker

Book 1 of 3: The Color Purple

“A powerful cultural touchstone of modern literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance, and silence.

Through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia and their experience.” -Amazon

The Temple of My Familiar: A Novel by Alice Walker

Book 2 of 3: The Color Purple

“Celie and Shug from The Color Purple subtly shadow the lives of the dozens of astonishing characters in The Temple of My Familiar, all of whom are dealing in some way with the legacy of the African experience in America. From recent African immigrants to a woman who grew up in the mixed-race rainforest communities of South America to Celie’s own granddaughter living in modern-day San Francisco, they must come to terms with the brutal stories of their ancestors in order to confront their own troubled lives.” -Amazon

Possessing the Secret of Joy: A Novel by Alice Walker 

Book 3 of 3: The Color Purple

“This is the searing story of Tashi, a tribal African woman first glimpsed in The Color Purple, whose fateful decision to submit to the Itsunga’sI knife and be genitally mutilated leads to a trauma that informs her life and fatefully alters her existence.” -Amazon