Black Queen by Jumata Emill

Nova is her school's first black homecoming queen. Tinsley thinks it is unfair - she should be homecoming queen. It is practically her birthright. Her mom, grandmother, and sister were all crowned. Black students are outnumbered by the white students, so a new rule states that every other year a black girl will be named queen.  

On the night of her coronation, Nova is murdered. Tinsley is the most obvious suspect. She had an argument with Nova, and everyone knows how much she wants to be queen. Nova's best friend, Duchess, is sure Tinsley did it. She is determined to not let Tinsley get away with it. She is furious at her father, the police officer in charge of the investigation, for not seeing that Tinsley obviously did it. 

When things don't quite add up, Duchess reluctantly agrees to team up with Tinsley (who wants to clear her name) to find the real killer. They are a contentious pair but they are also the only two driven to find the truth. 

The story of Nova, Tinsley, and Duchess is a compelling mystery that explores racism, politics, and relationships. The issues are central to the plot and ultimately prove vital to the characters' actions and development. Highly recommended for fans of the current trend of teen murder mysteries. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and Jumata Emill's site. 

 

Going Dark by Melissa De La Cruz

Amelia walks away angrily from her boyfriend and is not seen again. She and Josh had been on her dream vacation in Rome. He came home without her when she failed to show up at the airport. Josh swears he doesn't know what happened to her, but the boyfriend is always a suspect, right? 

Amelia is a successful social media influencer who posts about traveling and food. She met Josh through mutual friends while going to college in California. Her disappearance is immediately noticed by her followers. She never goes long without posting something, but she has gone silent since that day in Rome. 

The police in Italy and California are investigating, but not making much progress. A friend of Amelia contacts Harper who possesses a particular set of computer skills. Harper has no time for media influencers but becomes intrigued with Amelia's story, so she agrees to look into it. The deeper she goes, the more questions arise. 

Josh is tormented. He is worried about Amelia, but also feels the pressure of the police and the world zeroing in on him. He doesn't know how many times he can claim his innocence. 

The first part of this book is tormenting for the reader, too. We have no idea what happened to Amelia, either. Nothing is told from her point of view. It is tense. It is worth it, though. The remaining two thirds of the book are revelatory with the answers slowly unwinding until all is revealed. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and author's site. 

Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

As Stella flies her plane across the English Channel, she sees another plane go into the water. She's convinced a third plane forced it down. On the first leg of the air race promoting peace, a plane has been sabotaged. The question is who caused it?

Stella is asked to represent England in an international air race across Europe. Pilots representing several other European countries including France, Poland, and Germany. With Europe on the verge of World War II, hostilities between the young pilots is inevitable. 

Although it is not obvious to the race officials and experienced pilot chaperones, Stella knows someone is trying to sabotage some of the planes. She befriends the aloof pilot representing France. He and Stella share the fact that neither country they represent is the country of their origin (but no one needs to know that).  

The race is broken into legs with stop overs in major cities. Each pilot's flight is timed. The pilots must also participate in ceremonies and large banquets. Stella already feels patronized for being a woman pilot, but having to dress up is annoying and only makes her stand out more among the pilots. 

As the race goes on, more suspicious activities occur. The danger lurks at every turn on the ground or in the air. It becomes a race to find out who is behind it all before another plane is taken down. It is a gripping story within an intriguing time and setting. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Girl Forgotten by April Henry

I love books where a teen (usually a girl) tries to solve a murder. There are trends (subgenres of you will) in the many books of this type. One is the teen investigates an unsolved murder from several years ago. A subgenre of that is a podcast giving the teen the forum to announce their intentions and results of their investigations to anyone who cares to listen. And usually people are upset about it. 

Piper is new to her small town. On one of her first days there, she comes across the grave of Layla Trello who died at 17 (the same age as Piper). Layla's murder has never been solved, so for her senior project Piper decides to create a podcast chronicling her investigation of the case. If she can find the killer, all the better. 

Piper knows nothing about podcasting (other than being an avid true crime listener). Her teacher pairs her with Jonas who has his own sports themed podcast. Jonas does not like the subject of murder and is reluctant to help. He also has secrets that intrigue Piper. 

As is often the case with these stories, some people are not happy that painful memories are being brought up or that accusations are being made. Even the school administration is not so sure Piper should continue with her podcast. She feels so close to finding the answer that she does not want to give up even if she is in danger. 

I don't know why I find these stories so fascinating, but I do. This one is good and everything you want it to be with this type of story. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Reader, I Murdered Him by Betsy Cornwell

I didn't finish Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte when I was required to read it in high school. It was boring. I hesitated reading this book even though it sounded interesting because it is tied to Jane Eyre. Well, there is a difference in the two books: I actually read this one. 

Without getting into all of the background, Adele is the step daughter of Jane. She is sent off to boarding school where she tries to become a proper English lady. The problem is she was raised in France by her prostitute/dance hall mother, so her knowledge and worldview differ from the cloistered girls at her school. She is frustrated at the expectations and etiquette in the interactions she must have with men. The girls are paraded around at social gatherings with hope of finding a proper suitor. These suitors are often young men, but sometimes their are wealthy old men. 

Her disdain for these rules of society and her growing affection toward women make Adele ready to fight for her right to be a free thinking woman. A sexual assault of a school mate provides the opportunity for Adele to make men pay for the way they treat women.

I do like books with strong female characters who fight against people and society for the right to be free and treated with respect. There was not as much of that in this book, but I enjoyed following Adele as she evolved into that person. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

Killy Joy by Hollly Jackson

In this prequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, Pip once again tries to solve a mystery. Will she find the murderer before time is up? Does it matter if it is only a mystery party with her friends? To Pip it does. She can't stop her instinctive nature to piece together clues. 

This novella brings together many of the characters who appear in the other books (although, not all since Pip hasn't met some of them yet). They gather one night to participate in a role playing murder mystery set in the 1920s. There are moments of suspense, but mostly it is all fun and games (literally) as the clues are revealed and everyone tries to stay in character. Only Pip gets so into finding the fictitious murder. 

If you have read the other books in the series, you should pick this one up and enjoy it. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

Bad news for Lydia: she needs one more history credit in order to graduate. Her guidance counselor really screwed up. Lydia wants to be a journalist. Now, those plans might get derailed before they even start. The school administration offers to give her credit for her podcast if she covers more local history. 

Lydia started her podcast to give herself an outlet for investigation. Sadly, the 'investigations' have mostly been fluff pieces. Her town, Henley, is a place where no one rocks the boat. Being nice and polite is the Henley way. But Lydia needs her podcast to be grittier, so she turns to the other student who was also shorted a history credit, Bristal Jamison. Bristal is rough and doesn't think once, let alone twice, about what she says. The Jamison family has such a bad reputation, that Bristal follows every introduction with, "I'm not pregnant." Lydia asks her to join and hopes to keep her focused and appropriate during the broadcast. 

The two plan to cover the worst week in the town's history, aka the Long Stretch of Bad Days. First, came the tornado that devastated so many buildings. Then the flood that killed all the dogs in the shelter. Finally, the dead body in the trailer, a murder unsolved. To investigate, you have to ask questions. The tornado and the flood are not too much of a problem. The murder (and the missing girl - yes, another unsolved mystery that no one ever talks about) makes people uneasy. 

How do Lydia and Bristal cover history in a town where nobody wants to talk? First, they have to overcome their own differences and then...press on and be careful. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Lydia and Bristol as the navigate the twists and turns of their search for the truth. I hope you find it is entertaining as I did. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Welcome to Karloff (like Disney World only more exclusive). That doesn't really do it justice, though. Karloff does have amusement parks with some based on their popular movies. It is also has staff who live on site, a independent power plant, sustainable food production. Karloff  was built like it could carry on even if the world outside its walls fell apart. Oh, wait. That's what happens. 

For Jay, Karloff is a blessing. He and his family moved out of poverty to a place where they have a house, food, and jobs. He also has tight group of friends: Zeke, Connie and Chelle. As African Americans, they have found each other in a place that is not as racially diverse as the outside world. Life is pretty good until the day Connie and her family disappear. Connie's dad was the star chef of the whole resort, so he was not someone of little significance. 

Karloff should be a sanctuary from the rest of the world (where poverty, violence, and destruction have become the norm), but cracks start to show. It becomes difficult to know what the truth is when the people behind Karloff are controlling the message. 

Chelle is a member of the Karloff family, and one might think having her as your friend would give insight and protection. But no, it just makes it more complicated. As the more horrible things start to happen, her her friends wonder how much she knows. 

Events get darker than I thought they would in this suspenseful story. The four young people are put through trials that test their friendships and personal well being. I had this on my shelf for a few months. I am glad I finally read it. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

She's Gone by David Bell

Hunter doesn't remember what happened the night his girlfriend Chloe disappeared. He knows they went to the homecoming dance and there was a car accident. They were the only two in the car. And then Chloe vanished. Kidnapped? Ran away? Murdered? That's what the police and everyone in town wants to know. Hunter suffered a concussion and can't remember anything. Some people aren't convinced he's telling the truth.

Hunter and Chloe were truly in love. He wants so bad to remember what happened that night. It looks bad for him, but he cannot recall anything. Eyewitness accounts and other evidence pile up against him. He begins to wonder if he did do something. 

Hunter is not alone. He has his outspoken younger sister and his workaholic father who has never been emotional and became even more detached after the death of their mother. He also has a few friends. Finally, Mr. Hartman, a teacher he has always been close to, is the only person he can confide in. 

The unending barrage of bad news for Hunter is almost too much to take. There is no glimmer of hope. I planned to keep on reading, but wasn't truly enjoying the story. It redeemed itself as it neared the end. The suspense is unrelenting in the last several chapters. It is not perfect - one character is seriously underdeveloped. Still, it is a good read if you are looking for a thriller. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

Alice has a chance to stop her sister's murder. She gets to go back to that moment in the corn maze on Halloween night a year ago. Alice was a witness and knows who the killer is. This time she can stop him. 

Since her sister's death, Alice's life has fallen apart. Her parents divorced. Her dreams of studying forensics and scholarships have dried up. Her friends have drifted away. That guy she might have dated seems like someone else now. Horror movies are the only left from her life before. You'd think witnessing her sister's death would be enough to put her off of gruesome movies, but they are one of the few things that give her comfort.  

Unfortunately, Alice often thinks in terms of how the characters in a horror movie would respond. For example, she asks whether she should run into the dark woods knowing how that usually turns out. She thinks in terms of the 'Final Girl', the one who survives by outsmarting the killer/monster. That's what she hopes to be. 

By going back to the night of the murder, Alice finds that the truth is much more complicated than she thought. Who is responsible for her sister's death? She is so sure it is the school janitor. Who attacked the other student in the maze? Seemingly, everyone in her life becomes a suspect making her second time through this Halloween night a dangerous one. 

I don't watch horror films, but I enjoyed this suspenseful story with Alice and all of her unanswered questions. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and author's site. 

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

On their way to spring break in Florida, six friends find themselves lost on a country road in South Carolina. They are stranded with no cell service when all four tires go flat on their borrowed RV.  When a hole is shot the gas tank, they realize this was no accident. 

Red feels guilty. It's her fault they couldn't fly like everyone else. Plane tickets are too expensive for her. She lives with her dad who has checked out on life since Red's mom was killed in the line of duty as a police officer. 

They try to escape the RV, but the shooter will not let any of them leave until one of them tells their secret. Oliver, the oldest of them, is a natural leader. He always has a plan, but is not above putting his safety first. Still, no one is quick to reveal their secrets even with the morning deadline approaching. 

Imagine six young people trapped in an RV with the threat of being shot and killed if they leave. Friendships and loyalties are tested. Secrets revealed. Some will stop at nothing to protect their futures and reputations. You can almost feel the sweat in the cramped RV as anger and accusations fly. 

I realize my description does not include too many details. It would unjust for me to reveal too much of this incredibly suspenseful book where, as the title suggests, only five survive. Strap in and enjoy. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog. 

The Truth About Everything by Bridget Farr

Lark wants to go to school. She feels like she is missing out by living isolated on her family's farm. Her dad doesn't trust the government. He has kept his family off the grid and stockpiled materials preparing for the end of the country as we know it. 

Lark is homeschooled (although not in any formal sense). She only knows what her dad has taught her - distorted and incomplete views of historical events and people. She can barely read (something her parents do not realize). She has been taught how to fix mechanical devices, grow food, drive a truck and motorcycle. But it is not enough.

Alex is Lark's connection to the outside world. He attends public school and exposes her to what other teens are doing. With his encouragement, she plots a way to attend the nearby Christian school. She knows her dad will be furious if he finds out. Her mother...she is mostly absent even though she lives in the same house. 

For the first time, Lark begins to question her dad's beliefs. She has real friends, learns biology, and eats forbidden processed food. Lark was ignorant of so many things - - the functioning of her own body, the tragedy of 9/11, the geography of the world. Once the door is open to her, it cannot easily be closed again. 

Well, you know not everything goes smoothly for Lark. How long can she hide the fact that she is going to school from both her parents? It's a difficult decision, but Lark takes the risk. You will be rooting for Lark and questioning her parent's decisions. I hope you take a look at this book. It is worth your time. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 

If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang

Alice Sun feels invisible at her school. Even though she is one of the top students, she always seems to go unnoticed. One day she literally turns invisible. The only person she feels might be able to help is her chief rival and all around golden boy, Henry Li. 

They both attend an elite private international school. Henry is one of the elite; Alice is not. Her parents have just told her that they cannot afford another semester so she will have to go somewhere else. Even though she has not always liked her school, Alice does not want to leave. 

In desperation to raise money, Alice decides to use her new power of invisibility to charge students for tasks that would otherwise be impossible. One such request is to retrieve racy photos from from an ex-boyfriend's phone. Henry helps her set up an app so others can contact her anonymously. Her roommate soon discovers her secret and offers to help out, too. 

Alice is normally a moral person, but the lure of money is too much. And that's just one of the issues weighing on her. She still considers Henry a rival who she can't quite trust. She also struggles to balance her new invisible activities with her school work. Also, she can't control when she turns invisible. 

I enjoyed this story which ultimately is about Alice finding who she really is. The fact that she turns invisible isn't really the point. She is dealing with the her choices and facing the question of how far she is willing to go just for her own desires. Very well done. I look forward to other books by this author. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.