This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry

Izzy accidentally tried stand-up comedy one day. Accidentally? How do you end up on stage in front of people without meaning to? Izzy did it by trying to avoid her boyfriend - that is a story in and of itself. Oh, wait that is a big part of this story. Let me back up a bit...

Izzy feels like a fifth wheel in her own family. Her mom is a big time Chicago lawyer and works all the time, so no mother-daughter time for them. Dad is busy, too. Her older sister and brother seem to get all the attention. Izzy feels like she can't get a word in at the dinner table. So, she drifts through life on her own.

The only one who seems to need her is Alex, her boyfriend. Since she and her best friend, Naomi, stopped speaking to each other over Alex, Izzy only spends time with him. You quickly start seeing red flags in Alex's behavior and wonder why Izzy doesn't see them, too. 

Being on stage is liberating for Izzy. It is the one place she can say what she wants and people listen. The problem is that in order to stand-up, Izzy digs herself a big hole of lies. She lies to her parents, Alex, and her new college age friends. It's a mess that cannot be sustained forever. 

But Izzy is persistent and tries to keep her life in balance. Check this story out and stick with her as she attempts to reinvent herself. 

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

Broken Shards of Time by Nyah Nichol

Wren must travel to the future to stop an authoritarian from destroying society. The person threatening everyone? Wren (future Wren, actually). Now, logic (if logic can truly be applied to plot devices of time travel stories) would usually dictate that one should travel to the past to stop someone from becoming evil in the first place. Not so this time. 

Wren survived a serious accident, that killed her parents, only by integrating robotic elements into her body. She grew up in the secret government lab where her uncle was building a time machine. His influence on her was immeasurable, so after his death she took up his work. The idea of time travel and a mysterious stone he left her caused Wren to become powerful enough to control the lives of others. 

Three people connected to the facility make it their mission to build a new time machine so past Wren can stop future Wren. Their backgrounds and motivations are revealed through sections of the story that focus on their perspectives. 

This relatively brief story packs a lot of sci-fi tech into it. More than just a time machine is necessary to complete the mission. So cool machines, lots of action, another 'evil' person. Good stuff. 

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

 

My Life Before Me by Norah McClintock

Cady was ready to run away, but when the orphanage burns down she doesn't have to do it in secret. Upon leaving, she is given a clue to her history: an old photograph of a vandalized grave in a small Indiana town. It is the only link she has to her parents. With dreams of becoming a journalist (not an easy profession for women in the 1960s), Cady leaves Canada with idea that this could be a story worth publishing. So she heads south to the rural town of Orrenstown. 

The people of the town do not like outsiders asking a lot of questions particularly about the grave of a black man who was convicted of murder so long ago. Cady meets a lot of resistance and sometimes fears for her safety. Luckily, she finds some sympathetic people to her situation. She starts to uncover things about the man and how he died that many would rather leave undiscovered. 

Cady's secret history is ours, too. The vial actions of the townspeople is a true reflection of the times in Indiana and so many other places. The horrors brought upon people reverberate to this day and make this story all too relevant for young readers. Cady plows ahead to uncover the mystery with a determination we all need to deal with the ongoing issues that plague our country still. 

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

The Gifted, the Talented, and Me by William Sutcliffe

Sam's younger sister is a budding artist. His older brother has potential as a musician. And Sam is good at...well, he excels in...he likes soccer. That was perfectly fine in his old public school. But once his family comes into some money, his parents move them all to London where the three children will attend an exclusive arts academy. Yay for Sam. 

Sam is miserable at the new school. His mom (who starts writing a blog about her parenting) constantly pushes Sam to the point where he feels like she doesn't understand him. He is not like his siblings. He has no talent and does not fit in at the school. She's not even trying to listen to him. 

There is Jennifer who is way too talented and popular and pretty for Sam. Through a chance pairing up with her in class, he thinks maybe getting involve in drama wouldn't be too bad. He could at least see her. 

Of course, there's Jennifer's boyfriend, Felipe, who thinks he is the greatest actor ever. He was already bullying Sam before Sam showed any interest in acting. 

Sam's struggles continues with moments of light and hope. Sam is a sympathetic character who pushes the limit of being frustrating only to be redeemed by the atrocious behavior of his mother. Stay with Sam through his story; it is worth it. 

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

Time Travel for Love and Profit by Sarah Lariviere

Time travel is tricky at best. Have you ever read or seen a time travel story that didn't have something go wrong? No exception in this story. 

Nephele uses her supreme grasp of math to make an app on her phone that allows her to travel back in time. She will tell you that her long term goal is to save the planet by stopping pollution, but in truth she wants a do over of her freshman year. It just doesn't turn out like she was hoping. 

Without giving away too much, Nephele's travels make her a freshman again while everyone else moves on. Her friends (the few she has) don't know her. Her parents can't tell her when she was born. Things are not quite right. Sure, Nephele doesn't get stuck with that horrible nickname this time around, but she has not become popular either. 

Nephele is concerned about the potential harm she has caused her parents, but ultimately is blinded by her need to get the math right with her app. She is not always the most caring person. 

Like most stories involving time travel, you shouldn't think too much about inconsistencies or logic bending plot elements. While this is not the most intriguing time travel story I have ever read, I was interested to see how it was resolved. Nephele is a little out there, but so is this story. 

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

 

All Eyes On Her by L.E. Flynn

Did Tabby push her boyfriend Mark off the cliff? That's the question that pervades this story. That is what everyone is talking about. Was Tabby a good friend or a manipulative schemer? It all depends on who you ask. 

We get to hear from all the people who know Tabby: Elle, her best friend; Bridget, her younger sister; Keegan, best friend of Mark; Lou, classmate who has not liked Tabby for awhile. We also get to see police interrogations, news reports, diary entries, texts, and blog posts. Through each, we see a different Tabby. 

Tabby was dating Mark, star swimmer at Princeton, while she was in high school. She had previously dated Beck who was now seeing Lou. Rumors spread that Tabby was cheating on Mark with Beck. People saw Mark and Beck confront each other at a party. Mark and Tabby were often seen fighting, although they were affectionate just as often. Tabby thought Mark was cheating on her when he was away at college. 

Mark and Tabby hike in the woods to the well known dangerous cliff edge. Only she comes out. Some say Tabby didn't like the outdoors let alone hiking. So why did she go? Some say she planned the hike months in advance and that it was not a last minute idea. Only two people really know what happened. One is dead, and the other may never tell. 

Sorting out the truth is almost impossible. Everyone sees things from a different perspective. I found myself going back and forth between believing Tabby was innocent or guilty. It makes for complex and fascinating story. 
 

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

Deepfake by Sarah Darer Littman

How could Dara say such a thing? There is not doubt; it's right there in the video. That is why Will is so angry. But Dara knows she didn't say it. She would never say anything like that especially about Will who she has been secretly dating since the beginning of the school year. 

None of it would have happened if the video had not been posted on the anonymous blog, Rumor Has It. You know the blog - the one that some senior takes over every year to spread gossip about students and teachers. Every blog entry affects someone, but this one has completely upended Dara's and Will's lives. Will's acceptance to Stanford is in jeopardy (although his dad has been pushing him to go there for so long, he's not really sure he wants to). Dara knows she is innocent, but Will is not so sure (obliterating any trust in their relationship). 

So is it possible the video is fake? And if so, who would make it? Who has the tech to do it? All questions that must be answered before Dara and Will can prove their innocence. 

Tackling an issue that may become all too common in our world, this story is a satisfying read. The tech itself is really just a tool for the teens to deal with basic human issues: friends that betray you, parents that won't listen to you, boyfriends that don't trust you.  

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

 

It Came from the Sky by Chelsea Sedoti

Gideon and is brother Ishmael are so different. Gideon is a serious science guy who dreams of going to MIT. He even has his own lab in the shed outback. Ishmael is a laid back prankster. Gideon worries; Ishmael goes with the flow. They get along, but rarely see eye to eye... until one of Gideon's experiments blows a huge crater in the backyard, and they decide to tell everyone it was from an alien spacecraft. 

You can understand why Ishmael would do it (he is too enthusiastic - he may have helped increase the size of the explosion). Gideon, though, is supposed to be the level headed one. But he sees an opportunity to do a social experiment that will make his MIT application stand out. The problem is people actually believe the story - people from all over the world are suddenly interested in their small town. 

 Lots of things happen in this humorous story. The brothers keep the people interested by faking other alien activities (like making crop circles). The head of their mom’s company (a health products network that is probably a scam) shows up to exploit the town for marketing and his own self- indulgence. Gideon is secretly dating Owen; secretly because as the only openly gay males in their school, Gideon does not want people to think that they are dating because they have no choice (yes, Gideon is insecure). Oh, there is a giant lave lamp in the center of town.

This is a fun read even though you want tell Gideon to chill out. There is some suspense (like how much trouble are these two going to get into); some romance; a little adventure; fake science fiction. Really, a bit of everything.

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

All That I Can Fix by Crystal Chan

Wild animals running free in a small town - sounds wacky. But it is not a humorous story. In fact, the animals play mostly a peripheral part in the story of Ronney whose life is in turmoil. 

Ronney's dad tried to commit suicide a few year's ago and only managed to injure himself. Since then in his state of depression, he barely leaves his room and says little to his family. Ronney has worked to keep the house repaired. He also has stepped up to emotionally support his younger sister. Ronney is really angry at his dad for trying to abandon them and then just barely existing while the family's lives go on. And he lets his dad know it, too. Any chance he gets, Ronney reminds his dad about how worthless he is.

Ronney and George have been best friends forever. The thing is George is a girl and Ronney has more than just friendly feelings for her. Jello, his other friend, tries to convince Ronney to help him photograph some of the animals to help propel his career as a photographer. 

And what is with the kid who keeps showing up saying Ronney stole his jeans. One, it's annoying. Two, it's creeping him out. And Ronney has never met him before. 

Ronney is angry at everything which is not an endearing quality for a character.  He isn't mean to people because he is a jerk; he really seemed to have things working against him. But I kept reading to see how Ronney dealt with his anger and his life (and do they get all those animals running amok?).  

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

Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black

In the 1938, the glamour of Hollywood is in full swing. But Kate does not want to be there. And when gets there, it is certainly not all that glamorous. Kate would rather be in San Francisco living with her aunt and going to school where she dreams of being an astronomer (not a normal career for a woman in that time). 

Yet, here is Kate off to live with her grandfather, dashing film star of the silent movie era. Her parents are dead (an event that will haunt her for the rest of her life), and her aunt is marrying some man who despises Kate. Her grandfather's career is long over, so she finds him living in his run down mansion taking in boarders (wannabe actors, mostly) to make some money. 

Kate knows a proper young lady cannot live with bunch of strange men, but at first she has little choice. Her grandfather (who hasn't left the house in years) is happy to have her stay so he can know her better. And the boarders aren't so bad; in fact, two of the young men are quite handsome and charming in their own ways. 

As things start to look up, Kate finds one of the boarders stabbed to death in the kitchen. She finds herself suspecting everyone, so she becomes an amateur sleuth hoping not to get caught by the killer who may be living under the same roof. 

The focus of the story is the murder, but it is more than just a murder mystery. The old Hollywood setting is cool. Through Kate, we see that behind the scenes Hollywood is not so magical. There are several story lines happening that help elevate the characters beyond stereotypes. Kate could easily have been written as a snob (the refined woman forced to live below her standards), but she is more unsure of herself and where she belongs. Really interesting characters and story that keeps moving. 

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