2019 Illinois Teen Choice Award

These 20 books are nominated for a statewide readers' choice award. High school students across Illinois will read the books, then vote for their favorites in February.

The LMC has 5 print copies of each title, plus ebook and audiobook copies available on Overdrive.

Brochure

All American Boys book coverAll We Have Left by Wendy Mills

Alia, a Muslim, gets trapped in one of the Twin Towers on 9/11, and meets a boy who changes everything for her, while prejudiced Jesse tries to cope with the ramifications of her brother's death in the aftermath.  

 

 

Denton Little's Deathdate book coverAmerican Street by Ibi Zoboi 

Fabiola, a young Haitian immigrant, must navigate her life, and relationships while dealing with the grittiness of Detroit and a new school after her mother is detained by US immigration.  

 

 

Divided We Fall book coverBeartown by Fredrik Backman

In the tiny community of Beartown, the possibility that their amateur hockey team might win a championship, and revitalize a fading town is shattered by the aftemath of violence that leaves a young girl traumatized.

  

 

An Ember in the Ashes book coverBorn A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

This compelling and inspiring autobiography tells the story of Comedy Central's Trevor Noah, as he comes of age at the end of South Africa's apartheid racial laws.  

 

 

Exit, Pursued by a Bear book coverGabe Johnson Takes Over by Geoff Herbach 

It's geeks versus jocks in an epic battle of the beverages!  Gabe battles the high school cheerleading squad in this funny story over who should control the school's soda machine.  

 

 

Highly Illogical Behavior book coverGirl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow 

Charlotte is in pieces.  At 17, she has already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime.  But, she has learned how to forget.  Cutting herself with broken glass washes away the sorrow until she can forget everything.  


 

March: Book Three book coverGoodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

What if you could spend one last day with someone you lost?  Carver Briggs lost it all the day he sent a simple text message right before his three best friends are killed in a terrible car crash.  


 

Nimona book coverThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 

After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to keep her from telling what she saw.  
 

 

Notorious RBG book coverIlluminae by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff 

This morning Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she would have to do.  This afternoon, her planet was invaded, and Kady and Ezra find themselves on a spaceship fleeing the enemy.  

 

 

Out of Darkness book coverA List of Cages by Robin Roe 

Adam accidentally uncovers the whereabouts of Julian, the foster brother he has not seen in five years.  As Adam tries to rescue Julian from an abusive situation, he needs to uncover Julian's secrets, which could cost both boys their lives.  

 

 

The Rest of Us Just Live Here book coverMs. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona

In this graphic novel, Kamala is suddenly empowered with extraordinary powers, but then discovers they come with a price.  Is she ready to use these gifts, or will the weight of her legacy be too much to bear?  

 

 

Salt to the Sea book coverOne of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus 

Five students who are strangers walk into Detention, and only four walk out alive.  Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has somehing to hide.

 

 

 

The Serpent King book coverPaper Girls, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang 

 

In this otherworldly mystery set in the early hours after Halloween, four young newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time.  Suburban drama, and supernatural mysteries clash in this adventurous graphic novel.  

 

Shadowshaper book coverThe Radium Girls:  The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore 

A true story of corporate greed and denial, brave young women worked in the radium-dial factories earning themselves fame and recognition until the gruesome side effects of their work became evident.  The couragous women found themselves embroiled in one of the biggest health scanals os US history.  

 

Six of Crows book coverScythe by Neal Shusterman

In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed ('gleaned') by professional reapers ('scythes'). Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe--a position neither of them wants. The one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't.  


 

These Shallow Graves book coverThe Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee 

In this murder mystery, five teens struggle to find their footing in the world, atop a high-tech luxury tower in New York, one hundred years in the furture. 

 

 

 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before book coverThree Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake 

On an island where a set of triplets are born in every generation, three sisters, all equal heirs to the crown, must now fight for the title in a game of life and death.  

 

 

When We Collided book coverWe Are Okay by Nina LaCour 

After leaving her life behind to go to college in New York, Marin must face the truth about the tragedy that happened in the final weeks of summer.  Her friend Mabel's visit may help Marin deal with her problems, or make  things worse.  

 

 

The Wrath and the Dawn book coverWhen Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

After meeting Dimple at a college summer program, Rishi hopes to woo her into accepting an arranged marriage with him, and thus meet her parents' approval. 

 

 

Zeroboxer book coverWolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin 

Can one girl, even with the ability to shape-shift, prevail over the Third Reich by killing Hitler?  This alternate historical novel follows Yael during a motorcycle race across Europe, where the winner can get an audience with the reclusive Adolf Hitler.