Join us this summer for OverDrive’s annual reading program — May 13th – August 26th!
Sora Sweet Reads is designed for schools to encourage students to keep reading all year long. Overdrive and CA Library are offering a collection of free, simultaneous-use eBooks and audiobooks that spans grades K-12. These titles will be prominently displayed in the Sora digital reading app so it’s easy for students to find their next sweet read!
Here are the featured High School / Young Adult titles —
eBooks
Abuela, Don’t Forget Me by Rex Ogle — In his latest memoir, Rex Ogle captures and celebrates the powerful presence of a woman he could always count on — to give him warm hugs and ear kisses, to teach him precious words in Spanish, to bring him to the library where he could take out as many books as he wanted, and to offer safety when darkness closed in. Also available as an audiobook
The Art of Being a Vampire by Kate Karyus Quinn — With an addict mother and deadbeat dad, Shelby truly hopes that blood does not define her. She discovers a passion for photography, hoping to make something of herself through art. But when her mother dies of an overdose, Shelby finds herself in a dark place.
Ballad & Dagger (Outlaw Saints, Book 1) by Daniel José Older — When sixteen-year-old Mateo and Chela discover each other and their powers during a political battle between neighborhood factions, they set aside their differences to unravel the mystery behind their sunken homeland and to stop a dangerous political operative who is trying to harness their gifts to unleash terror on the world.
The Book of Sam by Rob Shapiro — Sixteen-year-old Sam Sullinger lives in the shadow of adolescence. He’s lost among his overachieving siblings, constantly knocked down by his harsh father, and bullied daily. When he accidentally sets off a series of events that lead to his friend (and secret crush) Harper being kidnapped and taken to Hell, Sam makes the bold decision to rescue her.
Definitely Not a Love Story by Claudia Recinos Seldeen — Ana has big plans to be an important writer. But not a romance writer; love is messy and Ana wants no part of it. When a school writing contest pairs her up with Alejandro, a notorious serial dater, the two work together to create a winning story. Ana finds herself impressed with Alejandro’s writing — but there’s no way she can fall for him, can she?
Everything You Left Me by Paige Classey — When the police come knocking at her door, Maybeth is worried her mother is caught up in their small town’s drug scene again. Instead, the police are there to question Maybeth about her beloved and long-absent father. He has become the lead suspect in a string of unsolved murders across the country…and Maybeth may be the key to convicting him.
Just Ash by Sol Santana — Ashley “Ash” Bishop has always known who he is: a guy who loves soccer, has a crush on his friend Michelle, and is fascinated by the gruesome history of his hometown — Salem, Massachusetts. He’s also always known that he’s intersex, born with both male and female genitalia.
The Life and Deaths of Frankie D. by Colleen Nelson — Frankie’s past is a mystery. Her recurring dreams of a hundred-year old circus sideshow just may hold the key, but when she sees the performers in real life, she has no idea what to believe. Are the dreams Frankie’s way of working through trauma, or something more sinister at play?
No Place for Fairy Tales by Edd Tello — Yuriel’s poor neighborhood in Monterrey, Mexico, isn’t a place where fairy tales happen. Yuriel and his cousin Azul work each day doing laundry to help their family make a living. So when Azul, a trans teen, decides she wants to mark her transition to womanhood with a quinceanera, Yuriel is sure it’s an impossible dream.
The Real Unreal by Ryan Wolf — Nate Reilly is having the worst summer of his life. His parents are never home, he lost his job, and his arts program was cancelled due to a virus outbreak. When Nate comes across an online “game” that promises forbidden knowledge, he is quick to click the link. Soon, he finds himself plunged down a rabbit hole of strange theories, dark plots, and fanatical believers.
Samson & Domingo by Gume Laurel III — Samson and Domingo fall in love during the summer before their junior year of high school. But Samson is the star player of Weslaco North’s football team and Domingo is a French horn player for Weslaco South’s marching band. Once school starts, their new love is challenged by those who don’t agree with their rival schools mixing, especially Domingo’s older brother, Pablo, a football player for South.
Sign Me Up by C. H. Williams — Alyssa is an ice skater who prefers to skate alone. She lives in rural Alaska, where a quiet frozen lake is her happy place. But after moving to sunny, loud Los Angeles, Alyssa isn’t sure if she’ll ever fit in. When the local roller derby team takes Alyssa under its wing, she’s not sure she wants to trade her ice skates and solitude for roller skates and teammates.
Sisters of the Wolf by Patricia Miller-Schroeder — The climate is changing, game is disappearing, and two peoples of the Ice Age compete for survival in a savage world. Keena, from a powerful band of Neanderthals, and Shinoni, daughter of a Cro-Magnon shaman, are torn from their families by Haken, a ruthless hunter. The girls dislike each other but soon discover they need one another to survive.
Wildthorn by Jane Eagland — Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove is locked away in the Wildthorn Hall mental institution, where she is stripped of her identity and left to wonder who has tried to destroy her life.
Audiobooks
The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar — A pun-filled YA contemporary romance, The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar finds a teenage girl competing in a televised baking competition, with contestants including her ex-girlfriend and a potential new crush – perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off and She Drives Me Crazy!
For Lamb by Lesa Cline-Ransome — In 1930s Jackson, Mississippi, quiet, studious and naive girl Lamb tentatively accepts the friendly overtures of a white girl, which sets in motion a series of events that end in tragedy. Also available as an eBook.