YA Reads: Found Family
There are a lot of holidays that occur in December, and that usually includes more quality time with loved ones, which could mean your biological family or just people who matter to you- whether you’re related to them or not. That makes December the perfect time to dive into some great stories with the Found Family trope. These characters might not be tied through blood, but they have formed a family regardless, and have found support and love outside of the typical family structure. Below are some suggestions of books across genres that all have one thing in common- a group of people who have created an unbreakable bond.
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Mystery, 9th&up)
YA F BARNES
Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. It's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously- until the FBI comes knocking: they've begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie. She's sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own, but soon it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem- and when a new killer strikes, danger looms close.
Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (Historical Fantasy, 9th&up)
YA F CHOKSHI
Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a motley band of experts. Together, they'll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.
The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer (Realistic Fiction, 9th&up)
YA F DWYER
Atlas James has lost her way. In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she's working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the western Sierras. After weeks of working with the four strangers that are also in the program, Atlas finds that these people know her better than anyone. Will the end of the program mean the end of their bond?
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (Fantasy, 10th&up)
YA F FAIZAL
On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by night, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with some of the city's most skilled outcasts- but not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (Classic, 7th&up)
YA F HINTON
No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, and he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.
Aurora Rising by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Science Fiction, 7th&up)
YA F KAUFMAN
Told in separate voices, eighteen-year-old Tyler Jones, top graduate of Aurora Academy, and a group of misfits and troublemakers embark on their first mission with Auri, a stowaway from the distant past.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Romance, 8th&up)
YA GN HEARTSTOPPER
Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.
The Rosewood Hunt by Mackenzie Reed (Adventure, 8th&up)
YA F REED
Lily Rosewood has always been close to her grandmother, so when she dies suddenly, Lily's world is upended. Gram's quarter of a billion dollar fortune is missing, but Gram has always loved games, and even in death, she still has a few tricks up her sleeve. When Lily and three other seemingly random teens get letters from Gram sending them on a treasure hunt around Rosetown, they hope the fortune will be the reward. But they're not the only ones hunting for Gram's treasure, and soon the hunt becomes more dangerous than they ever could have imagined.
Brownstone by Samuel Teer (Realistic Fiction, 9th&up)
YA GN TEER
In the summer of 1995, almost-fifteen-year-old Almudena is sent to live with her estranged Spanish-speaking father, and together they renovate a brownstone and build a relationship while Almudena navigates the Latin American side of her heritage for the first time.
The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson (Historical Fiction, 8th&up)
YA F WILSON
On her eighteenth birthday, Hilde leaves her orphanage in 1930s Berlin, and heads out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Cafe Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers. Rosa, one of the club's waitresses and performers, immediately takes Hilde under her wing. As the cafe denizens slowly embrace Hilde, and she embraces them in turn, she discovers her voice and her own blossoming feelings for Rosa.