March Madness

This is Not the Jess Show Vs. Starter Villain

Science Fiction

• This is not the Jess Show by Anna Carey: Jess Flynn thinks she’s a normal teen living in 1998, but strange clues make her question her reality. She soon discovers her entire life is actually a hidden TV show, and everyone around her is part of the act. Now Jess has to decide whether to accept the fake world she knows or risk everything to uncover the truth.

• Starter Villain by John Scalzi: Charlie’s boring life explodes when he inherits his uncle’s secret supervillain business, complete with a volcano lair and talking cats (and other animals, we refuse to spoil it!). Thrown into a world of rival villains and over-the-top danger, he has to learn the rules fast to survive!

Divine Rivals vs. Sunrise on the Reaping

Fantasy 

• Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross -In a world at war with feuding gods, rival journalists Iris and Roman begin exchanging mysterious letters that draw them closer. As their connection deepens, they’re pulled into the dangers of the battlefield and the secrets of the gods. It’s a romantic fantasy about love, loss, and the power of words.

• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins: In this Hunger Games prequel, Haymitch Abernathy is forced into the brutal 50th Hunger Games, where twice the tributes means twice the danger. As he fights to survive, he begins to see the Capitol’s cruelty for what it is. It’s a powerful story about survival, sacrifice, and the early sparks of rebellion.

Tokyo Ghoul vs. Sunshine

Graphic Novels 

• Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida: follows a college student who becomes half-monster and must survive between humans and ghouls. Dark, intense, and full of twists, it’s perfect for fans of supernatural thrillers.

• Sunshine by Jarrett Krosoczka: follows the author’s experience as a camp counselor, where seriously ill kids teach him about hope and courage. Honest and inspiring, it’s a moving story of resilience and community.

We are Not Free vs. The God of the Woods

Historical Fiction

• We are Not Free by Tracy Chee: This book follows a tight knit group of second generation Japanese teens whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans in WW2.

• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: In August 1975, thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her family’s summer camp, echoing her brother’s disappearance years earlier. Dark family secrets soon surface in a tense, suspenseful drama.