Based on the actual teenage diaries and doodles of the much loved picture book creator Phoebe Wahl, Phoebe's Diary is already a big seller at Mr. Mopps'. The book's themes are drama (the friend kind and the stage kind) and crushes (of all kinds). Sometimes cringe and always full of feels, Phoebe's Diary captures and validates real teen girl experiences." - Clare
The Blackwood family are Hollywood royalty, from Bebe Blackwoods film debut in 1962 to teenager Blossom Blackwood, who is now a mainstay of family tv dramas. But the family has secrets, which everyone wants to uncover, except the maybe Blackwoods themselves. Sweeping historical fiction, about ambition, privacy and family trauma. One for teens who love celebrity gossip." - Clare
Accountable is the most important narrative non-fiction book of 2023. Dashka Slater tells the story of the impact of a racist social media account on Albany High School and the wider community. Yes, that Albany, right here in the East Bay. Slater's journalism is impeccable and the far-reaching consequences of racist social media are fully explored, all the way from root to tip. Compelling, heartbreaking and eye-opening. For any teenager trying to understand their impact on the world and those around them." - Clare
The classic sports-novel plot, charting the rise of the underdog, gets a contemporary treatment in this book. Read about an Ojibwe teen's struggle to live up to his dead brother's legacy as a basketball legend. I really like the authentic teen boy voices in this book, they're complicated: gritty, boastful, insecure and silly in equal measure." - Clare
An elite private members club in Manhattan is the key to future success for the graduating class of an elite private High School. But even after a gruelling selection process, only one student will get the literal key to the club. The question is, who is willing to kill for the chance? A brilliant murder mystery and a real page-turner." - Clare
Monster horror, where a kick-ass heroine competes against her ex-boyfriend to become an elite Deathling Hunter. There are some truly blood-chilling parts of this book, along with a lot of action as Rei chases after monsters in the dark and deserted streets of Manhattan." - Clare
T. Kingfisher brings her strange magic to this short, but perfectly formed fairy tale. A story about a toad and a quest that should never be completed. A great gift for fans of dark fantasy with plenty of blood and fae malice." - Clare
Inez is determined to find out what happened to her missing archeologist parents. She doesn't believe they're dead and she has a clue, a gold ring her father sent her which has a mysterious touch of magic. This is one of those books I couldn't put down. There are so many strings to this story, from the history and politics of the smuggling of Egyptian antiquities in the 1800s to the simmering enemies-to-lovers romance. Thrilling and absorbing." - Clare
This book is not quite a retelling of Arthurian legend. The two protagonists do live in medieval England, but their parents were hoping that Gwen and Art might be more royal and less disastrous. There's a royal tournament and feasting and dancing, but it's all delightfully different. A fun and snarky queer medieval love story. I laughed, I gasped, and I loved every minute of it." - Clare
Technically, Roaming is a grown-up graphic novel and there is definitely some mature content here, but the creative team of Jillian and Mariko Tamaki will be familiar to anyone who loves their award-winning book This One Summer. This new book follows three college Freshman women as they try to enjoy a weekend in New York. Full of magic and friendship, but also tension and frustration, this book would make a great gift for older teens." - Clare
Wonder Woman meets Game of Thrones in this page-turning epic fantasy novel where the deeds of heroes are shaped by magical female warriors. Lots of war and strategy here with a smidge of romance." - Clare
This eerie, quiet sci-fi explores what might happen if time was disturbed by an earthquake. Set in Japan with atmospheric descriptions of the places where time runs fast or slow. This one is cool and creepy." - Clare
A new swoony rom-com from the author of the BookTok sensation Better Than the Movies. Two mismatched protagonists take bets on other people's romances, well mostly other people. Betting on You is the book all romance fans have on their holiday wishlist." - Clare
Five short stories in graphic novel format, each story adding a different supernatural element to the history of the holocaust. So we see a Golem in Auschwitz; Baba Yaga mad that the Nazi's are bringing death into her forest and an ancient religious artifact that brings the power of Moses to Jews fleeing their homes. This is a really strange idea, but it works. There are historical notes accompanying every story, which tie these amazing tales to the unbelievable truth of history." - Clare