Fiercely Unique

The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian / by Sherman Alexie art by Ellen Forney.

Junior feels out of place on the Indian Reservation where he grew up. Determined to take his future into his own hands, he chooses to attend an all white high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

The black flamingo / Dean Atta.

All Michael's life, he’s navigated what it means to be Greek Cypriot and Jamaican, never quite feeling Greek or Black enough. Michael’s coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs, and the Black Flamingo is born.

I am J / Cris Beam.

J always felt out of place, a boy born in a girl’s body. After being deserted by his best friend, J decides that he's done hiding, it's time to be who he really is. This time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost.

The rules have changed / Lesley Choyce.

When Blake returns home after school abroad, things have changed. Independence is not encouraged and he winds up in isolation. When Blake goes looking for allies he finds Ming and Gina who have learned how to play along. Together they must find a way to escape their predetermined fate.

The love letters of Abelard and Lily / Laura Creedle.

When Lily ditches her ADHD meds and lands in detention with Abelard, who has Asperger’s, she’s intrigued. Abelard seems thirty seconds behind, while she feels thirty seconds ahead. When the two discover a common interest they are naturally drawn to each other.

The Homeschool Liberation League / Lucy Frank.

Wilderness Camp has taught Katya more than school ever has and she can’t imagine going back. She asks her parents to give homeschooling a try, but these assignments aren't what she had in mind. With the help of new friends, she tries to save her homeschooling experience.

Evil genius / Catherine Jinks.

Cadel is a genius. At seven, he was illegally hacking into computers. Although Cadel may be advanced beyond his years, at heart he's a lonely kid. When he falls for mysterious and brilliant Kay Lee, he begins to question the implications of his studies for the first time.

Emmy in the key of code / Aimee Lucido.

Emmy has never felt more out of tune. When she takes her first coding class, she unexpectedly connects with the material, and a new friend. Just as Emmy might be hitting her stride, everything changes and she is determined to prove she isn’t a wrong note, but a musician in the world’s most beautiful symphony.

Perfected by girls : a novel / Alfred C. Martino.

The lone girl on the wrestling team, wrestling in her older brother's shadow, Mel struggles to be herself when everyone else seems to be deciding her fate. When an offhand comment sets everyone against her, a twist of fate may give Mel the opportunity to accomplish something no girl in her school has.

Every soul a star / Wendy Mass.

Ally appreciates the simple things in life, like star gazing, and comet hunting. When one extraordinary event binds her to the popular and gorgeous, Bree and the Overweight and awkward Jack, their lives are changed forever.

The summer I became a nerd / Leah Rae Miller.

Madelyne looks like your typical cheerleader. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body is unknown, and she needs to keep it that way.

Late to the party / Kelly Quindlen.

Codi and her two best friends spend more time in her basement than engaging with the outside world. When they attend their first party, Codi stumbles upon Ricky, kissing another boy in the dark and an unexpected friendship is formed.

A good kind of trouble / Lisa Moore Ramée.

Shayla is a rule follower, but in junior high, all the rules have changed. Now she’s questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she’s not black enough. Shay’s sister, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn't think that's for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides some rules are worth breaking.

The inexplicable logic of my life : a novel / by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it’s senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he?

Counting by 7s / Holly Goldberg Sloan.

Willow is obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, and counting by sevens. It has never been easy for her to connect with people, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life until suddenly Willow’s parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world.

Navigating early / Clare Vanderpool.

At the end of World War II, Jack Baker, is suddenly uprooted after his mother’s death. Placed in a boy’s boarding school, he encounters Early Auden, who doesn’t believe what everyone accepts as truth. When the boys find themselves unexpectedly alone at school, they embark on a quest on the Appalachian Trail in search of the great black bear.

Just our luck / Julia Walton.

Leo's anxiety just caused a fight at school, and though he didn't lie, he wasn't exactly honest about how it all went down. Now Leo's father is forcing him to take self defense classes, putting him right in front of Evey Paros. When Evey offers to put Leo in the Hot Yoga class instead, the question remains, what's in it for Evey?

The boy with the butterfly mind / Victoria Williamson.

Jamie Lee just wants to be normal but his ADHD isn't making it easy. Elin Watts just wants to be perfect. When their families blend, Jamie and Elin discover that they're actually more alike than they'd admit. Maybe there's no such thing as normal, or perfect.

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Book List: Fiercely Unique

Sachem Public Library