Home › Great Gifts › Holiday Books
Best new books for older kids
Teen-eating monsters, visiting angels, world-scourging viruses! This year's 6 best new page turners are sure to please your favorite tween or teen.
By Susan Freinkel
Daughter of Smoke & Bone
By Laini Taylor
Ages: 15 and up
"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well." Taylor gives away her basic plot in the first two lines. But you’ll want to keep reading this tale of self-identity for the luscious writing, compelling characters, and imaginative mythology. Karou, 17, is an art student in Prague with naturally blue hair and a life that is a mystery even to herself. She doesn’t know who were her real parents are, how she came to be raised by a group of demonic creatures, or why they keep sending her on globe-trotting trips to collect teeth. Her questions only deepen when she is confronted by an angel who is set on stopping the trade in teeth and the creatures who traffic them.
Bottom line: Given the dark themes and romantic elements, Daughter of Smoke & Bone ($11.09), is best for older teens who love fantasy.
Next: The Death Cure »
