My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma

For Willie Mehta, Bollywood films are life. All her free time is spent watching Bollywood, critiquing Bollywood, and preparing for film school at NYU. She is president of the school film society and her senior year is looking good. Until her long time boyfriend--the one that a pandit predicted was her soulmate--finds a new girlfriend. To make matters worse, Raj is also named chair of the student film festival in Winne’s place. Suddenly, Winnie’s sure future looks a little unstable. And Dev, a charming and interesting fellow film junkie, is only adding to the confusion.

My So-Called Bollywood Life is a light, coming of age romance with great characters and a fun plot. An added bonus is a list with accompanying reviews of almost 50 classic Bollywood films. Winnie’s story gives a glimpse of Indian culture and makes readers want to binge watch Bollywood. A good one for teen and tween readers to add to their reading lists.

Recommended ages--13 and up

Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton

Piper Baird dreams of becoming a journalist, but her family’s finances stand in the way. When she receives a scholarship to Chiswick Academy, Piper pins her hopes on the school’s Bennington scholarship to get her into her collegel of choice. She searches for the perfect story to win the award and she quickly notices a potential story about the privileged students from Embassy Row. Rafael Amador, son of the Spanish ambassador, is Piper’s ticket into the elite crowd and all their secrets. However, as Piper comes to know Rafael, she questions if she wants to share his secrets with the world.

Diplomatic Immunity is an interesting look at a unique group of kids. Readers will relate to the common high school problems, while also being exposed to an entirely new world of privilege. Part mystery, part high school drama, this book has something for a variety of readers.

Recommended ages 13 and up

Wolves, Boys, & Other Things that Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler

KJ Carson has spent her entire life in the small town of West End, Montana. She knows everyone and they know her, but no one has really noticed her. But when Virgil Whitman and his mom move in, things begin to change. KJ and Virgil work together on a journalism project featuring the wolves newly reintroduced to Yellowstone Park, and suddenly people see KJ in a new way. Some notice KJ’s talent for writing, but most just see that she is sympathetic to the wolves.

KJ’s high school newspaper articles lead to a much more serious divide between the people of West End. Disagreements grow and as tempers flare, things become dangerous for the wolves and their sympathizers. In Wolves, Boys & Other Things That MIght Kill Me, Chandler introduces great characters and an interesting story. She also sheds light on the very real conflict of reintroducing wolves into the wild. I enjoyed KJ and reading about her life in a beautiful area of the world that I love.

Recommended ages--12 and up