With everything that’s happening in the world, it seems like a lot of vacations are turning into staycations. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have those vacation reads! In fact, books can be a great way to transport you to another place; whether it’s real or magical. Live vicariously through these fantastic young adult books for your summer staycation!
Staycation Book Recs
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Real Life Places
Based on real places you can travel once it’s safe again, adventure away on your staycation with these characters!
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika and Marita Moulite
After an incident at school, Alaine is sent to Haiti on a volunteer immersion project under the eye of her aunt. And also her mom, who is hiding out from her own, very public incident. It turns out, her mom might be keeping secrets of her own.
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Loveboat, Taipei by Abigial Hing Wen
Instead of going to the dance program of her dreams, Ever Wong is sent to Taiwan to study Mandarin. Little did her parents know, the program they chose is nicknamed Loveboat, where kids go clubbing more than they study. For the first time, Ever isn’t constricted by her parents’ rules. But how far is too far?
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Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Darius knows more about nerd culture than he knows about his own culture. As he’s about to embark to his first trip to Iran, he’s also balancing depression and his father’s disapproval. Everything changes when he meets his new neighbor, Sohrab. With Sohrab, he finally feels like he can be himself. If only he can learn how to keep that feeling when he returns to America.
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Again, But Better by Christine Riccio
To mix things up, Shane decides to move to London for a semester in London. After all, she’s been doing college up to this point all wrong. No parties, no friends. In London, she’s going to change all that. But going outside her comfort zone turns out to be more complicated than she originally thought.
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The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
It should have been one of the worst days of Hadley’s life, being stuck in JFK and late to her father’s second wedding. However, it’s there she meets Oliver, a British boy who just happens to be sitting in her row on the flight. An instant connection, the flight happens in the blink of an eye. Will they ever be able to find each other again?
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Fictional Places
If fiction is more your style, pick these magical worlds for your staycation!
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Simon Snow is probably the worst chosen one ever. He’s a powerful wizard, sure, but he can’t control his magic. When he returns to his final year at Watford, his roommate and nemesis Baz is nowhere to be found. As Simon’s life spirals out of control, he’s desperate to find out what happened to Baz. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because there’s something more there. P.S. Watford makes a magical staycation!
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Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The land of Orisha used to be humming with magic. However, under the orders of a ruthless king, all the maji were killed and the magic disappeared. Now, Zelie has a chance to bring back magic and strike against those in power. But Zelie isn’t the only one after the magic.
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Throne of Glass by SJ Maas
After serving a year in the salt mines, Celaena is brought before the Prince to be a champion in a competition to become a royal assassin. If she wins, she serves for four years and then wins her freedom. But when something starts killing off the contestants, Celaena has to figure out what it is before it comes after her.
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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Ketterdam is a hub of international trade where almost anything can be bought. Kaz Brekker is pretty familiar with that, as the leader of the gang the Dregs. When him and his crew are offered the heist of a lifetime, he takes it. As long as they don’t kill each other first.
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Dreadnought by April Daniels
Danny spent most of her time trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. At least, until Dreadnought, the famed superhero, drops out of the sky right in front of and gives her the body of her dreams. It should be the best moment of her life, but life suddenly gets more complicated. Not only that, but now she has superpowers too.