B.I.T. Picks 2021

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B.I.T.

B.I.T.
Our B.I.T. (Before It's Trendy) Program is Changing Hands's legion of teen reviewers, casting judgment on books before they're released. Reviewers aged 12-17 get access to advance reading copies of YA releases, and in return write brief recommendations for the books they love. Their recommendations are showcased in the teen sections, on event displays, and here on our website. Interested in becoming a part of this elite crew? Click here for more info.
The Upper World By Femi Fadugba Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780063078598
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: HarperTeen - December 7th, 2021

THE UPPER WORLD was an absolutely magnificent book. Filled with surprising twists and turns and a healthy dose of humor, this book was super fun to read. I also love how this book had a lot of science in it. The book really makes you think about time and how it passes, and what time travel would be like if it really existed. All in all, this is one of the best books I have read recently and I really enjoyed it!  -Axel, 12


Our Way Back to Always By Nina Moreno Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780759557475
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - October 19th, 2021

OUR WAY BACK TO ALWAYS is a perfect, wholesome read. In the midst of stress, I found it to be just the right kind of book for escapism, with characters that are easy to love and root for. Following along as the main characters rekindled their past friendship through a bucket list was so much fun, and I love the way the story resolved. Moreno's writing style is easy to read and digest, making for a quick and enjoyable book.  -Ruby, 16


Big Boned By Jo Watson Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781989365298
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Wattpad Books - September 21st, 2021

BIG BONED is a wonderful novel celebrating body diversity and positivity. Lori has just moved to a new city, and finds that her new high school is far different from her previous arts school. Namely, she is the only plus-sized person there. Throughout the novel, Lori grapples with internal and external demons. This is a great representation of the experiences that so many teens today have. The novel explores some heavy issues, but the author does a good job of balancing them out with lightheartedness.  -Beatrice, 14


Not Here to Be Liked By Michelle Quach Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780063038363
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Katherine Tegen Books - September 14th, 2021

NOT HERE TO BE LIKED encapsulates being a feminist in high school, and the mess and beauty that can come with that, so well. I really enjoyed the way it blends a feminist narrative into a love story, and the development the main character Eliza goes through is relatable. The plot is fast-paced and kept me engaged all the way to the end, and I walked away from the book with a lasting message of how unacknowledged and diminished everyday gender inequality can be. Eliza's story is inspirational in how she chooses to take action when no one else will.  -Ruby, 16


We Can Be Heroes By Kyrie McCauley Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062885050
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Katherine Tegen Books - September 7th, 2021

WE CAN BE HEROES is an anthem to teens who have long been silenced on pressing issues. Follow two diametrically opposed girls and their late, larger then life, best friend as they fight to unravel America’s biggest issue: gun violence. This is a story where a small town turned upside down by tragedy becomes a metaphor for a country plagued by corruption. This book allows you to get utterly lost in an eye-opening tale of rebellion, friendship, and love. There is no praise big enough for how this book handles deep topics in a way that is aimed at teens.  -Delaney, 16


The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) By Jennifer Lynn Barnes Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780759557635
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - September 7th, 2021

I was thrilled at the chance to be thrown back into the world of the Hawthornes, and was not disappointed with what I got. THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY picks up where The Inheritance Games ended, and takes us deeper into the mystery that is the Hawthorne fortune. I loved the action, mystery, and romance going on throughout this whole book. It was incredibly engaging, and I genuinely couldn't put the book down. I love the characters, and am so excited to see what the next book has in store for them.  -Ruby, 16


How We Fall Apart By Katie Zhao Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781547603978
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Bloomsbury YA - August 17th, 2021

In this suspenseful mystery, a group of four friends tries to prove their innocence when their ex-best friend is found dead. The novel explores the less idealistic aspects of academia, and I found myself empathizing with several of the struggles the main characters faced. There is a lot of pressure to succeed and there is a focus on the mental health issues that result from that. With secrets and lies around every corner, and a dramatic ending you will never see coming, this book is definitely well worth reading.  -Beatrice, 13


Facing the Sun By Janice Lynn Mather Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781534406049
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - August 11th, 2020

This coming-of-age story is breathtaking. I was truly transported right to Pinder Street, and felt as though I got to know each of the characters very well, and could relate to them on a personal level. The writing is very thoughtful, and each character has a very distinct personality. The story pulls you right in, and keeps you there throughout. One thing that I really appreciated was that the author is not afraid to hit on real-life issues, even if they are uncomfortable to discuss.  -Beatrice, 13


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Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow Trilogy #3) By Rainbow Rowell Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9781250254337
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Wednesday Books - July 6th, 2021

The fan fiction of your dreams has come to life in ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS! If you've ever wanted to see a well done DRARRY fan fiction come to life, then read this series! Simon and Baz make you believe in love, second chances, and happy endings. They take being broken, battered, and bruised to a whole new level, but when you love someone, you don't seem to care about the rest of the world. All that matters is your person. AND DID I MENTION DRAGON WINGS?! Reading this book made me so happy, and nothing I read afterward will compare. Sigh . . . how shall my fragile heart carry on?  -Kayla, 17


A Sitting in St. James By Rita Williams-Garcia Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062367297
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Quill Tree Books - May 25th, 2021

A SITTING IN ST. JAMES makes no euphemism of the horror that was American slavery. This story takes place on a 19th century Louisiana plantation run by an old French woman with an iron fist, and is told from the perspectives of enslaved people, visitors, heirs and mixed-race children. This book was certainly heart-wrenching, but tells a narrative that has been lacking and is necessary to the evolution of teen fiction novels. What's more, the writing of Rita Williams-Garcia is honest. She made the overarching message of this book more than a story about slavery, but one of struggle, class, sacrifice and kinship.  -Zoe, 16


10 Truths and a Dare By Ashley Elston Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781368062381
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Disney-Hyperion - May 4th, 2021

10 TRUTHS AND A DARE is a very sweet, lighthearted read. Olivia is a straight-A student, but one missed form puts her in danger of not graduating. She has to volunteer at a golf tournament to graduate on time and wants to hide it from her huge extended family. With the help of her cousins, the web of secrets she spins is very intricate. The hope that it won’t fall apart kept me from putting the book down. From her overbearing mother to her crazy uncles, Olivia's family dynamic is something that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. This is a perfect book to escape from life for a little while.  -Beatrice, 13


Some Mistakes Were Made By Kristin Dwyer Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780063088535
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: HarperTeen - May 10th, 2022

I absolutely adored SOME MISTAKES WERE MADE. This book was well-paced and had wonderful themes of belonging and family. What really made the book for me, though, was the characters. Ellis and all of the Albrey family were all such lovable and well-written characters. They really came to life, with unique lives and personalities, and by the end of the book I had so much love for each and every one of them. This book had the perfect balance of feels, laughs, and romance. I can't recommend it enough.  -Ruby, 16


The Bright & the Pale By Jessica Rubinkowski Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062871503
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Quill Tree Books - March 2nd, 2021

THE BRIGHT AND THE PALE was an immersive, very enjoyable fantasy book. It was action packed, I never found myself bored, and the characters had interesting dynamics and complex backstories. My favorite part of the novel was the world, which is gritty and dark, with wintry and Russian themes. I loved the way the author designed the world to be the sort that you can understand so well, and be so intrigued by. The author's writing style was also easy to digest, and did well at explaining the complexities of the world. Overall, it was a great book I would happily read again.  -Ruby, 15


Prepped By Bethany Mangle Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781534477506
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - February 23rd, 2021

PREPPED follows Becca Aldaine, who lives in a doomsday survivalist community, a community that Becca is determined to escape from. The concept was so intriguing—the idea of people who prepare for the apocalypse sucked me in immediately, and the author fully delivered what was promised. My favorite part of the book was Becca as a character, and what she goes through as she tries to change her life for the better, while saving her little sister. Overall I really enjoyed the story, and the struggles of Becca's reality as she fights against the constraints of her community.  -Ruby, 15


Some Other Now By Sarah Everett Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780358251866
Availability: Special Order - Subject to Availability
Published: Clarion Books - February 23rd, 2021

This novel broke my heart. It tells a heart-wrenching story of love and loss that absolutely absorbed me for a few days, I couldn't stop thinking about it. There are wonderfully flawed yet lovable characters, as we jump back and forth between two timelines, where on both sides, love and death approaches. I loved the overarching themes that discuss how a person can move on from their past and progress into a more beautiful future. I overall loved and found SOME OTHER NOW to be a memorable book.  -Ruby, 15


A Pho Love Story By Loan Le Cover Image
By Loan Le
$19.99
ISBN: 9781534441934
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - February 9th, 2021

I thoroughly enjoyed A PHO LOVE STORY. It follows two teenagers whose families own rival pho stores. The two main characters were very lovable and easy to read. It was a relaxing, entertaining story that kept me engaged in all that was happening. I especially loved how much I got to learn about Vietnamese culture, and how that blends with modern-day America. It's the perfect book if you want to escape reality for a little while and enjoy a love story with intriguing underlying themes and addictive tropes.  -Ruby, 15


Love Is a Revolution By Renée Watson Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781547600601
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Bloomsbury YA - February 2nd, 2021

LOVE IS A REVOLUTION is masterful in blending the struggles of love, family, and finding your place in the world. Renee Watson’s novel is about 17-year-old Nala’s summer before her senior year, when a couple of white lies lead to a relationship built on false promises and vows she can’t keep. I admired how this book emphasized that there is more to making a difference than volunteer work or sacrificing a summer, but that revolution comes in the little things, through spending time with the people you care about. Who are we to try to change our world if we’re unable to change ourselves?  -Zoe, 15


Wings of Ebony By J. Elle Cover Image
By J. Elle
$19.99
ISBN: 9781534470675
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books f - January 26th, 2021

This is a book about choices, ancestry, and acceptance. It’s an exciting story that will captivate you with its amazing characters. The main character, Rue, tells the story perfectly, about the struggles within her family. Rue also develops a close relationship with her sister as they face different challenges. The author does a superb job of including issues from real life such as racism and discrimination. WINGS OF EBONY is a fantastic novel that all teenagers should read.  -Dominic, 13


If I Tell You the Truth (When You Ask Me Where I'm Going #2) By Jasmin Kaur Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062912640
Availability: Not Available In-Store - Usually Ships from Warehouse in 1-5 Days
Published: HarperCollins - January 19th, 2021

IF I TELL YOU THE TRUTH is a moving novel about a mother confronting her abuser after being forced to flee her homeland and raise a child in her family's exile, told through prose and poetry. I fell in love with the protagonist. Sahaara is a young woman who struggles to understand herself and who she wants to become, but has incredible courage and fire. IF I TELL YOU THE TRUTH is profound in multiple ways, in that the poetic aspect allows the reader insight to the more complex emotions of the protagonist, and that Kaur tackles such a heavy topic while leaving the reader feeling hopeful.  -Zoe, 16