We Set the Dark on Fire

Reach for this book when your teenager is beginning to question the status quo, grappling with the weight of family expectations, or showing a budding interest in social activism. This high-stakes dystopian novel follows Daniela Vargas, a top student at an elite finishing school who is hiding a dangerous secret: her identification papers are forged. As she is thrust into a marriage of convenience within the upper echelons of power, she is recruited to spy for a resistance movement. The story masterfully explores themes of class warfare, the ethics of privilege, and the courage required to forge one's own path. It is a sophisticated choice for older teens ready to discuss how personal identity and systemic justice intersect, wrapped in a gripping narrative of forbidden romance and political intrigue.