Staff Picks
Teen Titles to Read This Summer
- Ashley S.
- Monday, May 23, 2022
Collection
Check out these teen titles to read this summer!
Ab(solutely) Normal
Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
Published in 2023
"Channeling their own experiences, sixteen exceptional authors subvert mental health stereotypes in a powerful and uplifting collection of fiction"-- Provided by publisher.
Salt and Honey
Jewish Teens on Feminism, Creativity, & Tradition
Published in 2022
"This collection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and art explores what it means to be a Jewish young woman today"-- Provided by publisher.
Transmogrify!
14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic
Published in 2023
"Transness is as varied and colorful as magic can be. In Transmogrify!, you'll embark on fourteen different adventures alongside unforgettable characters who embody many different genders and expressions and experiences--because magic is for everyone, and that is cause for celebration"-- Provided by publisher
Men of the 65th
The Borinqueneers of the Korean War
Published in 2023
"Learn about Puerto Rico's 65th Regiment, one of the US Army's most decorated regiments. Author Talia Aikens-Nuñez shares the history of these soldiers and the discrimination they faced as they served their country during the largest court martial of the Korean War"-- Provided by publisher.
Money out Loud
All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us
Published in 2023
"So no one taught you about money, either? Let’s figure this me$$ out together. In this illustrated, deeply unserious guide to money, Berna Anat—aka the Financial Hype Woman—freaks out her immigrant parents by doing the unthinkable: Talking about money. Loudly. Because we’re done staying silent, anxious, and ashamed about our money. It's time to join the party and finally learn about all the financial stuff that always felt too confusing." -- Amazon.com.
The Making of Yolanda La Bruja
Published in 2023
"Yolanda Alvarez is having a good year. She's starting to feel at home at Julia De Burgos High, her school in the Bronx. She has her best friend Victory, and maybe something with José, a senior boy she's getting to know. She's confident her initiation into her family's bruja tradition will happen soon. But then a white boy, the son of a politician, appears at Julia De Burgos High, and his vibes are off. And Yolanda's initiation begins with a series of troubling visions of the violence this boy threatens. How can Yolanda protect her community, in a world that doesn't listen? Only with the wisdom and love of her family, friends, and community--and the Brujas Diosas, her ancestors and guides"-- Provided by publisher.
Blood Debts
Published in 2023
Sixteen-year-old twins Clement and Cristina feel lost after their father's death, but find a new sense of purpose as they work to quell the rising tensions between New Orleans's magic and non-magic communities and find out who cursed their mother.
The Edge of Being
Published in 2022
Seventeen-year-old Isaac Griffin sets out to find the father he has never met, only to discover that perhaps the missing pieces of his life were never missing at all. Includes author's note.
Promise Boys
Published in 2023
J.B., Ramón, and Trey, students of the Urban Promise Prep School, must follow the school's strict rules, but when their principal is murdered, the three boys must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested.
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling
Published in 2023
"Delilah always keeps her messy, gooey insides hidden behind a wall of shrugs and yeah, whatevers. She goes with the flow--which is how she ends up singing in her friends' punk band as a favor, even though she'd prefer to hide at the merch table. Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master and self-declared Blerd. He spends his free time leading quests and writing essays critiquing the game under a pseudonym, keeping it all under wraps from his disapproving family. These two, who have practically nothing in common, meet for the first time on New Year's Eve. And then again on Valentine's Day. And then again on St. Patrick's Day. As their holiday meetings continue, the two begin to fall for each other. But what happens once they realize they've each fallen for a version of the other that doesn't really exist?"-- Dust jacket.
Sing Me to Sleep
Published in 2023
Saoirse Sorkova, a murderous siren whose very existence is illegal, is forced to work with the prince she hates to hunt a deadly killer--herself.
The Teen Witches' Guide to Crystals
Published in 2022
Tune into the mysterious powers of the Earth with this invaluable guide to crystals and gemstones. With everything you need to know about this exciting branch of witchcraft, this is a must-have for every girl who's ready to explore the hidden magic of the universe ... and discover the dazzling power of crystals!
Reader, I Murdered Him
Published in 2022
"Adele grew up in the shadows--first watching from backstage at her mother's Parisian dance halls, then wandering around the gloomy, haunted rooms of her father's manor. When she's finally sent away to boarding school in London, she's happy to enter the brightly lit world of society girls and their wealthy suitors. Yet there are shadows there, too. Many of the men that try to charm Adele's new friends do so with dark intentions. After a violent assault, she turns to a roguish young con woman for help. Together, they become vigilantes meting out justice. But can Adele save herself from the same fate as those she protects? With a queer romance at its heart, this lush historical thriller offers readers an irresistible mix of vengeance and empowerment."-- Provided by publisher.
If I See You Again Tomorrow
Published in 2023
Clark is stuck in a time loop that is endlessly monotonous until he meets Beau, the boy of his dreams.
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys
Published in 2023
Seventeen-year-old Chinese-Filipina Chloe's father sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to their Manila home for college.
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
Published in 2023
"Funeral Songs For Dying Girls is a young adult novel about an Indigenous girl who lives on the grounds of a cemetery with her widowed father."-- Provided by publisher.
The Awakening
Published in 2022
In a climate-ravaged New York deeply divided by class, Zuberi, Uzochi, and Lencho, three teens of refugees from a fallen African utopia, begin to develop supernatural powers.
Alondra
Published in 2023
"Seventeen-year-old Alonda finds friendship, fame, and love on the streets of Coney Island when she befriends a group of teen wrestlers"-- Provided by publisher.
Ander and Santi Were Here
A Novel
Published in 2023
Nonbinary teen Ander is ready to leave their family's taquería and focus on their art, but when Santi, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, begins to work at the restaurant, the two teens spark a romance made complicated by immigration police.
This Town is on Fire
Published in 2023
"A page-turning YA contemporary novel about a Black teenager whose life is turned upside down when her white best friend becomes the latest "Becky" on the internet, and their town is left reeling from the publicity"-- Provided by publisher.
Carved in Ebony
Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us
Published in 2022
"Rewritten for the young reader, Jasmine Holmes shares the significant role that Black women have played in the formation of our faith. As these historical figures take the stage, you will be inspired by what the stories of these women can teach us about education, birth, privilege, and so much more"-- Provided by publisher.
Queen Bee
An Anti-historical Regency Romp
Published in 2023
"Lady Ela Dalvi knows the exact moment her life was forever changed--when her best friend, Poppy, betrayed her without qualm over a boy, the son of a duke. She was sent away in disgrace, her reputation ruined. Nearly three years later, eighteen-year-old Ela is consumed with bitterness and a desire for . . . revenge. Her enemy is quickly joining the crème de la crème of high society while she withers away in the English countryside. With an audacious plan to get even, Ela disguises herself as a mysterious heiress and infiltrates London's elite. But when Ela reunites with the only boy she's ever loved, she begins to question whether vengeance is still her greatest desire. In this complicated game of real-life chess, Ela must choose her next move: Finally bring down the queen or capture the king's heart?"--Publisher marketing.
Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball
Published in 2023
Femme, gay podcaster Riley Weaver, a member of the Gaybutante Society, makes a bet with his femmephobic classmate that he can find a masc date for the annual Gaybutante Ball and documents his search in a brand-new podcast.
Invisible Son
Published in 2023
After spending two months in a juvenile detention center for a crime he did not commit, seventeen-year-old Andre Jackson returns home and tries to adapt to a Covid-19 world and find his missing best friend.
Better Than We Found It
Conversations to Help Save the World
Published in 2022
Every generation inherits the problems created by the ones before them, but no generation will inherit as many problems--as many crises--as the current generation of young people. From the devastations of climate change to the horrors of gun violence, from rampant transphobia to the widening wealth gap, from the lack of health care to the lack of housing, the challenges facing the next generation can feel insurmountable. But change, even revolution, is possible; you just have to know where to start. Covering sixteen topics and featuring more than two dozen interviews with prominent activists, authors, actors, and politicians, this is the essential resource for those who want to make the world better than we found it. Featuring interviews with: Mehcad Brooks, Keah Brown, Julian Castro, Sonja Cherry-Paul, Chelsea Clinton, Charlotte Clymer, Mari Copeny aka Little Miss Flint, Greg D'Amato, Jesse Katz, Amed Khan, Daniel Alejandro Leon-Davis, Willy and Jo Lorenz, Ben O'Keefe, Brittany Packnett-Cunningham, Anna Paquin, Robert Reich, Brandon T. Snider, Nic Stone, Anton Treuer, Andrea Tulee, David Villalpando, Elizabeth Warren, Shannon Watts, Natalie Weaver, Brandon Wolf.
How to Be a (young) Antiracist
Published in 2023
"The #1 New York Times bestseller that sparked international dialogue is now a book for young adults! Based on the adult bestseller by Ibram X. Kendi, and co-authored by bestselling author Nic Stone, How to be a (Young) Antiracist will serve as a guide for teens seeking a way forward in acknowledging, identifying, and dismantling racism and injustice"-- Provided by publisher.
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Published in 2022
"Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer's best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass is adapted for a young adult audience by children's author Monique Gray Smith, bringing Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation"-- Provided by publisher.
The Davenports
Published in 2023
The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in 1910 Chicago, and the two daughters, Olivia and Helen, are finding their way and finding love--even where they are not supposed to.
This is Our Place
Published in 2022
The house at Number 8 Sunflower Street tells the stories of three teenagers who have lived within its walls in the 21st century--Ana, a lesbian forced to leave her home, Greg sent to live with his aunt when his parents divorce, and Beto, a would-be photographer living during the COVID pandemic.
Killing the Wittigo
Indigenous Culture-based Approaches to Waking Up, Taking Action, and Doing the Work of Healing
Published in 2023
"An unflinching reimagining of Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing for young adults. Written specifically for young adults, reluctant readers, and literacy learners, Killing the Wittigo explains the traumatic effects of colonization on Indigenous people and communities and how trauma alters an individual's brain, body, and behavior. It explores how learned patterns of behavior -- the ways people adapt to trauma to survive -- are passed down within family systems, thereby affecting the functioning of entire communities. The book foregrounds Indigenous resilience through song lyrics and as-told-to stories by young people who have started their own journeys of decolonization, healing, and change. It also details the transformative work being done in urban and on-reserve communities through community-led projects and Indigenous-run institutions and community agencies. These stories offer concrete examples of the ways in which Indigenous peoples and communities are capable of healing in small and big ways -- and they challenge readers to consider what the dominant society must do to create systemic change. Full of bold graphics and illustration, Killing the Wittigo is a much-needed resource for Indigenous kids and the people who love them and work with them."-- Provided by publisher.
Share Better and Stress Less
A Guide to Thinking Ecologically About Social Media
Published in 2023
"Drawing on ecological, social justice and storytelling frameworks, this . . . book discusses how information pollution spreads and why, tackling the topic of internet ethics while empowering readers to create a safe, secure and inclusive digital world"--OCLC.
Chasing Pacquiao
Published in 2023
When Bobby is unwillingly outed he turns to boxing, finding a hero in Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, but when Pacquiao publicly denounces homosexuality, Bobby must discover a hero within himself.
Four Found Dead
Published in 2023
When a deranged murderer traps Jo and her friends in a defunct shopping center, their only chance of survival is to navigate the sprawling ruins of the mall and outwit the killer before they strike again.
Dark Room Etiquette
Published in 2022
Sixteen-year-old Sayers Wayte has everything: popularity, good looks, perfect grades--there's nothing Sayers' family money can't buy. Until he's kidnapped by a man who tells him the privileged life he's been living is based on a lie. Trapped in a windowless room, without knowing why he's been taken or how long the man plans to keep him shut away, Sayers faces a terrifying new reality. To survive, he must forget the world he once knew, and play the part his abductor has created for him. But as time passes, the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, and Sayers begins to wonder if he can escape... before he loses himself.
Man Made Monsters
Published in 2022
Haunting illustrations are woven throughout these horror stories that follow one extended Cherokee family across the centuries and well into the future as they encounter predators of all kinds in each time period.
The Next New Syrian Girl
Published in 2023
The unlikely friendship between Syrian American boxer Khadija and Syrian refugee Leene reveals the pressures and expectations of the perfect Syrian daughter and the repercussions of the Syrian Revolution both at home and abroad.
Welcome to Consent
How to Say No, when to Say Yes, and How to Be the Boss of Your Body
Published in 2023
"This guide breaks down myriad situations involving consent and bodily autonomy, including navigating new or changing feelings, recognizing power imbalances, staying safe in online spaces, and keeping relationships mutually comfortable. Through relatable illustrations, clear explanations, and real-life examples, readers will learn how to actively listen and observe, set boundaries, and speak up for themselves and others"-- Provided by publisher.
Darkhearts
A Novel
Published in 2023
Seventeen-year-old David missed his shot at fame after quitting his band, while his former best friends, Chance and Eli, became pop stars, but when Eli commits suicide, David and Chance reconnect and trade their frenemy status for a confusing, tentative romance.
16 & Pregnant
A Novel
Published in 2023
Best friends Erykah and Kelly have their junior year planned out, but everything changes when Erykah finds out she is pregnant, and as Kelly tries to support her throughout the pregnancy the two girls learn some harsh realities about the world and are forced to make some huge decisions.
Saints of the Household
Published in 2023
When brothers Max and Jay help a classmate in trouble, they struggle with the consequences of their violent actions and worry they may be more like their abusive father than they thought, so the brothers turn to their Bribri roots to find their way forward.
I Like Me Better
Published in 2023
"This is not how soccer-star Zack Martin thought his summer would go. When the captain's prank means trouble for the whole squad, Zack's left with no choice but to take one for the team and cover for him. Now he's trading parties and beach days for community service at a seaside conservation center--fair enough. But thanks to his new reputation, the cute intern, Chip, won't even give him a shot. Still, Zack finds himself falling for Chip between dolphin encounters and shark costume disasters, which means he suddenly has way more on the line than he ever expected. Zack may be good at winning on the field, but can he keep up the lie without losing himself?"-- Provided by publisher.
Nigeria Jones
Published in 2023
"A sixteen-year-old girl whose father is the leader of a Black liberation group discovers her own place in the world"-- Provided by publisher.