Staff Picks
Just Checked In for Teens
Collection
This list is regularly updated and shows some of the latest items that have been checked in at the library.
#NotYourPrincess
Voices of Native American Women
Published in 2017
"Whether looking back to a troubled past or welcoming a hopeful future, the powerful voices of Indigenous women across North America resound in this book. #Not Your Princess presents an eclectic collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art that combine to express the experience of being a Native woman. Stories of abuse, humiliation, and stereotyping are countered by the voices of passionate women making themselves heard and demanding change. Sometimes angry, often reflective, but always strong, the women in this book will give teen readers insight into the lives of women who, for so long, have been virtually invisible."-- Provided by publisher.
Growing Up Trans
In Our Own Words
Published in 2021
"This illustrated nonfiction anthology is a collection of stories, essays, poetry and art by transgender youth."-- Provided by publisher.
Ink Knows No Borders
Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee Experience
Published in 2019
"With authenticity, integrity, and insight, this collection of poems addresses the many issues confronting first- and second- generation young adult immigrants and refugees, such as cultural and language differences, homesickness, social exclusion, human rights, racism, stereotyping, and questions of identity. Poems by Elizabeth Acevedo, Erika L. Sánchez, Samira Ahmed, Chen Chen, Ocean Vuong, Fatimah Asghar, Carlos Andrés Gómez, Bao Phi, Kaveh Akbar, Hala Alyan, and Ada Limón, among others, encourage readers to honor their roots as well as explore new paths, offering empathy and hope for those who are struggling to overcome discrimination. Many of the struggles immigrant and refugee teens face head-on are also experienced by young people everywhere as they contend with isolation, self-doubt, confusion, and emotional dislocation. Ink Knows No Borders is the first book of its kind and features 65 poems and a foreword by poet Javier Zamora, who crossed the border, unaccompanied, at the age of nine, and an afterword by Emtithal Mahmoud, World Poetry Slam Champion and Honorary Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Brief biographies of the poets are included, as well. It's a hopeful, beautiful, and meaningful book for any reader"-- Provided by publisher
Where Sleeping Girls Lie
Published in 2024
"A girl new to boarding school discovers dark secrets and coverups after her roommate disappears"-- Provided by publisher.
Inheritance
A Visual Poem
Published in 2022
"In her most famous spoken-word poem, author of the Pura Belpré-winning novel-in-verse The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad--the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance. Paired with full-color illustrations by artist Andrea Pippins in a format that will appeal to fans of Mahogany L. Browne's Black Girl Magic or Jason Reynolds's For Everyone, this poem can now be read in a vibrant package, making it the ideal gift, treasure, or inspiration for readers of any age." --provided by Goodreads.
With the Fire on High
Published in 2019
"Teen mother Emoni Santiago struggles with the challenges of finishing high school and her dream of working as a chef." -- (Source of summary not specified)
Children of Anguish and Anarchy
Published in 2024
When Zélie is captured and taken away from her homeland, she must face her captor, King Baldyr, and find allies to stop the impending catastrophe threatening her people at the hands of the Skulls.
The Playbook
52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life
Published in 2017
"You gotta know the rules to play the game. Ball is life. Take it to the hoop. Soar. What can we imagine for our lives? What if we were the star players, moving and grooving through the game of life? What if we had our own rules of the game to help us get what we want, what we aspire to, what will enrich our lives? Illustrated with photographs by Thai Neave, The Playbook is intended to provide inspiration on the court of life. Each rule contains wisdom from inspiring athletes and role models such as Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, Steph Curry and Michelle Obama. Kwame Alexander also provides his own poetic and uplifting words, as he shares stories of overcoming obstacles and winning games in this motivational and inspirational book just right for graduates of any age and anyone needing a little encouragement."-- Provided by publisher.
Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery
A Novel in Two Acts
Published in 2018
Sixteen-year-old Lacy Brink, surprised to find herself dead and buried at Baltimore's Westminster Cemetery, recruits fellow poets Sam and Edgar Allan Poe in resisting tyrannical Mrs. Steele's rules by having an open mic night.
Writing Fantastic Fiction
Published in 2016
Outlines "steps of writing a story from beginning to end. Learn how to gather inspiration and develop a story's characters. Then visualize and organize your story's plot with a writing map. And after you've written a really rough draft, check out tips for revising your work"--Page 4 of cover.
Shout
A Poetry Memoir
Published in 2019
"Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #MeToo and #TimesUp, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice-- and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore."--Publisher's description.
Killer Spirit
Published in 2026
Saying Toby Klein is an unlikely cheerleader is the understatement of the year. But the varsity squad at Bayport High aren't your average cheerleaders. They're elite undercover government operatives with the ultimate cover. And word on the street is that something's about to go down in Bayport. The Big Guys Upstairs know the Squad is the best they've got to root out the information they need, but it looks like this mission is even more dangerous than the last. And if the spy business doesn't kill Toby, it's starting to look like Brooke, the team captain, might. The nominations are in for homecoming court, and rumor has it that Toby is the unlikely front-runner for queen. Tensions are high in the Squad--and Toby's budding feelings for the most popular and infuriatingly handsome guy in Bayport High aren't helping, either. Terrorist threat? Mission gone wrong? Disastrous Homecoming court? Bring it on.
They Lost Their Heads!
Washington's Teeth, Einstein's Brain, and Other Famous Body Parts
Published in 2018
"From the kidnapping of Einstein's brain to the horrifying end of Louis XIV's heart, the mysteries surrounding some of history's most famous body parts range from medical to macabre. Carlyn Beccia explores the misadventures of noteworthy body parts through history and uses them as springboards for exploring topics such as forensics, DNA testing, brain science, organ donation, and cloning. The engaging, conversational tone of the text, the wonderfully creepy subject matter, and the delightfully detailed art are sure to capture even the most reluctant readers. The famous people and their body parts include: Galileo Galilei / Fingers Louis XIV / Heart George Washington / Teeth Franz Hayden / Head Beethoven / Hair Abraham Lincoln / Body Cheng and Eng Bunker / Liver Phineas Gage / Skull John Wilkes Booth / Neck vertebrae Vincent Van Gogh / Ear Sarah Bernhardt / Leg Mata Hari / Head Albert Einstein / Brain Elvis Presley / Wart Thomas Edison / Last Breath"-- Provided by publisher.
Sisters in the Wind
Published in 2025
Lucy Smith is on the edge of eighteen and on the run. The lam is a much better place to be than the Michigan foster system; after seven years, she's a big believer in "better the devil you don't." When sharp and kind-eyed Mr. Jameson tracks her down, with an interest in her case and her safety, she can't help but wonder if things might be different now. But old and hidden enemies continue to threaten any hope of a normal life, and soon she's under investigation with the feds. Lucy isn't sure who she can trust, even Mr. Jameson's "friend-not-friend", a tall and fierce looking woman who says Lucy has a sister and more siblings and a grandmother who'd look after her and a home where she could be loved. Lucy, aware of her Ojibwe heritage but little else, learns that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) should have been followed so her mother's relatives could have had an opportunity to take Lucy in after her father's death. But years of hell in foster care have taught her to be smart, cautious. She knows she can clear her name from the explosions that have followed her everywhere, but saving the people she cares for is a risk that might cost Lucy her life. From the internationally-acclaimed and bestselling author Angeline Boulley comes an explosive story about seeking vindication from a past that won't let you go.
Dungeons and Drama
Published in 2024
"Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway...but when Riley takes her mom’s car without permission, she's grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad’s game shop. Riley can't waste her time working...so she convinces Nathan--a nerdy teen employee--to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she’ll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous...Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn't require as much acting as she would've thought"-- Provided by publisher.
Black Girl Magic
A Poem
Published in 2018
"Much of what twenty-first century culture tells black girls is not pretty: Don't wear this; don't smile at that; don't have an opinion; don't dream big. And most of all, don't love yourself. In response to such destructive ideas, internationally recognized poet Mahogany L. Browne challenges the conditioning of society by crafting an anthem of strength and magic undeniable in its bloom for all beautiful Black girls"--Jacket.
Torchfire
Published in 2025
"Lark has fled Northaven with her mother and is urgently seeking a safe haven. Nightingale is being held captive and forced to use her songlight against her own people. Piper has been promoted up the ranks, where nothing but bloodshed is demanded of him. Rye has stumbled across an incredible airship, the likes of which has never been seen before... All four are united by their desire for peace. But peace between feels more fragile than ever." --publisher.
True Life in Uncanny Valley
Published in 2025
"Eleanor, like so many others, is used to watching her famous father from afar. To the world, Hugo Harrison is the brilliant and charismatic tech genius whose AI inventions seem to create a new, better reality. But to Eleanor, whose mother had an affair with Hugo years ago, he is something even more intriguing, and dangerous--a secret. When Eleanor's spying leads her to a posting for a live-in summer nanny job for Hugo's young son--her half-brother--she knows she has to apply. This is finally her chance to learn about her father, his family, and the life that could have been hers. She only has to do one thing: become someone else. With just a few well-placed lies, Eleanor is catapulted into an unfamiliar, intoxicating whirlwind of money and ego, and into a new romance with a cute boy who works for Hugo. But in a place where image is everything and reality can be rewritten, is anything real--even the Harrisons themselves? Caught between her own secrets and the ones she's uncovering about her father and his latest invention, Eleanor faces a question that technology can't answer: what is your true self, and how do you know when you find her?"-- Provided by publisher.
Ender's Game
Published in 2004
Child hero Ender Wiggin must fight a desperate battle against a deadly alien race if mankind is to survive.
Curtsies & Conspiracies
Published in 2013
In her alternate England of 1851, fourteen-year-old Sophronia tries to uncover who is behind a plot to control a prototype that has the potential to alter human and supernatural travel, and to learn what role Mademoiselle Geraldine's academy for young spies plays in the affair.
Blackbird
Published in 2021
"To avoid confronting an ugly truth, Nole falls prey to a monster that punishes past transgressions. Growing weaker by the day, nine-year-old Jake looks back on the time before he was sick, imagining life as if he were well again. And, forever desperate to prove his worth to his arrogant brother and distant father, Toby chases victory at an arcade game with horrifying consequences. But in the unpredictable world of Five Nights at Freddy's, sometimes the past can take on a life of its own."-- Amazon.
The Bobbiedots Conclusion
Published in 2023
"Outsourcing their storytelling to artificial intelligence comes with unintended results for the executives of the Fazbear Entertainment board of directors ... Tony's search for the player behind the impossibly high scores at the Pizzaplex Fazcade leads him down a rabbit hole with no way out ... And Abe's journey to find the first generation animatronics causing problem for his Bobbiedot home assistants lead him to believe he should have never moved into his new apartment ... In the world of Five Nights at Freddy's sometimes a shortcut can lead to a dead end ..."-- Provided by publisher
Fetch
Published in 2020
Three more bone-chilling novella-length tales to keep even the bravest Five nights at Freddy's player up a night. Three boys -- Greg, Alec, and Oscar -- each have a problem that an item from Freddy Fazbear's Pizza might solve... if they can survive the trip!
Nexie
Published in 2023
"Can you keep a secret?... Astrid doesn't tell anyone about the strange things her Buddytronic doll has been up to. Kara convinces a Pizzaplex employee no one will know if he lets her spend a little more time in the VR attraction. And a Fazbear Entertainment engineer's custom project has surprises in store for anyone who encounters it. But in the world of "Five Nights at Freddy's," secrets never stay hidden for long. This sixth volume spins three sinister novella-length tales from uncharted corners of the series." -- Page [4] of cover.
Step Closer
Published in 2020
"Isolation can open up a void. Pete lashes out at his younger brother in the wake of his parents' divorce, falling prey to a gruesome curse. Kasey struggles with the lengths she'll go to survive on the streets after stealing a pair of unusual novelty glasses. Samantha and her sister, Susie, struggle to exist side by side, desperate to connect after a horrific tragedy. But in the grim world of Five Nights at Freddy's, empty feelings often attract hungry monsters..."--Back cover.
Fathom Fall
Published in 2026
They came for our water, but they'll settle for your blood. On Fathom Fall's leaderboard, player Wyatt "DoctorDoctor" Docherty ranks at number three. In real life, he's seen only as the privileged kid of head engineers at Hydrexo, the company that supplies 75% of North America's water. He has easy access while others must line up to pay exorbitant prices at public water taps, and he feels totally useless. To prove he's more than a spoiled Water Baby, Wyatt wants to win the upcoming Fathom Fall competition and finally make a name for himself. But when he starts seeing Bluddites - the water-guzzling monsters from the game - in real life, Wyatt suspects that the tournament is about more than just prize money. Wyatt wants to win, but as the tournament approaches, he starts to worry: Why won't anyone tell them what's really going on? Why would the game - the military, even - be training kids to hunt monsters for them? And how far is he willing to go to prove himself?
City of Bones
Published in 2008
Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.
Little & Lion
Published in 2017
"Suzette returns home to Los Angeles from boarding school and grapples with her bisexual identity when she and her brother Lionel fall in love with the same girl, pushing Lionel's bipolar disorder to spin out of control and forcing Suzette to confront her own demons"-- Provided by publisher.
Arcana Rising
Published in 2016
The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind--but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies. With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter's reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare. To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future--and her chilling past--will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter's ashes, stronger than ever before?
The Dark Calling
Published in 2018
"When Evie receives life-changing--and possibly game changing--news, she has trouble believing it. Why doesn't she feel any different? Is it possible someone she trusts might by lying? Tensions seethe inside the castle of lost time as Evie starts to doubt her own sanity. Answers can be found outside their stronghold, but will Death help her find them--or prevent her from learning the truth about her future and Jack's possible survival? A mysterious, sinister power begins to affect the Arcana in its path. Forced out into the wasteland alone, Evie must depend on unexpected allies. But as a battle with Richter looms, can her new alliance defeat the Dark Calling before hell reigns on earth?"--Jacket flap.
Sunrise on the Reaping
Published in 2025
"As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena"-- Provided by publisher.
Buried Treasures
Uncovering Secrets of the Past
Published in 2011
Explores archaeological sites around the world as they uncover mummies, a Roman city preserved in ash, and the largest land-based mammal.
If We Tell You
Published in 2024
"When their parents kill two uninvited guests at a neighborhood barbecue and then disappear, identical twins Cameron and Lewis Larsen know nothing except: - They must get to Edinburgh - They need to find someone named Margaret Ross - Someone is following them. They run, fleeing for Scotland to a small hotel. Too conspicuous as identical twins, they hide by pretending to be one person, venturing out to gather clues on alternate days. With no idea who's after them or why, they race to uncover their parents' past. With each new discovery their parents become less recognizable, but when there's nowhere left to run, they realize their parents taught them everything they need in order to survive. If We Tell You is a contemporary coming-of-age story with a deadly twist -- a relatable tale about finding your true self and how sibling bonds can be the strongest of all."-- Provided by publisher.
I Love You S'more
Published in 2025
Ivy Raines, reeling from a public breakup with her ex-girlfriend, a teen TV star, seeks solace at a summer camp as a counselor, hoping for a peaceful escape. However, when she's tasked with running the camp's musical production, she unexpectedly clashes with Rynn, the co-director. Rynn is bossy and overconfident, especially since she's the most experienced counselor--and to make matters worse, they have unresolved history from their past. As tensions rise between the two, sparks begin to fly, and Ivy finds herself questioning if the summer escape she hoped for might come in a way she never anticipated--through a rekindled connection with Rynn.
Jayd's Legacy
Published in 2007
Jayd Jackson, happily in a relationship with the coolest white boy ever, deals with her ex-boyfriend, who is trying to break them up, and her best friend Nellie who is causing all sorts of drama as she runs for junior class homecoming Princess against the Athletes and Cheerleaders.
In Time with You
Published in 2026
Nieve Monroe is devastated after her boyfriend Carter dies saving her from drowning. Even worse she blames herself for his death and so does his best friend, Max. He was there with them on that fateful day, and he's never liked Nieve. Unable to pull herself from her grief and wanting to hide from the accusation in his eyes, Nieve goes to stay with her grandmother, who has always had strange stories to tell of uncanny happenings, of magic and make believe. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on the first day of college, the year before. This time she plans to make sure Carter never follows her into that river. She'll do everything in her power to keep him safe, even if it means losing him in other ways. But the more distance she puts between her and Carter, the closer she gets to Max, drawn to him in ways she never expected. But is she betraying Carter if the only way she can save him is to move on? And can she ever forget her past to embrace her future?
Say Her Name
Published in 2020
"Inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum, these poems pay tribute to victims of police brutality as well as the activists insisting that Black Lives Matter. Elliott engages poets from the past two centuries to create a chorus of voices celebrating the creativity, resilience, and courage of Black women and girls." -- Amazon.com
Love Stories
Published in 2025
Teffy, Tay, Taylor, and TS have been best friends since middle school. As they enter their high school freshmen era, relationships bring on the drama.Teffy is crushing on the boy next door who belongs to someone else. Tay finds herself down bad for a tortured poet. Things get treacherous as an older boy starts flirting with Taylor. And TS is definitely focused only on soccer and doesn't fancy her new teammate, a cute London girl . . . right? Suddenly, it feels like everything has changed. Pulled in different directions between navigating high school and new relationships, will their friendship be long lived or is it so long, Taylors? -- Cover
Some Other Now
Published in 2021
Jessi is caught between two brothers as the three navigate family, loss, and love over the course of her seventeenth and eighteenth summers.
The Getaway
Published in 2022
Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world’s most famous resorts. He’s got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property’s main theme park. Life isn’t so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it’s to get away from all that. As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay’s friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren’t leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call. Whether they like it or not. Yet Karloff Country didn’t count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they’ll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what’s more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?
Blythewood
Published in 2014
"After narrowly escaping death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, seventeen year old Avaline Hall is sent to Blythewood Academy, the elite girls' boarding school in New York's Hudson Valley that her mother attended years before. Ava hopes to solve the mystery of her mother's deather and its connection to the students who keep disappearing from Blythewood. But the school is not all this it appears, and neither is the handsome young man who saved Ava from the fire. What's the meaning of the extraordinary powers Ava possesses? Who's good and who's evil? And who has the right to make that distinction?"--Publisher's description.
What the Woods Took
A Novel
Published in 2024
'Devin Green wakes in the middle of the night to find two men in her bedroom. No stranger to a fight, she calls to her foster parents for help, but it soon becomes clear this is a planned abduction--one everyone but Devin signed up for. She's shoved in a van and driven deep into the Idaho woods, where she's dropped off with a cohort of equally confused teens. Finally, two camp counselors inform them that they've all been enrolled in an experimental therapy program. If the campers can learn to change their self-destructive ways--and survive a fifty-days hike through the wilderness--they'll come out the other side as better versions of themselves. Or so the counselors say. Devin is immediately determined to escape. She's also determined to ignore Sheridan, the cruel-mouthed, lavender-haired bully who mocks every group exercise. But there's something strange about these woods--inhuman faces appearing between the trees, visions of people who shouldn't be there flashing in the leaves--and when the campers wake up to find both counselors missing, therapy becomes the least of their problems. Stranded and left to fend for themselves, the teens quickly realize they'll have to trust each other if they want to survive. But what lies in the woods may not be as dangerous as what the campers are hiding from each other--and if the monsters have their way, no one will leave the woods alive. Atmospheric and sharp, What the Woods Took is a poignant story of transformation that explores the price of becoming someone--or some thing--new." -- Provided by publisher.
Beasts of Prey
Published in 2021
Sixteen-year-old indentured beastkeeper Koffi and seventeen-year-old warrior candidate Ekon forge an unusual alliance and venture into the Greater Jungle to hunt down a monster that has been menacing their city for a century. Includes author's note.
Between the Lines
Published in 2018
A group of high school students grow in understanding of each other's challenges and forge unexpected connections as they prepare for a boys vs. girls poetry slam. Includes author's note about foster home care.
Ordinary Hazards
A Memoir
Published in 2019
"...this writing thing was some kind of magic trick I didn't yet understand... Nikki Grimes discovered the power of writing at the tender age of six, when, alone in her room, she poured her fears, anger, and tears onto a piece of paper - and felt sweet relief. Words and faith were her most enduring companions as life flung her headlong from one harrowing experience to the next through her childhood and teenage years. Words, spilled into notebook after notebook, kept her moving forward. Words turned what might have been into what could be. In the course of this remarkable memoir in verse, Nikki Grimes shows how grace, wisdom, and the power of words can help a brave soul conquer the hazards - ordinary and extraordinary - of life." -- From dust jacket.
When I Was Death
Published in 2026
Roslyn isn't herself anymore. It's been a year since her sister, Adeline, died under mysterious circumstances, and Roslyn is still tormented by her absence. So when the elusive caravan of girls that Adeline spent her last summer with rolls back into town, Roslyn joins them to finally figure out what happened to her sister. Strange, beautiful, and intriguing, the girls are closed off from the world. And as it turns out, they're brought together by a force more sinister than Roslyn's nightmares could've conjured up: Death himself. Death has spared the girls from untimely endings, and to pay for their lives, the girls travel the country reaping souls on his behalf. Now Roslyn must decide if finding closure is worth the price of striking the same deal.
Lady or the Tiger
Published in 2025
"In the 1880s, teenage killer Belle King stands trial for murder in the Wild West when her first victim, her husband, arrives alive, upending her plans"-- Provided by publisher.
Something Like Right
Published in 2024
Black seventeen-year-old Zay falls in love for the first time, all while contending with being sent away to an alternative school after his previously incarcerated father comes home.
Allegedly
Published in 2017
Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer's Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.
Knucklehead
Poems
Published in 2025
"While society often assigns the label 'knucklehead' to kids with attitude problems, this . . . poetry collection by spoken word poet and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. subverts that narrow way of thinking and empathizes with young people who are misunderstood and unheard. There are poems about the power of language to transcend the racist and homophobic constructs of a society prejudging Black boys. There are poems that serve as a salve for a world that inflicts hurt, poems that offer a beacon of hope for the curious and questioning, and poems that transform the way people love Black gay boys and men. This is a journey of self-discovery through history, family, friendship, and falling in love"--Provided by publisher.
Gamer Girls
25 Women Who Built the Video Game Industry
Published in 2022
"Discover the women behind the video games we love--from the iconic games they created, the genres they invented, the studios and companies they built--and how they changed the industry forever. From classic games like Centipede and Solitaire to popular modern games like Final Fantasy, Uncharted, and Halo, this book explores the work and history of 25 influential women in the video game industry and how their contributions ultimately built and transformed the medium that we know today. Gamer Girls explores each woman's contributions to the industry, but also their inspirations and hardships as they worked to create the games that they wanted to play. Including smaller sidebars about other influential women, a glossary, additional resources page, and stunning profile and spot illustrations of influential pixel queens such as: Roberta Williams (creator of the adventure genre) * Mabel Addis Mergardt (the first person to write a video game) * Muriel Tramis (the French "knight" of video games) * Keiko Erikawa (the creator of the otome genre) * Yoko Shimomura (the composer for Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts) * Rebecca Heineman (first national video game tournament champion) * Jade Raymond (builder of the modern game engine) * and many more"-- 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 Romantics
Published in 2016
When his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents' painful separation, seventeen-year-old Gael is heartbroken until Love intervenes.
Earth's End
Published in 2020
"A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood. Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire's conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance."-- Provided by publisher.
Daughter of the Siren Queen
Published in 2018
Alosa is the daughter of the Siren Queen, and her mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. Now Alosa and her crew are in a deadly race with Vordan, the pirate king, to find the treasure.
A Forgery of Fate
Published in 2025
"A girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception, pair up in a plot to bring down the gods"-- Provided by publisher.
When You Wish Upon a Star
Published in 2023
Forty years after becoming the Blue Fairy, Chiara Belmagio defies the rules of magic to help her old friend Geppetto, and when her sister--now the heartless Scarlet Fairy--discovers the transgression, they decide to settle things with a wager, with the lives of Geppetto and Pinocchio hanging in the balance.
Deceptive
An Illusive Novel
Published in 2015
When immune Americans, those having acquired powers after receiving an expermental vaccine, begin to disappear in great numbers but seemingly at random, unrest spreads across the country and super-powered teens Ciere, Daniel, and Devon find themselves working together to find the truth.
Fight AIDS!
How Activism, Art, and Protest Changed the Course of a Deadly Epidemic and Reshaped a Nation
Published in 2025
"'Act up! Fight back! Fight AIDS!' This was the slogan for ACT UP--or AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power--an activist organization that emerged in the 1980s during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The group was loud, direct, and confrontational as it fought for access to treatment, compassionate care, and recognition for everyone with HIV and AIDS. Tracing the history of the LGBTQ+ community from the Stonewall Riots and "gay liberation" movements to the groundbreaking protests of the 1980s and 1990s, Fight AIDS! is a gripping narrative of the AIDS epidemic for young readers, told through the lens of the activism it fostered. Focusing on the people most directly affected by the crisis and on the individuals who fought for justice, it is an intimate and humane account of one of the most devastating eras in United States history and an electrifying celebration of the power ordinary citizens have to enact meaningful change."--Provided by publisher.
Son
Published in 2014
Unlike the other Birthmothers in her utopian community, teenaged Claire forms an attachment to her baby, feeling a great loss when he is taken to the Nurturing Center to be adopted by a family unit.
Unravel Me
Published in 2013
"Juliette has escaped to Omega Point, the headquarters of the rebel resistance and a safe haven for people with abilities like hers. She is finally free from The Reestablishment and their plans to use her as a weapon, but Warner, her former captor, won't let her go without a fight."-- Provided by publisher.
Shatter Me
Published in 2018
One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she's reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had. Also includes the 'Destroy Me' novella, which is told from Warner's point of view, and a brand-new author's note.
Watch Me
Published in 2025
"James Anderson had a plan. Or half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never did: infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James is in. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win. It's been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duo--Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson--led a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job. Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. She always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligence--and when she's given an order to kill, she never hesitates."-- Provided by publisher.
None Shall Sleep
Published in 2020
Eighteen-year-olds Emma Lewis and Travis Bell, recruited by the FBI to interview juvenile serial killers, must turn to a notorious teenage sociopath to help track down a new murderer.
We Won't All Survive
Published in 2025
Two years after being hailed a hero for saving others during a shooting, Mercy Gray joins a survivalist reality show for a cash prize, but when contestants start turning up dead, she must uncover the truth and figure out who to trust before she is next.
Poemhood
Our Black Revival
Published in 2024
Starring thirty-seven poets, with contributions from acclaimed authors, including Kwame Alexander, Ibi Zoboi, and Nikki Giovanni, this breathtaking Black YA poetry anthology edited by National Book Award finalist Amber McBride, Taylor Byas, and Erica Martin celebrates Black poetry, folklore, and culture. Come, claim your wings. Lift your life above the earth, return to the land of your fathers birth. What exactly is it to be Black in America? Well, for some, its learning how to morph the hatred placed by others into love for oneself; for others, its unearthing the strength it takes to continue to hold ones swagger when multitudinous factors work to make Black lives crumble. For some, its gathering around the kitchen table as Grandma tells the story of Anansi the spider, while for others it's grinning from ear to ear while eating aunties spectacular 7Up cake. Black experiences and traditions are complex, striking, and vast--they stretch longer than the Nile and are four times as deep--and carry more than just unimaginable pain--there is also joy. Featuring an all-star group of thirty-seven powerful poetic voices, including such luminaries as Kwame Alexander, James Baldwin, Ibi Zoboi, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks, this riveting anthology depicts the diversity of the Black experience by fostering a conversation about race, faith, heritage, and resilience between fresh poets and the literary ancestors that came before them. Edited by Taylor Byas, Erica Martin, and Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner Amber McBride, Poemhood will simultaneously highlight the duality and nuance at the crux of so many Black experiences with poetry being the psalm constantly playing.
One of Us is Next
Published in 2020
"A year after the Bayview four were cleared of Simon Kelleher's death, a new mystery has cropped up--a game with dangerous consequences that's targeting students at Bayview again. And if the creator isn't found soon, dangerous could prove deadly"-- Provided by publisher.
The Prom
A Novel Based on the Hit Broadway Musical
Published in 2019
Emma Nolan wants only one thing before she graduates: to dance with her girlfriend at the senior prom. But in her small town of Edgewater, Indiana, that's like asking for the moon. Alyssa Greene is her high school's "it" girl: popular, head of student council, and daughter of the PTA president. She also has a secret. She's been dating Emma for the last year and a half. When word gets out that Emma plans to bring a girl as her date, it stirs a community-wide uproar that spirals out of control. Enter Barry Glickman and Dee Dee Allen, two Broadway stars who decide to take up the cause and get a little publicity along the way. But when they arrive in Indiana to fight on Emma's behalf, their good intentions go quickly south. Between Emma facing the fray head-on, Alyssa wavering about coming out, and Barry and Dee Dee bask in all the attention, it's the perfect prom storm.
The Freedom Business
Including A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa
Published in 2008
Born the prince of Dukandarra, Guinea, Broteer Furro was captured by slave traders at age six. As Broteer stepped off the African continent and onto a cargo ship bound for Rhode Island, the vessel's steward purchased the boy and gave him a new name: Venture. The young man crossed the Atlantic Ocean, landed in Narragansett, and worked through three decades of slavery to buy not only his own freedom but also the freedom of his wife and children. Remarkable in his own time for his Ambition and physical stature, Venture Smith would become known to history as the first man to document both his capture from Africa and life as an American slave. Poems by Marilyn Nelson sit opposite the text of Venture Smith's own narrative.
How I Discovered Poetry
Published in 2014
The author reflects on her childhood in the 1950s and her development as an artist and young woman through fifty poems that consider such influences as the Civil Rights Movement, the "Red Scare" era, and the feminist movement.
Love on Ice
Published in 2026
Harper Conrad figures when opportunity knocks, smart girls listen. Which is why when she catches high school hockey star Easton Westermann in her backyard after stealing their rival school's mascot, she knows exactly what to do. The deal is simple: In exchange for Harper's silence, Easton will be her date to their upcoming prom. It's the perfect bargain . . . but what happens when what starts as a business transaction begins to feel all too real? You know how the saying goes: If you like someone, set them free. If they come back to you, they were meant to be your prom date. Or something like that.
The Shattered Castle
Published in 2021
When King Jaron returned to Carthya he brought with him a device that supposedly shows the way to a great treasure, but now everything is going wrong: Castor, the son of an old enemy, is conspiring against him and wants the throne for himself, his fiancaee, Imogen, seems to have turned against him, and the Prozarian Monarch has invaded his kingdom and taken Jaron's castle--but Jaron has a lot of experience at hiding and escaping, and he is not willing to leave Carthya or Imogen in the hands of his enemies.
Better Than the Movies
Published in 2021
Michael, to whom Liz Buxbaum gave her heart long ago, has returned but to get his attention and, perhaps, a prom date she must scheme with her nemesis Wes, her next-door neighbor.
Nothing Like the Movies
Published in 2024
"For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process. Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz's heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him. Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend...a guy friend. Still, Wes won't give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz's attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good"-- Dust jacket flap.
Inheritance, Or, The Vault of Souls
Published in 2011
The young Dragon Rider Eragon must finally confront the evil king Galbatorix to free Alagaesia from his rule once and for all.
Fishtailing
Published in 2010
Through a series of poems written for English class, interspersed with teacher comments and letters to and from parents, high school students Natalie, Tricia, Kyle, and Miguel describe their lives.
The City Beautiful
Published in 2021
"Death lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together. Chicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he'll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania. But when Alter's best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World's Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov's dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows. Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter's body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer--before the killer claims them next." -- Amazon.com.
Pride and Premeditation
Published in 2020
Seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seeks to solve a murder before her rival Mr. Darcy beats her to it.
Ain't Burned All the Bright
Published in 2022
"jason reynolds, using three longggggggg sentences, and jason griffin, using three hundred pages of a pocket-size moleskine, have mind-melded this fierce-vulnerable-brilliant-terrifying-whatiswrongwithhumans-hopefilled-hopeful-tender-heartbreaking-heartmaking manifesto on what it means not to be able to breathe, and how the people and things at your fingertips are actually the oxygen you most need"--Dust jacket.
Tales of the Peculiar
Published in 2016
Presents an illustrated edition of the fantastical book featured in the Miss Peregrine series that includes unusual fairy tales about wealthy cannibals, a fork-tongued princess, and the origins of the first ymbryne.
Slow Burn
Published in 2026
Sixteen-year-old Ruby has worked hard to be happy in her body, even when other people including her brother and her PE teacher insist there's something wrong with her for being fat. All Ruby cares about is hanging out at the skate park this summer with friends. But her brother s bullying words get under her skin, and in order to prove to him (and her impressionable little sister) that fat girls can do anything, Ruby finds herself signed up for the annual 5K Dawson Dash. There s just one problem: She can t run. The cute new boy next door can, however, and when Ollie offers to help her train, Ruby takes him up on it, even if it means he'll see her at her sweatiest and most vulnerable. Young athletes of all stripes, especially those marginalized in sports due to body differences, will find a hero in good-humored Ruby. With its all-audience appeal, her joyful story delivers upbeat romance and affirmation that our bodies are just right, just the way they are.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Published in 2017
Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents' house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family. But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga's role. Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.
The Unboxing of a Black Girl
Published in 2024
"Set in New York City in the '90s, Angela Shanté's poems and stories paint a mosaic of childhood that is shaped by the past and reverberates into the present. As Shanté navigates the city through memory, this timeless book illuminates the places where Black girls are nurtured or boxed in, through stories and poems about expectations, exploitation, love, loss, and self-realization. Her poems center on pivotal moments of Black childhood, using footnotes that encourage you to listen to songs, watch movies, and even learn how to play Spades to further contextualize and celebrate Black culture in every aspect of life. But even with Black joy, life ain't no crystal stair. Between fond memories, Shanté also explores the dark corners of childhood by showing us the ways adultification, misogynoir, and sexual assault can impact girlhood. Every piece in this memoir invites you to unpack the past--to find and transcend the expectations and boxes the world puts Black girls in"-- Book jacket.
Strange Days
Published in 2018
"When inexplicable events begin to occur, Los Angeles native Alex Mata uses his special ability of time travel to save the world from alien invasion"-- Provided by publisher.
The Craving
Published in 2011
Stefan flees to Manhattan hoping to escape his brother Damon, but when his brother finds him they both become involved with a high society family, while an old enemy, Klaus, continues to hunt them down.
The Vampire Diaries. The Hunters. Vol. 1, Phantom
Published in 2011
After Elena Gilbert and vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore help save their town from a demonic spirit, a new evil arrives and sets its sights on Elena, but this time she will only have one brother to protect her.
Enchanted to Meet You
Published in 2026
Once upon a time in a fake castle not so far away . . . Imogen Rogers dreams of happily-ever-afters--but she can't seem decide what she wants her story to be. She spends her summer hopping from job to job--or getting fired, literally. But when her best friend and soon-to-be investigative reporter suggests that she go undercover at Fairytale Gardens, Imogen is intrigued. And when she gets cast as the fake-royalty theme park's Princess, it turns out . . . the tiara fits. Tristian Walsh was born to be Prince Charming--his parents built Fairytale Gardens with Tristian and his brothers in mind. But since his mom died, it feels like the magic has gone and this heir to the make-believe throne wants more. Can he escape a life that's already been written for him? When you're pretending to fall in love, one kiss can blur the lines between fairytale and real life. And when reality steps in, only Imogen and Tristian can choose how this story ends.
House of Ash and Bone
Published in 2023
"YA Horror story about a family that inherits a house in Vermont full of shadows, whispers and the unshakable feeling of being watched. Seventeen-year-old Josephine Jagger discovers that the house is haunted by a shadowy woman with long hair, pale skin, an impossibly wide smile and hollow pits for eyes. Her name is Dorcas, the ghost of a witch who died three hundred years ago. She has summoned the family to Vermont to ensnare them -- then consume them -- in order to rise from the grave and live again . . ."-- Provided by publisher.
The Invocations
Published in 2024
"To get what they want most, Zara and Jude search for Emer, an orphaned witch with dark and deadly powers, but when a serial killer targets Emer's clients, the three girls form an uneasy alliance to hunt the killer before they meet the same fate"--Provided by publisher.
Maya in Multicolor
Published in 2025
After realizing her freshman boyfriend is wasting her time and refuses to put a label on their relationship, college freshman Maya decides to reclaim her life but does not have a lot of confidence in romance, so she is not thrilled that her co-planner on the Holi planning committee is the heartthrob Nishanti Rai, especially since their visions (and personalities) do not match.
Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine?
The Art of Making Zines and Minicomics
Published in 2006
A zine is a handmade magazine or mini-comic about anything you can imagine: favorite bands, personal stories, subcultures, or collections. They contain diary entries, rants, interviews, and stories. They can be by one person or many, found in stores, traded at comic conventions, exchanged with friends, or given away for free. Zines are not a new idea: they've been around for years under various names (chapbooks, flyers, pamphlets). People with independent ideas have been getting their word out since before there were printing presses. This book is for anyone who wants to create their own zine. It's for learning tips and tricks from contributors who have been at the forefront of the zine movement. It's for learning how to design and print your own zine so you can put it in others' hands. It's for anyone who has something to say. --From publisher description.
Love Makes Mochi
A Love in Translation Novel
Published in 2026
A teen goth fashion designer travels to Tokyo, Japan, where she meets a tattoo artist apprentice who may just be the one to change her mind about love--part of the international Love in Translation series of standalone YA romances. Lilyn Jeong is living her best life--in Tokyo! She gets to learn from the legendary yet notoriously terrifying tailor Mrs. Matsumoto. Getting a glowing recommendation from her could be Lilyn's ticket into her dream fashion school. So when Lilyn is tasked with designing an entire collection, panic sets inches She has only weeks to figure out how to mix her goth aesthetic with traditional Japanese style. Thankfully, Mrs. Matsumoto's rebellious, tattooed, rainbow-haired daughter Yua offers to help. But going on cozy dates with this cute girl is way easier than sewing yukatas. Can Lilyn find a path forward in fashion and love? Or will she watch as everything falls apart at the seams?
Fire Season
A Star Kingdom Novel
Published in 2012
Fourteen-year-old Stephanie Harrington and her fellow Provisional Forest Rangers on the planet Sphinx must prevent disaster from befalling a treecat clan caught in a blaze while preserving the secret that the treecats of Sphinx are highly intelligent and deserving of rights that some would deny them.
Girls Who Play Dead
Published in 2025
Mikky Graves returns to his hometown to comfort his sixteen-year-old sister, Kyla, after her best friend's murder, and resolves to stay and uncover the truth, but the deeper the siblings dig into the secrets of Prophets Lake and its powerful beauty brand, the more Mikky questions everything, including his own sister.
Compound Fracture
Published in 2024
After being nearly beaten to death for evidence he holds against the corrupt sheriff, sixteen-year-old transgender Miles joins his fellow townsfolk to end the blood feud and oppressive politics that plague his town.
Hell Followed with Us
Published in 2022
"Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him--the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world's population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can't get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with. But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC's leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji's darkest secret: the cult's bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all. Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick's terms...until he discovers the ALC's mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own."--Amazon.
Crush
Published in 2020
Returning to Katmere Academy, the Circle is caught in a power play and the Vampire Court fights for leverage while Hudson and Jaxon vie to make themselves the most important person to Grace--one with secrets that appeal to her mind and the other with the love that has captured her heart. Meanwhile they all face an unspeakable evil and possibly the ultimate sacrifice.
Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy
Published in 2011
Sixteen-year-old Carlos Duarte is on the verge of realizing his dream of becoming a famous make-up artist, but first he must face his jealous boss at a Macy's cosmetics counter, his sister's abusive boyfriend, and his crush on a punk-rocker classmate.
The Donut Prince of New York
Published in 2024