Readers Advisory – Page 2 – Eat, Read, Repeat: Teen Edition

If you could turn back time….

If you could go back to any time, when/where would you go? Would you visit the Titanic, witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence, or maybe become a member of a royal court? Historical fiction books can take you back to any time you want. Historical fiction are fictional stories taking place in a real time in the past. The events and details are as accurate as possible, and characters can be both real and fictional. If you love history these books are for you.

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

Ground Zero follows two very different people whose lives were both changed due to the attacks on 9/11. September 11, 2001: Brandon is visiting his dad at work on the 107^th floor of the World Trade Center. September 11, 2020: Reshmina has grown up in the aftermath of the attack in Afghanistan and has the difficult choice of helping a wounded American solider after a battle erupts.

Alex and Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz

The Schuyler’s are proud to be one of the country’s founding families. Their three daughters; Angelica, Eliza and Peggy are getting ready for one of New York society’s biggest events: The Schuylers’ grand ball. Eliza would rather be aiding the colonists during the battle, but she is excited to find out that Alexander Hamilton himself has arrived. This epic love story changes American history forever,

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Joana, Emilia, and Florian are refugees on a desperate journey towards freedom now that World War II is drawing to a close. Their paths meet on a ship that promises salvation. Forced to unite, the three fight for survival as they find their courage, strength, and trust in each other.

Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown by Steve Sheinkin

This much anticipated follow up to Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the most Dangerous weapon, takes a journey into the Cold War. World War II is coming to a close and the Soviet Union refuses to be left behind and begins a close competition to build an even more destructive bomb than the Unites States. This book has spy planes, armed submarines, and undercover agents!

Boxers by Gene Luen Yang

Little Bao has had enough of the foreign missionaries and solders bullying and robbing Chinese peasants. He recruits and army of Boxers, commoners trained in kung fu, to fight to free China from the “foreign devils.” The rebellion is successful, but at what cost? Many people are dying, including thousands of Chinese citizens who have converted to Christianity. The companion to this story is Saints, and it brings to life the other side of the Boxer Rebellion. Check out both graphic novels today.

Library Links

Spooky Creepy Ghostly Halloween

With Halloween less than a week away, check out one of these new edge-of-your-seat YA titles to set the mood.

Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers, this seductive and intense thriller unfolds in interwoven timelines of two summers as three friends are torn apart by buried secrets and star-crossed attraction…then pulled back together by tragedy. -From Publisher Simon & Schuster

The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

New from bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, and the perfect companion to her New York Times bestseller There’s Someone Inside Your House. Best friends Neena and Josie spent high school as outsiders, but at least they had each other. Now, with college and a two-thousand-mile separation looming on the horizon, they have one last chance to be together—a three-day hike deep into the woods of the Pisgah National Forest. Simmering tensions lead to a detour off the trail and straight into a waking nightmare … and then into something far worse. Something that will test them in horrifying ways. -From Publisher Penguin Random House

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson! – From Publisher Harper Collins

A dark, twisty thriller about a centuries-old, ivy-covered boarding school haunted by its history of witchcraft and two girls dangerously close to digging up the past. The dangerous romance and atmospheric setting makes it a perfect read for fans of dark academia. – From Publisher Penguin Random House

Melissa Albert meets Twin Peaks in this supernatural thriller about one girl’s hunt for the truth about her mother’s disappearance. – From Publisher Penguin Random House

From the critically-acclaimed author of House of Salt and Sorrows comes a mesmerizing and chilling fairy-talesque novel about Ellerie Downing, a young woman in a small town with monsters lurking in the trees and dark desires hidden in the shadows—in Amity Falls, nothing is more dangerous than a wish come true. – From Publisher Penguin Random House

Library Link: Where Secrets Lie by Eva V. Gibson

Library Link: The Woods are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

Library Link: White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

Library Link: A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Library Link: Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall

Library Link: Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020

This year Banned Books Week is September 26-October 2. Every year the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. They get their information for media stories and reports sent to the OIF from communities around the U.S. ( Information from ala.org.) This is just a glimpse of challenges; it is estimated that 82-97% of book challenges remain unreported and/or receive no media coverage. Here is the list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020.

Library Link: George

Library Link: Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Library Link: Speak

Library Link: The Absolutey True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Library Link: Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice

Library Link: To Kill a Mockingbird

Library Link: Of Mice and Men

Library Link: The Bluest Eye

Library Link: The Hate U Give

The Cover was Green

Continuing on with the mystery of “I don’t remember the title or author, but the cover was…” this week we’ll talk books with green on the cover. Here are four teen books with “green on the cover!”

Five Midnight by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Lupe has arrived in Puerto Rico for the summer and is staying with her uncle, who’s investigating a series of murders. While at one of the crime scenes she notices some clues that her uncle isn’t willing to look into. So, she does what any normal mystery-loving teen would do and follows the lead on her own. In enters Javier. Two of his four friends from childhood have died under peculiar circumstances. Together Lupe and Javier must work together in hopes to catch a killer, but will they find a murderer or a monster?

Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario

After the death of their mother several years ago, sisters Ariana and Rowena feel like they’ve drifted into their own corners of the world. Both trying to figure out how to exist without their mom. When Rowena awakens to find her sister missing, she is left to piece together what happened to Ariana. Turtle Under Ice is a novel told in dual perspectives and in verse.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery

Orphan Anne knows she’s not exactly what the Cuthberts were expecting. Anne is desperate for the Cuthberts to adopt her but in order to convince them she has to keep her temper under control. This means no rushing into scrapes and not saying the first thing that comes to mind. Anne hopes she can convince them to let her stay so she can one day call herself Anne of Green Gables.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

The first book in A Jane Austen Murder Mystery series, Pride and Premeditation is the murder mystery of one of Jane Austen’s most beloved books, Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie Bennet is a huge law enthusiast and wants to prove she’s a formidable litigator. Unfortunately, women are only allowed in the court room as witnesses and the man accused already has a lawyer, Mr. Darcy. Instead of letting either of these deter her Lizzie decides to steal the client out from under Darcy and solve the murder. True to the murder mystery genre Lizzie discovers that being a lawyer can often be a dangerous job.

Do you have a book you need help finding but can’t remember the title? Stop by the Teen Room and we’ll do our best to find it!

Library Link: Five Midnights

Library Link: Turtle Under Ice

Library Link: Anne of Green Gables

Library Link: Pride and Premeditation

School Hacks Neighborhood

It’s back-to-school season and we are very excited to share with you our new School Hacks Neighborhood here in the Young Adult department. This collection of books is designed to help you with your schoolwork. It is located in the non-fiction room and is on the first range of shelves when you walk in.

So, what’s in it

A selection of classic books, based on various required reading lists, including titles such as Fahrenheit 451, Wuthering Heights, Shakespeare’s works and more.
Books designed to help you with classroom concepts presented in unique ways. The Manga Guide to Physiology, Painless Chemistry, and Everything you need to ace math in one big fat notebook are just a few.
No Fear Shakespeare books. These books have the full text of the original plays and sonnets side-by-side with a translation into modern English to help you understand what’s going on.
Manga Classics: original classic books with manga illustrations. Manga is a style of Japanese graphic novels and comic books.

Pink Books

“I don’t remember the title or author, but the cover had pink on it…” This is a normal question asked of a librarian. Most people feel bad about asking this question, but don’t! We love the mystery and adventure of trying to find the book you’re looking for! So, here are five teen books with “pink on the cover!”

The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Shy and quiet Mia thinks life can’t get any worse than her mom dating her algebra teacher, but then her dad drops a bombshell on her: He’s not a politician; he’s the crown prince of Genovia! To make matters worse, Mia is now the heir to the throne. Mia decides to juggle princess duties and being normal at school, but her grandmother has different plans for her. This is the first book in the eleven-book series following Mia through her princess journey.

Alex & Eliza by Melissa De La Cruz

The year is 1777; Eliza and her sisters Angelica and Peggy are preparing for the biggest event of the year, the Schuylers’ Grand Ball. Nothing excites Eliza more than the rumor that Alexander Hamilton will be attending. Alexander is not only a mysterious young colonel but also the right-hand man to General George Washington. As the two meet, an epic love story takes hold and changes the course of history. This is the first book of the Alex and Eliza series.

What Every Girl Should Know by J. Albert Mann

Margaret has a list of things she doesn’t want to do: clean the dishes, clean the dirty diapers that pile up daily, disappoint her mother….. but most importantly, she doesn’t want to grow up to be a teacher or a mother. Margaret’s challenge is trying to make a difference while living in poverty in the late nineteenth century. What Every Girl Should Know is a historical fiction novel about the young life of Margaret Higgins Sanger.

Mean Girls by Micol Ostow based on the screen play by Tina Rey

Growing up with scientist parents in the African plains, Cady is no stranger to surviving in the wild. But when her family relocates to Illinois, Cady finds she may not be able to survive the wildest place in existence: high school. Cadie quickly finds herself as the newest member to the elite group,“The Plastics,” and she soon realizes Girl World has no rules. Ostow doesn’t just tell the story from Cady’s point of view but also those of Janis, Gretchen, Damian, Aaron, and Regina.

Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Starting college is the next adventure for Clare and Aidan, but first they have to decide if they want to stay together or break up. The couple remember their journey together, from the first date to the first kiss, the ups and downs and everything in between.

Are you interested in checking out any of these items? The following library links will direct you straight to the book in our library catalog. From there you can place items on hold.

Library Link The Princess Diaries

Library Link Alex & Eliza

Library Link What Every Girl Should Know

Library Link Mean Girls

Library Link Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

Rainbow Book Month

June is Pride month and also Rainbow Book Month. Rainbow Book Month is a celebration of authors and writings that represent the lives and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community and has been celebrated by the American Library Association (ALA) since 2015. Libraries include LGBTQIA+ resources in collections because libraries represent the communities they serve. Here are some LGBTQIA+ Fiction selections from our collection that you can come and check out!

A quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities by Mady M. Giulani, author, and J.R. Zuckerberg, illustrator
This graphic novel covers a multitude of topics such as sexuality, gender identity and navigating relationships. The story is told through comics, interviews, and worksheets. A great start for those in the beginning of their journey and helpful for those in the middle of their journeys.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
This book follows Alice, an asexual teen who has given up on finding love. But then she meets Takumi and she can’t stop thinking about him. She has to decide whether to risk their friendship for a love that might not be shared.

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
When Kristin is voted homecoming queen, it seems like she is living her perfect life. She has a full scholarship to college and a boyfriend she is in love with. A visit to the doctor shatters her world: she is intersex. Kristin is having a hard time dealing with this news when someone leaks her secret to the school. Kristin must come to terms with her new self while dealing with the chaos around her.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Simon is the worst Chosen One ever. Or so his roommate Baz says, and he’s probably right. Simon has a hard time getting his wand to work; his girlfriend broke up with him; and there is a monster running around wearing his face. This story is a spinoff of Rainbow Rowell’s other novel, Fangirl, and is loosely based on the Harry Potter series.

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell
This novel is a collection of stories by seventeen young adult authors across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. These historical fiction stories include a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in war-torn Mexico, two girls falling in love while mourning the death of their favorite rocker, Kurt Cobain, a forbidden love in a Spanish convent in the 1500’s, and more. The companion anthology, Out Now: Queer We Go Again!, is also available.

I’m a Wild Seed by Sharon Lee De La Cruz
This graphic novel is the author’s colorful memoir. She reflects on how oppression was the cause for her late coming out and she invites us to discover the people and things that helped inform and shape her identity.

Music from another World by Robin Talley
Tammy feels like she can’t be herself anywhere because she is a closeted lesbian. Not at her Christian school, conservative church, and not at her house where her aunt organizes antigay campaigns. She only has one outlet, writing letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk. When she is matched with a like-minded pen pal, all that changes.

Library Link A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities

Library Link Let’s Talk About Love

Library Link None of the Above

Library Link Carry On

Library Link All out

Library Link Out Now

Library Link I’m a Wild Seed

Library Link Music From Another World

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month and 2021 is the 25^th anniversary of this celebration. There are a lot of different types of poetry: rhymed, free verse, haiku, novels in verse, and more. Poetry plays an important role in our culture with millions of readers from young to old.

Novels in verse are growing in popularity in Young Adult literature. They are novels written in a hybrid form, the story told through poetry. The novels use white space on the page to add to the drama and narrative of the story. To make finding these novels easier, the YA staff marks the spines of these books with a “Novels in Verse” sticker; look for these when browsing the shelves in the Teen Room.

Here are a few novels in verse we recommend:

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

This intense story only spans one minute and a couple seconds. William sets out to avenge his brother’s murder. While in the elevator of his apartment building, seven ghosts who knew William’s brother show up and expose secrets that Will needs to know.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Michael is a mixed-race gay teen in London who has never felt Greek or Black enough. When he is older and comes out, he starts the journey of learning who he really is and where he belongs.

House Arrest by K.A. Holt

Timothy is on probation for the next year. He has to check in weekly with an officer and a therapist; and keep a journal for the entire time. He is also required to stay out of trouble, which turns out to be difficult as Timothy has to take severe measures to help out his family. This middle school story is touching and funny.

Library Link Long Way Down

Library Link Black Flamingo

Library Link House Arrest

Library Lover’s Day

February 14th is Valentine’s Day, but it is also Library Lovers’ Day and it celebrates libraries, librarians, and book lovers. It started in Australia but the idea has spread and become more popular across the world. A library used to be a place where books were stored and there were places for reading and studying. Libraries have come a long way from their beginnings and offer a multitude of media for you to enjoy.
So how can you celebrate Library Lovers’ Day? By coming to your library, of course! We have lots to offer. Here are a few items you can check out to get you in the loving mood.

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

On her mother’s wishes, Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany getting to know her estranged father. Lina wants nothing to do with him and wants to go home. That all changes when Lina is given her mother’s old journal. She is soon in a world of secret romances, art and hidden bakeries. This is the first book in this trilogy and available in print, ebook and eaudiobook format.

Love and Monsters (DVD 2021)

In this post-apacalyptic romance/action film, Joel has recently reconnected with his high school girlfriend via radio transmissions. The only problem is that she is 80 miles away and earth is infested with large monsters. Joel decides he can no longer live underground and starts the epic journey to find her.

American Royals by Katharine McGee read by Brittany Pressley

Do you love Harry and Meghan and wonder what it would be like if America had a royal family? If so, this series is for you. It follows Princess Beatrice and Princess Samantha who have nothing in common, except they both desire a certain handsome prince. This is the first book in the series and is available in print, audiobook, ebook and eaudiobook.

Halo by Alecandra Adornetto performed by the author

Three angels are sent down from heaven to help the world: Gabriel, Ivy, and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the most human. Bethany is instantly drawn to a mortal boy and the other angels fear that Bethany cannot protect herself or others from the Dark Forces. This supernatural romance is the first book in the trilogy and is available in print and Playaway (preloaded digital audio player) format.

Happy National Short Story Day!

Short stories are more direct and less detailed than novels and are usually fiction. They are closely related to spoken story-telling traditions. Did you know that a short story can be even be less than ten words? Here are some short stories to keep you entertained and help you celebrate today.

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America – Edited By Ibi Aanu Zoboi

Black Enough features some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing today and is edited by the National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi. This collection contains captivating stories about what it’s like to be young and Black in America today.

The Pit and the Pendulum and other stories- By Edgar Allan Poe

This collection of short stories by Poe is a must for any horror fan. It includes introductions at the beginning of each story, illustrations throughout and annotations to historical connections.

The End and Other beginnings: Stories from the Future – By Veronica Roth

This collection includes six stories taking place in the future where every world is like no other. New technologies and beings with advanced capabilities must still deal with human problems. Including two new stories from the Carve the Mark series, this set is great for Roth’s old and new fans alike.

19 Love Songs by David Levithan

This collection celebrating love has something for everyone. It includes nonfiction, fiction, and even a story in verse.

Look both ways : a tale told in ten blocks by Jason Reynolds

This set is made up of ten stories (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings. Each tale shows the funny side of the obstacles we all face in life.