Staff Picks for Teens
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All the Blues in the Sky
# 1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores friendship, loss, and life with grief in this poignant novel in verse and vignettes.
Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.
In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands. -
The Queen's Spade
"You will bow before this queen." --Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of Night of the Witch
"Revenge and justice have never been so satisfying!" -- Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles
In this riveting historical thriller inspired by true-life events, Belladonna meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England's royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.
A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge. . . .
The year is 1862 and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all else: revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial "humanitarianism," which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she's vowed to ruin all who've had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain's mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.
Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen's inner circle--even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London's underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria's own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally's true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there's one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it's her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally's vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she's faced with the striking revelation that the price for vengeance isn't just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.
Inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria's African goddaughter, The Queen's Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller for fans of This Ravenous Fate, A Dowry of Blood, and Grave Mercy.
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Where the Heart Should Be
"I hold my breath while reading Sarah Crossan's books. Every word is filled with so much love, the book is practically throbbing. A beautiful, perfect, moving read." --Cecelia Ahern, bestselling author of P. S. I Love You
In 1847, everything in Ireland was falling apart--but sixteen-year-old Nell was falling in love. Carnegie Medal winner Sarah Crossan's first historical novel-in-verse is a suspenseful and heartbreaking story of love, family, and the forces that can destroy us or bind us forever. For fans of Joy McCullough, Elizabeth Acevedo, Malinda Lo, and Ruta Sepetys.
Ireland is starving, and a poor Irish scullery maid falls in love with the British heir to the land. Can their romance stay hidden during the devastating famine? The potatoes are black, people are dying, and in the midst of it all, Nell must do everything she can to keep her family together and everyone she loves alive.
It is hard to tell a love story
and also the story of a people
being torn apart.
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The Otherwhere Post (A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick)
A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick!
An instant New York Times bestseller!
The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with this stunning dark academic fantasy full of deadly magic and dangerous secrets, perfect for fans of Divine Rivals and A Study in Drowning.
This stunning first edition of The Otherwhere Post will feature beautiful metallic foil endpapers!
Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost everything: her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.
Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words: Your father was innocent.
To uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned.
Her secretive, infuriatingly handsome mentor knows she’s lying about her identity, and time is running out to convince him to trust her. Worse, she begins to receive threatening letters, warning her to drop her investigation—or else. For Maeve to unravel the mystery of what happened seven years ago, she may have to forfeit her life. -
Love on Paper
An ambitious teen novelist must play nice with her talented—and annoyingly handsome—rival at an exclusive writers’ retreat in this heartfelt romance from the author of You Bet Your Heart.
“Moving and memorable. A book you’ll want to return to again and again.” —Kristy Boyce, bestselling author of Dungeons and Drama
Macy Descanso is a writer. Who cares if her bestselling-author mother pulled some strings to get her into a prestigious writing retreat? Macy belongs here. Even when the coordinators unexpectedly announce that this year’s theme is romance, Macy—a total cynic—is up for the challenge.
But she’s not prepared for her critique partner to be fellow publishing nepo baby Caleb Bernard. While Caleb may be what most romance writers would describe as “swoony,” he’s off-limits, because the Descansos and Bernards have beef.
With a chance at publication at their fingertips, though, Macy and Caleb have to put aside their issues. But is four weeks enough time to fight through writer’s block, step out of their parents’ shadows, and find the courage to create their own love story? -
No Place Left to Hide
Some secrets just won't stay hidden in this twisty new thriller from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Lally!
To Brooke, image is everything. She works hard to maintain perfect grades, perfect looks, a perfect life--especially after "the incident" that threatened it all. Getting into her dream university puts her that much closer to a fresh start. How can she say no to celebrating with all her classmates?
Hanging out with her crush by the bonfire is the perfect end to the night. Except it isn't the end. An old truck starts aggressively tailing Brooke and her best friend on the isolated road toward home. Someone thinks they know the truth about "the incident," and they won't stop until it's all out in the open. This terrifying drive is about to bring out Brooke's worst fears...if she survives it.
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Dreamover
In this captivating debut YA graphic novel, two best friends becoming more than friends feels like a dream come true. But when one sleepover literally turns into a dream, will they ever want to wake up again?
Amber's a headstrong goofball with a temper. Nico's a shy, self-conscious emo boy. But they've been best friends since third grade, and she can't hide her feelings for him any longer. At the end of their eighth-grade beach trip, she confesses... and the feeling is mutual! Thus begins a glorious, blissful summer of first love.
But once high school starts, life gets more complicated. Faced with early mornings, bullies, homework, and other stresses, Amber and Nico cling to each other, neglecting their friends. Soon, Amber starts to wish she and Nico could escape from it all.
One night, as they fall asleep playing video games, Amber gets her wish... -
Love Me, Love Me Not, Vol. 1
A fresh romance from Io Sakisaka, leading shojo manga creator and author of Ao Haru Ride!
Fast friends Yuna and Akari are complete opposites—Yuna is an idealist, while Akari is a realist. When lady-killer Rio and the oblivious Kazuomi join their ranks, love and friendship become quite complicated!
Fast friends Yuna and Akari are complete opposites—Yuna is an idealist, while Akari is a realist. When lady-killer Rio and the oblivious Kazuomi join their ranks, love and friendship become quite complicated! -
MindWorks
From the incomparable mind of award winner Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe, comes a collection of uncanny and unforgettable short stories.
This collection of unforgettable and uncanny stories could only come from the mind of award winner Neal Shusterman. Compiled for the first time in one epic volume, these stories both classic and brand-new will stretch your imagination from terror to the sublime and back again. Explore a world where bats block out the sun, where soup is a trap for your soul, or where the life-force of a glacier can bring back the dead. Journey to a place where the wind can be captured, time can be crafted into infinite attic space, or a hot tub can house an ancient monster. And revisit the Arc of the Scythe universe for two all-new tales of gleaning.
In this collection, the only thing that is truly certain is nothing is certain. -
Champion
In this stunningly illustrated graphic novel, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's life as a social justice advocate comes to life through the story of a high school student whose promising basketball career is in jeopardy.
Monk Travers is the star basketball player on his high school team. Confident about his future as an NBA player, he doesn’t see the point in caring much about school, let alone his community. But his world is about to change—big time!
After getting caught graffitiing his team's rival school, Monk comes to the awful realization that his actions have put his place on the team—and his future—in jeopardy. He’s taken by surprise when his coach offers him an unorthodox way to atone: completing a report on the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Monk is ecstatic. He knows all Kareem’s records and stats. He smugly announces that the project will be a snap, but his excitement is short-lived when Coach tells him that the project is not about Kareem’s basketball career—it’s about his life as an advocate for change.
As Monk grudgingly begins his research, he discovers a history of struggles, conflicts, frustrations, and violence that he’d never been aware of, awakening a passion for social justice that rivals Kareem’s own.
Authored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself, alongside longtime collaborator Raymond Obstfeld, and vividly illustrated by artist Ed Laroche, Champion highlights and celebrates Kareem’s work for good like never before, inspiring fans of all ages. -
The Nefarious Nights of Willowweep Manor
Haley must return to Willowweep to solve the mystery behind her friends vanishing in this hilarious sequel to the “well-paced and humorous…delightfully spirited” (Kirkus Reviews) young adult graphic novel The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor.
Haley is summoned back to the Willowweep pocket universe to deal with a huge crisis: another pocket universe is collapsing, and the survivors are seeking refuge in Willowweep. Haley and herfriends discover that the newcomers are from a mystery-themed universe complete with a blustery colonel, a sweet old spinster, and a butler.
But shortly after their arrival, strange things start happening to Willowweep…the once-Gothic pocket universe is transforming into a whodunit! As the tropes of a detective story start to multiply, a murder rocks Willowweep. And when she searches for the culprit, Haley begins to suspect that one of the newcomers is trying to eradicate Willowweep. One by one, all her friends disappear, and it’s up to Haley to get to the bottom of this mind-boggling mystery. Can she grow past her Gothic romance roots to become a new kind of heroine? -
In the Land of Leadale
"When Keina Kagami's life support accidentally gets cut off, she suddenly finds herself in the body of the high elf Cayna, her avatar in the VRMMORPG known as Leadale. But two hundred years seem to have passed from when she last logged in, and as she seizes this second chance at life in a world both familiar and strange. She'll have to figure out for herself just how much as changed in all that time..." --
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Flip
SENIOR YEAR BUCKET LIST? SWITCH BODIES WITH YOUR CRUSH.
Chi-Chi Ekeh has one huge problem: She keeps having crushes on rich white boys who have no idea she exists. Enter Flip Henderson, the most popular boy at school, who receives Chi-Chi’s private video proposal to go to senior prom.
But when Flip rejects Chi-Chi in front of their entire class, what happens next is completely unexpected: Chi-Chi—shy nerd and scholarship student—switches bodies with Flip. Suddenly Chi-Chi is 6’1” and cool, while Flip gets a crash course on Chi-Chi’s life—that is, k-pop, hair-braiding, and being a poor kid of color at a rich white private school.
With graduation looming and their body swaps lasting longer and longer, Chi-Chi and Flip must form the most unlikely friendship their school has ever seen. But will they survive senior year? And, most importantly, can they find a way back to themselves?
From bestselling author of Check, Please! comes Flip, a thrilling and fantastical tale about self-acceptance, black girlhood, and how walking a mile in someone else’s shoes can teach you how to finally see yourself. -
Pizza Witch
Join Roxy, a Pizza Witch in training, on a journey filled with magic, pizza, and her loyal cat familiar, as she seeks out the secret ingredient to unlocking her greatest pizza magic ambitions.
All Roxy wants is to become the most legendary Pizza Witch ever! But when her uninspired boss and her well-meaning parents put her dream in jeopardy, she’s stuck in a pizza-flavored rut. That is, until she's sent off on a quest for a powerful artifact of pizza magic - the Remarkable Oregano!
With her feisty cat George by her side, Roxy sets off on her broom to lands unknown! Will this be the adventure she’s been waiting for – filled with advanced pizza magic, wild challenges, and maybe even a little romance? Or will her dream be squashed like an overripe tomato?
Perfect for fans of Unfamiliar and The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, join Roxy and George for a hilarious and heartwarming adventure cooked up by Sarah Graley (Glitch, Donut the Destroyer) and Stef Purenins (Our Super Adventure), in the delicious world of PIZZA WITCH. -
Fence Vol. 1
Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing wunderkind, and dreams of getting the chance and the training to actually compete. After getting accepted to the prodigious Kings Row private school, Nicholas is thrust into a cut-throat world, and finds himself facing not only his golden-boy half-brother, but the unbeatable, mysterious Seiji Katayama...
Through clashes, rivalries, and romance between teammates, Nicholas and the boys of Kings Row will discover there’s much more to fencing than just foils and lunges. From acclaimed writer C.S. Pacat (The Captive Prince) and fan-favorite artist Johanna the Mad.
Library of Teen Things
Build and create with a 3D printer pen, an easy-to-use high tech toy for teens and adults. This simple device heats and extrudes plastic with the push of a button. Reservation required. Learn more about using Idea Box equipment.
Age Requirement: 14+
24" Apple iMacs running the newest OS & loaded with professional graphic design, sound, and video editing software. Reservation required. Learn more about using Idea Box equipment.
Age Requirement: 13+
Turn your concepts into tangible objects with this amazing device. Reservation required. Learn more about using Idea Box equipment.
Age Requirement: 14+
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