Staff Picks Young Adult
October 2022
All of Our Demise
by Amanda Foody
The conclusion to All Of Us Villains picks up right where the first book left off. The tournament is breaking, but that doesn’t mean all of the champions will survive. And just because it breaks, doesn’t mean it will end. Will the champions be able to work together to dismantle the tournament puzzle by puzzle? Or will their fighting destroy them all? One thing is for sure real villains aren’t destined for happily ever afters.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
September 2022
How to Survive Your Murder
by Danielle Valentine
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix
by Anna-Marie McLemore
The author, who identified self as transgender, mixed race, read The Great Gatsby and immediately thought of this remix. Traveling to New York City in 1922, Nicolás Caraveo, a 17-year-old Latinx transgender boy from Wisconsin, hoped to make enough money on Wall Street to send money back to parents for their support. He rented a house in West Egg from his 18-year-old cousin, Daisy Fabrega, and found out that his cousin went by Daisy Fay and passed as white. Nick’s neighbor in West Egg was a mysterious young man named Jay Gatsby, who threw wild, dazzling parties. Nick tried to overcome prejudice and decadence, as he found himself falling for Jay, even though he knew Jay loved Daisy. Many aspects of the original story such as Nick, Myrtle, the gas station, and swimming pool are incorporated into the remix with all new orientations of the characters.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Defend the Dawn
by Brigid Kemmerer
Book two of the Defy the Night series picks up right where book one ended. Tessa and Corrick are attempting to make peace between the rebels and the royals, but the consuls who control the Moonflower are interfering. When an unlikely ally from another kingdom shows up Tessa and Corrick must take a journey to gain alliances and mend their own fractured relationship. Meanwhile King Harristan is attempting to keep the kingdom running on his own. Beware of cliffhangers with this death defying read.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Poison Ivy: Thorns
by Kody Keplinger
This is the reimagined origin story or DC antihero Poison Ivy. Pamela Isley is an odd loner Teenager who would rather be in the greenhouse than hanging out with friends. She doesn’t trust other people especially men. When Pamela accidently makes a friend with a goth girl named Alice, deadly secrets about Pamela’s home life come to light. Will Pamela find love, or will revenge take over? Find out in this DC comic book found in our YA collection.
This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an ebook.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Clementine: Book One
by Tillie Walden
Walking Dead fans, pick up Clementine today. Clementine is a young survivor who we learn about in the Walking Dead video games. She now has her own comic series. Book one starts out with her back on the road attempting to put her past behind her. She runs into an Amish teenage who isn’t fully aware of the dangers outside of his settlement. Together they travel to an abandoned ski resort where they meet up with other teenagers attempting to build a walker free settlement. Friendships happen, but a harsh winter reveals that the biggest threat out there might be each other.
This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an ebook.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Sea Knows My Name
by Laura Brooke Robson
Thea survived having her home destroyed by ash and lava only to become a pirate like her vicious Pirate Captain mother. Her mother pushes her to be ruthless, strong and invulnerable in a man’s world, but none of it sticks with Thea. She is just one big disappointment. She longs to escape her mother’s world. When the chance comes to escape and Thea is on her own, her first love leads to betrayal. Thea must learn that there’s more than one way to be strong.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
August 2022
Gender Queer: a Memoir
by Maia Kobabe
Gender Queer depicts the emotional and physical journey Maia Kobabe goes through growing up. Questions like am I Lesbian? Am I Trans? Why am I weird? Always roamed eir mind. It’s always hard being a teenager but for Maia it was a whole other world. With so many identities people can choose nowadays Maia found eirself confused and overwhelmed by all the variety. This is a great book for people who are trying to find out their gender identity or for those who want to read about the gender queer community.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla as an ebook.
Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
All of Us Villains
by Amanda Foody
Mix Harry Potter’s magic with the Hunger Games and you’ve got “All Of Us Villains”. Every generation seven families send a teenaged “champion” into the blood veil to fight to the death. The winner’s family receives high magic until the next tournament begins. The families are pegged as villains, and raise their children to believe they are too. But are they? As the games begin, some will live and some will die, but is there a way to stop the curse that forces the Teens to fight? Are the Teens as villainous as they seem? Or just broken? Check out this 2023 Read For A Lifetime book today to find out!
This book is avaialble in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Horror Hotel
by Victoria Fulton
In the mood for horror? Pick up Horror Hotel.
A group of ghost hunting teens go off to the most haunted hotel in LA to film for their YouTube channel. It should be easy. They’ve investigated and filmed at tons of places. Too bad they get more than they bargained for when they stumble across something real and dangerous in the former room of a serial killer. Sometimes it’s the living that should be feared more than the dead.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction