Dark academia is an aesthetic and book genre that has gained a lot of popularity in the last year or so, thanks to TikTok.
Dark academia’s look comes mostly from boarding schools and old universities. Think school uniforms, tweed jackets, stone columns, dark wood, dimly lit libraries with old books and drifting dust.
The books that fall into the dark academia trend could have many aspects of this multifaceted genre. They often take place in a school or university and have menacing themes like crime or secret societies. The characters may study classical philosophy, poetry, or literature. Death, existentialism, and mortality are often subjects. They aren’t usually high fantasy, but often involve arcane knowledge and more speculative elements.
As we settle into the new school year, check out this list and indulge your blazer-wearing, coffee-drinking, mystery-loving self.
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the new school year approaching. Whether that fills you with joy, dread, or something in between, why not try a new book to usher in the new semester? As always, these are brand new books which means we may not have the ebook version yet. I can order print copies ahead of time so they show up in our catalog, but digital things I order the day of. So if you prefer to read or listen to your book digitally, check our catalog or your Libby/Sora app after the book’s release date! Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: August 2022”
We’re in those last, steamy days of summer.
School is an impending obligation, but if you’re not ready to let go of the golden sultriness, I’ve got a few books to help your summer feel endless.
Continue reading “Steamy Summer Reads”
Exciting things are happening over here at the library! You can now find us on Instagram @dbrlteen. Here you’ll find the latest information about library and community events as well as what we’re reading! Smash that follow button or better yet set us as a favorite so you get the most up-to-date info.
You don’t have to be a woman to be angry with the current state of…*gestures vaguely at everything*
So for every human who wishes they could burn it all down, have I got some recommendations for you. Continue reading “Books for When You Want to Burn it All Down”
We are excited to announce that we have the winners of this year’s Teen Photo Contest! We had 33 entries and they were all outstanding! The teens have submitted their photographic interpretations of this year’s Summer Reading theme “Oceans of Possibilities” and after much deliberation, we have selected this year’s winners. Below are the top three winners. Continue reading “Teen Photo Contest: 2022 Winners”
How’s that To Be Read pile looking? Dangerously low? Now’s your chance to squeeze in as much reading as you can before school starts back up, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Not gonna lie, most of my picks this month have some romance, but if that’s not your thing I’ve also got a thriller with an unreliable narrator.
“Into the Sublime” by Kate A. Boorman
In case you couldn’t guess from the cover, this is the thriller. The story begins at the ending, as three girls emerge from a cave. Two are immediately rushed to the hospital, one is covered in blood that isn’t hers, and begins to tell their story to the police. And one girl is missing. The four of them were part of a thrill-seeking group that was following local legends about an underground lake. Rumor says that anyone who faces their greatest fear at the lake will have something big changed for them. The story unravels as it unfolds, with an increasingly untrustworthy narrator and claustrophobic psychological and supernatural horror. Pair this book with a trip to the Devil’s Icebox trail and Connor’s Cave if you really want the full experience. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: July 2022”
Summer reading is in full swing and we are getting tons of recommendations from our teen readers! Here are a few books highlighting our teens’ favorite fantasy novels. Warning: Some of these books may be part of a series so you may need to do some catch-up reading before you dive into one of these recommended reads.
Continue reading “Reader Reviews: Fantasy Edition”
Summer Reading is upon us! With a theme like “Oceans of Possibilities,” how could we not think of merpeople?
We are so lucky to have our very own siren, Dana! She loves cosplay and makeup effects, so we wanted to share her talent with you in this video tutorial so you can play along at home.
Here is what you’ll need to get started.
- Eyeshadow pallet. Any colors or brand you want to use, but the higher the pigmentation, the better.
- Brush or sponge. Dana used a makeup sponge in the tutorial, but a large makeup brush would work, too!
- Wig cap or fishnets. The wig cap is what gives you the scale pattern effect.
If you feel like going all out, combine a costume and a watery location!
We would love to see your finished look! Snap a pic and send it to us at teen@dbrl.org.
Happy Juneteenth everyone! There’s a very high likelihood that this Juneteenth might be only the first or second time you’ve celebrated, but that’s no reason not to partake in the festivities. This holiday, only recognized widely within the last few years, was established to commemorate the emancipation of the enslaved Black Americans and as a day to celebrate the influence and contributions that Black Americans have made to the culture and history of the United States. The list of Black people who have had an impact on this country is far, far too long to list, but the influence of many of these figures is felt even to this very day. It is especially important in times like these, where racism and violence against the Black community, both individual and institutional, is once again on the rise, that we can take a day to celebrate both all that we have achieved and all the struggles that have been overcome on the way here. With that in mind we here at DBRL have put together a book list that contains a variety of titles related to the holiday, from stories around reconstruction and the end of slavery, to stories centering Black characters in a variety of settings, to the lingering effects of emancipation in the modern day, and even a few collections of recipes you could give a shot for the holiday. You can find our book list at the link here. No matter what draws your eye, we at DBRL hope that you have a wonderful Juneteenth weekend!
