Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 by Megan
Young Adult books aren’t just for teens! In fact, many of our staff regularly read YA so we asked them what their favorites were this year. We asked them to describe their favorite books in three words and to rate them on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. Check out some of their picks below or you can check the full list in our online catalog – Staff YA Faves 2025! Continue reading “Staff YA Picks of 2025”
Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 by Dana
In the modern Western world, we associate ghost stories with Halloween, but the tradition is much older. When the nights are long and cold, and the dark feels more dangerous, it makes sense for thoughts to turn to unsettling things. Many Christmas traditions are connected to the Winter Solstice celebration and the festival of Yule. The darkest days of the year are seen by many as a time when the dead has the strongest influence over the living, and many cultures have traditions to ward against the monsters of winter.
Let’s continue the tradition of scary stories around the solstice and not shy away from darker thoughts and the things lurking in the night. Cozy up with a book and remember the promise that we can start over, even if we are all a little haunted. Continue reading “A Very Scary Christmas”
Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 by Grae
Many mwahaha tidings of toned-down terror to all of my fellow whimsigoths, baby bats and self-proclaimed scaredy cats! While society at large might be turning the calendar page on spooky season this upcoming weekend, we true believers know it is always Halloween in our souls. 🦇🎃❣️ Which means it is (always) time for another installment of Spooky, Not Scary — a watch-list designed with the gentlest ghosties in mind. 👻🫶🏼
For those just joining in, I give you the following titles that are avowedly Spooky, Not Scary™. Each title is rated on a scale of 0-5 smashed pumpkins. The more smashed pumpkins (which I’ve metaphorically dropped out of terror), the closer the tv show/movie/video is to being truly frightening.
Note: no gourds were harmed in the making of this list, though some may have been consumed, especially if transformed via kitchen witchery into a baked good evil. 😈✨🍞🍪
You can access the full list of this year’s picks at this link (as well as volume one at this link; volume two a.k.a. boo! at this link; and volume threeeeeeek! at this link); what follows are some of my not-so-fearsome favs with minimal spoilers.
Continue reading “Spooky, Not Scary™ Watch-list: Volume Oh, the Fourror! 👹”
Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 by Dana
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 by Megan
Happy Banned Books Week! 🎉 Banned Book Week takes place from October 5-11 this year, but of course, any day is a good day to read a banned book. October 11 is also Let Freedom Read Day, and you can take action by 📖 checking out a banned book from the library, ✍🏽writing a letter to your favorite banned author, or 🗳️registering to vote! Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: Banned Books 🚫📖”
Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 by Dana
Is there anything more autumnal than a pumpkin patch? That is the setting of Rainbow Rowell’s “Pumpkinheads.” Every fall, Deja and Josiah work together at the local pumpkin patch, but this is their senior year and their last fall as “seasonal best friends.” Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling sad about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. What if instead of moping they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! Try all of the things they never have! A sweet and hilarious story about discovering what it means to leave behind a place — and a person — with no regrets. Continue reading “It’s Fall, Y’all!”
Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 by Megan
Our teens had a Suzanne Collins Summer! Despite the fact that the first “Hunger Games” book debuted nearly 20 years ago (if you are a parent, teacher, or geriatric millennial, it will turn 20 in 2028), we still had several summer reading reviews for her books! It’s always bittersweet when summer reading is over, but it means we get to start sharing your book reviews, and we’ll share more throughout the school year!
Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: Suzanne Collins Edition”
Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 by Dana
Night of the Living Queers
A collection of 13 horror stories all written by queer authors about the Halloween night that changed their lives forever. Continue reading “(Still) Reading With Pride”
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 by DBRLTeen
Happy Juneteenth everyone! This holiday, only recognized widely within the last few years, was established to commemorate the emancipation of 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. In times like these, it is especially important, when racism and violence against the Black community, both individual and institutional, is on the rise, that we can take a day to honor both all that we have achieved and all the struggles that have been overcome on the way here. With that in mind, we have put together a book list with a variety of titles written by Black authors, with Black characters, that celebrate Black history, and joy!
You can find our book list at the link here. No matter what draws your eye, we hope that you have a wonderful Juneteenth! As a reminder, all of our locations will be closed on June 19th.
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 by Megan
Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! It is that time of year when we look at all the contributions and achievements of our friends and family in the AANHPI community, both past and present. With the increased anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, it is more important than ever to recognize the many ways that they have helped to shape our modern world for the better. With that in mind, DBRL has created a list of titles featuring AANHPI characters and stories, including some graphic novels and memoirs from various voices and backgrounds. Click here for the full book list.