Hello Winter Break! If you’d like a little escapism in your reading before diving back into the next semester, check out these new books I ordered. We’ve got a heist, a magical mystery and a summer romance.
“A Million to One” by Adiba Jaigirdar
Are you ready for an all girl heist set aboard the Titanic? Dublin thief Josefa has just gotten her hands on a coveted ticket for the Titanic’s maiden voyage—but she has even bigger plans. Though the ship will be full of outrageously wealthy passengers, Josefa only has eyes for a jewel-encrusted copy of the Rubaiyat that is also traveling to America. The book is worth millions, so Josefa assembles a team to help her steal it. Told in alternating perspectives by the four young women, the action moves at a brisk pace as hidden motives and burgeoning romances are revealed. The heist story is so involving that readers might almost forget the stakes are a lot higher than our characters realize. Fun fact, the jewel-covered Rubaiyat actually was on board the Titanic! Spoilers in the link, so read at your own risk. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: December 2022”
As you might know, “Wednesday” is one of the most popular shows Netflix has ever had, but it didn’t come from nowhere. In fact, the show has its origins in the “Addams Family” comic strip that first appeared in “The New Yorker” all the way back in 1938! Since then it has had numerous book, tv, movie and video game adaptations and had a considerable influence on pop culture. Not bad for a one-panel comic without any words. Let’s have a look at some inspired by and related works available at your local library. Continue reading “If You Enjoyed Netflix’s Wednesday”
Since our teens love fantasy books we had to make another list of recommendations, here is our Fantasy 2.0 list! And let’s be honest this won’t be our last. Check out these and more at your local library!
Continue reading “Reader Reviews: Fantasy Edition 2.0”
Sometimes I end up with themes for these posts, and this time the accidental theme is debut authors. Two out of three of these books are debuts, so let’s give some love to new authors! Yes, we could all just keep re-reading Holly Black or Karen McManus, but I’m always excited to find new favorites. (A bonus theme is protagonists with names that start with the letters “Av”!) Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: November 2022”
November is Native American Heritage Month! It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Island communities and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.
So if you want to learn (or re-learn) some North American history or take a dive into Indigenous futurism, there are some great titles below! Continue reading “Native American Teen Reads”
What is Afrofuturism? There are some dictionary definition answers I could give, but they wouldn’t fully encompass the idea and there is still disagreement about what exactly defines it. The genre was born decades ago but is still developing and even some people who are categorized into it do not want to be. Also, I’m not going to try to define all of it here. Since our topic is Black Panther, and this post is coming to you in anticipation of the soon-to-be-released Black Panther 2, let’s define it as one thing: Afrofuturism is Wakanda. Continue reading “Black Panther & Afrofuturism”
Hello, my ghouls, ghosts, and other assorted specters. We are in the thick of Halloween season, with less than a week until that magical day of candy and costumes, spooks and scares! In celebration of the season, I wanted to take you, dear reader, through a number of my favorite graphic novels that fit the occasion for one simple reason: they are gory, gruesome, drenched in enough blood to make Dracula drool, and otherwise feature plenty of insides that just so happen to be on the outside. All of these graphic novels have their merits outside of their crimson-coated cast, with the level of horror varying from title to title. Each title, however, is worth a look for those who don’t mind things getting a little bit bloody in honor of the spooky season. So let’s get started! Continue reading “Bloody Good Graphic Novels for Halloween”
In perusing new stories for the spooky season, I was thrilled to see so many books about witches! I actually had trouble narrowing them down for this blog! Harness your magic, get ready for adventures, and revel in autumn with some witchy reads.
Continue reading “Season of the Witch”
Looking for a great read? Then look no further! These books were all given 5 stars by our teens! Pick one (or all of them) up at your library!
Continue reading “Reader Reviews: 5/5 Stars ★★★★★”
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.
