What's New in Graphic Novels

 The newest member of the YCLD teen department team, Genesis, tells us what is new for checkout in the world of graphic novels. 

Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot: For fans of DC Comics and anything Gotham City, this origin story is for you! Dinah Lance, a 13-year old middle schooler who's in a rock band with her two best friends spends most of her time practicing to win the upcoming school Battle of the Bands. When she's not rehearsing, she dreams of joining the Gotham City Junior Police Academy so she can make a real difference and solve crimes just like her detective father. But when a dangerous shadow figure begins threatening her friends and family, Dinah has to learn about her mother's secret past and newfound abilities.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote: Fans of Bloom and Spinning will love this queer coming-of-age graphic novel adaptation of Gabby Rivera's best-selling novel. Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving her hometown of the Bronx and heading to Portland, Oregon for a summer internship. But, just before leaving, Juliet comes out to her family, causing a tear in her relationship with her mom. Wondering if her mom will ever speak to her again, Juliet arrives in Portland to meet with Harlowe Brisbane, both her favorite feminist author and the person she'll be interning with. In this new city, Juliet learns what it means to be Puerto Rican, lesbian, and out, even when the rest of the world doesn't understand.

Martian Ghost Centaur by Mat Heagerty and Steph Mided: The Town of Southborough was once a major tourist destination that was said to be the home of the famous sasquatch after multiple sightings of the cryptid over the years. But once sightings of the Sasquatch came to a halt, so did the town's tourism, and with that came financial difficulties for the town and its residents. A tech company by the name of Start-up.com, a start-up that helps people start their own start-ups, decides to take advantage of Southborough's monetary situation and begins buying up various places throughout town to construct a headquarters, in turn pushing out all the local townspeople. Fortunately, Louie O'Connor and her best friend Felix decide they're going to do whatever it takes to drive back tourism while also protecting everything that makes their hometown special. Even if that means creating an elaborate hoax to drive out the Start-up.com takeover.

What if We Were... by Axelle Lenoir: Nathalie and Marie are 17 year old best friends since elementary school who battle boredom by using their imaginations to play a game they invented called "What if We Were...?" The rules are simple: one player names a topic, such as "Vikings" or "vampire slayers," then both players imagine what life would be like as that subject. Easy enough to play, but hard to master. After all these years, Nathalie and Marie are experts as they have mastered how to think outside the box and creatively surprise each other. But what if a new player decided to join the game? And what if she was really hot? Find out if Nathalie and Marie survive the next round without heartbreak in this graphic novel that proves there's nothing better than using your imagination.

New on Hoopla Digital

 Hoopla is loaded with new titles for you to borrow from the comfort of home on any web-enabled device. Just create a profile using your library card number and you can borrow up to 10 titles a month, and it's not just books either. Hoopla also lets you stream movies and music and download audiobooks and comics. Here are some of our favorite new titles available now:

Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards: Mira is halfway to Pittsburgh to spend Christmas with her mom as the city is hit by a truly epic blizzard that cancels the final flight of her trip. Desperate to get home, Mira accepts a ride share with some college kids she made friends with on her flight. But as conditions get worse, she realizes these people don't know each other at all. She's trapped in a car with a bunch of strangers, and horrible weather conditions... but one of the passengers seems to be determined that none of them will make it to their destination alive. 

Pretty Funny For a Girl by Rebecca Elliott: Hayla is a girl with a dream: one day she hopes to be a stand-up comedian. She knows it's a cutthroat business, and that it's mostly dominated by middle aged white guys, but she knows she's funny and is determined to make it big. Then she meets super hottie Leo, who is also on the path to becoming a famous comic and offers Hayla a chance to co-write some of his sets. Hayla's friends don't rust Leo, and keep telling Hayla he's just using her, but Hayla doesn't want to listen for one particular reason: she's afraid she might be falling in love with Leo. 

We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu. Noemi's best friend is dead. He died under the most mysterious of circumstances, too: drowned on dry land, with no lakes or other bodies of water to be found for miles of where his body was discovered. Only Noemi knows the truth: there is a lake hidden in the woods, and only Noemi has the ability to find it. This is where Link died... or did he? Because now, Noemi is starting to get weird messages from someone claiming to be her dead best friend. And the messages are a warning of terrible things to come. 

Winter, White and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore: Sylvi lives a very unusual life. She's an orphan, and lives all alone in her truck on the island of Layce, which is cursed by a never-ending winter. Sylvi is actually pretty ok with her life though - no one really bothers her, and she has a really great best friend Lenore and the protection of an ice spirit to keep her company. That is until the day Lenore runs away to join a band of northern rebels, and Sylvi gets roped into a dangerous smuggling operation in order to try to saver her beloved friend. 

New Manga in November

 Fresh hot new manga series have just arrived at the YCLD and they're ready for you to check out from your nearest branch! Here are four of our favorites!

Fushigi Yugi - Byakko Senki by Yuu Watase: 24 years after the original Fushigi Yugi manga finished its original, massively successful run, we are once again invited to journey into the Universe of the Four Gods. The setting is 1923, and Suzuno's father is the keeper of a very special book: The Universe of the Four Gods, a book which Suzuno has been warned since childhood is only every supposed to be touched by men. But, when a massive earthquake strikes and Suzuno and her father become trapped, dad makes the ultimate decision: to saver his daughter's life by letting her touch the book - and allowing her to be sucked into its pages and into the Universe of the Four Gods. 

Manga Yokai Stories - Ghostly Tales from Japan by Lafcadio Hearn: Ok, yes, we know, Halloween is over, but come on! It's always a good time for a creepy story! This book contains seven different creepy short stories, illustrated in manga form spanning some of the creepiest legends from Japanese history. The illustrations are both beautiful and creepy, and there's something here for fans of all kinds of creepy stories from ghosts, to haunted items and more. 

Sayonara Football by Naoshi Arakawa: Nozomi wants nothing more in the world than to play football (soccer). It's her complete obsession. Unfortunately there are no leagues in her area for girls, and the boys do not ant her on their team. When she finally meets Midori and Sumire, a couple of other female players (who also happen to be bitter cross-town rivals) she sees this as her chance to be accepted and make a team... if she can bring the two rivals together somehow. The problem is, despite her obsession and tough talk, Nozomi is kind of a terrible soccer player, and is constantly kicking goals into her own net! 

Spy X Family by Endo Tatsuya: Twilight is the world's greatest spy, and has just been assigned his most complex mission of all time. Unfortunately for him, the mission requires him to infiltrate a super fancy private school, which means Twilight needs a family, so he can have a child to enroll in the school. At the world's shadiest orphanage, Twilight finds a little girl named Anya, who he figures will do just fine. What he doesn't know is that Anya is actually psychic and can read his mind, so she knows exactly what he's up to, and thinks she's the luckiest kid alive to be adopted by a real-life spy. When Twilight meets shy, unassuming Yor he figures he has also found himself the perfect fake wife... except for the fact that Yor is the world's deadliest assassin. No one realizes this except mind-reader Anya though, and stuff starts to get SUPER weird and SUPER fun!

What's New in November

 Hi everyone! It's a new month, and we are starting to get all kinds of new books for you to check out throughout the YCLD! Here are some of our favorite titles in print that we have available for you to borrow:

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: It's been 200 years since Cinderella met her prince at the royal ball, and things have changed in her kingdom. Now, teenage girls are required to attend an annual ball where the eligible men of the kingdom choose their brides. Girls who are not chosen at the ball disappear without a trace. 16 year old Sophia is not about to take that chance, especially because she is in love with her friend Erin, so she decides she has to flee before it's too late. 

Elysium Girls by Kate Pentecost: This alternative history books has elements of sci-fi and steampunk, set in 1930's Oklahoma. Sal lives in the city of Elysium, and has just been selected to train with Mother Minerva, local witch and city leader. But when she makes friends with a demon in disguise, some bad stuff goes down, and Sal is unceremoniously booted out of town. So what does Sal do? Well, she joins a gang, of course. No just any gang either, a gang of fierce women who ride mechanical horses and use magic to try to stop the oncoming apocalypse. 

Girl, Unframed by Deb Caletti: Everyone thinks Sydney is incredibly lucky to be the daughter of one of the most famous movie stars in the world. Everyone, that is, except Sydney, who knows her famous mom Lily is a hot mess. It's why Sydney has mostly been raised by her grandmother, and only spends some of her vacations with her mom, and usually with one of her mom's gross creepy boyfriends. Which is exactly what happens when Sydney goes to stay with Lily and her current boyfriend Jake, a violent creep who might be involved in some really shady business ventures. We don't want to give away too much, but we will tell you that parts of the book are told through court exhibits for a trial, and the ending to this one is a shocker. 

Six Angry Girls by Adrienne Kisner: Raina has the perfect life, with a great boyfriend, great grades, and roles in all the school plays. That is, until she gets dumped by her boyfriend, her drama club friends and her dream college all at the same time. Completely wrecked, Raina turns to a local advice columnist whose advice leads her to a chance meeting with Millie, who is out for revenge after being kicked out of the Mock Trial club she basically built from the ground up. Together they set out to change the rules, and smash the patriarchy in time for graduation.

New Teen Non-Fiction Picks!

Today’s recommended reads are digital e-books that will hopefully inspire you to improve your life and lead you towards personal growth. Learning from others who gone through similar tough times in life can help make you realize that you're not the only person who is going through something by reading about how that person overcame what life can throw at you. Also, sometimes you need a self-help book if you do not know how to begin to make certain small changes that can improve your well-being, whether it is trying to calm your wired mind to get a goodnight sleep, or embracing and gaining confidence in yourself. These books can help with all of that.

Positive: A Memoir by Paige Rawl
Paige Rawl’s memoir is for anyone who has been bullied. The book details her personal experience being bullied in middle school, when her HIV positive secret came out. Rawls opens up about the fact that she wanted to end her life, but decided against it. She chose to live her life with purpose  and to tell her story. Paige is an HIV and life advocate speaker, her story has inspired and touched millions of people.

The IF in Life: How to Get Off Life’s Sidelines and Become Your Best Self by Rashad Jennings
Former NFL running back Rashad Jennings shares his inspiring personal story and experiences in his debut book that will encourage readers to follow their dreams. Rashad discusses his childhood and the challenges he faced growing up. He never gave up his dream to be an NFL player. Through hard work and determination, he became a record-setting running back for many teams. This book is a great inspirational read for any football fans who would like know more about Rashad’s childhood, college years, and professional career.

Goodnight Mind for Teens: Skills to Help You Quiet Noisy Thoughts and Get Sleep the You Need by Colleen E. Carney
Teens who are having trouble sleeping, this is for you! In this cognitive behavioral therapy tip book, will help you can learn to quiet anxious thoughts and turn off screen time on their phone. This book will also help pinpoint sleep problems through a sleep tracker, and teach you to identify and listen to your internal “body clock” when it is time for sleep, develop a morning and bedtime routine, and suggests on how to unwind at bedtime.

Embracing the Awkward by Joshua Rodriguez
If you would like come out of your shell, be more social and gain confidence you will find this book helpful. Author Joshua Rodriguez uses his own personal experience when he was teen as an example to make the book relatable to readers. This book is written to help you succeed by taking the small steps detailed in each chapter at your own pace. It includes step-by-step checklists of activities to try out like approaching new people, and how to how start a conversation.  The chapters are short but informative. Some of the topics discussed are: understanding yourself and your purpose, mindfulness,
success and failures, identifying your strengths and weakness, making friendships, maintaining family relationships and approaching your crush and asking them out on a date.

All these books are currently available on Hoopla, along with other great books on mental health, mindfulness and self-improvement for teens. And don't forget that we offer Curbside Pickup for items in our collection at all our libraries (except the Heritage Library).

What's New on Overdrive

We've got some great new titles on our Overdrive platform this month for you to check out from home on any device! Head over to our website to borrow these and any of our other great books!

Camp So-and-So by Mary McCoy: When 25 young women get letters inviting them to apply for a brand-new summer camp in the Appalachian mountains it sounds too good to be true...because it is. The 25 girls jump at the chance and send in their applications, only to discover the camp they registered for doesn't actually exist. So what in the world have they actually signed themselves up for? If you're looking for something totally different or even a little bit weird, this book, told from multiple points of view with elements from a bunch of different genres will definitely keep you interested.

90 Days of Different by Eric Walters: 90 days. That is how long Sophie has between the time she graduates from High School and the time she starts college. And she's determined to use those 90 days to prove that her ex boyfriend was totally wrong when he dumped her for being too safe and boring. Luckily for Sophie her best friend Ella has a plan: for the next 90 days, Sophie has to agree to try any new thing Ella tells her to, no questions asked, and she has to document every new experience on social media. Will the 90 days really make a difference? And if it does, will that difference be a good thing, or a huge mistake?

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: Would you take a life to save someone you love? That is the choice Malik is faced with when his beloved sister is kidnapped by an angry spirit. The spirit is willing to give Malik's sister back, but only if he agrees to assassinate the Crown Princess. This one is a thrilling ride packed with elements of African folklore and fantasy that will keep you reading late into the night!

Plank's Law by Leslie Choyce: Trevor has spent the last 6 years of his life knowing he has an incurable terminal illness. But now, at only 16 years old, Doctors are telling  him his Huntington's Disease has gotten much worse, and he only has about a year left to live. It's when he's at his lowest that he makes an unlikely new friend: an elderly man named Plank who makes it his mission in life to help Trevor complete as much of his bucket list as possible before his time is up.

New Manga for July!

Hello Teens, this is Nikki taking over today’s blog post!
Today I'll discuss some of the new Manga series that have been added to our physical collection recently. Since we are doing curbside pickup  now, you can place these on hold through our library’s catalog or by giving us a call at your closest branch. Want more manga recommendations that are digital? Check out Overdrive for some digital manga, like Cells at Work! (This is a favorite of
mine).

Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Story by Masashi Kishimoto with Art by Akira Okubo.
Rated "Teen" for some fantasy violence and mild language.
Kishimoto, author of Naruto, is back with this brand new samurai science fiction series! Hachimaru is a sickly and frail teen that has lived his entire life being hooked up to a life support machine. He lives his days inside, playing samurai video games, wishing for freedom and to see what the world is really like. One day, he gets a visit from a real samurai telling him he has the soul of a legendary samurai living within him. Thus begins his samurai training to save the world from doom.
Note: This series is only going to be five volumes long, so it's perfect if you don't want to commit to a super long series.

Beyond the Clouds by Nicke.
Rated "Teen" for mild violence and freighting scenes.
Fans of Studio Ghibli will enjoy this series! Theo, a young mechanic has a knack for tinkering and creating new inventions. He spends his days reading adventure stories and rummaging through the town’s trash heap for abandoned treasures. One day, looking around in the trash heap, he finds
an injured, winged, amnesic girl named Mia. Theo helps rebuild her wings and promises to help her find her home again. Join them on their adventure!

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji.
Rated "Teen" for mild fantasy violence and language:
Fans of Beauty and the Beast: this one is for you! The King of the Beasts rules over his subjects, both animal and man with an iron paw and many are afraid of him. To display his dominance, he demands regular human sacrifices from the humans…but there is something different about the girl destined to be his ninety-ninth sacrifice, Sariphi. She is not afraid of the King of Beasts, which the King finds amusing and makes her his bride instead! Find out how their relationship evolves over time, and see how Sariphi has to prove herself a worthy bride to the beast's court in this inspired Beauty and the Beast manga tale.

Animeta by Yaso Hanamura.
Rated "Teen" for mild language.
If you enjoyed Bakuman, you will enjoy this one! Miyuki Sanada, is a young adult who trying to find her passion in life to turn into a job she will enjoy. One night she watches a late-night anime that fills her with passion
and joy for the first time in her life. She gets inspired to be an animator and applies for an entry-level animator position, barely passing the application test. Then comes the real challenge: harsh lessons and the reality of financial struggles. Join Miyuki as she learns to become a top animator and make her dream come true…if she doesn’t starve first!

A page from Animeta.

Art from Beyond the Clouds.

A panel from Samurai 8.

What's New On Overdive?

Need something new to read? Here are some of our picks for the best books that have recently been added to Overdrive!  If you don't have a regular library card, don't forget you can access these titles with a temporary e-card you can register for here: https://yumalibrary.org/sign-up-for-a-library-ecard/

Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynne E. Maetani: Kira has never fit in or felt comfortable anywhere except her grandfather's shrine. That is until the day the shrine is attacked by Yokai (Japanese demons). Why are they here, what do they want, and how can Kira stop what might be the start of a war between forces darker than the could have ever imagined?

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore: The year is 1518, and a strange plague has hit France: women are taking to the streets and dancing themselves to death. No one knows why, but the rumors of witchcraft are everywhere. Fast forward 500 years, and a girl named Rosella finds a pair of shoes that attach to her feet, making dance, and dance, and dance. Based on a true story (yes, there REALLY WAS a dancing plague in the middle ages!), this beautiful modern fairy tale will have you hooked until the last page.

Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan: "Two houses, both alike in dignity...." oh wait, sorry, wrong book. But not really, because that's the opening line to Romeo and Juliet, and Verona Comics is a funny modern retelling of that classic story, except the two families here each run a comic book shop. Despite the fact that Ridley and Jubille's parents are business rivals, and hate each other, the two are of course, destined to meet... where else: at comic-con prom.

Elysium Girls by Kate Pentecost: For 10 years, a pair of sisters have been playing a game that neither one is willing to lose. Now, this wouldn't really matter to anyone, except that the sisters are the Goddess of Life and the Goddess of Death. Now the sisters have concentrated all their game-playing energy on the small town of Elysium, Oklahoma and the lives of all the residents are at stake, unless Sal (a girl who sees visions) and Asa (a demon posing as a human) can figure out how to stop them... as soon as they figure out how to get themselves un-exiled from town first.

What's New On Hoopla?

Need something new to read? Here are some of our picks for the best books that have recently been added to Hoopla Digital! Don't forget that for the month of May you get 10 Hoopla checkouts, instead of our usual 5! If you don't have a regular library card, don't forget you can access these titles with a temporary e-card you can register for here: https://yumalibrary.org/sign-up-for-a-library-ecard/

So This is Love (Twisted Tales Series) by Elizabeth Lim: Disney fans have been waiting for this one for a while! The newest offering in the Twisted Tales series is finally out! This time author Elizabeth Lim asks "what if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?" Instead of relying on her fairy Godmother, Cinderella takes her fate into her own hands, leaves her evil stepmother and takes a job at the castle... but while there she uncovers a deadly plot against the prince, and Cinderella must decide where her loyalties lie.

The Burning by Laura Bates: Internet rumors can spread like wildfire. It's because of a vicious internet rumors and cyber-bullying that Anna and her mom have had to leave their home and move hundreds of miles away so that Anna can go to a new school. But the internet is everywhere, and soon, rumors and whispers start up again. Anna tries to escape them by diving into a story she has heard about a local woman who was once accused of witchcraft.

What the Other Three Don't Know by Spencer Hyde: Four very different High School Seniors have one major thing in common: each of them is hiding a deep, dark secret. When the four are forced to spend time together on a class trip, they each begin to let their guards down and share secrets that touch on death, disability, sexual identity, and life in general.

The Stone of Sorrow by Brooke Carter: Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black, The Stone of Sorrow takes you into the world of Norse mythology, with a twist. Runa is supposed to be content to be her village's resident witch, but all she really wants to do is sail the seas and see the world. But, when her village is attacked and her sister kidnapped, Runa must team up with an elf and a disgraced Valkyrie if she has any hope of getting her back.

What's New at the Library: February's Great Graphic Novels

The month of February brought us a big cart-full of brand new graphic novels for you to check out and enjoy. Below are four we really like, and think you will like too. Click on the titles to access the library catalog and see if they are available near you.

The Avant Guards by Carly Usdin, illustrated by Noah Hayes: Charlie was a basketball star at her old school, but due to...circumstances... she has had to transfer to a college that focuses on arts and drama. They do have a basketball team, but they're kind of terrible players. Charlie is sure that she never wants to play ball again, but the team captain, Liv, is extremely persuasive, not to mention extremely cute.This one has a lot of humor, a lot of heart and really great art. This is just volume one of the series, but keep your eyes open for more to come.

Dead Weight: Murder at Camp Bloom by Terry Blas and Molly Muldoon with illustrations by Matthew Seely: Camp Bloom is not an average sleep-away camp. It is a weight-loss camp for overweight teens to get into better shape. Jesse was sent there against her will by her parents. Noah is eager but frightened, not sure he can really do this. Tony just wants his phone back, and Kate just likes hiking. None of the teens expect much from the experience, until the night they discover that a counselor has been murdered, and they realize someone at the camp must be the killer. Spooky moments and lot of humor with some very cute art make this one a must-read.

Haphaven by Norm Harper, illustrated by Louie Joyce: Alex Mills is extremely superstitious. She gets it from her dad who never forgets to knock on wood, pick up a penny, or any of it. One day though, Alex kind of loses it, forgets to follow her superstitious rules and breaks her mother's back by stepping on a crack in the sidewalk. The only way to help her mom is obvious to Alex: team up with the weird leprechaun who shows up in her bedroom, travel to the land of superstition, and hunt down a lucky rabbit's foot that, by the way, is still attacked to the poor rabbit who kind of wants to keep it. This one is a really unique take on fractured fairy tales, with a lot of surprises along the way.

Qincredible: Quest to Be the Best by Rodney Barnes: Quinton West is a superhero, which is awesome. What's less awesome is his superpower. You see, Quin is invulnerable, which means he can take a beating, fall off a building, even get shot with nothing really happening to him. Problem is, he doesn't have any other abilities, like super strength or super speed so mostly this superpower just means that he doesn't mind too much when bullies beat him up. When Quin meets up with other local superheroes he feels like he's the lamest one of all, until he realizes his super smart brain and his incredible heart are much more important than being able to take a punch.

What's New at the Library - Early May 2019

Looking for your next great read? Here are some books that have just arrived at the Yuma County Library District and why we think you should check them out today!

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman: The very first book in a brand new series by a brand new author, The Devouring Gray centers around Violet, a girl whose family has moved her from the big city to a tiny town in the middle of the woods. As Violet struggles to make friends, she gets the feeling that some people in town are kind of afraid of her. Her family assures her it's only because her ancestors founded her new home town and so the locals are just treating them with old-fashioned respect... and then the first body is found. This book keeps getting compared to both Stranger Things and Riverdale, so if you like either or both of those shows, chances are you're going to love this one!

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis: Looking for a book that will gut punch you right in the feels? Pick this one up... and don't expect rainbows and butterflies. Mickey is an athlete with a chance to make history on her softball team until a car crash leaves her hurt and in tremendous pain. When she is prescribed pain killers, at first she feels great because the pills help her get back to her team, but where do you draw the line between taking medicine to feel well and taking it just because it feels... good. Where is the line between need... and addiction? And how do you stop yourself once the line is crossed and the downward spiral starts?

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu: Fans of Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices FINALLY have what they have been waiting for: a new book by Cassandra Clare! Co-written by the lesser know but not any less awesome Wesley Chu, this opening to a brand new series (called The Eldest Curses) centers around Magnus and Alec (from Mortal Instruments) who kind of just want a vacation. Of course, when you're a Shadowhunter, there's really no such thing, and their romantic Europen trip quickly turns into a fight against a deadly cult. If you ship Malec... you really can't NOT read this one, you know?

What's New at the Library - End of February/ Early March 2019

At the Yuma County Library we're always getting something new. Stop by your nearest branch and see what has just arrived in your teen room! Here are 3 books we recommend from our recent arrivals.

Cadaver & Queen by Alisa Kwitney: Ok, so truth: this one actually came out a year ago, BUT we're just learning about it now, and it's new to us - so it might also be new to you. First thing you need to know is this is a Steampunk novel Our heroine Liz Lavenza is the first female med student at a school that uses "biomechanicals:" re-animated corpse/cyborg hybrids to do work around campus. Everything is going fine until one of the biomechanicals starts to go a little nuts - and Liz realizes  it's actually a re-animated Dr. Victor Frankenstein.... yup, THAT Dr. Frankenstein. Soon, Liz starts to notice that the Doc might not be TOTALLY dead... and also, he might have been murdered, and his death may have been part of a sinister plot to bring down the Queen herself!

Enchantee by Gita Trelease: Another speculative history novel, this one is set in the time just before the French Revolution. The big difference is that in this version of Paris, magic is very much real. This is where Camille lives, trying to take care of her little sister by using her magic to turn scrap metal into things she can sell. Tired of her poverty, Camille dives into forbidden dark magic and transforms herself into a noble lady. Problem is, when the Revolution does actually erupt, noble ladies become immediate targets, leaving Camille to make choices that could quite literally cost her her head.

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi: If you're looking for something a little more realistic, and a little more current, this one might be the perfect read. Tareq is a young man living happily with his family in Syria until the day his town is hit by a terrorist attack and everything changes. Constant bombings and public executions threaten everyone's safety, to Tareq's family decides to flee to Greece. The book itself is narrated by Destiny, which gives it a similar feel at times to The Book Thief. Heartbreaking at times, it paints a very realistic picture of what it's like to live in a place torn apart by war, and face an uncertain future as a refugee.

All these books are more are now available at your nearest library branch. Click the book titles above to place a hold on one of them, or stop by your branch to see what else is new in the teen room!

Recommended Reads: Flight

This week, we're recommending a book that is kind of controversial. Actually, to be more specific, it's not so much the BOOK that is controversial but the author, Sherman Alexie. Alexie, whom you might know from reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has recently been accused of inappropriate behavior towards women  - allegations which he has chosen not to fully respond to.

So, if this is a deal breaker to you, you can stop here and we'll be cool with that.
Since YCLD doesn't censor books or limit what you are allowed to check out, we're going to recommend Flight (<--- click the link to go to the library's catalog and find a copy) to you for a couple of very good reasons. First, it's one of the books that was chosen this year to be part of the Great Stories Book Club (our library is one of only two in Arizona that was chosen to be part of this club this year!) and second, it's a REALLY good book.

Honestly. I 100% did not think I was going to like this book when I picked it up because it's pretty different from what I usually read, but I was seriously hooked from the first couple of pages. I'm not going to lie - some of the language and subject matter in the story is tough to read, and it's not going to be for everyone's tastes.

The story is basically this: Zits is a half Native-American, half Irish kid in the foster system. He's been in and out of juvie a bunch of times because, as he will tell you himself, he hates everyone - especially himself. He keeps getting kicked out of foster homes because of his attitude, and as the story begins he's just gotten kicked out of his latest one for cussing out his foster dad on his first day there. Zits gets picked up by the cops, and meets a kid his age named Justice who instantly becomes his new best friend. They run away together, and Justice convinces Zits to do something INCREDIBLY stupid: using a couple of guns Justice has gotten his hands on, they plan to rob a bank.

Not to spoil things too much for you, but things go REALLY, REALLY, super wrong and Zits gets himself shot.... and as he is dying, something amazing happens: he gains the ability to time-travel. Downside: he can only time travel by jumping into someone else's body, and he has no control over whose body it is or what time period he ends up in. I won't say much more about it, but things get weird fast, and Zits ends up learning a LOT about himself and other people. That's all I am going to say about it so I can avoid mega-spoilers, but it's definitely a good read.

Official rating: 4/4 Booker Bears