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Caitlyn says:
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove "A generation ship's AI has to prove that the reason all her humans keep dying horribly isn't due to system failure, but because Dracula keeps sneaking aboard and murdering everyone. Also includes a space mummy, werewolves, and a host of surprisingly adorable spider bots." |
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Of Monsters and Mainframes
by Barbara Truelove
Spaceships aren't programmed to seek revenge--but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception.Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying--and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans.To keep from getting decommissioned, Demeter must join forces with her own team of monsters: A werewolf. An engineer built from the dead. A pharaoh with otherworldly powers. A vampire with a grudge. A fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this motley crew will face down the ultimate evil--Dracula. The queer love child of pulp horror and classic sci-fi, Of Monsters and Mainframes is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society's monsters--and explores the many types of friendship that make us human. Note: this is published as adult fiction.
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Elise says:
Dungeon Club by Molly (Lee) Knox Ostertag "So heartwarming, so wholesome! Beautiful illustrations bring both the fantastic world of D&D storytelling and middle school friendships to life. The third book in the series came out this fall and I'm not going to lie, I shed tiny tears about each character's sweet journey." The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science and Poetry by Maria Popova "I read a lot of poetry this year! And I'm a sucker for this gorgeously illustrated multi-disciplinary collection of science writing and poetry by a long-time favorite creator of The Marginalian." |
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Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club: Roll Call: A Graphic Novel
by Molly Knox Ostertag
Middle school is a dungeon... At least, that's how Jess sees it. Luckily, Jess and their best friend Olivia know how to escape into the sprawling worlds of their own imaginations. The two friends have always loved making up stories, first with little kid games of make-believe, and more recently with the fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. When they play, Olivia runs the game as Dungeon Master and Jess is the solo party member, playing a take-no-prisoners, lone-wolf fighter of their own design named Sir Corius. But when Olivia wants to add new players to their group, Jess struggles to share their game--and their best friend. Will their epic campaign withstand all this change, or has their adventure--and their friendship--finally come to an end?
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The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science & Poetry
by Maria Popova
Poetry and science, as Popova writes in her introduction, are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply. In 15 short essays on subjects ranging from the mystery of dark matter and the infinity of pi to the resilience of trees and the intelligence of octopuses, Popova tells the stories of scientific searching and discovery. Each essay is paired with a poem reflecting its subject by poets ranging from Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, and Edna St. Vincent Millay to Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, and Tracy K. Smith.
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Kaitlyn says: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood "I don't usually read romance novels if they aren't also fantasy but I really enjoyed this book, Ali's writing has a light sarcasm to it that makes her flawed lead characters really stand out." Not-Sew-Wicked-Stepmom by Mo9rang "This is a cute and lighthearted take on the classic Snow White story. The artwork grabbed my attention but the cute characters with deep backstories had me impatiently waiting for the next volumes to come in." |
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Check & mate
by Ali Hazelwood
Inadvertently wiping the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer, which opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes to keep her family afloat, Mallory's love for the game of chess rekindles, as do her feelings for her competitor, against her own best intentions.
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Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom, Vol. 1
by Mo9rang
Once upon a time, there was a lovely young princess who suffered under her cruel stepmother...that is, until a children's clothing designer is reborn as the evil queen! All Her Majesty, Abigail Friedkin, wants to do is dote on the adorable Princess Blanche and give her the happy childhood she deserves. The problem is, the previous Abigail has garnered a reputation for being extremely jealous and materialistic-and to top it off, her smile is the stuff of children's nightmares! Will Abigail be able to convince her stepdaughter that she might not be so wicked after all?--Publisher marketing.
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Kit says:
The Country Without Humans series by Iwatobineko "I love a good story about people at the end of the world, machines, or just... big ol' beastly types. This one started scratching a sort of Bioshock-coded itch for me." |
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The Country Without Humans Vol. 1
by Iwatobineko
Shii is the only human left in a city inhabited by nothing but machines. As she flees through the eerie streets, hunted by the sinister Triangle Heads, she encounters a golem named Bulb. Can Shii survive long enough to form a friendship with this strange golem--and perhaps even discover what happened to her fellow humans?
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Libby says:
Homebody by Theo Parish ". . . living authentically in a world that takes every opportunity to squeeze you uncomfortably into a box of someone else's design, that is the most radical act of self love"This is the core message of this debut by transgender nonbinary author Theo Parish. Through creative illustrations in shades of pinks, blues, and purples, Theo shares their gender journey from teen years into young adulthood. This book felt like a friend welcoming me to hear the story of their own hero's journey, and I enjoyed my library book so much that I purchased a copy to send to someone in my circle who I thought would also appreciate it. If you enjoyed Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, you'll probably want to read this book too." |
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Homebody
by Theo Parish
When Theo finds that trying to conform to societal expectations is not working, they experiment by playing characters at comic conventions and in role-playing games. Embracing their nonbinary identity, they finally begin to feel at home in their body. This hopeful autobiographical comic traces a moving journey of self-discovery. In this intimate and defiantly hopeful graphic novel memoir, the author shares their journey to find a home within themself, taking readers through the experiences and everyday moments that all led up to them finding the term “nonbinary,” which finally struck a chord.
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Lucie says:
Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman "A beetle plague, merciless dragons, ancient child ghosts - this medieval fantasy is super dark, but also somehow filled with so much hope and humanity." |
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Among ghosts
by Rachel Hartman
On the run from a mercenary dragon, among other dangers, thirteen-year-old Charl seeks refuge in an abandoned abbey haunted by an assemblage of ghosts
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Nikki says:
Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury "For fans of Winnie the Pooh, and like a bit of philosophy! Definitely gave me the feels as I reflected and reminisced on the many journeys life has taken me. The Journey featuring Big Panda and Tiny Dragon is also great too!" |
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Big Panda and Tiny Dragon
by James Norbury
Big Panda and Tiny Dragon embark on a journey through the seasons of the year together. They get lost, as many of us do. But while lost, they discover many beautiful sights they'd never have found had they gone the right way. Told through a series of beautiful drawings and quiet, sometimes silly, conversations, the panda and the dragon explore the thoughts and emotions, hardships and happiness that connect us all. In nature, they learn how to live in the moment, how to be at peace with uncertainty, and how to find the strength to overcome life's obstacles together. Note: this is published as adult fiction.
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Q says:
"I've been reading a lot of cozier books this year." Creative Mending by Hikaruu Noguchi |
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Creative Mending: Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching Techniques (Over 300 Color Photos)
by Hikaru Noguchi
Mending your favorite fabric items--from jeans to sweaters to sofa covers--becomes a true art form in Creative Mending. In this book, mending guru Hikaru Noguchi shows you her entire range of valuable techniques--from embroidery and patching to darning and felting--that are just challenging enough for experienced menders. Noguchi's basic rules of mending are that the repair should suit the fabric and its user, and that there are lots of creative ways to create beautifully customized repairs--some subtle, others making a statement.
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The Teller of Small Fortunes
by Julie Leong
Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells 'small' fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences. Even if it's a lonely life, it's better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they're joined by a baker with a 'knead' for adventure, and--of course--a slightly magical cat. Note: this is published as adult fiction.
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Swordcrossed
by Freya Marske
Mattinesh Jay is dutifully getting married for the sake of his family and their wool fortune (or, as it currently stands, lack thereof). But the woman he is meant to marry already has an admirer. So Mattinesh has to hire someone for his own protection. Enter in Luca Piere. Dashing, witty, and someone who had recently scammed Mattinesh, so an utter scoundrel that Matti ultimately doesn't trust, but who also owes him. Sparks fly not only when swords are crossed but also when the two men have to work together. But will their growing attraction be their undoing? Or is there a bigger plot yet to unfold?
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Rachel says:
"My top two books are complete opposites." Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills "I adore a gentle fantasy story. This is the story of Aurelie, a baker's apprentice who obviously can't do magic and the bounty hunter who knows perfectly well that she can. And needs her skills in Seeking to find a missing person or 12. When one of those missing people turns out to be a Prince, they are off on and adventure even if Aurelie would rather not." Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder by Rachel McCarthy James "Axe murder has such a ring to it, doesn't it? A classic horror option, but it sounds almost too gruesome to have really happened. But people have been picking up axes in anger since well... forever. Each chapter of Whack Job is a different case, a different axe, and a different time. You'll never look at humble hand tools the same." |
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Something Close to Magic
by Emma Mills
Seventeen-year-old Aurelie, a baker's apprentice, reluctantly agrees to assist a bounty hunter named Iliana and finds herself on an adventure full of magic, danger, and the thrill of first love.
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Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder
by Rachel McCarthy James
Much like the wheel, the boat, and the telephone, the axe is a transformative piece of technology--one that has been with us since prehistory. And just as early humans used the axe to chop down trees, hunt for food, and whittle tools, they also used it to murder. Over time, this particular use has endured: as the axe evolved over centuries to fit the needs of new agricultural, architectural, and social development, so have our lethal uses for it. Whack Job is the story of the axe, first as a convenient danger and then an anachronism, as told through the murders it has been employed in throughout history: from the first axe murder nearly half a million years ago, to the brutal harnessing of the axe in warfare, to its use in King Henry VIII's favorite method of execution, to Lizzie Borden and the birth of modern pop culture.
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Join us on Discord |
December News - Teen Council Spotlight
- Program Spotlights
- Booklists
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University Place Teen Council says:Make a list of ideas/brainstorm Sketch it out Start small Create a list of goals Get feedback about your idea Talk to friends Get inspiration from the internet Try to find free resources It's okay to improvise resources/materials
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Find booklists by grade level on our website Check out the booklists below. All titles are available to download or pick up at the library: - Recent Releases
- 2025 Debuts
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| Hazelthorn by CG DrewsAfter his guardian suddenly dies, Evander is freed from his bedroom prison at the Hazelthorn mansion. Now he must contend with the heir, Laurie, who tried to kill Evander once but fascinates him nonetheless. With a lush, carnivorous garden, this thriller is a gothic twist on The Secret Garden. |
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| Coldwire by Chloe GongThe alternative to a harrowing world of extreme weather and disease is NileCorp’s virtual reality service. Eirale and Lia, soldiers in NileCorp’s military, risk it all to expose injustice in their worlds, real and virtual. Fans of Marie Lu's Warcross and Marissa Meyer's Renegades will enjoy this action-packed cyberpunk trilogy opener.
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| A Time Traveler's History of Tomorrow by Kendall KulperAt the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, Genevieve and Ash misuse their scientific powers and accidentally travel to 1893. If they return to their own time, will it even be the same? This inventive romp is a standalone story with companion novels Murder for the Modern Girl and A Starlet’s Secret to a Sensational Afterlife.
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| The House Saphir by Marissa MeyerArmand hires Mallory, who can talk to ghosts, to exorcise his ancestral estate. Mallory plans to swindle him out of his money, but instead she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, and Armand is a suspect. This creepy novel is a witty retelling of the Bluebeard myth.
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| Never Ever After by Sue Lynn TanWhen Yining, adopted as a child, discovers her magical heritage, she leaves her impoverished mountain village to change her fate. Tempted into a lavish world by a ruthless prince, Yining must unlock her full powers to fight for a better future for everyone. Read-alikes: June CL Tan’s Jade Fire Gold; Intisar Khanani’s The Theft of Sunlight.
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| All the Noise at Once by DeAndra DavisStar quarterback Brandon is happy to have his autistic brother Aiden on the team. When a post-game fight results in Brandon’s unjust arrest, it’s up to Aiden to prove his older brother’s innocence. Read-alikes: Sonora Reyes’ The Luis Ortega Survival Club; Christina Hammonds Reed’s The Black Kids.
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| Salvación by Sandra ProudmanThe magical sal negra Lola’s mother uses to cure maladies draws travelers to their home, but it also attracts threats. That’s why Lola adopts the guise of Salvación, a masked vigilante protecting her people from colonizers and deadly magic. This swashbuckling tale takes inspiration from the character Zorro.
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| Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha TobiasDespite Carina’s mother forbidding travel to her home island of Jamaica, Carina takes a temporary job there nannying for a wealthy family. As strange things start happening in the house, Carina fears a tormented spirit may be after her. Read-alikes: Kyrie McCauley’s All the Dead Lie Down; Trang Thanh Tran’s She Is a Haunting.
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| First Love Language by Stefany ValentineAlthough Catie loves her adoptive mother, she is curious about her biological mother’s Taiwanese culture. Given the chance to learn Mandarin from her coworker Toby, she’ll happily provide him dating advice, despite her own inexperience. This sweet, thoughtful romance delves into the complexities of transracial adoption.
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| A Language of Dragons by S.F. WilliamsonAfter accidentally fanning the flames between the government and the rebels, Vivian makes a bargain. She’ll exchange her knowledge of dragon languages for her parents’ freedom. This gripping historical fantasy, set in an alternate London in 1932, reimagines dilemmas code breakers faced during World War II.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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Pierce County Library System
3005 112th St. E, Tacoma, Washington 98446
253-548-3300mypcls.org |
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