Teen Scene
November 2025

Recent Releases
Make Me a Monster
by Kalynn Bayron

Meka is more comfortable around death than most people, considering she grew up in her family’s funeral home. But a sudden tragedy, and the mysterious occurrences afterward, have her questioning everything about her family and their business. This chilling tale is a contemporary riff on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
 
Hollow
by Taylor Grothe

When Cassie reunited with old friends in upstate New York, she didn’t expect them to leave her stranded in the woods. A rescue from Kaleb, who brings her to an isolated artist compound called the Roost, could be her salvation...or her undoing. Read-alikes: C.G. Drews’ Don’t Let the Forest In; Kelly Andrew’s The Whispering Dark.
 
The Scammer
by Tiffany D. Jackson

Jordyn’s fresh start at Frazier University was going great until her roommate’s brother moved in. Fresh from prison, Devonte wields conspiracy theories and charisma to develop a cultlike campus following that Jordyn isn’t falling for. Fans of author Tiffany D. Jackson’s brand of thought-provoking thrillers will enjoy this propulsive tale.
 
Angelica and the Bear Prince
by Trung Le Nguyen

Recovering from burnout, Angelica sees her theater internship as an opportunity for meaningful work. She might also finally unmask the theater’s bear mascot, whom she has been messaging over social media. This tender graphic novel takes inspiration from the Norwegian folktale “East of the Sun and West of the Moon.”
 
Fake Skating
by Lynn Painter

A lot has changed since Dani and Alec fell out of touch in middle school. Finally reunited in hockey-obsessed Southview, Minnesota, they hatch a fake dating scheme that forces them to confront their complicated past. Read-alikes: Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick’s Make My Wish Come True; Ellen O'Clover’s Seven Percent of Ro Devereux.
 
And the River Drags Her Down
by Jihyun Yun

While women in Soojin’s family have the magical ability to raise the dead, her mother warns her against using the power on a human. When Soojin’s sister drowns, she ignores her mother’s advice, and things quickly spiral out of control. This heart-wrenching horror novel meditates on grief and generational trauma.
 
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
Kawartha Lakes Public Library
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Kawartha Lakes, Ontario K9V 2Y6
705-324-9411 x 1291

www.kawarthalakeslibrary.ca