Teen Scene August 2019 Recent Releases Five Midnights by Ann Dávila Cardinal What it’s about: While visiting family in Puerto Rico, “Gringa-Rican” true crime fan Lupe is disturbed by a recent series of murders. When it looks like her missing cousin might be the next victim, Lupe and her reluctant ally Javier investigate, only to discover that the clues point to a notorious mythical monster. Why you might like it: a captivating combination of gritty, real-life danger and chilling supernatural horror. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer What it is: a gripping and detail-rich fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast. What happens: Harper, a girl with cerebral palsy and a difficult family situation, finds herself trapped in Emberfell, a magical kingdom where Prince Rhen is cursed to repeatedly relive his 18th birthday -- and his transformation into a bloodthirsty beast -- unless a girl falls in love with him.  For fans of: Marissa Meyer or Rosamund Hodge. Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian The setting: New York City during the AIDS crisis, 1989. The characters: talented fashion designer Judy; her best friend Art, the only out gay student at their high school; new student Reza, who’s petrified by the idea of coming out; and Stephen, Judy’s HIV-positive activist uncle. Read it for: complicated romance, chosen families and an emotionally charged glimpse into not-so-distant LGBTQIA history. Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay What it’s about: Filipino American Jay is shocked and grief-stricken by the murder of his Filipino cousin, Jun -- how could someone like Jun get mixed up in the vigilante violence of President Duterte’s war on drugs? Fed up with his secretive family, Jay travels from the U.S. to the Philippines in search of answers. Who it’s for: readers in search of gripping family drama and unflinching, own voices insights into Filipino politics and growing up bicultural. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson Welcome to: Summershall, one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer, where sword-wielding apprentice librarian Elizabeth guards the grimoires, magical books that can transform into deadly monsters. What happens: After a horrifying attack on the library leaves Elisabeth branded a traitor, she reluctantly teams up with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demonic servant, Silas, to uncover and confront the true threat. For fans of: epic adventures, inventive systems of magic, and smoldering love stories. True Crime Boy with a knife : a story of murder, remorse, and a prisoner's fight for justice by Jean R. Trounstine "Nearly a quarter of a million youth are tried, sentenced, or imprisoned as adults every year across the United States. On any given day, ten thousand youth are detained or incarcerated in adult jails and prisons.Putting a human face to these sobering statistics, Boy With A Knife tells the story of Karter Kane Reed, who, at the age of sixteen, was sentenced to life in an adult prison for a murder he committed in 1993 in a high school classroom. Twenty years later, in 2013, he became one of the few men inMassachusetts to sue the Parole Board and win his freedom.The emotional and devastating narrative takes us step by step through Karter's crime, trial, punishment, and survival in prison, as well as his readjustment into regular society. In addition to being a powerful portrayal of one boy trying to come to terms with the consequences of his tragic actions, Boy With A Knife is also a searing critique of the practice of sentencing youth to adult prisons, providing a wake-up call on how we must change the laws in this country that allow children to be sentenced as adults.Jean Trounstine is the author of the highly praised Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in Women's Prison (St. Martin's) about her decade directing plays and teaching at Framingham Women's Prison in Massachusetts. She has written numerous articles on prison issues for publications including Boston magazine, the Boston Globe, Working Woman magazine, the Women's Review of Books, and Truthout, and has been the subject of many articles,radio broadcasts (NPR, The Connection), and TV shows (the Today Show)" The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller The crime: the 1892 hatchet murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother.  The aftermath: Newspaper accounts of the slaying were wildly sensational, and Lizzie's suspicious behavior, which led to her trial for the murders, only led to more rumors. Why you might like it: This intriguing book presents the evidence from the Borden trial with you-are-there vividness, allowing you to draw your own conclusions about these famous -- and still unsolved -- murders.   The Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell The crime: the 1964 murders of American civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, who were killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan. The aftermath: Although some of the perpetrators received brief sentences after a 1967 trial, the case against them continued into the 2000s. Is it for you? While this book doesn’t shy away from the ugly, deep-rooted racism that led to the murders, it also offers moving profiles of the victims, told by their families and friends.  The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater The crime: In November of 2013, Sasha (a white, agender, middle-class teen) and Richard (a black, cisgender, disadvantaged teen) were riding a public bus in Oakland, California, when Richard set Sasha's skirt on fire.  The aftermath: In The 57 Bus, journalist Dashka Slater takes you beyond those bare facts, presenting an up-close look at the two teens' lives, both before and after the crime. Who it’s for: anyone interested in complicated questions of privilege, empathy, and justice. Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson The crime: the 1865 assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth. The aftermath: This suspenseful, moment-by-moment account begins with Lincoln’s assassination but focuses on the intriguing 12-day manhunt for Booth and his co-conspirators, complete with photographs and quotes from the real people involved. Try this next: Chasing King’s Killer, also by James Swanson, about the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.  Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up! Richmond Public Library 101 East Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 646-7223 rvalibrary.org/