Teen Scene
September 2019

Recent Releases
The Rest of the Story
by Sarah Dessen

Unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her late mother's estranged relatives at scenic North Lake, a teen finds herself torn between her mother's working-class relatives and her father's wealthier associates.
The Red Scrolls of Magic
by Cassandra Clare

The best-selling author of Lady Midnight and the award-winning author of The Lives of Tao present the first book in a new series in which High Warlock Magnus Bane and his Shadowhunter boyfriend, Alec Lightwood, combat a Parisian cult that Magnus accidentally founded years earlier.
The Merciful Crow
by Margaret Owen

What it’s about: When a routine job takes an unexpected turn, Fie -- future chief of the Crows, Sabor’s lowly caste of undertakers and mercy-killers -- has to decide if the promise of protection for the Crows is worth the risk of a dangerous quest.

Read it for: diverse characters, pulse-pounding adventure, and an intriguing system of magic.

Series alert: This debut fantasy is the 1st in a duology.
Wilder Girls
by Rory Power

What it’s about: Ever since the Tox infected the Raxter School for Girls, killing some and leaving others distorted, the survivors have been under strict quarantine -- but that doesn’t stop student Hetty from venturing into the Tox-ravaged woods in search of a missing friend. 

Is it for you? The gruesome mutations and brutal violence of the Tox might be too much for some readers, but those who like things dark and disturbing will be hooked by this dystopian/horror hybrid.
Shatter the Sky
by Rebecca Kim Wells

What it’s about: Maren ben Gao never wanted any trouble, but after her girlfriend Kaia is kidnapped and forced to become one of the Emperor’s prophets, Maren hatches a reckless plan to steal one of Emperor’s dragons and rescue Kaia.

For fans of: the dragon lore, politics, and diverse characters in Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina books.

Series alert: This gripping fantasy will leave you longing for the planned sequel.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S. (September 15-October 15) with one of these excellent reads by and about Hispanic people.
 
The Closest I've Come
by Fred Aceves

What it's about: Stuck living in a poor neighborhood with his mom and her abusive boyfriend, it's hard for 15-year-old Marcos Rivas to see any way out. He's got solid friends and a surprising new crush, but when an unexpected opportunity arises, Marcos is afraid to let himself hope.

Author alert: Get in on the ground floor with this authentic, gritty debut from author Fred Aceves.

For fans of: Jason Reynolds and Matt de la Peña.
American Road Trip
by Patrick Flores-Scott

Starring: Teodoro “T” Avila, who’s only just started getting his life on track when his golden-boy brother, Manny, returns from the Iraq War with PTSD. 

What happens: T’s take-charge sister Xochitl tricks her brothers into joining her on road trip that might help Manny find himself again.  

Why you might like it: You won’t soon forget this unvarnished yet hopeful look at mental illness and the importance of family.
Wild Beauty
by Anna-Marie McLemore

Featuring: the Nomeolvides women, keepers of the garden at La Pradera estate and bearers of both a gift and a curse: they can make flowers grow with their bare hands, but if they fall in love, their beloved is doomed to disappear.

What happens: Estrella Nomeolvides finds a mysterious boy in the garden, prompting the family to unearth some long-buried secrets.

You might also like: Lana Popović’s Wicked Like a Wildfire, another lush and leisurely paced tale of magical realism.
Burn Baby Burn
by Meg Medina

The setting: New York City, 1977, when disco music wafts from radios, a serial killer called Son of Sam is on the loose, and high school grad Nora López is trying to hang on to her family and her hopes for the future.

What happens: Money is tight and her delinquent brother's behavior is getting more frightening, but Nora’s relationship with co-worker Pablo is getting hotter than the sizzling summer weather. 

Read it for: intense emotions and vivid atmosphere.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!


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