Teen Scene
July 2025
Recent Releases
Amelia, If Only
by Becky Albertalli

Thinking she’s in love, Amelia drags three of her friends on a road trip to meet her favorite YouTuber. Along the way, Amelia discovers her feelings for her friend Natalie run deeper than those for her internet obsession. 
We Can Never Leave
by H. E. Edgmon

Five teenage travelers, left behind when their community of supernatural creatures mysteriously disappears, must uncover the truth about what happened while grappling with their own hidden secrets
Fateless
by Julie Kagawa

Deep in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, an ancient relic of untold power waits for someone bold enough to steal it. Seventeen-year-old Sparrow and her Thieves Guild companions accept the challenge but soon find themselves battling ancient forces and facing the unwavering hold of fate. 
A Forgery of Fate
by Elizabeth Lim

After Truyan’s father disappears, she supports her family by forging artwork. If marrying cursed half-dragon, half-human Elang might help her to locate her father, she’ll take that risk, too. This adventurous fantasy with a slow burn romance infuses a traditional "Beauty and the Beast" tale with Chinese mythology.
Audre & Bash Are Just Friends
by Tia Williams

In need of inspiration for her self-help book, sixteen-year-old,  straightlaced Audre hires seventeen-year-old easygoing Bash to be her fun consultant for a summer full of daring experiences and undeniable romance.
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past.
 
There Is a Door in This Darkness
by Kristin Cashore

As if the year 2020’s widespread chaos wasn’t enough, Wilhelmina is also seeing strange visions. When she learns her friend James shares these wondrous experiences, the two unravel the magical clues and make sense of the message. This character-driven work of magical realism explores grief and healing.
Looking for Smoke
by K.A. Cobell

Shortly after a giveaway ceremony on the Blackfeet Reservation, a girl named Samantha is found murdered. All four people in the giveaway group are suspects, and proving their innocence means spilling secrets and upending relationships. Read-alike: Angeline Boulley's Warrior Girl Unearthed.
Dragonfruit
by Makiia Lucier

Exiled for her father’s crime, Hanalei studies seadragons and their magical eggs. After escaping kidnappers wishing to exploit her expertise, she returns to her home island of Tamarind. Can she restore justice by finding a dragon egg to save Tamarind’s princess? 
The Deep Dark
by Molly Knox Ostertag

Magdalena’s routine involves caring for her grandmother, working at a diner, and making blood sacrifices to appease the monster in her basement. The romance blossoming between Magdalena and her childhood friend Nessa makes Magdalena’s deadly secret increasingly hard to keep. 
Black Girl You Are Atlas
by Renée Watson; illustrated by Ekua Holmes

With poems and mixed media illustrations, this lyrical collection shares stories from author Renée Watson’s upbringing as it invites Black girls to claim their power. Watson uses varied poetic forms including haiku, tanka, and pantoum to celebrate sisterhood. 
Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
Aalfs Downtown Library
529 Pierce Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51101
712-255-2933

www.siouxcitylibrary.org