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Teen Scene
March 2026

Recent Releases
Call of the Dragon
by Natasha Bowen

When the corrupt king of Kwa offends the dragon gods, they revoke their blessings, allowing malicious shadow spirits to threaten the land. Now Moremi, her crush Nox, and her bully Zaye must locate the gods and reestablish their protection. This fast-paced Afrofantasy explores the role of the “chosen one.”
 
The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay
by Ryan Douglass

Nick Carrington III flees Tulsa, Oklahoma after the 1921 massacre, landing at New York’s West Egg Academy. There he meets Jay, and their blossoming relationship challenges Nick’s entire worldview. This richly detailed spin on The Great Gatsby uses the Harlem Renaissance as a backdrop for its thought-provoking examination of prejudice.
 
I Don't Wish You Well
by Jumata Emill

Four years ago, four football stars were slain by a masked assailant in Pryce’s hometown. When Pryce investigates the crime for a podcast, he discovers that the true killer might still be at large. Read-alikes: Mindy McGinnis’ A Long Stretch of Bad Days; Kacen Callender’s We Are Villains. 
 
Few Blue Skies
by Carolina Ixta

Megacorporation Selva is allegedly responsible for the air pollution that's making Paloma’s father ill. When Paloma’s ex-boyfriend Julio unexpectedly invites her to collaborate on a research project about the pollution, her rekindling feelings throw her life into even more upheaval. This issue-oriented novel invites readers to deeply examine their own morals.
 
Queen of Faces
by Petra Lord

In Caimor, a person’s consciousness can be transferred into a fabricated body, effectively evading death. When Annabelle is caught trying to steal a body for herself, she must choose between dying and becoming an assassin for people trying to quash rebellion. Read-alikes: Andrea Tang’s Kingdom of Without; Jill Tew’s The Dividing Sky.
Graphic Novel Round-Up
The Deep Dark
by Lee Knox Ostertag

Mags dutifully cares for her grandmother and makes blood sacrifices to the monster in their basement. When her childhood friend Nessa returns to town and a relationship blooms, Mags must face her deadly secret. Read-alikes: David Arnold and Jose Pimienta’s Luminous Beings; Ashley Robin Franklin’s The Hills of Estrella Roja.
 
Pearl
by Sherri L. Smith; illustrated by Christine Norrie

When Japanese American teen Amy’s great-grandmother falls ill, she travels from Hawaii to Hiroshima, Japan. After Pearl Harbor is bombed, Amy cannot return home and is forced to become a translator for the Japanese army. This haunting graphic novel portrays a character finding hope during a harrowing time.
 
Brooms
by Jasmine Walls; illustrated by Teo DuVall

Although broom racing is officially banned, sisters Mattie and Emma need the money -- and freedom -- winning an underground race would yield. Luckily their cousin, who lost her magic powers at a residential school, can train them. This joyous and dramatic graphic novel is set in an alternate 1930s Mississippi.
 
Ash's Cabin
by Jen Wang

Ash told their parents they wanted one last trip to their late grandfather’s ranch before it was sold. They didn’t say they planned to find their grandfather’s secret cabin and stay in the California wilderness forever. Read-alikes: Adam De Souza’s The Gulf; Jay Martin’s Lost Boy.
 
Lunar New Year Love Story
by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham

Hoping to break her family’s curse, Valentina bargains with the spirit of Saint Valentine to find love within the year. Now she’s off to investigate that spark she felt with a lion dancer at the Lunar New Year celebration. This effervescent graphic novel blends romance with a coming-of-age story.
 
Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
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