Teen Scene
June 2026
Recent Releases
This Could All Go Bad by Spencer Hall
This Could All Go Bad
by Spencer Hall

One night can change everything in this hilarious and heartfelt novel perfect for young teens about to start high school. Perfect for former fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
In the Blood by April Henry
In the Blood
by April Henry

When high school senior Tess turns eighteen, she takes a DNA test in hopes of finding her biological parents, but instead discovers links to a religious cult and the elusive Portland Phantom, a serial killer responsible for the deaths of seven young women.
As I Dream of You
by Jennifer Lee and LeUyen Pham

Sam and Franny share an all-encompassing love, until an untimely death drives them apart. Although they know the tragic myth of Orpheus and Euridyce, they meet on the astral plane and pit the power of their love against death itself. Read-alikes: R.M. Romero’s Death’s Country; Dani Diaz’ Dreamover.
Force of Nature by Melissa Clark
Force of Nature
by Melissa Clark

This fresh, smart, and funny young adult debut with a speculative twist asks the question: What if Mother Nature was a teenage girl?
The Thorn Queen (Standard Edition) by Sasha Peyton Smith
The Thorn Queen 
by Sasha Peyton Smith

Sequel to The Rose Bargain. Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England. But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favorite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time--and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country. To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett. Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where fae games are deadlier than ever--and a queen must play most viciously of all. Forbidden romance, deceptive bargains, and lethal court intrigue intertwine in this mesmerizing, fae romantasy sequel that will captivate fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart and Belladonna.
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past.
 
This Thing of Ours
by Frederick Joseph

Although Ossie has trouble envisioning a future without basketball, a career-ending injury forces his hand. A creative writing program helps him find his voice, which he needs when racism rears its head at his predominantly white school. Read-alikes: Jasminne Mendez’s The Story of My Anger; Don P. Hooper’s True True.
Fable for the End of the World
by Ava Reid

Rather than paying her debts, Inesa’s mother sacrificed her to a brutal spectacle called the Gauntlet. Melinoë is the assassin targeting Inesa, hoping for redemption in this Gauntlet. When things go sideways, the two find themselves relying on each other. Read-alikes: Amber Hamilton’s Seven Deadly Thorns; Stephanie Oakes’ The Meadows.
The Rose Bargain
by Sasha Peyton Smith

Hoping to repair her family’s reputation, Ivy eagerly joins the competition for the hand of Prince Bram, son of the immortal fae Queen. But then she falls for the wrong prince...and finds herself at the center of a coup. This fast-paced duology opener infuses Victorian England with fae magic.
Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
Byron Public Library District
100 S. Washington St.
Byron, Illinois 61010
(815) 234-5107

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