Teen Scene
June 2026
Recent Releases
Holloway
by Elana K. Arnold

In August 2021, Nora, an autistic Jewish teen, travels to France with the remains of her mother, who died of COVID-19. There, Nora time travels to 1946, where she begins to understand the connections between the post-World War II era and contemporary times. This poignant novel explores complex family dynamics.
Change of Plans
by Sarah Dessen

Finley’s annual visit with her mom unexpectedly turns into a stay at a lake house with estranged family members. As Finley gets a job, makes new friends, and bonds with new-to-her family, she finds her whole outlook shifting. Fans of author Sarah Dessen’s big-hearted novels will appreciate this moving story.
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.
The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America
by David Levithan

In the 1980s and 1990s, the AIDS epidemic tore through the United States, creating an atmosphere of fear and subjecting victims to stigma and discrimination. Drawn from a variety of primary sources, this powerful nonfiction work chronicles the history of the epidemic and traces the work of prominent activist groups.
Shards of Silence
by Brian Lee Young

A scholarship to an elite boarding school is a huge opportunity for Derrick, who grew up in Navajo Nation. While rocked by culture shock and academic pressure, he learns more about his beloved great-grandmother’s experience at a brutal residential school. This authentic coming-of-age story traces an engaging search for truth.
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past.
 
Titan of the Stars
by E.K. Johnston

Celeste and Dominic have opposing views about their voyage aboard a luxury spaceship. When the alien species on display are purposefully released among the passengers, these unlikely friends must fight for survival. This high-stakes novel reimagines the Titanic’s story of power and privilege with a science fiction/horror twist.  
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.
Audre & Bash Are Just Friends
by Tia Williams

To enhance her college applications, overachiever Audre decides to write a self-help book for teens. When she enlists Bash to be her “fun consultant,” the straightlaced girl finds herself falling for the easygoing newcomer. Read-alikes: Whitney D. Grandison’s The Right Side of Reckless; Elise Bryant’s Happily Ever Afters.
Contact your librarian for more great books for age 14 and up!
Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Hwy 101 #201
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
(541) 996-2277

https://www.driftwoodlib.org/