Check It Out Category: Teen

Fictional Teen Witches

Need something to do besides re-watch Hocus Pocus for the 100th time? We’ve got an answer: Enjoy a spellbinding book featuring teen witches in all their magical glory.

Magical baking witches? Check. Mystery solving witches? Check. Futuristic witches? Check. Magical kingdom witch rivals? Check. Use the list below to choose your coven carefully!

National Poetry Month: Staff Favorites from the Young Adult Collection

Collections of poetry, free form, or novels-in-verse: we’ve got all your tastes covered! Celebrate National Poetry Month this April by reading lyrical, beautiful poetry from our Young Adult collection. Browse our curated lists below or pick up a staff favorite.

other words for home book cover

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

A beautiful and hopeful free-verse novel about a girl who tries to adjust to a new home after she emigrates from Syria with her mother while also worrying about her father and brother still in Syria. Jude’s emotions ring clear though the verse and catch the reader. I highly recommend the audio version as well!

-Abby, Teen Librarian

Ain't Burned all the Bright book cover

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds & illustrated by Jason Griffin

This stunning and unique book is a blend of art and text in a journal-like format that captures the frustration and anxiety of a Black boy overwhelmed by the onslaught of bad news — COVID, racism, police brutality, and more — and the way he finds solace and hope in the embrace of his family.

-Andrea, Teen Librarian

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance book cover

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

What a unique read! Grimes creates one-of-a-kind poems from the words of little-known women poets of the Harlem Renaissance. The poems are enhanced by incredibly beautiful full-page illustrations. A glorious and refreshing celebration of women creators!

-Al, Readers’ Advisor

long way down book cover

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

The book is an eye opening look at grief, gang violence, and family. The verse is melodic and intense yet very approachable! Heartbreaking yet oddly hopeful. A must read!

-Denise, Readers’ Advisor

You Don't Have to be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves book cover

You Don’t Have to be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves by Diana Whitney

Featuring a diverse tapestry of poets such as Amanda Gorman, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Mary Oliver, this compilation of poetry speaks to the emotional experiences of growing up. Interwoven between some of the more intimate or tough parts of growing are the joys and highs of life, ultimately leaving a message of hope behind.

“If you cannot believe that things will soften, trust that I believe for you.”

-Jenny, Program Librarian-Supervisor

March Madness in the Teen Space: And the Winner is…

Sixteen titles went head-to-head in a bracket-style, four-round tournament of champions voted on by MPPL teens. Only one was crowned the coveted 2022 Favorite Teen Read Winner.

And the winner is…

They Both Die at the End book cover

WINNER:

They Both Die at the End

by Adam Silvera

Loved the top four bracket finishers? Want more reads like those? Here are our suggestions for readalikes!

A good kind of trouble book cover

If you liked Dress Coded,

try A Good Kind of Trouble.

Calling All Mystery & Puzzle-Loving Teens!

Did you successfully crack the codes of our recent Teen Escape Rooms? Do you have a talent for guessing the culprit in any mystery you are reading or watching? If so, we have the reads for you! Experience a puzzle or locked-room mystery between the pages of our favorite keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat whodunits. Try to solve the mystery before the final pages reveal the answer.

In the Hall with the Knife book cover

In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund

Who: A motley crew of prep school kids

Where: Snowed in a remote house in Maine

Mystery: Who killed the headmaster?

The Inheritance Games book cover

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Who: Avery Grambs who inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s entire fortune

Where: Secret passage-filled Hawthorne House

Mystery: Why did Avery inherit the fortune? She must solve puzzles, riddles, and clues to find out.

you're so dead book cover

You’re So Dead by Ash Parsons

Who: Plum, Sofia and Marlowe, three online influencers

Where: An art-and-music festival for influencers on a private Caribbean island

Mystery: Who is killing off people at the festival one by one?

ace-of-spades book cover

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Who: Devon and Chiamanka, Senior Class Prefects

Where: Niveus Private Academy

Mystery: Who is sending anonymous texts to the entire school about the prefects’ deepest, darkest secrets?

one of us is lying book cover

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Who: A group of five high school students who have all been featured on a school gossip blog

Where: Detention

Mystery: Why did the creator of the school’s gossip blog die?

all your twisted secrets book cover

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

Who: A random group of high school students

Where: A fancy scholarship dinner

Mystery: Who locked everyone in a room together with threats of death?

March Madness in the Teen Space

Participate in a little friendly competition this month with our book-style version of March Madness in the Teen Space! Each round features a head-to-head matchup of currently popular titles chosen by teens in Teen Think Tank. Which read will prevail? Cast your vote for each round at the Fiction-AV-Teen desk; watch the Teen Space wall for the latest advancers! The winner will be revealed at the end of the month. Which read are you rooting for?

null

Curious about any of the books chosen for the bracket, or just want to re-read your favorites? Click on each title below to find it at the library.