Teen Scene
February 2022
Recent Releases
No Beauties or Monsters
by Tara Goedjen

The setting: Twentynine Palms, the California desert town where Riley lost her father to a tragic accident at the military base. When her mother gets assigned to the base, Riley must return to the very last place she wants to be.

What happens: Riley discovers her childhood friend Lily is missing. And a murderer is on the loose. Then the amnesia and hallucinations begin…

Read it for: the riveting intertwined mysteries tinged with supernatural horror.
The Midnight Girls
by Alicia Jasinska

Eat your heart out: Beata, Marynka, and Zosia murder princes and deliver their hearts to the three brutal witches, called Jagas, who they serve.

Follow your heart: While the three girls are fiercely competing for the pure heart of Prince Józef during the winter Karnawal season, Marynka and Zosia begin to fall for each other.

Is it for you? Fans of Slavic-inspired fantasy like Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse will enjoy this atmospheric and romantic historical fantasy.
The Ivory Key
by Akshaya Raman

The setting: Ashoka, a country that exports magic. If the neighboring kingdoms discover Ashoka’s magic mines are nearly depleted, it’s war.

Enter: Siblings Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya, all seeking the Ivory Key that promises to lead to a new source of magic. Despite their shared blood, their fractured relationships mean their quests for the Ivory Key have secret motives and conflicting goals.

Series alert: This Indian-inspired epic fantasy is the first in a planned duology.
Ain't Burned All the Bright
by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin

What it is: a timely, collaborative, multimedia work with text and art exploring Black lives simultaneously threatened by police violence and the COVID-19 pandemic.

How it’s told: in three sections called “Breaths” that invite readers to identify their own sources of oxygen, the people and things they hold dear.

Author alert: Fans of author Jason Reynolds will appreciate this collaboration with artist Jason Griffin, their first since 2009’s My Name Is Jason. Mine Too.
The Coldest Touch
by Isabel Sterling

Starring: Elise, cursed to live life as the Death Oracle, predicting the future death of anyone she touches. Vampire Claire Montgomery is sent from the Veil to help Elise accept and use her powers.

The dilemma: With a mysterious killer on the prowl and a slow-burn romance with Claire brewing, Elise needs to figure out who to trust, and fast.

For fans of: Kate Williams' The Babysitters Coven and Lily Anderson's Undead Girl Gang.
Love and Hate
Love, Hate & Other Filters
by Samira Ahmed

Starring: 17-year-old Maya Aziz, who knows what she wants from college (film school) and dating (her longtime crush Phil), but worries that her protective Indian American parents won't let her follow her dreams – especially after their family is threatened by anti-Muslim violence in the wake of a terrorist attack. 

Author alert: This is author Samira Ahmed's 2018 debut, followed by several others, including Hollow Fires, due out in May 2022.
Love in English
by Maria E. Andreu

What it is: a coming-of-age story following Ana, who moves from Argentina to New Jersey to start her junior year. In New Jersey, everything is new to her: friends, experiences, and the English language.

How it’s told: with portions of the text blocked out, to simulate the experience of an English language learner.

Read it for: quirky, authentic characters, a bittersweet love triangle, and a thought-provoking tale of what it’s like to find your voice in another language.
10 Things I Hate About Pinky
by Sandhya Menon

The chaotic one: Pinky, a passionate but impulsive activist. To show her parents she’s capable of making good choices, she approaches her respectable frenemy with a fake dating scheme.

The ordered one: Samir, a driven planner. Pinky secures him an internship with her corporate lawyer mother in exchange for his cooperation. He can handle Pinky’s weirdness for one summer, right?

Shared universe alert: This heartfelt romantic comedy takes place in the same world as author Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi.
Don't Hate the Player
by Alexis Nedd

Starring: high school junior Emilia Romero, an overachiever who lives a double life as KNOX, part of an elite team in the male-dominated game Guardians League Online.

What happens: Jake Hooper, Emilia’s childhood friend turned gaming rival, uncovers Emilia’s secret. Their relationship shifts as they work to protect Emilia from threats posed by doxxing. 

Why you might like it: This angst-filled book balances a relatable romance with thought-provoking explorations of racism and misogyny in esports.
Love Is a Revolution
by Renée Watson

What it's about: Nala's plans to spend her summer watching movies and trying new ice cream flavors evaporate when she meets charismatic teen activist Tye. Hoping to impress, Nala claims to be an activist herself, a lie that seems innocent enough -- until things get serious between her and Tye.

Why you might like it: This refreshingly realistic romance focuses on Nala's efforts to be loved for who she really is...once she figures it out herself.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
Keene Public Library
60 Winter St.
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
603-352-0157

http://www.keenepubliclibrary.org/