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Recommended for Teens

Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals

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Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals
by Katy S. Duffield and illustrated by Mike Orodan
Format: Book

Animal lovers around the world are building wildlife crossings. Over, under, around and through construction by humans. We humans build ways for us to get through with roads and overpasses, tunnels and more. But what happens when our construction encroaches on animal habitat? All around the world people that love animals are finding ways of building crossings that help animals get safely back around, under, over and through the roads that we humans have built.

Woven rope bridges for Squirrel Gliders in Australia. A tiny tunnel under the pavement in New Zealand for Blue Penguins. Blue tight rope bridges above roads for Titi Monkeys in Costa Rica are just a few of the wildlife crossings that have been constructed, just for the protection, of animals around the world.

You will be intrigued by the beautiful illustrations in this non-fiction book!

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The City of Ember

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The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Format:  Book
Who it’s for:  Kids and Teens

Ember is a city in everlasting darkness and is only lit by its progressively unpredictable electric system.  Other systems are falling apart as well, and stores of food and necessities that have lasted hundreds of years are dwindling.  The city was only meant to last 220 years, and now it has been 241.  But the messages the “Builders” left have been misplaced and forgotten.

Lina Mayfleet finds the messages, but not before her little sister chewed them to shreds. Now she and her pal Doon Harrow must decipher the few disjointed messages before the city falls to pieces.  Their determination leads them to discover long-overlooked mysteries about the creation and purpose of Ember, and what the “Builders” envisioned.  They want to spread their findings with the people of Ember — but only if the shady mayor and his guards don’t stop them first.

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Good Girl, Bad Blood

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Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens

The sequel to “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” begins with Pip, our main character from the first book and the beginning of her podcast that has gone viral. Pip has insisted that her detective and investigating days are behind her due to all of the chaos and hurt she caused in the first novel. That is until her friend begs for her help. Connors brother Jamie Reynolds has disappeared and the police are not making it a priority to try to find him. And so the investigation begins! Pip takes her investigation digitally and encourages her listeners to help find Jamie.

I am loving this series so far! Listening to it on audiobook captivated me and left me wanting more of the story. The new-age media tie-in of podcasting was awesome and I felt that it made the story more relatable. There is a third and final book set to be released in September 2021 and I cannot wait!

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The Project

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The Project by Courtney Summers
Format: Book, eBook
Who it’s for: Teens, Adults

Years ago, Lo’s sister Bea joined “The Unity Project.” The Project, as it’s casually known, is NOT A CULT according to its charismatic leader, Lev Warren, and his followers. They are a service organization, with centers for enrichment dotting the American north east. Warren gives a public sermon once a year, and has been known to predict world events, leading the faithful to believe the access to a higher power he claims to have is real. But Lo isn’t buying it.

When an opportunity arises for her to investigate The Project, she’s determined to unmask Warren as the charlatan she’s sure he is, and free her sister from his manipulations. But when she’s embraced by him and his movement, her doubt falters, and her defenses begin to crack. Does Warren actually perform miracles? Does The Project truly offer redemption? Or is it all just a dangerous façade?

The story is told through chapters alternating between the sisters, which can be jarring at first, but pays off, as it sets up a suspenseful and satisfying narrative journey, with twists and turns you won’t expect. The book features scenes of abuse, which may be troubling to some. Courtney Summers also wrote the Edgar and Audie award winning 2018 novel Sadie. Both books are at times unpleasant, but totally worthwhile explorations of family, truth, and identity.

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Dungeon Critters

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Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess & Sara Goetter
Format: Graphic Novel
Who is it for: Kids, Teens

Dungeon Critters follows a group of four young animal adventures on their quest to prove themselves and save their kingdom. This book is absolutely charming.

After exposing a sinister plot involving a foul, necromantic plant, Chirp, Goro, June, and Rose must face the perils of dungeons, the rigors of high-society balls, and the literal trials of Bear Court! But adventuring is not all danger—there is ample room for young love.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the art style. The artists put a lot of effort into making each and every character unique and expressive. What starts off as a cute little fantasy romp, really ramps up into a dramatic and beautiful tale, with genuinely compelling characters.

The children and teens collection have always been filled to the brim with fantasy titles, so it is traditionally difficult for new works to stand out. However, Dungeon Critters has not problem captivating its audience; with diverse characters and vibrate art, I cannot recommend this book enough.

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In this Corner of the World

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In this Corner of the World
Format: DVD, Digital Movie
Who’s it for: Adults and Teens

In this Corner of the World takes place against the backdrop of Japan during the late 1930s and early 1940s, following the life of young woman growing up in World War II era Japan. The film’s style is lovely and light, almost like a watercolor, which is in stark contrast to the brutal reality of life during the war depicted in the film. The main character, Suzu Urano, is a sweet, hard working girl who loves art. As the movie progresses, so to do the years and the war. At 18 she is asked to marry a man she does not know, and after the marriage Suzu moves from Hiroshima to the small town of Kure where her husband’s family lives.

As the war continues, and the families struggle to survive, Suzu longs to return to her hometown of Hiroshima, one of the only areas that has not been damaged by air raids. The film is a lovely and heartbreaking look at wartime Japan from the point of view of an ordinary family. Focusing not on soldiers or politics, the film shows the viewer the daily life of ordinary people as their world falls down around them.

Fair warning: This movie will break your heart. As you watch the dates come and go on screen, your tension will only grow. The atomic bomb will drop – but of course that characters have no way of knowing that.

Find it in the catalog here.