Our teen book spotlight this week is all about Possibilities of Exploration!!! We are taking a look at stories that feature hobbies, games, and activities that you may be doing right now or may be inspired to explore and try this summer or in the future. Because of all of the possibilities, there is a little bit of something for everyone--some are more serious than others while we have some fiction and nonfiction as well as others that combine different types of genres. You may be inspired to try something new and the book you read may be the jumping off point you need. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tags #yabasketball, #yabookworms, #yalandofsuagr, #yagaming, #yamusicalstories, #yaartists, #yafootballstories, and #yasports as well as on Libby and Hoopla.
The 2022 Summer Reading Program Oceans of Possibilities is taking place from June 4th-August 10th with a new theme and badge activities every week. Make sure to watch the Teen Book Spotlight book talk video for this week as it counts towards your badge activities for the week; if you read one of the titles featured or on the tagged list, that counts as another activity as well!!! Earn the weekly themed badges to get your virtual tickets which can be turned into opportunities to win prizes! For more information--such as to sign up or to sign in to your account in order to track your books and activities--visit our Summer Reading page and click “LOG IN NOW”.
Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez--Camila Hassan is a talented seventeen-year-old Argentinean soccer player who dreams of playing in North America. It's a dream she must keep secret from her strict mother and abusive father, who would never approve of a girl playing sports. When her team wins the local cup and she has the opportunity to play in the South American tournament, Camila is thrilled but worried, because she'll need her parent's permission to go. Complicating matters, Camila's former boyfriend, who left to play football on a team in Italy, is back in town, hoping to get back together. Camila must summon the courage to follow her heart, wherever it leads.
Sway with Me by Syed M. Masood--Seventeen-year-old Pakistani American Arsalan Nizami knows his beloved 100-year-old grandfather Nana won't live much longer. With his mother gone and his alcoholic and abusive father unreliable, Arsalan enlists the help of a matchmaker to find a wife. The matchmaker's stepdaughter Beenish "Beans" Siraj agrees to help him on the condition that he be her partner in an elaborate scheme to disrupt her sister's wedding with a forbidden dance. As the pair practice, Arsalan's reserved, socially isolated personality initially clashes with Beans's brash and bold attitude, but as he's introduced into a wider social circle of friends and Beans sees his kind soul, they learn they might be the perfect fit for each other.
Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach--High school senior Isaiah faces tough choices after a concussion sidelines him from playing football, a sport that gave him the focus and discipline he needed after his sister Hannah died four years prior. A football scholarship, his father's admiration, and worry that he'll return to his previous destructive behavior hang in the balance as Isaiah contemplates leaving the sport he loves.
For the Win by Cory Doctorow--In a near-future world, teens from around the globe participate in online role-playing games to farm virtual gold -- earning a meager income and tolerating abuse at the hands of their oppressive leaders. A mysterious individual named Big Sister Nor corrals stand-out teens -- such as 15-year-old Mala, aka General Robotwalla, from rural India and rebellious Californian Matthew -- in her efforts to unionize the network of gamers, reveal the harsh conditions they endure, and bring the virtual world to an abrupt halt.
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson--Two teens, Quadir and Jarrell know that their recently murdered friend, Steph, was a genius rapper and feel bad his rhymes are stuck underneath the bed in the form of mixtapes. Along with the help of Steph’s younger sister, Jasmine, they decide to market Steph’s rhymes as a new, up-and-coming--yet completely fiction--rapper. Soon, the music is in hot demand by record producers, and the trio is forced to reconcile Steph’s death with his music; and while trying to continue the charade, also discover the identity of Steph’s murderer. As it turns out, all three have secrets of their own.
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon--Swearing off love after her father's affair, high school senior Evie Thomas begins having visions of happy couples' breakups after seeing them together. Having given up her romance novels, she reads "Instructions for Dancing" and signs up for dance classes at a local studio. There she meets X, who becomes her dance partner, teaching her to forgive and open up her heart again.