What’s New for Teens?

I Am Here Now by Barbara Bottner
1960’s. Maisie’s first day of high school should be exciting, but all she wants is to escape the world: an abusive mother and a father who is rarely there to help. Finding refuge in her art, Maisie meets Rachel and her mother, a painter. She catches a glimpse of a very different world– full of life, creativity, and love– and latches on. But as she discovers her strengths through Rachel’s family, Maisie finds herself risking new friendships, and the very future she’s searching for.

Bearmouth by Liz Hyder
Life in Bearmouth is one of hard labor and isolation, the sunlit world far above the mine a distant memory. Newt has lived in the mine since the age of four, and accepts everything from the harsh working conditions to the brutality of the mine’s leaders–until the mysterious Devlin arrives and dares to ask the question, “Why?” As tensions rise, Newt is soon looking at Bearmouth with a fresh perspective–challenging the system and setting in motion a change of events that could destroy their entire world.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. But the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is determined to find out what happened– and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour
A newly graduated Mila emerges from foster care to accept a job on an isolated Northern California Coast farm where she confronts haunting memories and the traumas of her fellow residents.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
For fourteen-year-old budding artist Minoru Ito, her two brothers, her friends, and the other members of the Japanese-American community in southern California, the three months since Pearl Harbor was attacked have become a waking nightmare: attacked, spat on, and abused with no way to retaliate–and now things are about to get worse, their lives forever changed by the mass incarcerations in the relocation camps.

Flamer by Mike Curato (Graphic Novel)
It’s the summer between middle school and high school, and Aiden Navarro is away at camp. Everyone’s going through changes–but for Aiden, the stakes feel higher. As he navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can’t stop thinking about), he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.