Story Tags

Clip art image of girl with black hair holding a protest sign

Natalia Sylvester, "Running"

Review of Running, by Natalia Sylvester Book of the Month, November 2020 Written by Las Comadres Book Club member and DC Public Library staff member, Gabi K. H.

A Peoples History

Banned Books

Banned Books Week is observed at the end of September each year, celebrating our ability to freely and openly access information! Here's a list of books that have either been challenged and/or banned due to content. Though challenged, these titles offer diverse ideas and perspectives.

Sabriel cover in which a pale young woman with long black hair in black and blue fantasy clothes wields a bandolier of bells and a sword.

Of Gods and Magic

High Fantasy in YA

Good and evil. Dragons and magic. Whether the fantasy world involves wizards or werewolves, high fantasy always involves high stakes. The following are all YA high fantasy novels set in a variety of worlds and about all kinds of characters, some taken more seriously than others. 

Dangerous Alliance

Jane in YA

Austen Retellings for Young Adult Readers

Jane Austen is one of the most beloved, and most adapted, authors of all time. It's no wonder that every genre has had their hand in Jane Austen adaptations--from literary sequels, contemporary retellings, murder mysteries, to young adult fiction. Today, I want to look at six great young adult retellings of Austen's novels that are perfect for teen readers or older readers who are looking for new ways to access old favorites. 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Read it First!

YA titles made into movies

A lot of young adult books become movies, and that only means you need to read it first! These books have all been adapted for film. While watching a movie is a good time, you can get a lot out of a story both on the page and the screen. Check out these books, and our OverDrive collection for other great books that have been movies.  

Of Curses and Kisses

Queen Me

YA Royal Reads with Female Leads

Whether you grew up in Disney princess costumes or reading the Princess Diaries series, many of us have been fascinated by roya

A Little Life

Escape to an emotional read!

Books that make you cry and laugh out loud.

The list of books below has a combination of genres such as contemporary fiction, romance and erotica. Giving proof that you do not need to focus on one specific genre (fantasy) to escape through books. These are all books that I have read and while reading them I found myself laughing out loud, crying, or clutching my pearls. I hope that if you are in need of an emotionally draining book you find one that fits you within this list!

Capturing the Devil cover

Staff Pick: "Capturing the Devil" by Kerri Maniscalo

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth prefers working in her uncle's laboratory than high society. Thomas Cresswell is an assistant in her uncle's laboratory, providing forensic evidence to the London police. Together they have solved difficult and dangerous cases. 

Long May She Reign cover

Reign Like Victoria, Part 2

More strong teen queens who rule

I've enjoyed the historical drama series Victoria on PBS, telling the story of Queen Victoria's early years on the throne. To follow up on my previous list of young Queens coming to the throne in a fantasy kingdom or an alternate historical timeline, below are a selection of similar titles I've more recently enjoyed.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Current Favorite YA Fantasy Books!

Five binge worthy fantasy books!

I think that fantasy novels are a great way to distract yourself from stress, life, or whatever it is you would like to avoid. They also allow you to completely immerse yourself into a world that is different than your own. Allowing you to pretend to be a warrior, a witch, or even a demon. The five books discussed here are the first books in series. So, if you enjoy the series for the world-building, the characters, the action, the romance, or the drama, you can continue to read more books that each author has published in the worlds. 

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