Story Tags

Disability Visibility

Invisible Illness

Non-Fiction and Fiction focused on disability and mental illness

The books below cover the subject of disability and mental illness. There is a mixture of non-fiction and fiction in the list, and it attempts to give a wide range of perspectives on topics that are often misunderstood and underrepresented in mainstream media and politics. Here, those readers looking for materials that reflect a mental disorder can find representation via these recommended titles.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Hearts Broken and Mended

Stories of Grief in YA Fiction

A complicated emotion, grief is one we all experience and respond to differently. These young adult novels take grief and show its transformative power in a number of different circumstances. From a girl fighting demons within and without to a summer vacation full of boys meant to distract from the one who can’t be there, these books offer heartbreaking and heart-mending stories.

The cover of Rose and Snow. An illustration of two girls standing in front of each other with a key between them

Book Review: Snow & Rose

Destiny was enchanted by this literary retelling of the Snow White and Rose Red fairy tale

Review written by Destiny Hardy, teen volunteer. 

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!

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