TeenTober

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings and Relationships for Everyone
by Alex Norris

"This adorable and fun graphic nonfiction gives great perspectives about all kinds of relationships and love, from the beginning crushing phase to the aftermath. I loved it."

— Roxie

“I have been loving the A Sign of Affection manga series by suu Morishita. The protagonist, Yuki, is a university student who is deaf and communicates through sign language and text. She meets and falls in love with another student, Itsuomi, who is a multilingual traveler. Their different personalities and experiences help create a sweet and touching love story. I highly recommend this series!”

— Destiny

“This TeenTober, I'm recommending a graphic novel first published a decade ago called In Real Life (October 2014) by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang. Despite its age, this novel remains as relevant as ever. I'd previously read "The Prince and the Dressmaker" (2018) by Wang and similarly enjoyed it.

In Real Life has aged remarkably well even though the crux of the story hinges on technology—in this case, a massively multiplayer role-playing game. I've played games similar to the one in this story, Coarsegold Online, since I was a teenager. I felt a strong connection with the girl protagonist, Anda, who is trying to find community, empowerment, and escapism through gaming. This book does an admirable job of introducing readers to the practice of gold farming and the real-life ramifications of online fantasy games.”

— Stuart

Whisper Me a Love Song Vol. 1
by Eku Takeshima

"When Himari Kino first sees Yori Asanagi singing, it's love at first sight...or is she just in love with her music? This sweet series explores what love means to different people and provides a great example of healthy communication in a relationship. I'm obsessed with the characters and the importance of music in the series. I can't wait to read more!”

— Emily

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
by K.A. Cobell

"I loved this thriller set on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. The story alternates perspectives between four Native teens as the disappearance of one teen girl, the murder of another, and the subsequent investigation rock their community. This book has great character development, lots of twists and turns, and it brings light to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. If you like Fire Keeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, you should definitely read this book!”

— Terra

Book: The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

A better version of Carrie by Stephen King (｀∇´). If you love suspense and horror, you won't be able to put it down.

Graphic Novel: Unfamiliar, Vol. 1 by by Haley Newsome

Just in time for Spoooopy* time (~'o')~! A cute graphic novel that has witches, sirens, curses, and more!”—

— Jodi

Check out All These Things I've Done, book #1 in Gabrielle Zevin's Birthright series. It's a realistic science fiction book set in 2083, when chocolate and coffee are illegal. Sixteen-year-old Anya is trying to get through high school with the weight of being the daughter of New York City's (deceased) and most notorious crime boss, who ran the Family's chocolate trade. She's also trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend.

And if you love movie scripts, try Walter Dean Myer’s Monster. Sixteen-year-old Steve is on trial for murder. Was Steve actually the lookout in a robbery gone awry or was he simply at the wrong place at the wrong time? As a way of coping with the horrific events that entangle him, Steve, an amateur filmmaker, decides to transcribe his trial into a script, just like in the movies.

— Lara

For TeenTober, I recommend exploring Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, a sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. It's packed with story ideas, character options, and spooky locations to explore with your friends. This book is perfect for horror and fantasy fans and can help you bring your terrifying TTRPG adventures to life.

— Stuart

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds (they/she) is a brilliant novel about a teen who moves to the small town her mother grew up in to help care for her sick grandmother. The move is jarring at first for Avery, who is used to the faster pace of life in DC. However, she soon finds herself deeply immersed in new friendships, an exhilarating romantic connection, and a staggering discovery about her family's history. I love that this book has a little bit of everything: friendship, queer romance, mystery, intergenerational family dynamics, and an exploration of the historical throughlines of racism in America. This is a must read!”—

— Terra

Recently, I went on a baking-romance binge. If you want some LQBTQIA+ love and some yummy baking inspiration, these titles are fun:

Bloom by Keven Panetta (Graphic Novel)

Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu (Graphic Novel)

The Heartbreak Bakery by A. R. Capetta

— Roxie

Manga: I'm in Love with the Villainess, Vol. 1 by Inori

Cute sapphic isekai manga! The main character is hilarious and deeply in love with the villainess of the story!

Book: Viuda de hierro by Xiran Jay Zhao

Trigger Warning: violence and abuse, suicide ideation, discussion and references to sexual assault.

A fictional reimagining of Wu Zetian challenging the injustices she faces in a futuristic reinterpretation of Medieval China.”

— Jodi, Teen Services Librarian

“My recommendation is Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White. This book was gruesome, heartbreaking, and disturbing in the best possible ways. Benji will do anything to escape the religious fundamentalist cult that he grew up in. In Benji's attempt to escape, he meets up with people from the Acheson LGBTQ+ Center. Benji has to work alongside them to try to prevent the world from collapsing before his body rejects humanity and takes on the form of the monster he was forced to become. The author is queer, trans, and autistic and includes strong representation for each of these identities within the book. This is definitely one that you should pick up if you like horror, dark themes, and dystopian futures. Get ready to be spooked!”

— Emily, Teen Services Librarian

“This TeenTober, I am recommending Gender Queer, a graphic memoir about growing up nonbinary and asexual by Maia Kobabe. As the #1 banned book of 2021, reading this book is an act of rebellion and celebrates the freedom to read. Kobabe is a Sonoma County resident, so reading and sharing this book helps support a local author and illustrator. LGBTQ voices not only deserve to be heard but amplified, so crack open a book and open your mind.”—

— Stuart, Teen Services Librarian

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

If you love the new A League of Their Own series, you MUST read this book!

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a phenomenal historical fiction novel about Lily Hu, a young Chinese American teenager living in San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s. This is a dazzling love story between two young women set against the backdrop of the Red Scare, which actively threatens the safety and livelihood of Lily's family. In the underground lesbian bar called The Telegraph Club, Lily finds not only love, but also a sense of community, belonging, and freedom.

This book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2021) and absolutely deserved it. This is my favorite young adult book that has been published in the last two years and I highly recommend it for teens and adults alike!”

— Terra, Teen Services Librarian