This Month in Teen Books: September 2024

Reading recommendations for teens
September 12, 2024
What We Are Reading
Here are some quotes from library staff about the books in the newest list of recommended picks:
 
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by LeUyen Pham: “This was so incredibly adorable. The story is sweet, the characters are realistic and likeable, and the lion dancing is super cool.”
 
Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan, ill. by Cliff Chiang: “I love how straight-forward and no-nonsense the teens are when compared to other attempts at writing young protagonists. Also, the 80s references were brilliant.”
 
March Comes In Like a Lion by Chica Umino: “The manga showcases the adorable found family and cats even more (yay!).”
 
Write a Poem, Save Your Life by Meredith Heller: ”Interesting prompts for self-exploration and introspection in order to delve into writing poetry for healing and understanding one's emotions and history.”


What’s Hot This Month
September is Deaf Awareness Month, so make sure to check out these reads by Deaf creators and featuring Deaf characters.  
Featured Title
Book cover with an illustration of a large moutnatin and a dark night sky.Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Growing up in the Kegari slums, Aiz has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hotheaded mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.
 
Banished from her people for an unforgivable crime, Sirsha is a down-on-her-luck tracker who uses magic to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Martial Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But when a chance encounter leads to an unexpected attraction, Sirsha learns her mission might cost her far more than she’s willing to give up. 
 
Quil is the crown prince of the Empire and nephew of a venerated empress, but he’s loath to take the throne when his aunt steps down. As the son of a reviled emperor, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.
 
What’s New This Month
A graphic novel sequel to Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada’s Banned Book Club is on the way, along with a new nonfiction book by George M. Johnson and Fairies Never Lie, the latest fantastical short story collection edited by Zoraida Córdova. Also incoming are new books from authors like Andrea L. Rogers, Eliot Schrefer, Jen Ferguson, Judy I. Lin, Kathleen Glasgow, Jason Reynolds, Jandy Nelson, and more.  
For More Reading Suggestions: