Categories
Teens

What We’re Reading Teens – June

Are you looking for reading recommendations for teens? We can help! Visit us in person or online to get great ideas for your next great read. For one-on-one help call or ask a Library staff member at any of our locations. You can also call, text, or email ask-a- librarian! Here are some more ideas to help you find what to read next.

  • Follow our staff’s most recently published book lists on the library catalog home page.
  • Don’t miss our If You Like… suggestions that cover all the favorite genres like science fiction, graphic novels, romance, and more.
  • Join us Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. on Facebook for Currently Reading where book enthusiasts offer their suggestions.
  • Tune in every other Wednesday at 10 a.m. to the Indy Now Book Club with Ryan and Jillian on Fox59 for reading recommendations and IndyPL program highlights from your own local librarians.
  • You can also get reading recommendations online from NovelList or Book Connections. Read book reviews, see “read alike” lists, browse starred reviews, and more.

Reading Recommendations for Teens – June 2023

Make a selection from one of the book lists below created by our staff of avid readers whose reading experiences and tastes cover about any interest you can think of!

Standalone Mysteries for Adults and Teens

From Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes to Alex Cross and Jack Reacher, the detectives in popular mystery novels are often as famous as the titles themselves. Serial releases are arguably most at home in the mystery genre, where familiar investigators tackle new, exhilarating cases in every entry. Yet many readers may not want to get into a series without starting from the beginning, and there are few feelings more disappointing for such a reader than picking up a new bestseller only to find it’s the latest in a long-running series. If you find you can empathize with this feeling, consider a read from the following list, which is composed entirely of standalone mysteries or first entries in a series.

Title - One of Us Is LyingTitle - That DarknessTitle - TenTitle - Hide

Space Opera for Teens

young adult fiction + space opera = adventure, romance, danger, high stakes, outkasts, and more! What more could you want?

Title - IlluminaeTitle - SkywardTitle - Rebel RisingTitle - Across the Universe

Afrofuturism titles for tweens & teens and fans of Wakanda

On the grown-up side there are the wonderful Afrofuturists: Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and local author Maurice Broaddus…for kids and teens check out some of these titles for fans of Black Panther. What would your super power be? What do you want the future to look like?

The 6th Annual Center for Black Literature & Culture Book Fest and Juneteenth Celebration will take place Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central Library. This year’s author presentation is called Afrofuturism: A Glimpse into the Black Future. Learn more about Book Fest and the Juneteenth Celebration.

Title - Last Gate of the EmperorTitle - Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the SkyTitle - ShuriTitle - Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

Books Featuring Deaf Characters for Tweens and Teens

Deaf culture is proud and storied, full of overcoming adversity, building relationships, and viewing the world through a different lens. The following books are for teens and tweens and feature Deaf characters, most of which are written by Deaf and hard of hearing authors. Many of these books received acclaim. All of them share stories that are important for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing but also for the hearing and verbal audience.

Title - Show Me A SignTitle - Set Me FreeTitle - Charlie & FrogTitle - Left Out

A Literary Stroll through NYC for Teens

Teen (and more than a few adult) readers will enjoy these books set in New York City. Stories that will take you throughout the 5 boroughs and to different points in history.

Title - The LuxeTitle - Clap When You LandTitle - The DivinersTitle - Charming as A Verb

Minecraft @ Central Library!

The Learning Curve @ Central Library has started its Minecraft Club back up and running! Kids ages 8 and up can share, collaborate, create, and teach one another how to be master builders in a safe digital environment. Minecraft Club happens every Monday evening from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at Central Library. Here are some materials to give you some ideas for the next Minecraft Club! See our Minecraft Club schedule.

Title - MinecraftTitle - MinecraftTitle - Minecraft Redstone HandbookTitle - Minecraft

My Journey Through Books Made into Movies

With the upcoming movie adaptation of “Are you There God, It’s me Margaret” by Judy Blume, I thought this would be a fun time to share some of my favorite book to movie adaptations. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list and only includes items where I have both read the book and watched the movie and, generally, liked them both.

Title - Are You There God? ItTitle - A Wrinkle in TimeTitle - The Lord of the RingsTitle - To Kill A Mockingbird

Podcasts gone wrong

Looking for the truth can be a dangerous thing.

Title - I Have Some Questions for YouTitle - The Night SwimTitle - I Know You KnowTitle - Conviction

Teen Manga

Explore the teen Manga collection at IndyPL! Manga is a style of Japanese comic books, aimed at adults, teens, and children. If you’re new to the genre, you’ll find the first book of many popular teen series here. Click on the book to find the rest in the series!

Title - JojoTitle - BeastarsTitle - The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of GoodbyesTitle - Assassination Classroom

Teens in Peril in Space

Nothing spices up adolescence like killer aliens. Or hard vacuum. Or a sinister interstellar conspiracy.

Title - Brightly BurningTitle - Victories Greater Than DeathTitle - ToxicTitle - The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

In-Person & Online Book Discussions for Teens

  • Event: IMANI Bookclub
  • Date & Time: Wednesday, June 21, 3:30pm
  • Location: Central Library
  • Description: Join the Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) and the Center for Leadership in helping children build core competencies in literacy this summer! This event will be focused on 7th and 8th graders, and will concentrate on the book “Between the Lines” by Nikki Grimes.
  • Register Here