Each year Illinois students in grades 9-12 can vote for their favorite book from the Lincoln Award Master list of 20 titles. The Lincoln Award is given to the book that earns the highest number of student votes.
For a book to reach the master list, adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction titles must be nominated by teachers or librarians and vetted by the nominations committee. While the popularity of a particular title is important, the overall quality of the work is of primary importance. Each year, a panel of high school librarians, teachers, public librarians and students determines the final master list of twenty titles.
Check out the 2026 Abe Lincoln nominees and read one or all of these great books! https://bfs.swanlibraries.net/MyAccount/MyList/74664
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
Plan A by Deb Caletti
Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
Rez Ball by Byron Graves
A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome Farrar by Ariel Henley
Shut Up, This is Serious by Carolina Ixta
This is My America by Kim Johnson
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kristen Miller
Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story by Sarah Myer
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyan Pham
AAPI Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the diverse cultures, histories, and stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and teen literature offers powerful ways to explore those experiences through a wide range of voices and genres. These stories span everything from activism, resilience, and high-stakes emotion to lighter themes like romance and rivalry, as well as immersive fantasy worlds. Across different settings and perspectives, they explore identity, belonging, cultural expectation, and self-discovery, often under pressure or during moments of change. Together, these books highlight the richness, complexity, and variety of AAPI teen experiences across time periods, identities, and genres.
This Book Won't Burn by Samira Ahmed
While still coping with her parents' sudden divorce and having to start at a new school midway through her senior year, Noor and two new friends take a stand against book bans at their small-town Illinois high school.
This book won't burn | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia
Three Asian American teen girls arrive at the Bastille Invitational, each chasing a different version of success while carrying personal pressures, doubts, and rivalries. As Alice, Violetta, and Leylah compete for victory, their ambitions and relationships begin to collide both on and off the court.
The misdirection of fault lines | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho
In the year following their son's death, May Chen's parents face racist accusations of putting too much pressure on their son and causing his death by suicide, and May attempts to challenge the racism and ugly stereotypes through her writing, only to realize that she still has a lot to learn and that her actions have consequences for her family as well as herself.
The silence that binds us | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee
College freshman Irene Park uses romance novel tropes to try to find her own happily-ever-after while growing her online book review career. But when her rival reviewer Aiden Jeon challenges her to a competition, Irene begins to realize love may not follow the script she expected.
The romance rivalry | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Song of the Six Realms by Judy I Lin
Seventeen-year-old musician Xue faces a lifetime of servitude until Duke Meng offers her freedom in exchange for serving as a musician in residence, but Xue soon discovers the Duke is a celestial ruler with ulterior motives and she must unlock her past to prevent an impending war in the Six Realms.
Song of the Six Realms | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
In 1954 San Francisco, seventeen-year-old Lily Hu falls in love with Kathleen Miller after discovering the hidden world of a lesbian bar, the Telegraph Club. During a time where it is not safe for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father, despite his hard-won citizenship, Lily and Kath will risk everything for their love.
Last night at the Telegraph Club | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
When nineteen-year-old international pop sensation Winter Young is recruited by a covert organization to take down a criminal tycoon, he is paired with Sydney Cossette, a fierce and unpredictable secret agent, but suspicions soon turn to sparks as the two are drawn into a tangled web of secrets and deception.
Stars and smoke | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
After her father steals a magical seadragon egg, Hanalei is exiled from her island home and later returns with hope of curing the kingdom’s dying queen. As Hanalei and Prince Sam search for the legendary dragonfruit, they must face dangerous enemies and the deadly cost of the magic itself.
Dragonfruit | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad
The four Singh sisters each experience love, heartbreak, and self-discovery while helping run their family’s cozy inn on Orcas Island. As the inn gains national attention, each sister must open her heart and decide what kind of future she truly wants.
Drizzle, dreams, and lovestruck things | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
In Lahore, Pakistan, Misbah and Toufiq leave behind tragedy to build a new life running a motel in California. Years later, their son Sal and his former best friend Noor struggle with family hardships, broken trust, and the painful question of whether they can heal from the past.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate neurodiversity, challenge stereotypes, and uplift autistic voices and stories. Whether you’re looking for characters who reflect your own experiences or want to better understand the world through a different lens, these books highlight the many ways autistic teens navigate friendship, identity, love, and self-acceptance. This month, and every month, these books remind us that there is no one way to be autistic. Every story matters, and every voice deserves to be heard.
All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis
Aiden dreams of following his star quarterback brother, Brandon, onto the football field, but faces skepticism after joining the team as an autistic player. When a fight leads to Brandon being wrongly charged with assault, Aiden sets out to prove his brother’s innocence before it’s too late.
All the noise at once | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Hazelthorn by C. G Drews
Evander, who is autistic, has lived hidden within the Hazelthorn estate under strict rules from his guardian Byron, especially to avoid Laurie, Byron’s grandson who once tried to kill him. After inheriting the mansion and suspecting murder, Evander must work with Laurie to uncover the truth as a dangerous; living garden begins to creep beyond its walls.
Hazelthorn | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicoll
Seeking a normal summer away from fame, autistic teen actress Allegra Brooks escapes to a small-town book festival, where she clashes with grumpy bookseller Jonah Thorne, unaware that he may be the anonymous correspondent she has been falling for.
Wish you were her | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Something to be Proud Of by Anna Zoe Quirke
Imogen Quinn is a chaotic bisexual with dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian, crushing stereotypes about autistic people. She sets out to create an inclusive pride festival and teams up with Ollie, the openly gay football captain. As a diverse group of students joins them, they channel their energy into challenging injustice and making their voices heard.
Something to be proud of | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
Ariana Ruiz, an autistic girl who doesn’t speak, finally feels noticed when a popular boy shows her attention, but a party leaves her questioning what really happened. As rumors spread, Ari finds support in an unexpected group of friends and must confront the truth to seek justice.
The Luis Ortega Survival Club | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Smash or Pass by Birdie Schae
Ellie carefully follows all the “right” rules to avoid being judged for her autism, but her world falls apart when her boyfriend dumps her before volleyball camp. Paired with the intense and talented Sierra, Ellie begins to rethink her need for perfection and discovers confidence, and unexpected love.
Smash or Pass | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is fleeing the cult that raised him and the bioweapon they used on him, searching for somewhere safe as the world collapses. Rescued by a group of queer teens led by Nick, an autistic, sharp-shooting leader with dangerous secrets of his own, Benji must control the monster inside him to survive.
Hell followed with us | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
A Young Person's Guide to Autistic Burnout by Viv Dawes
This supportive guide by autistic author Viv Dawes explains what autistic burnout is, what causes it, and how to prevent and recover from it. Featuring artwork and real-life experiences, it offers reassurance and practical strategies to help readers feel understood and supported.
A young person's guide to autistic burnout / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty
A memoir chronicling a year in the author’s life as an autistic teenager deeply connected to the natural world, exploring themes of autism, environmentalism, family, and the challenges of growing up. Written from age 14 to 15, the book uses his diary entries to detail his intense observations of wildlife, his experiences with bullying, and his passion for conservation, all while navigating school and family life in Northern Ireland.
Diary of a young naturalist | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Neurodiversity for Teen Girls: Shine Bright as You Embrace Your Brain, Your Emotions, and Your Life by Jamie D Roberts
Between societal pressures, academic expectations, and intense physical changes, being a teen girl in today's world isn't easy and being neurodivergent adds an extra layer of complexity. Neurodivergent teen girls often "slide under the radar" of society, yet still struggle with communication, sensory sensitivities, executive functioning difficulties, and other mental health issues. This book offers practical tools to build confidence, manage emotions, and better understand their strengths.
Need read recommendations for your Winter Break, try this YA titles with some wintery vibes!
How to Excavate a Heart by Jack Maia Arlow
Shani’s winter plan, focus on her paleoichthyology internship and forget her recent breakup, derails when she literally hits May with her mom’s car and then keeps running into her. Snowed in together on Christmas Eve, Shani must decide whether she’s ready to risk her heart again or keep things a temporary winter fling.
How to excavate a heart | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
What Light by Jay Asher
When Sierra falls for Caleb, a boy who made a terrible mistake years before, she is determined to help him find forgiveness, despite the disapproval and suspicions they meet.
What light | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod
When influencer Elle and Christmas-loving Holly swap homes for the holidays, both hope the change will fix what’s missing in their lives. But as festive plans collide with old heartbreaks, they discover that a perfect Christmas might look nothing like they expected.
Blame it on the mistletoe | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Once best friends, now bitter rivals, star athlete Bradley Graeme and conspiracy-loving Celine Bangura can’t stand each other, until they’re paired in a wilderness survival course. Forced to rely on each other to win, they must confront their shared past and decide whether it’s too late to start again.
Highly suspicious and unfairly cute | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
This Winter by Alice Oseman
This festive novella follows Tori Spring and her brother Charlie as they face a Christmas shaped by grief, love, and complicated feelings. As Tori tries to block out the sadness just for one day, she must decide what “happy” really means.
This winter: a Heartstopper novella | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Snow Globe by Soyoung Park
Given the opportunity to enter Snowglobe, the last place on Earth that's warm, where its residents, in exchange for fame, fortune and safety, broadcast their lives 24/7 to the less fortunate outside, Chobahm discovers reality is a lie--and the truth is out of reach.
Snowglobe | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
When witch-in-training Tiffany Aching accidentally interrupts the Dance of the Seasons and awakens the interest of the elemental spirit of Winter, she requires the help of the six-inch-high, sword-wielding, sheep-stealing Wee Free Men to put the seasons aright.
Wintersmith | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subjects of gruesome experiments in the far North.
The golden compass | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who, in his turn, has been watching her with increasing intensity.
Shiver | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Finding My Elf by David Valdes
While home for winter break, Cameron takes a job as a Christmas elf and finally finds his "people" and possibly "the one" in the fakest consumerist nightmare place on Earth where he least expected it.
Whether you’re leveling up in a video game, diving into a magical world, or obsessing over your favorite fandom, these reads are the perfect companions for LSF Brookfield Library’s Geek Week celebration. From virtual reality obsession to superhero worlds, these books celebrate the worlds that fuel our imaginations. Geek Week is also about the communities we build around what we love, and stories like these highlight the creativity, connection, and identity found in fandom spaces. Add in these awesome reads you’ve got a lineup that captures every corner of geek culture from sci-fi fantasy, gaming, comics, and beyond.
Feed by M. T. Anderson
In a future where most people rely on brain implants called feeds to control their lives, Titus drifts through a shallow, consumer-driven world. Everything changes when he meets Violet, a girl in danger who questions the feed and pushes him to see the truth about their society.
Feed | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight Kalynn Bayron
Charity lands her dream summer job playing the “final girl” in a horror attraction at Camp Mirror Lake, where guests pay for a terrifying, realistic experience. But when her coworkers start disappearing and one turns up dead, Charity and her girlfriend Bezi must uncover the camp’s dark past to survive a very real killer.
You're not supposed to die tonight | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
In a bleak future, Wade Watts escapes into the OASIS, a vast virtual world where people live, work, and play. When its creator James Halliday dies and hides clues to his fortune inside the game, Wade joins a dangerous global hunt to find the keys and win it all.
Ready player one | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
After her mother’s death, Bree Matthews enrolls in a program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she discovers a secret society tied to King Arthur and unlocks her own hidden magic. As she investigates the truth behind her mother’s death, Bree must decide whether to destroy the Legendborn or join their fight in a looming magical war.
Legendborn | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Roll for Love by M. K England
Harper returns to her childhood farm and reconnects with Ollie, her childhood best friend and first crush through a D&D campaign, but their growing romantic tension complicates Ollie's desire to keep her bisexuality private and Harper's struggle to stay true to herself.
Roll for love | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth
Viola Reyes escapes into the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, where she plays as a male avatar to avoid the sexism she faces in real life. When her classmate Jack Orsino joins the game and they grow close online, Vi must decide whether to reveal her true identity as their connection deepens beyond the screen.
Twelfth knight | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Mallory Greenleaf swore off chess after it tore her family apart, but a surprise win against world champion Nolan Sawyer pulls her back into the competitive spotlight. As she rises through the ranks, Mallory must balance her family’s needs with the pressures of the game, and her growing connection to Nolan.
Check & mate | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee
After Loki and Amora cause the destruction of a prized Asgardian relic, Amora is banished to Earth and Loki is sent to investigate a series of magical murders. In nineteenth-century London, Loki’s search for the killer becomes a journey to understand his own power and identity beyond the shadow of Thor.
Loki: where mischief lies | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Fangirl: a novel by Rainbow Rowell
Cath is devoted to the Simon Snow fandom but starting college without her twin sister forces her out of her comfort zone and into new challenges. As she navigates classes, relationships, and family worries, Cath must decide whether she’s ready to step beyond fandom and begin writing her own story.
Fangirl: a novel | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
In real life, Eliza Mirk is shy and isolated, but online she’s the anonymous creator of the hit webcomic Monstrous Sea. When a passionate fan, Wallace Warland, enters her life, Eliza begins to open up, until her secret identity is exposed and threatens everything she’s built.
Eliza and her monsters | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Are you looking for a book with scary supernatural creatures or some fun fall friendships? No matter your Halloween season vibe, you can check out any of these great novels or graphic novels to get you into the spooky season! All these amazing titles can be found in the LSF Brookfield collection, along with other SWAN Libraries.
So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky
When a curse traps a group of friends on a barrier island, they must harness the shared power of their traumatic secrets or risk being devoured.
So witches we became | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac
When Lucas King's covert-ops father is kidnapped and his best friend Meena is put in danger, Luke's only chance to save them--a skin that will let him walk as a wolf--is hidden away in an abandoned mansion guarded by monsters.
Wolf mark | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Love at Second Sight by F.T. Lukens
Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds, a human at a paranormal high school, discovers his rare ability to see the future when he has a vision of a murder, prompting him and his friends to work together to stop the killer before time runs out.
Love at second sight | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
A Cruel Thrist by Angela Montoya
A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together--against their better judgment--to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.
A cruel thirst | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they've worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. They say good-bye every Halloween, and they're reunited every September 1. But this Halloween is different... What if their last shift was an adventure?
Pumpkinheads / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
"Garth Hale is as good as dead ... The only problem is he's still alive. When Garth Hale is accidentally zapped into the ghost world by Frank Gallows, a washed-up ghost wrangler, he discovers that he has special powers. Soon he finds himself on the run from the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who wants to use Garth's newfound abilities to tighten his grip on the spirit world.
Ghostopolis / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
When his traditional Latinx family refuses to accept his gender, Yadriel performs a ritual to prove himself a true brujo and summon his cousin’s ghost. Instead, he calls up Julian Diaz, the school’s bad boy, whose stubborn spirit leads Yadriel on a journey that blurs the line between duty and love.
Cemetery boys | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke
Inspired by classic tales and films, a collection of fourteen short stories ranging from bloody horror, to psychological thrillers, to supernatural creatures, to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, by acclaimed YA authors of every genre.
Slasher girls & monster boys / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams
After new student Cassandra Heaven joins seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl's babysitters club, the girls learn that being a babysitter really means a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from evil.
The babysitters coven / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams
Ten years after his mother’s mysterious disappearance and the awakening of his powers, Malik has hidden his magic while protecting his foster brother, Taye. But when a rescue gone wrong exposes his abilities, he discovers a link to his long-lost grandmother, a legendary conjurer tied to a secret magical university.
Check out these great titles perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month that range from romcoms, to fantasy, to exciting thrillers! All these amazing novels can be found in the LSF Brookfield collection, along with other SWAN Libraries.
Rosa by Any Other Name by Hailey Alcaraz
In this Romeo and Juliet-inspired retelling set during the civil rights era, a Mexican American girl is driven to join a movement for justice after her white classmate and best friend from the barrio are tragically murdered. Rosa by Any Other Name is a harrowingly beautiful coming-of-age tale that shines a light on an important and often overlooked facet of US history.
If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal
Lights. Camera. Love? Rochelle "the Shell" Coleman is laser focused on only three things: becoming valedictorian, getting into Wharton, and, of course, taking down her annoyingly charismatic nemesis and only academic competition, Amira Rodriguez. But as the two begin working closely together, Rochelle starts to see Amira in a new light, one that may have her beginning to actually...like her?
If We Survive This by Racquel Marie
After a global outbreak of a rabies mutation that creates zombie-like creatures, eighteen-year-old Flora Braddock Paz and her brother journey to a secluded cabin in Northern California in search of safety, only to confront familiar faces, hidden truths, painful memories, and the inescapable presence of death.
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together--against their better judgment--to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.
Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz
At the Dr. James Everett School for Crime and Criminology, a murder mystery game goes wrong when the student playing the victim is actually murdered, and soon, junior Dulce Castillo sets out to find the culprit.
Salvación by Sandra Proudman
With rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, seventeen-year-old Lola de La Peña becomes the masked vigilante Salvación to protect her family and town from a man wielding deadly magic, but her mission is complicated when she begins falling for Alejandro, a member of his dangerous entourage.
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar by Sonora Reyes
Seventeen-year-old Cesar Flores is finally ready to win back his ex-boyfriend. Cesar can hide a fair amount of shame behind jokes and his "gifted" reputation, but when a manic episode makes his inner turmoil impossible to hide, he's faced with a stark choice: burn every bridge he has left or, worse--ask for help.
The Girl You Know by Elle Gonzalez Rose
When eighteen-year-old Luna's twin sister Solina dies mysteriously just before returning to Kingswood Academy, Luna infiltrates the boarding school by posing as her sister to uncover the truth behind her death, but dark secrets make the investigation far more challenging than she anticipated.
Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez Rose
Actress Marisol Polly-Rodriguez might be entering her flop era. After wrapping up a hit show, she's neither booked nor busy. The only person she doesn't have to put on a performance for is a new show's leading lady, Jamila. Marisol hasn't been able to look away from her since their first audition. Falling for Jamila wasn't part of Marisol's plan, but even the most dedicated actors go off script sometimes, right?
Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa
Gabriel Pįa knows who he is: a college goalkeeper, a future Liga MX or MLS star, and definitely straight. That is, until his philosophy classmate Vale volunteers to tutor him. Vale, the same guy who Gabi, in a moment of history repeating itself, might've kissed very briefly--and only once--just to help him out at a party.
July is National Culinary Arts Month is a chance to celebrate the creativity, passion, and connections that come from food. In YA fiction, kitchens, restaurants, bakeries, and family recipes often become the backdrop for stories about identity, culture, friendship, love, and chasing big dreams. Whether teens are following aspiring chefs, discovering new flavors, competing in high-stakes cooking challenges, or finding comfort and belonging around the dinner table, these books show that food is about more than what’s on the plate—it’s about the people and memories behind every meal. From heartfelt romances to stories of ambition and self-discovery, these culinary-inspired reads are sure to satisfy every reader’s appetite.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Emoni Santiago balances school, motherhood, and family responsibilities while finding joy and confidence through her extraordinary talent for cooking. As she pursues her dream of becoming a chef, she discovers that believing in herself may be the first step toward a brighter future.
With the fire on high | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
When Finley spends the summer with her mother's estranged family, the carefully planned future she depended on begins to fall apart. As she uncovers family secrets, forms new friendships, and finds an unexpected romance, she learns who she is without following someone else's path.
Change of plans | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
When Finley spends the summer with her mother's estranged family, she takes a job at the Egg diner, where new friendships and an unexpected romance challenge the future she had carefully planned. As she uncovers long-buried family secrets, Finley begins to discover who she is when she's no longer living by someone else's roadmap.
The way you make me feel | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
Shireen lands a spot on a televised junior baking competition, hoping to win prize money and bring attention to her family's donut shop. But with her ex-girlfriend, a new crush, and fierce competition all in the mix, she'll have to keep her focus if she wants to take home the trophy.
The dos and donuts of love | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
If it Makes You Happy by Claire Kann
As she spends the summer working at her grandmother's diner, Winnie enters a televised cooking competition in hopes of saving the family business despite her grandmother's objections. While navigating small-town gossip, body shaming, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, Winnie discovers the confidence to fight for the future she wants.
If it makes you happy | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
Pen dreams of opening her own pastelería, but her family's expectations threaten to derail her plans. When she bonds with Xander, a new employee at her father's restaurant, searching for his father and a sense of belonging, they must fight to protect their dreams and newfound family.
Somewhere between bitter and sweet | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
It is summer in Phoenix, and seventeen-year-old Maximo offers to help Jordan, a fellow student in high school, with the food truck that belonged to Jordan's deceased father, and which may be the only thing standing between homelessness for Jordan and his mom. The boys are strongly attracted to each other, but as their romance develops it is threatened by the secrets they are hiding and by the racism and homophobia of those around them.
The music of what happens | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
A Phở Love Story by Loan Le
Bảo and Linh come from rival families and spend their days working at their families’ phở restaurants, but a chance encounter sparks an unexpected connection. As their feelings grow, they must decide if their relationship can overcome a long-standing family feud.
A phở love story | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
What's Eating Jackie Oh? By Patricia Park
Jackie Oh dreams of becoming a professional chef, but she must navigate her Korean American family’s expectations when she competes on a televised cooking show. As she faces fierce competition and questions about her identity, Jackie learns to embrace her own path both in and out of the kitchen.
What's eating Jackie Oh? / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love by Elsie Chapman editor. Caroline Tung Richmond editor.
This collection of interconnected stories from acclaimed authors explores the connections between food, family, culture, and identity through the lives of thirteen teens. Set on Hungry Hearts Row, these stories feature magic, romance, and personal struggles where meals become a way to express love, hope, and belonging. From pastries to soup dumplings, each teen discovers that food can be more than nourishment; it can be a path to understanding themselves and others.
Hungry hearts : 13 tales of food & love / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Check out these great titles perfect for Native American Heritage Month that range from romcoms, to fantasy, to exciting thrillers! All these amazing novels can be found in the LSF Brookfield collection, along with other SWAN Libraries.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
A Snake Falls on Earth by Darcie Little Badger
Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart
A snake falls to Earth | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother and reluctantly becomes involved in the investigation of a series of drug-related deaths.
Firekeeper's daughter | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Looking for Smoke by K. A Cobell
When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren's missing sister, Mara thinks she'll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation. Instead, a girl from the Giveaway is found murdered. Despite deep mistrust, the four remaining must now take matters into their own hands and clear their names. Even though one of them may be the murderer.
Looking for Smoke | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jenny Ferguson
Berlin is driven to succeed, Cameron is weighed down by Kiki’s disappearance, and Jessie is searching for an outlet beyond the labels people give her, all of them colliding at their weekend jobs at Pink Mountain Pizza. When things take an unexpected turn, the three teens must face their hurt and realize they can’t hold everything together alone.
Those Pink Mountain nights | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Rez Ball by Byron Graves
Tre pours everything into basketball on the Red Lake Reservation team, hoping to honor his late brother Jaxon and chase his long-shot dream of making it to the NBA. But stepping into Jaxon’s shoes means he can’t slip, on the court, at school, or with Khiana, and taking his team to state feels like the only way to keep their story alive.
Rez ball | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs
During a morning run, Avery discovers a strange forest pond that unleashes a hungry, shape-shifting darkness on Crook’s Falls, leaving her terrified and doubting her sanity as people begin to vanish. To save her missing best friend Key, she must finally turn to the Kanien'kéha:ka (Mohawk) stories she once ignored, even if doing so means risking everything.
The unfinished | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Saints of the Household by Ari Tison
When brothers Max and Jay help a classmate in trouble, they struggle with the consequences of their violent actions and worry they may be more like their abusive father than they thought, so the brothers turn to their Bribri roots to find their way forward.
Saints of the household | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Man Made Monsters by Andrea L Rogers
Haunting illustrations are woven throughout these horror stories that follow one extended Cherokee family across the centuries and well into the future as they encounter predators of all kinds in each time period.
Man made monsters | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith
After dumping her boyfriend for mocking Native people, Lou focuses on senior year and reporting on the fierce backlash against the school’s inclusive musical casting, which puts her little brother and classmates under fire. As the controversy grows and her feelings for Joey deepen, she must decide whether guarding her heart will mean pushing him away.
Pride Month is a celebration of identity, love, and the many ways teens find and define themselves. It’s also a time to spotlight stories that reflect queer joy, resilience, heartbreak, and hope. Stories where characters get to take up space, make mistakes, fall in love, and fight for who they are. This month’s teen reading list brings together a wide range of voices and genres, from supernatural mystery and historical adventure to contemporary realism and speculative fiction. Each title explores what it means to navigate identity, relationships, and belonging in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.
A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou
Facing an unwanted arranged marriage and a future in the House of Lords, Kit Davenport impulsively escapes aboard a ship captained by the charming Reggie Sharpe. When the crew turns out to be pirates, Kit finds adventure, romance, and the chance to choose between the life expected of him and the one he truly wants.
A Prince Among Pirates | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Doe by Rebecca Barrow
When a fierce rivalry threatens her position as captain of the cheer team, Maris Larsen turns to a mysterious supernatural creature that promises her the power to win. But as their connection deepens, Maris discovers that every bargain comes with a deadly price—and she may lose far more than her place on the team.
Doe / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me by DeAndra Davis
During a summer in Jamaica, Jaliya Powell sets out to uncover the truth about her estranged mother while navigating family secrets and unexpected challenges. Along the way, a new romance pushes her to step out of the background and discover who she wants to be.
The Lovers, the Liars, and Me | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall
When her twin sister disappears on an isolated luxury resort island in Hawaii, Lehua travels there to uncover the truth. As she investigates, she discovers dark secrets tied to the island’s history and must confront supernatural dangers threatening both her family and her people.
That which feeds us : a Hawaiian gothic / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
Trapped in a decaying body and running out of time, Anabelle Gage attempts to steal a new one but is caught and forced into a dangerous deal as a mercenary for the elite. As she’s pulled into a rebellion and a world of shifting loyalties, Ana must decide whether survival is worth becoming a weapon or losing herself entirely.
Queen of faces / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
We Could Be Anyone by Anna-Marie McLemore
During Hollywood’s Golden Age, siblings Lola and Lisandro con wealthy elites by staging fake ghost hauntings, with each playing a carefully perfected role. But when a high-stakes job at a mysterious estate forces them to switch roles, and strange events begin to unfold, they must decide whether they can complete the con or if it will be their final performance.
We could be anyone / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
They Want Us Dead by CL Montblanc
When a true-crime meetup at a creepy Victorian mansion ends in a murder, seventeen-year-old Sam Tombs must work with their internet nemesis, Dylan, to clear their name and find the killer before their own death become tomorrow's trending content.
They Want Us Dead | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Shapes of Love by L.V. Peñalba
When nineteen-year-old Sasha becomes famous for her love songs, she feels pressured to enter a fake relationship with her estranged best friend while hiding the fact that she identifies as aroace from her fans.
Shapes of love / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham
Searching for her sister Elly, Corin enters the dream world of Princess Amelia, only to uncover dangerous secrets, hidden portals, and a darkness in Amelia's subconscious that threatens to unravel the perfect paradise.
The secret world of Briar Rose | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
If All the Stars Go Dark by S.G. Prince
After his graduation, eighteen-year-old Keller Hartman joins an elite galactic unit, and despite his partner Lament Bringer's initial distrust, the two work together with a team of specialists to uncover a cult leader's dangerous secrets while navigating growing feelings between them.
If all the stars go dark / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar by Sonido Reyes
After coming out and working to improve his mental health, Cesar Flores hopes to reunite with his ex-boyfriend, Jamal. But as intrusive thoughts, guilt, and a manic episode threaten to unravel his progress, he must decide whether to push everyone away or accept the help and love he needs.
The golden boy's guide to bipolar | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
Aromantic and asexual students Sophie and Jo, engaged in an online feud as the creators of popular relationship advice accounts "Dear Wendy" and "Sincerely Wanda," unwittingly become real-life friends and navigate their shared aroace identities as they face the challenges of college life.
The ongoing struggle for justice, equity, and bravery in the face of injustice should be considered on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Through fiction that poses difficult questions about identity, racism, and moral decision-making, as well as real-life accounts of activism and accountability, young adult and teen literature provide readers with compelling ways to investigate these themes. The suggested fiction and nonfiction books listed below encourage readers to reflect on the present, learn from the past, and envision a more equitable future motivated by Dr. King's legacy. All these amazing titles can be found in the LSF Brookfield collection, along with other SWAN Libraries.
Nonfiction
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. Racist ideas are woven into the fabric of this country, and the first step to building an antiracist America is acknowledging America's racist past and present. This book takes you on that journey, showing how racist ideas started and were spread, and how they can be discredited.
Stamped: racism, antiracism, and you | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Two Oakland teenagers from vastly different worlds cross paths for just eight minutes a day, until a reckless act on the 57 bus changes both of their lives forever. When Sasha is severely burned and Richard is charged with hate crimes, the case draws international attention and exposes urgent questions about justice, race, and accountability.
The 57 bus | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith
This graphic memoir recounts Tommie Smith’s journey from growing up in rural Texas to his historic gold medal win and raised-fist protest at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Despite facing backlash and hardship, Victory. Stand! powerfully captures a defining moment in sports history and Smith’s enduring fight for civil rights.
Victory. Stand!: raising my fist for justice | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Just Mercy: Adapted for Young Adults; A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson
In this young adult adaptation of Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson shares his personal experiences as a lawyer fighting injustice within the broken U.S. criminal justice system. Through powerful real-life cases and his work with the Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson highlights the urgent need for compassion, fairness, and true justice for society’s most marginalized people.
Chasing King's Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Assassin by James L. Swanson
James Earl Ray and Martin Luther King, Jr. had two very different life journeys, but their paths fatally collide when Ray assassinates the world-renown civil rights leader. This book provides an inside look into both of their lives, the history of the time, and a blow-by-blow examination of the assassination and its aftermath."
Fiction
The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass
Seventeen-year-old Nick Carrington leaves Oklahoma for Harlem and an elite private school, hoping to reinvent himself, only to find the same racism he tried to escape. As his feelings for the charismatic Jay Gatsby Jr. deepen, Nick’s sharp writing exposes dangerous truths that force them both to decide whether to keep running or finally fight back.
The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
After returning from juvie for a crime he didn’t commit, Andre Jackson comes home to a gentrifying Portland neighborhood, a COVID shutdown, and a life that feels erased. As he searches for a missing friend, Andre uncovers unsettling truths that may expose both his wrongful arrest and the dangerous power structures working against him.
Invisible son | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Justyce McAllister is an Ivy League–bound honor student, but a wrongful arrest forces him to confront how little his achievements protect him from racism. As violence and media scrutiny upend his life, Justyce turns to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings to question whether nonviolence still has a place in today’s world.
Dear Martin | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams
Ten years ago, Malik's life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik's mother attended.
Blood at the Root | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Nigeria Jones by Ibi Aanu Zoboi
Raised in a Black separatist Movement, Nigeria Jones’s carefully controlled world shatters when her mother disappears, forcing her into responsibilities she never wanted. As she attends a private Quaker school and searches for the truth about her family, Nigeria begins to question everything she was taught and discovers the courage to define herself.
Brookfield Reads 2025: Chills & Thrills with Lori Rader-Day
This popular community-wide reading initiative returns this October with chills and thrills for all ages! The Brookfield Reads selection for 2025 is Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day, an Edgar Award-nominated and Agatha, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark award-winning author of Wreck Your Heart (forthcoming January 2026), The Death of Us, Death at Greenway, The Lucky One, and others. Lori earned a Master of Arts in creative nonfiction and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. She lives in Chicago, where she co-chairs the crime fiction readers' event Midwest Mystery Conference and teaches creative writing at Northwestern University.
Read the book, attend activities all month long, and meet the author at the finale event. Register for special Brookfield Reads activities by clicking on the listings below.
Brookfield Reads for Teens and Tweens 2025
Under a Dark Sky not for you? You can still get into the Chills & Thrills spirit by trying out one or all of these YA titles below!
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Charity has the summer job of her dreams, playing the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. But on the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real.
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
J.B., Ramón, and Trey, students of the Urban Promise Prep School, must follow the school's strict rules, but when their principal is murdered, the three boys must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested.
Looking for Smoke by K. A. Cobell
When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren's missing sister, Mara thinks she'll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation. Instead, a girl from the Giveaway, Samantha White Tail, is found murdered. Because the four members of the Giveaway group were the last to see Samantha alive, each becomes a person of interest in the investigation.
The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
After a traumatic school year, camp counselor Goldie Easton is excited to reunite with her two best friends at an elite summer camp, but when a local boy is found dead on the grounds, all three must reveal a dark secret to find the murderer.
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
Mars, long overshadowed by his brilliant sister Caroline, is driven by grief to attend the exclusive Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy in her place after her mysterious death, only to uncover a world of idyllic charm masking unsettling secrets tied to Caroline’s enigmatic friends, the Honeys. As he delves deeper, Mars begins to lose his grip on reality under the sun-drenched yet decaying veneer of Aspen, where something sinister stalks him in daylight, and threatens to consume him entirely.
One of Us is Lying by M. McManus
When the creator of a high school gossip app mysteriously dies in front of four high-profile students all four become suspects. It's up to them to solve the case
Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis
Neely's monsters don't always follow her rules, so with a history of mental illness in her family and dealing with the suicide of her brother, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can't follow, the caverns. When her friend Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila and face the possibility that it might have been her.
Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele
When five estranged friends return to a summer lake house on the anniversary of their friend's death, unexplainable events begin happening, old betrayals rise to the surface, and the group suspects a killer among them is intent on revenge.
The Party by Natasha Preston
Bessie and her classmate's spring break party at a remote English castle turns deadly as a storm traps them with a killer, forcing them to unravel growing suspicions while the body count rises.
How We Fell Apart by Katie Zhao
Jamie Ruan is the queen bee of Sinclair Prep. Until one day she's ... dead. Her former closest friends have no idea what happened to her. Or do they? An anonymous poster, calling themselves The Proctor, points a finger: Jamie has four former friends. Each friend has a secret. Did one of them kill Jamie? Who is The Proctor, and what will they reveal next?
Check out the Brookfield Reads 2025-Related Reads list curated by librarians that includes these YA titles, plus more great adult thrillers and some awesome non-fiction recommendations!
Looking for swoony, heartfelt love stories with Black teens at the center? Our latest teen blog post highlights powerful romances and coming-of-age journeys featuring Black characters as romantic leads in books. From sweet meet-cutes to complicated second chances, these stories celebrate joy, vulnerability, and Black love in all its beautiful forms.
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he's navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican--but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough. As he gets older, Michael's coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs--and the Black Flamingo is born. Told with raw honesty, insight, and lyricism, this debut explores the layers of identity that make us who we are--and allow us to shine.
The Black Flamingo | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling by Elise Bryant
Delilah hides her messy emotions behind indifference and reluctantly sings in her friends’ punk band, while Reggie, a proud D&D Dungeon Master and secret “Blerd”, keeps his passions hidden from his disapproving family. When they keep running into each other on major holidays, it begins to feel like the universe is determined to bring these total opposites together.
Reggie and Delilah's year of falling | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Friday I'm In Love by Camryn Garret
Mahalia Harris wants. She wants a big Sweet Sixteen like her best friend Naomi. She wants the super cute new girl Siobhan to like her back. She wants a break from worrying, about money, snide remarks from white classmates, pitying looks from church ladies . . . all of it. Then inspiration strikes: It's too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if she had a Coming Out Party? A singing, dancing, rainbow-cake-eating celebration of queerness on her own terms.
Friday I'm in love / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
Quinn's journal is where she writes down everything, in list format, that she doesn't want to admit out loud, or even face; once they're written, she can release them and feel a little bit more at peace. When the journal goes missing and her list of biggest fears is posted online with a challenge to face each of them or else have the entire journal go public, it's time for Quinn to move out of the realm of her mind and into real life. She's not going quietly, however, and finds herself working to track down the blackmailer before time runs out.
Excuse me while I ugly cry | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Bradley Graeme may seem perfect, star football player, top student, managing his OCD, but his fiercest rival is his former best friend, Celine Bangura, who still hasn’t forgiven him for choosing popularity over her. When they’re forced to team up in a wilderness survival course, they must confront their messy past and decide whether their history is too broken to fix—or just ready for something new
Highly suspicious and unfairly cute | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N Jamal
Rochelle “the Shell” Coleman is determined to become valedictorian, get into Wharton, and outshine her academic rival, Amira Rodriguez—so she takes a job at the beloved Black-owned Horizon Cinemas to boost her college application, only to discover Amira is her boss. As they work together to save the struggling theater from mysterious threats, Rochelle begins to see Amira in a new light and wonders if love might steal the spotlight after all.
If we were a movie | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
Prince Jones, a self-professed teen love doctor known for his radio segment on the local hip-hop station, believes he can get the bookish, anti-romance Dani Ford to fall in love with him in three dates.
Love radio / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Opposite of Always by Justin A Reynolds
Jack Ellison King, the “king of almost,” finally finds something real when he falls for Kate—until she suddenly dies and their love story is cut short. But when Kate’s death sends him back to the night they first met, Jack seizes the chance to save her, only to discover that changing the past comes with devastating consequences.
Opposite of always | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone
Since she’s only at Windward Academy for her senior year, Shelbi avoids making friends to protect herself from being hurt again like she was at her last school. When she connects with the troubled Andy Criddle after seeing him at his lowest, their growing relationship forces them to confront grief, mental health struggles, and the painful pasts that could tear them apart.
Chaos theory | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
This Ain't Our First Rodeo Liara Tamani
Josie and Shawn, two teens who reconnect at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for a second chance at love, navigating family expectations, personal dreams, and the legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls. The story follows Josie, who wants to save her grandparents' ranch, and Shawn, a bull rider dealing with family pressure, as their lives become intertwined through the rodeo world.
This ain't our first rodeo / | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Evie Thomas has stopped believing in love after she begins seeing visions of couples’ romances, how they start and how they end in heartbreak, whenever she watches them kiss. As she tries to understand her strange ability, she finds herself drawn into ballroom dancing with the daring and adventurous X, forcing her to question whether love might still be worth the risk.
Instructions for dancing | Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks...A first meeting. Long-time friends. Bitter exes. And maybe the beginning of something new. When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight.