Need a book for the road trip, the beach, or the pool? Try our Staff Picks for Teens. Better yet—come see us in person in The Ground Floor at the Downtown Library, the Ellettsville Branch, or on the Bookmobile. We love talking about books, and can help you find one that makes you laugh, cry, or get transported to a far-off world (or all three!).

Becky: "I loved The Hate U Give—the story pulled me in quickly and had an emotional punch. My cry count ended up at twelve. The characters felt real, the dialogue was fast-paced, and the plot was very intense. SO GOOD! Have you read it yet? Try the audiobook!"
 
Kevin: "The Murderer's Ape is an epic adventure that reads better than Raiders of the Lost Ark! The story mainly takes place in Portugal, but travels around to Egypt and India. The narrator, a gorilla named Sally Ann, fixes boats, accordions, and airplanes. She's thrust into an adventure, solving a mystery to free her best friend from prison."
 
Mickey: "I suggest Graceling by Kristin Cashore, a young adult fantasy with non-stereotypical characters. I also recommend Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, a dystopian novel that isn’t all grimness and darkness—although it has its share."
 
Amber:"Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple revolves around an agoraphobic architect who goes missing—and her daughter's quest to find her. It's a humorous story about a young girl and a neurotic mother that I think many of us might relate to. Plus, there's a trip to Antarctica! How could you go wrong?"
 
Israel: "Taiyo Matsumoto's Sunny is a series that captures beautiful, ephemeral memories of adolescence, with a mindful use of art and dialogue. Matsumoto understands that in life, experiences are usually not so simple as "happy" or "sad"—emotions run in mixed swirls, and sometimes we simply don't know how to feel. Some of the deepest truths of life are felt in the small moments: flying a kite, walking a dog, or sitting alone on the stairs.”
 
Sam: "I would suggest Giant Days, a graphic novel by John Allison about a girl starting college and the challenges and opportunities during her life transition. In another graphic novel, Another Castle by Andrew Wheeler, a kidnapped princess won't give up, and neither will the hodgepodge group trying to rescue her. And When the Moon Was Ours is a story of transformation, acceptance, family, and belonging about a girl, with roses growing from her wrist, her four sisters who may or or may not be witches, and a boy who hangs paper moons all over town."
 
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Lizzy: As you can see, Lizzy has too many favorites to choose just one...or two... or ten. Catch her in The Ground Floor, and she'll send you home with your own stack of books to devour!
 
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Jen: I loved When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. It's a humorous romance featuring two Indian-American teens and their overbearing parents who are not-so-subtly trying to set them up in an arranged marriage. The story is told in alternating perspectives, and is full of rich cultural details and snappy dialogue.
 
 
And remember: there’s still time to log reading points for the Build a Better World Teen Summer Reading Game, which concludes on Monday, July 31. Sign up today, start reading, win a free paperback book, and enter a drawing for an awesome grand prize!