I Was a Teenage Slasher is an entertaining, clever, and surprisingly funny read. It plays with all your favorite classic horror tropes—teens making questionable choices, creepy villains lurking around every corner, and plenty of suspenseful scares—but still manages to feel fresh, never taking itself too seriously. Told from the unique perspective of the sympathetic slasher himself, the narrative is packed with humor, relatable characters, and even some intriguing mystery-solving elements that keep you turning the pages. Fast-paced and genuinely fun, this book is perfect for a late-night read, especially if you're into horror novels that wink knowingly at the reader while still delivering plenty of thrills. Highly recommended!

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Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

​Friday Night Lights isn’t just a book about high school football—it’s about how a whole town’s identity gets wrapped up in a game. H.G. Bissinger follows the 1988 Permian Panthers in Odessa, Texas, showing how the town lives and breathes for Friday night football. But it’s not all touchdowns and glory. The book digs into tough topics like racism, economic struggles, and the insane pressure these teenage players face.

What makes this book so powerful is that Bissinger doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He captures the highs and lows of small-town football culture—the way people treat these kids like heroes one minute and disposable the next. The players aren’t just athletes; they’re real people with complicated lives, and the book gives them the depth they deserve.

Of course, because Friday Night Lights deals with real issues, it’s been banned in some schools. Complaints usually focus on its language or tough themes, but banning it just avoids the uncomfortable conversations it sparks—conversations that are still relevant today. It’s frustrating that a book showing the reality of sports culture and small-town America gets censored just because it’s not always pretty.
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Even if you’re not into football, this is a gripping, sometimes unsettling read that goes way beyond the game. It’s about dreams, pressure, and what happens when winning is everything. Definitely worth picking up.

Get the eBook or audiobook. If you prefer a physical copy, talk to us about interlibrary loan.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

​Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes tackles school shootings, bullying, and the way a community reacts when tragedy strikes. The story focuses on Peter Houghton, a kid who’s been bullied for years, and Josie Cormier, his former best friend who’s now part of the popular crowd. When Peter finally snaps and commits a mass shooting at his high school, the book digs into the events leading up to it, exploring perspectives from students, parents, and even the legal system.

Picoult is known for diving into tough, emotional topics, and she doesn’t hold back here. She doesn’t excuse Peter’s actions, but she does force you to think about how constant bullying and social pressures can push someone over the edge. The shifting timelines and multiple viewpoints can be a bit much at times, but they help paint a full picture of the situation.

One of the most interesting (and controversial) things about Nineteen Minutes is that it’s been banned in some schools. Probably because it doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like violence, bullying, and even some sexual content. But honestly, that’s exactly why it’s an important book—because it makes people think and sparks necessary conversations about mental health, school culture, and the warning signs we often ignore.

If you’re looking for an easy, feel-good read, this isn’t it. But if you want something powerful, thought-provoking, and painfully relevant, Nineteen Minutes is definitely worth your time.

Fun fact, did you know that you pronounce her last name PEE-coe?

We have the book available in regular and large print, or opt for eBook or audiobook.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

C.J. Box is best known for his three series, but he also offers a handful of standalone novels--Blue Heaven happens to be my favorite.

In northern Idaho, retired police officers commit a murder witnessed by a 12-year-old girl and her little brother. The trouble deepens when these corrupt ex-cops already know the kids' identities and the details of their mother's search. They manage to persuade the overwhelmed rural sheriff to bring them on board for the investigation.

The children’s unexpected salvation comes from an old-school rancher on the brink of foreclosure. Yet, in a community now overrun by affluent newcomers fleeing the city, he finds himself unsure of whom to trust. How can he possibly protect these kids when he doesn't even know who his real enemy is?

This story struck a personal chord as it mirrors the loss of family farms, blending a ticking-clock thriller fueled by greed over land deals with a heartfelt portrayal of small communities uniting in the face of adversity.
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Overall, it was a fantastic read.

Interested? Reserve the physical copy at the library, or the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian