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!

Get the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card!

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak is one of those books that sticks with you long after you turn the last page. It follows Melinda Sordino, a high school freshman who becomes an outcast after calling the cops at a summer party. What no one knows is that something terrible happened to her that night—something she can’t bring herself to talk about. As the school year drags on, she withdraws more and more, struggling with trauma, isolation, and the weight of staying silent.

Anderson’s writing is raw and honest, perfectly capturing what it’s like to feel unheard and alone. Melinda’s journey is heartbreaking but also incredibly powerful as she slowly finds her voice through art. It’s a tough read at times, but that’s what makes it so important.

Despite its message, Speak has been challenged and banned in schools because of its themes of sexual assault and mental health. Some argue it’s “too mature” for teens, but honestly, that’s exactly why it should be read. Pretending these issues don’t exist doesn’t protect kids—it just leaves them unprepared to deal with them in real life.

This book is a must-read, not just for teenagers but for anyone who’s ever felt silenced or ignored. Speak is about survival, resilience, and the power of speaking up, which makes banning it all the more frustrating. Instead of taking it off shelves, we should be making sure everyone has access to stories like Melinda’s—because they matter.

Get the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. The library has the graphic novel available for checkout, and you can get the eBook graphic novel.

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

I went into this expecting a boy-and-his-dog story, but it turned out to be so much more. At its heart, it’s about a boy who idolizes his late grandfather. His father walked out, his mother is struggling with a back injury that’s led to opioid addiction, and they live in extreme poverty. He’s doing everything he can to keep their hardships hidden from others, fearing intervention from protective services, while desperately trying to hold onto the property his grandfather left him.

An incredible read.

Want to read it? Click here to reserve! Or if you prefer, get the eBook with your SPL card.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a raw and emotional coming-of-age story that perfectly captures the struggles of growing up. Told through letters from Charlie, an introverted and observant freshman, the book explores friendship, love, trauma, and self-acceptance. His bond with Patrick and Sam helps him navigate life’s highs and lows, making for a heartfelt and relatable journey.

This book doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like mental health, abuse, sexuality, and drug use—one reason it has been banned in some schools. But that honesty is exactly what makes it so powerful and important.
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While Charlie’s narration can feel overly naïve at times, the book’s authenticity and emotional depth make up for it. If you love coming-of-age stories that make you feel everything, this one is a must-read.

Get the book at the library, or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. The library also has the movie adaptation on DVD.

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

I Am Alfonso Jones is a graphic novel that hits hard. Alfonso is a Black 15-year-old boy with big dreams, but his life is cut short when he’s wrongfully shot by an off-duty cop after a hanger is mistaken for a gun. In the afterlife, he meets other victims of police violence, while his family and friends fight for justice back home.

The story is raw, emotional, and eye-opening, with powerful artwork that brings it to life. It’s been challenged in some schools for tackling police brutality and racial injustice, but that just makes it an even more important topic to discuss.

If you’re looking for a book that makes you think and feel, with great art to boot, this one’s a must-read.

Check it out at the library.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

 Marshall Miller, raised by his single mom, is thrilled to get his license. But on his first drive, just a few miles from home, he’s pulled over by a strange, unsettling officer—with a crying girl in the backseat. Months later, he’s shocked to see her face on a missing person poster. Who is she, and what really happened that day?

This book is a chilling page-turner that perfectly blends suspense, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. The eerie small-town setting and vivid atmosphere pull you in, while the twists keep you hooked. It’s the perfect read for fans of spooky thrillers—grab it and prepare to be captivated!

Aimee, IT Librarian

​Interested in this book? Click here to reserve it in the catalog! There is also an eBook available to download with your SPL card. Reserve it here.