Book to Screen
Check out some upcoming Teen and Young Adult book adaptations that will be coming to a screen near you.
Upcoming TEEN Book to sCREEN Releases
Pride Picks
For this special Teen Tuesday, we're sharing some picks to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month. All these titles are available through our digital resources or through Curbside JCPL to Go.
"What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera (cloudLibrary)
Critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in this smart, funny, heartfelt collaboration about two very different boys who can’t decide if the universe is pushing them together—or pulling them apart.
"Dreadnought" by April Daniels (Hoopla)
Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to her, and those secondhand superpowers transformed Danny’s body into what she’s always thought it should be. Now there’s no hiding that she’s a girl.
"I Wish You All The Best" by Mason Deaver (Hoopla)
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
"Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel" by Sarah Farizan (cloudLibrary, Hoopla, RBDigital)
High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual.
"The Stonewall Riots" by Gayle Pitman (Hoopla)
This book is about the Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous, often violent demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBTQ+) community in reaction to a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The Riots are attributed as the spark that ignited the LGBTQ+ movement.
"Queer, There, and Everywhere" by Sarah Prager (CL, H)
World history has been made by countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals—and you’ve never heard of many of them. Queer author and activist Sarah Prager delves deep into the lives of 23 people who fought, created, and loved on their own terms. From high-profile figures like Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt to the trailblazing gender-ambiguous Queen of Sweden and a bisexual blues singer who didn’t make it into your history books, these astonishing true stories uncover a rich queer heritage that encompasses every culture, in every era.
"Juliet Takes a Breath" by Gabby Rivera (cloudLibrary)
Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff.
"The Summer of Jordi Pérez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles)" by Amy Spalding (Hoopla) Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people's lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby has stayed focused on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a prized internship at her favorite local boutique, she’s thrilled to take her first step into her dream career. She doesn't expect to fall for her fellow intern, Jordi Pérez.
"The Fire Never Goes Out" by Noelle Stevenson (cloudLibrary)
In a collection of essays and personal mini-comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs and lows of being a creative human in the world.
Historical Fiction
We're throwing it back, waaaaay back, with some historical fiction! Maybe these are set before your time, but Katie from our White River Branch shares some titles that will make you feel like you've lived it.
"Ziggy, Stardust and Me" by James Brandon (cloudLibrary)
The year is 1973. The Watergate hearings are in full swing. The Vietnam War is still raging. And homosexuality is still officially considered a mental illness. In the midst of these trying times is sixteen-year-old Jonathan Collins, a bullied, anxious, asthmatic kid, who aside from an alcoholic father and his sympathetic neighbor and friend Starla, is completely alone. To cope, Jonathan escapes to the safe haven of his imagination, where his hero David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and dead relatives, including his mother, guide him through the rough terrain of his life.
"The Downstairs Girl" by Stacey Lee (cloudLibrary, RBdigital)
By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender.
"Juba!" by Walter Dean Myers (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
This engaging historical novel is based on the true story of the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, William Henry Lane, who influenced today's tap, jazz, and step dancing. With meticulous and intensive research, Walter Dean Myers has brought to life Juba's story.
"And Then The Sky Exploded" by David A. Poulsen (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
While attending the funeral of his great-grandfather, ninth-grader Christian Larkin learns that the man he loved and respected was a member of the Manhattan Project. On a school trip to Japan, Chris meets eighty-one-year-old Yuko, who was eleven when the first bomb exploded over Hiroshima, horribly injuring her. Christian is determined to do something to make up for what his great-grandfather did.
"Loving vs Virginia" by Patricia Hruby Powell & Shadra Strickland (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
From acclaimed author Patricia Hruby Powell comes the story of a landmark civil rights case, told in spare and gorgeous verse. In 1955, in Caroline County, Virginia, amidst segregation and prejudice, injustice and cruelty, two teenagers fell in love. Their life together broke the law, but their determination would change it.
"The Fountains of Silence" by Ruta Sepetys (cloudLibrary)
Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson. Photography--and fate--introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War--as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear.
Mysteries
Katie from the White River Branch has some recommendations for you. Thrills, chills, and whodunits - these mysteries have it all!
"The Diviners" by Libba Bray (cloudLibrary)
Evangeline O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far.
"Truly Devious" by Maureen Johnson (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
“Johnson deftly twists two mysteries together—Stevie’s investigation is interspersed with case files and recollections from the Ellington kidnapping—and the result is a suspenseful, attention-grabbing mystery with no clear solution. The versatile Johnson is no stranger to suspense, and this twisty thriller will leave plenty of readers anxious for more.” - Booklist
"Jackaby" by William Ritter (cloudLibrary, Hoopla, RBdigital)
Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.
"Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. But Finn knows what really happened to Roza. He knows she was kidnapped by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember.
"Far From You" by Tess Sharpe (RBdigital)
Nine months. Two weeks. Six days. That's how long recovering addict Sophie's been drug-free. Four months ago her best friend, Mina, died in what everyone believes was a drug deal gone wrong - a deal they think Sophie set up. Only Sophie knows the truth. She and Mina shared a secret, but there was no drug deal. Mina was deliberately murdered.
"Now Entering Addamsville" by Francesca Zappia
(cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
Zora Novak has been framed. When someone burns down the home of the school janitor and he dies in the blaze, everyone in Addamsville, Indiana, points a finger at Zora. Never mind that Zora has been on the straight and narrow since her father was thrown in jail. With everyone looking for evidence against her, her only choice is to uncover the identity of the real killer.
Science Fiction
Liz from our Franklin Branch shares some titles for Teen Tuesday that are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Grab your library card and access all of these titles on our digital resources.
"The Living" by Matt de la Peña (cloudLibrary)
Shy took a summer job on a cruise ship to make some extra money. He didn't expect to have to fight for his life after a tsunami capsizes the ship; nor did he expect a potential death at sea to be the least of his worries.
"The Disasters" by M.K. England (cloudLibrary)
This book makes a trip across the universe on the run from the government incredibly fun and funny. I love how well developed all the characters are.
"Illuminae" by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff (cloudLibrary)
A thrilling chase through space where the corporation that blew up the main characters' planet may not be their most dangerous enemy.
"Cinder" by Marissa Meyer (hoopla)
A futuristic fairy tale with a cyborg Cinderella and threats of war with an alien race.
"The Opposite of Always" by Justin A. Reynolds (hoopla)
An unconventional love story that has Jack reliving his relationship with Kate over and over, trying to figure out what to do so she doesn't die this time around.
"More Happy Than Not" by Adam Silvera (cloudLibrary)
In a world where a memory-alteration procedure allows you to erase parts of your past, a gay teen must decide whether the procedure will be his salvation, or if it will destroy who he truly is.
Novels In Verse
We've got the perfect list for National Poetry Month! Katie from our White River Branch offers some suggestions for novels in verse that teens (and adults too!) will want to read.
"The Poet X"- Elizabeth Acevedo (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.
"Swing"- Kwame Alexander (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
In Swing, bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) present a free-verse poetic story that will speak to anyone who’s struggled to find their voice and take a swing at life.
"Ronit & Jamil"- Pamela L. Laskin (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
Pamela L. Laskins beautiful and lyrical novel in verse delivers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeares Romeo and Julietthat transports the star-crossed lovers to the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict.
"Long Way Down"- Jason Reynolds (cloudLibrary)
An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynoldss fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to decide whether or not hes going to murder the guy who killed his brother.
"Turtle Under Ice"- Juleah del Rosario (cloudLibrary)
A teen navigates questions of grief, identity, and guilt in the wake of her sisters mysterious disappearance in this breathtaking novel-in-verse from the author of 500 Words or Less, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo.
"SkateFate"- Juan Felipe Herrera (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
Lucky Z has always lived on the edge—he loved to skateboard, to drag race, to feel alive. But things have taken a turn—he's living with new foster parents and a tragic past. An accident changed everything. And only his voice will set him free.
"Bull"- David Elliott (cloudLibrary, Hoopla)
Much like Lin-Manuel Miranda did in Hamilton, the New York Times best-selling author David Elliott turns a classic on its head in form and approach, updating the timeless story of Theseus and the Minotaur for a new generation. A rough, rowdy, and darkly comedic young adult retelling in verse, Bull will have readers reevaluating one of mythology's most infamous monsters.
Fantasy For Teens
We're exploring other worlds from the comfort of our homes as Liz from our Franklin Branch offers some teen fantasy titles.
"The Girl from Everywhere" by Heidi Heilig
(CloudLibrary and hoopla)
"A Blade So Black" by L.L. McKinney
(CloudLibrary and hoopla)
"A Touch of Gold" by Annie Sullivan
(hoopla and RBDigital)
"The Epic Crush of Genie Lo" by F.C. Yee
(CloudLibrary, RBDigital, and hoopla)
