Langley-Adams Library Recommendations

Max is a biracial (White and Japanese) transgender teen boy who is learning how to grow into himself and is facing struggles with school, home, and the fact that he now has magical powers.  Max’s trusted friend Jen is the only one who knows that Max is a boy at the novel’s beginning.  Max decides to come out to his mom and dad on his 16th birthday, but his mother can’t accept the fact that her little goddess wants to transition since they are descended from the Goddess of Light, Aurora.  Max’s powers transform him into an uncomfortable frilly dress with heals, which causes him to experience dysphoria.  Max has to prove to his mother that he can be a man and use his powers in his own way to fight the darkness that feeds off of negative energy, and he finds that some of his classmates were under the darkness spell.  Max is able to find a group of friends who teach him how to be himself and help fight back the darkness that is creeping into the world, and if they d...

In this alternate, fantastical history, witches are real. Or, they were real. Now, women's ability to do witching has been made illegal for women. While women can do magic, it is frowned upon, and the only thing they are allowed to do is little charms to help themselves with "women's" or household work. In 1893, James Juniper is on the run and ends up in New Salem, where her estranged sisters Beatrice Belladona and Agnes Amaranth reside (and yes, there is a reason for those names!). She soon finds a purpose and joins the local women's rights movement - first interested in women's suffrage, but wanting  more . She wants to bring witching back. Agnes finds herself pregnant and is first hesitant to join the movement her sister wants to create in case she puts her baby in danger. Beatrice is an assistant librarian at the New Salem College, but has secretly been delving into research about women's witching, and how to bring it back. Juniper's sisters end up...

Me (Moth) is a beautifully written book that flows so elegantly. Amber McBride grabs your attention straight away from the first page through the end, tugging at all your feelings throughout the whole book. This petite book is a great example of a novel-in-verse and Amber McBride is a virtuoso at it. Even if you are not into poetry or written verse, this would be a great way to test it out, and the story won't fail to keep you engrossed. Me (Moth) follows two teens learning about life, love, death, racism and their history. I don't want to spoil anything more from this masterwork, or give away any of its secrets, but it's definitely a must-read and you won't regret picking it up. Sherry Sabins Library Assistant This book is available at the Langley-Adams Library, as well as other libraries in the MVLC. If you enjoyed this book, you might also like:

Sometimes, it can be hard to pull in a reader when the premise is somewhat unusual given that the main character is half-deer. However, Gus and the other hybrids are immensely humanized through character development in many ways. There is indeed turmoil that takes place throughout the journey of Gus and Jepperd, and this is most definitely a dark story. I also really enjoyed the style of artwork in the series. There is also a TV adaptation on Netflix; the first season is out now! Sweet Tooth is a mystical tale of love, loss, and friendship. If you like fantasy and/or have enjoyed other post-apocalyptic comic series like The Walking Dead, then you’re sure to love it. Shaun Hood Library Page This book can be found within the MVLC. Let us know if we can place a hold for you! If You Like This Book. You Might Like:

The members of the Montoya family are used to strange, magical things happening around them. It all seems to stem from their family matriarch,  Orquídea .  One day, each of the Montoyas, living all over the United States, receive an invitation from  Orquídea  that states she's dying, and each member of her family should come collect their inheritance. When everyone arrives, they find  Orquídea  turning into a tree, and she still won't fully explain the magic that has always been in their lives. What they learn is that their family matriarch made a deal 48 years ago - a deal that affected all of them, and now she's trying to protect them from a danger none of them even imagined. This book was fantastic! It was full of whimsy and magic. I enjoyed that the book alternated between  Orquídea's life in the past and the current lives of her descendants, and how they intertwine. I highly recommend this book if it sounds like something you might enjoy! Darcy Le...

"One October morning, Laina gets the news that her brother was shot and killed by Boston cops. But what looks like a case of police brutality soon reveals something much stranger. Monsters are real. And they want everyone to know it. As creatures from myth and legend come out of the shadows, seeking safety through visibility, their emergence sets off a chain of seemingly unrelated events. Members of a local werewolf pack are threatened into silence. A professor follows a missing friend’s trail of bread crumbs to a mysterious secret society. And a young boy with unique abilities seeks refuge in a pro-monster organization with secrets of its own. Meanwhile, more people start disappearing, suicides and hate crimes increase, and protests erupt globally, both for and against the monsters. At the center is a mystery no one thinks to ask: Why now? What has frightened the monsters out of the dark? The world will soon find out." (goodreads.com) No Gods, No Monsters  is a weird book. H...

In  Six Crimson Cranes , Shiori is a princess with magic living in a land that seemingly no longer has magic, making it taboo. She discovers that her stepmother is also a sorceress. Upon her discovery, Shiori's stepmother banishes her from her home and turns her six brothers into cranes. Shiori is cursed to be silent; with every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. Shiori must learn to rely on herself, the power of silence, and some unexpected allies to break her stepmother's curse. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes YA fantasy and fairy tales! Darcy Lepore Library Director Available at Langley-Adams Library. If You Like Six Crimson Cranes:

  “Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family's sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt's promises of eternal glory. For years she's pushed away any thought of revenge against the man--now a god--responsible for their deaths. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to bind her fate to Athena's and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost--and still may not be enough t...

" Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.  Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life. Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair,  The Astonishing Color of After  is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love." (Goodreads.com) The Astonishing Color of After  had an interesting way of processing grief. Pan did a lovely job of creating a magical twist to how families grieve, especially when th...

" In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive. Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other." (Goodreads.com) The Grace Year is a story that makes you roll your eyes at the ridiculous traditions and stereot...

"A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.  Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days. But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: d...

" Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead while her best friends are all away at camp--something that's way out of Katie and her mom's budget, UNLESS Katie can figure out a way earn the money for camp herself. But when Katie gets a job catsitting for her mysterious upstairs neighbor, life get interesting. First, Madeline has 217 cats (!) and they're not exactly . . . normal cats. Also, why is Madeline always out EXACTLY when the city's most notorious villain commits crimes?! Is it possible that Katie's upstairs neighbor is really a super villain? Can Katie wrangle a whole lot of wayward cats, save a best friendship (why is Beth barely writing back? And who's this boy she keeps talking about?!), AND crack the biggest story in the city's history? Some heroes have capes . . . Katie has cats!" (Goodreads.com) Katie the Catsitter was catastic! This middle grade graphic novel was really fun. If you like superheroes, cats, and plucky female leads then t...

In  A Dark and Hollow Star , fae and faeries exist alongside humans, though they don’t reveal their true nature to them. For the past few months, partial-fae have been getting murdered and no one knows why. Arlo Jarsdel, half fae, finds herself in the middle of investigating the murders when she sees a young partial-fae girl die at a café. She teams up with Nausicaä, a disgraced former Fury, Vehan, a fae prince, and Aurelian, Vehan’s friend who must hide his love for him. Together they look for answers to why the fae kings and queens aren't trying to solve this mystery. Throughout their investigations, together and separate, they encounter a dangerous nightclub, alchemy, dangerous immortals, a secret society, and much more. I highly recommend this book for readers of YA who love fantasy! This book has multiple points-of-view, and each main character is LGBTQ. I personally had a lot of fun reading this book as well.  A Dark and Hollow Star  is a highly enjoyable read! Darc...

" Hilda sits in her tent listening to the thunder passing overhead when she hears a bell. As she hurtles towards the vanishing tinkling sound, Hilda unwittingly embarks on an adventure into strange worlds ruled by magical forces. Luke Pearson tells this exciting tale for kids and adults alike." (Goodreads.com)   This  is a fun graphic novel series full of adventure. I started watching the show, which I am thoroughly enjoying, before I picked up one of the graphic novels. It's reminiscent of the show Gravity Falls. If you liked that show you will enjoy this series. Meghan McCabe Children & Youth Services Librarian Available through the MVLC Catalog

" Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret--she's a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt. But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead--her gumiho soul--in the process. Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl--he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to humans. He's drawn to her anyway. With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her...

" Dorothy thinks she's lost forever when a tornado whirls her and her dog, Toto, into a magical world. To get home, she must find the wonderful wizard in the Emerald City of Oz. On the way she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. But the Wicked Witch of the West has her own plans for the new arrival... will Dorothy ever see Kansas again?" (Goodreads.com) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was charming. It was interesting to see how it compared to the film. I'm not sure that I would continue with the series, but I liked the characters and the world that Baum built. It's an interesting read if you'd like to compare early children's literature to present day literature. Meghan McCabe Children & Youth Services Librarian Available at the Langley-Adams Library

" S.T., a domesticated crow, is a bird of simple pleasures: hanging out with his owner Big Jim, trading insults with Seattle's wild crows (those idiots), and enjoying the finest food humankind has to offer: Cheetos ®. Then Big Jim's eyeball falls out of his head, and S.T. starts to feel like something isn't quite right. His most tried-and-true remedies--from beak-delivered beer to the slobbering affection of Big Jim's loyal but dim-witted dog, Dennis--fail to cure Big Jim's debilitating malady. S.T. is left with no choice but to abandon his old life and venture out into a wild and frightening new world with his trusty steed Dennis, where he discovers that the neighbors are devouring each other and the local wildlife is abuzz with rumors of dangerous new predators roaming Seattle. Humanity's extinction has seemingly arrived, and the only one determined to save it is a foul-mouthed crow whose knowledge of the world around him comes from his TV-watching educat...

In The City of Brass, twenty year old con artist Nahri lives in Cairo, Egypt. She has real healing abilities, but she keeps that fact to herself. During one of her cons, she performs a ritual she believes is just made up, but doing so she summons Dara, a Daeva (also known as a djinn) warrior. Dara says that Nahri is the last living member of a power family of healers and to stay safe she should go to the magical city of Daevabad. He agrees to escort her to Daevabad, though it’s clear he is apprehensive about returning to his home city due to his own history. Ali, who lives in Daevabad, is the son of the king. He is very devout in his faith, and isn’t too social, but he also has a secret. Against his father’s wishes, he is helping the shafit, part-djinn, part-human residents of Daevabad by giving them money and assistance on secret missions. When Nahri arrives in Daevabad with Dara, she begins to learn more about her own magical abilities as well as the tribes inhabiting Daevabad that h...

Morrigan Crow is a cursed child. This means whenever something bad happens, everyone around Morrigan believes it’s her fault. It also means that Morrigan is destined to die on the eve of her eleventh birthday. But before her birthday, her city’s Bidding Day takes place. On Bidding Day, children Morrigan’s age get bid on to apprentice for a job or attend a special school. Morrigan doesn’t expect to get bid on because of her cursed status, but when she does get a bid, her life gets turned upside down. Jupiter North, the mysterious man who bids on her, takes her to the land of Nevermoor to take place in the trials to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, which is made up of some of the most unique and powerful people in Nevermoor. If Morrigan can pass the four trials, she will get to join and stay in Nevermoor. Throughout her trials and her year, Morrigan learns more about her new home, the people around her, and her own strength. This book was delight to read. It was a blend of magic an...

When she is seven, January Scaller discovers a doorway to another world. When she returns home, no one believes her, and when she tries to return to that other world, it’s gone. For the next ten years, her guardian tells her to be proper, to put any imaginary thoughts out of her mind. Her wealthy guardian is good to her, while the early 20 th  century world is usually not good to mixed-race girls like January. At seventeen, January comes across a book called  The Ten Thousand Doors . As the book alternates between the chapters of  The Ten Thousand Doors  and January’s every day life, January’s world starts to unravel. As she learns more and more about the special doors the book tells her about, she learns more and more about the people around her… and about how dangerous they are. I highly recommend this book! It’s a well-written historical fantasy that anyone who has ever dreamed of adventure will be able to relate to. Darcy Lepore Library Director Available...