Kristina Naftzger

Teens, what has taken me so long to write to you about YA graphic novels? A question you surely must ask yourself daily. At long last the wait is over. Grab your cape, take my hand, and let’s not waste another second to plunge into the immersive world of YA graphic novels.

Of course, you must have guessed I’m joking about requiring a cape. The YA graphic novel genre transcends superhero comics—although those definitely have a permanent place on the bookshelf—and features all kinds of far-ranging topics, from flesh-eating ghouls to coming out. I probably don’t have to convince you, but graphic novels do what regular novels can’t…like little paper movies, they add layers of texture and depth to a story, nudging us to experience landscapes, characters, and emotions with an extra cinematic punch.

The Library offers plenty of addictive YA manga series, like Sui Ishida’s “Tokyo Ghoul” (where you’ll find the flesh-eating ghouls mentioned above), Masahi Kishimoto’s “Naruto,” Kohei Horikoshi’s “My Hero Academia,” and Hajime Isayama’s “Attack on Titan,” to name a few, but today I want to write to you about some stand-alone YA graphic novels that really moved me.

While I was reading Jarrett Krosoczka’s autobiographical “Hey Kiddo,” I was annoyed any time life forced me to put it down. Chores? I shun them. Dinner? Eat without me. Late for work? How unfortunate (just kidding, if my boss is reading this). Krosoczka’s illustrations are sophisticated and detailed, but great illustrations alone wouldn’t hook me…it was the story.

Jarrett’s growing up was pretty typical, that is if you don’t count the repeated trauma of dealing with his mom’s heroin addiction, his dad’s absence, and his grandparents’ unwavering weirdness. Jarrett’s is a survival story, but not the stranded-on-a-desert-island kind. It’s also a love story, but don’t expect anything mushy-gushy. Even though it sounds pretty heavy, it doesn’t feel that way—try it if you’re in the mood to experience a sensitive coming-of-age graphic novel that inexplicably leaves you hopeful.

Can I pull you for a chat about Alice Oseman’s “Heartstopper” series? When British high schoolers Charlie and Nick meet in class, they’re not exactly each other’s type on paper. Charlie is a twiggy year ten (a ninth grader by American standards) who just came out last year, and Nick is a sweet but seemingly very straight, very athletic, very hunky rugby player. But they do hit it off, and it’s not long before Charlie earns a spot on the rugby team (he’s small but speedy), and Nick finds himself fancying Charlie more and more—and questioning things he thought he knew about himself. The cute British banter will entice you, the irresistible characters and cliffhanger ending will leave you wanting more (which you can get from “Heartstopper” Volumes 2, 3, and 4…and a recently released Netflix series).

In Mike Curato’s “Flamer,” it’s summertime and Aiden is obsessing about starting his freshman year in high school after a pretty miserable middle school experience (very relatable). Oh, and he’s also at Boy Scout Camp, assigned to the Flaming Arrow patrol. AND he’s also smack dab in the middle of an identity crisis, struggling to figure out how the bi-racial (Filipino and White), overweight, outdoorsy, Catholic, and queer parts of himself can coexist. Friendship, a crush, bullying, confusion, rage, and shame come to a boiling point for Aiden…read the book to find out if he’ll be able to muster the self-acceptance required to prevent everything from going up in flames.

One more! I can’t stop! If you’ve ever lost someone close to you and then been swallowed by the resulting heartache, consider reading “Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir” by Tyler Feder. As the title suggests, the book recounts Tyler’s own experiences after her amazing, creative, loveable, outgoing, mom dies…from well-doers’ clumsy attempts at condolence, to moments of absolute despair. Believe it or not, some parts are really funny, but those parts are balanced out by parts that are devastating, vulnerable, and honest…pretty much just like grief itself. This book would also make a great guide if you are trying to support a friend who’s grieving.

We made it. Now feel free to take your cape to the dry cleaners and find your way to the Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library, where all of these graphic novels and more await an intrepid and compassionate reader, just like you.

Teens, it’s not that I hate summer. Some parts of it are very nice, like pools, fireworks, and socially acceptable inertia. But when temperatures top 100 degrees for more than two days in a row, I immediately demote it to my least favorite season.

But this summer is different…even triple digit temps will not get me down. Why, you ask? Because the 2022 Summer Reading Program is kicking off at A.K. Smiley Public Library, and it promises to be awesome.

Our 2022 theme —“Read Beyond the Beaten Path”—has an outdoorsy, summer camp feel (another great thing about summer), which is cool for obvious reasons, but the sentiment is exciting too. What could help you survive these long, hot days better than reading something out of the ordinary, something that backpacks you out of your sweat-filled life and expands your perspectives in unexpected ways?

If you’re looking for more than mind-opening reading, we’ve also got free events up our sleeves for teens, including “The Hunger Gang,” a cooking workshop with local chef extraordinaire Lee Burton (which, fingers crossed, unlike “The Hunger Games,” everyone will come out of alive), and an anime drawing workshop with professional artist Carlos Nieto III. On top of that, there’s an amazing line-up of teen reading challenge prizes on the line, like a day pass for you and a friend to scale the walls at Flowstone Climbing here in Redlands, a pint of gelato from Happy Camper Creamery, and many more.

I must mention one last element of our summer reading program: the competition. This summer, it’s the literary version of “Capture the Flag,” with kids and teens taking on adults to see who can read the most pages. Of course this is a friendly competition, but it would be very fun to amicably dominate the adults. We can’t do this without you, teen reader.

Alright, alright, I’m reconsidering my position on summer, as there is another big thing summer has going for it: the glorious month of June…Pride Month! Teens, if you are looking for books that feature LGBTQIA+ characters and experiences, we’ve got them. In fact, we have a whole blog post dedicated to helping you find them if you’re interested. You can check that out at www.akspl.org/teens, and of course, this article would not be complete without at least one YA book recommendation (and our library community would not be complete without you).

Erik J. Brown’s “All That’s Left in the World” requires nerves of steel from its readers. The setting? The U.S. after a deadly pathogen has swept through the country, annihilating most of the population. For some, this plot will hit a little too close to home, but if you can stomach it, here’s the set-up: teenagers Jamie and Andrew somehow survive the pandemic, but are barely scraping by in its aftermath. Each is alone, facing dangers both from the raw, natural world and other desperate survivors.

Their paths cross and they team up to take on this new and treacherous reality, where threats, including the secrets they are keeping from each other, lurk around every corner. It’s the kind of post-apocalyptic/survival/friendship/love story that makes you wonder how you might redefine yourself if everything you knew to be real and important was suddenly erased.

Teens, we’d love for you to come read beyond the beaten path with us this summer. We’ll be having so many good times, with so many good books and events, that maybe, just maybe, we won’t even notice those triple digit temps…

The “Read Beyond the Beaten Path” Summer Reading Program isn’t just for teens! Toddlers, kids, and yes, okay, even adults are encouraged to join in on the fun. Visit A.K. Smiley Public Library for all the details.

Teens, several months ago, I wrote a ground-breaking mullet-inspired (yes, the hairstyle) article about Young Adult resources at A.K. Smiley Public Library. It was a business up front, party in the back situation, in which I described some academic databases the library offers (the business), followed by a couple thrilling book recommendations (the party).

This month, I am shunning all business and just want to focus on the party, but I’m not sure what kind of haircut metaphor applies. A French braid? No, too stuffy. A flat-top fade? Too disciplined. A comb-over with a pony tail? Yes! That is the most party-ready hairstyle imaginable. Please read on to experience the world’s premier comb-over-with-a-pony-tail inspired article—a.k.a. an absolute party—in which we consider some very cool library resources that await your discovery.

First, let’s talk about drivers’ licenses. Do you want one? Do you need one? Do you dream of getting one? If you are nervous about the written portion of the driver’s test, oh teens, buckle your seatbelts and start here! The Library recently partnered with Driving-Tests.org to provide free unlimited access to the official California driver’s manual, online practice tests for car, motorcycle and commercial driver’s licenses, an exam simulator, and more. Start taking the practice tests when you are 12 and have nothing to fear…you’ll be a pro by your sixteenth birthday!

Teens, of course I am joking. Even if you’re already 16 (or even older), this free resource is sure to help you master the rules of the road so you can tackle your written driver’s test with confidence. Take this resource for a spin from the Teens’ page of the A.K. Smiley Public Library website at www.akspl.org/teens, no login required. And what could feel like a bigger party than being a safe and informed driver? Very comb-over-with-a-pony-tail worthy.

Okay, okay, I hear you. You don’t want this party to end. Well you’re in luck. The Library currently offers another digital resource that you may want to check out immediately. SkillShare is an awesome online platform that provides access to thousands of creative courses, taught by industry experts, on all kinds of topics, ranging from animation to creative writing to graphic design to web development. Usually, access to this resource costs money. This is where the comb-over-with-a-ponytail comes in. Right now, if you use the link from the eDatabases page on the A.K. Smiley Public Library website (www.akspl.org/elibrary/#edatabases), you may activate your prepaid account for three months TOTALLY FREE.

As I mentioned, there are thousands of fun and potentially career-boosting courses to choose from. Here is just a tiny sampling of classes that caught my eye: DJing for Beginners, Pet Portraits, Write Your Own Screenplay, Art Journaling, Social Media Marketing: Top Tips for Growing Your Followers and Going Viral, Indie Filmmaking, Stop Motion for Beginners, and more. If you’ve ever dreamed of producing a stop-motion indie documentary about your surprisingly successful side gig selling still-life portraits of your Chihuahua, this is the resource for you.

Teens, don’t adjust your comb-over-with-a-ponytail just yet. I have one more party to share with you. The Calm Room, produced by the Rosen Teen Health and Wellness team, is pretty much what it sounds like…a virtual place to visit when you need to relax. A puppy play room cam? Yes, they’ve got it. Soothing fireplace sounds? Sure. Peaceful forest walk videos? Of course. Links to mindfulness and meditation apps and support hotlines? Affirmative. Wait, you don’t think this sounds like a party? Teens, please think with your comb-over. Sometimes the only party you need is a quiet one that allows you to re-center and catch your breath. You can access The Calm Room—and all the serenity it has to offer—from www.akspl.org/teens.

There you have it. You may now comb out your comb-over, release your pony tail, and start reveling in these digital resources immediately. And if you’re on Instagram and your parents approve, follow us at akspl_teens for all the late-breaking YA library news and events. We promise to keep the comb-over-with-a-ponytail content coming.

Teens, I’m wildly excited to be writing to you at the start of Black History Month! But before we get into the recommendations, I have to confess I feel conflicted about squeezing the celebration, seeing, and learning into a single puny month. Real steps toward equality require daily attention and action, and thus let it be officially proclaimed that the following YA books can absolutely be enjoyed year-round.

While “The Awakening of Malcolm X” by Ilyasah Shabazz (Malcolm X’s actual daughter) and Tiffany D. Jackson is a historical fiction account of Malcolm’s early adulthood, specifically the time he spent in prison before his emergence as a national leader, it doesn’t feel glossy or oversimplified the way some historical fiction can. The authors immerse readers in this period in Malcolm’s story with grit and nuance, avoiding a reductive hero/villain edit that sometimes happens with big historical personalities.

The book is a rowdy ride of vulnerability and rage, swagger and self-doubt, despair and determination, and even though you may already be familiar with the outline of Malcolm X’s life, there are plenty of unexpected opportunities to connect with his in-between experiences, experiences that defined how he related to the world when he eventually, in the author’s words, woke up. “The Awakening of Malcolm X” offers an intimate look into the “origin” story of a fraught public figure, humanizing Malcolm in a way a Wikipedia article can’t.

Teens, I went through public schools, college, AND a graduate degree and despite all that decrepitness, only relatively recently became aware of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Why? Brandy Colbert’s “Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre” considers that question. The book describes the context of the massacre and the experiences of the people who endured it, and equally troubling, examines the near erasure of the event from public consciousness. What starts with a history lesson on how the state of Oklahoma came to be, evolves into an unflinching look at what it meant to be Black in America in the early twentieth century. If you’re trying to fill your own historical gaps on the subject, “Black Birds in the Sky” is a useful place to start.

Twenty-three-year poet and activist Amanda Gorman knows how to deliver goosebumps. If you haven’t already heard or seen her perform her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” you’re in luck, we have both the physical book and eBook incarnation at your disposal. Gorman’s poem plants its feet in the real world while still glimmering with hope for a better one, and Gorman herself shines as an artist and a leader.

If, like me, you’re obsessed with looking for trustworthy biographical info on intriguing people like SZA, bell hooks, Steph Curry, Frank Ocean, Patrick Mahomes and more, you definitely don’t want to miss the Gale Biography in Context Database, one of the Library’s eResources available from the Teens page of the A.K. Smiley Public Library website (www.akspl.org/teens). It’s like the scholarly version of Extra! From Stacey Abrams to Zendaya, this database offers reliable details about over 500 notable African Americans (and counting) from history and today.

Other YA titles you may want to check out:

“Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People” by Kekla Magoon

“The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” by Jeanne Theoharis

“When They Call You a Terrorist: A Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power to Change the World” by Patrice Khan-Cullors

“Paul Robeson: No one Can Silence Me” by Martin B. Doberman

These books may fall under the wide and impressive umbrella of Black History, but they are also about leaders, traumas, resilience, courage, and joy. If you’re interested, they may expand/reinforce/challenge/change/reflect your perspectives in meaningful ways. And of course, you have all year to read them.

Teens, is it just me or do you feel like food is everywhere at this time of year? Like, right after I swallow my last slice of pumpkin pie, somebody’s showering me with gingerbread and gelt. Perhaps I am alone in this observation, but before I can wipe the mashed potatoes from my sticky fingers, I have eaten an entire yule log.

All this to say that food is on my mind, and so I am compelled to tell you about several food-adjacent YA titles you may wish to scarf down this month. Let’s dig in…

Okay, okay, “A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow” by Laura Taylor Namey only refers to a beverage in the title, but don’t be deceived, there are plenty of food references throughout to make your stomach growl. Lila, 17-year-old wonder chef, does not want to go to England. But after her boyfriend breaks up with her, her abuela dies, her best friend ditches her, oh, AND she has a full-on mental meltdown, Lila’s parents decide she needs a change of scene. They send her to stay with her aunt in Winchester, England. The moment Lila steps off the plane, she starts counting down the days until she can return to her beloved Miami home and her life as a baker phenomenon…that is, until she meets the charming, funny, motorbike-driving tea-shop clerk Orion and his artistic, quirky group of friends.

As Lila takes over the kitchen at her aunt’s inn, she slowly begins to imagine her life away from Miami, and what it may mean to heal from the traumas of her previous year. If you enjoy romances that include the English countryside, Cuban pastries, self-discovery, and a little spice, you may want to carve out some time to devour this one.

I have a confession to make about my next recommendation, Kelly deVos’ “Eat Your Heart Out.” I did not want to read this book. It’s a zombie novel, and zombie novels aren’t typically my thing. I forced myself to choke down the first chapter because the book had the word “eat” in the title and (kinda) went with my theme. Hmmm, it wasn’t bad. I kept going. Breaking news: I think zombie novels may now be my thing.

The premise of this book is straightforward. Featherlite is a camp for overweight kids, and Vivian, Allie, Sheldon, Paul, and Rachel have all been sent there to take advantage of an incredible new scientific method for losing weight. The problem? The miracle cure seems to be turning the campers into flesh-eating zombies.

While this book is full of electrifying action—every chapter ends in cliff-hanger fashion—it’s also a profound social commentary on the business of diet culture and the damaging, dehumanizing effects of what the author calls “fat-phobia.” The characters are deep, complicated, and they kick butt. Each takes a turn narrating the heart-pumping story, which results in a fast-paced, insightful ride that will leave you turning pages well past your midnight snack time. Warning: if you love happy endings, you may want to pass on this one.

If neither of these titles made your mouth water, consider one of the following YA specials:

“The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling” by Wai Chim

“Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet” by Laekan Zea Kemp

“A Pho Love Story” by Loan Le

“The Cupcake Queen” by Heather Hepler

“Butter” by Erin Jade Lang

“Puddin’” by Julie Murphy

“Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food and Love” edited by Elsie Chapman and Caroline Tung Richmond

All of these titles and more can be found in the Teen Underground area of A.K. Smiley Public Library, and several are available as eBooks through OverDrive. I wish you extra helpings of adventurous reading (and eating) in the month ahead. At the library, you are always invited to come back for seconds.