Kristina Naftzger

Teens, on a scale of comforting to ultra-freaky, how disturbing do you like your reading materials? Are you more likely to pick up a book with cotton-candy on the cover, or say, a pool of blood? If your tastes fall closer to the crime scene end of the spectrum, you’re in luck…one of the following YA titles may have your name—and your future fingerprints—on it.

“Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime” by Candace Fleming is nonfiction; this book is about a real murder, and the wealthy teenagers who plotted it. The year was 1924 and Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb looked like they had it all. They were both born into millionaire families, they were both supernaturally smart, and by many accounts, they both appeared to be charming, attractive, and well-mannered—if not slightly quirky—intellectuals.

So what made them carefully plan and carry out the murder of an innocent 14-year-old neighbor? Teens, I’m not going to tell you. Read the book yourself. From now on, just give me cotton candy! If bingeing true crime podcasts and documentaries is your idea of a good time, this real-life thriller—featuring a possible psychopath, an ice-cold homicide, and an explosive court trial—is for you.

Now that we’re traumatized by reading about a real crime, let’s learn how to solve them with Bridget Heos’ “Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Holmes to DNA.” You’re probably already a crime scene analysis expert from all the episodes of “CSI,” “Criminal Minds,” “Cold Case,”  “NCIS”, “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” AND “CSI: Cyber,” you’ve watched, but maybe this book will offer something extra.

“Blood, Bullets, and Bones” explores the long history of crime scene investigation, dating back an astonishing two thousand years (CSI: Ancient China?) to today, and sheds light on the modern crime-solving techniques that have perpetrators shaking in their microscopic bad guy fibers. Although this nonfiction work will once again immerse you in real-life criminal activity, this time you’ll be empowered with your new-found knowledge of blood spatter analysis and forensic anthropology.

Teens, these and more chilling true-crime tales await you in Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library. Come check them out…no need to cover your tracks. And it’s not too late to get in on our Teen “All Together Now” Summer Reading Program…we’d love to have you join us for our free Teen Makers Open Hours event Wednesday, July 26, from 3-5 p.m. in the Assembly Room at A.K. Smiley Public Library. The event features a teen-led discussion on representation in YA Lit, bracelet-making, button-making, other-stuff-making, and more. Visit www.akspl.org/teens for more details and drop in if you’re interested!

Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services Librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library, where her book selections often give her uncomfortable pits in her stomach, leading to a longing for a literary future filled with cotton candy instead of crime scenes.

Teens, TGIMWTWTA. Do you need help decoding that acronym? Here’s the translation: Thank Goodness It’s My Week to Write This Article. It’s kind of like TGIF, but catchier and obviously a thousand times more thrilling. Back to my point…TGIMWTWTA! I have so much to tell you!  

First, our 2023 “All Together Now” Teen Summer Reading Program at A.K. Smiley Public Library is right around the corner, and guess who’s invited? Little old you! Tied into our “All Together Now” theme of unity, friendship, and inclusion, we have an exciting line-up of free, in-person events for teens, including a book club (you’ll get a free copy of Sabaa Tahir’s Printz Award winner “All My Rage”), a teen test kitchen cookie-making experience, a teen-makers’ crafting/musical potluck gathering (with a free photo booth sponsored by Elevate the Night Photo Booths!), a teen-led conversation about representation in Young Adult literature, and more. And if you feel like burying yourself in books all summer, we’ve got you covered. Join our “All Together Now” summer reading challenge where you’ll have the chance to win excellent prizes based on the number of minutes you read…and we’ll be happy to pile on the books. 

The action officially begins June 22nd and continues through August 3rd. Bring a friend or come solo and make a friend…you’ll find our full calendar of events, including registration links, at www.akspl.org/teens. 

I have more good news. If you are at least sixteen years old, you could also apply to be a Summer Reading Program Teen Volunteer with us this summer, and earn community service hours while having fun and being awesome (a teen volunteer prerequisite). Find all the details and a link to an online application at www.akspl.org/teens, so just go ahead and bookmark this webpage already. 

You didn’t think I was going to leave you without offering a YA book recommendation, did you? Never! Once again, I read a book about murder. Let’s not psychoanalyze the number of books I read about murder…I really am an extremely law-abiding, nonviolent, peace-loving person. I even catch and release bugs. In real life, I abhor homicides, I promise. Ahem…okay, let’s just talk about the book.  

In Nick Brooks’ “Promise Boys,” high school students Trey, J.B., and Ramón attend The Urban Promise Prep School…a Washington D.C. private boys’ school designed to help “urban” youth transcend their challenging circumstances. The school is the brainchild of Principal Kenneth Moore, and what started out as an innovative program to support inner-city young men on their path to college, has quickly turned into a hyper-disciplined, educational dystopia, where laughing in the lunch line lands you an immediate detention.  

Trey, J.B., and Ramón aren’t really friends, but they do have something in common; they each had a major blow-up with Principal Moore on the day he was found shot to death in the school hallway. All evidence points to one of them as the killer, but which one pulled the trigger? And if it wasn’t one of them, will they be able to piece together their stories to expose who did? Your crime-solving instincts will be sent into overdrive by this cagey mystery. 

Of course, we have plenty of non-murder-y YA books to choose from too, so whatever you’re into (or not into, but inexplicably read a lot of books about), definitely put A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Summer Reading Program on your summer to-do list (I’m sure you have one). We can’t read “All Together Now” without you. 

Teens, I finished Sabaa Tahir’s young adult novel “All My Rage” last night…at midnight. You should know that my usual bedtime is like, the minute the sun goes down, so it’s saying something that “All My Rage” crawled into my lap and held my eyes open way past my usual tuck-in hour. It then slinked into my heart and left me in a puddle, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me rewind.

In January, the American Library Association (ALA) announced its 2023 Youth Media Award Winners. Some of these awards you’ve probably already heard of, like the John Newbery Medal for outstanding contributions to children’s literature, and the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children, but those two are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature for young adults is basically the “Album of the Year” Grammy in the teen book world. And as you may have guessed, the 2023 Printz Award went to (drumroll) “All My Rage” by Sabaa Tahir. Now I don’t always love award-winners. Sometimes I read them and think to myself, “Yes, I can see why an adult would give this book an award, but would a real, live teen like it?” Teens, it is my hypothesis that you—a real, live teen—might love this book. Let me tell you why.

This book is deep. It’s real. It doesn’t shy away from difficult issues. The characters are flawed but likable and relatable. The book follows the stories of Pakistani American teens Sal and Noor, bouncing around in time and perspective (but not so much that it gets annoying), and details the ways they deal with some majorly distressing issues (think parents dying, addiction, racism, poverty, and so much more that would be terrible of me to give away). There are many surprises in this book, things that I probably should have seen coming, but didn’t, that make it totally satisfying, even though in many ways it’s a real modern tragedy. It’s also written beautifully if you’re into good writing. And you might cry if you’re into crying.

If you’re not convinced by the 2023 Printz Award winner, no problem…I have another option for you up my pajama sleeve, and it also won an ALA Youth Media award! This next category is an interesting one: The Alex Award. The Alex Award is given to the ten best adult books that appeal to teen audiences. Yes, there are ten winners, but I’m just going to tell you about one: “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy. “What a dreadful title,” you might be thinking to yourself. But you also might be thinking, “I’m weirdly interested.” You should follow that instinct.

“I’m Glad My Mom Died” is a memoir by McCurdy, whom you may recognize from her roles on the Nickelodeon sitcoms “iCarly” and “Sam & Cat.” There are many ways a memoir written by a younger person could go wrong, but this one doesn’t. McCurdy is so skilled at telling her story—offering honest glimpses at scenes from her life that are sometimes funny, often times heartbreaking—that we feel like we’re right there with her as she deals with an eating disorder, a narcissistic mom, dysfunctional relationships, and a Hollywood industry that happily makes money off her while turning a blind eye to her real-life suffering. It’s another one of those books that refuses to be put down and is authentic in a way that resonates—even if you might not be glad if your own mom died. Remember, this book was written for adults, so be sure to check in with your families to see if this might be a good fit for you.

Teens, if you choose to read either of these titles, please come find me in the library (I promise I’ll be awake) and let me know if you think the awards committees—and my hypothesis—got it right. And if you’re interested in discovering more young adult award winners, visit www.akspl.org/teens, where we link to these and many more teen literature award lists…trust me when I say we’ve barely scratched the surface.

Kristina Naftzger is a Youth Services Librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library, where one of the only things she likes better than falling asleep at the crack of sunset is crying her eyes out over a good book.

Teens, admit it. You are an avid reader of this column. Every week, you check the newspaper, desperate to find the latest Young Adult (YA) book reviews. I am sure of this! This is typical teen behavior. How despondent you must feel on the off-weeks when other library materials are reviewed. I can see it clearly: you, huddled in a corner of your room, howling inconsolably when you have discovered you must live another day deprived of a new YA book review. 

Teens, howl no more. Today, I’m going to share where to find fresh YA book reviews any day of the week. And the best part? These YA book reviews aren’t written by crusty old hags…no! They are written by crusty old teens!* And you will laugh hysterically when you find out how easy it is to access them 24-7 (book reviews clearly get you very emotional). 

Simply approach an Internet-connected device (phone, computer, tablet, whatever you’ve got). Then visit www.akspl.org/teens/teen-underground-book-reviews. It’s that easy! Next thing you know, your eyes will feast on a gloriously long string of YA book reviews, written by fellow teens.  

Are you in the mood for a twisty spy novel set in 1850s London, like “A Spy in the House” by Y.S. Lee? You’re not sure? Read the review! Curious about the “One Piece” manga series by Eiichiro Oda, but don’t know if it’s worth your time? Read the review! In need of a futuristic dystopian tale set in Taipei (in which poverty and disease have ravaged the world) that blends “culture, action, romance, espionage, and sci-fi elements all in one book,” but you don’t know where to find one? Read the review of Cindy Pon’s “Want,” and your oddly specific desires may be fulfilled. 

Reading YA book reviews for teens, by teens, is one thing, but here’s another: you can write your own YA book reviews for A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Teen Underground and simultaneously earn community service hours. It’s a real win-win situation, teens. You choose a book to read for fun (not a school assignment), available from our physical or digital Young Adult collection, read it, and then let your pen fly. Email us at yrr@akspl.org for more details if you’re interested, and we’ll share everything you need to know about how you can save another teen from a terrible book (because bad book reviews are fun to read too). 

And of course, I can’t leave you without telling you about the latest book that kept me up all night. It’s Tiffany Jackson’s “Weight of Blood,” part horror, part social commentary, which the author herself describes as an homage to Stephen King. A bloodbath occurs at Springville’s first integrated high school prom, and all eyes point to Maddy Washington. Did biracial outcast Maddy burn it all down, or was someone, or something, else to blame? Teens, there’s only one way to find out. Come on in and check it out…but before you do, why not visit us virtually at www.akspl.org/teens/teen-underground-book-reviews and get some ideas for your next great read? We promise, your days of YA book review deprivation are over. 

*No offense to our trusty teen book reviewers. To my knowledge, none of them are actually crusty. 

Teens, can we talk about the perfection of the horror story? First, there’s the length…nice and short. Why commit to 500 pages when you could be up to your eye sockets in dread, panic, and nail biting in just twenty-five? Then, of course, there’s the content. Horror stories typically don’t waste their breath on superfluous details; instead, they get right to the juicy stuff—and by juicy stuff I don’t mean gore. It’s the irresistible psychological thrills, the ones that convince you the twig outside your window is actually plotting your murder, that make horror stories such impeccable little terrors. 

If this sounds like the type of reading you’re into, sit back (but don’t relax), and let me tell you about some of the Young Adult (YA) horror story collections we have available here in Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library. We will have your doctor worrying about your blood pressure in no time. 

Malevolent dolls, grabby ghosts, and evil houses all make appearances in “The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror,” edited by Tori Bovalino. This YA collection contains stories that feel both modern and classic, delivering slow burn goosebumps that have you wanting to scream at the teen protagonists to stop doing whatever they’re doing and RUN the other way. Of course, they won’t listen, and end up in the bathtub being held underwater by invisible hands, but I digress. More gothic than gory, these tales deliver on the irresistibly creepy scale. 

Are there any “Goosebumps” fans in the house? If you often wish you were in 6th grade again so you could enjoy reading R.L. Stine with abandon, I have good news: “Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror,” edited by R.L. Stine, can be found in our YA collection. These stories, written by a variety of YA thrill masters, range from a babysitting job gone horrifyingly wrong to a “Stranger-Things”-ish shadow world abduction, and take some twists and turns that may leave you casually begging your parents to re-install your nightlight. 

“Scary Stories,” illustrated by Barry Moser, lives up to its name. It’s a YA collection of tales by some greats, including Dean Koontz, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, Bram Stoker, Margaret Mahy, Ray Bradbury, and more. Even though most of these are older stories, probably published before you were born, some are genuinely disturbing—like serious not-recommended-reading-while-you’re-home-alone material (I may or may not have made this amateur mistake). Several of these stories haunted me for days after I finished them. If you are down for a slightly more sophisticated brand of terror, this may be the book for you. 

Want something with a paranormal bent? Try “Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories” edited by, you guessed it, Roald Dahl. Or how about a modern twist on some macabre classics in the form of “His Hideous Heart: Thirteen of Edgar Allan Poe’s Most Unsettling Tales Reimagined,” in which contributing authors Tiffany D. Jackson, Lamar Giles, Rin Chupeco, and others bring fresh perspectives to Poe’s creepy original works?  

Have I made my case for the horror story yet? Ominous, moody, irresistible, atmospheric, AND brief, the above collections may be just what the doctor orders you to avoid. But if you think your teenaged heart can withstand a little extra pumping, then come check one out from Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library and experience the incomparable thrill and page-turning adrenaline that only a perfect little horror story can produce. …while you can.