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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.

Let me ask you all a question: what is your favorite mythical creature? If you said a vampire, then this article was written just for you. If you said anything else besides a vampire, then you may not want to continue reading this article. So, my fellow vampire fiends – I mean friends – let me invite you to A.K. Smiley Public Library to check out some new (and not so new) fiction titles that you can really sink your teeth into.

Vampire Weekend, by Mike Chen – A music-loving vampire who just wants to be left alone until her teenage cousin finds her and asks her to commit the ultimate deed.

House of Hunger, by Alexis Henderson – A young woman finds herself in the thralls of a rich, bloodsucking family.

Vamps: Fresh Blood, by Nicole Arend – A supernatural school that caters to teenage vampires.

Court of the Vampire Queen, by Katee Robert – A STEAMY vampire romp that would make Fifty Shades of Grey blush.

Other novels in the Library featuring creatures of the night:

The Vampire Chronicles (Interview with a Vampire, The Vampire Lestat), by Anne Rice

The Sookie Stackhouse Series (aka True Blood), by Charlaine Harris

Bloodsucking Fiends; You Suck; and Bite Me, by Christopher Moore

Dead Collections, by Isaac Fellman

‘Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

And last but certainly not least, The Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer

I hope these titles will quench any reader’s thirst for novels featuring our favorite fanged friends.

-Shannon Harris is a library specialist at A. K. Smiley Public Library who enjoys reading about vampires and watching shows about vampires.

While Smiley Library has outstanding graphic novels in the children’s, young adult, and literacy collections, our adult circulating collection has amazing additions, as well. Encompassing both fiction and nonfiction titles, graphic novels have a lot to offer for all ages. You can learn history expressed through engaging storylines, revisit old classics told in a unique way, escape through fantasy, or laugh at comedy. These books are an appealing way to explore important topics too, and their focus on character development along with striking drawings make them a joy to read. Here are some of our latest.

“Hakim’s Odyssey” by Fabien Toulme is based on the true story of Hakim, a young Syrian gardener and nursery owner, whose future was looking bright until civil war encroached upon him, his family, and country. In 2011, as growing protests for more freedom arise in the streets, President Assad reacts with extreme violence and lethal force. Hakim is falsely imprisoned as one of the rioters and thrown in jail. Beatings ensue and when finally released, Hakim finds out his nursery has been seized by the army and turned into a barracks. Amidst the loss of his income, the growing chaos of war, and his brother’s mysterious disappearance, Hakim is forced to flee his home and family. This engaging story of war, struggle, survival, and hope is told in a series of three books: Book 1: From Syria to Turkey, Book 2: From Turkey to Greece, and Book 3: From Macedonia to France.

“The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere.” is James Spooner’s coming-of-age memoir of his time living in Apple Valley in the late 80s and early 90s. As a Black teen struggling to fit in to a predominately white community, Spooner feels like an outsider. He looks for a place where he can be himself, forge some friendships, and maybe even find a girlfriend. Unfortunately, what he finds is bullying, racism, and unacceptance. Eventually, he meets others who are into punk music and skating and discovers a new form of self-expression, identity, and a feeling of belonging. Spooner takes a personal look at the Afro-Punk subculture, being raised by a single white mom, prejudice, drugs, and school dynamics. He tells his story with authenticity, reflection, and insight.

If you find yourself laughing at the movies Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Roxanne, and The Jerk, you’ll appreciate Steve Martin’s new book, “Number One is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions.” Martin has made over 40 films and the first half of his book highlights anecdotes and escapades from some of the most popular, along with comic illustrations by Harry Bliss. Meet familiar names like John Candy and Diane Keaton. Bliss’s dog, Penny, has a lot of features along the way, too. The second half of the book is filled with single panel comics from Bliss. A short, fun book for fans of Martin and Bliss.

Here are a few other new titles to consider. “Lore Olympus” by Rachel Smythe is a contemporary and satirical take on the story of Persephone and Hades, “Invisible Wounds” by Jess Ruliffson examines the effects of war on veterans, and “Always Never” by Jordi Lafebre is a love story that starts at the end and works towards the beginning.

By Ann Leonard and Martha Kennedy, Adult Literacy Advisory Committee Members

Adults who ask for help with reading and writing have enormous courage. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program provides a safe place for adults to work one-on-one with compassionate volunteer tutors to improve their literacy. There are many reasons why adults want to improve their literacy. In some instances, their education was interrupted by family circumstances, others found that current job demands require them to improve their literacy levels, and others want to help their children with schoolwork and enhance communication with their children’s teachers. Every adult who enters the adult literacy program has goals that they want to achieve.

Zaida Maytorena is a custodian for a local school district where, thanks to her hard work with her tutor, she is now able to read and write emails for work. She joined the literacy program two years ago when higher literacy skills became essential at her job. She works with her tutor weekly and has read several books, published three stories in the adult literacy anthologies, and improved her confidence. She is on the road to achieving her dream of becoming a certified nursing assistant. Zaida shares, “I’m so happy to stay here, learning with my teacher. I hope others come to join this program. Before coming here, I had problems understanding what I read. I also learned to write reports for my work, and I felt proud when I impressed the vice principal because I could write!”

An estimated 20% of adults in California lack proficiency in reading and writing. In 1992 the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) was established to “help reduce the high level of illiteracy in California and connect more Californians to their libraries.” The Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library, who recognized that adult literacy is a critical predictor of employment, health, and civic participation, supported and encouraged the work of volunteers Katherine Gifford and Trudy Waldron to re-establish the Redlands Adult Literacy Program in 2010. In 2014, the Redlands City Council confirmed their support of adult literacy by funding a literacy coordinator. Diane Shimota, the current adult literacy coordinator, has been essential in making the program sustainable and expanding it to include computer literacy, family literacy, book clubs, anthologies, remote learning, and writing programs.

Diane connects a myriad of statewide and local efforts. She actively participates in CLLS network conversations with literacy coordinators throughout the state to share strategies for programming that enable adult learners to achieve their goals. In addition, she connects with local organizations like the YMCA and Redlands Community Center to provide additional tutoring locations and support to adult learners. She coordinates with the Adult School and Crafton Hills College to ensure that the adult literacy services augment the opportunities at other educational institutions. Thanks to Diane’s efforts of talking to service groups about the value of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program and bringing learners with her to share their stories, service groups like Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library, Redlands Area Interfaith Council, American Association of University Women, Redlands Charitable Resources Coalition, Redlands Community Foundation, and others have supported the program with generous contributions.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program depends on four key components: volunteer tutors, local donors, library trustees, and Diane’s dedicated leadership. From its inception, volunteers have stepped forward to help adults improve their reading and writing. Many of these volunteers later say that they have received the gift of working with and learning from adult learners. Local donations provide a vital match to CLLS funding and, more importantly, are a statement of local support, allowing the Redlands Adult Literacy Program to provide a full range of services and materials. The library trustees commit space, staff resources, and vision to ensure that the adult literacy services are available today and in the future. Diane commits countless hours to ensure adult literacy services are available to the entire community and has developed a robust, compassionate, and innovative program that is responsive to the challenges adult learners face in these rapidly changing times. The city of Redlands and its residents are fortunate to have such a capable and dedicated leader.

The demand for tutors is increasing and the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is seeking more volunteers. Would you like to help someone learn to read and write? Consider attending and encouraging someone you know to come to the next volunteer tutor orientation scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the Library Assembly Room. If you have questions or plan to attend the tutor orientation, please call Diane Shimota at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4138, or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know of individuals who need help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their lives by contacting Diane Shimota. All literacy services are free and confidential.