Durham Public Library


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Teen Advisory Board TAB for Grades 9-12

Information and applications

Information about the DPL's Teen Advisory Board (TAB) for grades 9-12!

 - Great way to earn Community Service hours for National Honor Society, Scouts and college applications

 - Help to choose potential Young Adult activities, projects and books to add to our collection while having fun!

Click Here for TAB information.

Click Here for TAB application.  When completed drop off at the Youth Services Desk at the library or email to dplnhyouthservices@gmail.com

Next meeting: Monday, September 30th, 6:30pm-7:30pm.

                        


TAB BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!

TAB Members Book Favorites

Teen Advisory Board Book Recommendations:

Title: When

Author: Victoria Laurie

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

This book is about: a girl who has the ability to read people’s death dates since she was little. She is surrounded by a tragic life as she wasn’t able to say anything about her father’s death

We would recommend this book to anyone who: enjoys a great mystery from time to time

Title: The Fault In Our Stars

Author: John Green

Genre: Romance, Realistic Fiction

This book is about: a girl named Hazel who has lung cancer and meets a boy named Augustus Waters; emotions may or may not fling between them… who knows? 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: Anyone who enjoys a romance novel from time to time.

 

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Genre: Fantasy

This book is about: a major class divide based on special abilities and the girl who fails to fit into the strict boxes society wants and wants to join a resistance to save divide.  

We would recommend this book to anyone who: wants some angst and a strong lead woman

 

Title: Cinderella is Dead

Author: Kalynn Bayron

Genre: Fantasy/YA

This book is about: a retelling of Cinderella with a powerful female MC, crazy plot-twists and beautiful writing. Sophia (MC) is determined to break tradition and the kings rule along with it. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: Everyone under the sun (or fairytale lovers) or people who liked A Curse So Dark & Lonley

Title: Maximum Ride Series

Author: James Patterson 

Genre: Dystopian

This book is about: Six kids who take on a secret lab that genetically alters kids with animals 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves adventures and action with a dystopian theme.

Title: Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American 

Author: Laura Gao

Genre: Graphic memoir

This book is about: Laura finder her way while bridging the gap between Wuhan and Texas

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes emotional stories and Gene Luen Yang’s books!

Title: We Were Liars

Author: E. Lockhart

Genre: Young adult fiction, Psychological thriller

This book is about: the main character, Cadence, figuring out what happened last summer at her family’s private island after suffering a head injury that caused her to forget everything

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves a good twist or wants to get into reading

Title: The Wicked King

Author: Holly Black

Genre: Fantasy

This book is about: Jude’s story continuing into more thrills and fighting

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes adventure, romance and fey folk

Title: Zac and mia

Author: A. J. Betts

Genre: Contemporary

This book is about: 2 cancer patients (17y/o) who meet at a treatment center. Get closer over Lady GaGa, and find someone when they thought they had no one … cute romance ;) and very heartfelt

We would recommend this book to anyone who: liked “The Fault In Our Stars” (and crying over books w/ a HEA)

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy

This book is about: an assassin who is fighting for her freedom

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves adventure

Title: Kind of a Big Deal

Author: Shannon Hale

Genre: contemp. Low fantasy/coming-of-age

This book is about: finding yourself as a person. Featuring pirates, princesses, dragons, 17th century outfits, and highway men … a musical w/adventure in book form

We would recommend this book to anyone who: like unlikeable/imperfect MC’s who learn from mistakes or Musicals/Broadway

Title: The Inheritance Games

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Genre: Fiction/mystery

This book is about: a poor girl who unexpectedly inherits a lot of money from someone she does not know

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves the movie “Knives Out”

Title: Girls Save the World in This One

Author: Ash Parsons

Genre: YA horror comedy

This book is about: a teenage girl and her friends at a Zombie convention, when everything turns real. Very fast paced and fun with lots of fight scenes. (SO FUNNY)!!!

We would recommend this book to anyone who:  zombie/ horror/ comedy lovers

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Sàenz 

Genre: YA  Fiction

This book is about: two boys trying to find themselves and love during summer 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves a book about self discovery

Title: Love & Luck

Author: Jenna Evans Welch

Genre: Realistic Fiction

This book is about: a brother & sister duo that visits Ireland for a relative’s destination wedding and ends up on a road trip through the beautiful European country 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: has read “Love & Gelato” & Enjoys the author’s storytelling

Title: The Hate You Give

Author: Angie Thomas

Genre: Fiction, Historical 

This book is about: a teenage girl named Starr Carter who is a minority and lives in a poor neighborhood. After the shooting of her best friend, she struggles to get her voice out. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: is young because it allows them to gain confidence about getting their voice heard.

Title: One of Us is Lying

Author: Karen M McManus

Genre: Mystery

This book is about: Five kids who are sent to detention but only four walk out alive. They are all suspects to his murder, and must find the true killer. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes murder mysteries, suspense, and realistic fiction

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Marcus Zusak

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Fantasy/ Sad Story

This book is about: Liesel, a girl who lives in Germany during World War 2. She learns to read with her adopted family by using books that were stolen. The story is told from Death’s perspective

We would recommend this book to anyone who: is interested in hearing a perspective of World War 2 told by someone from Germany

Title: She Gets the Girl

Author: Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

Genre: Romance

This book is about: Alex and Molly don’t have much in common, except for their lack of luck in their respective love lives. By helping Molly get her dream girl and gaining Alex’s ex’s trust, they find love throughout this story. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: binges romantic comedies on Netflix and loves LGBTQ+ stories!

Title: Between the Shades of Gray

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Genre: Historical Fiction

This book is about: a Lithuania girl named Lina trying to survive World War 2. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: would love a compelling historical fiction book!

Title: Geekerella

Author: Ashley Poston

Genre: Romance, Fairy Tales

This book is about: a retelling of Cinderella by two different teenagers. A surprise meeting leads to a surprise romance between two unlikely people. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes a retelling, or a story with a happy ending

Title: Instructions for Dancing

Author: Nicola Yoon

Genre: Romance

This book is about: Evie, a senior in high school who begins to take dance lessons after she has visions of the future of different couples. Evie eventually sees her own future and has to decide what is most important to her 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: is looking for a good book to read. 

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Genre: Dystopia, Romance, Action

This book is about: Beatrice Prior makes unexpected choices in a world where you must be careful what you choose. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes more than one genre

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Genre: Dystopian, Romance

This book is about: America Singer who gets an opportunity that many would consider the opportunity of a lifetime.

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes a good romance novel.

Title: So This is Christmas

Author: Tracy Andreen

Genre: Christmas, Romance

This book is about: Finley Brown who returns home after her semester at boarding school. Things are not going as she planned. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: Is looking for a good Christmas Romance

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Author: Jenny Han

Genre: romance/fiction

This book is about: Isabel Conklin returns to the summer house every year since age 0 with her brother and her mom’s best friends two sons Jeremiah and Conrad. She’s been pining for Conrad as long as anyone can remember. But this year is going to be different.

We would recommend this book to anyone who: Wants a hartfelt summer read and characters that will make you love and hate them

Title: Roman and Jewel

Author: Dana L. Davis

Genre: fiction/romance (YA)

This book is about: superstar Cinny steals Jerzie’s spot as the lead in a new Broadway Romeo & Juliet retelling. Even as understudy, Jerzie begins falling for he male lead, Zeppelin. A video of the two of them practicing goes viral and the fans get upset Cinny’s still the lead.  

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves Broadway

Title: Cool For The Summer

Author: Dahlia Adler

Genre: contemp. fiction/romance [LGBTQIA+] (YA)

This book is about: Lara spends her summer in a romantic daze with a girl named Jasmine, far from home. When that year the boy she’s crushed on forever shows interest she’s conflicted. And then Jasmine shows up in her hometown for the school year. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: likes a good summer romance - complicated

 

Title: The Year I Stopped Trying

Author: Katie Heaney

Genre: contemp. Romance [LGBTQIA] [YA]

This book is about: Mary is a junior in HS, and an overachiever who misses an assignment. When she realizes the world hasn’t ended it starts a journey of self discoveries where she learns how to define herself as more than “good” 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves dark humor and discovering characters alongside them

Title: Lovely War

Author: Julie Berry

Genre: Historical Fiction/romance

This book is about: The romance of a pianist and soldier during WW1 & WW2 told by the goddess Aphrodite. She must convince the god Hephaestus that she is innocent in her fling with the god Ares. And that neither could ever love her by showing them what real love looks like. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: loves the classic stories of triumph, love, and tragedy

Title: The Rest of the Story

Author: Sarah Dessen

Genre: realistic fiction/romance

This book is about: a girl named Saylor who’s mom died and goes back to the lake where she grew up. Finds new family and becomes a part of North Lake. Discovering her childhood friend Roo, all grown up. 

We would recommend this book to anyone who: enjoys reading heartache and new love