Title: "It" 
Author: Stephen King 
Genre: Horror 
Target audience: Teens/Adults

1200 pages for a book may seem long, but in the case of Stephen King’s book "It", it is not nearly enough. It is about seven kids living in the fictional town of Derry, Maine and the unnatural events that occur every 27 years in the town. As soon as they think the terror in the town has ended, they get called back to finish the job that they have started. The thing is though, none of them clearly remember what happened when they were kids. Who would know that the thing keeping these kids’ bond together is the nightmare they share. This is an amazing book for people who love the "King of Horror" and horror itself. I had a great time reading this book and I believe that fans of this genre and author would enjoy it too.

Title: "Pet Sematary" 
Author: Stephen King 
Genre: Horror 
Target audience: Teens/Adults 

Stephen King’s "Pet Sematary" has to be one of the scariest novels Stephen King has written. This story is about how Dr. Louis Creed gets a new job and he and his family have to move to the small town of Ludlow, Maine. When he arrives at his new house, he gets introduced to his neighbor across the street Jud Crandall. After being introduced, Jud shows Louis the makeshift pet cemetery behind Louis’s house. Little did he know the consequences of burying your pet. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. This book was extraordinarily disturbing, but there is no other way it could have been written and I highly recommend reading it someday.

"Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Target Audience: Teens/Adults 
“Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro takes place in a futuristic society where advanced robots, called Artificial Friends, are bought to be a child’s companion. The story is told through the perspective of Klara, an Artificial Friend, who is taken home to live with a sick girl named Josie and her mother. Klara observes human behavior, noticing the many aspects of emotions and relationships. While becoming a part of Josie’s household, Klara begins to notice the
troubles of technology and how it has affected the people around her. The target audience for “Klara and the Sun” is teenagers who enjoy reading slow-paced dystopian novels that touch on technology. I definitely recommend reading this, as it is an appealing storyline that discusses important topics that could easily affect our future.

"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding tells the story of a group of boys that arrive on a deserted island after their plane crashes. Once stranded, they explore the island and attempt to govern themselves, creating roles and splitting into groups. However, the order they established was short-lived, as the island slowly fell into chaos and violence. The novel explores the natural darkness of human nature and the differences between civilization and savagery. The target audience for “Lord of the Flies” is teenagers who are interested in novels about survival, the structure of civilization, and human nature. I would definitely recommend this to others, as it has a memorable storyline and addresses the deeper meaning of humanity.

Title: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
Genre: Literary Fiction
Audience: Teens/Adults 

Summary: "Fahrenheit 451" is a chilling dystopian science-fiction novel set in a world of disconnected and indoctrinated people. It follows the protagonist, Guy Montag, as he reconsiders his job as a fireman (profession of burning books), and henceforth reconsiders his entire place in society. 

Target audience: The novel’s complex diction and language may be difficult to understand for younger audiences, as well as the nuance of both the explicit and implicit themes. Target audience would be young adults or older. 

Recommendation: Bradbury’s masterful writing style and storytelling provide abundant thought-provoking imagery within every paragraph. With each passing year, the predictions he made in 1950, for the future of society, are ever more eerily accurate. I would recommend this for people, especially young people around my age, to read this in order to heed Bradbury’s warning of what our future may hold. 

Title: "The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún" (Vol. 1) by NAGABE
Genre: Manga
Audience: Teens 

Summary: "The Girl from the Other Side" is a charming, fantastical manga which follows a young girl, Shiva, and her monstrous-looking companion named Teacher. They live life on the ‘outside’ of the human world of light, encased by a dark forest contrasted by the small, but lively cabin they reside in. 

Target audience: I would say this manga could be targeted by anyone who enjoys fantasy, brilliant artwork, and stories revolving around otherness. 

Recommendation: I was enticed by the cover’s cute but nonetheless unsettling artwork, and I was not disappointed. The art is absolutely phenomenal, conveying the eeriness of the environment alongside the warmth of the character’s interactions. Its themes hit gut wrenchingly close to home as the idea of the ‘outsider’ is developed, and they are only emulsified by the spectacularly expressive art style. I’ve only read the first volume, but I will most definitely be returning to check out more of the story. 

Title: "Witch Hat Atelier" vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama 
Genre: Manga
Audience: Teens 

Summary: "Witch Hat Atelier" is a manga about a naive, young girl named Coco who is suddenly thrust into the world of magic that she has dreamed of being a part of her entire life, but at a terrible cost. As she navigates the new domain, she is accompanied by her mentor, Qifrey, and the three other apprentices of the atelier. 

Target Audience: This manga is targeted toward anyone who is an enjoyer of fantasy and coming of age stories. No age restrictions, and I think anyone of any age could find this appealing. 

Recommendation: I would absolutely, wholeheartedly recommend this. Every single page from just the first volume is an absolute masterpiece, and just on the art alone I would want people to read it. But the story is absolutely captivating, warm, and evokes such a magical fondness for every piece crafted to fit into its magical world. It has some of the most brilliant artwork and writing I’ve ever seen—highly recommended. 

Title: "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini 
Genre: Manga
Audience: Teens 

Summary: "The Kite Runner" is about a young boy named Amir from Afghanistan as he navigates the moral complexities of the people around him, as well as himself. It follows his life starting from his childhood all the way to his late 30s 

Target Audience: This book contains graphic, although not explicit, depictions of sexual assault. I would be cautious of the heavy imagery and emotionally sensitive topics, and understand that the target audience should be one with maturity. 

Recommendation: I enjoyed the story and its exploration of the various concepts, and I can definitely understand that it’s a tearjerker for many. Personally, I would say that it was a good read and if someone asked me about it, I would express it as such—but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to people. It has a writing style that I think would appeal to many teens, while also expressing several complex ideas through the lens of a hero’s journey.

Title: “Secret of the Red Arrow" by Franklin W. Dixon
Target audience: Children 
Genre: Mystery 

The first Hardy Boys books were published in 1927. This book is the first of a new series, Hardy Boys Adventures, and was published in 2013. This story follows teenagers Frank and Joe Hardy, who were forced to retire from investigating. They come across the Red Arrow, a group that causes destruction and harm to those who have been marked with a red arrow. Their goal is to solve the mystery without being seen by the government and this group. This book is mainly for kids. I recommend this book for people who love mystery books.

Title: “Mystery of the Phantom Heist" by Franklin W. Dixon
Target audience: Children 
Genre: Mystery 

The story continues as a sequel of “Secret of the Red Arrow.” Lindsay Peyton, a wealthy teenager is having a sweet sixteen party. But a group of people called the Scaredevils are vandalizing her property, as well as other properties within the city. During the party, Frank and Joe disguise themselves to try to catch these criminals in the act. This book is written for children. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries.

Title: "Allies" by Alan Gratz 
Target Audience: Middle School/High School  
Genre: Nonfiction 

This book tells the story of D-Day through the eyes of multiple young characters, each experiencing the invasion from a different perspective. The novel shifts between narrators like Dee, a young American soldier hiding his true identity, Samira, a French-Algerian girl working with the Resistance, and several others whose paths cross on June 6, 1944. As the story unfolds, each character faces danger, makes difficult choices and discovers what courage means. Gratz uses themes of bravery, identity and sacrifice to highlight how young people played important roles during World War II. I would say that this book is targeted towards middle school and early high school readers who enjoy fast-paced stories with a strong historical setting. I would recommend this book to other teens who like short chapters and learning about history through fiction.

Title: "First Person Singular" by Haruki Murakami 
Target Audience: Teens/Adults
Genre: Fiction 

"First Person Singular" by Haruki Murakami is a series of surreal short stories, all narrated by unnamed male characters who reflect on past experiences, strange encounters and the unclear line between memory and imagination. The stories range from an encounter with a talking monkey to a reflection on an old girlfriend and a Beatles record. As each narrator dives into his own thoughts, Murakami explores themes of loneliness, nostalgia, music and the strangeness of everyday life. He combines the real with the surreal in a dreamlike style. I would say that this book is targeted towards adults who appreciate reflective stories that don’t always have clear conclusions. I would recommend this book to teens who enjoy poetic writing and stories that make you think.

Title: "Better Than the Movies" by Lynn Painter
Target audience: YA
Genre: Comedy, Romance 

Summary: This book follows 17-year-old Liz as she experiences her senior year. She has always dreamed of her fairy tale love story and always seems to fall short of anything close to it. When her childhood crush, Michael, returns,  Liz sees the chance of her lifetime. She gets the help of her neighbor, Wes. However, as Liz spends more time with Wes, she begins to question whether her idealized version of love is really what she wants after all. This is a story of real life type of love and understanding that things are not always as they seem. I would definitely recommend "Better Than the Movies" to other teens, especially those who enjoy rom-coms or books about self-discovery. If you're a fan of movies or books like "To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before", this is a perfect read for you!

Title: "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
Target Audience: YA (includes mature themes)
Genre: Identity, Adolescence  

Summary: "The Catcher in the Rye" follows Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist. The novel is narrated from his point of view as he recounts his days in New York City after leaving school, avoiding going home to face his parents. Throughout the novel, Holden struggles with his identity, the lies of the adult world and his deep sense of loneliness. Holden’s voice is raw and honest, and while his cynicism can be off-putting at times, it also reflects real struggles that many struggling in silence face. I would share that anyone who reads this may be impacted by the story in a way that may surprise them. This is definitely a more advanced read but if you get through it, you will understand some of the harsher truths of a different perspective.

Title: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
Target Audience: YA
Genre: Fiction, Tragedy 

Summary: "The Great Gatsby" is a classic American novel set during the Roaring Twenties, a time of wealth, excess, and societal change. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, he becomes entangled in the mysterious world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties in hopes of rekindling a lost love with Daisy, whom he once loved. I would definitely recommend "The Great Gatsby" to other teens, especially those interested in reading more about historical settings and the disillusionment that often accompanies the pursuit of success. The writing is elegant and thought-provoking, drawing readers into a world of wealth and glamour while quietly revealing its moral decay. The story’s themes of love, betrayal, and the unattainable ideal of the American Dream are still incredibly relevant today, making it a timeless read. While it may seem like a tragic love story on the surface, it’s really about the illusion of happiness and the ways in which people deceive themselves and others.

Title: "Icarus" by K. Ancrum
Target Audience: YA
Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Mental Health

Summary: "Icarus" by K. Ancrum is an emotionally charged novel that blends mystery, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships. Icarus Gallagher who is a professional thief with his father and is trying to pull off a heist to prove himself. Along the way he meets Helios, the son of the infamous man he is trying to rob. They quickly grow closer and continue to break every rule that Gallagher’s father set up to protect his son. In the end he has to make a complicated choice over his career or his friendship. This story is told like a book of poems and creates such complex ideals of each of the characters. Each character has their own set of flaws and complications connected to Icarus. I would recommend this story to anyone that was a fan of "Lose You to Love Me" by Erik J. Brown.

Title: "Promchanted" by Morgan Matson
Target Audience: YA
Genre: Romance, Fantasy 

Summary: "Promchanted" is a whimsical and heartwarming story about senior girl Stella, who has been obsessing over her high school prom for years. Her dreams of a perfect prom night seem to be coming true when she finds the perfect dress and plans everything down to the smallest detail. You could say she is definitely something of a perfectionist. She gets swept into the alternate world of Disney’s "Sleeping Beauty". She faces an enemies-to-lovers arc with Reece who gets stuck in this crazy dream-like scenario with her. This all happened because of a pre-prom trip to Disneyland! They need to get the iconic story back on track or they will lose their chance of getting to prom on time. This story uses lots of Disney references and creates an amazing world around anyone who picks it up. 

Title: "Summer of Broken Rules" by K.L. Walther
Target Audience: YA 
Genre: Rom-Com, Fiction

Summary: "Summer of Broken Rules" follows Meredith, a 17-year-old girl who is grieving the sudden loss of her sister. She heads to her family’s annual summer getaway, she bonds with her family and grows closer to a boy named Brooks. Their summer includes a fun family tradition of playing Mafia, which acts as both a literal and symbolic game of secrets, and twister trust. It appeals to readers who are navigating similar feelings of loss, self-discovery, and the complexities of growing up. The summer setting and the family dynamics add layers of depth to the plot, making it more than just a typical romance. The unique inclusion of the Mafia game provides a fun, metaphorical layer that complements the emotional themes of the story. While there are moments of lighthearted romance, the deeper emotional arcs make this book an insightful and heartfelt read. This book strongly reminds me of the movie Anyone but You so anyone who enjoyed that will love this!

Title: "Eragon" (The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1)
Author: Christopher Paolini
Target Audience: YA
Genre: Fantasy Adventure 

Summary: "Eragon" is the first book in The Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini. The story follows a young farm boy named Eragon, who discovers a stone that turns out to be a dragon egg. The dragon hatches and Eragon enters a world of magic. Along the way, he meets new friends, and learns secrets about his own past that will change the course of his story. I would definitely recommend this book to other teens, especially those who love fantasy and adventure. The characters and plot are engaging enough to keep you hooked. If you're into dragons, magic and epic quests, Eragon is definitely worth checking out. 

Title: "Eldest" (The Inheritance Cycle, Book 2)
Author: Christopher Paolini
Target Audience: YA
Genre: Fantasy Adventure 

Summary: The second book picks up right where Eragon left off, continuing the story of Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they prepare for the next stage of their journey. After the events of the first book, Eragon travels to the elven city to train in magic and combat under the watchful eye of the wise elf, Oromis. The novel digs deeper into the harsh relationships between the characters, explores Eragon's growth as a Dragon Rider, and expands the world with new characters, settings, and conflicts. Themes of responsibility, loyalty, and the harsh realities of war are explored more deeply in this second book. I would recommend this book to anyone who deeply enjoyed the first story.

"Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse
Genre: Historical Fiction 

"Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse follows teenage girl Billie Jo Kelby and a year living in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. In a town dependent on wheat harvests, Billie Jo and her family rely on rain to make it through the depression. Frequent dust storms ravage what little crops they can grow, leaving their future in the hands of the often precarious weather. A bad farming season and an unexpected development in her family cause worries to mount. Will Billie Jo follow her neighbors and move away from the panhandle? Or is she destined to never make it out of the dust? I recommend this book to younger readers interested in stories of drama and hardship. 

“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
Genre: Allegorical/Dystopian Fiction

“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding follows a group of British boys left stranded on an uninhabited island following a plane crash. With no adults present, the boys must fend for themselves whilst attempting to maintain order. Leaders are decided, rules are set, and months pass with no connection to the outside world. As their hope for rescue slowly fades, new power structures emerge that challenge the existing authority on the island. The island quickly divides between two forces: order and anarchy, forcing readers to question what it truly means to be human. I would highly recommend this book to any teens interested in psychology/government.

1. Teens in grades seven to 12 can earn four (4) service hours by writing two reviews (with a length of six to eight sentences) regarding any program, service or item at the Carlsbad City Library.
2. Within the email, the teen must state if the they are comfortable with sharing their review on the Teen website or in the Carlsbad City Library eNewsletter. The teen must include their name, the name of their school and their grade so the Teen Services staff can fill out the appropriate service hour form.
3. Teen must indicate how they would like their name displayed (school names or other identifying information will not be displayed). Recommendations would be either “Joe, grade 12” or “J. Smith, grade 12”. 
4. Teens can participate up to five times per school year  
5. Teens can email their reviews to  libraryteens@carlsbadca.gov or email if they need ideas on what to review.   
6. Within the review, it is recommended teens include the include the following information:  
   • The title of the item, program or service
   • The author of the item, program or service (if applicable) 
   • A short summary of the item, program or service 
   • The target audience/demographic for the item or service  
   • If the writer would recommend the item, program or service to another teen  
   • If the review focuses on a program and/or event, please be sure to include the date of the event and which location the event took place.