JCPL Teens

We had all of the teen librarians from JCPL choose their two favorite books of 2012. We'll be posting two librarians' picks a day. You can check out or place a hold on any of the titles listed at any of our libraries. And let us know what your choices are in the comments section. Enjoy!

Tana, Teen Librarian at the Arvada Library:

Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride: This book is so much fun! Why? Well, let’s see… There’s a werebear best friend who likes to skateboard AND sit on your enemies, an army of angry gnomes (with eccentric and thrilling names like, Chauncey the Devourer of Souls…), there’s a pygmy chupacabra that adores beef jerky, a manservant that can change into a cat or tiny, flying dragon and just happens to have a tear jerker backstory. Well developed characters engage in a vivid and unpredictable universe with humor, compassion and believable reactions. I mean, come on! Would your best friend stop being your best friend just because she had become a disembodied head?

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama: You know how some books have those boring parts that you have to try to get through to get to the good stuff? This isn’t one of those books! Alternating chapters tell the story of Syrenka the mermaid who falls in love with Ezra in the 1874 and becomes human and Hester, a modern teen who fears for her future. A story of land and sea, love and loss, and the terrible unintended consequences that sometimes result from good intentions.

Chandra, Teen Librarian at the Belmar Library:

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga: Jazz grew up with his serial-killer father. Now that his father’s in jail, he’s trying to finally get on with his life. But a copy-cat killer in his hometown is making people wonder if Jazz is following in his father’s footsteps. Jazz is determined to hunt down the killer and prove he’s different.

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl: Althea is seventeen, and the only person in her house trying to keep the castle that her late father left behind. She’s also busy trying to find a man to marry that has enough money to pay for castle upkeep. She’s in hot pursuit of the rich (and aptly named) Lord Boring, but his companion Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in her way. My favorite part is when she serves tadpoles on toast to guests.