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Phantasma (2024), by Kaylie Smith, is a gothic fantasy romance in which a necromancer must compete in a deadly competition at a haunted manor to find her sister. She falls in love with a phantom. There’s also a ghost cat. Need I say more?

Written by Michelle J., Teen Services

Fahrenheit 451 was unsettling but interesting to read. It made me think about censorship and how dangerous it can be when people stop questioning authority. At first the story was confusing, but the message became clearer as it went on. The book feels especially relevant when you compare it to modern society. It’s thought-provoking and meaningful.

-Zunairah S

The Outsiders felt very real and emotional, especially because of how young the characters are. It focuses a lot on friendship, loyalty, and the struggle to belong. I liked how it showed that people are more than the labels society gives them. Even though it’s short, the story has a lot of meaning. It’s a book that stays with you.

-Zunairah S

Mercury Carter has a delivery to make to Rachel Stanfield. When Carter arrives at Rachel's house, he finds that Rachel and her husband Glenn are being held hostage by a guy named Finn and his henchmen. Carter just wants to make his delivery and leave, but Finn kidnaps Rachel and leaves with her before Carter can complete the task. Carter then finds himself, accompanied by Glenn, on Finn's trail trying to rescue Rachel because Finn is convinced that Rachel has information that he needs--and Finn is prepared to kill for it.

Divergent was an exciting book with a really interesting world. I liked how the story focused on identity and the pressure to fit into one group. The action scenes were intense, but the character development made the story even better. Tris’s growth throughout the book stood out to me. It’s a strong dystopian novel that keeps you engaged.

-Zunairah S

The Maze Runner was suspenseful and fast-paced, which made it hard to put down. The mystery of the maze kept me interested, and I liked how the characters had to work together to survive. At times it felt confusing, but that actually added to the tension of the story. The book does a good job of building suspense and keeping you guessing. It’s a great choice if you like action and mystery.

-Zunairah S

The Aosawa Murders (first published in Japan in 2004 and translated to English in 2020), by Riku Onda, centers on a mass poisoning at a birthday party in 1970s Japan, which killed 17 people including every member of the Aosawa family except for their daughter Hisako, who is blind.

The Fault in Our Stars was emotional in a very real way and didn’t feel overly dramatic. The characters felt genuine, and their conversations made the story feel honest and relatable. Even though it deals with heavy topics, there were moments of humor and warmth throughout. It made me think a lot about life, loss, and how people cope with difficult situations. Overall, it was a meaningful and memorable read.

Ladies in Waiting (2025), perfectly timed for Jane Austen’s recent 250^th birthday, is a charming collection of short stories featuring minor characters from Austen’s novels, such as Miss Bates, Georgiana Darcy, and Eliza Brandon.

The Hunger Games was a really intense and engaging book that pulled me in right away. The story does a great job showing how power and control can be abused, especially when people are treated as entertainment instead of humans. I liked how Katniss wasn’t a perfect hero but still stood up for what was right.

In The Passengers on the Hankyu Line (2025), we meet some people who travel on a train line in the Kansai region of Japan and hear their lightly interconnected stories. A man named Masashi develops an attraction for Yuki, who has similar reading tastes to his own.  Meanwhile, Shoko is on the train in a wedding dress, having just been to the wedding of her former fiancee.

For those who enjoyed the artwork of 'The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' manga's adaptation, the artists brings a new story to life with Kamudo vol 1 by Akira Himekawa. Within a world run by demi-beings, before humanity was even a concept, demi-dragons maintained order within the skyborne paradise called 'Hinoaruchi'.