Teens/Tweens

Resources for Students

Britannica Fundamentals

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Designed for Pre-K to 2nd grade, Britannica Fundamentals helps young children play and read as they explore letters, numbers, shapes, animals, and more — all in a fun, interactive way!

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Britannica School Elementary

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Perfect for grades 3–4, Britannica School Elementary makes learning fun and easy! Discover facts about countries, animals, and people, and explore educational videos, games, and hands-on activities.

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Britannica School Middle

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Designed for grades 5–7, World Book Student offers maps, photos, articles, and information about famous people and places. Compare countries, explore the U.S.A., and find reliable resources for homework help or to satisfy your curiosity.

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Explora for High schools

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Give students, educators, and administrators on-the-go access to popular e-books. This robust collection includes a selection of classic literary works, important historical documents, and general reference materials.

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Explora for Middle schools

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This e-book collection supports a quality learning experience for 5th-8th grade students across all subject areas taught in elementary and middle schools.

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Explora for Primary schools

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Build strong literacy skills in students from pre-K to 8th grade by offering digital access to award-winning, short-form fiction and nonfiction titles.

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Book Recommendations for Tweens & Teens

Image for "Honor Flight: Celebrating America's Veterans"

Honor Flight: Celebrating America's Veterans

"A solemn and respectful reminder to younger readers of what was paid and what is owed." --School Library Journal (starred review)

The team behind Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier join forces to create a touching companion book honoring military veterans and the program that keeps their contribution alive.

Located in our nation's capital are monuments dedicated to the service members who fought in the last century's wars. Visitors line up to gaze at the Iwo Jima Memorial, stark against the sky; the solemn Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the national World War II Memorial with its circle of unity; the Korean War Veterans Memorial; and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, engraved with tens of thousands of names. It is here that the Honor Flight program has brought some 300,000 aging veterans, all of them deserving a chance to see their commitment and sacrifice honored and commemorated. Told in the voice of an anonymous veteran, Jeff Gottesfeld's first-person narrative conveys the emotional impact of a visit that not only encompasses a tour of the monuments but also includes moving tributes from friends and schoolchildren and ends with the kind of welcome home that some of the veterans had never received. Matt Tavares's striking illustrations bring readers close to both Washington's timeless monuments and the veterans whose role in history will never be forgotten. An afterword and notes from the author provide more information for curious readers.

Image for "The Bond That Burns (Deluxe Limited Edition)"

The Bond That Burns (Deluxe Limited Edition)

The deluxe limited edition of The Bond That Burns features stenciled edges, custom endpapers, and a jacket with metallic effects! This breathtaking hardcover edition is available only on the first printing and is a must-have for any book lover while supplies last in the US and Canada.



At Bloodwing Academy, blood is currency, but a dragon's legacy is priceless--and as dangerous as fire.



I thought surviving my first year in Bloodwing's deadly halls would be enough. I was wrong.



I accidentally woke a dragon--a creature of myth, of death, of fire.



Now every highblood house wants control over me and the dragon's legacy I carry. But here's the truth: I have no control. I'm bluffing my way through every encounter, trying to keep everyone from realizing that I'm not the one pulling the dragon's strings.



And then there's Blake Drakharrow. I thought he was on my side, that I might even be able to trust him. But he betrayed me. Now I'm his only blood source. How messed up is that? In a place like Bloodwing, where power and survival are everything, this bond may well be the death of us both. Unless I can find a way to end it.



In this world of vampires, dragons, and lies, there are no happy endings. Just legends--and the darkness it takes to make them.



READ THE ENTIRE BLOODWING ACADEMY SERIES!

 

  • Book 1: On Wings of Blood
  • Book 2: The Bond That Burns
  • Book 3: The Wings That Bind
  • Book 4 coming Fall 2026!





FOR FANS OF:

 

  • Enemies-to-lovers
  • Dark Academia
  • Morally Grey Men
  • Forced Proximity
  • Vampires and Dragon Riders
  • Fourth Wing meets A Court of Thorns and Roses with a hint of Vampire Academy



 

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The Road from Nowhere

Inside one of America's most troubled periods of economic crisis, The Road From Nowhere, from master storyteller and Newbery medalist Avi, is both a tightly plotted adventure and a big-hearted tale of boyhood that explores what it means to put a name to the feelings we're taught to push down far into the earth.

There's one road in Gatchett's Gluch--population forty-five--a silver mining town in the high Colorado desert. That means there's only one way in and one way out.

Fourteen-year-old Ollie feels trapped and restless, desperate to find his own lode of silver, so he can gain riches and get his family out of the town. As the man of the house, he feels that's his job, just as his younger brother Gus's job is to ask question after question. Though Ollie is unwilling to admit it, he doesn't have all the answers. He can't even read, unlike Alys, the only girl and only friend he has outside of Gus.

Meanwhile, a man who calls himself a geologist has arrived in town. Not only can he read books, he can read rocks, the first person that Ollie has ever seen who looks at rocks with fascination, not desperation. Most important, he knows how to stake a silver claim. So when Ollie, Gus, and Alys stumble upon a cave rich with silver and form a friendship with that geologist, the future suddenly looks good. The problem: Elijah Gatchett runs the Gulch and claims all its silver. Men have been kicked out--or shot at--for seeking it on their own. But for the kids, the only thing worse than their families staying under Gatchett's thumb is getting run out of town with not so much as a penny in their pockets.

The kids are desperate to find an answer. It may lay in that dark cave. How Ollie, Gus, and Alys navigate all this--with a surprising ending--is an old-west adventure that has never been told before.

 

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There's Always Next Year

"A snow-kissed, warmhearted ode to new beginnings, second chances, and the real, enduring magic of love and community." —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

From New York Times-bestselling author George M. Johnson and USA Today-bestselling author Leah Johnson comes a revolutionary new holiday romcom for fans of Lynn Painter, Alice Oseman, and Nicola Yoon.

Andy was supposed to shed her too-serious student journalist persona and reinvent herself on New Year's Eve. Instead, she puked on her crush, dropped her phone in a fish tank, and managed to get her car stolen. Now, she only has the first day of the year to stop the gentrification that’s threatening her family’s business, right her wrongs from the night before, and figure out why she feels so drawn to the electric new-girl-next-door. How can Andy find her voice when everything’s being turned upside down?

Dominique is an influencer on the verge of securing a major brand deal that will ensure his future and family legacy. But when he runs into his former best friend, unresolved feelings emerge -- and in a small town, there's nowhere to hide. Not from his cousin, Andy, who has always seen him for his true self, not from his busybody manager, Kim, whose favorite color is money green, and certainly not from himself. When all the world’s a stage, can Dominique rise to superstardom without leaving behind the ones he loves?

There’s Always Next Year is a dual POV, double love story about what it means to nearly blow your life up, and race to put it back together before your time runs out. And if Andy and Dominique fail? Well, there’s always next year.

Image for "The Story of Corrie Ten Boom"

The Story of Corrie Ten Boom

The Life of Corrie ten Boom Inspires Young Readers to Love Their Neighbors and Forgive Those Who Persecute Them

Corrie ten Boom was a watchmaker, prisoner, and World War II hero who helped hundreds of Jews escape persecution amid the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Despite her bravery, the risks she was willing to take ultimately led to her capture and imprisonment. After her release, Corrie was again met face-to-face with the prison guard who caused so much pain. Her life story raises the question, Is it possible to forgive the unforgivable?

This short and lively biography takes middle-grade readers on an exciting journey through ten Boom's life, highlighting her upbringing, her family's covert operations, and her most remarkable achievement of all--forgiving those who persecuted her. Ten Boom's story acts as a witness to the world, demonstrating the power of mercy and the value of spreading the message of God's love, regardless of one's present situation. Featuring illustrations, maps, timelines, bonus sidebars, and study questions, this addition to the Lives of Faith and Grace series engages kids ages 8-13 in the drama of history, showing how God worked in the past through ordinary people like them.

  • Lively Biography: Explores the life of Corrie ten Boom and her family's covert operations to save hundreds of Jews from enduring persecution in Europe
  • Teaches Forgiveness: Ten Boom shows love and forgiveness to the person who seems most unforgivable, the prison guard who persecuted her
  • Written for Kids Ages 8-13: This short format includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and bonus sidebars to help young readers stay engaged
  • Part of the Lives of Faith and Grace Series: Engages kids with the real-life stories of Christian men and women from history

Featured Books

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Pocket Bear

Thimble-born from tip to toe, Pocket Bear remembers every moment of his becoming: the glimmering needle, the silken thread, the tender hands as each careful stitch brought him closer to himself. Born during the throes of WWI, he was designed to be a mere 3 1/2 inches tall, perfectly sized to fit into the pocket of a soldier's jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, glancing at his pocket, a soldier would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm. Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, a Maine Coon known far and wide as "The Cat Burglar," have seen it all, and then some. But when an ancient-looking stuffed bear named Berwin arrives at Second Chances, even worldly-wise Pocket is astounded. Berwin, it soon becomes clear, is worth millions of dollars. Part of the first lot of stuffed bears ever created--then apparently lost at sea-- collectors all over the world would stop at nothing to possess him. Pocket knows Berwin's sale could solve many problems for his struggling family at Second Chances. But he also knows Berwin, comically naive and long-sheltered, pines desperately for the things Pocket's already seen in abundance: real life, with all its adventures and trials, and true love, with all its heartbreak and joy. When Berwin ends up at auction, it's up to Pocket and Zephyrina to rescue their new friend from a bleak future, forever trapped in a glass display case. Real life and true love may well await. But so do difficult choices, the hardest Pocket has ever faced. An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket reminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.

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Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics: The Graphic Novel

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES WITH MORE THAN TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD—NOW FULL-COLOR, FUN-PACKED GRAPHIC NOVELS!

Discover what James Patterson calls “the coolest library in the world.” Follow along and solve the clues in this interactive graphic novel featuring Mr. Lemoncello’s first-ever Library Olympics! From the co-author of Murdle Jr.: Sleuths on the Loose and illustrator of The Last Kids on Earth

“Lots of action and quirky humor will lead kids to do just what libraries encourage them to do: keep reading.” —The Washington Post, on Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics

The world-famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello is at it again! This time Mr. Lemoncello has invited teams from across America for the debut of the Library Olympics. Kyle Keeley knows that the competition is fierce. But something suspicious is going on—books are missing from the shelves! Is someone trying to censor what the kids are reading? Now it’s not just a game, and Kyle and his friends will have to band together to get to the bottom of this mystery. Let the games begin!

The Lemoncello books are laugh-out-loud, puzzle-packed must-reads for classrooms and homes across America. Look for the whole series!
Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game (the prequel)
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (also a graphic novel)
Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics (also a graphic novel)
Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race
Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket
Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale

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Gorgeous Gruesome Faces

A cutthroat K-pop competition leads to a dark obsession in this twisty sapphic horror-romance. Perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting and Yellowjackets.

"A perfect blend of folk horror and dazzling showbiz that will grip you from page one." ―Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times-bestselling author of She is a Haunting

"The sweetest spot between horror and romance." ―Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights

You’ll love them to death . . .

Two years have passed since Sunny Lee lost her best friend Mina in a mysterious death. With their other BFF, Candie, the trio had been the hottest up-and-coming teen pop group, until it all suddenly ended. And Sunny can't help but wonder if Candie had something to do with it.

Now, Sunny is still seeking answers. When she discovers that Candie is attending a new K-pop workshop, Sunny follows, hoping to uncover the reason why Mina died... and why she died so violently. Sunny and Candie's reunion is haunted by more than Mina's death as the old spark between them returns, even stronger than before. But there's no time for romance when the lines between nightmare and reality start to blur, leaving their competitors' bodies bizarrely maimed and mutilated. To survive, Sunny must expose the dark secrets surrounding Candie and the workshop's twisted promise for fame. 

Stitched with cutting commentary on the ugly side of stardom and impossible beauty standards, Linda Cheng’s mind-bending, feminist thriller will have readers screaming and swooning for more.

*Don't miss the chilling companion novel, Beautiful Brutal Bodies, coming Fall 2025*

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Dreamslinger

Amari and the Night Brothers meets Pokémon in this thrilling start to Graci Kim's brand-new fantasy series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life

Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge lives at the Resthaven Home for Dreamslingers, a safe haven for children born with a genetic mutation that transports them to a powerfully magical realm while they sleep. But this magic can be unpredictable--even deadly. After all, it was only ten years ago when members of the Royal League of Dreamslingers caused the Great Outburst--a tragedy that killed hundreds of people, including Aria's mom. 

Since then, Aria's dad has become leading expert on Dreamslinger Welfare, which means Aria knows better than most what it takes to keep society safe from her, and others like her: separation, identification, and most importantly, power suppression.

So when the Kingdom of Royal Hanguk--home of the Dreamslinger League--announces the first Dreamslinger trials where teenage slingers from around the world are invited to compete for a chance to join the League and learn how to use their powers, Aria knows what she must do: join the trials and take down the League from the inside. 

But the Trials introduce Aria to a world of wonderous magic and friendship, a world where she finally feels like she belongs. And as dark secrets from the past are revealed--ones that make Aria question her very identity--she becomes even more determined to discover the truth for herself. She just has to survive the trials first.

Image for "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon (Standard Edition)"

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon (Standard Edition)

A New York Times and IndieBound bestseller!



From award-winning and bestselling author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin comes a gorgeously full-color illustrated story about a lion cub and a girl who must open a portal for the spirits, based on Chinese folklore.



Jin is a Stone Lion--one of the guardians of the Old City Gate who is charged to watch over humans and protect the Sacred Sphere. But to Jin, those boring duties feel like a waste of time.



What isn't a waste of time? Perfecting his zuqiu kick, scoring a Golden Goal, and becoming the most legendary player of all the spirit world.



But when Jin's perfect kick accidentally knocks the Sacred Sphere out through the gate, he has no choice but to run after it, tumbling out of the realm he calls home and into the human world as the gate closes behind him.



Stuck outside the gate, Jin must find help from unlikely allies, including a girl who can hear a mysterious voice and a worm who claims he is a dragon. Together, they must find the sphere and return it to the world beyond the gate...or risk losing everything.



Award-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin returns with another gorgeously illustrated adventure story about duty, love, and balance--expertly written in the vein of the Newbery Honor winner and modern classic Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Based on Chinese Folklore, this beautiful novel features ten full-page pieces of stunning full-color art, as well as intricate chapter header illustrations.

Visit the Teen Room

Collage of three different angles of the teen room showing desks, chairs, and fireplace

The Tamarack District Library has a room that is set aside just for teens and tweens to hang out and socialize. A tv is set up for Wii and Nintendo Switch gaming (see front desk for games and controllers) as well as DVD’s. We also provide a selection of table and card games for young people to play on site. You will frequently find our afterschool programs here, as well. All of our Tween/Teen books are now found in the main section of the library for easy access for everyone.