Time seems to be flying by this year! It feels as though New Years was only yesterday, yet somehow here we are in February already…
In honor of February, we decided to try our hand at book spine poetry. Go ahead, judge it! (Just don’t tell us if you think it’s bad. We’re sensitive!)
Why? No particular reason… Just kidding! We probably all know why.
With the 14th rapidly approaching, it seems like there’s no end to the Valentine’s Day reminders. From giant teddy bears to saccharine chocolates to cards with sappy sayings, we wouldn’t blame you if you’re getting a bit overwhelmed by all the romance in the air!
But love isn’t always the traditional Romeo and Juliet romance that is so often common this time of year. We know that love comes in all different forms– and we like to think that we have a book for all of them!
Here, we’ll prove it!
Looking for familial love? Try Far From the Tree!
Grace is an adoptive child, and to her knowledge she’s been an only child since birth. So imagine her surprise when she realizes she actually has an older brother and a younger sister! This is an emotional and touching read that manages to mix sibling love and found family into one big package.
Or maybe you’d rather read about the bonds between friends? No problem, Darius the Great is Not Okay has you covered!
This is a story that says sometimes it’s okay to not be okay– and with a friend in your corner, sometimes the hard things in life can feel a lot more manageable. Dealing with depression and uncertain how to fit in with either part of his Iranian American heritage. A large part of the book deals with how his first friend Sohrab helps Darius accept himself and feel like he belongs, and as a reader it’s beautiful to watch their friendship grow into a truly special connection.
On the romantic side of things, try Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun.
This feel-good book can best be described as the gay happily ever after we always wanted! Jules wasn’t planning to come out… but when he posts an impulsive tweet, suddenly his plans for a low-key future are gone and it feels like the whole world knows he’s gay. What starts off as a problem for Jules soon turns into a sweet long-distance relationship with his love interest Mat that you won’t want to miss!
Another great choice for a queer read is Imogen, Obviously.
Imogen is proud to consider herself the world’s greatest ally (and bff) to her lesbian friend Lili. Only when Lili’s friend Tessa comes into the picture, Imogen is faced with an important question about herself– is she really as straight as she thought? This is an adorable romance and coming of age combo, and *spoilers* also an important book for the bi representation it brings to the YA genre.
Last but not least, Wren Martin Ruins It All is a book that explores what it means to love when asexual.
A common assumption is that when someone’s asexual, they must also be aromantic and swear off romance entirely. That stereotype is the exact reason why Wren Martin has sworn off dating. But when he develops feelings for an anonymous boy online, Wren must realize that only he gets to define his own love story. It’s a good read that reminds audiences that asexual doesn’t always mean loveless.
Honorable mentions include The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School for more quality sapphic rep and One for All, a story with found family and self love themes all wrapped into a fun book inspired by The Three Musketeers.
But wait, there’s one other thing February is known for!
That’s right, February is Black History Month: a time to acknowledge the past while at the same time anticipating what the future may bring for the Black community. One display can’t even begin to encompass the literature that is a part of Black history, but we’ve given it our best shot. Our Black History Month display is located next to the teen crafts and is open to anyone interested in learning about the Black experience.
Black history doesn’t and shouldn’t end after just one month however. Our display will be gone at the end of February, but we also have book lists for any teens who want to continue reading on the topic. Our Black History reading list is an extended list that includes books that we can’t fit into our featured display, while our Black Voices reading list includes a variety of YA fiction and other genres that are by Black authors and feature Black characters at their center. These lists can be found by going to the reading lists on the TADL teen page and looking under Group Identity Lists– or you can just click the links to go directly to each list!