Teen Scene August 2019 True Crime Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial by Rabia Chaudry The crime: the 1999 murder of high school senior Hae Min Lee, for which her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The aftermath: Adnan has always claimed to be innocent, and author Rabia Chaudry raises issues about the investigation and trial that might make you wonder if justice has truly been served.  Media buzz: If you remember Adnan’s case from the podcast Serial, you won’t want to miss the depth of detail in this compelling read.   The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller The crime: the 1892 hatchet murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother.  The aftermath: Newspaper accounts of the slaying were wildly sensational, and Lizzie's suspicious behavior, which led to her trial for the murders, only led to more rumors. Why you might like it: This intriguing book presents the evidence from the Borden trial with you-are-there vividness, allowing you to draw your own conclusions about these famous -- and still unsolved -- murders.   Chasing King's killer : the hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassin by James L. Swanson The award-winning author of The President Has Been Shot! presents a dramatic account of the assassination of Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that shares the story of his killer, racist prison escapee James Earl Ray. The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater The crime: In November of 2013, Sasha (a white, agender, middle-class teen) and Richard (a black, cisgender, disadvantaged teen) were riding a public bus in Oakland, California, when Richard set Sasha's skirt on fire.  The aftermath: In The 57 Bus, journalist Dashka Slater takes you beyond those bare facts, presenting an up-close look at the two teens' lives, both before and after the crime. Who it’s for: anyone interested in complicated questions of privilege, empathy, and justice. Bonnie and Clyde by James Buckley A behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it takes to be considered two of the worst figures in history. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are possibly the most famous and most romanticized criminals in American history. When the police found photos of them posing with guns and goofing around, they became media darlings. Bonnie and Clyde who really captured the public's imagination. Bad girls : sirens, Jezebels, murderesses, thieves, & other female villains by Jane Yolen An introduction to more than two dozen of history's most notorious women invites readers to draw their own conclusions while sharing the stories of such figures as Tituba, Lizzie Borden and Cleopatra, offering Yolen's contextual defenses of their innocence and Stemple's arguments about their guilt. Recent Releases Five Midnights by Ann Dávila Cardinal What it’s about: While visiting family in Puerto Rico, “Gringa-Rican” true crime fan Lupe is disturbed by a recent series of murders. When it looks like her missing cousin might be the next victim, Lupe and her reluctant ally Javier investigate, only to discover that the clues point to a notorious mythical monster. Why you might like it: a captivating combination of gritty, real-life danger and chilling supernatural horror. Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay What it’s about: Filipino American Jay is shocked and grief-stricken by the murder of his Filipino cousin, Jun -- how could someone like Jun get mixed up in the vigilante violence of President Duterte’s war on drugs? Fed up with his secretive family, Jay travels from the U.S. to the Philippines in search of answers. Who it’s for: readers in search of gripping family drama and unflinching, own voices insights into Filipino politics and growing up bicultural. Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian The setting: New York City during the AIDS crisis, 1989. The characters: talented fashion designer Judy; her best friend Art, the only out gay student at their high school; new student Reza, who’s petrified by the idea of coming out; and Stephen, Judy’s HIV-positive activist uncle. Read it for: complicated romance, chosen families and an emotionally charged glimpse into not-so-distant LGBTQIA history. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson Welcome to: Summershall, one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer, where sword-wielding apprentice librarian Elizabeth guards the grimoires, magical books that can transform into deadly monsters. What happens: After a horrifying attack on the library leaves Elisabeth branded a traitor, she reluctantly teams up with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demonic servant, Silas, to uncover and confront the true threat. For fans of: epic adventures, inventive systems of magic, and smoldering love stories. Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love by Elsie Chapman, editor What it is: a flavorful collection of interconnected, food-themed stories set at Hungry Hearts Row, where you can find multicultural meals of all kinds…with a bit of magic served on the side. What’s inside: a witch who cooks up vengeance, a girl who speaks through baked goods, a boy who meets a ghost at a food festival, and much more. Featuring: stories by Sandhya Menon, Sara Farizan, Anna-Marie McLemore, Rebecca Roanhorse, and Jay Coles, to name just a few. Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!