Staff Picks: Kids and Teens

We’ve drawn together a selection of books enjoyed by our colleagues in Dublin City Libraries this year. 

You can reserve all the books listed here, and collect from a library of your choosing. 

If you don’t have a library card, contact your local library and they will help you to join; see here for more information on library membership. Or contact us at [email protected]. We’re always happy to help. Happy Christmas and happy reading to all of you from all of us here in Dublin City Libraries.

Children’s books

• The Truth About Riley by Sinéad Moriarty: when Riley’s dad dies suddenly, leaving behind a mountain of debt, the life that Riley is used to starts crumbling around her – a timely and thought-provoking new story for young readers from one of Ireland’s best-loved storytellers.,
• Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan; illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald: unsung stories from ancient Irish myths re-imagined for nine to twelve-year olds.
• The Sackville Street Caper by Alan Nolan: when Bram Stoker runs away from boarding school and meets streetwise Molly Malone, he finds all the excitement he’s ever wanted! Together they explore Dublin city, with its Sackville Street Spooks, hoodlums and heroes.
• Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City by Rob Biddulph:  some legends are born, some are drawn – a great story full of twists and turns.
• You Can Do It: How To Find Your Voice And Make A Difference, written by Marcus Rashford with Carl Anka; with contributions from Shannon Weber: packed with more inspiring stories from Marcus's own life, brilliant advice, and top-tips from social justice educator Shannon Weber, this book will show you how to use your voice and make a difference in this world.
• A Robot Squashed My Teacher by Pooja Puri; illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan: wacky, fun and imaginative, a great adventure story.

Teen books

• Let's talk... About Relationships, Sex and Intimacy by Richie Sadlier: a ground-breaking new book for teenage boys that talks about the stuff they really want to talk about, learn and understand.
• Unraveller by Frances Hardinge: in a world where anyone can create life-destroying curses, only one person has the power to unravel them – intricate and creepy and brilliant.
• Run for your life by Jane Mitchell: running links the two parts of Azari's life: sometimes when she runs it is because she wants to, because she feels strong and free. But sometimes it is because she has no other choice – Run for Your Life is a sensitive depiction of life for a child asylum seeker in detention; a thoroughly-researched piece of work that is the first in dealing with Ireland's inhumane system.
• Rock, Paper, Killers by Alexia Mason: when five Dublin teenagers arrive at a rural coastal college to cram for their final exams, their most pressing concern is the prospect of a month with no partying. Little do they know that one of them will never make it back home – a gripping thriller with a shocking twist.
• When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill: in a world where girls and women are taught to be quiet, the dragons inside them are about to be set free.
• The First To Die At The End by Adam Silvera: in this prequel to They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast make their first fateful calls – tender, sad and hopeful, full of emotion and suspense.