JANUARY 2026

LITKIT (A BOOK SUBSCRIPTION BOX)

YA BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

: BOOKS I WANT TO READ THIS YEAR - BUT WILL PROBABLY NOT =( :

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READ SOMETHING NEW

: Check out the New YA Shelf at Defiance Public Library :

Kingdom 1 by Yasuhisa Hara

Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Crowntide by Alex Aster

Break Wide the Sea by Sara Holland

Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles

Us Without You by Vicky Skinner

Better in Black by Cassandra Clare

The Obsession by Natasha Preston

Phantom Busters 1 by Shoco

October Girl by Mathew Dow Smith

Heart Check by Emily Charlotte

BOOK OF THE MONTH

: A Door in the Dark by Scott Reington :

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"Ren Monroe has spent four years proving she’s one of the best wizards in her generation. But top marks at Balmerick University will mean nothing if she fails to get recruited into one of the major houses. Enter Theo Brood. If being rich were a sin, he’d already be halfway to hell. After a failed and disastrous party trick, fate has the two of them crossing paths at the public waxway portal the day before holidays—Theo’s punishment is to travel home with the scholarship kids. Which doesn’t sit well with any of them.


A fight breaks out. In the chaos, the portal spell malfunctions. All six students are snatched from the safety of the school’s campus and set down in the middle of nowhere. And one of them is dead on arrival.


If anyone can get them through the punishing wilderness with limited magical reserves it’s Ren. She’s been in survival mode her entire life. But no magic could prepare her for the tangled secrets the rest of the group is harboring, or for what’s following them through the dark woods…" - Goodreads


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Welcome to the Book of the Month where each month we’ll feature a new YA title, craft, and snack.


Only 5 bundles are available for DPLS card holders ages 13-25. The bundles will be available on the first of the month at Defiance Public Library. The bundles can be found in the Teen Space and on the new YA book shelf in the Reading Room.


After reading, feel free to post your thoughts and comments on Defiance Public Library’s Padlet page called Dear YA Readers.


ARTWORK BY A TEEN

100 BOOKS BEFORE GRADUATION

Defiance Public Library System is challenging area high school students to finish 100 books before they turn the tassel. The 100 Books Before Graduation Challenge is ongoing, and geared to students in grades 9-12.


Students can easily log reading online using the Beanstack platform, or by downloading the Beanstack Tracker app for easy, on-the-go tracking. The app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores.

2025 TEEN FAN FICTION WRITING CONTEST WINNER

"Aunt Criya fainted onto the kitchen table.


This was my opportunity to read the strange letter that had evidently caused the faint, so I crept up quietly behind her. Swiftly and silently, I extracted the letter from her unconscious hand and read:"



Click the button to read the 2025 Teen Fan Fiction Writing Contest's winning story, Prima Luce by Evy Verhoff. The theme of the contest was Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

DEAR YA READERS

We created a Padlet called Dear YA Readers for those who love to read and discuss YA books!


Some topics of discussion include:

  • new YA books
  • currently reading
  • Book of the Month
  • YA Recommendations


Join in the discussion with fellow YA aficionados.

SQUEEZY McSQUEEZY

Hello my dearest lemony friends,


Happy New Year! We survived another year at the library and are looking forward to the unexpected adventures that await us.


This year, I am happy to announce that we are hosting another exchange student who will be living with us at the library. Her name is Umami and she is from Japan.


Some fun facts about Umami:

  • Her favorite book is The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel.
  • Her favorite color is brown.
  • Her favorite video game is Mario for the NES.
  • She is excited to live in a library, read all the books, and meet all the people.
  • She would like to learn how to make the best brownies in the world.


Well, that is all. Make it your goal to come to the library and visit us! Enjoy the pictures from the December Crafterteens.


Stay Awesome,




Squeezy


HELPFUL LINKS

Let us help with homework, discovering a good book, or with life in general. Click the links for a list of amazing sources compiled by us.

www.defiancelibrary.org

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