Lakeland Public Library discussion

The November election is fast approaching and that means many us are getting ready to vote by mail or head to the polls. But even if you aren't old enough to vote, all readers can enjoy the books on this list. Below are 11 teen books about politics and social issues that shape society and culture; about teenagers finding their voices and discovering their beliefs.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.

The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven
Bullied with vulgar labels after being caught in a compromising position with the son of a politician, 18-year-old Izzy struggles to avoid a national scandal in the face of rumors and public opinions.

Girls on the Verge by Sharon Biggs Waller
Learning on the same day she is accepted into a prestigious theater program that she is pregnant, a Texas teen is unable to find support in her home or community and plans a trip in the wake of a difficult choice that is supported by one friend and dissuaded by another.

Internment by Samira Ahmed
Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens. With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp's Director and his guards.

Most Likely by Sarah Watson
Four best-friend high school seniors, one of whom is unknowingly destined to be the President, navigate private insecurities, ambitions and obstacles while supporting each other through their setbacks.

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano
It is 1969 in Spanish Harlem, and 14-year-old Evelyn Serrano is trying hard to break free from her conservative Puerto Rican surroundings, but when her activist grandmother comes to stay and the neighborhood protests start, things get a lot more complicated--and dangerous.

This Is My America by Kim Johnson
Sending weekly letters to an organization she hopes will save her innocent father from death row, 17-year-old Tracy uncovers racist community secrets when her track star brother is wrongly accused of murder.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Preparing to vote for the first time, Marva is indignant when she observes a fellow teen turned away from the voting booth and teams up with him to fight a corrupt system and search for a missing cat.

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
After her mother dies, sixteen-year-old Kate Quinn meets the father she did not know she had, joins his presidential campaign, falls for a rebellious boy, and when what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign's talking points, Kate must decide what is best.

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli
Jamie Goldberg, who chokes when speaking to strangers, and Maya Rehrman, who is having the worst Ramadan ever, are paired to knock on doors and ask for votes for the local state senate candidate.

Your Own Worst Enemy by Gordon Jack
Three young candidates for student body president at Lincoln High School are forced to sink to unprecedented levels of rivalry in a campaign that is shaped by popularity, duplicity and a love of chocolate milk.