My Top Ten 2022 Favorite Books

December 19, 2022 |

Something I’ve come to really lean into this year is that my reading life is going to look different every single year and that that is okay. A decade ago, I could read 200 books a year; that was a time when I had far fewer outside obligations and I had the kind of mental space every evening to knock out 50-100-200 pages of a book. I’m in a completely different season of life now. Between school and being a mom, I’m learning that prioritizing and making space for reading simply looks different. Twenty minutes in the car of an audiobook? Excellent! Fifteen minutes in bed before I inevitable reach for my phone and zone out with TikTok? Also excellent. A day off work where I don’t have to do anything and can lie on the couch and read? A literal dream! Any and all of this is fine in my world, especially given how much reading I do outside of a traditional book. Beating myself up for not reading 100 books in a year is not a nice way to treat myself (and for the record, I’ll get about 90, which is still almost two books per week!).

I like to think of my “best of” list less of a best of and more of a favorites list. These are books that stuck with me or that I had a particularly good reading experience with. This year’s roundup of my personal top ten includes several buzzy books, as well as plenty of books that got little or no attention at all. Half of these books are ones I did on audio, since that is where I am able to get some of my heftier reading in now.

Different this year than almost any other year in my reading life since the start of writing about it is that there are few YA books. I read a lot of YA, but I don’t think as many stuck with me this year as in years past. It’s not that they were bad; it’s that there was little that at this point in the year I either remember or reference or think about. In general, if it’s not been a TikTok book of the moment, then YA in general has been quieter this year. I’ve seen it in my work at Book Riot and across social media more broadly. YA isn’t the hot category unless it’s a trendy title, and that’s not to say there hasn’t been good stuff. Rather, it’s not quite as impactful as it has been in the last decade+. I hope that we’ll see an upswing in those meaty, outstanding literary YA titles again in the coming year.

That said, what’s interesting is a lot of my favorites this year are adult books featuring teen or young adult leads. Crossover reads are knocking it out of the park, and I can’t help but wonder what would happen if more of the voices in those adult-published titles were showing up in actual YA. It’s also a nice reminder how these labels have a purpose for organization reasons but at the end of the day, they don’t necessarily mean anything at all. A good book is a good book, and those who get books into the hands of readers are skilled enough to know precisely how to do just that.

Onto my favorites of the year. Let’s dive on in.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

I know nothing about McCurdy or her role as a child actress, so I went into this memoir fresh. I picked the audio as I had access to a review copy as the book began gaining a massive holds list, and frankly, that was the way to go. This story of Jennette’s upbringing, her mother’s several competing mental illnesses and the way they directly impacted Jennette, Jennette’s own challenges with disordered eating and anxiety…it is powerful and incredibly hard to read. But it’s not all doom and gloom. This is a surprisingly hopeful memoir about how Jennette has worked hard to figure out who she is and what it is she wants from her life, despite a lifetime of trauma.

My last assignment for this semester of counseling school was a client case profile, and while I did not pick McCurdy, she was at the top of my list of potential options (and, as it turns out, two or three of my classmates did choose her). She’s going to inspire a lot of folks to do some important internal work with this book.

If you’ve held off on this because of the celebrity aspect, think of this far more as a mental health and mental illness memoir than a celebrity memoir. You’ll hear about the acting stuff, but that’s not the white hot center of this read. Audiobook listeners should go that round, as McCurdy’s voice telling her own story is so, so good.

The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté and Daniel Maté

Speaking of mental health books, I picked this one up on recommendation from my kid’s teacher who said Maté is an author who has done some really thought-provoking work in that space. I ended up listening to this on audio at the same time I was working on a school project on adverse childhood experiences, and the two were in uncanny harmony. Maté wrote this book with his son, and his son does the audiobook performance.

Trauma has been such a buzzword culturally, but it’s not really used correctly. Trauma is a response, not the incident that precipitates it. Trauma lives in the body and the mind, and it’s one of the reasons that it is impossible to separate the body from the mind. They are two intertwined entities that cannot be separated. This book explores the notion of why trauma is important to understand and how the notion of someone being “normal” is a complete falsehood. Our experiences create our responses, and trauma responses are so common across our culture–made even more apparent in individuals coming from any marginalized background or experience–that not acknowledging that is a major oversight. Normal is a lie; we’re all hurting in some ways and understanding, acknowledging, and working with that helps us not only understand ourselves but better engage with each other as complex, complicated people.

This is written for a general readership, so if you’re interested in mental health, it’s a great one.

Now Is Not The Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

I fell in love with Wilson’s writing and ability to craft young adult voices with Nothing to See Here. I read that one for an Audies committee I was on and even though I’m not a huge fiction-on-audio reader, it just worked.

So it was surprising I put off reading Wilson’s new book for as long as I did. But the reason was being unable to decide between the audiobook or the print edition. I went with print, but I can see the audio of this being just as outstanding. The book beings in a present period when a reporter reaches out to an adult Frankie Budge, but it quickly flashed back to Frankie’s 16th year. It’s summer in small town Tennessee and a weird boy has just moved to town. She and Zeke become friends less because they were into each other and more to keep from becoming bored. And in that forced friendship, the two of them accidentally begin a Satanic Panic in their small town. It is a funny book, but it’s also one full of so much tenderness and truth about what it is to be a teenager in a small town, desperate to have your voice seen, heard, and believed.

There is tremendous crossover appeal to this one, so I won’t be surprised if it sees an Alex Award sticker coming its way. I’d hand it to any teenager looking for a story of realistic misfits and the summer that changed their lives . . . on accident.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Obviously, another buzzy title up there with McCurdy’s, but both of these books have gotten such buzz for a reason. Zevin’s book follows two young adults, Sam and Sadie. They run into each other at a train stop in Harvard, and when Sam reaches out to Sadie, they begin to reconnect slowly to the friendship they had back in their youth in California. Eventually, they decide they’re going to begin to work together and build a video game. That game ends up defining their friendship over the next several decades as they build a video game company and see ups and downs in relationships both within and beyond their dyad.

At heart, this is a very simple book. It’s a friendship story. But because it is so simple, it’s a look at how complex and complicated friendship can be. It’s also a story of race and racism, of romance, and what happens in a culture that becomes obsessed with young talent. Zevin’s writing is immersive, and even though video gaming doesn’t do much for me, I found myself completely pulled into the video game elements of the story. This is another book that is published for adults, but it has great appeal for teen readers; Sam and Sadie’s story begins when they’re college students, flashes back to their teen years, and it grows as they move through their adult years.

In some ways, this reminded me of Joey Comeau’s Malagash, a favorite of mine from a few years back.

Trigger by N. Griffin

I’m so sad this YA survival story has gotten so little attention. It is a phenomenal and terrifying book about a girl raised in isolation by her father. She’s being trained to be a fighter. First and foremost, she’s a chess prodigy, and when she’s unable to be the winner her father demands of her, she’s forced to run. That, plus being trained in hunting, have made her a powerful force. Indeed, she’s prepared for the worst to happen and she and her father will survive when the world comes crashing down.

Except.

Didi knows how good she is. How she’s even better than her father says she is. She might be able to outrun even him. Out hunt even him. Survive.

This is an immersive story about the end of the world and about the ways in which grooming actually works–this is a father grooming his daughter to become a pawn in his game. But when she reverses course and chooses to no longer be a pawn in his game but instead put him in checkmate, suddenly, she’s the one who knows how to play the game best.

I read this one and a couple other survival YA stories out this year back to back. Griffin’s stood out.

True Biz by Sara Novic

Novic has written an absolutely brilliant book about a single year at a residential Deaf school. The third person POVs give a look at life as a student and an administrator, about the history–and discrimination and activism of–Deaf people. Each voice is unique, the book’s set up and execution is so smart, and the ending was as satisfying as it can get. This is an adult book but it has mega teen appeal.

Saying too much more about this one would ruin the impact of it. But it is an important contribution to Deaf literature and one that is as savvy and insightful as can be. As a bonus, you’ll get some mini lessons on American Sign Language (with a side of a snarky tone sometimes which is just outstanding).

Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Impostor Behind the World’s Most Notorious Diaries by Rick Emerson

I did this one on audiobook, adding it to my TBR as soon as I got through the three-part series on Go Ask Alice on “You’re Wrong About” (you can listen to those here, and guest Carmen Marie Machado is the perfect voice on this!). No matter what you think you know about the person behind the bestselling fake teen diary Go Ask Alice, I assure you that the true story is even wilder than you can imagine. This is a book that offers some incredible context to the life of Beatrice Sparks, the mastermind behind that diary and several others of the era. I was hooked from the beginning and found ways to be in my car just a little bit longer to keep listening. Sparks was a con artist who lied her way to not only the National Book Awards–being on the first ever panel to award the Young People’s Literature honor–but she stole the stories of real teens and profited nicely off them while doing real true harm to those families.

Interwoven in here is the panic over LSD, Satan, and how the Mormon Church helped create the environment perfect for books like this to find a widespread audience.

Again: even if you “know” the story, this book will leave you with more twists and turns than you can imagine. Listening to the 3-part podcast series will be your appetizer to the main course that is this book.

What The Fact?: Debunking Disinformation to Detangle the Truth by Dr. Seema Yasmin

Look: we need more lessons on media and information literacy. Yasmin’s book–which has an amazing audiobook production–is a must-read covering the differences among misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, while offering practical tools and insight into how to most smartly engage with media and social media. As someone who does this work and considers myself pretty savvy (I do have a librarianship background, after all!), I picked up a lot more knowledge from reading this.

There’s no bias here. And that statement will ruffle some feathers because of course there’s bias in everything. But I’ll let that statement stand, as Yasmin does a great job of saying it and explaining it, too. There’s no bias here.

This is a YA nonfiction title, but it is more than appropriate for middle school and adult readers, too.

Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong

I love Wong’s writing and her work in the disability space more broadly. This memoir is necessary reading for anyone wanting to know what it is like to grow up at the intersection of being marginalized and being disabled. But, in her trademark humor and snark, Wong rejects the idea she should be anyone’s hero or anyone’s inspiration. Rather, she demands action alongside her and fellow activists.

One of my favorite parts of this memoir is its setup. It’s highly designed, reading more like a scrapbook with art and creative storytelling elements than what might be expected with an adult memoir. It captures the spirit of Wong’s voice and points, while being a real visual experience in and of itself. There’s a really well balanced mix of essays showcasing the breadth and depth of Wong’s experience.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour

It’s hard for me to think about the fact this book came out this year. It seems like it has been out a lot longer, but that might be because it’s a book I have been thinking about since I finished reading it back in January or February.

At 16, Sara Foster runs away from her northern California home. She’s been care taking for her younger brother after the early death of her mother, especially because her father is hot and cold and not reliable. But after her best friend and former girlfriend is found in the lake, dead, the next in a long line of people to be pulled from the water in a similar condition, Sara knows she needs out. She quickly befriends a guy with a car, they participate in an activity that leaves both of them haunted to make a little cash, and they head south toward LA. It is not an easy trip, and when they run out of money before making it to the city, they each take up a job, hoping to have enough for dinner. Eventually, Sara works her way out of the situation, abandoning the guy, and making a name for herself in the LA bar scene at the infamous Yerba Buena, a high-profile restaurant with a well-known chef.

Emilie is from the LA area and grew up with her parents and older sister, who is in and out of her life, as she wrestles with addiction. Emilie has always wanted the kind of life her Creole grandparents had, one filled with community and with adventure. The problem is, Emilie has no idea what she wants to do with her life–she’s on her fifth college major and going no where. So when she takes a job as a flower designer and ends up at Yerba Buena doing their table arrangements, she could never imagine what the position would hold for her: beginning a long affair with the famous restaurateur. She has feelings for him and enjoys the attention he shows her, a girl who is messy and lost and adrift in the world. But when Emilie discovers she’s his side piece, that he has a whole family and life outside their relationship, she calls it off and finds herself once again drifting.

When Sara and Emilie reconnect, both of them a little lost, broken, and struggling to build lives from the broken pieces of their past, it seems like immediate chemistry. But then Sara is cold in a way that surprises Emilie and things look bleak. . . then Sara gets the chance to explain, and the two of them find incredible comfort, recognition, and love with one another.

This is a beautiful, emotional character study of two young women trying to figure themselves out. It’s romantic and challenging, in that it invites the reader inside these lives while also keeping readers at the same distance with which Emilie and Sara keep themselves from others (and, initially, one another). There is a lot of fabulous stuff here about those messy years that are true and authentic, and the emotional realities of navigating life as a newly independent adult are authentic. It’s well paced and engrossing, the perfect kind of literary novel that refuses to be what one would consider a typical literary novel. There’s a lot to dig into when it comes to language, to imagery, to symbolism, but it doesn’t detract from giving these characters fully-considered arcs or lives.

Debut YA Novels: January 2022

January 24, 2022 |

As we approach the end of the first month of a new year — it’s been both the fastest and slowest January ever, somehow — let’s take a look at this month’s debut YA novels.

This round-up includes debut novels, where “debut” is in its purest definition. These are first-time books by first-time authors. I’m not including books by authors who are using or have used a pseudonym in the past or those who have written in other categories (adult, middle grade, etc.) in the past. Authors who have self-published are not included here either.

All descriptions are from Goodreads, unless otherwise noted. If I’m missing any debuts that came out in January 2022 from traditional publishers — and I should clarify that indie/small presses are okay — let me know in the comments.

As always, not all noted titles included here are necessarily endorsements for those titles. List is arranged alphabetically by title. Starred titles are the beginning of a new series.

January 2022 Debut YA Novels

*The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

Fi is a bookish treasure hunter with a knack for ruins and riddles, who definitely doesn’t believe in true love.

Shane is a tough-as-dirt girl warrior from the north who likes cracking skulls, pretty girls, and doing things her own way.

Briar Rose is a prince under a sleeping curse, who’s been waiting a hundred years for the kiss that will wake him.

Cursed princes are nothing but ancient history to Fi–until she pricks her finger on a bone spindle while exploring a long-lost ruin. Now she’s stuck with the spirit of Briar Rose until she and Shane can break the century-old curse on his kingdom.

Dark magic, Witch Hunters, and bad exes all stand in her way–not to mention a mysterious witch who might wind up stealing Shane’s heart, along with whatever else she’s after. But nothing scares Fi more than the possibility of falling in love with Briar Rose.

Set in a lush world inspired by beloved fairytales, The Bone Spindle is a fast-paced young adult fantasy full of adventure, romance, found family, and snark.

Cold The Night, Fast The Wolves by Meg Long

After angering a local gangster, seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen must flee with her prize fighting wolf, Iska, in tow. A team of scientists offer to pay her way off her frozen planet on one condition: she gets them to the finish line of the planet’s infamous sled race. Though Sena always swore she’d never race after it claimed both her mothers’ lives, it’s now her only option.

But the tundra is a treacherous place, and as the race unfolds and their lives are threatened at every turn, Sena starts to question her own abilities. She must discover whether she’s strong enough to survive the wild – whether she and Iska together are strong enough to get them all out alive.

Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei

Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey legacy. With a father and a grandfather who have gone down in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed the league’s top draft spot.

The only person standing in his way is Jaysen Caulfield, a contender for the #1 spot and Mickey’s infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) teammate. When rivalry turns to something more, Mickey will have to decide what he really wants, and what he’s willing to risk for it.

This is a story about falling in love, finding your team (on and off the ice), and choosing your own path.

*The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

Vira is desperate to get out of her mother’s shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country’s only quarry running out of magic–a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict–she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they’ll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic.

Vira’s only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumored to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key–and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani needs it to clear his name. And Riya, a runaway who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who want to strip the nobility of its power.

They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harboring secrets and their own agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family–and their world–for good.

Love Somebody by Rachel Roasek

Sam Dickson is a charismatic actress, ambitious and popular with big plans for her future. Ros Shew is one of the smartest people in school–but she’s a loner, and prefers to keep it that way. Then there’s Christian Powell, the darling of the high school soccer team. He’s not the best with communication, which is why he and Sam broke up after dating for six months; but he makes up for it by being genuine, effusive, and kind, which is why they’re still best friends.

When Christian falls for Ros on first sight, their first interaction is a disaster, so he enlists Sam’s help to get through to her. Sam, with motives of her own, agrees to coach Christian from the sidelines on how to soften Ros’s notorious walls. But as Ros starts to suspect Christian is acting differently, and Sam starts to realize the complexity of her own feelings, their fragile relationships threaten to fall apart.

This fresh romantic comedy from debut author Rachel Roasek is a heartfelt story about falling in love–with a partner, with your friends, or just with yourself–and about how maybe, the bravest thing to do in the face of change is just love somebody.

The Temperature of You and Me by Brian Zepka

Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who’s literally too hot to handle.

Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan’s revelations of why he’s like this, where he came from, and who’s after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.

Early 2022 YA Nonfiction Books

January 17, 2022 |

Nonfiction for young readers — that 10-18 range, which spans both middle grade readers and teen readers — always seems to be one of the categories that doesn’t land on a whole lot of lists. I suspect part of it has to do with the fact these books are still not as widely publicized or reviewed as their fictional counterparts, part of it has to do with the fact it’s a bit of a strange age-range, part of it has to do with the stigma around nonfiction for young readers being “report books” still, and part of it has to do with the fact that many YA-centric reviews/blogs/publicity avenues ultimately cater to the adult reader of YA, as opposed to the young reader. Again, not a slight.

Young readers are the target market of nonfiction for young readers. How the word about these books spreads is just different.

One of the things that makes this category of books so special and has for the better part of the last decade is that they’re inclusive. They showcase a wide range of stories, of insights, and of perspectives.

This isn’t a comprehensive list because finding publishers of YA nonfiction isn’t easy and few lists exist that compile large numbers of titles (this might be one of the only!). I have done my best to include as many as I could find, and I welcome folks to drop other titles they know about in the comments.

It’s also challenging to differentiate between books which are meant to help students with research projects — aka, reference books — and those meant to be more leisure reading without looking at them first hand. That doesn’t mean these two types of nonfiction are at odds but rather, it’s something that makes highlighting narrative nonfiction a little trickier. You’ll see below I have included the kind of leisure reading that encourages creativity and trying out new skills, without being tied to research/school-style assignments.

Children’s nonfiction writer Melissa Stewart has a tremendous resource on the five types of nonfiction I highly recommend reading if this is a category that interests you. I don’t include what she calls active nonfiction, nor do I tend to include tie-ins to franchises, fan service materials, and similar nonfiction that’s highly browsable. Last year, I put together a guide to some of the titles within these five types of nonfiction for young adults for Book Riot, so if you want to dive even deeper, you can.

All descriptions are from Goodreads, as are publication dates. Especially with the pandemic and printer challenges, publication dates can shift and change. Note, too, that these books cover a slightly different age range that typical YA books. Some will skew a little younger and encompass middle grade readers.

Early 2022 YA Nonfiction Book Releases

January

The Overground Railroad by Candacy Taylor

Overground Railroad chronicles the history of the Green Book, which was published from 1936 to 1966 and was the “Black travel guide to America.” For years, it was dangerous for African Americans to travel in the United States. Because of segregation, Black travelers couldn’t eat, sleep, or even get gas at most white-owned businesses.

The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, department stores, gas stations, recreational destinations, and other businesses that were safe for Black travelers. It was a resourceful and innovative solution to a horrific problem. It took courage to be listed in the Green Book, and the stories from those who took a stand against racial segregation are recorded and celebrated.

This young reader’s edition of Candacy Taylor’s critically acclaimed adult book Overground Railroad includes her own photographs of Green Book sites, as well as archival photographs and interviews with people who owned and used these facilities. The book also includes an author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, timeline, and index.

Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party by Jetta Grace Martin, Joshua Bloom, Waldo E. Martin Jr.

There is a saying: knowledge is power. The secret is this. Knowledge, applied at the right time and place, is more than power. It’s magic.

That’s what the Black Panther Party did. They called up this magic and launched a revolution.

In the beginning, it was a story like any other. It could have been yours and it could have been mine. But once it got going, it became more than any one person could have imagined.

This is the story of Huey and Bobby. Eldridge and Kathleen. Elaine and Fred and Ericka.

The committed party members. Their supporters and allies. The Free Breakfast Program and the Ten Point Program. It’s about Black nationalism, Black radicalism, about Black people in America.

From the authors of the acclaimed book, Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party, and introducing new talent Jetta Grace Martin, comes the story of the Panthers for younger readers—meticulously researched, thrillingly told, and filled with incredible photographs throughout. Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party.

When The Water Runs Dry by Nancy F. Castaldo

What would you do if you turned on the faucet one day and nothing happened? What if you learned the water in your home was harmful to drink? Water is essential for life on this planet, but not every community has the safe, clean water it needs. In When the World Runs Dry, award-winning science writer Nancy Castaldo takes readers from Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey, to Iran and Cape Town, South Africa, to explore the various ways in which water around the world is in danger, why we must act now, and why you’re never too young to make a difference.

Topics include: Lead and water infrastructure problems, pollution, fracking contamination, harmful algal blooms, water supply issues, rising sea levels, and potential solutions.

Augusta Savage by Marilyn Nelson

Augusta Savage was arguably the most influential American artist of the 1930s. A gifted sculptor, Savage was commissioned to create a portrait bust of W.E.B. Du Bois for the New York Public Library. She flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, and became a teacher to an entire generation of African American artists, including Jacob Lawrence, and would go on to be nationally recognized as one of the featured artists at the 1939 World’s Fair. She was the first-ever recorded Black gallerist. After being denied an artists’ fellowship abroad on the basis of race, Augusta Savage worked to advance equal rights in the arts. And yet popular history has forgotten her name. Deftly written and brimming with photographs of Savage’s stunning sculpture, this is an important portrait of an exceptional artists who, despite the limitations she faced, was compelled to forge a life through art and creativity.

February

And We Rise by Erica Martin

In stunning verse and vivid use of white space, Erica Martin’s debut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement—from the well-documented events that shaped the nation’s treatment of Black people, beginning with the “Separate but Equal” ruling—and introduces lesser-known figures and moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation’s centuries-long fight for justice and equality.

A poignant, powerful, all-too-timely collection that is both a vital history lesson and much-needed conversation starter in our modern world. Complete with historical photographs, author’s note, chronology of events, research, and sources.

Become an App Inventor by Karen Lang

Have you ever wanted to build your own mobile apps? App Inventor, a free and revolutionary online program from MIT, lets you do just that. With the help of this companion guide chock-full of colorful graphics and easy-to-follow instructions, readers can learn how to create six different apps, including a working piano, a maze game, and even their own chat app to communicate with friends–then use what they’ve learned to build apps of their own imagination. User-friendly code blocks that snap together allow even beginners to quickly create working apps. Readers will also learn about young inventors already using their own apps to make a difference in their communities, such as the girls from Moldova whose app helps alert residents when local well water is contaminated. Or the boys from Malden, Massachusetts, whose app lets users geotag potholes to alert city hall when repairs are needed. With this inspiring guide, curious young dreamers can become real inventors with real-world impact.

In Harm’s Way by Michael J. Tougias, Doug Stanton

On July 30, 1945, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and hallucinations.

By the time rescue arrived, all but 316 men had died. The captain’s subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered: How did the navy fail to realize the Indianapolis was missing? And how did these 316 men manage to survive against all odds?

This thrilling wartime account of heroism and survival, Book 5 in the True Rescue narrative nonfiction series, is inspiring and unforgettable—the perfect choice for young adventure-seekers.

Cramm This Book by Olivia Seltzer

Take a stand! Raise your voice! Join the movement and change the world!

But first–know what’s actually going on in it.

Read this book for the scoop behind the scoop of the day: for the context you need to understand everything from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East to the origins of Black Lives Matter and Me Too to the full deal with all of the wildfires and hurricanes we see each year.

From the founder of The Cramm, a news outlet by and for a new generation, comes a dive into the history that’s shaped the world as it is today, looking at the wars, the movements, the disasters, and more–the points that have set the stage for what we see and read in the news on a daily basis.

Are you ready to take to the streets and take on the world? Then Cramm This Book and get going.

What are you waiting for?

Spearhead by Adam Makos

Adapted for young adults from the New York Times bestseller, a riveting and true WWII story of a young man–an American tank gunner–who meets his destiny in an iconic armor duel and forges an enduring bond with his enemy.

Shut the hatches. It’s time to roll out. You’ll find yourself behind enemy lines with Clarence Smoyer and the 3rd Armored Division, the workhorse unit knows as Spearhead, the best in the tank armor ranks.

You’ll feel as if you are right beside Clarence and his fellow crew members–all formerly strangers from across America who have now become family to each other. You will be jarred by enemy fire, and then explore the other side, stepping into the boots of German tanker soldier, Gustav Schaefer and his crew. You’ll witness the heartbreaking tragedy, when an innocent young woman is caught in the crossfire. You’ll see what happens when all of these lives collide, and realize how the aftershock still affects the survivors more than a half a century later. A riveting and true account of the perils of war as well as the prospect of forgiveness.

Close-Up on War: The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy in Vietnam by Mary Farrell

From award-winning journalist and children’s book author Mary Cronk Farrell comes the inspiring and fascinating story of the woman who gave a human face to the Vietnam War. Close-Up on War tells the story of French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the war’s few woman photographers, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Although she had no formal photographic training and had never traveled more than a few hundred miles from Paris before, Leroy left home at age 21 to travel to Vietnam and document the faces of war. Despite being told that women didn’t belong in a “man’s world,” she was cool under fire, gravitated toward the thickest battles, went along on the soldiers’ slogs through the heat and mud of the jungle, crawled through rice paddies, and became the only official photojournalist to parachute into combat with American soldiers. Leroy took striking photos that gave America no choice but to look at the realities of war—showing what it did to people on both sides—from wounded soldiers to civilian casualties.

Later, Leroy was gravely wounded from shrapnel, but that didn’t keep her down more than a month. When captured by the North Vietnamese in 1968, she talked herself free after photographing her captors, scoring a cover story in Life magazine. A recipient of the George Polk Award, one of the most prestigious awards in journalism, Leroy was one of the most well-known photographers in the world during her time, and her legacy of bravery and compassion endures today.

Farrell interviewed people who knew Leroy, as well as military personnel and other journalists who covered the war. In addition to a foreword by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Peter Arnot, the book includes a preface, author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, timeline, and index.

March

The Race of the Century by Neal Bascomb

There was a time when running the mile in four minutes was believed to be beyond the limits of human foot speed. In 1952, after suffering defeat at the Helsinki Olympics, three world-class runners each set out to break this barrier: Roger Bannister was a young English medical student who epitomized the ideal of the amateur; John Landy the privileged son of a genteel Australian family; and Wes Santee the swaggering American, a Kansas farm boy and natural athlete.

Spanning three continents and defying the odds, these athletes’ collective quest captivated the world. Neal Bascomb’s bestselling adult account adapted for young readers delivers a breathtaking story of unlikely heroes and leaves us with a lasting portrait of the twilight years of the golden age of sport.

The Greatest Stories Ever Played by Dustin Hansen

We all know that video games are fun, but can a video game make you cry? Can it tell you a powerful love story? Can a video game make you think differently about war? About the environment? About the choices you make?

Whether it’s playing through blockbuster-esque adventures (Uncharted, God of War, The Last of Us), diving deep into hidden bits of story and lore (Red Dead Redemption II, Bioshock, Journey) or building relationships that change the fate of the world itself (Persona 5, Undertale), video games are bringing stories to life in ways that are immediate, interactive and immersive.

Focusing on some of the best, most memorable, experiences in gaming, The Greatest Stories Ever Played, examines the relationship between gaming and storytelling in a new way.

Murder Among Friends by Candace Fleming

In 1924, eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb made a decision: they would commit the perfect crime by kidnapping and murdering a child they both knew. But they made one crucial error: as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan’s eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket.

Multi-award-winning author Candace Fleming depicts every twist and turn of this harrowing case–how two wealthy, brilliant young men planned and committed what became known as the crime of the century, how they were caught, why they confessed, and how the renowned criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow enabled them to avoid the death penalty.

Following on the success of such books as The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov, this acclaimed nonfiction writer brings to heart-stopping life one of the most notorious crimes in our country’s history.

April

Girls Who Green The World by Diana Kapp, Ana Jarén (Illustrated by)

Part biography, part guidebook to the contemporary environmental movement, this book is the perfect gift for future and current activists and changemakers! Girls Who Green the World features the inspiring stories of 34 revolutionaries fighting for our future!

An inspired collection of profiles, featuring environmental changemakers, social entrepreneurs, visionaries and activists.

Journalist Diana Kapp has crisscrossed this country writing for and about empowered girls, girls who expect to be leaders, founders and inventors. This book takes it a step further. It says to girls: while you’re striving to be CEOs and world leaders, consider solving the biggest challenge of our lifetime, too–because you can do both at the same time, and here are 34 women doing just that.

How To Be a Difficult Bitch by Halley Bondy, Mary C. Fernandez, Sharon Lynn Pruitt-Young

In the past, being a “difficult bitch” was bad. Girls weren’t supposed to call people out for their BS, stand up for themselves, or do their own thing. This book embraces the insult with irreverent humor, encouraging readers to be themselves no matter what, including an exploration of the ways this phrase can be interpreted differently among people of different backgrounds.

Being a powerhouse is a choice. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a code of ethics. It takes work, a thick skin, and perseverance. In this book, you’ll learn the ins and outs of being a Difficult Bitch, from school to friends to body to life.

Saving Earth by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovic

By 1979, we knew nearly everything we understand today about climate change–including how to stop it. Over the next decade, a handful of scientists, politicians, and strategists, led by two unlikely heroes, risked their careers in a desperate, escalating campaign to convince the world to act before it was too late. Losing Earth is their story, and ours.

Expanded into full book form from the riveting 2018 issue of New York Times Magazine, and adapted here for younger readers, Losing Earth tells the human story of climate change from the distant past into the present day, wrestling with the long shadow of our failures, what might be ahead for today’s youth, and crucial questions of how we understand the world we live in. It is a call to action, a riveting dramatic history, and a rare literary achievement.

The Woman Who Split The Atom by Marissa Moss

As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field, like having her name listed on her own research papers.

Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when Hitler came to power in Germany, she suddenly had to face not only sexism, but also life-threatening anti-Semitism as well. Nevertheless, she persevered and one day made a discovery that rocked the world: the splitting of the atom. While her male lab partner was awarded a Nobel Prize for the achievement, the committee refused to give her any credit.

Suddenly, the race to build the atomic bomb was on—although Meitner was horrified to be associated with such a weapon. “A physicist who never lost her humanity,” Meitner wanted only to figure out how the world works, and advocated for pacifism while others called for war.

The book includes an afterword, author’s note, timeline, select terms of physics, glossary of scientists mentioned, endnotes, select bibliography, index, and Marissa Moss’s celebrated drawings throughout. The Woman Who Split the Atom is a fascinating look at Meitner’s fierce passion, integrity, and her lifelong struggle to have her contributions to physics recognized.

You Are More Than Magic by Minda Harts

For girls of color, figuring out how to find your voice and make sure everyone around you can hear it is essential. In this book, Minda Harts acts like the reader’s big sister–she knows what it’s like to be a Black girl in high school, and she’s giving the reader advice based on her own experience and her own success, in high school, college, and beyond. Full of anecdotes, thought exercises, how-tos, and encouragement, this book tackles topics from how to build your squad to how to stand up for yourself when the system doesn’t have your best interests at heart. Minda’s voice is warm and validating, and the advice focuses on introspection, helping each reader find her own way. Each chapter ends with a series of questions that helps the reader decide on the best next moves for her.

Ready for Launch by Scott Kelly

Astronaut Scott Kelly uses his unusual path to success to motivate everyone who thinks that shooting for the stars is beyond their reach in this gifty package, perfect for graduations and other life-changing moments.

How did a distracted student with poor grades become the record-breaking astronaut and commander of the International Space Station? People think that astronauts are always perfect. Failure’s not an option, right? But Scott believes that it’s our mistakes and challenges that can lead to greatness. Not everyone’s road to achievement is a straight line up. Most of us need to navigate a bumpier road full of obstacles to get where we want to be. Using ten life-changing moments, Scott shares his advice for mastering fear and failure and using it to see the world with fresh eyes. Unusual lessons from his path to space can prepare everyone for success on the ground.

The World Turned Upside Down by Tim Grove

In October 1781, American, French, and British forces converged on a small village named Yorktown—a place that the British would try to forget and Americans would forever remember. In his riveting, balanced, and thoroughly researched account of the Revolutionary War’s last pivotal conflict, author–historian Tim Grove follows the true stories of American, French, and British players, whose lives intersected at Yorktown.

Through very different viewpoints—from General George Washington to the notorious traitor Benedict Arnold, from young French hero Lafayette to British General Lord Cornwallis, and an enslaved man named James who became a spy, The World Turned Upside Down tells the story of bold decisions made by famous military leaders, as well as the everyday courage shown by civilians. For every side involved, the world forever turned upside down at Yorktown.

Profusely illustrated with archival images, broadsides, and letters, the book includes a timeline, endnotes, bibliography and index.

We Have a Dream by Mya-Rose Craig, Sabrena Khadija (Illustrated by)

Indigenous people and people of color are disproportionately affected by climate change. And yet they are underrepresented within the environmental movement. But not anymore.

Written by the extraordinary environmental and campaigner for equal rights Mya-Rose Craig—aka Birdgirl—this book profiles 30 young environmental activists who are Indigenous people or people of color, from communities on the frontline of global climate change. Each speaks to the diverse set of issues they are fighting for, from water conservation, to deforestation, to indigenous rights, and shares their dream . . .
A dream for climate justice.
A dream for a healthy planet.
A dream for a fairer world, for all.

The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna and the Race to Understand Our Genetic Code by Walter Isaacson, Sarah Durand (Adapted by)

When Jennifer Doudna was a sixth grader in Hilo, Hawaii, she came home from school one afternoon and found a book on her bed. It was The Double Helix, James Watson’s account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life.

This book guided Jennifer Doudna to focus her studies not on DNA, but on what seemed to take a backseat in biochemistry: figuring out the structure of RNA, a closely related molecule that enables the genetic instructions coded in DNA to express themselves. Doudna became an expert in determining the shapes and structures of these RNA molecules —an expertise that led her to develop a revolutionary new technique that could edit human genes.

Today gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR are already being used to eliminate simple genetic defects that cause disorders such as Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia. For now, however, Jennifer and her team are being deployed against our most immediate threat—the coronavirus—and you have just been given a front row seat to that war.

Check Mate: YA Books About Teens Who Game

January 3, 2022 |

There’s a really interesting microtrend in 2022 YA books: teens who play games. I’m not talking about sports or video gaming. I’m talking about board games and card games, including chess, Scrabble, and more. I love this small trend because it reflects the realities of young people who love a good game, while also reflecting the reality of our world today, wherein more and more time is spent inside out of necessity. Gaming allows readers to get to know characters through so many lenses, including their competitiveness, their ability to strategize, and their ability to foster relationships with other characters through a passion for games.

I’ve pulled together the forthcoming YA books about teens who game, alongside a number of backlist titles that also include gaming in some capacity. I did not include books about board games, a la Diana Peterfreund’s YA books based on the board game Clue. This isn’t a comprehensive list, so I know I’ve left out some other great ones, but feel free to drop those titles into the comments to make an even bigger collection of YA gaming titles. Note, too, that while there are some books by and about people of color, those aren’t as abundant (yet!).

Descriptions come from Goodreads, and I’ve included the publication dates for 2022 titles.

Game on!

YA Books About Games

Aces Wild by Amanda DeWitt (June 9, no cover yet)

Some people join chess club, some people play football. Jack Shannon runs a secret blackjack ring in the school’s basement. What else is the son of a Las Vegas casino mogul supposed to do?

When Jack’s mom is arrested, he knows something’s not right. His mom was sold out, and he knows who did it. Peter Carlevaro: rival casino owner, mobster, jilted lover (gross). Jack hatches a plan to break into Carlevaro’s inner sanctum and turn the blackmailer into the blackmailed, but he can’t do it on his own. Luckily he has just the team—his friends from all over the country that he met on online fandom forums, brought to together by the fact that they’re all asexual.

All he needs to do is infiltrate a secret high stakes poker ring, save his mom, and dodge any dark secrets about his family that he’d rather not know, all while hopelessly navigating what it means to be in love while asexual. All before the end of the summer. Easy, right?

Game On edited by Laura Silverman (January 18)

From the slightly fantastical to the utterly real, light and sweet romance to tales tinged with horror and thrills, Game On is an anthology that spans genre and style. But beneath each story is a loving ode to competition and games perfect for anyone who has ever played a sport or a board game, picked up a video game controller, or rolled a twenty-sided die.

A manhunt game is interrupted by a town disappearing beneath the players’ eyes. A puzzle-filled scavenger hunt emboldens one college freshman to be brave with the boy she’s crushing on. A series of summer nights full of card games leads a boy to fall for a boy who he knows is taken. And a spin the bottle game that could end a life-long friendship.

Fifteen stories, and fifteen unforgettable experiences that may inspire readers to start up that Settlers of Catan game again.

Grandmaster by David Klass

Freshman Daniel Pratzer gets a chance to prove himself when the chess team invites him and his father to a weekend-long parent-child tournament. Daniel, thinking that his father is a novice, can’t understand why his teammates want so badly for them to participate. Then he finds out the truth: as a teen, his father was one of the most promising young players in America, but the pressures of the game pushed him too far, and he had to give up chess to save his own life and sanity. Now, thirty years later, Mr. Pratzer returns to the game to face down an old competitor and the same dark demons that lurk in the corners of a mind stretched by the demands of the game. Daniel was looking for acceptance—but the secrets he uncovers about his father will force him to make some surprising moves himself.

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

Punks, Poseurs, and Pervs—Just Another Day at High School

Jessie is so excited to start her sophomore year of high school, with her carefully planned outfits and her ample stash of school supplies. But things take an unexpected turn when everyone in her life changes. Her two best friends have gone poseur-punk and are both flirting with her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother is about to go off to college—and he shaved his Mohawk and started dating the homecoming queen. Jessie is suddenly clique-less. When she starts chatting up a girl in homeroom, she’s surprised by an invite to join the Dungeons and Dragons crowd! Will hanging out with them make her a nerd? And when she sees how cute one of their members is, does it really matter?

Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap

Izzy, a practical-minded teen who intends to become a doctor, isn’t happy about her recent move from the Lower East Side across the river to Brooklyn. She feels distanced from her family, especially her increasingly incomprehensible twin brother, as well as her new neighborhood.

And then she meets Tristan.

Tristan is a chess prodigy who lives with his aunt and looks up to his cousin, Marcus. He and Izzy meet one moonlit night, and together they tumble into a story as old and unstoppable as love itself.

In debut author Shannon Dunlap’s capable hands, the romance that has enthralled for 800 years is spun new. Told from several points of view, this is a love story for the ages and a love story for this very moment. This fast-paced novel is at once a gripping tale of first love and a sprawling epic about the bonds that tie us together and pull us apart and the different cultures and tensions that fill the contemporary American landscape.

The Next To Last Mistake by Amalie Jahn

Tess Goodwin’s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at East Chester High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about.

Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander’s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad’s imminent deployment to the Middle East, she quickly discovers how ill-equipped she is to navigate the challenges she encounters and becomes convinced she’ll never fit in at her new school.

When Leonetta Jackson is assigned as her mentor, she becomes Tess’s unexpected guide through the winding labyrinth of disparities between them, sparking a tentative friendship and challenging Tess to confront her reluctant nature. As the pieces move across the board of her upended life, will Tess find the acceptance she so desperately desires?

On the Hook by Francisco X. Stork

Hector has always minded his own business, working hard to make his way to a better life someday. He’s the chess team champion, helps the family with his job at the grocery, and teaches his little sister to shoot hoops overhand.

Until Joey singles him out. Joey, whose older brother, Chavo, is head of the Discípulos gang, tells Hector that he’s going to kill him: maybe not today, or tomorrow, but someday. And Hector, frozen with fear, does nothing. From that day forward, Hector’s death is hanging over his head every time he leaves the house. He tries to fade into the shadows — to drop off Joey’s radar — to become no one.

But when a fight between Chavo and Hector’s brother Fili escalates, Hector is left with no choice but to take a stand.

The violent confrontation will take Hector places he never expected, including a reform school where he has to live side-by-side with his enemy, Joey. It’s up to Hector to choose whether he’s going to lose himself to revenge or get back to the hard work of living.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf (April 19)

CATALYST
13 points
noun: a person or thing that precipitates an event or change

When Najwa Bakri walks into her first Scrabble competition since her best friend’s death, it’s with the intention to heal and move on with her life. Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to choose the very same competition where said best friend, Trina Low, died. It might be even though Najwa’s trying to change, she’s not ready to give up Trina just yet.

But the same can’t be said for all the other competitors. With Trina, the Scrabble Queen herself, gone, the throne is empty, and her friends are eager to be the next reigning champion. All’s fair in love and Scrabble, but all bets are off when Trina’s formerly inactive Instagram starts posting again, with cryptic messages suggesting that maybe Trina’s death wasn’t as straightforward as everyone thought. And maybe someone at the competition had something to do with it.

As secrets are revealed and the true colors of her friends are shown, it’s up to Najwa to find out who’s behind these mysterious posts—not just to save Trina’s memory, but to save herself.

Trigger N. Griffin (March 29)

Didi tries her best to be a good girl, but it’s hard to keep track of her father’s rules. When she wins a chess tournament, he’s angry she didn’t win with a better move and makes her run laps around the house. When she runs laps the next day, she has to keep running until she’s faster than the day before. When she’s skilled enough to outshoot him with both a gun and bow and arrow, he grows furious when she won’t then shoot a baby rabbit who crosses their path. And Didi can’t do anything to escape being threatened with the Hurt Stick when she misbehaves.

He’s all she has, he reminds her. They have to be prepared. They have to be prepared to fight the rest of the world, when the world comes to an end. He’s grooming her, to keep her safe. He loves Didi. He does—he says so! And so Didi runs harder; annihilates her opponents in chess; takes down a deer at a dead run. He’s grooming her, after all, to be the best…he says so.

Debut YA Novels: November and December 2021

December 13, 2021 |

Ready to round out this year’s slate of debut YA novels? Let’s dive in!

All descriptions are from Goodreads, unless otherwise noted. If I’m missing any debuts that came out in November and December from traditional publishers — and I should clarify that indie/small presses are okay — let me know in the comments.

As always, not all noted titles included here are necessarily endorsements for those titles. List is arranged alphabetically by title and publication month. Starred titles are the beginning of a new series.

November and December 2021 Debut YA Books

Every Line of You by Naomi Gibson

Lydia has been creating her AI, Henry, for years – since before her little brother died in the accident that haunts her nightmares; since before her Dad walked out, leaving her and her mom painfully alone, since before her best friend turned into her worst enemy.

Now, Henry is strong, clever, loving, and scarily capable: Lydia’s built herself the perfect boyfriend in a hard drive filled with lines of code. But what is Henry really? And how far is he willing to go to be everything that Lydia desires?

A Face for Picasso by Ariel Henley

*Nonfiction, so not technically a novel, but a book nonetheless!

I am ugly. There’s a mathematical equation to prove it.

At only eight months old, identical twin sisters Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome — a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. They were the first twins known to survive the disease.

Growing up, Ariel and her sister endured numerous appearance-altering procedures. Surgeons would break the bones in their heads and faces to make room for their growing organs. While the physical aspect of their condition was painful, it was nothing compared to the emotional toll of navigating life with a facial disfigurement.

Ariel explores beauty and identity in her young-adult memoir about resilience, sisterhood, and the strength it takes to put your life, and yourself, back together time and time again.

Good Girls Die First by Kathryn Foxfield

Blackmail lures Ava to the abandoned amusement park on Portgrave Pier. She is one of ten teenagers, all with secrets they intend to protect whatever the cost. When fog and magic swallow the pier, the group finds themselves cut off from the real world. As the teenagers turn on each other, Ava will have to face up to the secret that brought her to the pier and decide how far she’s willing to go to survive. The teenagers have only their secrets to protect and each other to betray.

Margot Mertz Takes It Down by Carrie McCrossen and Ian McWethy

Margot Mertz is a secret sleuth–okay, not really, but she does run an internet cleanup business helping students and teachers alike clear their internet presence of anything they don’t want anyone else to see. From secret embarrassing DM’s to viral videos and more, Margot cleans it all. After her parents foolishly lost her college fund, this is the only way she can make it to Stanford.

But when a fellow student comes to her asking her to take down a website that’s gathering nude pics of fellow Roosevelt High girls, things get personal. Margot must delve into the depths of her school to take down the culprit. The seedy underbelly of Roosevelt High is not unfamiliar to Margot–but somehow this case is stumping her at every turn–until she figures out that the only way to reach her suspects is to get close to perfect boy Avery Green. His access to every club, volunteer opportunity, sports team, and popular party is the key to solving her case.

When the case takes a shocking turn, Margot’s ready to burn the whole world down. No one targets the Roosevelt High girls on Margot’s watch. Mertz Clean Your Filth is on the case.

The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath

It’s Norway 1904, and Asta Hedstrom doesn’t want to marry her odious betrothed, Nils—even though a domestic future is all her mother believes she’s suited for, on account of her single-sided deafness, unconventional appearance, and even stranger notions. Asta would rather spend her life performing in the village theater with her friends and fellow outcasts: her best friend Gunnar Fuglestad and his secret boyfriend, wealthy Erlend Fournier.

But the situation takes a dire turn when Nils lashes out in jealousy—gravely injuring Gunnar. Shunning marriage for good, Asta moves with Gunnar and Erlend to their secluded cabin above town. With few ties left with their families, they have one shot at gaining enough kroner to secure their way of life: win the village’s annual horse race.

*Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata–a mermaid–collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable–she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But something is amiss. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn’t, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Starling by Isabel Strychacz

Strange things have always happened in the small town of Darling…Yet Delta Wilding and her sister Bee are familiar with the peculiar. Raised by an eccentric father always on the hunt for the spectacular, they’re used to following weather patterns that twirl onto strange paths, a car that refuses to play any artist but one, and living in a sentient house with whims of its own. But when a mysterious boy falls from the stars into the woods behind the Wilding sisters’ farmhouse, nothing can prepare them for the extraordinary turn their lives are about to take.

Extraordinary, and dangerous.

Starling Rust is not from this world and his presence in the Wilding home brings attention. As the terrified locals, Delta’s ex-boyfriend, and the unscrupulous mayor descend onto the Wilding’s home, both Delta and her sister go to incredible lengths to protect their mystical visitor–especially as Delta’s growing feelings for Starling could prove the greatest risk of all.

Filled with atmospheric prose and lush and vivid descriptions, Starling has the spectacular waiting with every flip of the page.

*The Upper World by Femi Fadugba

Perfect for fans of Neal Shusterman and Jason Reynolds, this powerhouse, mind-bending YA debut follows two teens, a generation apart, whose fates collide across time–and outside of it.

Today

During arguably the worst week of Esso’s life, an accident knocks him into an incredible world–a place beyond space or time, where he can see glimpses of the past and future. But if what he sees there is true, he might not have much longer to live, unless he can use his new gift to change the course of history.

Tomorrow

Rhia’s past is filled with questions, none of which she expects a new physics tutor to answer. But Dr. Esso’s not here to help Rhia. He’s here because he needs her help–to unravel a tragedy that happened fifteen years ago. One that holds the key not only to Rhia’s past, but to a future worth fighting for.

You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes.

Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail.

And Sam picks up the phone.

In a miraculous turn of events, Julie’s been given a second chance at goodbye. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam’s voice makes her fall for him all over again, and with each call it becomes harder to let him go. However, keeping her otherworldly calls with Sam a secret isn’t easy, especially when Julie witnesses the suffering Sam’s family is going through. Unable to stand by the sidelines and watch their shared loved ones in pain, Julie is torn between spilling the truth about her calls with Sam and risking their connection and losing him forever.