On The Radar: 9 YA Books for November

November 2, 2015 |

One of the most popular posts I do over at Book Riot is the round-up of upcoming YA fiction titles, and one of the most popular questions I seem to get on Twitter and in my inboxes is “what should I be looking out for in YA?” For a lot of readers, especially those who work with teens either in classrooms or in libraries, knowing what’s coming out ahead of time is valuable to get those books into readers’ hands before they even ask.Each month, I’ll call out between 8 and 12 books coming out that should be on your radar. These include books by high-demand, well-known authors, as well as some up-and-coming and debut authors. They’ll be across a variety of genres, including diverse titles and writers. Not all of the books will be ones that Kimberly or I have read, nor will all of them be titles that we’re going to read and review. Rather, these are books that readers will be looking for and that have popped up regularly on social media, in advertising, in book mail, and so forth. It’s part science and part arbitrary and a way to keep the answer to “what should I know about for this month?” quick, easy, and under $300 (doable for smaller library budgets especially).

For November, here are 9 titles to have on your radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve noted why it should be included. Most of those reasons this time, it turns out, are “because of the author.”

All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Cassie and the other members of the Naturals program of the FBI are drawn into a murder investigation in Vegas

Why: This is the third in Barnes’s “Naturals” mystery/thriller series.

Game of Lives by James Dashner: The VirtNet has become a world of deadly consequences, and Kaine grows stronger by the day. If Kaine succeeds, it will mean worldwide cyber domination. And it looks like Michael and his friends are the only ones who can put the monster back in the box–if Michael can figure out who his friends really are.

Why: This is the sequel to Dashner’s The Rule of Thoughts.

Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young: On the way to spend a summer with her grandmother after the sudden death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Audrey, her older brother Daniel, and their father happen upon the Hotel Ruby, a luxurious place filled with unusual guests and little chance of ever leaving.

Why: Young’s writing is so teen friendly, with great, authentic dialog. This is a stand alone, too.

Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger: In an alternate England of 1851, Sophronia Temminnick is the only hope for her friends, her school, and all of London when she must put her espionage training to the test to thwart an evil Picklemen plot.

Why: This is the fourth book in Carriger’s steampunk series.

Soundless by Richelle Mead: A fantasy adventure steeped in Chinese folklore about a teenage girl named Fei. When her village is suddenly in danger, Fei finds herself on a journey from the peak of her jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life foreve

Why: Richelle Mead, of Vampire Academy is the author of this stand-alone fantasy.

Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray: As eighteen-year-old Marguerite struggles to get to the heart of the corrupt company that almost killed her father, she tries to save the boy she loves, whose soul is scattered in various dimensions.

Why: This is the second book in this space/time/fantasy adventure from Claudia Gray. I don’t think it’s exaggerating to say that this particular series has gotten one of the best cover treatments in memory.

This Way Home by Wes Moore with Shawn Goodman: Elijah, seventeen, has always been sure of just one thing–basketball–and believes it will be his way out of West Baltimore, but when gang violence knocks him down, helping a veteran repair his rickety home helps Elijah see what really matters.

Why: Wes Moore, who wrote the memoir The Other Wes Moore, has his first novel coming out. The memoir was one we named to the Outstanding Books for the College Bound, and I believe there’s also a young reader’s edition.

Traffick by Ellen Hopkins: Five teenagers struggle to find their way out of prostitution.

Why: WorldCat keeps it to the point with their description, but besides this being an Ellen Hopkins book, it’s the sequel to Tricks.

Winter by Marissa Meyer: Princess Winter, admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, teams up with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, to defeat Queen Levana and find their happily ever afters.

Why: It’s the fourth and final installment in the wildly popular “Cinder” series. I believe this might be one of the most anticipated books of the year . . . as well as one of the longest. It weighs in at 800+ pages.

On The Radar: 12 Books for October

October 1, 2015 |

For October, here are 12 titles to have on your radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve noted why it should be included.

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl: Natasha Romanov, called the Black Widow, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, rescues a young girl from Ivan, the man who once trained her as an assassin–and eight years later she is called upon to protect the teenager Ava has become from a threat from the past–and possibly from S.H.I.E.L.D itself.

Why: A full-length novel about Black Widow is going to do well. A female comic hero getting a whole book dedicated to her story? Rare and awesome.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell: Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Why: Rainbow Rowell.

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch: When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity — with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses — the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay.

Why: This is the sequel to Snow Like Ashes, which did quite well. It’s a female-driven fantasy series with comparisons to Graceling.

An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet: The strange war down south—with its rumors of gods and monsters—is over. And while sixteen-year-old Hallie and her sister wait to see who will return from the distant battlefield, they struggle to maintain their family farm.

When Hallie hires a veteran to help them, the war comes home in ways no one could have imagined, and soon Hallie is taking dangerous risks—and keeping desperate secrets. But even as she slowly learns more about the war and the men who fought it, ugly truths about Hallie’s own family are emerging. And while monsters and armies are converging on the small farm, the greatest threat to her home may be Hallie herself.

Why: It’s a stand alone fantasy! I’m not usually a fantasy reader but this one sounds really neat.

MARTians by Blythe Woolston: ast girl Zoë Zindleman, numerical ID 009-99-9999, is starting work at AllMART, where “your smile is the AllMART welcome mat.” Her living arrangements are equally bleak: she can wait for her home to be foreclosed and stripped of anything valuable now that AnnaMom has moved away, leaving Zoë behind, or move to the Warren, an abandoned strip-mall-turned-refuge for other left-behinds. With a handful of other disaffected, forgotten kids, Zoë must find her place in a world that has consumed itself beyond redemption. She may be a last girl, but her name means “life,” and Zoë isn’t ready to disappear into the AllMART abyss. Zoë wants to live.

Why: Woolston always writes thought-provoking, challenging YA titles and this sounds like no exception.

Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix: After the Newington Emerald is stolen at the height of a conjured storm, eighteen-year-old Lady Truthful Newington goes to London, disguised as a man, to search for the magical heirloom of her house, and is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure where she must risk her life, her reputation, and her heart.

Why: A new Garth Nix book is reason enough.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness: What if you aren’t the Chosen One? The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death? What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again. Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life. Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

Why: Patrick Ness writes about those characters who aren’t “the chosen ones.”

The Rose Society by Marie Lu: Known and feared as the White Wolf, Adelina Amouteru and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. But as Adelina’s powers (fed only by fear and hate) start to grow beyond her control, she also distrusts her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

Why: The sequel to Marie Lu’s bestselling Young Elites. It’s going to be popular.

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly: A young woman in nineteenth-century New York City must struggle against gender and class boundaries when her father is found dead of a supposed suicide, and she believes there is more than meets the eye, so in order to uncover the truth she will have to decide how much she is willing to risk and lose.

Why: Sounds like a solid historical mystery, and that it’s written by Jennifer Donnelly only adds to the appeal.

A Thousand Nights by EK Johnston: Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, so when she is taken to the king’s dangerous court she believes death will soon follow, but night after night Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, leading her to unlocking years of fear that have tormented and silenced the kingdom, and soon she is dreaming of bigger, more terrible magic, power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to rule of a monster.

Why: Johnston is definitely an emerging talent in the YA world, and retellings are always popular. Kimberly reviewed this one positively, too.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin: The first book in a duology about an alternate version of 1956 where the Axis powers won WWII, and hold an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents to commemorate their victory.

Why: Graudin is doing some risky fiction with Little Brown and this is no exception. Her last book with them, The Walled City, didn’t get the attention that it should have. This particular title had a nice promotional mailing with it, so it’s going to be bigger. First in a new duology.

The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch by Daniel Kraus: The story follows Zebulon Finch, a teenager murdered in 1896 Chicago who inexplicably returns from the dead and searches for redemption through the ages.

Why: Kraus never disappoints with his work, and this is a massive, challenging tome that readers looking for a long, thought-provoking read, will be eager to dig into.

On The Radar: 14 September YA Reads

August 31, 2015 |

For September, here are 14 titles to have on your radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve noted why it should be included. I know that’s more than the normal 12 I like to limit to, but September is a huge month, and I wanted to make sure I hit some of the biggest titles, as well as a handful of the smaller ones. There is really something for every type of reader here.

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith: High school sweethearts Clare and Aidan spend the night before they leave for college reminiscing about their relationship and deciding whether they should stay together or break up.

Why: Smith’s contemporary teen romances are wildly popular. With recent movie news for one of her backlist titles, I think we’ll be seeing more and more teens looking for her books.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. Embracing her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen, Celaena returns to the empire–for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past

Why: This is the fourth installment in the extremely popular “Throne of Glass” series, so you won’t want to miss it. I got a very early finished copy of this book and it’s massive.

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon: The story of a teenage girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

Why: Another big-deal book that was a Buzz title at Book Expo America — and for good reason. This is a really enjoyable read, packed with ephemera to help tell the story. It’s also a book that just had its film rights snatched. On a totally unrelated but interesting note — it’s an Alloy property.

Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz: Fifteen-year-old bender Kivali has had a rough time in a gender-rigid culture. Abandoned as a baby and raised by Sheila, an ardent nonconformist, Kivali has always been surrounded by uncertainty. Where did she come from? Is it true what Sheila says, that she was deposited on Earth by the mysterious saurians? What are you? people ask, and Kivali isn’t sure. Boy/girl? Human/lizard? Both/neither? Now she’s in CropCamp, with all of its schedules and regs, and the first real friends she’s ever had. Strange occurrences and complicated relationships raise questions Kivali has never before had to consider. But she has a gift–the power to enter a trancelike state to harness the “knowings” inside her. She has Lizard Radio. Will it be enough to save her?

Why: This is a scifi novel with a gender fluid teen and aside from filling a huge hole in YA, it’s a really compelling, engaging, and thought-provoking read.

The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett: Tiffany must gather all the witches to prepare for a fairy invasion.

Why: It’s the last Terry Pratchett book and another addition to the “Tiffany Aching” series.

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy: Sixteen-year-old Willowdean wants to prove to everyone in her small Texas town that she is more than just a fat girl, so, while grappling with her feelings for a co-worker who is clearly attracted to her, Will and some other misfits prepare to compete in the beauty pageant her mother runs.

Why: This book does a fat girl right. Seriously. It’s a fantastic read that’s fun, funny, and heart-filled. In what could be called a trend in this post, the movie rights for this one have been acquired.

Beastly Bones by William Ritter: When dinosaur bones from a recent dig mysteriously go missing, and an unidentifiable beast starts attacking animals and people, leaving their mangled bodies behind, Abigail and her eccentric employer R. F. Jackaby, investigators of the supernatural in 1892 New England, find themselves hunting for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.

Why: It’s the sequel to Jackaby, which is a perfect book for fans of “Sherlock Holmes.”

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson: Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety?

Why: It’s the first book in a new series by Morris Award nominee Rae Carson, and it’s a fantasy western. It looks like a fun twist on both genres.

I Crawl Through It by AS King: A surrealist novel about four teenagers who find unconventional ways to escape standardized tests and their perilous world, and discover that the only escape from reality is to face it.

Why: AS King is a perennial librarian favorite and readers who love strange, surreal worlds will be eager for it.

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow: A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace – sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals – are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.

Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Precepture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive.

Enter Elián Palnik, the Precepture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Precepture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages.

What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?

Why: There has been so much buzz about this book, and I’ve received a couple of review copies of it already. I’ve seen a lot of fantastic reviews, including stars from professional journals.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction–if they don’t kill each other first.

Why: A brand new series by New York Times bestselling and popular author Leigh Bardugo. I believe this is a new series set in the same world of her previous series, too, which should not only bring in new readers, but it’ll be exciting for already-established fans. Again, this has been a buzzy title for a while.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs: Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They’ll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. . . . Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be?

Why: Well, the first two books in this series haven’t done too shabby. There’s been a lot of buzz and I suspect we’ll see a huge push for this when it publishes, too.

Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, and Deborah Biancotti: Told from separate viewpoints, teens Scam, Crash, Flicker, Anonymous, Bellwether, and Kelsie, all born in the year 2000 and living in Cambria, California, have superhuman abilities that give them interesting but not heroic lives until they must work as a community to respond to a high stakes crisis.

Why: I’ve actually seen very little said about this new series, but it includes blockbuster name Scott Westerfeld, so it should be on your radar. Margo Lanagan also has some name recognition, at least in the library world.

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler: The story of a town torn apart by the events surrounding the rape of drunk girl at a house party, from the perspective of the partygoers who witnessed it.

Why: This is another book that addresses rape and rape culture, a topic that needs to continue being talked about. But additionally, this is Aaron Hartzler’s debut into fiction, and it’s impressive.

On The Radar: 10 Books for August

August 3, 2015 |

One of the most popular posts I do over at Book Riot is the round-up of upcoming YA fiction titles, and one of the most popular questions I seem to get on Twitter and in my inboxes is “what should I be looking out for in YA?” For a lot of readers, especially those who work with teens either in classrooms or in libraries, knowing what’s coming out ahead of time is valuable to get those books into readers’ hands before they even ask.

Each month, I’ll call out between 8 and 12 books coming out that should be on your radar. These include books by high-demand, well-known authors, as well as some up-and-coming and debut authors. They’ll be across a variety of genres, including diverse titles and writers. Not all of the books will be ones that Kimberly or I have read, nor will all of them be titles that we’re going to read and review. Rather, these are books that readers will be looking for and that have popped up regularly on social media, in advertising, in book mail, and so forth. It’s part science and part arbitrary and a way to keep the answer to “what should I know about for this month?” quick, easy, and under $300 (doable for smaller library budgets especially).

For August, here are 10 titles to have on your radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve noted why it should be included.

A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz: Beckan, an immortal teenage fairy, and Tier, a young activist, are on opposite sides of a war, but strike up an unlikely friendship anyway.

Why: I have read nothing but positive reviews of this title, and Moskowitz continues to emerge in the YA world as an author to watch. This is her second release this year, and it’s in a completely different genre than Not Otherwise Specifed.

The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle: Every October Cara and her family become mysteriously and dangerously accident-prone, but this year, the year Cara, her ex-stepbrother, and her best friend are 17, is when Cara will begin to unravel the accident season’s dark origins.

Why: This one has had a ton of publicity and press, and it sounds like a fun, different supernatural tale.

Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond: Walter Wilcox’s first love, Naomi, happens to be African American, so when Walter’s policeman father is caught in a racial profiling scandal, the teens’ bond and mutual love of the Foo Fighters may not be enough to keep them together through the pressures they face at school, at home, and online.

Why: I read this one, and while it’s imperfect, it’s timely and should evoke some great discussion. The romance here is well-drawn and through the perspective of Walter, which makes it stand out in the current YA world. This is also a hybrid novel with illustrations, so it has tremendous appeal.

Court of Fives by Kate Elliott: When a scheming lord tears Jess’s family apart, she must rely on her unlikely friendship with Kal, a high-ranking Patron boy, and her skill at Fives, an intricate, multi-level athletic competition that offers a chance for glory, to protect her Commoner mother and mixed-race sisters and save her father’s reputation.

Why: I’ve read nothing but great reviews of this one, and it’s had some good publicity. Elliott is no novice in the SFF world, but this is her first foray into YA.

Slasher Girls & Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke: Inspired by classic tales and films, a collection of fourteen short stories ranging from bloody horror, to psychological thrillers, to supernatural creatures, to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, by acclaimed YA authors of every genre.

Why: Again, really positive reviews of this one have piqued my own curiosity, as well as a stellar lineup of writers with short horror stories. There’s always room for more horror in YA, and in this instance, a collection of short stories is a unique way to offer it. With the names included, an awesome opportunity for new readers to discover the longer works by authors’ stories they enjoy, too.

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman: Katerina, on a mission to kill the queen, falls in love with Alexander, Prince of Macedonia. Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Why: Aside from the big push this one has gotten from the publisher, adults might be familiar with the author, who has written the adult non-fiction titles Sex With Kings and Sex With The Queen. She knows her stuff, and I suspect it’ll be interesting to see her take that knowledge and apply it into a YA novel.

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Kate Alender: Sixteen-year-old Cordelia and her family move into the house they just inherited in Pennsylvania, a former insane asylum the locals call Hysteria Hall–unfortunately the house does not want defiant girls like Delia, so it kills her, and as she wanders the house, meeting the other ghosts and learning the dark secrets of the Hall, she realizes that she has to find a way to save her sister, parents, and perhaps herself.

Why: Again, this is a solid horror novel, and Alender has sort of carved a niche for herself here, too. She’s an excellent writer of suspense and tension, and this particular novel features a smart main character who knows how horror works, so there’s an extra layer of tension added therein. It plays with the tropes horror readers love in unexpected ways.

Reawakened by Colleen Houck: A visit to an Egyptian exhibit brings teen Lilliana Young face to face with a recently awakened mummy-turned-handsome-sun-god as she gets caught up in an adventure with more twists and turns than the Nile itself

Why: Houck has written a series before that did quite well, and this is the first entry into a new one. A mythology-based fantasy sounds fun and different.

After The Red Rain by Barry Lyga, Peter Facinelli, and Robert DeFranco: Set in a future world of environmental collapse and mass poverty, where a mysterious boy named Rose discovers he possesses inhuman powers that can irrevocably change the lives of everyone on the planet.

Why: While the description really doesn’t make this one sound particularly unique, look at the names on this book. They’re huge and this collaborative effort has seen some good reviews.

Most Likely To Succeed by Jennifer Echols: Sawyer and Kaye fall in love despite hating each other.

Why: Weak description from WorldCat, but Echols continues to produce well-written romance-driven YA novels, and this entire series has been solid. Bonus: look at that black girl on the cover, right in the center.

On The Radar: 12 Books for June

June 2, 2015 |

One of the most popular posts I do over at Book Riot is the round-up of upcoming YA fiction titles, and one of the most popular questions I seem to get on Twitter and in my inboxes is “what should I be looking out for in YA?” For a lot of readers, especially those who work with teens either in classrooms or in libraries, knowing what’s coming out ahead of time is valuable to get those books into readers’ hands before they even ask.

Each month, I’ll call out between 8 and 12 books coming out that should be on your radar. These include books by high-demand, well-known authors, as well as some up-and-coming and debut authors. They’ll be across a variety of genres, including diverse titles and writers. Not all of the books will be ones that Kimberly or I have read, nor will all of them be titles that we’re going to read and review. Rather, these are books that readers will be looking for and that have popped up regularly on social media, in advertising, in book mail, and so forth. It’s part science and part arbitrary and a way to keep the answer to “what should I know about for this month?” quick, easy, and under $300 (doable for smaller library budgets especially).

For June, here are 12 titles to have on your radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve noted why it should be included.

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker: Set in an alternative 16th-century England, Elizabeth Grey is the only girl in the king’s elite group of witch hunters. When she’s framed for being a witch herself, Elizabeth finds freedom at the hands of the world’s most wanted wizard and her loyalties are tested.

Why: This one has gotten some solid buzz, along with a sizable distribution of review copies. I’ve heard positive things, though I haven’t picked it up myself.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler: After a boating accident takes her beautiful singing and speaking voice from her, Elyse d’Abreau, the youngest of six sisters, leaves her home in Tobago to stay in an Oregon seaside town where Christian Kane, a notorious playboy, challenges her to express herself and to overcome her fear of the sea.

Why: Sarah Ockler is a mainstay in contemporary YA fiction. Bonus points for a great cover.

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway: Sheltered seventeen-year-old Emmy’s childhood best friend Oliver reappears after disappearing with his father ten years ago.

Why: Like Ockler, Benway is a staple name in YA. Her new book looks to be no different.

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older: When the murals painted on the walls of her Brooklyn neighborhood start to change and fade in front of her, Sierra Santiago realizes that something strange is going on–then she discovers her Puerto Rican family are shadowshapers and finds herself in a battle with an evil anthropologist for the lives of her family and friends.

Why: An urban fantasy novel featuring a girl of color. Let’s talk about that killer cover, too. I am dying to read this, even though it’s not my usual genre.

Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas: Ollie, who has seizures when near electricity, lives in a backwoods cabin with his mother and rarely sees other people, and Moritz, born with no eyes and a heart defect that requires a pacemaker, is bullied at his high school, but when a physician who knows both suggests they begin corresponding, they form a strong bond that may get them through dark times.

Why: If there were one book I got more review copies of than any other this year, it might be this one. Interestingly, there are some parallels between this one’s description and the forthcoming Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella: Fourteen-year-old Audrey is making slow but steady progress dealing with her anxiety disorder when Linus comes into the picture and her recovery gains momentum.

Why: Sophie Kensella is a huge name in adult fiction (“chick lit,” though I loathe the term) and the reviews for her first YA title have been solid. This one features a younger-than-usual teen, too, which is a bonus.

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller: Exhausted and rebellious after three years of working for her father and mothering her brother, eighteen-year-old Arcadia “Cadie” Wells joins two cousins who are camping their way through Florida, soon learning that one’s a murderer.

Why: Trish Doller has been building a name for herself in contemporary realistic YA, and her first foray into the thriller genre is going to keep her reputation going in a positive direction. This is a fast-paced read, perfect for summer.

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent:

Why: Another urban fantasy title for shelves by Rachel Vincent, who made a name for herself in the adult urban fantasy realm.

The Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes: A mysterious book and ancient magic bring together four young people in modern-day Toronto and the ancient kingdoms of Mytica.

Why: Morgan’s kicking off a new series with this one, and her previous series, “Falling Kingdoms,” has been popular.

I Am The Traitor by Allen Zadoff (book three in “The Unknown Assassin” series): After breaking free of The Program, Boy Nobody is on a mission of his own to reclaim his life and rescue his friend Howard from the secret organization that has turned him and other orphaned children into trained assassins–but he has no idea who, if anyone, he can trust, or what the consequences will be if he succeeds in bringing down The Program.

Why: This is the third book in Zadoff’s “Unknown Assassin” series, which is great for those more reluctant readers who want a fast-paced thriller.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera: After enduring his father’s suicide, his own suicide attempt, broken friendships, and more in the Bronx projects, Aaron Soto, sixteen, is already considering the Leteo Institute’s memory-alteration procedure when his new friendship with Thomas turns to unrequited love.

Why: A “light science fiction” title by debut author Silvera features a queer character.

Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn: When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family’s California vineyard estate. Here, she’s meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she’s meant to do a lot of things. But it’s hard. She’s bored. And when Sadie’s bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.

Emerson Tate’s a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That’s why Emerson’s not happy Sadie’s back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won’t ever let him.

Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That’s what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past.

But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written? Maybe tragedy is his destiny. Maybe it’s all of theirs. (via Goodreads)

Why: Kuehn is the 2014 winner of the Morris Award for a debut novel, and her third offering takes all she’s done well so far and amps it up another notch. This is a diverse read, and it’s super dark.