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On The Radar: 12 Books for May

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

The Heir by Kiera Cass: Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story … but as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she’s always thought.

Why: It’s the fourth book in the incredible popular “Selection” series. 

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen: Sydney’s charismatic older brother, Peyton, has always been the center of attention in the family but when he is sent to jail, Sydney struggles to find her place at home and the world until she meets the Chathams, including gentle, protective Mac, who makes her feel seen for the first time.

Why: Sarah Dessen is a staple in YA, and her new book is no exception. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from stories, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin, a High Lord of the faeries. As her feelings toward him transform from hostility to a fiery passion, the threats against the faerie lands grow. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse or she will lose Tamlin forever.

Why: Maas’s other series, “Throne of Glass” has been extremely popular. This book is the launch of a new series. I received a couple review copies of it, so I know it’s getting a big push, too. 

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Andieh: In this reimagining of The Arabian Nights, Shahrzad plans to avenge the death of her dearest friend by volunteering to marry the murderous boy-king of Khorasan but discovers not all is as it seems within the palace.

Why: A retelling of 1001 Nights, and it’s been getting really positive buzz. 

Off The Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer: When Delilah is united with Oliver, a prince literally taken from the pages of a fairytale, the line between what is on the page and what is possible is blurred, and all must be resolved for the two to live happily ever after. 

Why: Though I don’t know how well Picoult’s previous YA novel did, there’s name recognition here, and teens and adults will want to be picking this up (bonus: it’s partially illustrated). 

Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond: Lois Lane is the new girl at East Metropolis High, and her instinct to ask questions brings her and her online friend, Smallville Guy, into conflict with some bullying video gamers called the Warheads, who are being used in a dangerous virtual reality experiment.

Why: Lois Lane gets a YA backstory! I can’t wait to read this one myself, and I suspect it’ll be a hit, especially with comics fans who want to pick up a novel about a character who hasn’t been given a lot of her own story. 

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest: Years after writing stories about a superheroine character she created with a best friend who died in a tragic car accident, 16-year-old Libby is shocked to see stickers, patches and graffiti images of the superheroine appearing all over town.

Why: I’ve not read this myself, but it has received tremendous positive buzz and a few starred reviews. 

The Hunted by Matt de la Pena: After surviving the earthquake and tsunami, Shy manages to make it back to land but he is far from safe because a secret his cruise ship co-worker, Addie, shared with him is one that people have killed for, and now that Shy knows, he has become a moving target.

Why: It’s the sequel to The Living, a dystopia. Plus, it’s Matt de la Pena and he’s one you always should have on shelf. 

Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl: When Ridley goes missing after a car crash, Link, his bandmates, and Lennox Gates, joined by Liv and John Breed, embark on a search for the Siren, taking them to Mississippi, where they encounter legendary blues guitarist Robert Johnson, and then to New Orleans, where an evil threatens to destroy them all.

Why: This is the sequel to Dangerous Creatures, the second series by Garcia and Stohl. 

Ink and Ashes by Valynne E. Maetani: Claire Takata has never known much about her father, who passed away when she was a little girl. But on the anniversary of his death, not long before her seventeenth birthday, she finds a mysterious letter from her deceased father, addressed to her stepfather. Claire never even knew that they had met.

Claire knows she should let it go, but she can’t shake the feeling that something’s been kept from her. In search of answers, Claire combs through anything that will give her information about her father . . . until she discovers he was a member of the yakuza, the Japanese mafia. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed.

So begins the race to outrun his legacy as the secrets of her father’s past threaten Claire’s friends and family, newfound love, and ultimately her life. (via Goodreads)

Why: Out from Tu Books, this won their annual “New Visions” award for a debut author. A diverse mystery hurts no one. 
Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham: Scarlett, a sixteen-year-old private detective in the fictional city of Las Almas, finds herself at the center of a mysterious case–involving ancient curses, priceless artifacts, and jinn–as she discovers that her own family secrets may have more to do with the situation than she thinks. 
Why: Speaking of diverse mysteries, I devoured this one when I read it last month. It’s very Veronica Mars in tone and voice, and Scarlett is a Muslim American, and this does play a big part in her story in a way we don’t get to see enough of in YA. 
Hold Me Like A Breath by Tiffany Schmidt: Penny Landlow, seventeen, the overprotected daughter of a powerful crime family, has rarely left the family estate due to a blood disorder but when tragedy strikes and she is left alone in New York City, she must prove she is not as fragile as everyone believes.
Why: This thriller is a retelling of “The Princess and the Pea” with organ trafficking. It’s the first in a new series and readers will dig the twist on the tale. This is a fun one. 

On The Radar: 12 YA Books For April

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

Don’t Stay Up Late by R. L. Stine (April 7): Ever since a car accident killed her father and gave her a severe concussion, high school junior Lisa’s been plagued by nightmares and hallucinations, and when she accepts a babysitting job in hopes it will banish the disturbing images, she faces new terror as she begins to question exactly who–or what–she’s babysitting.
Why: It’s the second book in the relaunch of the “Fear Street” series. Here’s some staple horror. 
All The Rage by Courtney Summers (April 14): After being assaulted by the sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, Romy Grey was branded a liar and bullied by former friends, finding refuge only in the diner where she works outside of town, but when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing and news of him assulting another girl gets out, Romy must decide whether to speak out again or risk having more girls hurt.
Why: An important and powerful story about rape culture, victimization, and about the way we treat girls in society. Also, since it’s the Tumblr Reblog Book Club’s pick for April and May, it’ll be really popular. 
None of the Above by I. W. Gregorio (April 7): When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She’s a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she’s madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she’s decided that she’s ready to take things to the next level with him.


But Kristin’s first time isn’t the perfect moment she’s planned–something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy “parts.”

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin’s entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self? (Description via Goodreads). 

Why: This story deals with an issue we don’t see in YA: an intersex teen. This is written in an incredibly appealing way. 

Eden West by Pete Hautman (April 14): Tackling faith, doubt, and transformation, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman explores a boy’s unraveling allegiance to an insular cult. Twelve square miles of paradise, surrounded by an eight-foot-high chain-link fence: this is Nodd, the land of the Grace. It is all seventeen-year-old Jacob knows. Beyond the fence lies the World, a wicked, terrible place, doomed to destruction. When the Archangel Zerachiel descends from Heaven, only the Grace will be spared the horrors of the Apocalypse. But something is rotten in paradise. A wolf invades Nodd, slaughtering the Grace’s sheep. A new boy arrives from outside, and his scorn and disdain threaten to tarnish Jacob’s contentment. Then, while patrolling the borders of Nodd, Jacob meets Lynna, a girl from the adjoining ranch, who tempts him to sample the forbidden Worldly pleasures that lie beyond the fence. Jacob’s faith, his devotion, and his grip on reality are tested as his feelings for Lynna blossom into something greater and the End Days grow ever closer. Eden West is the story of two worlds, two hearts, the power of faith, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Why: “National Book Award winner Pete Hautman” might be enough there, but it’s worth noting this is a cult title, which is a popular trend in YA this year. Likewise, it explores faith and religion, and I know Kimberly found Hautman’s last series — The Klaatu Diskos — extremely well done. 
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (April 28): Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution. 
Why: There has been huge buzz around this title — I’ve received more than one review copy of it, and I’ve seen plenty of rave reviews. It’s a stand alone fantasy novel. 
Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger (April 28): High school senior Sonny Ardmore is an accomplished liar who uses lies to try and control her out-of-control life which has been further complicated by the fact that she is secretly staying every night in her best friend Amy’s house because she has been kicked out by her own mother–but when she gets into a online conversation with the stuck-up new boy Ryder, who has a crush on Amy, she finds herself caught up in one lie to many.
Why: This is a companion novel to The DUFF, and with The DUFF still being a New York Times Bestseller with renewed interest following the movie, this should garner some good interest. (Interesting to note it’s a different publisher than The DUFF, though set in the same world and featuring different characters). 

The Remedy by Suzanne Young (April 21): Seventeen-year-old Quinn provides closure to grieving families by taking on the short-term role of a deceased loved one, until huge secrets come to the surface about Quinn’s own past.
Why: This is a novel set in the same world as Young’s NYT Bestselling “The Program” series. It’s a prequel, though reading the other titles isn’t necessary to get this one. Young might be writing some of the best authentic teen dialog in YA. 
Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley (April 28): Aza Ray Boyle’s life has been defined by a unique lung disease and her evolving friendship with Jason, but just before her sixteenth birthday, she is swept up into the sky-bound world of Magonia and discovers her true identity.
Why: A stand alone fantasy likened to Neil Gaiman. Early reviews and buzz on this have been really positive.
Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (April 7): Sixteen-year-old, not-so-openly-gay Simon Spier is blackmailed into playing wingman for his classmate or else his sexual identity–and that of his pen pal–will be revealed. 
Why: This is a fun read, featuring a gay main character. 
 
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (April 21): A teenage boy struggles with schizophrenia.
Why: This is Shusterman, so that’s already the sell on the book, but it’s a powerful, authentic, painful look at mental illness. The teen boy at the center of this one is also on the younger side of teen, which stood out to me when I read it. 
Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins (April 7): In the sequel to REBEL BELLE, Harper Price and her new boyfriend and oracle David Stark face new challenges as the powerful Ephors seek to claim David for their own. 
Why: It’s the sequel to Rebel Belle. Hawkins writes in a fun style, and she’s extremely appealing to teen readers. 
Palace of Lies by Margaret Peterson Haddox (April 7): After a terrible fire destroys her home and kills her twelve sister-princesses, Desmia must rise above those who intend to manipulate her and sieze power for themselves–and find out the truth.
Why: The third and final book in “The Palace Chronicles” series. These are especially good for the younger YA reading set. 
Since I’m trying really hard to keep these lists to between 8 and 12 titles, I know I have to leave some really good stuff off. But if you have it in your budget to add one more title in April, I’d also put Amy Spalding’s fun, funny, and romantic Kissing Ted Callahan (And Other Guys) in your cart. 

On The Radar: 13 Books for March

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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).

I’m cheating a little bit this month because there are so many releases worth knowing about. Rather than keep to the strict 12 title limit…I’m including 13. So, here are 13 titles to have on your March 2015 radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve included short notes as to why the title was included. 

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby (March 3): Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.  (via Goodreads)

Why: This literary tale has garnered a ton of buzz (sorry, sorry) and it’s earned a number of stars. I have no doubt we’ll be seeing a lot of Printz-related talk about this one as the year goes on. 

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma (March 24): Orianna and Violet are ballet dancers and best friends, but when the ballerinas who have been harassing Violet are murdered, Orianna is accused of the crime and sent to a juvenile detention center where she meets Amber and they experience supernatural events linking the girls together.

Why: I think Suma’s books should all be on everyone’s radars since they’re so outstanding, but this one might be her best. It’s received a ton of buzz, as well as three starred reviews, and all of it is well-deserved. This is a literary novel with huge appeal for readers, especially those who like their stories with a side of horror. The “Orange is the New Black Swan” tag line it’s had is pretty on point. 

The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks (March 1): I can’t believe I fell for it. It was still dark when I woke up this morning. As soon as my eyes opened I knew where I was. A low-ceilinged rectangular building made entirely of whitewashed concrete. There are six little rooms along the main corridor. There are no windows. No doors. The lift is the only way in or out. What’s he going to do to me?

Why: Brooks won the UK’s Carnegie medal in literature for this book when it published over there in 2013. It then went on to get some media attention, primarily about how this isn’t “really” a book “for teens.” With the discussion it generated there, I think this is a book to keep an eye on when it comes out in the US this month.

Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (March 10): Seraphina, half-dragon and half-human, searches for others like her who can make the difference in the war between dragons and humans in the kingdom of Goredd.

Why: This is the sequel to the 2013 Morris Award winning Seraphina. 

Death Marked by Leah Cypess (March 3): After killing the leader of a clan of assassins and falling in love with his heir, a young sorceress discovers she is the one person to bring down the evil Empire that has been oppressing her people for centuries, and now, in the heart of the Empire, Ileni herself is the deadliest weapon the assassins have ever had.

Why: This is the sequel to Cypess’s Death Sworn. This is a high fantasy series featuring magical powers. Kimberly quite enjoyed the first entry in this series. 

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski (March 3): The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince is the event of a lifetime, but to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making, so as she aches to tell the truth about her engagement, she becomes a skilled practitioner of deceit and as a spy passes information and gets close to uncovering a shocking secret.

Why: This is the sequel to the popular The Winner’s Curse book, which came out last year. This is a historical fantasy series worth knowing about. 

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (March 10): Orphaned as a child, Princess Wilhelmina together with her best friend Melanie return to the Indigo Kingdom to fight back and reclaim Wil’s throne. But Wil has a secret — one that could change everything.

Why: This is the launch of a new fantasy series. Meadows’s first series, “Newsoul,” was — and is — pretty popular and well reviewed by readers. 

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (March 31): My name is Amy Gumm–and I’m the other girl from Kansas. After a tornado swept through my trailer park, I ended up in Oz. But it wasn’t like the Oz I knew from books and movies. Dorothy had returned, but she was now a ruthless dictator. Glinda could no longer be called the Good Witch. And the Wicked Witches who were left? They’d joined forces as the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and they wanted to recruit me. My mission? Kill Dorothy. Except my job as assassin didn’t work out as planned. Dorothy is still alive. The Order has vanished. And the home I couldn’t wait to leave behind might be in danger. Somehow, across a twisted and divided land, I have to find the Order, protect the true ruler of Oz, take Dorothy and her henchmen down–and try to figure out what I’m really doing here. 

Why: Paige’s first novel, Dorothy Must Die, was a New York Times Bestseller. This is the sequel/companion to that title. (Not a why, but worth noting that this series is from Full Fathom Five, so do with that what you will).

The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith (March 3): The story of Ariel, a Middle Eastern refugee who lives with an adoptive family in Sunday, West Virginia, is juxtaposed against those of a schizophrenic bomber, the diaries of a failed arctic expedition from the late nineteenth century, and a depressed, bionic reincarnated crow.

Why: It’s a new Andrew Smith title, and the first of two he’ll publish this year. This one is more along the lines of Grasshopper Jungle than Winger on the weird/strange scale. 

Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan (March 17): Larger-than-life Tiny Cooper finally gets to tell his story, from his fabulous birth and childhood to his quest for true love and his infamous parade of ex-boyfriends, in the form of a musical he wrote.

Why: This is the companion to Will Grayson, will grayson, but it’s Tiny Cooper’s story. This is told in an alternate format, as well. 

The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer (March 30): When Stephen moves to the small, midwestern town where his father grew up, he quickly falls in with punk girl Cara and her charismatic twin brother, Devon. But the town has a dark secret, and the twins are caught in the middle of it.

Why: Heather Brewer is perennially popular, and this is a brand new stand-alone paranormal story from her. 



Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver (March 10): Two sisters inexorably altered by a terrible accident, a missing nine-year-old girl, and the shocking connection between them.

Why: Despite the fact I haven’t seen too many rave reviews of this one — not have I seen a lot of talk about it more broadly — it’s a brand new Lauren Oliver book, and she’s always popular. 

Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein (March 31): Having moved to Ethiopia to avoid the prejudices of 1930s America, Emilia Menotti, her black adoptive brother Teo, and their mother Rhoda, a stunt pilot, are devoted to their new country even after war with Italy looms, drawing the teens into the conflict.

Why: New Elizabeth Wein is why enough. 

On The Radar: 8 YA Books for February

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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).

Here are 8 titles to have on your January 2015 radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve included short notes as to why the title was included. This is a particularly solid month for books by authors of color. 

 

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios: Skylar Evans, seventeen, yearns to escape Creek View by attending art school, but after her mother’s job loss puts her dream at risk, a rekindled friendship with Josh, who joined the Marines to get away then lost a leg in Afghanistan, and her job at the Paradise motel lead her to appreciate her home town.

Why: This one has had a good amount of publisher push behind it. It’s also quite timely, and it falls into the lesser-tackled issues of post-high school military service. 

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: In a world divided by blood–those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities–seventeen-year-old Mare, a Red, discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. But Mare risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard –a growing Red rebellion–even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. 

Why: This one’s been pitched as being for fans of Game of Thrones but more than that, it’s one with a lot of publicity behind it from the publisher. It’s likely this is a book teen readers will be hearing about peer-to-peer. (Unrelated, but that bloody crown is great).

This Side of Home by Renee Watson: Twins Nikki and Maya Younger always agreed on most things, but as they head into their senior year they react differently to the gentrification of their Portland, Oregon, neighborhood and the new–white–family that moves in after their best friend and her mother are evicted.

Why: I’ve heard virtually nothing about this title, and it’s a diverse one that sounds like it takes on so many fascinating topics that it should be being talked about more. It looks like the author will be doing an event with Jacqueline Woodson in March, which might spark some buzz, as well. 

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson: Rory, Callum and Boo are still reeling from a series of tragic events, while new dangers lurk around the city from Jane and her nefarious organization. 

Why: This is the third book in Maureen Johnson’s extremely popular “Shades of London” series, so it will be in high demand. There will be four books in the series, so this isn’t the conclusion yet. 

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead: After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

Why: This is the sixth and final book in Richelle Mead’s popular “Bloodlines” series. 

Stone in the Sky by Cecil Castellucci: In this follow-up to TIN STAR, the desolate planet below the Yertina Feray space station is discovered to have overwhelming amounts of an invaluable resource, which suddenly makes the station a major player in intergalactic politics

Why: This is the second book in Castellucci’s duology, which began with Tin Star. It seems like there’s been a decline in science fiction in YA, but this series fits the sci fi bill perfectly. 

Dove Arising by Karen Bao: On a lunar colony, fifteen-year-old Phaet Theta does the unthinkable and joins the Militia when her mother is imprisoned by the Moon’s oppressive government.

Why: I’ve gotten not just a review copy of this one (and early on!), but I’ve been pitched it a couple more times on top of it. This is a debut novel by an author of color, and it’s science fiction — again, with what seems like a genre with fewer offerings than others within YA recently, it’s worth taking a good look at! 

When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez: Elizabeth Davis and Emily Daniels seem to have little in common except Ms. Diaz’s English class and the solace they find in the words of Emily Dickinson, but both are struggling with to cope with monumental secrets and tumultuous emotions that will lead one to attempt suicide.

Why: Aside from fitting the Emily Dickinson trend, this is a realistic debut YA by a Latina author. 

On The Radar: 12 YA Books for January

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For the new year, I’m kicking off a new monthly feature at STACKED. 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).

Here are 12 titles to have on your January 2015 radar. All descriptions are from WorldCat, and I’ve included short notes as to why the title was included.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black: In the town of Fairfold, where humans and fae exist side by side, a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives awakes after generations of sleep in a glass coffin in the woods, causing Hazel to be swept up in new love, shift her loyalties, feel the fresh sting of betrayal, and to make a secret sacrifice to the faerie king.

Why: A new Holly Black book is always going to end up on a radar list.

Ignite by Sara B. Larson: King Damian and his trusted guard, Alexa, focus on rebuilding Antion after years of war and strife, but the citizens are reluctant to trust their new king, and when a new threat arises, including an assassination attempt, Alexa must protect the king she loves and uncover the enemy before it is too late.

Why: This is the sequel to Larson’s debut Defy, which won over many readers. 

Vivian Apple at the End of the World by Katie Coyle: Sixteen-year-old Vivian Apple returns home after the alleged ‘Rapture’ to find her devout parents gone and two mysterious holes in the roof. Vivian never believed in the Rapture, or the uber powerful Church of America. Now that she has been left behind, Vivan’s quest for the truth begins.

Why: The first of many rapture/cult books in 2015 (more to come on this trend soon), Coyle’s debut was an award-winner in the UK, with a ton of buzz about it happening on Tumblr. 

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: Told in alternating voices, when Theodore Finch and Violet Markey meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school–both teetering on the edge–it’s the beginning of an unlikely relationship, a journey to discover the “natural wonders” of the state of Indiana, and two teens’ desperate desire to heal and save one another

Why: One of the biggest buzz titles I’ve seen in a long time. It has been compared non-stop to The Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor and Park. 

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds: Soon after his mother’s death, Matt takes a job at a funeral home in his tough Brooklyn neighborhood and, while attending and assisting with funerals, begins to accept her death and his responsibilities as a man.

Why: I’m going to review this one shortly, but it’s a realistic YA novel about a black boy dealing with grief, loss, and first love in Brooklyn. Reynolds’s debut, When I Was The Greatest, garnered a lot of well-earned praise last year, and his sophomore effort is even better.

X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon: Co-written by Malcolm X’s daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world. Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that’s a pack of lies⁰́₄after all, his father’s been murdered, his mother’s been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer. But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion⁰́₄and that he can’t run forever. X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.

Why: It’s timely and timeless. What do we know about Malcolm X’s adolescence? And more, from his daughter? This has been getting some good buzz. 

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson: Convinced he should have died in the accident that killed his parents and sister, sixteen-year-old Drew lives in a hospital, hiding from employees and his past, until Rusty, set on fire for being gay, turns his life around. Includes excerpts from the superhero comic Drew creates.

Why: Aside from being a male-driven narration by Hutchinson — an up-and-coming author — it’s a graphic novel hybrid, which has loads of reader appeal. 

I Was Here by Gayle Forman: In an attempt to understand why her best friend committed suicide, eighteen-year-old Cody Reynolds retraces her dead friend’s footsteps and makes some startling discoveries.

Why: It’s a new Gayle Forman book, and it’s her first standalone title. 

A Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall: When sixteen-year-old Avery West learns her family is part of a powerful and dangerous secret society, and that her own life is in danger, she must follow a trail of clues across Europe.

Why: This is a debut thriller, and it’s one I have received numerous review (and finished!) copies of recently. It looks like it has a real Ally Carter feel to it. 

All Fall Down by Ally Carter: There are many powerful people along Embassy Row who want Grace to block out all her unpretty thoughts. But Grace will not stop until she finds out who killed her mother and make the killer pay.

Why: Speaking of Ally Carter, this is the start of a brand new series from her. 

Audacity by Melanie Crowder: A historical fiction novel in verse detailing the life of Clara Lemlich and her struggle for women’s labor rights in the early 20th century in New York.

Why: This is another that I’ll be reviewing soon, but it’s included here because it’s a historical verse novel about women and the labor rights movements of the early 20th century. Though fictional, the story is based on a real Russian Jewish woman whose family was forced to immigrate to the US. 

Fairest by Marissa Meyer: Queen Levana is a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now

Why: It’s another addition to Meyer’s best-selling Lunar Chronicles series.