Sponsored by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers School & Library Marketing.
Poetry is an excellent vehicle through which to examine tough emotions, situations, and subjects. This LBYR Poetry Collection offers books that center poetry as a tool that does just that—in these books, poetry names the unspeakable, gives voice to the unheard, and acts as a record of history. The topics are real and tough, but the stories are ultimately empowering, triumphant, and healing.
Hey YA Readers!
Here’s your reminder to drop your picks for the best YA book of 2020 and the most under-the-radar YA book of 2020 before the survey closes.
Now, onto all things YA book news and new books!
YA Book News
- I missed this piece in early November, but it’s timeless: a look at how YA nonfiction takes teen readers seriously.
- Speaking of YA nonfiction, here’s the shortlist for this year’s Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction award from the American Library Association. It’s a great list, but there seems to be a glaring omission in a year of on-going racial justice movements and anti-racism.
- AudioFile named their 2020 best YA audiobooks. I haven’t listened to any of these, but I’ve read nearly all of them and suspect they’re outstanding to hear!
- This year’s best Jewish children’s books, including great Jewish YA.
- The trailer for the adaptation of Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets is here.
New YA Books This Week
- 19 Love Songs by David Levithan (paperback)
- Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (paperback, series)
- Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen (paperback)
- Graceling by Kristin Cashore (the entire trilogy is being re-released with new covers this week in anticipation of the next book in January)
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- The Liar’s Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson (paperback)
- The Pursuit of Miss Heartbreak Hotel by Moe Bonneau (paperback)
- Switchback by Danika Stone (paperback)
- A Universe of Wishes anthology edited by Dhonielle Clayton
YA Book Talk
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- Your winter 2020-2021 YA paperback releases are here!
- Five YA books about teens who travel.
- Nancy Drew wasn’t the only teen girl sleuth. Here are eight others to get to know!
- Put these December releases onto your TBR if you haven’t already.
- Some great queer YA books.
- For readers who love YA thrillers, don’t miss these YA domestic thrillers.
- YA fantasy books for fans of The Crown.
- A Louisiana public library pulled LGBTQ+ books from its children’s section, including at least one YA series. Note: the director of the library did not want to do this.
Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you on Saturday with some great YA ebook deals.
— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of Body Talk, (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, and Here We Are.