Hey YA Readers!
It’s a packed newsletter this week. I’m personally getting ready to head out of town for a long weekend, and I could not be more excited. The last couple of weeks have been extremely challenging, and not needing to be responsible for anyone or anything for a few days sounds like a dream. I might even be able to listen to a book or two. I cannot say it’s been much of a reading month so far, so maybe this will help out a bit.
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Let’s dive on in.
Bookish Goods
Underwater Library Puzzle by reveriepuzzles
I only wish you could see the image a little bit clearer in this newsletter, but do click over to look at this gorgeous underwater library scene you can construct with this 1000-piece puzzle. Don’t care for this design? This shop has so many gorgeous bookish puzzles. $37.
New Releases
It’s time for new books! Let’s look at two new hardcovers hitting shelves this week. You can catch the entire list of new YA releases over here.
Artifacts of an Ex by Jennifer Chen
Chloe Chang moved from New York City to Los Angeles and she was then dumped by her boyfriend via the postal service. She’s ready to destroy her box of artifacts from the relationship until she gets a better idea. What if she created an art exhibit dedicated to showcasing the romantic artifacts of other ended relationships from her peers?
Chloe wants to make the exhibit, which she’s called Heartifacts, successful. There are just a few problems—first, the influencers who want to take her down.
Second: the boy she’s met at the show and is falling hard for.
Pritty by Keith F. Miller, Jr.
It’s the summer before senior year. Jay is the exact opposite of his brother: Jay is soft, gentle, while his brother is the definition of all one thinks of as a man. Then he catches the attention of Leroy, and while Jay is shocked, he is getting the attention of a guy who could have his pick of anyone; he’s feeling it.
But their relationship is challenged because of Leroy’s family obligations to protect the neighborhood and to learn who attacked his own brother.
This book is being pitched as Concrete Rose meets Things We Couldn’t Say and looks fantastic.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
YA Poetry Collections
Over the last few months, the conversation around YA poetry collections has bubbled up on social media among school and public librarians. There has always been good poetry for teens–by them and not by them but written for them–but keeping up with the latest in teen poetry collections can sometimes be tricky. Like so many other forms of writing outside of the traditional teen novel, it does not get the same level of love or attention, let alone marketing time or money. In some ways, that makes sense, as its popularity among adults (those who have the money to buy the collections) is not as great as a novel.
Unfortunately, because many of these collections are by authors of color, the lack of attention hurts those whose work is not only enjoyed by but connects with teen readers.
Let’s look at some of the recent YA poetry collections to hit shelves, as well as look at some of the upcoming collections to have on your radar. Note that these are collections of poetry. They are not novels in verse, though those are great, too. There is some crossover, as you’ll see, between the YA authors who do write verse novels and those who also write poetry collections. I have not included books published for the adult market with great YA crossover appeal (like Rupi Kaur or Amanda Lovelace). These are poetry books specifically for YA readers.
This is not a comprehensive guide, but if there’s interest, I might be tempted to offer something much more in-depth in the future. I’ve limited to collections published in 2019 or after.
Dark Testament by Crystal Simone Smith
Created as black-out poems from George Saunders’s book Lincoln in the Bardo, Smith tells the story of those lost to racial violence and gives voices to those engaged in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Grace Notes: Poetry About Families by Naomi Shihab Nye (May 7)
There is not yet a cover for this collection, nor is there a description beyond what you can know via the title itself. What is known, though, is this is the first Naomi Shihab Nye poetry collection for teens in quite a while–her last few releases have been middle grade. For those newer to YA poetry, she’s a major name, so this is a very exciting upcoming release.
Poemhood: Our Black Revival: History, Folklore & the Black Experience: A Young Adult Poetry Anthology edited by Amber McBride, Erica Martin, and Taylor Byas (January 30)
Beginning with the incredible cover, this book promises to be nothing short of the kind of collection of Black poetry–both contemporary and historical–that YA readers deserve. Among some of the contributors are Kwame Alexander, James Baldwin, Ibi Zoboi, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks, and the poems dive into the Black experience.
Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott and illustrated by Loveis Wise
If you want an incredible audiobook experience, this is one you’ll want to listen to. Know, though, you will miss out on the art if you only listen; this might be one of those collections you listen to as you read along with the print edition.
Elliot’s collection focuses on bringing voice, power, and memory to the victims of police brutality and to the activists who have been engaged in Black Lives Matter.
There are 49 poems, and a handful are tribute poems inspired by Black poet luminaries.
These Are The Words by Nikita Gill
Gill has built a big following, and this season, she released her first collection for YA readers. She’d published several for adults prior.
This collection is meant to be a series of works to help young people through the tough experiences they go through, including breakups, feeling anger, dealing with family, and more. It is illustrated throughout, too, making it a really immersive experience.
When The World Didn’t End by Caroline Kaufman
In addition to teens loving poetry written for them, there is something even more special about teen poetry written by teens for them. Kaufman earned recognition and success through being an Instagram poet and this is her second collection of poems. Among the topics in her short works are love, self-discovery, forgiveness, and more.
You Don’t Have To Be Everything edited by Diana Whitney
Sixty-eight poets from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including Amanda Gorman, Sharon Olds, Kate Baer, and Naomi Shihab Nye, explode the idea of stereotypical femininity. The collection is aimed at young female-identifying individuals, encouraging them to be who they are and not what others expect them to be.
As always, thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you on Thursday for more YA book releases and YA book news.
Until then, happy reading!
–Kelly Jensen