Hey YA Readers!
Can you believe we’re done with November already? This month has really felt like it’s gone by in a blink. Impressive, given that 2023 has itself been five years long.
I’ve been deep in a reading slump this month. Part of it is being burned out by grad school. Part of it is being burned out from book censorship coverage. It is so much easier in my downtime to scroll TikTok than to read. I’ve gotten a few audiobooks in, but for the most part, I’m also not pushing myself. Here’s your reminder that not reading is normal; it’s okay, and you don’t need to feel bad about it. Guess what? It’ll come back. It always does.
With that out there, let’s talk paperback releases and YA book news for the week.
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Bookish Goods
Bookish Canvas Tote by AscendantFireDesigns
‘Tis the season to remember the value of your local public library, whether or not you use them for your books, for programming and events, for research, or for a chill place to hang. This tote bag is all about love for the library, and its bright, fun design is hard not to smile about. $24.
New Releases
It’s time to highlight some great paperback YA books that hit shelves this week. We’ve got a bunch of fun titles out, so make sure you check out the entire list over here.
House of Yesterday by Deeba Zargarpur
Sara comes from a large Afghani-Uzbeck family, but she’s feeling alone after the divorce of her parents. Her dad’s started dating someone new, and making things more awkward is the fact that her dad and mom still work together in their house flipping business. Sara’s recruited as part of their work to take photos of the before and after.
The newest project, Sumner, is not giving great vibes. Sara begins to see the ghost of her grandmother and then the ghost of a strange little girl. No one else is seeing this, and she can’t capture it on camera. Her grandmother, who struggles with memory, has been having strange conversations about having another child that none of her family seems to know about. Are these comments and what Sara’s seeing related?
This is an immersive story about family, about history, and about the stories and choices immigrants sometimes have to make in order to build a new life.
How To Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow
A Sapphic Jewish romance at Christmas? Count me 500% in.
Shari runs into May with her Subaru, and that is not the plan. Shari’s got a month-long internship she’s excited about, but in addition to dealing with the accident, she’s also struggling to get over the big breakup she just experienced.
Then Shari’s taken up a dog walking gig. And guess who is there? It’s May. Now, the two of them are thrown together again, and it might upend everything. Especially as they’re snowed in together on Christmas Eve…
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
YA Book News
- Did you know it’s been 15 years since the theatrical release of Twilight? Here’s a look back at the history of one of the biggest YA adaptations in history.
- Three “best of” lists to enjoy from School Library Journal include the best YA books, the best nonfiction for middle and high school students, and the best graphic novels of 2023.
- Speaking of the box office and long-time, money-making franchises, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes took home the top prize for Thanksgiving weekend in terms of sales.
- There’s a YA prequel to The Umbrella Academy hitting shelves next summer.
- British YA will see an adaption coming soon in the form of Eliza Clark’s Penance being developed for TV. What’s cool is the screenwriter behind it is also a YA author.
- Netflix has dropped two YA adaptations: Harlan Coben’s Shelter and Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone. Netflix is also passing on Six of Crows.
Thanks, as always, for hanging out. We’ll see you again on Saturday for a fresh batch of YA book deals.
Until then, happy reading…or, if you’re in my position, happy not reading until it comes again.
–Kelly Jensen