Hey YA Readers!
Before diving into the books for this week, here’s your reminder to share your favorite reads of 2023 for use in one of next week’s “What’s Up in YA?” newsletters. Voting ends on Thursday.
The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.
Let’s roll on into this week’s new books and a little bit of talk about Billy Shakes.
Bookish Goods
Bookmobile Decal Stickers by TheNerdyButterfly
Do you dream of a bookmobile sticker for your mug or your new planner? Because I have been looking for one, and I think I’ll be selecting one of these options. You’ve got four cool designs and styles to choose from. $3.50 each, or you can get all four for $10.
New Releases
Second verse, same as the first: it’s December, so book releases are sparser than in previous months. But the good news is that the books hitting shelves this week look excellent.
You can grab the full list of new YA hardcover releases over here. The winter 2024 YA release guide will be coming early in the new year, too.
Seven Minutes in Candyland by Brian Wasson
This book cover is one that has stood out to me this year—it’s bright, and it is delightful—and the description is making me even more excited to pick it up.
Kalvin is a high school sophomore with a unique side hustle: he sells candy at his school, and because he’s got the good stuff with no drama, it’s a successful underground business. Then, one day, his long-time crush, Sterling, stumbles into the storage closet where Kalvin keeps his supply and he begins to talk with her about the bad relationship she is in. Now he’s accidentally become a romance therapist, too—but how long can he put on the act before the truth of his own experiences and models of good relationships emerge?
What happens when his feelings for Sterling become too difficult to hide?
Where There’s Smoke by E. B. Vickers
Calli is 18 and lives in a small town where it seems everyone knows everyone—and everything. She’s just buried her father, and everyone has gone home. Or so she thinks.
Standing there alone is a girl who is scared, bruised, dirty. She can’t speak. Calli knows right then she needs to help the girl, whom she has started to call Ash, but Calli cannot let anyone know about her.
When a detective comes around asking about whether or not Calli has seen or heard anything about a girl who has disappeared from another town, she’s not saying anything.
But it seems as though Ash might have a whole lot to tell.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
400 Years of the First Folio
Did you know that late 2023 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio? If you didn’t, now you do. There have been celebrations across the globe this year in honor of the collection.
I did a deep dive into the world of Shakespeare YA retellings last month at School Library Journal, asking several YA authors to share their thoughts on why the Bard’s work continues to not only endure but stays exciting and relevant for today’s teen readers in its original and remixed forms. I hope you’ll take some time to read it and nerd out on the intersections of humor, theater, clever language, and more.
Today, I thought it’d be worthwhile to highlight some recent YA takes on Shakespeare. Some of the names and titles might be familiar if you’ve read the above piece, though I hope you’ll discover a book or two you’re eager to read or to share. All of these have been published between 2022 and now.
Arden High Series by Molly Horton Booth, Stephanie Kate Strohm, and Jamie Green
This graphic novel series will see its second volume hit shelves in February with King Cheer, but you can dive in now with the first book, Twelfth Grade Night.
When Vi begins at Arden High, it’s so she can go to a less fussy school and so she can reinvent herself. It’s a little weird doing it without her twin by her side, but it takes little time for her to feel like she’s settling in. She’s even got a crush on Orsino, a cute guy who is a poet and influencer.
Vi gets pulled into helping with the school’s Twelfth Grade Night dance. She’s eager to help and even more hopeful she can spend the night dancing with Orsino. Too bad Vi’s friends assume she doesn’t like guys and even worse, Orsino wants her to help him catch his own crush, Olivia.
Olivia, who might have feelings for Vi…
Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu
It’s summer, and Julieta’s writing teacher is encouraging everyone to share their writing online. Julieta does just that, but in no way did she expect to find her work has a mystery collaborator named Happily Ever Drafter.
She’s in no mood for a romance and doesn’t even believe in happily ever afters. But she’s got her eye on three different people who maybe, possibly, could be the mysterious collaborator.
Maybe she’ll be changing her stance on a relationship sooner than she anticipated.
Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig
Romeo is an aspiring artist in Verona, but he knows that his dreams will never come to fruition. He’s expected to become head of the Montague family and marry a girl approved by the family to create more heirs. Romeo doesn’t even like girls, but he can’t say that.
While sneaking out to a party at the Capulets with his cousin, Romeo finds himself meeting Valentine. Valentine is kind and sweet and really not hard on the eyes–and it seems those feelings are reciprocal.
The two might be falling hard for each other, but their relationship must remain secret for their safety. But what will happen when the future expected of them becomes the present?
That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams
Joan works as the person who makes and keeps up with the swords for Shakespeare’s acting company. As a member of the Orisha, she’s been given the gift of controlling metal. Her family, all Orisha, are also tasked with keeping an eye on London’s Fae population; usually, there’s nothing to worry about, but there has been more and more Fae activity recently, including some attacks. So when Joan hurts a powerful member of the Fae, she finds herself in the middle of a battle between the human world and the world of the Fae.
Thanks, as always, for hanging out. We’ll see you again on Thursday with your YA paperback releases and YA book news.
Until then, happy reading!
– Kelly Jensen