Author: Kelly Jensen

Hey YA Readers!

You might say I’m on a kick noticing a ton of fun and thought-provoking cover trends for 2020 YA books. Today, let’s talk about sunglasses. They’re everywhere!

This isn’t the first time sunglasses have been big on YA covers. I did a big ole roundup of YA book covers with sunglasses on my personal blog a couple of years back.

And now, today, we’re going to add more to that list. Bonus points, though, because as we’ve seen an increase in diverse teens on book covers, so have we seen an increase in diverse teens sporting those specs.

Descriptions from the ‘zon, since I’ve yet to read any of these books (or any 2020 titles!). It’s probable this list is far from comprehensive, but it’s a nice range of sunny-sporting covers.

A Love Hate Thing by Whitney D. Grandison (Jan 7)

When Tyson Trice finds himself tossed into the wealthy coastal community of Pacific Hills, he’s ready for the questions, the stares and the feeling of not belonging. Not that he cares. After recovering from being shot and surviving the rough streets of Lindenwood, he doesn’t care about anyone or anything, much less how the rest of his life will play out.

Golden girl Nandy Smith has spent most of her life building the pristine image that it takes to fit in when it comes to her hometown Pacific Hills where image is everything. After learning that her parents are taking in a troubled teen boy, Nandy fears her summer plans, as well as her reputation, will go up in flames.

Now with Trice living under the same roof, the wall between their bedrooms feels as thin as the line between love and hate. Beneath the angst, their growing attraction won’t be denied. Through time, Trice brings Nandy out of her shell, and Nandy attempts to melt the ice that’s taken Trice’s heart and being. Only, with the ever-present pull back to the Lindenwood streets, it’ll be a wonder if Trice makes it through this summer at all.

Anna K. by Jenny Lee (March 3)

At seventeen, Anna K is at the top of Manhattan and Greenwich society (even if she prefers the company of her horses and dogs); she has the perfect (if perfectly boring) boyfriend, Alexander W.; and she has always made her Korean-American father proud (even if he can be a little controlling). Meanwhile, Anna’s brother, Steven, and his girlfriend, Lolly, are trying to weather an sexting scandal; Lolly’s little sister, Kimmie, is struggling to recalibrate to normal life after an injury derails her ice dancing career; and Steven’s best friend, Dustin, is madly (and one-sidedly) in love with Kimmie.

As her friends struggle with the pitfalls of ordinary teenage life, Anna always seems to be able to sail gracefully above it all. That is…until the night she meets Alexia “Count” Vronsky at Grand Central. A notorious playboy who has bounced around boarding schools and who lives for his own pleasure, Alexia is everything Anna is not. But he has never been in love until he meets Anna, and maybe she hasn’t, either. As Alexia and Anna are pulled irresistibly together, she has to decide how much of her life she is willing to let go for the chance to be with him. And when a shocking revelation threatens to shatter their relationship, she is forced to question if she has ever known herself at all.

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick (June 2)

What happened to Zoe won’t stay buried…

When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected—and that she knows what happened to her.

Two months later, Zoe’s body is found in a nearby lake, and Anna is charged with manslaughter. But Anna’s confession is riddled with holes, and Martina Green, teen host of the Missing Zoe podcast, isn’t satisfied. Did Anna really kill Zoe? And if not, can Martina’s podcast uncover the truth?

Kissing Lessons by Sophie Jordan (June 2)

Wild, beautiful, and (as rumor has it) experienced, Hayden Vargas doesn’t have time for love or relationships. She’s learned the hard way that the only person you can count on is yourself, and she’s hell-bent on earning enough money to leave her small, judgy Texas town as fast as possible. So when nerdy Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden for lessons in seduction, the money is so easy, there must be a catch. Enter the catch: Emmaline’s older brother, popular, all-around nice guy™ Nolan Martin, who doesn’t want his sister’s reputation tarnished by the school’s resident bad girl.

But Hayden should know that looks can be deceiving. Nolan may seem like a golden boy, but like Hayden, he has a few secrets of his own. And the more he meddles in her lessons with Emmaline, the more these polar opposites clash—and the more sparks fly. Turns out Nolan may have some lessons to teach Hayden, but only if she’s willing to learn.

Love Is For Losers by Wibke Brueggemann (July 14)

This book is so early, there’s not yet an official description.

 

 

 

My Summer of Love and Misfortune by Lindsey Wong (May 12)

Iris Wang is having a bit of a rough start to her summer: Her boyfriend cheated on her, she didn’t get into any colleges, and she has no idea who she is or what she wants to do with her life. She’s always felt torn about being Chinese-American, feeling neither Chinese nor American enough to claim either identity. She’s just a sad pizza combo from Domino’s, as far as she’s concerned.

In an attempt to snap her out of her funk, Iris’s parents send her away to visit family in Beijing, with the hopes that Iris would “reconnect with her culture” and “find herself.” Iris resents the condescension, but even she admits that this might be a good opportunity to hit the reset button on the apocalyptic disaster that has become her life.

With this trip, Iris expects to eat a few dumplings, meet some family, and visit a tourist hotspot or two. Instead, she gets swept up in the ridiculous, opulent world of Beijing’s wealthy elite, leading her to unexpected and extraordinary discoveries about her family, her future, and herself.

Off Script by Kate Watson (January 21)

Emma gets a Hollywood-tinged, feminist update in this funny and fierce retelling of Austen’s classic about a well-intentioned but tragically misguided matchmaker. The summer after her first year of college, teen starlet Emma Crawford returns home to Manhattan to prepare for the role of a lifetime and play career matchmaker to her friends. When Emmas search for an assistant leads her to the wide-eyed Brittany Smith, Emma sees the big screen in the girls future. And because Emma knows best, she’s sure that steering Brittany onto the right path is all she needs to do to make her a star, even if Brittany doesn’t know it yet. Emmas plans start to unravel, however, when professional soccer player Liam Price re-enters her life. Not only is Liam her former best friends older brother, but he’s gorgeous, smart, and has no problem pointing out the (totally exaggerated) flaws in Emma’s plans. But as Emma comes in close contact with the darker side of Hollywood, she starts to question the glamorous world she’s always known and realizes her role in it needs to change if she can find the courage to go off script.

Solstice by Lorence Alison (February 18)

When Adri is offered an all-expenses-paid trip to the exclusive Solstice Festival, she throws caution, her prestigious summer internship, and her parents goodwill to the wind. She just wants to live a little before the first day of the rest of her life, planned and scheduled in accordance to her parents’ law school dreams.

But when she and a horde of affluent, entitled teen partiers arrive at the island paradise, it looks nothing like the luxury vacation they were promised. There’s barely any food, nowhere to stay, and not nearly enough porta-potties. Pretty soon, the festival’s trending on social media for all the wrong reasons, and the music acts are cancelling left and right.

And then the first dead body washes up on the beach.

Adri has a front-row seat as everything devolves into chaos―and she’s in a prime position to put together the clues to who―or what―is killing off the helpless attendees. But even if she finds the killer, how can she hope to stop them?

Check your privilege at the door―before it gets you killed. This is one vacation you can’t escape.

The Mall by Megan McCafferty (June 9)

The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.

The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park (April 7)

Nate Jae-Woo Kim wants to be rich, just like everyone else at the elite private school where he’s a scholarship student. When one of the wealthiest kids at school offers Nate a huge sum of money to commit grade fraud, he knows that taking the windfall would help support his prideful Korean family―and they need the money, since Nate’s dad just lost his job. But is compromising his integrity worth it?

Kate Anderson wants a fresh start. Her high-powered CEO father oppressively controls over her life, demanding she follow the life plan he’s laid out for her. She fantasizes about escaping to New York, where she can pursue her dreams of being an actress. But how can Kate get there when she can’t even buy dinner without his approval?

Nate and Kate’s worlds collide at their job at a zombie-themed escape room. As sparks fly, fate steps in: a local tech company is hosting a weekend-long survivalist competition with a huge cash prize that could solve all their problems. And thanks to the survival skills they picked up watching hours of zombie movies, the two think they might just have a shot. But the real challenge will be making it through the weekend with their hearts intact…

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan (November 10 – yes, 2020)

Seventeen-year-old Pakistani immigrant, Zara Hossain, has been leading a fairly typical life in Corpus Christi, Texas, since her family moved there for her father to work as a pediatrician. While dealing with the Islamophobia that she faces at school, Zara has to lay low, trying not to stir up any trouble and jeopardize their family’s dependent visa status while they await their green card approval, which has been in process for almost nine years.

But one day her tormentor, star football player Tyler Benson, takes things too far, leaving a threatening note in her locker, and gets suspended. As an act of revenge against her for speaking out, Tyler and his friends vandalize Zara’s house with racist graffiti, leading to a violent crime that puts Zara’s entire future at risk. Now she must pay the ultimate price and choose between fighting to stay in the only place she’s ever called home or losing the life she loves and everyone in it.

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Thanks, y’all, for hanging out, and we’ll see you next week!

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

It’s my favorite newsletter of the season: it’s my turn to discover what your favorite books of 2019 were. I love hearing from you and finding out about books I may have overlooked and need to make sure I have on my end-of-year TBR.

As always, I’m asking for you to share the book published for YA readers in 2019 that was your favorite. I’ve got another option for you to also share your favorite under-the-radar 2019 YA book. The form is here, and you have until December 9 to answer (that’s one week!). I’ll send a reminder in Thursday’s newsletter.

You know those signs you see sometimes and think “why did they need to make such a dumb sign for something so obvious?” Here’s a version of that sign, but for this “best of” — don’t stuff the box. I know when there’s a coordinated campaign to get a book on the list, and I’ll just not include it. I want to know your favorite book and what book you wish got more attention because I care about your thoughts. 

Now that we’ve got that, here’s the form again.

It seems only fair then that I pull together a few of my favorite 2019 YA reads for your own to-read lists. I’ve not included some of the mega big books, as I want to highlight some of the quieter books that may have fallen under the radar this year.

All American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

This is such an excellent read about a Muslim girl coming to understand her faith and how to speak up and out about it. She’s white — she’s Muslim via the Caucus region — and the book dismantles white privilege and how it is so easily tied into religion. There’s a romance here complicated by the fact that the romantic interest’s father is an outspoken conservative TV news host, and his views on Allie’s religion are, well, not nice ones. The romance is complicated and satisfying.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Stacey Lee writes my favorite historical YA, and her latest highlights something I never knew about Chinese immigrants in America. It’s 1890 Atlanta. Jo, who is unafraid to speak her mind, lives with Old Gin — a man who took her in after she was “abandoned” by her parents — under the house of a local publisher who is unaware that they live there. When Jo overhears the folks upstairs talking about how agony aunt columns have led to newspaper sales soaring, she takes it upon herself to suggest a column and does so through a pen name “Miss Sweetie.” They’re game for it, and she begins to write these regular columns under the name and under strict anonymity. Sales are up . . . and so is interest in finding out who she really is.

This isn’t, of course, only about others discovering who Jo is. It’s about Jo discovering who she is and the serious family secrets going on around her. It’s a book about early feminism and how white it was and how girls and women of color like Jo (who is Chinese American) were shut out and discriminated against in the name of “equality.”

The Griefkeeper by Alexandra Villasante

This is a book that’s painfully timely and while not entirely realistic — it’s speculative fiction — feels not out of the realm of possibility. The story follows Marisol and her younger sister, are seeking asylum in the US from El Salvador, where their lives are at great risk for numerous reasons. They’re being held in a detention facility, and when Marisol’s interview goes less-well than she hoped, she uses a break in the guard’s attention to flee. She’s approached by a woman who offers her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — there’s a new procedure that needs a human test subject. The procedure will remove the traumas from someone suffering and give them to an otherwise healthy individual. Marisol can be the participant, in exchange for her asylum request. Fearing deportation, she agrees.

In addition to being about the ways immigrants are treated, there is a queer relationship that develops in the story that only makes the power of love, of connection, and of the need to change how we treat one another as fellow humans shine more strongly.

Start Here by Trish Doller

Willa, Taylor, and Finley were inseparable friends, though Finley was the glue holding the trio together. When they were young, they made a promise to sail from their home in Ohio through the Great Loop and down to the Florida Keys to celebrate the end of high school. Unfortunately, Finley dies from leukemia before she gets to take the trip but leaves Willa and Taylor with a set of clues for their trip that will honor her memory, as well as allow the two of them to bond outside of their relationship to her.

This is a fresh take on the road trip story, taking place entirely on a sailboat that navigates a series of locks, rough waters (literally and figuratively), as well as a rough hurricane. Willa is a mixed-race girl and Taylor is bisexual, and their identities play a role in the story as Willa confronts the realities of her race, as well as her economic challenges, while Taylor, who has access to much more than Willa, grapples with that as well as with who she feels she’s ready to share her sexuality with. These become trigger points throughout the journey that ultimately help Willa and Taylor find love not just for their shared friend, but also for one another.

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

This story shouldn’t seem like it’s funny and yet, it is absolutely hilarious. Veronica is a girl who needs to get an abortion after her boyfriend tampers with a condom (he didn’t want her to leave for college) and when the scariest girl in school discovers her pregnancy, the two of them set off across state lines to get her the legal abortion for the weirdest and most uncomfortable road trip. Along the way, Veronica discovers she’s allowed herself to become a person who believes she’s better than everyone else, and Bailey allows her story to become better known and embrace vulnerability. It’s an awesome friendship story which also balances the serious realities of access to reproductive care, especially for teenagers, today.

Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker

I really hope this book doesn’t fall off people’s radars because it’s the funniest book about depression I’ve ever read — as well as one that is essential for understanding the intersections of race and mental illness. Based on Parker’s own teenage years, the Morgan in the story navigates life in a conservative southern California town, attending a religious school, and the realities of having depression and anxiety in biting, raw, and unapologetic ways. Read the story for the story, but do not skip out on Parker’s powerful author’s note and resources at the end.

A few other favorites of mine this year include:

• Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi
• Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchison
• The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven
• The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
• The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
• We Speak In Storms by Natalie Lund

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ICYMI…

Over on site in the last week:

• Gold YA fantasy books from 2019 — both in the design way and in the content way!
• Speaking of gorgeous YA books.
• Add some awesome 2019 queer YA fantasy to your to-read.
• Why One Of Us Is Lying has given some readers pause.
• Want to use The Hate U Give in the classroom or for a book club? Here’s a reading guide and discussion questions.

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That’s all for today. Thanks for hanging out, and don’t forget to share your favorite YA of 2019.

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

Often ebook deals expire at the end of a month, so chances are that if you’re interested in scoring one of these reads at a steal, you’ll want to do it ASAP, as opposed to waiting. Happy Saturday-after-Thanksgiving-and-Black-Friday for US readers and Happy Saturday to everyone else!

Deals are active as of Friday, November 29, but again, know they might be gone tomorrow morning.

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis is one of my favorite reads of 2019, and it’s on sale for $2.

Danielle Paige’s Dorothy Must Die, a riff on The Wizard of Oz, is $2.

Internment by Samira Ahmed is $3 and is a must-read.

I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian, and you can score it for $2.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is $3, so get on that if you haven’t already read it.

Want something creepy and fantastical? Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch is $1, while the second book in the trilogy, The Heart Forager is $2, and the final book in the series, The Shadowglass, is $3. That’s $6 for the entire (huge!) trilogy.

Want a great graphic novel for middle schoolers? Jerry Craft’s The New Kid is fantastic — it’s also vital reading for white adults working with young people of color in any capacity. $3.

Arrrrr you looking for pirates? (I laughed, ok?). Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King is $2.

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma is $2.

You can score Sarah Mylnowski’s recent book I See London, I See France for $3.

Sara Farizan’s debut If You Could Be Mine, about a (literally) forbidden romance, is $2.

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson – think of it kind of like Ender’s Game with a female lead – is $2.

The Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo is described as “Morgan Matson meets Maggie Stiefvater,” and you can grab it for $2.

Laini Taylor’s The Daughter of Smoke and Bone is $2.

If you’re looking for romance, you’ll want to pick up Kasey West’s Fame, Fate, and The First Kiss for $2.

Although Kate Racculia’s Bellweather Rhapsody isn’t a YA book, it is an Alex Award winning book, meaning it’s an outstanding adult book for YA readers. Grab it for $3.

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Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you again on Monday!

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

It’s trends-in-YA-book-covers o’clock.

Back in 2012, we had a cover trend that led to so many thoughtful and insightful words from others. Specifically, we had white girls under water. The link goes to a really great piece on the obsession with an elegant death and is so worth reading.

As I was perusing 2020 YA book covers, I noticed that, like vampires, the girl underwater is back. This coming year, it’s a bit broader, in that a number of these covers the girl isn’t necessarily dead, but is indeed surrounded by water. I’d go so far as to say at least one of these does a great job subverting the cover trope of 2012.

Let’s take a peek at these “girl underwater” covers coming in the new year. I’ve pulled Amazon descriptions here and it should be noted this is very white — in and of itself a big part of the commentary on the (re)emerging trend.

Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab (May 19)

Susannah Ramos has always loved the water. A swimmer whose early talent made her a world champion, Susannah was poised for greatness in a sport that demands so much of its young. But an inexplicable slowdown has put her dream in jeopardy, and Susannah is fighting to keep her career afloat when two important people enter her life: a new coach with a revolutionary training strategy, and a charming fellow swimmer named Harry Matthews.

As Susannah begins her long and painful climb back to the top, her friendship with Harry blossoms into passionate and supportive love. But Harry is facing challenges of his own, and even as their bond draws them closer together, other forces work to tear them apart. As she struggles to balance her needs with those of the people who matter most to her, Susannah will learn the cost—and the beauty—of trying to achieve something extraordinary.

The Daughters of Ys by M.T. Anderson and Jo Rioux (May 12)

Ys, city of wealth and wonder, has a history of dark secrets. Queen Malgven used magic to raise the great walls that keep Ys safe from the tumultuous sea. But after the queen’s inexplicable death, her daughters drift apart. Rozenn, the heir to the throne, spends her time on the moors communing with wild animals, while Dahut, the youngest, enjoys the splendors of royal life and is eager to take part in palace intrigue.

When Rozenn and Dahut’s bond is irrevocably changed, the fate of Ys is sealed, exposing the monsters that lurk in plain view. M. T. Anderson and Jo Rioux reimagine this classic Breton folktale of love, loss, and rebirth, revealing the secrets that lie beneath the surface.

The Easy Part of Impossible by Sarah Tomp (April 21)

Ria Williams was an elite diver on track for the Olympics. As someone who struggled in school, largely due to her ADHD, diving was the one place Ria could shine.

But while her parents were focused on the trophies, no one noticed how Coach Benny’s strict rules and punishments controlled every aspect of Ria’s life. The harder he was on her, the sharper her focus. The bigger the bruise, the better the dive.

Until a freak accident at a meet changes everything. Just like that, Ria is handed back her life, free of Benny.

To fill her now empty and aimless days, Ria rekindles a friendship with Cotton, a guy she used to know back in elementary school. With Cotton, she’s able to open up about what Benny would do to her, and through Cotton’s eyes, Ria is able to see it for what it was: abuse.

Then Benny returns, offering Ria a second chance with a life-changing diving opportunity. But it’s not hers alone—Benny’s coaching comes with it. The thought of being back under his control seems impossible to bear, but so does walking away.

How do you separate the impossible from possible when the one thing you love is so tangled up in the thing you fear most?

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick (June 2)

What happened to Zoe won’t stay buried…

When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected—and that she knows what happened to her.

Two months later, Zoe’s body is found in a nearby lake, and Anna is charged with manslaughter. But Anna’s confession is riddled with holes, and Martina Green, teen host of the Missing Zoe podcast, isn’t satisfied. Did Anna really kill Zoe? And if not, can Martina’s podcast uncover the truth?

Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, Kit Frick weaves a thrilling story of psychological suspense that twists and turns until the final page.

Lie To Me by Kaitlin Ward (January 7)

Ever since Amelia woke up in the hospital, recovering from a near-death fall she has no memory of, she’s been suspicious. Her friends, family, and doctors insist it was an accident, but Amelia is sure she remembers being pushed. Then another girl is found nearby — one who fell, but didn’t survive. Amelia’s fears suddenly feel very real, and with the help of her new boyfriend, Liam, she tries to investigate her own horrific ordeal. But what is she looking for, exactly? And how can she tell who’s trustworthy, and who might be — must be — lying to her?

The closer Amelia gets to the truth, the more terrifying her once orderly, safe world becomes. She’s determined to know what happened, but if she doesn’t act fast, her next accident might be her last.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Marrow (June 2)

Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Nevermind she’s also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she’s also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore―soon Portland won’t be either.

The Vanishing Deep by Astrid Scholte (March 3)

Seventeen-year-old Tempe was born into a world of water. When the Great Waves destroyed her planet five hundred years ago, its people had to learn to survive living on the water, but the ruins of the cities below still called. Tempe dives daily, scavenging the ruins of a bygone era, searching for anything of value to trade for Notes. It isn’t food or clothing that she wants to buy, but her dead sister’s life. For a price, the research facility on the island of Palindromena will revive the dearly departed for twenty-four hours before returning them to death. It isn’t a heartfelt reunion that Tempe is after; she wants answers. Elysea died keeping a terrible secret, one that has ignited an unquenchable fury in Tempe: Her beloved sister was responsible for the death of their parents. Tempe wants to know why.

But once revived, Elysea has other plans. She doesn’t want to spend her last day in a cold room accounting for a crime she insists she didn’t commit. Elysea wants her freedom and one final glimpse at the life that was stolen from her. She persuades Tempe to break her out of the facility, and they embark on a dangerous journey to discover the truth about their parents’ death and mend their broken bond. But they’re pursued every step of the way by two Palindromena employees desperate to find them before Elysea’s time is up–and before the secret behind the revival process and the true cost of restored life is revealed.

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SPEAKING of book covers, remember when we talked about the lack of pizza?

Guess what I was alerted to?

The Best Laid Plans is out next April.

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Thanks for hanging out, y’all, and we’ll see you again on Saturday — we’ll be taking US Thanksgiving off from our regularly scheduled YA talk.

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Lovers!

As you’re getting inundated with gift idea lists, how about one more? I’m going to be a little more specific than many others, though, and offer up a tailored gift idea list for fans of YA books. Some will be book based and others will be all about hygge as we enter cozy season.

The perfect pin for fans of The Perks of Being A Wallflower. $10.

 

 

THE coaster for readers who give up sleep for their favorite book. $5.50.

 

 

Naturally, night readers need a cute book light. $15.

A reader’s head needs to stay warm, and this bookshelf beanie is a perfect cover for it. $20.

 

 

 

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse” quote tote in honor of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince. $20.

 

I Heart YA t-shirt. $29 and up, with some color options.

 

 

Soy wax melts in the scent of YA stories (it’s a floral scent). $5 and up.

 

For all of the John Green fans. $18 and up.

 

 

These pencils pay homage to a number of super popular and beloved YA book series. $15 for 7 pencils.

 

 

This To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before inspired zip tote reads “Life doesn’t have to be so planned. Just roll with it and let it happen.” Indeed! $7.50 and up.

Readers will love this book nerd hoodie. Above is the front and below, the rad back. $50.

 

 

A Cinder themed enamel pin for fans of Marissa Meyer. $10.50.

 

 

Know a YA reader who also loves oracle cards? This deck of literary witches would be a delightful gift (or something you give yourself!). $20.

 

 

A set of three quote bookmarks from We Hunt The Flame, $3.50.

 

The ultimate sweatshirt for Sarah J. Maas fans. $40 and up.

 

Speaking of Maas, how about gifting a unique embroidery in honor of her books? This is a digital download, so you can make it yourself or gift it with thread, a needle, and a hoop, and have a great DIY gift to give. $4.50.

Gift the YA reader in your life a fun vintage-style Moleskine notebook. Here are two other design options, too! $15.

 

 

These Dimple and Rishi watercolor bookmarks are so cute. $4 and up.

YA readers: stay hydrated. This composition notebook water bottle is a winner. $35.

 

 

For warm beverages, a mug that pays homage to the fandom life. $17.50.

 

If ever there was a *perfect* tote bag for readers, it might be this giant tote with a huge pocket. Perfect for tons of books, snacks, an ereader, and so much more. A killer gift idea for $62.

 

Books are a gift enamel pin $10.

 

A faux fur tech pouch is perfect for readers who need to tote around their ereader charge cords. $12.

 

 

This page anchor will ensure a page is never lost again. $50.

 

 

I’ve shared this before but love it enough to include it on the gift guide: a heroic girls in books poster. $29.

 

A great zip pouch for readers who plan on doing nothing more than spend time with their books. $17 and up.

 

 

Last, but not least, the sticker all bookworms need. $4.

 

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Don’t miss these YA pieces from Book Riot over the last week:

• I wrote about how powerful Laura Ruby’s 13 Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All was for me as the descendant of Chicago Sicilian immigrants.
• Favorite queer YA fantasy books.
• The Henna Wars looks outstanding.
• 25 must-read YA and middle grade books from 2019 with Asians on the cover.
• Book quotes for each Hogwarts House.
• Great YA books about gaming.
• YA books with unconventional narrative structures.
• Finding diversity on the page as a new YA reader.
• Last, but not least, some DIY Harry Potter crafts, as well as DIY and buy Harry Potter Christmas ideas.

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Thanks for hanging out, y’all, and we’ll see you on Monday!

— Kelly Jense, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

Let’s take a gander at some of the amazing YA graphic memoirs we’ll be seeing on shelves next year. If this is a new trend — not just memoirs for teen readers, but graphic memoirs for those readers — we’re in for a real treat over the next few years.

I’ve got a couple of these on my to-read, but unfortunately, haven’t read them yet. I’m borrowing Amazon descriptions for that reason, but have included a little commentary with each.

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha (January 28)

For as long as she can remember, it’s been Robin and her mom against the world. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in Seoul, Korea, wasn’t always easy, but it has bonded them fiercely together.

So when a vacation to visit friends in Huntsville, Alabama, unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation—following her mother’s announcement that she’s getting married—Robin is devastated.

Overnight, her life changes. She is dropped into a new school where she doesn’t understand the language and struggles to keep up. She is completely cut off from her friends in Seoul and has no access to her beloved comics. At home, she doesn’t fit in with her new stepfamily, and worst of all, she is furious with the one person she is closest to—her mother.

Then one day Robin’s mother enrolls her in a local comic drawing class, which opens the window to a future Robin could never have imagined.

I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews of this title and Ha’s work in general. It’s definitely going to be one I pick up sooner, rather than later. 

 

Dancing At The Pity Party by Tyler Feder (April 14)

Part poignant cancer memoir and part humorous reflection on a motherless life, this debut graphic novel is extraordinarily comforting and engaging.

From before her mother’s first oncology appointment through the stages of her cancer to the funeral, sitting shiva, and afterward, when she must try to make sense of her life as a motherless daughter, Tyler Feder tells her story in this graphic novel that is full of piercing–but also often funny–details. She shares the important post-death firsts, such as celebrating holidays without her mom, the utter despair of cleaning out her mom’s closet, ending old traditions and starting new ones, and the sting of having the “I’ve got to tell Mom about this” instinct and not being able to act on it. This memoir, bracingly candid and sweetly humorous, is for anyone struggling with loss who just wants someone to get it.

Chances are you’ve seen some of Feder’s art around the internet. She had a beautiful piece in my own anthology Here We Are: Feminism For The Real World, and I cannot wait to dive into her memoir. Reviews say this is one that’ll make you cry in public. 

Displacement by Kiku Hughes (August 4)

Kiku is on vacation in San Francisco when suddenly she finds herself displaced to the 1940s Japanese-American internment camp that her late grandmother, Ernestina, was forcibly relocated to during World War II.

These displacements keep occurring until Kiku finds herself “stuck” back in time. Living alongside her young grandmother and other Japanese-American citizens in internment camps, Kiku gets the education she never received in history class. She witnesses the lives of Japanese-Americans who were denied their civil liberties and suffered greatly, but managed to cultivate community and commit acts of resistance in order to survive.

Kiku Hughes weaves a riveting, bittersweet tale that highlights the intergenerational impact and power of memory.

This isn’t technically a graphic memoir, as it’s fiction. But, it’s based on reality — and the main character is loosely based on the author. It sounds fascinating. 

The Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stevenson (March 3)

In a collection of essays and personal mini-comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs and lows of being a creative human in the world.

Whether it’s hearing the wrong name called at her art school graduation ceremony or becoming a National Book Award finalist for her debut graphic novel, Nimona, Noelle captures the little and big moments that make up a real life, with a wit, wisdom, and vulnerability that are all her own.

Readers of YA will be familiar with Stevenson’s work, and her memoir is sure to be a great one.

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Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you again on Thursday!

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

This is my first weekend home in months, and my plans include little more than cleaning the house and digging into as many books as humanly possible. I will probably also buy way more than I could ever possibly read.

As a way to help you enjoy the weekend and also indulge in some book buying, here’s a look at a bunch of great YA ebook deals this weekend. They’re all active as of Friday, November 15.

Grab your favorite cuppa, a cozy blanket, and get your read on.

Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo is $2 and a book for readers who want something in the magical realism realm.

Grab the fantasy romance A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer for $2.

If you read The Star-Touched Queen, the sequel A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi is $3. The first book in the series is a little pricier.

Toil and Trouble, an anthology of witchy stories edited by Tess Sharpe and Jessica Spotswood, is $2

Get your ghosts on with The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma for $2

A Blade So Black by LL McKinney, a take on Alice in Wonderland, is $3

The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey can be yours for $3. I don’t know a whole lot about it, but the comps to Jane Austen with mystery and murder are promising.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, a classic YA read, is $2.

Want a comics-themed read? Comics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks is $3.

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan is worth way more than the $2 price it has. It’s a f/f love story featuring some tremendous barriers to their relationship and both leads are girls of color.

My Family Divided by Diana Guerrero is $3 — this is the YA adaptation of Guerrero’s adult memoir.

Want weird? MARTians by Blythe Woolston will do it for you. $2

Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is $4 and launches a fantasy series.

The Prey by Tom Isbell is $3 and is also the first book in a series.

Jackaby by William Ritter will scratch your Holmes itch and it, too, is the beginning of a series. $2.

Did you read Anne of Green Gables? What about the Complete Emily Starr Trilogy, the “darker” series by LM Montgomery? Grab the trilogy for $1.

And last, but not least, check this out. You can get the entire Skinjacker trilogy by Neal Shusterman for just $5. Sweet!

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Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you on Monday.

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

 

Hey YA Readers!

So much interesting and exciting news in the world of YA going on. Let’s catch up.

• Why don’t we begin with some summer 2020 YA book cover reveals?
• This YA book by a Chippewa Tribe writer sounds excellent — and hopefully we’ll see a lot about it when it releases.
• I pulled together a list of 50 YA books in translation on my personal book blog and thought it worth a share here for readers wanting to expand their to-read list.
• Did you read Alexandra Bracken’s Brightly Woven when it released years ago? Whether or not you did, you’ll get to experience it in graphic form soon.
• We might see Darius The Great Is Not Okay hit screens!
• More casting news for the adaptation of Moxie.
• There’s a potential prequel spinoff to The 100 in the works.
• This piece gets a little bit insider-y, but for readers who are curious about what’s going on in the world of YA more broadly, here’s a nice piece about how the category is growing and evolving.
• Over on Paste, our pal Eric Smith and his colleagues name the 30 best novels from the 2010s. As you’ll see….we took that and ran with it for this week’s episode of Hey YA below.
• There’s casting news for the adaptation of One Of Us Is Lying.
• Get a closer look at the upcoming adaptation of The House of Night adaptation.
• This book looks fabulous.
• You can rent the home modeled after Harry Potter’s childhood place for your next trip, and the price isn’t too bad!
• Have you seen this series of webcomics made from some well-known YA books? Check out Not Even Bones, The Wrath and the Dawn, and The Weight of Our Sky.
• Would you enjoy Rules for Vanishing on the big screen? I know I would.
• Queer YA in 2020 is looking great!
• One of the stars for Netflix’s adaptation of Let It Snow talks about the LGBTQ representation in the film and how much it means to her.
• The Gossip Girl reboot will be more diverse.
• Last, but not least, everyone who has seen this news has been excited by it: Tamora Pierce’s “Tortall” series might see an adaptation.

How great is this bookmark that honors Neal Shusterman’s Arc of the Scythe series? $5.

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Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you on Saturday for some great YA ebook deals.

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

Let’s catch up on the latest in YA book talk on Book Riot recently. This’ll be the last BIG roundup of posts like this, as from here on out, these’ll be included once a week in the newsletter — it’ll make keeping up even easier.

• What are some of the trends in YA post-2016 election? What do those trends say about today’s teens?
• Nancy Drew, at least in its original incarnation, might skew younger than today’s YA, but this piece is fun and deserves inclusion here: a ranking of all 56 of the original books.
• Two UK YA books that take on fat shaming.
• A look at how adult books are adapted for young readers.
• 20 must-read YA books with disabled characters.
• Add some of these options for Muslim book subscription boxes to your YA loving wish list.
• A new study into why parents believe in censoring books in public schools.
• Handy ways to keep up with new YA book releases.
• This fall book and drink pairing guide features a number of great YA books (and cozy beverage options!).
• A fascinating piece on selective mutism in YA.
• YA graphic novels you’ll want on your TBR — even if it’s no longer October.
• Have you noticed this cover trend, too?
• Short Harry Potter quotes that’d be perfect for art…including the kind of permanent art you put on your skin.
• Everything you need to know about Victoria Schwab’s current books (and the books that might be adapted).
• 50 must-read contemporary YA books from the 2010s.
• Add more Indigenous YA to your reading life.
• Which Harry Potter witch are you? Take the quiz and find out.

Have you seen this rad Heroic Girls in Books poster?

If you want this for your wall as much as I do, you can grab it here for $29.

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Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you again later this week!

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy and Here We Are.

Hey YA Readers!

I wanted to offer up something fun and lighthearted today, and as I was brainstorming, I realized I’d already written something that fit the bill. A version of this newsletter appeared on Book Riot in late 2017, though it’s timeless and worth a reshare.

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I love a clever tweet, and the one below was not only clever and amusing, but it really got me thinking about the ways we could translate some of the common YA experiences into our own stories.

Your YA fantasy series name is "A [last place you went] of [your birthstone] & [current weather condition]"

— Elle Em (they/them) (@ellle_em) April 6, 2017

Take a minute to figure out your YA fantasy series name above, and then, enjoy the opportunity to figure out some additional YA stories and experiences you’ll have below.

These are created out of deep love and respect for YA books. They’re meant to be fun ways to look at tropes and common themes through YA.

Your YA Superhero Identity

What would your YA superhero name be? Add any conjunctions you deem necessary. Birth month and birth date digit correspond to words listed below the formula.

The [Birth Month] + [Last Digit of Birth Date] + [First Street You Lived On]

January: Great

February: Fabulous

March: Majestic

April: Astonishing

May: Magnificent

June: Incredible

July: Fierce

August: Awe-Inspiring

September: Spectacular

October: Splendid

November: Unforgettable

December: Dazzling

 

0: Wondrous

1: High-Flying

2: Gravity-Defying

3: Magnetic

4: Sparkling

5: Powerhouse

6: Ageless

7: All-Encompassing

8: Dauntless

9: Tender-Hearted

 

Your YA Crush’s First Name

Because it wouldn’t be a YA experience without some kind of crush. These six letters combine into a single first name of your crush.

[First three letters of your favorite vegetable]+ [Last three letters of your last name]

 

The YA Fantasy Kingdom You’ll Take Over

If you’re not fighting to save your future kingdom, then what are you fighting for anyway? Maybe you don’t know you’ll inherit the land, or maybe you do, but knowing what it’ll be called is important. Rainbow colors correspond to endings listed below, and these three pieces combine into a single word.

 

[First 3 letters of your last name] + [First three letters of the name of the biggest city you can think of] + [Favorite Color of the Rainbow]

Red: Landia

Orange: Stania

Yellow: Townia

Green: Worldia

Blue: Citia

Indigo: Villia

Violet: Communia

 

Your YA Deep Dark Secret

Would it be a YA character if there weren’t some kind of deep, dark secret lurking inside them? Eye color corresponds to a word below, and you may need to add conjunctions as fits. This will be at least three words long, maybe longer.

 

[Eye Color] + [Your least favorite subject in school]  + [The object closest to your right hand]

Green: Stealing

Blue: Hiding

Brown: Breaking

Hazel: Forgetting

Grey: Conspiring

Other: Gallivanting

 

The Title Of Your Contemporary YA Romance Novel

Maybe the name doesn’t match up with the YA crush name you found above, but we know many YA reads feature more than one love interest. This time, you’re going to discover the title of your contemporary YA romance book.

The/A [A math or science term] + of + [First name of your seventh grade crush] + and + [First name of your favorite female-identifying person from history]

 

The Way You’ll Break The Heart Of Your Reader and/or Love Interest

How will your readers come to have their hearts broken? How will your love interest come to have their heart broken? You choose the path you find more satisfying, since you’re the lead in this story. Hair color corresponds to a word below. Add conjunction words as you see fit.

 

[Your Hair Color] + [Optional Adjective] + [Two- or Three- Word Real YA Book Title Of Choice]

Black: Stomping

Red: Burning

Brown: Running

Blonde: Dying

Other: Believing

Your YA Mixtape Title

What’s a YA book without some kind of mixtape in it? Build the title of what your ultimate mix is below. Season corresponds to a word below.

 

[Season When You Were Born] + For/About/To + [Your Favorite Hobby]

Spring: Songs

Summer: Jams

Fall: Tunes

Winter: Music

Your YA After School Job

Not all YA characters are rich enough to be without an after school job, and sorry, but in this story, you have to have a job. Add any conjunctions you see necessary.

 

[Least Favorite Kitchen-Related Activity] + at/with/for + [The Last Physical Place You Spent Money]

 

Your YA Travel Adventure

And finally, what’s a YA book without some kind of travel adventure? You need a break from saving your future land, from the pressures of working a job you loathe, and from dealing with crushes left and right. Month of the year corresponds to a word below, as does the pet you own/wish you owned. If you own multiple pets, you’re welcome to combine them for an ultimate teen dream trip.

 

[Month of Birth] + by + [Color of Your Underwear] + [Pet you own or wish you’d own]

January: Paris

February: Mars

March: Disneyland

April: Antarctica

May: Tokyo

June: The Desert

July: North Dakota

August: The Sun

September: Tasmania

October: New York City

November: Moscow

December: The North Pole

 

Cat: Unicycle

Dog: Spaceship

Rabbit: Rollerblades

Fish: Cable car

Turtle: Parasail

Snake: Steamboat

Guinea Pig/Hamster: Motorcycle

Bird: Wings

Other: Helicopter

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Thanks for hanging out, and I hope you found all of your YA superpowers.

See you again next week!