Author: Kelly Jensen

Hey YA Readers: Time to talk books!

What’s Up in YA? is sponsored by Fawkes by Nadine Brandes.

Both Epic Reads and BN Teen have named Fawkes to their ‘Most Anticipated July Reads’ lists.

“I was up late in the night reading, waiting to get to the fifth of November to see how the plot would actually unfold, and it did not disappoint. An imaginative, colorful tale about choosing for yourself between what’s right and what others insist is the truth.” —Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of My Lady Jane

“Hold on to your heart as this slow-burning adventure quickly escalates into an explosion of magic, love, and the truth about loyalty.” —Mary Weber, bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy

Remember, remember… Fawkes!

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Given how much focus is currently on immigration in the United States, it seems fitting to talk about YA books about immigration. You can dig into a big round-up of titles at that link.

Over the last few months, I’ve stumbled upon even more YA books written by immigrants who are undocumented or are in the midst of navigating the political challenges of acquiring that documentation. These books are the literal voice to the voiceless in so many discussions of immigration and refugee/asylum seekers — rather than being told their stories by others, it’s refreshing, powerful, and vital to hear these stories in their own words.

Let’s take a peek at what has hit shelves so far this year and what we have to look forward to. I’ve broadened this round-up a little bit and included both a title about a refugee family settling in Canada that, while published for the adult market, will have appeal to YA readers and an essay collection aimed at adults with names that will have that same YA reader appeal.

Descriptions come from Amazon, since I’ve not gotten my hands on all of these yet.

America, Border, Culture, Dreamer: The Young Immigrant Experience from A to Z by Wendy Ewald (October 16)

In a unique collaboration with photographer and educator Wendy Ewald, eighteen immigrant teenagers create an alphabet defining their experiences in pictures and words. Wendy helped the teenagers pose for and design the photographs, interviewing them along the way about their own journeys and perspectives.

American Like Me edited by America Ferrera (September 25)

America Ferrera has always felt wholly American, and yet, her identity is inextricably linked to her parents’ homeland and Honduran culture. Speaking Spanish at home, having Saturday-morning-salsa-dance-parties in the kitchen, and eating tamales alongside apple pie at Christmas never seemed at odds with her American identity.

Still, she yearned to see that identity reflected in the larger American narrative.

Now, in American Like Me, America invites thirty-one of her friends, peers, and heroes to share their stories about life between cultures. We know them as actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. However, they are also immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. And they call themselves American enthusiastically, reluctantly, or not at all.

Ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, their stories shine a light on a quintessentially American experience and will appeal to anyone with a complicated relationship to family, culture, and growing up.

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi

At thirteen, bright-eyed, straight-A student Sara Saedi uncovered a terrible family secret: she was breaking the law simply by living in the United States. Only two years old when her parents fled Iran, she didn’t learn of her undocumented status until her older sister wanted to apply for an after-school job, but couldn’t because she didn’t have a Social Security number.

Fear of deportation kept Sara up at night, but it didn’t keep her from being a teenager. She desperately wanted a green card, along with clear skin, her own car, and a boyfriend.

Americanized follows Sara’s progress toward getting her green card, but that’s only a portion of her experiences as an Iranian-“American” teenager. From discovering that her parents secretly divorced to facilitate her mother’s green card application to learning how to tame her unibrow, Sara pivots gracefully from the terrifying prospect that she might be kicked out of the country at any time to the almost-as-terrifying possibility that she might be the only one of her friends without a date to the prom. This moving, often hilarious story is for anyone who has ever shared either fear.

The Boy On The Beach: My Family’s Escape from Syria and Our Hope for a New Home by Tima Kurdi (August 21)

Alan Kurdi’s body washed up on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea on September 2, 2015, and overnight, the political became personal, as the world awoke to the reality of the Syrian refugee crisis. Tima Kurdi first saw the shocking photo of her nephew in her home in Vancouver, Canada. But Tima did not need a photo to understand the truth—she and her family had already been living it.

In The Boy on the Beach, Tima recounts her idyllic childhood in Syria, where she grew up with her brother Abdullah and other siblings in a tight‑knit family. A strong‑willed, independent woman, Tima studied to be a hairdresser and had dreams of seeing the world. At twenty‑two, she emigrated to Canada, but much of her family remained in Damascus. Life as a single mother and immigrant in a new country wasn’t always easy, and Tima recounts with heart‑wrenching honesty the anguish of being torn between a new home and the world she’d left behind.

As Tima struggled to adapt to life in a new land, war overtook her homeland. Caught in the crosshairs of civil war, her family risked everything and fled their homes. Tima worked tirelessly to help them find safety, but their journey was far from easy. Although thwarted by politics, hounded by violence, and separated by vast distances, the Kurdis encountered setbacks at every turn, they never gave up hope. And when tragedy struck, Tima suddenly found herself thrust onto the world stage as an advocate for refugees everywhere, a role for which she had never prepared but that allowed her to give voice to those who didn’t have an opportunity to speak for themselves.

I Am Home: Portraits of Immigrant Teenagers by Ericka McConnell and Rachel Neumann (September 11)

Sixty full-page portraits of students at Oakland International High School, photographed by award-winning photographer Ericka McConnell, are accompanied by their own unique, diverse, and surprising stories of what makes them feel at home. Each of these young people is inspiring in their own right and together their stories will help us consider the issue of immigration with new mindfulness and compassion. All profits from the publication of this book will be donated to Oakland International High School.

My Family Divided: One Girl’s Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope by Diane Guerrero and Erica Moroz

Before landing a spot on the megahit Netflix show Orange is the New Black; before wow-ing audiences as Lina on Jane the Virgin; and before her incredible activism and work on immigration reform, Diane Guerrero was a young girl living in Boston. One day, while Guerrero was at school, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken from their home, detained, and deported. Guerrero’s life, which had been full of the support of a loving family, was turned upside down.

Reflective of the experiences of millions of undocumented immigrant families in the United States, Guerrero’s story is at once heartbreaking and hopeful.

Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought For Her American Dream by Julissa Arce (September 18)

Born in the picturesque town of Taxco, Mexico, Julissa Arce was left behind for months at a time with her two sisters, a nanny, and her grandma while her parents worked tirelessly in America in hopes of building a home and providing a better life for their children. That is, until her parents brought Julissa to Texas to live with them. From then on, Julissa secretly lived as an undocumented immigrant, went on to become a scholarship winner and an honors college graduate, and climbed the ladder to become a vice president at Goldman Sachs.

This moving, at times heartbreaking, but always inspiring story will show young readers that anything is possible. Julissa’s story provides a deep look into the little-understood world of a new generation of undocumented immigrants in the United States today–kids who live next door, sit next to you in class, or may even be one of your best friends.

Undocumented: A Worker’s Fight by Duncan Tonatiuh (August 7)

Undocumented is the story of immigrant workers who have come to the United States without papers. Every day, these men and women join the work force and contribute positively to society. The story is told via the ancient Mixtec codex—accordion fold—format. Juan grew up in Mexico working in the fields to help provide for his family. Struggling for money, Juan crosses over into the United States and becomes an undocumented worker, living in a poor neighborhood, working hard to survive. Though he is able to get a job as a busboy at a restaurant, he is severely undercompensated—he receives less than half of the minimum wage! Risking his boss reporting him to the authorities for not having proper resident papers, Juan risks everything and stands up for himself and the rest of the community.

Note: Goodreads users are labeling this as a children’s picture book, but both the publisher’s catalog and Amazon list this as 14 and up. 

We Are Displaced: True Stories of Refugee Lives by Malala Yousafzi (January 8)

With her powerful new book, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai starts with her own story of displacement as an Internally Displaced Person to show what it means to lose your home, your community, and the only world you’ve ever known. She also shares the personal stories of some of the incredible girls she has met on her various journeys to refugee camps and the cities where refugee girls and their families have settled.

Note: No cover yet and the link above takes you to the audio version — print doesn’t yet look like it’s available for preorder.

We Are Here To Stay: Voices of Undocumented Young Adults by Susan Kunklin (January 8, 2019)

Susan Kuklin uses her considerable interviewing and photography skills to portray nine courageous young adults who have lived in the United States with a secret for much of their lives: they are not U.S. citizens. They came from Colombia, Mexico, Ghana, Independent Samoa, and Korea. They came seeking education, fleeing violence, and escaping poverty. All have harrowing, heartbreaking, and hopeful stories about leaving their homeland and starting a new life in America. And all of them are weary of living in the shadows. Enlightening and honest, these nine brave accounts encourage open, thoughtful conversation about the complexities of immigration — and the uncertain future of immigrants in America.

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

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars at Twitter and Instagram.

 

PS: Remember to share your favorite read of 2018 so far, as well as one you’d love to get more attention in this reader poll.

Hey YA Readers: Let’s catch up on the latest in YA haps.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Audible. Just for Book Riot readers: sign up for an Audible account, and get two audiobooks free!

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Let’s take a peek at the world of recent YA news:

• Jimmy Fallon’s book club will launch with The Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.
• Not one. Not two. But three! YA pilots have been ordered by Amazon. The impending doom for YA adaptations that was predicted over and over continues to be disproven.
• PBS’s “The Great American Read” put together a pretty nice video about the history of YA literature. It’s quick and short, so unable to be comprehensive, but a really great primer for those curious.
• This Cleveland teenager wins heroine of the year.
• Megan Whalen Turner fans rejoice! The sixth book in “The Queen’s Thief” series is coming next spring.
• Ibi Zoboi’s upcoming anthology Black Enough has a stellar list of authors and a stellar cover.
• Samira Ahmed’s Internment looks and sounds incredible.
• You’ll get chills watching the full trailer for The Hate U Give.
• 3 YA writers talk about why they wrote asexual main characters in their novels.
• Check out the trailer for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, hitting Netflix next month.
• Readers who are eager for Marcus Zusak’s new book Bridge of Clay might want to know he’s touring the US in October.
• We have another name attached to the adaptation of The Sun is Also a Star, too.
• Anna Todd’s After adaptation has a star for its lead.
• Though the first titles will be middle grade, knowing he’s a name in the YA world, it’s worth sharing that RL Stine is doing some graphic novels.
• Want to add some books hitting shelves next year to your TBR? Here are a pile of cover reveals for Harper’s Winter 2019 YA books.
• And some upcoming YA from Penguin (including a new AS King).

Me after seeing @TheHateUGive for the first time. To @George_Tillman, @amandlastenberg, and the entire cast and crew, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Phenomenal is an understatement. pic.twitter.com/rabwbAdVhg

— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) June 29, 2018

Cheap Reads

Grab ’em while they’re hot and super affordable ebooks.

Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes is $2.

Grab a copy of Victoria Schwab’s This Savage Song for $2.

If you want some pirate adventure in your reading life, you’ll want to drop $2 for LA Meyer’s Bloody Jack.

Akemi Dawn Bowman’s Morris-nominated Starfish is $2.

Pick up Stacey Lee’s Secret of a Heart Note for $2.

Keeping Her Secret by Sarah Nicolas — one of our very own Book Rioters — is $1. Today’s the last day on the sale, so grab it ASAP.

Blast From The Past

A handful of Book Riot YA pieces from this month in years gone by:

• 25 great books for readers smack between middle grade and YA books.
• Awesome Asian-American protagonists in YA lit.
• 65 great YA horror reads by female authors.
• Fantastic feminist reads for young adults (includes books across all age categories that YA readers would like).
• Jessica Wakefield: Literary Fashion Icon.
• What are grownups afraid of in YA books?

This Week’s Book Mail

Curious what books are coming soon? Here’s a peek at the YA titles that hit my mailbox this week:

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen

Sawkill Girls by Claire LeGrande

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

This Is Kind of An Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender

That Night by Amy Giles

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

Open Mic Night at Westminster Cemetery by Mary Amato

Girls On The Line by Jennie Liu

I, Claudia by Mary McCoy

Campfire by Shawn Sarles

Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini

The Unwanted: Stories of Syrian Refugees by Don Brown

Rad Girls Can by Kate Schatz

You Are The Everything by Karen Rivers (not pictured)

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See you all back here next week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.

 

Hey YA Fans: Let’s talk about some of the books that haven’t been talked about enough so far this year.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by The Edge of Over There by Shawn Smucker.

Abra Miller carries a secret and a responsibility she never expected.

Abra finds a clue to the whereabouts of the next Tree of Life when an ominous woman—who looks exactly like a ghost from her past—compels her to travel to New Orleans where she’ll find one of seven gateways between this world and Over There. As Abra enters the Edge of Over There and begins her pursuit of the Tree once more, she doesn’t know whom to fear or whom to trust.

She’s also starting to think that some doorways should never be opened.

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Welcome new subscribers and long-timers! This week kicks off “What’s Up in YA?” going twice a week. You’ll see all of the YA news and talk in your inboxes on Mondays and Thursdays.

Those who’ve been around the newsletter for a while know that every year I like to ask for your favorites, and this mid-year is no exception. Today, I’ll share a small number of YA titles from the first half of 2018 that I think deserve a little more love, and I’d love if you’d fill out this quick, painless survey to tell me what 1. your favorite YA book published so far in 2018 has been and 2. what YA book published so far this year you think deserves a shout out. I’ll do a top ten of each and round them up later this month. Drop your picks in this form by July 23 to be included.

Here are a few of the books I think deserve a little more reader love this year. All have been published and are available now from your favorite bookstore or library. My reading tends toward a lot of contemporary fiction, so know this list reflects that (which is precisely why I like asking y’all to throw your titles at me!):

All That I Can Fix by Crystal Chan

This was my first Chan book but it will certainly not be my last. Set in a small town in Indiana, the story follows 15-year-old Ronney as he navigates a father struggling with mental illness, a little sister who is a genius, a crush on a girl who has been his best friend but seems like she’s keeping a secret from him, and oh, a bunch of wild animals on the loose thanks to a heavy wind storm.

At times funny, this book is ultimately a slice of life about a boy who doesn’t know how to be who he truly is around people who aren’t the people he thought they were. The exploration of mental illness here is powerful, and the way that we see Ronney deal with his crush’s pulling away from him makes the heart ache (and never does she become a manic pixie dream girl nor become faulted for her decisions). Be aware this one talks about suicide.

…And I didn’t even talk about the kid who is stalking Ronney, begging him for his jeans. Worth noting, too, that Ronney is a mixed-race kid in small town Indiana and that plays an important role in the book.

Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi

When I say this is a book to hand to fans of John Green, I mean it.

Scott has a history of being a quitter, and this is something his immigrant parents cannot stand. They want him to have a better life, and they’re determined to help him do so by encouraging him to discover grit and power through the things he doesn’t love.

But when the parents go out of the country, Scott decides to ditch his internship and travel down to Washington, D.C., in order to befriend a professor who studies grit. He believes she’ll be able to help him solve his problems.

Except, of course, he only encounters more along the way. This book is about finding your own path, about crossword puzzles, and about how to live up to the expectations of your parents (though maybe without the running away from home part? Or maybe WITH it).

Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lita Judge

Part comic, part verse, and entirely nonfiction, this book blew me away with how well constructed and creative it was. As the title suggests, it’s a look at the life of Mary Shelley and how it was she created the classic Frankenstein.

It’s not what you think.

Judge’s book shows us the back story of Shelley, from her youth through her publication of the famous book, and it explores in depth the truth behind the myth that she wrote the book on a dare. Sure, there was a dare involved, but by leveling her talent with that, her hard work and thinking about the story prior to that are undermined.

Smart, captivating, and one you’ll want to pick up for the construction itself.

The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

I’ve tried to highlight books I haven’t talked about in the newsletter so far (or featured an author interview/essay for), but I honestly cannot remember if this is one I’ve talked about yet. In either case, it’s worth mentioning (again, maybe).

Goo writes some of the best rom-coms in YA. This one follows Clara Shin, perhaps best described as a bit…squirrely. She likes to have attention and cause trouble, but it’s nothing that’s especially destructive. Just mildly disruptive. But one joke that goes too far causes her father to step in and decide that her punishment will be a summer spent working his food truck….with the girl from school she absolutely cannot stand.

It goes about as well as you might expect.

Toss in a boy named Hamlet, a sweet relationship between Clara and her father, and food trucks (!!), the recipe here is for a satisfying and funny romp. Maybe pair this one up with Siobhan Vivian’s Stay Sweet for two great reads about girls working in food over the summer…with weirdly similar outcomes, despite very different means of getting there.

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See you again on Thursday, where we’ll round up some recent YA news, great book deals, and more. And don’t forget to drop your favorite reads and most underrated YA picks of 2018 so far in the form.

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.

Hey YA Fans: Let’s take a look at some books hitting shelves next year to get excited about!

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Wild Blue Wonder by Carlie Sorosiak from Epic Reads.

This wondrous novel about love and loss is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Jenny Han.

Last June, the summer camp Quinn’s family owns was still a magical place–where wild blueberries grew no matter the season, a legendary sea monster lurked in the waters, and Quinn fell in love with her best friend, Dylan.

Then the accident happened.

Now it’s winter, the magic has drained from Quinn’s life, and she knows it’s her fault. But the new boy in town, Alexander, doesn’t see her as the monster she believes herself to be. And Quinn begins to understand the truth about love, loss, and monsters—real and imagined.

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Last week I attended the American Library Association convention in my author capacity, but before putting on that hat, I chatted with a few Book Riot readers about what they’d like to see more of. One of those things included more previews of books coming out wayyy in the future — the books you’ll have to wait 6 or more months for but that you will want to be excited about.

I love the idea and think it’ll be fun to round up those far-future titles periodically.

Find below seven awesome YA titles hitting shelves in early 2019. All descriptions are from Goodreads, since as much as I read ahead, I am not this far in the future.

Grab your TBR and open up your Goodreads, since you’ll be adding these titles to ’em.

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

Get in quick, get out quicker.

These are the words Keralie Corrington lives by as the preeminent dipper in the Concord, the central area uniting the four quadrants of Quadara. She steals under the guidance of her mentor Mackiel, who runs a black market selling their bounty to buyers desperate for what they can’t get in their own quarter. For in the nation of Quadara, each quarter is strictly divided from the other. Four queens rule together, one from each region:

Toria: the intellectual quarter that values education and ambition
Ludia: the pleasure quarter that values celebration, passion, and entertainment
Archia: the agricultural quarter that values simplicity and nature
Eonia: the futurist quarter that values technology, stoicism and harmonious community

When Keralie intercepts a comm disk coming from the House of Concord, what seems like a standard job goes horribly wrong. Upon watching the comm disks, Keralie sees all four queens murdered in four brutal ways. Hoping that discovering the intended recipient will reveal the culprit – information that is bound to be valuable bartering material with the palace – Keralie teams up with Varin Bollt, the Eonist messenger she stole from, to complete Varin’s original job and see where it takes them.

Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera

At night, Las Mal Criadas own these streets.

Nalah leads the fiercest all-girl crew in Mega City. That roles brings with it violent throw downs and access to the hottest boydega clubs, but the sixteen-year-old grows weary of the life. Her dream is to get off the streets and make a home in the exclusive Mega Towers, in which only a chosen few get to live. To make it to the Mega towers, Nalah must prove her loyalty to the city’s benevolent founder and cross the border in a search for a mysterious gang the Ashé Ryders. Led by a reluctant guide, Nalah battles other crews and her own doubts, but the closer she gets to her goal, the more she loses sight of everything—and everyone— she cares about.

Nalah must do the unspeakable to get what she wants—a place to call home. But is a home just where you live? Or who you choose to protect?

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

Three screws in her hip.
Two months until spring training.
One answer to all her problems.

Mickey Catalan is no stranger to the opioid epidemic in her small town. There are obituaries of classmates who “died suddenly” and stories of overdoses in gas station bathrooms—but none of that is her. No, Mickey is a star softball catcher—one part of a dynamic duo with her best friend and pitcher Carolina—about to start her senior season with hopes of college recruitment. Until a car accident shatters that plan, along with her hip and Carolina’s arm.

Now Mickey is hurting. She can barely walk, much less crouch behind the plate. Yet a little white pill can make it better. After all, it is doctor prescribed. But when the prescription runs out, Mickey turns to an elderly woman who pushes hot meatloaf and a baggie full of oxy across the kitchen counter. It’s there Mickey makes new friends—other athletes in pain, others with just time to kill—and finds peaceful acceptance, a place where she can find words more easily than she ever has before. But as the pressure to be Mickey Catalan heightens, her desire for pills becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

Jack Ellison King. King of Almost.

He almost made valedictorian.

He almost made varsity.

He almost got the girl . . .

When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack. Jack’s curse of almost is finally over.

But this love story is . . . complicated. It is an almost happily ever after. Because Kate dies. And their story should end there. Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Beautiful, radiant Kate. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind. Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do—and let go—to save the people he loves.

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.

Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile.

Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.

Drawing inspiration from ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology, the first book in Swati Teerdhala’s debut fantasy trilogy captivates with electric romance, stunning action, and the fierce bonds that hold people together—and that drive them apart.

We Set The Dark On Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband’s household or raise his children, but both are promised a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class. Daniela Vargas is the school’s top student, but her bright future depends upon no one discovering her darkest secret—that her pedigree is a lie. Her parents sacrificed everything to obtain forged identification papers so Dani could rise above her station. Now that her marriage to an important politico’s son is fast approaching, she must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society, where famine and poverty rule supreme.

On her graduation night, Dani seems to be in the clear, despite the surprises that unfold. But nothing prepares her for all the difficult choices she must make, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio. Will Dani cling to the privilege her parents fought to win for her, or to give up everything she’s strived for in pursuit of a free Medio—and a chance at a forbidden love?

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I don’t know about you, but it looks to me like 2019 is looking to be [fire emoji].

See you again next week!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.

Hey YA Fans: Let’s catch up the latest YA talk.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by The Art of Escaping by Erin Callahan.

Seventeen-year-old Mattie is hiding her obsession with Harry Houdini and Dorothy Dietrich from everyone. With the help of a world-renowned escape artist named Miyu, Mattie secretly transforms herself into a burgeoning escapologist and performance artist. That’s when Will appears. A popular varsity athlete from Mattie’s high school, Will stumbles onto her act at an underground venue. But it turns out Will has surprises of his own, and the two of them find out that not all secrets can remain hidden forever.

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Here’s what we’ve been talking about in the world of YA lit over on Book Riot this month.

• Under-the-radar YA adaptations you can stream right now.
• An interview with debut YA novelist Aminah Mae Safi about her new book, feminism, and more.
• Get excited: you can snag a retro set of Baby-Sitters Club books this August, complete in their original covers and with rad tin case.
• All of the awesome Anne of Green Gables bookish stuff you could want. Speaking of Anne, you can discover what character you are with this quiz.
• Take a quiz to discover which Lumberjane you are.
• Award-winning YA audiobooks to listen to all summer long.
• We’re getting a YA memoir in verse from Laurie Halse Anderson!
• Pick up some great YA set in Chicago.
• If you haven’t already slung these YA books on your June holds list at the library or picked up ’em at your favorite bookstore, you can now.
• Speaking of slinging books on your to-borrow or to-buy list, here’s a roundup of YA paperbacks hitting shelves this summer.
• There’s a trailer for The Mortal Engines!
• The 10 best feminist fantasy YA reads of 2018 so far.
• And finally, here’s what other books you should pick up if you love Melissa Albert’s debut YA novel The Hazel Wood. 

Cheap Reads…

Grab these great ebook deals while they’re on sale!

Snag Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, a retelling of the classic “12 Dancing Princesses,” for $2.

Love romance? Pick up Katie McGarry’s Nowhere But Here for $2.

Grab the standalone fantasy Uprooted by Naomi Novick for $3.

And you’ll want this queer superhero story Dreadnought by April Daniels for $2.

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Thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you again next week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.

 

Hey YA Readers: It’s time for a good old fashioned booklist for fighting the system.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari.

Ari Sullivan is alive — for now. She wakes at the bottom of a cistern, confused, injured and alone, with only the shadowy recollection of a low-pitched voice and a gloved hand. No one can hear her screams. And the person who put her there is coming back. Told in alternating perspectives of predator and prey, Blood Will Out is a gripping and terrifying read for fans of THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE and MY FAVORITE MURDER.

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The last couple of years have been tremendous in terms of publishing in YA and more specifically, publishing handbooks and collections intended to encourage social and political activism and resistance for young readers. It seemed appropriate to round up some recent and forthcoming titles. For those of you who work with teens, use this as a tool for not only books to hand over to young activists, but also to strengthen your bookshelves and collections.

Descriptions come from Goodreads, unless otherwise noted. I’ve only dipped into a couple of these myself, but the more I read about them, the more I’m excited to take home a stack from the library and dive in deep.

I’ve stuck to books published in 2018, in part to show how many of these books are emerging. As with all nonfiction for teen readers, some of these books may skew a bit younger, as many nonfiction age ranges begin at 10-14, then move from 14-up. But just because it’s “for” younger teens doesn’t mean older teens (or adults!) won’t tear through the title with enthusiasm.

A Girl’s Guide to Joining The Resistance: A Feminist Handbook On Fighting For Good by Emma Rose Gray

Have recent events given you pause? Does Trump’s America make you fearful for the future of women? Do you want to become more involved in helping to preserve women’s rights but aren’t sure how? In A Girl’s Guide to Joining the Resistance, Emma Rose Gray, Executive Editor at The Huffington Post, outlines all that young women need to know on pivotal women’s rights issues and offers a blueprint for those who want to take a stand and participate in the cause.

Girls Resist!: A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution by KaeLyn Rich (June 26)

Take on the world and make some serious change with this handbook to everything activism, social justice, and resistance. With in-depth guides to everything from picking a cause, planning a protest, and raising money to running dispute-free meetings, promoting awareness on social media, and being an effective ally, Girls Resist! will show you how to go from “mad as heck about the way the world is going” to “effective leader who gets stuff done.” Veteran feminist organizer KaeLyn Rich shares tons of expertise that’ll inspire you as much as it teaches you the ropes. Plus, quotes and tips from fellow teen girl activists show how they stood up for change in their communities. Grab this handbook to crush inequality, start a revolution, and resist!

Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration edited by Rose Brock

We all experience moments when we struggle to understand the state of the world, when we feel powerless and–in some cases–even hopeless. The teens of today are the caretakers of tomorrow, and yet it’s difficult for many to find joy or comfort in such a turbulent society. But in trying times, words are power.

Some of today’s most influential young adult authors come together in this highly personal nonfiction collection of essays, poems, and letters, each a first-hand account that ultimately strives to inspire hope

How I Resist: Activism and Hope for the Next Generation edited by Maureen Johnson

Now, more than ever, young people are motivated to make a difference in a world they’re bound to inherit. They’re ready to stand up and be heard – but with much to shout about, where they do they begin? What can I do? How can I help?

How I Resist is the response, and a way to start the conversation. To show readers that they are not helpless, and that anyone can be the change. A collection of essays, songs, illustrations, and interviews about activism and hope, How I Resist features an all-star group of contributors, including, John Paul Brammer, Libba Bray, Lauren Duca, Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita, Alex Gino, Hebh Jamal, Malinda Lo, Dylan Marron, Hamilton star Javier Muñoz, Rosie O’Donnell, Junauda Petrus, Jodi Picoult, Jason Reynolds, Karuna Riazi, Maya Rupert, Dana Schwartz, Dan Sinker, Ali Stroker, Jonny Sun (aka @jonnysun), Sabaa Tahir, Daniel Watts, Jennifer Weiner, Jacqueline Woodson, and more, all edited and compiled by New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.

Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage (September 4)

“Aren’t you a terrorist?” “There are no roles for people who look like you.” “That’s a sin.” “No girls allowed.” They’ve heard it all. Actress Alia Shawkat reflects on all the parts she was told she was too “ethnic” to play. Former NFL player Wade Davis recalls his bullying of gay classmates in an attempt to hide his own sexuality. Teen Gavin Grimm shares the story that led to the infamous “bathroom bill,” and how he’s fighting it. Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr tells of her harrowing time in Auschwitz, where she watched her family disappear, one by one.

What made them rise up through the hate? What made them overcome the obstacles of their childhood to achieve extraordinary success? How did they break out of society’s limited view of who they are and find their way to the beautiful and hard-won lives they live today? With a foreword by Minnesota senator and up-and-coming Democratic party leader Amy Klobuchar, these essays share deeply personal stories of resilience, faith, love, and, yes, persistence.

Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice by Veronica Chambers (September 25)

You may only be one person, but you have the power to change the world.

Before they were activists, they were just like you and me. From Frederick Douglass to Malala Yousafzai, Joan of Arc to John Lewis, Susan B. Anthony to Janet Mock—these remarkable figures show us what it means to take a stand and say no to injustice, even when it would be far easier to stay quiet.

Resist profiles men and women who resisted tyranny, fought the odds, and stood up to bullies that threatened to harm their communities. Along with their portraits and most memorable quotes, their stories will inspire you to speak out and rise up—every single day.

Roadmap for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy For All by Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin, and Jamia Wilson (September 18)

It’s a direct, snappy guidebook on engaging in effective day-to-day activism and advocacy at all levels that uses checklists, interviews, and case studies to showcase the tools for making the changes you want to see in society, culture and government.

Steal This Country: A Handbook for Resistance, Persistence, and Fixing Almost Everything by Alexandra Styron (September 4)

Styron’s irreverent and informative primer on how to make a difference is organized into three sections: The Why, The What, and The How. The book opens with a personal essay and a historic look at civil disobedience and teenage activism in America. That’s followed by a deep dive into several key issues: climate change, racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQIA rights, immigration, religious understanding, and intersectionality. Each chapter is introduced by an original full page comic and includes a summary of key questions, interviews with movers and shakers–from celebrities to youth activists–and spotlights on progressive organizations. The book’s final section is packed with how-to advice on ways to engage, from group activities such as organizing, marching, rallying, and petitioning to individual actions like voting with your wallet, volunteering, talking with relatives with different viewpoints, and using social activism to get out a progressive message.

Wake Rise Resist: The Progressive Teen’s Guide To Fighting Tyrants and A*Holes by Joanna Spathis and Kerri Kennedy (October 24)

Joanna Spathis and Kerri Kennedy’s how-to guide to social activism for teens—or anyone, really—includes 128 well-researched actions (and plenty of entertaining snark) in ten chapters. Set up in three parts, the book is designed to guide readers into finding their political voice and is set up in such a way to help those feeling disenfranchised be more empowered instantly.

Wake, Rise, Resist shows readers how to get involved in the work for social justice, racial equality, refugees, feminism, the environment, and more. This book has something to engage and empower every reader, no matter their age or personality type.

Part I: Building Your Activist Toolkit sets all activists up for success, with actions to help extroverts, introverts, artists, techies, social media junkies, and more. Part II: Activism Gets Real takes a long look at racism, sexism, and privilege and also offers a chapter with more than 15 passion projects to capture the imagination of any reader. Part III: From Activist to Advocate offers advice on how to raise awareness, raise funds, and use self-care to keep yourself in the fight.

You Are Mighty: A Guide To Changing The World by Caroline Paul

Being a good citizen means standing up for what’s right-and here’s just the way to start. From the author of The Gutsy Girl comes a book for those with a fierce sense of justice, a good sense of humor, and a big heart. This guide features change-maker tips, tons of DIY activities, and stories about the kids who have paved the way before, from famous activists like Malala Yousafzai and Claudette Colvin to the everyday young people whose habit changes triggered huge ripple effects. So make a sign, write a letter, volunteer, sit-in, or march! There are lots of tactics to choose from, and you’re never too young to change the world.

Young Revolutionary: A Teen’s Guide to Activism by Chanice Lee

Chris Suggs started Kinston Teens when he noticed gun violence rising in his hometown. Sawyer Taylor-Arnold created her own nationwide awareness campaign by making stickers, to empower girls and women. Both of these people have one thing in common: THEY’RE TEENAGERS! Are you a Teenager aspiring to make change in your community or beyond? Young Revolutionary will give you the confidence, tools and resources you need to be a successful Activist. Written by a Teenager, for Teenagers. This guide is a mixture of personal experiences from the author herself and real-life stories of several Teen Activists. Whether you are new to activism or if you are already an experienced, you’ll learn everything from how to organize events, reaching out to your local officials, and spreading the word on your cause. Young people have always been at the forefront of movements, so now it’s your turn.

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Keep fighting the good fight, and we’ll see you again here next week!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.

 

PS: If you are interested, Here We Are: Feminism For The Real World — edited by me! — is on sale in ebook form for $2 this week. I didn’t plan to write this newsletter about activism the same week of the discount, but the coincidence was enough to merit a mention.

Hey YA Readers! Let’s catch up on the latest happs in the world of YA.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Epic Reads.

Robyn Schneider, author of The Beginning of Everything, delivers a sharply funny, romantic girl-meets-boy novel with a twist: boy-also-meets-girl’s-ghost-brother. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon.

Rose believes in ghosts. She should, since she has one for a best friend: Logan – her brother who is forever stuck at fifteen. But when Rose’s old friend Jamie moves back, things get complicated.

Jamie’s charming, confident, and a reminder of the life she’s been missing out on since her brother’s death. Rose finds herself drawn to Jamie, but how can she choose between the boy who makes her feel alive and the brother she isn’t ready to lose?

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Settle in and catch up on the recent news from the world of YA. Like usual, this one is heavy on adaptation news (which is never a bad thing!):

• We have our Daniel in the adaptation of Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star.
• There’s a trailer for the adaptation of Lois Duncan’s Down a Dark Hall. 
• The winners of this year’s Boston Globe-Horn Book awards are in. Yay for Isabel Quintero and Elizabeth Acevedo on the YA side for nonficiton and fiction.
• If you haven’t read Rebecca Podos’s Like Water, maybe you will now that it’s won a Lambda Literary Award.
• Check out the amazing new cover for the 20th (!!!) anniversary edition of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak.
• Clear your calendar on October 19: you’ll be going to the theater to see the adaptation of The Hate U Give. 
• Here are excerpts from the YA Star Wars novels penned by Daniel José Older and Rae Carson.
• Whether or not you were at Book Expo America recently, you will want to know what the big editor buzz titles were — here are all five, along with what inspired those books.
• Why aren’t there more breakout YA science fiction books? Author Fonda Lee makes the case for more and why the time is now.
• A super popular Wattpad YA story is hitting Hulu.
• Freeform has canceled Shadowhunters.
• The Hate U Give won this year’s Audio award in the young adult category.
• Add a bunch of new queer YA to your to-read stack.
• In “it’s been optioned now” news: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. 
• Don’t revoke my YA cred here because I’m going to highlight a middle grade book….but it’s a forthcoming middle grade book by YA superstar Julie Murphy!
• Dig this deleted scene from Love, Simon, which involves a gay bar.
• A wonderful interview with Jason Reynolds about how he used his own adolescent experiences and feelings to fuel his award-winning books.
• The Indigenous Voices Awards — given in Canada — named their YA winner this year. Another book for your TBR.
• Here are some of the first images from the adaptation of The Mortal Engines, directed by Peter Jackson. Oh, and if you’d like, here’s the trailer, too.
• There’s a new Rainbow Rowell book coming in 2020.

 

Cheap Reads

Grab some great ebooks without spending a ton of dough.

Jennifer Brown’s powerhouse debut novel Hate List is $2. It’s unfortunate this book is still timely and relevant, but if you haven’t read it, here you go.

Pick up Andrew McCarthy’s (yes, that one!) YA novel Just Fly Away for $1.20.

Two great LGBTQ+ reads to scoop up on the cheap: David Levithan and Nina LaCour’s You Know Me Well and Julie Andrew Peters’s Keeping You a Secret. They’re $3 and $2 respectively.

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Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you back here in one week!

–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.

Happy Monday, YA Fans! Let’s talk queer reads.

“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by City of Bastards from Disney Publishing Worldwide.

“Jon Snow won’t be the only ‘bastard’ whose name readers will remember.”  —Entertainment Weekly

In this action-packed sequel to YA fantasy Royal Bastards, Tilla explores the magnificent royal city of Lightspire where she uncovers a sinister conspiracy to take down the kingdom from within. Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame.

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June is Pride Month, an annual global celebration of the LGBTGIA+ community and their contributions to culture, art, history, and more. To honor Pride month and to highlight the growth of queer YA lit, let’s take a look at some of the amazing LGBTQIA+ YA book lists and resources available to readers. Grab your TBR and ready your bookmarking fingers!

LGBTQIA+ YA Reading Lists

There’s literally something for every kind of reader itching for a good queer book or ten.

• 10 must-read bisexual YA books from 2018.
• Queer girls of color in YA lit, as written by women of color.
• 10 books to read if you can’t get enough “Love, Simon.”
• The burning and banning of Annie On My Mind.
• Where to start with bi and lesbian YA lit.
• A newbie’s guide to great coming out YA books.
• 13 YA books about bisexual boys.
• Asexual YA books to buy, borrow, or bypass.
• 100 must-read inclusive science fiction and fantasy YA reads.
• Queer superheroes in YA books.
• LGBTQA science fiction and fantasy by #OwnVoices writers.
• Amazing Pride book displays from around the world.
• 100 must-read LGBTQIA+ YA books.

LGBTQIA+ YA Resources

Looking for more book lists, news, and information about queer YA lit? Dig into these excellent websites.

• QueerYA: book lists and resources on diversity in gender and sexuality in youth culture. Based on Scotland, this has a lot of UK-angled content.
• Gay YA: A long-running blog highlighting queer YA. This blog was started by two teenagers who are still active in the YA world and passionate about representation.
• LGBTQ Reads: Although this isn’t strictly YA, this resource is one to know because it features a plethora of YA, as well as books across various categories, genres, and formats.
• Queer Books for Teens: A resource to all of (!!) the queer YA books out there.
• The Rainbow List: Great queer reads, picture books through YA titles, as selected by librarians. This is a vetted list with a wide variety of titles. If you’re looking for even more award-winning queer titles for YA readers, check out the Stonewall Awards.

LGBTQIA+ YA Nonfiction Titles

Just to round this newsletter out nicely, here are a few YA nonfiction titles perfect for Pride month. Descriptions are from Amazon, since I’ve read only most, but not all, of these (yet, anyway!).

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

One teenager in a skirt.
One teenager with a lighter.
One moment that changes both of their lives forever.

If it weren’t for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment.

The ABCs of LGBTQ+ by Ashley Mardell

The ABCs of LGBT+ is a #1 Bestselling LGBT book and is essential reading for questioning teens, teachers or parents looking for advice, or anyone who wants to learn how to talk about gender identity and sexual identity. In The ABCs of LGBT+, Ashley Mardell, a beloved blogger and YouTube star, answers many of your questions about:

• lgbt and lgbt+
• gender identity
• sexual identity
• teens in a binary world
• the LGBT family
• and more

Being Jazz: My Life As A (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings

Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest and most prominent voices in the national discussion about gender identity. At the age of five, Jazz transitioned to life as a girl, with the support of her parents. A year later, her parents allowed her to share her incredible journey in her first Barbara Walters interview, aired at a time when the public was much less knowledgeable or accepting of the transgender community. This groundbreaking interview was followed over the years by other high-profile interviews, a documentary, the launch of her YouTube channel, a picture book, and her own reality TV series—I Am Jazz—making her one of the most recognizable activists for transgender teens, children, and adults.

In her remarkable memoir, Jazz reflects on these very public experiences and how they have helped shape the mainstream attitude toward the transgender community. But it hasn’t all been easy. Jazz has faced many challenges, bullying, discrimination, and rejection, yet she perseveres as she educates others about her life as a transgender teen. Through it all, her family has been beside her on this journey, standing together against those who don’t understand the true meaning of tolerance and unconditional love. Now Jazz must learn to navigate the physical, social, and emotional upheavals of adolescence—particularly high school—complicated by the unique challenges of being a transgender teen. Making the journey from girl to woman is never easy—especially when you began your life in a boy’s body.

Breakthrough: How One Teen Innovator Is Changing The World by Jack Andraka

For the first time, teen innovator and scientist Jack Andraka tells the story behind his revolutionary discovery. When a dear family friend passed away from pancreatic cancer, Jack was inspired to create a better method of early detection. At the age of fifteen, he garnered international attention for his breakthrough: a four-cent strip of paper capable of detecting pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers four hundred times more effectively than the previous standard.

Jack’s story is not just a story of dizzying international success; it is a story of overcoming depression and homophobic bullying and finding the resilience to persevere and come out. His account inspires young people, who he argues are the most innovative, to fight for the right to be taken seriously and to pursue our own dreams. Do-it-yourself science experiments are included in each chapter, making Breakthrough perfect for STEM curriculum. But above all, Jack’s memoir empowers his generation with the knowledge that we can each change the world if we only have the courage to try.

Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community by Robin Stevenson

For LGBTQ people and their supporters, Pride events are an opportunity to honor the past, protest injustice, and celebrate a diverse and vibrant community. The high point of Pride, the Pride Parade, is spectacular and colorful. But there is a whole lot more to Pride than rainbow flags and amazing outfits. How did Pride come to be? And what does Pride mean to the people who celebrate it?

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

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.