Category: What’s Up in YA

Your YA Books News and New YA Books

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 21, 2021

Sponsored by These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy.

When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn to be the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm. But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which means one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned. As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.

Hey, YA friends!

It’s a good and exciting week for YA news and new YA releases, so buckle up for some amazing links and excitement! I don’t know about you, but I plan to be taking most of tomorrow off to watch Netflix’s Shadow and Bone series, and I can’t wait.

News

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Dr. Yusef Salaam won the 2020 L.A. Times Book Prize for Young Adult Books!

Lots of cool things happening over at Disney Publishing, most notably that Melissa de la Cruz is getting her own imprint!

Some exciting casting news for the HBOMax movie adaptation of Jennifer E. Smith’s Field Notes on Love! A reminder that another one of Smith’s books, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, is also in production!

Have you seen the 1993 film The Crush, starring Alicia Silverstone? A YA sequel is in the works.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna has been chosen for Stephen Curry’s Underrated Book Club!

Early reviews for the Shadow and Bone TV show are looking good!

Out This Week

Dustborn by Erin Bow

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur

The Half-Orphan’s Handbook by Joan F. Smith

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli

The Key to You and Me by Jaye Robin Brown

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Southern Sun, Northern Star by Joanna Ruth Hathaway

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy

What’s Not to Love? by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegmund-Broka

Where Secrets Lie by Eva V. Gibson

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart

New in Paperback

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

Between Burning Worlds by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

The Blossom and the Firefly by Sherri L. Smith

Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen

Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

On Book Riot

Hannah and I talk about straight to paperback YA, and indie YA presses on Hey YA.

Fight biphobia with these YA books.

Discover some poems written by YA authors for Poetry Month.

Here we have 20 more must-read diverse YA novels-in-verse!

Add these 3 YA novels set in college to your TBR!

Thanks for hanging out!
Tirzah Price

Thanks to These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

3 New YA Nonfiction Adaptations!

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 19, 2021

Sponsored by The Loft’s Wordplay, May 2-8, 2021

The Loft’s Wordplay, presented by St. Catherine University and Star Tribune, is a week-long, free, and virtual celebration of the year in books (May 2-8). Each day will host a morning session for youth, including visits from Chelsea Clinton, Marjorie Liu, and Jon Klassen. Then an afternoon session with international authors, including Helen Oyeyemi, Sofia Segovia, and Rivers Solomon. Finally, evening conversations between authors including Alison Bechdel, Cheryl Strayed, Hanif Abdurraqib, Kazim Ali, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Dean Koontz, and Donika Kelly on themes of climate change, Black ambition, Native voices, the patriarchy, and more.

Hey YA friends!

One of the things that I love about Kelly’s coverage here at Book Riot is her commitment to elevating amazing YA nonfiction. As a teen, I was convinced that I hated nonfiction. I can recall precisely one nonfiction title I read in high school (it was for a class), and I found it excruciating to read. And silly me, I just assumed all nonfiction was like that. It didn’t help that most of the nonfiction available to YA audiences when I was a teen were boring-looking research texts or didactic tomes on uninspiring topics (this was when libraries were still stocking titles that teens might use for research papers, before they realized we all were much more comfortable with the internet).

Now, there are so many great nonfiction YA titles out there that I found myself joyfully creating a teen nonfiction section when I still worked at my local library and actually leading teens over there on a frequent basis. Part of the reason for this growth is the exciting development of YA editions of popular nonfiction books. So today I’m excited to highlight three new YA nonfiction editions that are out this spring!

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Truer

This book is for 12-18 year olds, but honestly? Everyone should read it. It’s an honest and unflinching look at stereotypes and assumptions, deconstructed and explained. You’ll not only find answers to questions that both basic and complex, but you’ll also get background on many issues facing Native communities today and a wonderful list of resources to help you better understand what life is like for a broad spectrum of Native people, who exist and thrive today and shouldn’t be spoken about in the past tense. This is a great companion read to An Indigenous People’s History of the United States for Young People by Ortiz, Reese, and Mendoza, because while it’s essential to understand history, it’s also vital that we not forget that Native communities live in the present.

Notes from a Young Black Chef (Adapted for Young Adults) by Kwame Onwuachi, Joshua David Stein

Adapted from the popular memoir of the same name, this book looks at Kwame Onwuachi’s life and his love of food. He was born in New York City and grew up in the Bronx learning to cook from his mom, and he spent time in Nigeria and Louisiana. As a young man, he sold candy on the subway to save enough money to start a catering company, and he opened and closed his own restaurant. He starred on Top Chef, and he confronted the realities of being a young, Black chef in a white-dominated food industry. This is a great book about resilience and pursuing your dreams, and it will prove inspiring for any teen reader.

The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos Young Reader’s Edition by Judy Battalion

I love that this young reader’s edition was released simultaneously with the adult edition–usually you have to wait a few months or years! This is the true story of the Jewish women’s resistance in Poland during WWII. These women, many still teenagers, worked to organize the resistance movement, move weapons and people, and sabotaged German operations. Their stories and contributions went largely unacknowledged until now.

If, like me, you thought that nonfiction was boring, I hope that you’ll give any of these three books a chance!

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Thanks to The Loft’s Wordplay, May 2-8, 2021 for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

Your YA Ebook Deals for April 17, 2021

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 16, 2021

Sponsored by What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson with Fierce Reads

“A chilling footpath of love and loss.”—Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Cory Anderson’s stunning debut novel, What Beauty There Is, tells the story of broken people trying to survive. This beautiful and brutal story is perfect for fans of Patrick Ness, Laura Ruby, and Meg Rosoff.

Hey YA friends!

I hope you’re enjoying the weekend, and if you don’t have plans, then can I suggest diving into any one of these amazing YA book deals? From nonfiction to fantasy, there’s a little something here for everyone–but you better snatch them before they’re gone!

The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller is a fascinating nonfiction account for just $2.

If you’ve had your eye on Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa, a queer coming of age story, it’s available for $4 (preorder), which is a total steal.

Want to read something then watch a movie? Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland is $2, and you can watch the Amazon Original movie when you’re done for a fun book/movie double feature.

Roman and Jewel, Dana L. Davis’s newest book, is just $3!

Heartstopper Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman is $2, and I hear that a Netflix movie is upcoming, so it seems like a great book to snag!

Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen is just $3 if you’ve not yet hopped onto this series yet.

We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund is about three teens living in a town haunted by the death of a group of teens at a movie theater years earlier, and it’s only $3.

This past week was the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic–pick up Ashlee Cowles’s The Poppy and Rose for just $1.

Grab If We Were Us by K.L. Walther if you want a great friendship story with queer themes, all for $2!

Smash It by Francina Simone, a novel about a girl learning to embrace herself, is just $3.

Happy reading, and have a great weekend!
Tirzah

Thank you to What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson with Fierce Reads for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

Your YA Book News and New YA Books

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 14, 2021

News

YA Author Jason Reynolds will be the inaugural honorary chair of Banned Books Week. In the past, LGBTQ+ books have been the most banned books in any given year, but 2020 data from the ALA shows that books about anti-racism are being challenged at an alarming rate.

Becky Albertalli’s The Upside of Unrequited has been acquired for film adaptation!

Speaking of adaptations, Stacey Lee’s The Downstairs Girl is also in development as a TV series! And it hit the New York Times bestseller list!

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman broke records by having her poem “The Hill We Climb” debut at #1 on bestseller lists!

This month is the ten year anniversary of the release of Huntress by Malinda Lo, one of my favorite fantasies! The book has been reissued with an updated cover!

Not YA exactly, but definitely YA adjacent: A movie adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcist is currently in production! It stars two teenage girls, and will probably appeal to YA readers who like horror, although it’s not for the faint of heart!

New Books

The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff

Ikigai for Teens: Finding Your Reason for Being by Héctor Garía and Francesc Miralles

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Notes from a Young Black Chef: The Young Reader’s Edition by Kwame Onwuachi

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

The Republic of Birds by Jessica Miller

The Serpent’s Curse by Lisa Maxwell

The Sky Above Us by Natalie Lund

New in Paperback

A Dream So Dark by L.L. McKinney

The Empire of Dreams by Rae Carson

It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood

Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia

This Is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio

Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario

We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian

On Book Riot

April YA releases to TBR!

More YA novels in verse to read and love.

Prepare to salivate after these amazing YA books about food!

Celebrate Poetry Month with these poems by YA authors.

Trans Day of Visibility was March 31, but here are some great upcoming YA books about trans characters you can read all year long!

Hannah and I talk about YA recommendations for the 2021 Read Harder Challenge.

Have a good rest of your week! I’ll be back on Saturday with some great book deals!

Tirzah

Thanks to Tor Teen for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

Grab Your Shades: YA Books With Extra Bright Covers

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 12, 2021

Sponsored by Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson

Dark. Luscious. Forbidden Magic. Sing Me Forgotten is a magical, gender-bent retelling of The Phantom of the Opera that tells the story of young Isda, a young woman who is born with the ability to manipulate memories through song. Now she must fight against both the outside world that fears her and the inner darkness that tempts her in order to save the young man she loves.

Hey there, YA readers!

I’ve been sheltered in place for over a year now, and in that time I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve ventured farther than my hometown. In some ways, it’s been nice to stay home and get cozy–other days I just want to hop in the car and start driving in any one direction! Last week, I had the opportunity to go into a real! live! bookstore! to stock my new YA book, and I was super impressed by how the bookstore was enforcing masks, distance, and all the CDC protocols. And the best part was that I got to browse IRL! It made me so happy I teared up.

One thing that I didn’t realize I missed was seeing books on the shelves! Even books I knew I wasn’t going to buy! Not only is it wonderful to be surrounded by books, but I love the physical act of browsing and see what the backs of books look like, noting how thick certain spines are, and looking at what booksellers put face out. There’s such power in letting those visuals grab your eye! And one thing I especially noticed is how some covers are extra bright and eye-catching, so I thought I’d do a round up of some book covers so bright, you might need shades!

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

Mary H.K. Choi’s books are always really exciting because their design is usually excellent. Her latest is no exception! The bright yellow hue definitely reminds me of a fresh egg yolk (and, like, not from store bought eggs either, but farm fresh eggs–if you’ve ever purchased eggs from a farm or farm stand, you know the difference!), and it really pops when face out on the shelves! This is an excellent story of two sisters who are somewhat estranged at the beginning of the book, and must find their way back to each other when one has a health crisis.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

This is one book where the image of the cover doesn’t do the physical book justice! It looks like a simple red cover on the screen, but you get it in person and it’s this bright, almost neon red with orange undertones. It’s so eye-catching that it makes total sense why the rest of the cover is relatively simple. This is an excellent novel about Nora, the daughter of a con artist, and what happens when she, her girlfriend, and her ex are taken hostage in a bank hold up!

Grown by Tiffany Jackson

This cover is not neon bright like the ones above, but that mustard yellow is so super saturated that it’ll stop you in your tracks! Add to it the striking illustration of protagonist Enchanted, and this cover will have you reaching for the book before you even realize it. It’s the story of Enchanted, a talented young singer whose dreams of being a star are fostered by an R&B legend…until he ends up dead, and Enchanted is the number one suspect.

A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong

This graphic novel practically knocked me off my feet when I first saw it because of its rainbow hues and saturated neon color! Just turning the pages of this book makes me feel like I tripped face-first into a Lisa Frank universe of color, and I love it. The story is about two girls who meet on the basketball court and develop a fast friendship, only for it to fall apart when one moves away. But when she returns, new complications prevent them from picking up where the left off.

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendricks and Ted Caplan

I really dig the bright hot pink of this cover! I feel like we see a lot of hot pink on YA covers, but this is another one that looks almost neon in person, and I love how the illustrated pregnancy test is simple, yet eye-catching. It’s the story of a girl who wants to obtain an abortion, but must travel hundreds of miles to get one, and so she turns to the only person she knows who will give her a ride: her ex-best friend.

Don’t burn your retinas on these book covers! I’ll be back later this week with more news and new books!

Thanks for hanging out!
Tirzah Price

Big thanks to Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

Your YA Books News and New YA Books!

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 7, 2021

YA News

Do you want more of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before? That may be in the works. It’s reported that a Kitty spin-off series is currently being developed, and Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian are writing the pilot.

Good news for fans of Elana K. Arnold’s work! Her National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of is being adapted into a TV series called Hot Pink at Amazon, with Sarah Michelle Gellar attached to star! I loved this book so much, and I love Sarah Michelle Gellar, so I can’t wait to hear more!

YA author Julie Berry now owns a bookstore in New York! It’s undergoing renovations now, but you can shop online now and go visit when they reopen to the public.

Not YA per se, but this news could affect whether or not LGBTQ+ affirming YA books can be found in Tennessee classrooms.

New Books

Between the Bliss and Me by Lizzy Mason

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treuer

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

The Light of Days Young Readers ‘ Edition: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos by Judy Batalion

Mirror’s Edge by Scott Westerfeld

No Way, They Were Gay?: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves (Queer History Project) by Lee Wind

Poison Priestess by Lana Popovic

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price (yes, that’s me!)

Remedy by Eirreann Corrigan

The Sky Blues by Robbie Crouch

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zan Kemp

What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson

Zara Hossain is Here by Sabina Khan

Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin

New in Paperback

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Little Universes by Heather Demetrios

Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington

They Went Left by Monica Hesse

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Happy reading!
Tirzah Price

Thanks to Lerner Books for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

Two YA Movie Adaptations I Enjoyed Recently

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 5, 2021

Sponsored by Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group

Amparo’s deal with the talking cat was simple: a drop of blood in order to become a better person. But when the cat steals their name and their body, becoming the “better person” they were promised, Amparo’s spirit is imprisoned in a land of terrifying creatures known as Bright World. To return to the other side and see their true love again, Amparo must use every bit of cleverness to escape.

Hey there, YA fans!

If you’re plugged into the YA world, you likely know that Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu was adapted into a Netflix film that dropped last month, directed by Amy Poehler (who also starred as Vivian’s mom). I really enjoyed the book, which is the story of a Texas teen who generally finds herself keeping quiet and silently enduring the sexist treatment that she and other girls in her school are exposed to daily, both from peers and their school administration. Vivian’s single mom used to be a Riot Grrl, and so Vivian was brought up with her mom’s favorite music and stories about how her mom protested with zines in the 90’s. When a guy at school takes things just a little too far, Vivian has had enough. She creates a zone protesting the inequality and sexism at her school, but she does so anonymously and leaves the zines in the girls’ bathrooms–not realizing that she’s about to kick off a feminist revolution.

The movie adaptation was overall very enjoyable and it both honored the spirit of the book while also featuring some pretty big changes to the story. The most noticeable, which I think altered the feel of the story just a bit, is that the movie is set in a small town in the Pacific Northwest rather than Texas, which are worlds apart. Other small changes include cutting Vivian’s very Texan grandparents, casting a female as the school principal, and switching up her crush from a new kid in school to someone she’s known for a lot longer, which was fine with me–his character worked either way.

Some details of the feminist revolution were probably the most significant changes from book to movie, and there was some stuff I enjoyed and some stuff that I think the book did better. I really appreciated that the movie took a cast of characters with some diversity and broadened it so that there were more people of color. However, the cast was still a little lacking when it came to diversity in sexuality and gender identity–those characters are given very slight nods and brief moments and nothing more. I also appreciated that as a result of the cast diversification, intersectionality was explored a bit more than in the book, and it was done with some nuance although not incredible depth. For me, that was okay–I think there are still so many teen girls who are afraid of calling themselves feminists that I hope this movie offers an introduction to these theories and concepts and how they work IRL, but I don’t think anyone expects this movie to be a deep exploration of feminism in the real world.

The plot made some interesting changes, most notably in how the feminist revolution played out. I really enjoyed that Vivian’s best friend Claudia was given more of a backstory and we saw broader context as to why she was hesitant to identify as a feminist, and why she was reluctant to join the Moxie revolution. However, as the movie unfolded, I was a little perplexed about some of the changes to the actions that the girls took, and the climax of the movie left me a little bit doubtful about how believable it was. I could understand the why of a few of those changed (which played out more dramatically on screen compared to what happens in the book), but the big reveal regarding the girl who instigates the scene of the story’s climax was, I believe, handled more realistically in the book than the film–although some may disagree with me on that point!

However, these are small quibbles and there is still a lot to love in this movie! I can definitely see myself watching it again, and I think there are probably many teens who can see themselves and their experiences reflected here. Not to date myself, but 10 Things I Hate About You was my favorite movie as a teen, and I think that if I’d seen Moxie at 14 or 15, it would have been similarly inspiring and empowering!

If you liked Moxie (both the book and movie!) I have 5 book recommendations for you over on Book Riot!

Thanks for hanging out, and have a great Monday!
Tirzah Price

Thanks to Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

Your Weekend YA Book Deals

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date April 2, 2021

Sponsored by Peachtree Publishing Company

Jenna Guillaume (What I Like About Me) is back with a fun, modern twist on “Weird Science.” All 15-year-old Katie wants is the perfect first kiss from the perfect guy. So when she and her best friend accidentally cook up a “perfect guy” in the kitchen (seriously — he’s like a long-lost Hemsworth brother), things are looking up for Katie and her plan to lose her mouth virginity. But it turns out creating a human is more complicated than Katie could have anticipated. Will her friendship with Libby survive the test? And will Katie EVER get her first kiss?!

Hey, YA fans! It’s the weekend and that means it’s time to read! If you’re looking for something amazing to immerse yourself in this weekend, we’ve got you covered with some great book deals. These deals were active as of writing this, but they might not last, so grab them while you can!

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena is a gorgeous-looking YA fantasy and the first in a duology and it’s just $3! Read it before the sequel is out in June!

Looking for a YA historical novel? The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor is $2, and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, now titled Ashes in the Snow, is $3.

Looking to finally dive into some completed duologies? Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim is $2.

I’m a big fan of Caleb Roehrig and his debut Last Seen Leaving is $3.

Start a new fantasy trilogy by Julie Kagawa! Shadow of the Fox is $2.

For all you horror fans out there, Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand is $2.

The Diviners by Libba Bray, the first book in a deliciously creepy series I’ve loved, is $4.

Maybe you want something mind bending with an unusual structure? Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart is it, and $2.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown is $2–it’s a really delightful read and if you enjoy it, be sure to look for her new book out later this month.

Want to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday later this month? Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills is a great novel for that! It’s $3.

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Thanks to Peachtree Publishing Company for making today’s newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

YA Book News and New YA Books for April 1, 2021

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date March 30, 2021

Sponsored by Wattpad Books, publisher of Down World

There have always been rumors that East Township High School has a doorway that can access multiple timelines and realities, a place known as the Down World. But as students Marina and Brady will find out, even a realm of infinite possibilities has rules that must be obeyed.

“Imagine Stranger Things crossed with Back to the Future all tied together with teen angst and the guilt of loss and secrecy…”
—Justin Bowers, Goodreads Reviewer

Hey, YA friends!

Happy April to you all! No fooling, I’ve got some amazing news, some sad news, and lots of great new releases, so let’s dive in!

YA Book News

First the sad news: Beverly Cleary has died at age 104. She’s best known for her children’s literature, of course, but she also wrote Fifteen and a handful of younger YA books.

Sarah J. Maas shared the news that her A Court of Thorns and Roses series is being adapted into a TV show for Hulu!

Get excited because the full Shadow and Bone trailer is here! I am so ready to eat waffles and marathon this show.

YA adjacent but, have you heard of The Irregulars on Netflix? It’s not based on a YA novel, but it’s about a group of teens who team up with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve supernatural mysteries. Check out the trailer! It’s streaming on Netflix now.

New YA Books

With You All the Way by Cynthia Hand (I read and loved an early copy of this one!)

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoughue

She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard

Bone Crier’s Dawn by Kathryn Purdie

Tigers, Not Daughter by Samantha Mabry (paperback)

Seven Endless Forests by April Genevieve Tucholke

Down World by Rebecca Phelps

Prom Theory by Ann LaBar

A Time of Fear: America in the Era of Red Scares and Cold Wa r by Albert Marrin

On Book Riot This Week

Hannah writes about the dearth of YA lit in translation and not seeing American experiences reflected in YA from abroad.

YA books about beauty pageants beyond Dumplin‘!

This week we celebrated Trans Day of Visibility with five new YA books starring trans teens you should have on your radar.

Thanks for hanging out! I’ll be back this weekend with some great YA book deals!

Tirzah Price

Find me on Book Riot and Instagram!

Thanks to Wattpad Books, publisher of Down World for making this newsletter possible!

What's Up in YA

YA Stands Up for AAPI

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date March 29, 2021

Sponsored by You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves by Diana Whitney, published by Workman

You Don’t Have to Be Everything is filled with works by a wide range of poets who are honest, unafraid, and skilled at addressing the complex feelings of coming-of-age: loneliness, joy, longing, solace, and humor. These poems offer a message of self-acceptance that gives people permission to let go of perfectionism. The cast of 68 poets is extraordinary: Amanda Gorman, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Acevedo, Naomi Shihab Nye, Mary Oliver; poets of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, poets who sing of human experience free from conventional ideas of femininity. This book is for anyone on the path to becoming themselves.

Hi, YA readers!

Tirzah Price here, and I’m taking over for Kelly temporarily while she’s on maternity leave! I’m really excited to be in your inboxes, shouting about my one true love, aka YA books! I hope we’ll have a lot of fun together!

This past week on Instagram you might have noticed the hashtag #StandUpForAAPI, which was started by Bookstagrammer Michelle Jocson and author Suzanne Park. It’s a campaign that aims to elevate AAPI voices and books, and encourages people to take action to combat racism, particularly towards Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals in the wake of the Atlanta shooting. Bookstagrammers and authors alike shared books, links, calls to action, and their stories. Definitely hop over to Instagram and peruse the hashtag if you want to learn more, but I thought I’d also take a moment to highlight some YA books by AAPI authors that I love and recommend.

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

This is one of my favorite reads of the year, and it’s about two Korean-American sisters named Jayne and June who barely talk, despite the fact that they both left their small Texas town for NYC as soon as they graduated from high school. Now Jayne is in college and barely getting by and June is a hedge fund manager on Wall Street. When June faces a health crisis, she turns to Jayne, and the sisters have to confront their past in order to move forward.

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

June Hur is actually Canadian Korean, but don’t sleep on this book! It’s a brilliant historical novel set in Joseon in 1800, and stars Seol, an indentured servant to the police bureau. When she’s called to a crime scene where the victim is a murdered noblewoman, she’s drawn into a mystery that could have serious ramifications on her own life. I loved this story set in a time and place that I’ve not read much about, and I am eagerly anticipating Hur’s next book, The Forest of Stolen Girls!

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Speaking of great historical fiction! I loved this novel about Lily, a queer teen growing up in 1950’s San Francisco. She lives in Chinatown and doesn’t yet have the words to explain how she knows she’s different, but when she and a classmate sneak out to the Telegraph Club, they discover a community of queer women who change their lives. Bonus: Malinda Lo writes in so many genres! I loved her fantasy debut Ash, and her mystery/thriller A Line in the Dark as well!

It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Suguira

Misa Suguira’s debut has a place in my heart. It’s about Sana, a Japanese American teen who is uprooted from Wisconsin to California for her dad’s job. In California, she has friends who are also Asian for the first time, and a new crush on a girl who just might like her back. But she also is keeping a big secret: She knows her dad is cheating on her mom. This is a beautiful coming of age story about identity, relationships, and love. I am also desperate to get my hands on her new book, Love & Other Natural Disasters, which is out in June.

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

Aisha Saeed’s debut YA novel is about Naila, a Pakistani American teen who has grown up knowing that her conservative parents plan on arranging her marriage. When they learn that she’s been dating Saif in secret, they whisk her away to Pakistan for a family trip…and then Naila learns that they’ve found someone for her to marry right away. The trip turns harrowing as Naila must find a way home. Bonus: If you want something a little lighter, pick up Yes, No, Maybe So by Aisha Saeed and Becky Albertalli.

This is by no means a complete or even comprehensive list–just some books that I loved! I also visited a bookstore for the first time in months last week (masked up and socially distant!), and I picked up A Pho Love Story by Loan Le and A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen, which I can’t wait to read. If you can’t afford to make an book purchases right now, may I suggest requesting some new AAPI YA books from the library, or checking out some titles that are on the shelves?

And if you need more suggestions, check out 18 Great 2021 YA Books by AAPI Authors To Look For!

Thanks for hanging out!
Tirzah Price

Thanks to You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves by Diana Whitney, published by Workman for making today’s newsletter possible!