Category: What’s Up in YA

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.

https://twitter.com/ellle_em/status/849785106747273216

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!

Hey YA Readers!

Let’s highlight a fun YA title trend for 2020 that I touched on briefly in a previous newsletter. “We” are doing a lot of things in the coming year; we’re also being a lot of things, as well.

The “we” as a title trend is one I kind of dig. It is inclusive and engaging, begging the reader to be part of whatever the thing or group is. (This is something I thought about a lot in titling my own anthology, Here We Are, as the “we” asks for being involved, rather than viewing whatever the thing is from afar).

WE are going to have a good time next year, if these titles are any indication. Because I’ve not read any of these — yet! — descriptions come from Amazon. This is likely not comprehensive, as maybe we will see more.

Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimura (March 3)

Sixteen-year-old figure skater Olivia Kennedy’s Olympic dreams have ended. She’s bitter, but enjoying life as a regular teenager instead of trying to live up to expectations of being the daughter of Olympians Michael Kennedy and Midori Nakashima…until Jonah Choi starts training at her family’s struggling rink.

Jonah’s driven, talented, going for the Olympics in speed skating, completely annoying… and totally gorgeous. Between teasing Jonah, helping her best friend try out for roller derby, figuring out life as a normal teen and keeping the family business running, Olivia’s got her hands full. But will rivalry bring her closer to Jonah, or drive them apart?

If We Were Us by K.L. Walther (June 1)

Everyone at the prestigious Bexley School believes that Sage Morgan and Charlie Carmichael are meant to be….that it’s just a matter of time until they realize that they are actually in love.

When Luke Morrissey shows up on the Bexley campus his presence immediately shakes things up. Charlie and Luke are drawn to each other the moment they meet, giving Sage the opportunity to steal away to spend time with Charlie’s twin brother, Nick.

But Charlie is afraid of what others will think if he accepts that he has much more than a friendship with Luke. And Sage fears that things with Nick are getting too serious too quickly. The duo will need to rely on each other and their lifelong friendship to figure things out with the boys they love.

The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (Feb 4)

Engagement season is in the air. Eighteen-year-old Princess Leonie “Leo” Kolburg, heir to a faded European spaceship, only has one thing on her mind: which lucky bachelor can save her family from financial ruin?

But when Leo’s childhood friend and first love Elliot returns as the captain of a successful whiskey ship, everything changes. Elliot was the one that got away, the boy Leo’s family deemed to be unsuitable for marriage. Now, he’s the biggest catch of the season and he seems determined to make Leo’s life miserable. But old habits die hard, and as Leo navigates the glittering balls of the Valg Season, she finds herself failing for her first love in a game of love, lies, and past regrets.

Together We Caught Fire by Eva B. Gibson (Feb 11)

What happens when the boy you want most becomes the one person you can’t have?

Lane Jamison’s life is turned upside down the week before her senior year when her father introduces her to his new fiancée: mother of Grey McIntyre, Lane’s secret, longtime crush. Now with Grey living in Lane’s house, there’s only a thin wall separating their rooms, making it harder and harder to deny their growing mutual attraction—an attraction made all the more forbidden by Grey’s long-term girlfriend Sadie Hall, who also happens to be Lane’s friend

Torn between her feelings for Grey and her friendship with Sadie—not to mention her desire to keep the peace at home—Lane befriends Sadie’s older brother, Connor, the black sheep of the strict, evangelical Hall family. Connor, a metal working artist who is all sharp edges, challenges Lane in ways no one else ever has. As the two become closer and start to open up about the traumas in their respective pasts, Lane begins to question her conviction that Connor is just a distraction.

Tensions come to a head after a tragic incident at a party, forcing Lane to untangle her feelings for both boys and face the truth of what—and who—she wants, in this gripping and stunningly romantic debut novel.

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey (March 3)

Keeping your magic a secret is hard. Being in love with your best friend is harder.

Alexis has always been able to rely on two things: her best friends, and the magic powers they all share. Their secret is what brought them together, and their love for each other is unshakeable—even when that love is complicated. Complicated by problems like jealousy, or insecurity, or lust. Or love.

That unshakeable, complicated love is one of the only things that doesn’t change on prom night.

When accidental magic goes sideways and a boy winds up dead, Alexis and her friends come together to try to right a terrible wrong. Their first attempt fails—and their second attempt fails even harder. Left with the remains of their failed spells and more consequences than anyone could have predicted, each of them must find a way to live with their part of the story.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee (June 9)

Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.

Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.

Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.

In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.

We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia (March 30)

Nandan’s got a plan to make his junior year perfect. He’s going to make sure all the parties are chill, he’s going to smooth things over with his ex, and he’s going to help his friend Dave get into the popular crowd—whether Dave wants to or not. The high school social scene might be complicated, but Nandan is sure he’s cracked the code.

Then, one night after a party, Dave and Nandan hook up, which was not part of the plan—especially because Nandan has never been into guys. Still, Dave’s cool, and Nandan’s willing to give it a shot, even if that means everyone starts to see him differently.

But while Dave takes to their new relationship with ease, Nandan’s completely out of his depth. And the more his anxiety grows about what his sexuality means for himself, his friends, and his social life, the more he wonders whether he can just take it all back. But is breaking up with the only person who’s ever really gotten him worth feeling “normal” again?

We Are The Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian (March 31)

Tomorrow, the Wildcat varsity field hockey squad will play the first game of their new season. But at tonight’s team sleepover, the girls are all about forging the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship necessary to win.

Everything hinges on the midnight initiation ceremony—a beloved tradition and the only facet of being a Wildcat that the girls control. Until now.

Coach—a handsome former college player revered and feared in equal measure—changes the plan and spins his team on a new adventure. One where they take a rival team’s mascot for a joyride, crash a party in their pajamas, break into the high school for the perfect picture.

But as the girls slip out of their comfort zone, so do some long-held secrets. And just how far they’re willing to go for their team takes them all—especially Coach—by surprise.

We Didn’t Ask For This by Adi Alsaid (April 7)

Central International School’s annual lock-in is legendary. Bonds are made. Contests are fought. Stories are forged that will be passed down from student to student for years to come.

This year’s lock-in begins normally enough. Then a group of students led by Marisa Cuevas stage an ecoprotest and chain themselves to the doors, vowing to keep everyone trapped inside until their list of demands is met.

Some students rally to their cause…but others are aggrieved to watch their own plans fall apart.

Amira has trained all year to compete in the school decathlon on her own terms. Peejay intended to honor his brother by throwing the greatest party CIS has ever seen. Kenji was looking forward to making a splash at his improv showcase. Omar wanted to spend a little time with the boy he’s been crushing on. Celeste, adrift in a new country, was hoping to connect with someone—anyone. And Marisa, once so certain of her goals, must now decide how far she’ll go to attain them.

Every year, lock-in night changes lives. This year, it might just change the world.

We Free The Stars by Hafsah Faizal (May 12)

Zafira is the Hunter, braving the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those who defy his autocratic father, the sultan. She must hide her identity. He mustn’t display compassion. But when both embark on a quest to uncover a lost magic artifact, Zafira and Nasir encounter an ancient evil long thought destroyed—and discover that the prize they seek may be even more dangerous than any of their enemies. In We Free the Stars, Zafira and Nasir must conquer the darkness around—and inside of—them.

We Were Promised Spotlights by Lindsay Sproul (March 24)

Taylor Garland’s good looks have earned her the admiration of everyone in her small town. She’s homecoming queen, the life of every party, and she’s on every boy’s most-wanted list.

People think Taylor is living the dream, and assume she’ll stay in town and have kids with the homecoming king–maybe even be a dental hygienist if she’s super ambitious. But Taylor is actually desperate to leave home, and she hates the smell of dentists’ offices. Also? She’s completely in love with her best friend, Susan.

Senior year is almost over, and everything seems perfect. Now Taylor just has to figure out how to throw it all away.

We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu (Fall 2020, no cover yet)

Sourcebooks Fire has bought Cole Nagamatsu’s debut, We Were Restless Things, a YA contemporary fantasy in the vein of Maggie Stiefvater and Neil Gaiman. When a boy drowns in the forest, miles away from any body of water, a group of friends attempts to unravel the truth behind his death, only to discover that the woods are awake and watching.

We Unleash The Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Meija (Feb 25)

In this nail-biting sequel to Tehlor Kay Mejia’s critically acclaimed fantasy novel We Set the Dark on Fire, La Voz operative Carmen is forced to choose between the girl she loves and the success of the rebellion she’s devoted her life to.

Being a part of the resistance group La Voz is an act of devotion and desperation. On the other side of Medio’s border wall, the oppressed class fights for freedom and liberty, sacrificing what little they have to become defenders of the cause.

Carmen Santos is one of La Voz’s best soldiers, taken in when she was an orphaned child and trained to be a cunning spy. She spent years undercover at the Medio School for Girls, but now, with her identity exposed and the island on the brink of civil war, Carmen returns to the only real home she’s ever known: La Voz’s headquarters. There she must reckon with her beloved leader, who is under the influence of an aggressive new recruit, and with the devastating news that her true love might be the target of an assassination plot. Will Carmen break with her community and save the girl who stole her heart—or fully embrace the ruthless rebel she was always meant to be?

We Used To Be Friends by Amy Spalding (January 7)

Told in dual timelines—half of the chapters moving forward in time and half moving backward—We Used to Be Friends explores the most traumatic breakup of all: that of childhood besties. At the start of their senior year in high school, James (a girl with a boy’s name) and Kat are inseparable, but by graduation, they’re no longer friends. James prepares to head off to college as she reflects on the dissolution of her friendship with Kat while, in alternating chapters, Kat thinks about being newly in love with her first girlfriend and having a future that feels wide open. Over the course of senior year, Kat wants nothing more than James to continue to be her steady rock, as James worries that everything she believes about love and her future is a lie when her high-school sweetheart parents announce they’re getting a divorce.

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

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