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PREMIUM
The Coven Tendency
A surreal fantasy like this will do well in collections for teens who enjoy reading about serious themes in magical settings.
Emezi’s latest novel will help readers see beauty in the void. Fans of their work or Nnedi Okorafor’s “Nsibidi Script” series will doubtlessly gravitate to this one.
A testament to how folklore, craftsmanship, and visual elements can come together to create an unforgettable reading experience.
PREMIUM
How to Tell a True Story
Engaging characters convey kindness, loyalty, and the price of honesty in this relatable portrayal of school and family life suitable for intermediate and middle school readers.
PREMIUM
The Summer I Ate the Rich
What starts off as a strong commentary about immigration, socioeconomic status, and healthcare in the U.S. falls flat by the conclusion.
Highly recommended, especially for those who grew up in a less-than-magical world.
PREMIUM
Messy Perfect
Cassie’s eventual confrontation with the various parts of her life and the impact of her decisions make this book the perfect addition to any well-rounded YA collection.
Completely charming and pithy, with laughs galore, this romance should be in all middle school and high school collections.
PREMIUM
The Notorious Virtues
For fans of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen, Hamilton offers a thrilling fantasy that takes a critical look at the corrupting influence of power and the fight for a more equitable society.
PREMIUM
Night Swimming
Between the slow pacing and heavy 1990s references, this one will need to be hand sold to teens.
PREMIUM
Under the Fading Sky
A cautionary tale wrapped in a vivid slice of contemporary life, recommended for high school collections.
PREMIUM
If We Were a Movie
A breezy summer romance that celebrates friendship, forgiveness, and Black cinema.
PREMIUM
Where Shadows Meet
This YA fantasy has it all: a well-developed mythos, engaging emotional journeys, and captivating romance.
A mesmerizing ode to poetry, art, and love that stands the test of time, Selznick’s first title for young adults is recommended for all collections.
PREMIUM
I Love You S’more
Full of heart and a depth of understanding of young girls battling the forces of hormones, responsibilities, and social media, this is a must-read for fans of YA romance and queer romance.
A stellar debut about ignorance and privilege and the abuse of it that resonates beyond the final page.
Recommended for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stranger Things, and Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s The Inheritance Games who relish conspiracy theories, weird phenomena, slow-burn romances, and tearful family reunions.
For avid YA romance readers or casual readers with an interest in LGBTQIA+ experiences, this book provides a heartwarming and relatable overview of a teenager’s life.
A tour de force trilogy for all collections. This final installment of the “Little Thieves” trilogy makes every page count as Vanja’s character arc comes to a close, grappling with forgiveness and restitution.
PREMIUM
All the Stars Align
A good purchase for libraries looking for more romance with physical disability and queer rep.
A profoundly beautiful, strange, and introspective love story, at turns soothing and scalding. Recommended for every collection.Bayerl, Katie. What Comes After. 416p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. Apr. 2025. Tr $21.99. ISBN 9780399545283. Gr 9 Up–Waking up dead is shocking enough, but this version of the afterlife—with its forced positivity, kale chips, and yoga—proves to be even more unsettling. All Mari, 16, wants is to make peace with her mother (who is also in purgatory), move on, and reunite with her beloved grandparents. If she could remember how she died that would be great, too, but something sinister is lurking beneath the surface of Paradise Gates. Souls are disappearing, mysterious agencies are scheming, and then there’s Jethro
A book that gets readers in its clutches and refuses to let them go; many will want to consume it in one sitting.
A roundup of graphic novels by and about transgender and nonbinary people.
What looks like a cute, illustrated graphic novel about two girls falling in love in bright, vivid color, is also a deep narrative about unfair labor practices, the place of women in society and work, and the power of queer love.
I usually talk about fiction in these Take Five lists, but there's plenty of great nonfiction out there too as well as plenty of readers who really prefer to read nonfiction.
Teen librarian Karen Jensen discusses toxic masculinity in Adolescence on Netflix
A chance meeting between a police officer and a blind heiress is told in beautiful noir fashion in this manga.
For Jewish children, the Passover seder offers a portal to that world of greater meaning, but it’s one that’s often hard to access. In my new graphic novel One Little Goat, my goal is to open that door.
Pearl's story is one of deep sadness, yes, but more importantly, it's one of great hope. How wonderful that today's young readers get stories like this. An essential and fantastic read.
Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, a grassroots youth advocacy organization, called a press conference with state legislators and the president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers to respond to President Trump's executive order and changes impacting the Department of Education and public school students across the country.
Post-It Note Reviews are a quick way to rope in readers, especially those who may not come ask for a recommendation but may read a tiny review and pick up the book.
Author Niña Mata discusses her newest book, GIRLS TO THE FRONT
My grandparents may be long gone, but with Isle of Ever, I can’t help but feel this new story is as much theirs as it is mine.
The judge ruled in favor of the ACLU of Colorado, which brought the lawsuit on behalf of two students in the Elizabeth School District; Texas bill that gives school boards authority over school library book selection passed the state senate; Oregon high school removed Flamer by Mike Curato after a student complaint.
A fun-loving outcast finds himself unexpectedly receiving the powers of the Orisha in this action-packed manga.
Teen Librarian Alison Pfaff shares two recent crafts that were popular with teens: a tin wallet and pressed flower bookmarks
These starred YA debuts released during the first three months of 2025 feature propulsive, thought-provoking plots from authors we’re sure to see more of in the future.
Author Barb Rosenstock talks about ghosts and hauntings and all things American Spirits
It’s that time my friends, Sunrise on the Reaping releases tomorrow. This Hunger Games title is highly anticipated, as many fans have hoped for a prequel with a young Haymitch Abernathy for a long time. While we wait to see exactly how that book unfurls, here are some great recommendations for your library teens who […]
Vampires face an interesting dilemma in immortality. Their bodies, generally, remain the same while their minds change and while the world changes. Context matters. What does it mean to be queer in 1960 vs. 2010 vs. 2025?
PREMIUM
A Traitorous Heart
A pathway into a complicated, fascinating moment in history through a queer feminist perspective.
With sweeping action, high stakes, and a shocking love triangle, this book has something for everyone with promises of more to come in the duology conclusion. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The Afterdark
As an intense story featuring older teens and young adults, this will do best in collections for mature teens where contemporary fantasy is popular.
PREMIUM
Say a Little Prayer
A unique look at reconciling religious values and personal beliefs, a purchase where LGBTQIA+ books are in demand
PREMIUM
Voice of the Ocean
A definite purchase for libraries where tales of high sea adventures, pirates, and enemies-to-lovers thrive.
This feel-good, queer coming-of-age story will circulate well in libraries with diverse young fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons fans.
This light in the darkness is an inspiring call to action and an essential addition to all collections.
From magic to murder, these YA novels set at boarding schools are full of secrets and page-turning plots to keep readers guessing.
Today's summer list from Penguin Young Readers centers LGBTQIA+ stories/characters and race/racism
Author Trang Thanh Tran joins us to talk about their new book THEY BLOOM AT NIGHT.
PREMIUM
Sunrise Nights
A swoon-worthy teen romance and a great listen for fans of books by David Levithan, John Green, and Rainbow Rowell.
A gritty and nuanced glimpse into the underbelly of poverty, addiction, and gun violence.
PREMIUM
The Wild Dark
Recommended for readers who enjoy the romantasy genre, a good heist, and similar titles by Leigh Bardugo, Libba Bray, or Stephanie Garber.
PREMIUM
Till Death
This novel bridges the gap between YA and new adult fiction, offering a powerful read of representation through genre-defying means.
In this much acclaimed manga, a fighter must battle fierce opponents and a life-threatening illness in his quest for revenge.
In The Peach Thief, my 13-year-old protagonist—a starving workhouse girl—poses as a boy in order to get a tenuous job scrubbing pots in the all-male world of an earl’s walled kitchen garden.
Even as we need to keep telling the painful truth of book bans, we also need to take extra care to celebrate and elevate the unique gifts that each book offers.
Science fiction is fun, curious, and adventurous. It bends the reality of our world and stretches our imaginations to explore all the “what ifs” floating within our universe.
This nuanced look at life with a mentally ill parent shows that change and hope are possible, but that one kid can't achieve those things on his own, nor should he have to.
Author Jenna Voris joins us to talk about her new book, Say a Little Prayer.
PREMIUM
In the Company of Killers
Cook delivers exactly what readers would expect from a mafia romance for the teen set complete with a jaw-dropping finale that fans will hope signals a sequel.
An essential purchase to explore grief associated with the pandemic; give to fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Elisabet Velasquez.
A strange and grisly tale of what we can survive to get closer to our truest selves, deeply infused with Vietnamese cultural concepts.
With its valuable depiction of relationships and anxiety, this is a good purchase for collections seeking more contemporary LGBTQIA+ books.
PREMIUM
I Am Made of Death
Fans of occult titles like Erica Waters’s Ghost Wood Song and Erin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows will enjoy this romantic horror.
A dark dystopian novel for readers craving something more mature than The Hunger Games. Perfect for high school collections.
PREMIUM
Maya in Multicolor
Anyone heading to college will enjoy this novel, and it’s a good fit for high school collections.
This coming-of-age story intertwined with women’s fight to vote creates a forceful story while chronicling parts of the suffrage movement often ignored. Strong general purchase.
PREMIUM
Nothing Bad Happens Here
With twists and turns and a touch of the supernatural, this mysterious teen beach read is a welcome addition to any high school library.
PREMIUM
Dear Manny
A startlingly effective snapshot of cis white male frustration and growth, this also succinctly examines the societal effects of political moves. For high school collections.
PREMIUM
When the Bones Sing
This is a remarkable story with a fresh take on supernatural mysteries; it’s a good choice for readers who enjoy the mystical and paranormal with just a hint of romance.
PREMIUM
Hangry Hearts
This will appeal to romance fans, especially those looking for more transgender representation in the genre and childhood friends-to-lovers stories, and readers who are interested in Asian culture and food.
A gut-wrenching and powerful kaleidoscope of a story; for fans of A.S. King, Ellen Hopkins, and Kathleen Glasgow.
PREMIUM
Divining the Leaves
A flawed but magical dream that will transport fans of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince and Sarah J. Maas. Recommended for any library with a strong fae fanbase.
PREMIUM
The Red Car to Hollywood
Recommended for collection gaps about the racism that Chinese Americans faced back in 1920s, and the different perspectives and approaches to assimilation between the first- and second-generation immigrants.
PREMIUM
Gradchanted
A secondary purchase where Disney lovers of the communication breakdown trope abound.
With its perfect blend of chronic illness representation, mental health exploration, and romance, this is sure to appeal to fans of books like John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars or Shannon Takaoka’s Everything I Thought I Knew; it’s a standout addition to the genre.
PREMIUM
How to Survive a Slasher
Highly recommended for high school readers and fans of horror. Fast-paced and thrilling, this novel will be a hit among those who devour slasher fiction and true crime. Expect it to fly off the shelves.
PREMIUM
While We’re Young
With a plot that has romance, humor, and complications, this book will especially appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Kasie West, and Katherine Center.
PREMIUM
Nightweaver
A watered-down romantasy for teens wanting to dip their toes without the suggestive content often found in the genre.
PREMIUM
All the Hidden Monsters
This fantastical detective mystery will circulate best in libraries with avid and forgiving fantasy readers.
Today’s guest post is by an Illinois youth services librarian known online as RAE, sharing her knowledge of queer YA coming out stories. Juliet Takes a Breath Latina Queer Lesbian Experience “Juliet Takes a Breath” is a coming-of-age teen book that digs into the curtails of a Puerto Rican college student from the Bronx, as […]
PREMIUM
The Quince Project
A book perfect for readers who enjoy stories about coming of age and celebrating culture, this one will engage readers with humor and realistic themes, while leaving them with the realization that at times it’s ok to put one’s dreams first to find true happiness.
PREMIUM
The Queen’s Spade
This suspenseful tale about a historical figure who deserves attention is to be read with a grain of salt.
With their third YA novel, Garza Villa has established themself as a leading writer of Latine stories, LGBTQIA+ stories, and romances
This very loose reimagining of A Christmas Carol is a beautifully written crossover novel for older teens and college students.
PREMIUM
Better Must Come
Hall’s sophomore novel offers readers an introspective look at gang life in Jamaica from juxtaposed perspectives.
This light in the darkness is an inspiring call to action and an essential addition to all collections.
16 quick reviews of new and forthcoming books.
Tear This Down is a book that I hope will spark lively discussions about topics that are front-and-center in today’s news: women’s rights, voting rights, and social justice.
If someone wants to ask if I planned the significance of these objects, you can tell them yes: with plane flights and research and a lifetime of reading about boats and sand and magical balloons that make large distances small, I planned it all.
The creators of Hollow return with a new Washington Irving-inspired queer romance, The Woman in White.
This look at community, protest, art, and feminism is an excellent read that will leave readers cheering for Freya's determination to create change.
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