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I’ll always be a Jo, but I’m trying to be a little more like Beth March.
A war orphan must save a kingdom and avenge his best friend in this war epic.
A perfect introduction to this popular and fast-growing sport, with a particular focus on girls, recommended for middle and high school collections.
PREMIUM
Roar of the Lambs
Despite some technical flaws, Shea’s (I Feed Her to the Beast) fantasy adventure offers a compelling exploration of temptation, power, and friendship. It will be at home in any teen audio collection.
PREMIUM
Out of Air
An exciting blend of treasure-hunting deep-sea adventure and science fiction thriller that will leave readers breathless. Perfect for fans of Courtney Gould.
PREMIUM
The Grove
Phillips’s sad yet hopeful debut is suitable for young adult audiobook collections that feature historical and realistic fiction. Immersive and thoughtful, this is recommended for listeners seeking a haunting coming-of-age story with a strong sense of place.
Enhanced with audio narration that perfectly conveys the characters’ emotional arcs, Min’s (Beating Heart Baby) sophomore novel is a valuable addition to any young adult audio collection.
PREMIUM
Burn the Kingdom Down
Seasoned fantasy readers will find this underwhelming, but those simply looking to escape into a different world may still enjoy the experience. A secondary purchase.
PREMIUM
A Song in the Dark
A great recommendation for readers who enjoyed Ginny Myers Sain’s When the Bones Sing, realistic portrayals of grief, and paranormal mysteries.
Hand this to mature readers interested in gothic horror and who will be satisfied with an ending that doesn’t reveal all of its magical secrets.
A delightful and spooky read, especially for those who are into Wednesday on Netflix. This unputdownable book is highly recommended.
PREMIUM
When It’s Your Turn for Midnight
A brief, beautiful Zimbabwean novel about war and family, recommended for collections where literary YA fiction is in demand.
A must-have for teen libraries’ science fiction/dystopian fiction sections.
PREMIUM
The Gravewood
Addictive, atmospheric, and brimming with dark romance, this will leave readers craving more. Perfect for fans of Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn and The Vampire Diaries TV show.
PREMIUM
They Want Us Dead
Complete with a diverse cast of characters and a slow-burn romance, it will enthrall teens everywhere. A recommended purchase.
PREMIUM
Flirting with Murder
A cozy mystery that readers will delight in and devour, with all the vibes of Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Dial A for Aunties and Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club that teens could want.
Humor, heart, diversity, and pride abound in this vibrant, affirming tale. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Deathly Fates
Nonstop action will keep readers, especially those who enjoy episodic monster-of-the-week adventures, turning the pages.
PREMIUM
The Beast You Let In
Perfect for fans of YA supernatural horror. Recommended for public library YA and high school libraries.
PREMIUM
The Unruly Heart of Miss Darcy
A thoughtful and enticing romance, perfect for anyone searching for tales of hidden longing and true love.
2026 is just around the corner and with that comes a whole bunch of books I can't wait to read.
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen shares how watching The Great British Sewing Bee sparked an idea for a Sashiko themed program
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen reviews the mystery thriller GIRLS WHO PLAY DEAD by Joelle Wellington
The former librarian shares how her first job at her former high school changed the trajectory of her writing career.
Without effort, our culture will inevitably dissipate over generations. It takes intention to keep the stove on. To keep the recipes alive. To talk to our parents and grandparents to learn what we can, and pass it down to the generations that follow.
The best storytellers I know put their emotions on the page or screen and don't seem to make a distinction between children and adults.
This is everything a reader could ask for in a horror romance. A definite purchase for all collections.
PREMIUM
Dream by the Shadows
This first in “The Shadow Weavers Duology” from debut author Karlie offers an initial glimpse into what could be an intriguing fantasy world and will appeal to devoted fans of YA romantasy.
PREMIUM
We’ve Hit Turbulence
A wholesome and sweet YA romance for readers who enjoyed Stephanie Perkins’s Anna and the French Kiss or Morgan Matson’s Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour.
A must-have for libraries with an active Shadowhunter readership.
PREMIUM
I, in the Shadows
Hand this to readers who enjoy horror novels featuring philosophical questions on grief.
An excellent addition to Spanish-language collections for middle school and high school readers.
PREMIUM
Querido Justyce
An excellent choice for Spanish-language YA collections that will be just as popular as Querido Martin and Stone’s other books.
PREMIUM
Santuario
Purchase this relevant and timely dystopian YA novel for Spanish-language collections.
The genre helped me rewrite the narrative of my own story. I was not a victim of the world around me, but girl who could save herself.
In the kitchen, you’re a team. You have each other’s backs. No matter what happens, keep going. Knives out. Flames blazing. You are a band of wild pirates.
The Young Adult Library Services Association announced the finalists for the Morris Award for a YA title by a previously unpublished author and the Excellence in Nonfiction Award for YA nonfiction books for ages 12 to 18.
I’d like to think that history is not a moral judgment on the contemporary individual but a record of human choices and their consequences. As such, it is a guide. History shows us how to make different choices, how to recognize old patterns appearing in new guises.
When I started researching this book, I came across countless other invisible women, scientists whose achievements and contributions were overlooked, ignored, trivialized, or cannibalized by their male peers.
In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. Jessica Walker discusses The Secret Astronomers in this latest installment.
Storytelling helps teens reflect, translate their inner world into language, and hear themselves with clarity.
An engaging rendition of this must-have YA response to Casey McQuiston’s popular Red, White & Royal Blue.
A moving, page-turning portrait that will resonate with readers familiar with Plath’s battles with mental health. A sound addition to school libraries.
PREMIUM
The Fall of Iris Henley
A good addition to a teen or school library’s thriller collection, this can be handed to readers who like Joelle Charbonneau’s Need and Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra’s The Rumor Game.
A compelling look at an oft-forgotten era of queer history that will appeal to teens who crave descriptive historical fiction.
PREMIUM
The Boyfriend Launcher
A sweet introduction to the romance genre, ideal for readers who crave a happy ending.
PREMIUM
The Sun and the Starmaker
Readers looking for a stand-alone fantasy will find themselves immersed in an imaginative fairy tale of magic and romance.
PREMIUM
Until the Clock Strikes Midnight
An enchanting, magical twist on a classic fairy tale that deals with real-world issues in a fantasy setting, this is an excellent addition to shelves for lovers of cozy fantasy and diverse storytelling.
With its charming supernatural relationship in a fantasy academia setting, blended with humor, and the adventure and intensity of end-of-the-world stakes, this will appeal to fans of Harry Potter.
With complex yet relatable characters and an engaging plot, this is a fantastic edition to any young adult shelf, especially in libraries with avid fantasy readers.
PREMIUM
Paradise Coast
Perfect as either a beach read or stormy night mystery, this is a hit that will roll right off shelves.
This entertaining modern-day fairy tale reinvention will appeal to fans of cosplay and all things “nerd” related.
Give this to fans of Marcus Sedgwick, Margaret Atwood’s “MaddAddam” trilogy, and The Last of Us television show and video game.
PREMIUM
The Light That Blinds Us
Good for readers who like Percy Jackson or fast-paced, action-packed fantasies.
PREMIUM
The Spiral Key
A great addition to the YA thrillers lineup, especially for school and public libraries.
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen reviews the audiobook version of THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Kate Emery
The story of Raymond Santana of the Exonerated Five is explored in this gripping graphic memoir.
A queer Romeo and Juliet, a memoir from a member of the Exonerated Five, pretend magic, and more!
PREMIUM
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus
An excellent and sometimes bittersweet conclusion to a sweeping story filled with romance, drama, and adventure.
Lullabies for the Insomniacs strings together the countless lonely sleepless nights I spent as a teenager, stranded in the turbulence of my mind and emotions.
Lullabies for the Insomniacs strings together the countless lonely sleepless nights I spent as a teenager, stranded in the turbulence of my mind and emotions.
Hopefully, we will choose to learn and grow from the mistakes we make in digital spaces . . . and to be kinder people in the future.
Readers deserve a chance to discover as many different stories as possible.
PREMIUM
If All the Stars Go Dark
Both romance and science fiction readers will keep this book circulating.
PREMIUM
Julia and Romano
A book that would fit in with older collections but will feel out of place when stacked against other new and trending young adult novels.
PREMIUM
Tidespeaker
While it has an intriguing premise, problems with worldbuilding and character development often made this book difficult to read. An additional purchase where fantasy series involving magic are popular.
A modern take on a classic that will keep high school readers intrigued.
PREMIUM
Moonsick
While the pandemic theme may interest some readers, there are plenty of better quality teen novels featuring werewolves.
PREMIUM
Carnival Fantastico
Reminiscent of the dark whimsy and romance of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, but for a younger audience, Montoya’s playful prose and lush world makes this a spellbinding experience.
PREMIUM
It Lurks in the Night
An excellent choice for readers of vampire myths and folklore looking for a creative and new take that centers Black Caribbean teen girls.
PREMIUM
Morbid Curiosities
An additional purchase where academic or science-themed fantasies circulate well.
A transgender teen struggles with a self-portrait assignment in this introspective and meditative look at gender and identity originally published in the Netherlands.
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen reviews the new horror novel FINAL CUT by Olivia Worley
The author of the YA novel Not Today, Satan shares how a library story time with a favorite childhood author led to a book about the devil's daughter.
I wanted to bottle up all that magic from the past month by writing a book that might inspire other girls like me, while also channeling the fun and romance I’d experienced. And that was how my debut novel, You Had Me at Hello World, was born.
Teen Librarian Karen Jensen talks about graphic medicine, a concept developed by librarian Matthew Noe that discusses using comics and graphic novels to talk about health and medicine
Whether they are returning home or going somewhere new for the holiday break, the promise of a magical Christmas romance awaits these teens.
PREMIUM
What We Did to Survive
Teens will easily devour this page-turner. Give it to fans of Mindy McGinnis, April Henry, and Sarah Beth Durst’s The Lake House.
PREMIUM
The Darkness Greeted Her
A chilling premise and strong character work weighed down by repetitive execution, this is a general purchase.
PREMIUM
Love Me Tomorrow
A fun read with a time-traveling twist for fans of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
PREMIUM
Stolen Midnights
While this passion-filled romance and intriguing mystery falls short in immersing readers into magical world, its blend of romance, magic, and secrets will likely captivate those who enjoy character-driven YA fantasy with an element of forbidden love.
PREMIUM
Gaslit
For fans of books like Tiffany D. Jackson’s Allegedly or E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, teens that like to wrestle with ethical questions while piecing together the parts of a twisty thriller will enjoy this.
PREMIUM
Love Goes Viral
A highly recommended and relevant addition to any YA collection, especially in a high school setting, due to its engaging romance and exploration of contemporary issues.
Stories about diverse teens dealing with all types of difficulties while having full, rich lives and romance are still rare finds. This, and all of Stoeve’s novels, will fill that empty space on shelves perfectly.
PREMIUM
Soul of a Gentleman Witch
Though overburdened with side plots and additional characters, this witchy LGBTQIA+ fantasy romance will appeal to fans of F.T. Lukens and Aiden Thomas. Recommended as an additional purchase.
A vivid, powerful fantasy brimming with dragons, betrayal, and destiny. A must-purchase for collections serving teens who enjoy Tomi Adeyemi, Sabaa Tahir, and Christopher Paolini.
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