A must-add to any YA collection.
Innocent camp high jinks, siblings who care deeply for each other, family loss, Latinx and Asian representation, and a sweet hopeful LGBTQIA+ love story
Full of beautiful prose and characters who laugh in the face of toxic masculinity, Miller’s debut has a lot of promise—especially in terms of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation
Share with readers who have exhausted all other fantasy-romance options. A secondary purchase for where this genre circulates well.
Colbert’s latest novel deserves a spot in teen and high school collections; hand to readers who enjoy family sagas and the ups and downs of fame.
Hand this dystopic-heist-romance in an alt-world China to fans of Marissa Meyer’s Cinder.
Heavy on vibes and atmosphere, this is ultimately an underdeveloped goth fantasy that may appeal to fans of Nicki Pau Preto’s Bonesmith.
Readers who appreciate stories dealing with the complexities of grief, such as We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, or the south Florida setting and Cuban influences of Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno, will enjoy this one.
A good scary read for those prepared for the mental health content.
A heartfelt lament for what America could be but chooses not to, this is a must-purchase for high school libraries. Recommended for fans of Ibi Zoboi and Amber McBride.
With an adventurous treasure hunt, a perilous mystery, and a character-driven romance set in a unique historical moment, this is Ibañez’s best work yet. Make space in all YA collections.
Bypass this one and stick to the works of authors Jenny Han and David Yoon.
This book will appeal to readers seeking a suspenseful teen slasher about secret societies and social climbing. Recommended for fans of Gretchen McNeil, Gemma Halliday, and Holly Jackson.
A magical, political standalone packed with Indian mythology that will please those who stick with it.
A witty, feel-good romance with the perfect blend of tension, banter, and heart. Highly recommended.
A recommended purchase for school libraries.
It’ll always be important to me to write stories that tell the truth: there is no should, there is no supposed to, and there are no rules to happiness.
Who doesn't need more graphic novels in their lives?!
Like Kevin McCallister and Mary Lennox, Josephine is transformed by challenges. I suppose we all are, but even so, there is sweetness in this life.
The rich depiction of all four girls and how each works to find the power of their interconnected magic, along with an attentive handling of sexual assault, make the novel an important one to add to any collection.
Give to fans of Lewis’s first novel or those looking for a different twist on time travel.
An important addition to teen library collections; hand to readers looking for inequality and social justice stories such as This is My America by Kim Johnson, The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed, and When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris.
Recommended for all collections serving teens, especially for fans of Daniel Nayeri’s Everything Sad Is Untrue, Adib Khorram’s Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Tahereh Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea, and Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X.
Readers will find engaging plots and unforgettable characters in these 25 Best YA novels of 2023. They span genre and setting, from a fantasy in alternate Tang dynasty China to a contemporary novel in modern-day NYC, but share common threads of teens coming of age and finding and embracing their truth.
Looking back, it seems ridiculous that I, an avid book lover and organiser extraordinaire, did not realise that being a librarian was the perfect job for me.
Four teenagers are called upon by the animal kingdom to hold off environmental catastrophe in this new YA fantasy tale by hip-hop artist Tem Blessed.
In my second verse novel, RUPTURED, thirteen-year-old Claire loves books and libraries.
There are a lot of lessons to learn from copycats.
A monstrously thrilling, deeply emotional, and mythologically rich fantasy about seizing your own power.
A fun read on the surface, but closer examination leaves gaping plot holes and a disconcerting romance.
A creepy and unsettling ghost story. Recommended.
A unique take on a classic horror tale, this brutal ballet story is gruesome and satisfying. A first purchase for high school libraries.
Recommended where Condie’s other titles circulate well.
An inspiring story about a teen developing the confidence to push back against the rigid expectations surrounding gender expression.
The weighty subject of antiracism—actively dismantling the systems of oppression that are based on race—is made more approachable through these titles.
Two grieving girls, one full of secrets and a strange power, learn to appreciate both life and death in this sapphic gothic romance.
In this hilarious manga, The Joker finds himself facing his biggest challenge yet: fatherhood.
I’ve talked to students about Syria, revolution, freedom, graffiti and what it feels like to grow up between two cultures. The students are curious and smart. And the more they know about all our communities, the more power they will have to one day tackle our world’s problems.
From as early as I can remember, I’ve been the Second Favorite Daughter in my family. It’s hard to explain to those who aren’t second favorite children, but if you are one, you definitely know it.
A really powerful read full of heart and (after many other emotions) hope. Don't miss this one.
Readers will root for Shireen not just to win the baking competition but also for her to grow and learn from her relationships and mistakes.
More of a reimagining than retelling, this falls tragically flat. Purchase only for collections where Creagh’s other titles are well loved.
An important book, highly recommended for high school and public libraries.
An enjoyable, heartwarming read. Through their strategic use of art-based references and terms, the authors paint a beautifully descriptive and vibrant world inhabited by endearing and relatable characters that readers cannot help but cheer for.
A suspenseful and satisfying thriller with plenty of heart and humor.
Cute romantic moments and Bengali culture save this novel. A good purchase for libraries where novels featuring Deshi characters and more romances are needed.
I found myself writing about characters, events, and experiences that I've never read in a novel or seen on a screen before.
I know it sounds trite, but it’s true.
With hope, you can be part of something.
Mysteries, hauntings, the occult—more than tests and textbooks await these teens at boarding school.
By using my difficult journey to structure my book, I hope it will help people recognize toxicity in their lives.
Timing plays such a pivotal role in so much of life, and that could not be more true than in the life of my new book, The Way I Am Now, a sequel that has been seven years (or maybe more) in the making.
DC announces the DC Compact Comics line to provide affordable, new-reader-friendly reprints of classic graphic novels.
The narrative you’re exposed to doesn’t have to dictate how you live your life. If you don’t like it, you can change it. If there’s something missing, fill in the gaps.
A must-read study of memory and emotion, filled with complex characters in an eerie setting.
A haunting dystopian amalgamation for the 21st century. Superlative, powerful, and timely.
Recommended for all libraries serving teens; this is one boyfriend they’ll want to borrow again and again.
Strongly recommended for YA collections.
Recommended for YA collections.
A teenage introvert looks to make friends though her music despite her social anxiety.
For many teens and their parents—OK, for nearly all of us—navigating the fear and ignorance around drugs to talk about our experiences with them can be excruciating. That’s part of the reason why I wrote my book Weed: Cannabis Culture in the Americas.
AI translations lack the beauty of Shakespeare’s verse in every sense. But they provide on-ramps to enjoy it.
An enjoyable and easy-to-read coming-of-age story set in the past but relevant to the present.
A perfectly paced mystery for teens who love thrills, wild secrets, and a clever, queer, take-charge heroine.
Recommended for larger collections, and for fans of Stephanie Hemphill’s Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials and Adriana Mather’s How to Hang a Witch.
Heavy on a classical interpretation of science fiction as well as clearly explained history that is rarely highlighted in Western media, this is a first pick for any library searching for a refreshing take on either genre.
A brutal, suspenseful, and surprising read with an unforgettable protagonist.
A recommended purchase for any high school library, this is a compelling choice for readers seeking a fast-paced escapade filled with intrigue and daring thefts and those who enjoyed Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s The Inheritance Games or Brittney Morris’s The Jump.
Recommend this book and series far and wide. Students who like steampunk, fashion, girl power, historical fiction, and light mystery will enjoy these well-written novels.
Purdue pulls from many original fairy tales to create this twisty yet enchanting romantasy. It will appeal to fans of the TV show Once Upon a Time and Meagan Spooner’s Hunted.
While the mystery’s resolution is a bit lackluster, Max’s captivating journey is one that teen patrons shouldn’t miss. Highly recommended.
A riches-to-rags story that celebrates the way people shine beneath the artifice of money.
An accessible, powerful portrayal of the importance of choice. A must-read.
A highly recommended first purchase for teen collections looking to expand their thriller/fiction and LGBTQIA+ titles.
Offer this book to readers who enjoy their fantasy mixed with a folklore twist, romance, and, of course, dogs.
Many readers will be drawn to this apocalyptic, debut horror tale.
An excellent read, and one that is unique in the young adult section.
The action and suspense are a good fit for fans of both horror and dark academia, though veterans of the genre may find parts of the story uninspiring. A solid choice for larger collections.
A lyrical story of greed, generational curses, forgiveness, and self-acceptance, this folkloric tale is a must-read.
Fans of Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End will find much to relate to in this emotional exploration of the end of the world.
I get excited whenever I see complicated intergenerational queer existence reflected in books for young people. I felt motivated to write my own.
Night and Dana isn’t a horror story. It’s a story about horror-obsessed teens learning, like I did, to process their trauma and express their anger in productive ways.
Full of heart and vulnerability, this look at friendship and healing is not to be missed. A solid read.
They are characters with struggles. Characters with strong emotions. Characters who are different than us in some way. And none of those things should make a character—or person—unlikable.
Satisfyingly dark vibes and a desire to see how it all plays out will propel readers through an uneven story that struggles to live up to its premise.
A unique and heart-pounding novel with an unexpected ending readers won’t soon forget, this is highly recommended for young adult collections.
A high-fantasy novel that will resonate with those seeking an escape that also mirrors the complex realities of colonization and war.
A thoroughly engrossing, poignant story of self-discovery with positive representation of intersectional identity.
With this novel, Brown reveals himself as an author to watch in the YA queer romance scene. Recommended first purchase for all collections.
You hold the power to tell the world exactly who you are.
The setting, the voice, and the characters all LEAP off the page. I just loved Josephine. She's a complicated kid, full of anger and resentment and love and hope.
A mystery built around a spelling bee? AND everyone involved has to stay all together in the same house for the week? I'M IN!
By integrating what I’ve learned in The Search For Us, I hope I will give teen readers some tools to better cope with a family member who may be struggling with addiction.
Find what you can do, not what you can’t. Make a change, no matter how small. Be an honorable example to others. Keep faith in the power of good.
A high school girl's chance encounter leads to a blossoming relationship in this cute manga
Ghosts, climate change, a tween medium, a dog nanny, and so much more!
My granddaddy loved me in his way and wanted to leave me his legacy. He thought that legacy would be a car. I hope the story I’ve turned that legacy into is one he’d be proud of.
A hopeful queer love story that is grounded by the complexities of the protagonists’ struggle to stay together. Recommended for purchase.
Readers eager to fantasize living in three continents will enjoy following Isabel in her global search for humans with superpowers.
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