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Filled with plenty of action, this look at feelings, strengths, found family, and friendship is a satisfyingly creepy fantastical story full of heart.
What does it mean when a book like THEY THOUGHT THEY BURIED US is praised for “strong queer Puerto Rican/Latine representation”?
Two former outcasts find themselves helping each other navigate high school in this cute rom-com.
If you book talk this title, be prepared to have a hold list a mile long. Compulsively readable and creepy enough to satisfying even the most demanding of readers, this collection is a hit.
Library Girl took me back to the forgotten memories of my childhood and the Kalamazoo Public Library. It took me back to that time in childhood when you are let loose from your parents’ leash and begin to explore the world on your own.
These short story collections center diverse characters and stories in creepy, readable tales.
I know there are readers who are tired of love triangles, and I don’t blame them. But I’m also a firm believer that no trope is overdone until everyone has had an equal chance to play with it, especially authors from marginalized backgrounds.
Told in verse and full of references to books Kareem has read, this is a beautiful story of hope, empathy, confidence, and courage.
Check out these titles by queer and BIPOC authors that will satisfy young readers as we approach spooky season
A good read that's a bit demanding, a fact that certainly won't scare off the library kids like Essie who love to read.
How do we make the world safe for all of us to express our emotions? To begin with, we need to stick together as we cry and laugh our way through the world.
A fantastic fast-paced environmental mystery with wide appeal.
These days, writing and recommending books about tough subjects can feel risky…but there’s never been a time when it’s more necessary to offer readers greater depth and breadth of subjects and diversity of characters.
How GUAVA AND GRUDGES Pays Homage to the Golden Age of YA Romance, a guest post by author Alexis Castellanos
When I started working on my novel A Second Chance on Earth, I wanted to capture, in verse, the beauty and complexity of a Colombia that I love so intensely.
I’m thrilled to share the Team Canteen kids with this next generation of readers and hope the members of The Baby-Sitters Club would choose to sit with them in the mess hall.
Think of every awful disaster that could befall a middle schooler on picture day, and it happens to poor Andrew.
At around 200 pages, this standalone book doesn’t feel overwhelming and would be a good choice for reluctant readers and those who enjoy pop culture.
PREMIUM
Sweetest Darkness
The opening chapters are powerful enough to pull in reluctant readers, but later chapters require much more diligence. A secondary purchase for libraries in need of beefing up their horror/supernatural offerings.
PREMIUM
The Lies We Conjure
Despite some moments of heavy exposition, this blend of magical elements, family drama, and murder mystery wraps up neatly, providing a satisfying standalone read.
A priority purchase for fans of the first book and any collection with teens in search of their post–“Percy Jackson” obsession.
PREMIUM
The Ghost of You
This story is touching, heartbreaking, and poignant. A must for readers who enjoy complex emotional journeys.
PREMIUM
One Last Chance to Live
A moving portrayal of a teen confronting the world and himself. Recommended.
PREMIUM
This Fatal Kiss
This beautiful Slavic reimagining of “The Little Mermaid” will appeal to fans of fairy-tale retellings and queer romantasy adventures.
Equally heartbreaking and uplifting, this recommended book reminds readers that a forgotten past is irreplaceable, and the present is a gift.
PREMIUM
To the Bone
Hand this title to fans of Tracy Smith’s First Lady of Jamestown and Lauren Groff’s The Vaster Wilds. A general purchase for high school libraries.
PREMIUM
Signed Sealed Dead
Readers will find themselves drawn into the dark story of this small town. With only some violence and brief description of dead bodies, it would be acceptable for younger teen readers.
PREMIUM
They Thought They Buried Us
A modern take on horror for fans of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Jordan Peele films that falls short due to a lack of clarity.
PREMIUM
Us in Ruins
A fun romantic adventure with a bit of magical realism. Great for fans of the film The Mummy and novels like Holly Rose’s Until the Stars Fall.
PREMIUM
Aisle Nine
This book will delight readers with its dark comedy, but also provides enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. A perfect release for the upcoming spooky season.
PREMIUM
Old Wounds
Both a nuanced look at the complexities of being trans in our current landscape and a thoroughly enjoyable horror thriller, this book is sure to appeal to teens who love Jordan Peele films or Tiffany D. Jackson.
PREMIUM
Songlight
A dynamic dystopic fantasy for fans of Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes and Morgan Rhodes’s Falling Kingdoms, and those who enjoy books with multiple points of view.
PREMIUM
The Monstrous Kind
An interesting twist on Regency-era romances that is recommended for fans of YA Gothic romance authors such as Dana Schwartz and Erin A. Craig.
This story of a teen’s life with a single mom fighting addiction is often harsh and tense, but it remains honest, believable, and quite engaging.
This new series will offer fans of the “Twisted Tale” books a gentle transition into YA fiction.
PREMIUM
When Haru Was Here
Recommended for fans of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, WandaVision, or those who listen to Taylor Swift’s “Invisible String” on repeat. Collections low on books about grief would benefit from adding this to their shelves.
PREMIUM
Medici Heist
An additional purchase for collections looking to expand their historical collections.
PREMIUM
Come Out, Come Out
Recommended for those who are looking to see themselves in a book and readers who prefer minimal horror elements and a slower pace.
PREMIUM
Zombie Apocalypse Running Club
Hand to fans of Jonathan Maberry’s “Broken Lands” series, Jeff Hart’s Eat, Brains, Love, and Ash Parsons’s Girls Save the World In This One.
PREMIUM
A Family of Killers
Teens will appreciate the attention to detail and will relate to the inner turmoil that Warren feels about his direction in life. A recommended purchase.
PREMIUM
The Shadow Sister
Suspenseful, thoughtful, and gripping, the slow build to the truth creates a story that leaves readers wanting more. A great first purchase.
PREMIUM
Witty in Pink
This book has humor, romance, and a Regency setting that will appeal to both young adults and adult readers.
PREMIUM
Dance of the Starlit Sea
Pastel prose, cotton-candy imagery, and TikTok aesthetics are not enough to carry a book. A pass for most libraries.
PREMIUM
The House Where Death Lives
An inspired concept, somewhat successfully executed, but with some truly haunting tales. Purchase where anthologies circulate well.
An omnipresent icon, Swift has, with this latest album, offered up the term “poet” for mass consumption and contemplation.
This is the story of fifty-four authors, seven-hundred librarians, thirteen funny hats, and how (I hope) all of them come together to make book joy.
Postapocalyptic stories have a strange optimism because the worst has happened. We are with the survivors and the Earth is in fragile recovery.
This quiet look at identity and loneliness will appeal to readers who appreciate the brevity of the verse format and who like a character-driven story.
A powerful story that likely will provide many readers with their first look at residential schools. A good book to add to all collections.
I wish we utilized more ways to show young people this, to bring history out from the dusty marble, and I applaud the many innovative educators who work to connect the the dots between history and today’s lived experience.
Blue Beetle wraps a story about immigration and conflict in a superhero tale of a teenage boy whose superpowers come with a command to prepare the earth for incoming aliens.
Comfort media, at its core, tells its consumers that they’re not alone. All things end eventually, good and bad. But one thing that remains is the memories of those stories that stick with us early in life and provide comfort for years to come.
PREMIUM
Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies
A must-read for any YA audience, but especially those who savor romance laced with a bit of mystery and action. Readers who enjoyed Brittney Morris’s The Jump and Kayvion Lewis’s Thieves’ Gambit will appreciate this fast-paced, entertaining story.
A phenomenal occult thriller. Give this to fans of lesbian Wicca and they will be over the moon.
PREMIUM
Dead Girls Walking
This book will appeal to slasher readers who believe the more murder the better, but libraries without a strong horror readership are fine to pass.
PREMIUM
Helga
This book is relatable to any reader just trying to be accepted and learn their place in the world.
PREMIUM
The Other Ones
Put this book in the hands of fans of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper and Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera’s What If It’s Us and they will not be able to put it down.
PREMIUM
Mysterious Ways
YA readers who enjoy coming-of-age tales will find this a captivating and insightful read.
PREMIUM
One House Left
This book will appeal to readers seeking a creepy, compelling horror novel; it’s a suspenseful blend of thought-provoking and thrilling with a Final Destination flair. Recommended for fans of R. L. Stine, Vincent Tirado, and Kat Ellis.
We've got the scoop on Skybound Comet's upcoming YA graphic novel lineup: The conclusion of Tillie Walden's Clementine, a story about a kaiju-fighting family, and a graphic novel about pizza magic.
Teen librarian Cindy Shutts discusses turning her library into a teen playground for an after hours event
Giant robots, environmental crises, and mental health come together in this action-packed sci-fi manga with a serious undertone.
Monitor lizard Zeke navigates bullies, friendship, grief, and self-image in this series starter, out September 24, 2024.
Not only do short story collections empower kids to control how they read, but they also have much in common with the kinds of media today’s kids crave.
When Coach Feiler signed on to work as our high school library teaching assistant, he transformed the programming and the vibe.
It's not spelling that makes you intelligent—it's your ideas.
School librarians can be a vital resource, helping students and families research prospective schools, find financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and learn about possible future careers.
An earnest romance that strikes the perfect balance of hope and resilience while challenging readers to consider a world outside of their own. Purchase this title.
PREMIUM
Wide Awake Now
A thought-provoking political novel best suited for older YA collections. A recommended purchase.
PREMIUM
Dead Girls Talking
Enjoyable, but not a standout in the teen sleuth genre. A secondary purchase.
For fans of Emma Lord or Nicola Yoon, this hopeful romance that follows two teens through times of grief and joy will resonate with many readers.
I hope this book sheds some light on the strange and wonderful animals you might find in the darkest reaches of caves!
Full of drooling ghosts, new friends, and lots of heart, this middle grade debut has wide appeal and will be easy to recommend to readers.
Running a program with a teenager as the primary facilitator can be scary or stressful, I am a strong believer in youth-led programming, and there are myriad benefits to having a youth lead your library’s Dungeons and Dragons program
What if ghosts weren't scary at all? What if we as the audience, instead of being frightened by a ghostly tale, were left with a different feeling altogether?
A sensitive and powerful look at grief with the uplifting reminder that even with all the bad crowded in, there is still room for joy and happiness. Highly recommended.
For over 20 years, it has been my great joy to immerse myself in novels in verse. Middle grade novels in verse have had a long, continually developing history.
When I set out to write the Curious League of Detectives and Thieves, I wanted to write a story for my dyslexic twelve-year-old self. But for Tommy to have wanted to read it, the book would require a very specific list of demands.
The best partners, the best crushes, help us feel seen. The best books do, too. They remind us that we’re not alone. Everyone feels a little goofy. Everyone feels a little unsure.
PREMIUM
Playing for Keeps
A solid purchase for all teen collections, especially with sports-themed romance’s current popularity.
PREMIUM
Finally Fitz
This novel is perfect for young readers who are exploring their own identities, real or virtual, and for everyone who feels as if their unedited selves are a little too much.
PREMIUM
Hot Boy Summer
Great for teens who are coming to terms with their own identity, regardless of label.
PREMIUM
Spilled Ink
A promising story of the consequences of ignorance and hate that falls short of its great premise. A secondary purchase.
PREMIUM
Pangu’s Shadow
A solid mystery set in space that raises real issues about social equity, racial justice, and ableism.
PREMIUM
Till Human Voices Wake Us
This book will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction who appreciate mystery and suspense. Recommended for purchase in libraries where these genres are popular.
PREMIUM
Dear Wendy
A fun, a-spec rom-com steeped in the Wellesley College setting, perfect for fans of Kacen Callender or Mason Deaver.
PREMIUM
Sleep Like Death
Highly recommended for readers who enjoyed Bayron’s Cinderella Is Dead, this is a must for teen collections.
It’s never too late to piece yourself together, however slow it is to assemble your history and your identity. It’s never too late to embrace yourself, fragments and all. Every part makes up a whole, and makes you enough.
A well-written debut that's not to be missed.
Johnson is working towards becoming a modern day Agatha Christie for teen readers, and that's one of the highest compliments I can give.
Overall, an enlightening look at how understanding and celebrating gender diversity has been a long-held belief for many people and cultures throughout history.
I felt what it meant to have someone from an older generation extend her hand to someone of a younger generation: Come on in, out of the cold. Sit for a while, and get yourself warm.
In this Q&A series, SLJ poses five questions and a request for a book recommendation to a debut YA author. In the latest installment, Myah Hollis shares about Not About a Boy.
I think it’s important to inspire young girls to stick together, to stand up for one another, and to love each other even through the parts of life that are ugly.
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