27 Exceptional YA Books | SLJ 2024 Stars So Far

It's been a great year for YA so far! These starred titles include everything from contemporary coming-of-age stories to high-stakes fantasy to diverse romances, and more.

AHMED, Samira. This Book Won’t Burn. Little, Brown.
Gr 10 Up–Ripped from the headlines, Ahmed’s latest novel frames the fight against book banning as a hopeful endeavor in active civic engagement. A wide audience would benefit from reading it.

CALLEN, Rocky. Crashing into You. Holt.
Gr 10 Up–This novel should hold an important place in teen libraries.

CHEE, Traci. Kindling. HarperCollins.
Gr 10 Up–A heartrending, must-read fantasy about youth searching for home and learning to survive a world not designed for them.

COLE, Olivia A. Ariel Crashes a Train. Random/Labyrinth Road.
Gr 9 Up–This deeply compassionate and sharp-edged dive into OCD is a must for all collections.

GOMERA-TAVAREZ, Camille. The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat. Levine Querido.
Gr 9 Up–This magical realism novel is filled with vivid details, wit, relatable characters, and pride in Latinx culture. A perfect addition to any teen collection.

HAMMONDS, Jas. Thirsty. Roaring Brook.
Gr 10 Up–A profound must-read about facing ugly truths and starting to heal. Recommended for any library serving older teens.

IXTA, Carolina. Shut Up, This Is Serious. HarperCollins/Quill Tree.
Gr 9 Up–Readers will be inspired by the main character’s path to healing but not before this coming-of-age story of two Latina girls makes them ugly cry.

JAHREN, Hope. Adventures of Mary Jane. Delacorte.
Gr 7 Up–This imaginative retelling of the story of Huck Finn’s red-headed sweetheart is a rollicking adventure full of rich characterizations that will be enjoyed by readers regardless of whether they have read the book that inspired it.

KHORRAM, Adib. The Breakup Lists. Dial.
Gr 10 Up–A heartwarming romance where creating authentic connections takes center stage.

KÖLSCH, Freddie. Now, Conjurers. Union Square & Co.
Gr 10 Up–This novel succeeds in weaving an original tale of teens facing down insurmountable odds to fight evil and avenge their fallen friend. A first purchase for YA collections.

LE, Vanessa. The Last Bloodcarver. Roaring Brook.
Gr 7 Up–An unequivocal first purchase that will resonate especially deeply with immigrant and diasporic teens struggling to see themselves in media.

LEE, Stacey. Kill Her Twice. Putnam.
Gr 9 Up–Whether teens enjoy mysteries, historical fiction, or both, this is one to get into their hands.

LITTLE BADGER, Darcie. Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe. illus. by Rovina Cai. Levine Querido.
Gr 8 Up–A wonderful addition to the Elatsoeuniverse with vital representation, worthy of any YA collection. Highly recommended.

LUCIER, Makiia. Dragonfruit. HarperCollins/Clarion.
Gr 7 Up–A deeply satisfying stand-alone readers will race through, and a rare Pacific Island–inspired fantasy that belongs in all YA collections.

MCCAULEY, Kyrie. Bad Graces. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen.
Gr 9 Up–A modern, twisted dark fairy tale, perfect for fans of Krystal Sutherland and established fans of McCauley.

MOLDAVSKY, Goldy. Just Say Yes. Holt.
Gr 8 Up–A great romance with characters who have relatable anxieties and fears. A first purchase for any library serving teens, but especially where there might be a need for a lighter companion to The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

NICHOLLS, Sally. Yours from the Tower. Candlewick/Walker.
Gr 7 Up–A delightful, addictive epistolary tale of female friendship and romance.

NOVOA, Gabe Cole. Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix. Feiwel & Friends.
Gr 8 Up–Brimming with wit and chemistry, this queer revision of a much-beloved source text is nothing short of masterful.

OH, Axie. ASAP. HarperTeen.
Gr 8 Up–A vibrant and dynamic story, this first purchase focuses on women and girls supporting one another in the male-dominated K-pop industry.

SCHWARTZ, Leanne. To a Darker Shore. Page Street.
Gr 9 Up–A phenomenal work, weaving together elements of fantasy, self-discovery, and the quest for identity, making it a compelling read for teens grappling with their identity.

SUTHERLAND, Krystal. The Invocations. Penguin/ Nancy Paulsen.
Gr 9 Up–Hand this beautifully written, dark, twisty occult novel to mature readers who like a little LGBTQIA+ romance with their witchcraft and necromancy.

TAN, June CL. Darker by Four. HarperTeen.
Gr 8 Up–A book that deserves both its own anime adaptation and a spot on the shelves of any library with fantasy-loving teens.

THIRU, Dinesh. Into the Sunken City. HarperTeen.
Gr 9 Up–Addictively pulse-pounding deep-sea future fiction, this is highly recommended as a first purchase for all collections.

UNDERHILL, Edward. This Day Changes Everything. Wednesday Bks.
Gr 8 Up–A wonderful teen rom-com adventure reminiscent of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s “Dash & Lily” series and Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

VAN NAME, Sarah. These Bodies Between Us. Delacorte.
Gr 9 Up–A beautiful and sometimes haunting narrative that will appeal to readers of realistic and fantasy fiction.

WESTON, Kate. Diary of a Confused Feminist. S. & S.
Gr 9 Up–A first buy for dealing with topics often seen as taboo, from periods to mental health, in an honest and engaging story that leaves room for sequels.

WILLIAMS, LaDarrion. Blood at the Root. Random/Labyrinth Road.
Gr 10 Up–A novel long overdue. Highly recommended for teen collections, particularly for readers wanting stories centering Black characters and experiences.

 


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