★   ★   ★

ANCRUM, K.The Corruption of Hollis Brown. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063285835.
Gr 8 Up–Convinced he will be alone once his friends leave for college, Hollis gets more company than he could have imagined when a restless ghost named Walt hitches a ride in his body and unstoppable feelings develop despite separation looming. A wild and unforgettable story of small-town desperation with a creative premise and extremely believable characters.

BAYRON, Kalynn.Make Me a Monster. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781547615865.
Gr 9 Up–This Frankenstein retelling blends folklore with a modern twist, following Meka’s work as a mortician’s assistant. It’s a job which becomes more complicated when the dead don’t stay that way. Meka and her recently resurrected boyfriend are everything a Gothic romance could ask for, soft and supportive despite the ever-encroaching sense of fear as classic horror elements are perfectly executed.

BOULLEY,Angeline.Sisters in the Wind. Holt. ISBN 9781250328533.
Gr 9 Up–After Lucy’s father dies, she is placed in the foster care system but flees once she finds information that puts her life in danger. After an explosion at work, her caretakers reveal that her mother was Ojibwe and that she has a family. This strong stand-alone story of trust and betrayal is full of suspense and survival.

BROOKS, Nick.Up in Smoke. Holt. ISBN 9781250359933.
Gr 8 Up–Cooper thought he would just be a lookout as his friend looted a store during a riot. When gunshots ring out, and Cooper’s friend Jason is implicated, things become much more complicated. Cooper and Jason’s sister Monique must find the killer before Jason is found guilty. A high-stakes thriller with a touch of romance that focuses on the systemic injustices faced by Black people.

BROWNE, Mahogany L.A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. Crown. ISBN 9780593486474.
Gr 9 Up–Set during the height of COVID-19 in New York City, an interwoven collection of teens’ stories imparts the lasting impact of this time period. Grace and care fill this honest examination of the pandemic, highlighting the path many walked through grief, loss, and discovering hope.

CHEWINS, Hayley. I Am the Swarm. Viking. ISBN 9780593623862.
Gr 10 Up–The women in Nell’s family all receive a magical gift on their 15th birthdays. For Nell, her emotions manifest as insects. As her inner rage creates swarms of wasps, Nell must decide if she will repress the swarm or feel all the emotions swirling inside. A powerful novel in verse that encourages readers not to silence the storm inside.

COLLINS, Suzanne. Sunrise on the Reaping. Scholastic. ISBN 9781546171461.
Gr 7 Up–A young Haymitch becomes Katniss’s tragic foil as a tribute in the 50th Hunger Games, and readers confront how much of what they believed about his games was just Capitol propaganda. A masterwork of subverted expectations, this addition to canon rewards fans with familiar faces and answers to long-held questions.

DREWS, CG. Hazelthorn. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250376299.
Gr 8 Up–The rules that have strictly governed Evander’s life for as long as he can remember start to fade after his guardian’s grisly death; his only hope for survival in the botanical horror of an estate he has inherited may be the boy who once tried to kill him. A haunting, twisted, and wonderfully dark tale of self-discovery.

GONG, Chloe. Coldwire. S. & S./Margaret K. McElderry. ISBN 9781665960137.
Gr 9 Up–In a futuristic dystopia, most of the population escapes to the shiny “upcountry” virtual world from their “downcountry” existence. Lia and Eirale confront the dangers of a corporate-run reality while unraveling the same world-shattering mystery from different directions. A dynamic blend of propulsive action, romance, and red herrings that nevertheless grapples with vital sociopolitical themes.

JACKSON, Tiffany D. The Scammer. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. ISBN 9780063271272.
Gr 9 Up–Jordyn’s roomate’s charismatic brother Devonte captivates first her roommates and then many of the students at her HBCU. As Devonte’s demands on his followers grow more intense, Jordyn must find a way to save her roommates and stop his hold on them. A unique take on cult followings with Jackson’s signature style that will leave readers guessing until the last page.

KAUFMAN, Amie & Meagan Spooner. Lady’s Knight. HarperCollins/Storytide. ISBN 9780062893390.
Gr 8 Up–Lady Isobelle and Gwen come up with a plan: Gwen will pose as Sir Gawain in the Tournament of Dragonslayers. If “Sir Gawain” wins, Isobelle won’t have to marry the knight who’d like to claim her as a prize. But then the girls fall in love with each other in this sapphic rom-com filled with humor and adventure.

KELLY, Anita. Donut Summer. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. ISBN 9781335012890.
Gr 10 Up–Mateo’s over-the-top gregariousness is nothing but annoying to Penny, who is beyond aggravated at having to share her summer donut shop job with them, but corporate pressure, family struggles, and Penny’s mounting anxiety turn out to be problems for which Mateo provides a great balance. A big-hearted, inclusive take on mental health and the enemies-to-lovers trope.

LA SALA, Ryan. The Dead of Summer. Scholastic/PUSH. ISBN 9781546125877.
Gr 8 Up–Shortly after Ollie and his mom return home to Anchor’s Mercy, ME, a new illness begins to spread among the inhabitants after a tropical storm. Told in converging timelines through interview transcripts, drawings, and Ollie’s narration, this thriller combines witty, emotional characters and a packed plot.

LEE, C.B. Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250417336.
Gr 8 Up–Brenda’s carefully laid life plan is altered when she meets Kat in a coffeeshop—which turns out to be in another (magical) universe. The girls must figure out how their two worlds are connected so they can save Kat’s universe. Readers will love escaping into this fun, diverse, and cozy fantasy.

LEE, Susan. The Romance Rivalry. HarperCollins. ISBN 9781335012876.
Gr 10 Up–Rival romance book reviewers Irene and Aiden compete for a brand sponsorship while fake-dating their freshman year of college. Brilliantly executing an abundance of romance tropes, this upbeat competition tale tackles the intricacies of navigating social media amid a budding heartfelt romance.

MCBRIDE, Amber. The Leaving Room. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250908087.
Gr 9 Up–Gospel’s Leaving Room is a place of transition, where souls cross from this life to whatever comes next. Many things are mysterious even to Gospel herself, though, and as she untangles her circumstances, readers are swept along on an emotional and evocative journey in a smart and unforgettable novel in verse.

MCCULLOUGH, Joy. Everything Is Poison. Dutton. ISBN 9780593855874.
Gr 9 Up–Carmela Tofana begins an apprenticeship at her mother’s apothecary but soon discovers there’s more to the place than meets the eye. Interspersed with verse, this historical dive into the notorious Aqua Tofana shows the strength and resilience of those who fought for women’s autonomy in 17th-century Rome.

MEYER, Marissa. The House Saphir. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 9781250320957.
Gr 7 Up–A revamped “Bluebeard” in which handsomely mysterious Armand hires clairvoyant con artist Mallory to banish his ancestral murderous ghost. Fully rounded characters and mystical creatures embody atmospheric delights, witty banter, and calculated twists, filling a sublimely macabre tale.

OGLE, Rex. When We Ride. Norton. ISBN 9781324052821.
Gr 9 Up–How far are you willing to go for a friend you consider a brother? Diego has done everything to be the first in his family to go to college. Lawson deals drugs to support his mother and gain the lifestyle he wants to have. When Diego gets entangled in Lawson’s drug dealings, both boys face the consequences. An intense novel in verse that shows how toxic friendships can lead to tragic ends.

REID, Ava. Fable for the End of the World. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063211551.
Gr 10 Up–In a dystopian world, a livestreamed event called the Gauntlet pits people in debt against Angels, girls designed by the government to kill them. But Angel Melinoë and Inesa fall in love and try to survive together. This sapphic love story shows people in a bleak, controlled situation fighting together with hope.

SMITH,Sasha Peyton. The Rose Bargain. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063372528.
Gr 8 Up–In 1848 London, a fae queen rules England and offers her subjects their deepest desire—for a price. Ivy is aware of how fae bargains go wrong, but the competition for the crown prince’s hand could solve all her family’s problems. A fun and feminist romantasy, this is a sugar rush in book form.

SOTO, Julie. The Thrashers. Wednesday Bks. ISBN 9781250377173.
Gr 9 Up–An infamous group of friends is investigated after a girl is found dead on prom night; said girl might also be haunting them. A mystery-packed thriller driven by an unreliable narrator, this sustains brilliant twists and turns as the brutal truths are unveiled.

TAYLOR, Emily J. The Otherwhere Post. Putnam. ISBN 9780593404546.
Gr 9 Up–After living in hiding for years, Maeve is inspired by a mysterious letter to con her way into the Otherwhere Post. There she can learn the magical art of scriptomancy and attempt to clear her father’s name. A clever cast of well-developed characters support the unique magic system and worldbuilding, driving home the ever-escalating stakes as Maeve fights for justice and her place in the world.

VAN NESS, Jonathan & Julie Murphy. Let Them Stare. HarperCollins/Storytide. ISBN 9780063346246.
Gr 9 Up–When gender-nonconforming fashionista Sully loses an internship and then discovers an extremely rare vintage bag, trying to exorcise the bag’s poltergeist and selling it becomes top priority. Romance and excitement turn out to be much closer to home than Sully could have imagined. Charming and warmly hilarious.

ZOBOI, Ibi. (S)Kin. HarperCollins/Versify. ISBN 9780062888877.
Gr 7 Up–Marisol is a soucouyant: a fiery woman of Caribbean folklore who sheds her skin on the new moon to feast on souls. Genevieve does not know who her birth mother is but knows that there is something new brewing in her soul. When Marisol and Genevieve’s paths collide, familiar relationships and magic meet in this novel in verse. The rich, lyrical language drives an exciting story of magical realism that readers will not be able to put down.