YA

Ancrum, K. The Corruption of Hollis Brown. HarperCollins.
Gr 8 Up–A profoundly beautiful, strange, and introspective love story, at turns soothing and scalding. Recommended for every collection.

Atkins, Marcie Flinchum. One Step Forward. HarperCollins/Versify.
Gr 7 Up–This coming-of-age story intertwined with women’s fight to vote creates a forceful story while chronicling parts of the suffrage movement often ignored.

Bartlett, Jordan H. Queendom Come. CamCat.
Gr 9 Up–A satisfying conclusion to a trilogy that centers progress through equity alongside authentically drawn characters who will resonate with teen readers.

Bi, Selina Li. Sunlight Playing over a Mountain. Soho Teen.
Gr 9 Up–Highly recommended, especially for those who grew up in a less-than-magical world.

Bonnin, Elisa A. Lovely Dark and Deep. Feiwel & Friends.
Gr 6 Up–A strong entry point into dark academia fantasy, recommended for all libraries serving YA readers.

Brooks, Nick. Up in Smoke. Holt.
Gr 8 Up–Political urban grit meets classic whodunit cop show. Fabulous.

Browne, Mahogany L. A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. Crown.
Gr 9 Up–An essential purchase to explore grief associated with the pandemic; hand to fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Elisabet Velasquez.

Callender, Kacen. We Are Villains. Abrams/Amulet.
Gr 9 Up–This thrilling novel is a recommended first purchase for YA collections.

Coccia, Paul. Recommended Reading. Zando.
Gr 9 Up–Teens who love retellings of Emma will devour this story; it is full of smart banter and lovely romantic moments throughout.

Collins, Suzanne. Sunrise on the Reaping: A Hunger Games Novel. Scholastic.
Gr 7 Up– Required reading for fans of the original trilogy. A must-have in all collections.

Cun, Fei Wo Si. Goodbye, My Princess. tr. from Chinese by Tianshu. S. & S.
Gr 9 Up–A perfect read for libraries in need of historical fantasy adventure fiction, especially for readers interested in the hierarchy of ancient Chinese palace orders and power struggles.

Davis, DeAndra. All the Noise at Once. S. & S./Atheneum.
Gr 8 Up–A stellar debut about ignorance and privilege and the abuse of it that resonates beyond the final page.

Drake, Julia. Lovesick Falls. Little, Brown.
Gr 7 Up–An original and entertaining adaptation of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Teens looking for realism and humor in their queer romance will be hooked.

Egan, Leanne. Lover Birds. Scholastic/PUSH.
Gr 9 Up–Egan masterfully weaves issues that are current and relevant to teens into a Jane Austen–esque framework. A must have for YA collections.

Emezi, Akwaeke. Somadina. Knopf.
Gr 9 Up–Emezi’s latest novel will help readers see beauty in the void. Fans of their work or Nnedi Okorafor’s “Nsibidi Script” series will doubtlessly gravitate to this one.

England, M.K. Roll for Love. Hachette/Running Pr.
Gr 7 Up–This feel-good, queer coming-of-age story will circulate well in libraries with diverse young fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons fans.

Eulberg, Elizabeth. Take a Chance on Me. Scholastic.
Gr 9 Up–This romance will make readers want to travel to England, listen to British rock songs, and eat lots of chips. Hand this one to all romance readers.

Flake, Sharon G. The Family I’m In. Scholastic.
Gr 7 Up–A deeply moving portrayal of contemporary teens living complex lives with dignity and courage, this should find a home in any library serving middle and high schoolers.

Forman, Gayle. After Life. HarperCollins/ Quill Tree.
Gr 9 Up–Smartly told with fast-paced and suspenseful chapters, there is no question librarians would be pleased to add this novel to collections.

Ghosh, Mina Ikemoto. Hyo the Hellmaker. illus. by author. Scholastic.
Gr 9 Up–A testament to how folklore, craftsmanship, and visual elements can come together to create an unforgettable reading experience.

Gonzales, Sophie. Nobody in Particular. Wednesday Bks.
Gr 9 Up–Anything Gonzales writes should be an automatic purchase for librarians, including this story that bursts with hope and love rising above people intent on destroying it.

Hartman, Rachel. Among Ghosts. Random.
Gr 6 Up–An engrossing, thoughtful fantasy on the human condition—with dragons. A first purchase for all collections.

Heron, Farah. Meet Me on Love Street. S. & S.
Gr 7 Up–With its charming premise, lovable characters, and heartfelt themes, this book is a must-have for any romance collection.

Kelly, Erin Entrada & Kwame Mbalia. On Again, Awkward Again. Abrams/Amulet.
Gr 6-10–Completely charming and pithy, with laughs galore, this romance should be in all middle school and high school collections.

Khalilieh, Jackie. You Started It. Tundra.
Gr 9 Up–Highly recommended for libraries diversifying their YA romance collections with more stories that focus on managing identity, disability, and mental health anxieties in positive ways.

King, Adina. The House No One Sees. Feiwel & Friends.
Gr 8 Up–A gut-wrenching and powerful kaleidoscope of a story; for fans of A.S. King, Ellen Hopkins, and Kathleen Glasgow.

Le, Vanessa. His Mortal Demise. Roaring Brook.
Gr 7 Up–Fast-paced and full of lush details, this sharp and satisfying duology belongs in all teen collections.

Lee, Shannon & Fonda Lee. Breath of the Dragon: Breathmarked. Wednesday Bks.
Gr 7 Up–This straight shot of pure shonen manga energy is a priority purchase for libraries struggling to meet the needs of middle schoolers who are striving readers.

Lee, Susan. The Romance Rivalry. HarperCollins.
Gr 10 Up–A must-have flirtation-via-tropes tale with all the swooning and joy readers want in a love story.

Lessore, Nathanael. Dropping Beats. Little, Brown.
Gr 6 Up–Famous or not, the star of the story, 13-year-old aspiring rapper Shaun “Growls” Thompson, shines in this must-have for all YA collections.

Lewis, Jessica. Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love. HarperCollins.
Gr 9 Up–For avid YA romance readers or casual readers with an interest in LGBTQIA+ experiences, this book provides a heartwarming and relatable overview of a teenager’s life.

Liang, Ann. I Am Not Jessica Chen. HarperCollins.
Gr 9 Up–Hand this to students who never feel like what they do is enough, who just want to feel seen, and who long for that moment of fame and feeling perfect.

Ma, Diana. Force of Chaos. Abrams/Amulet.
Gr 7 Up–This dynamic series starter featuring the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers translates the iconic action of the long-running television series into an engrossing novel.

Maldonado, Crystal. Get Real, Chloe Torres. Holiday House.
Gr 9 Up–Like a sun-drenched memory, this book embodies the magic of girlhood fangirl summers, the sun warming your face, and your favorite pop song blasting as if the whole world is yours.

McCullough, Joy. Everything Is Poison. Dutton.
Gr 9 Up–McCullough has again found a real historical figure to breathe to life. An important and necessary purchase for all collections.

Miller, Keith F., Jr. Togetha. HarperCollins.
Gr 9 Up–With brisk pacing and a conversational writing style, the narrative comes across as both genuine and approachable.

Ogle, Rex. When We Ride. Norton.
Gr 9 Up–A gritty and nuanced glimpse into the underbelly of poverty, addiction, and gun violence.

Oppel, Kenneth. Best of All Worlds. Scholastic.
Gr 9 Up–A thought-provoking, uncomfortable thriller that readers won’t be able to forget. Highly recommended.

Owen, Margaret. Holy Terrors. Holt.
Gr 9 Up–This final installment of the tour de force “Little Thieves” trilogy makes every page count as Vanja’s character arc comes to a close, grappling with forgiveness and restitution.

Patel, Sajni. A Touch of Blood. Rick Riordan Presents.
Gr 10 Up–A slow start builds to a triumphant journey through hell and back while setting the stage for Sithara’s story and the final act in the Fire Wars.

Pérez, Ashley Hope, ed. Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers’ Rights. illus. by Debbie Fong. Holiday House.
Gr 8 Up–This light in the darkness is an inspiring call to action and an essential addition to all collections.

Phillips, Brooks Whitney. The Grove. Viking.
Gr 9 Up–This vivid and thoughtful historical fiction debut is a must-have for all collections.

Power, Rory. Kill Creatures. Delacorte.
Gr 9 Up–Unique and unputdownable. Essential for thriller fans.

Reid, Ava. Fable for the End of the World. HarperCollins.
Gr 10 Up–A dark dystopian novel for readers craving something more mature than The Hunger Games. Perfect for high school collections.

Reintgen, Scott. A Burning in the Bones. Atheneum/McElderry.
Gr 8 Up–Purchase for all fantasy-loving teens, but particularly those who need motivation to build reading stamina.

Romasco-Moore, Mar. Deadstream. Viking.
Gr 9 Up–A book that gets readers in its clutches and refuses to let them go; many will want to consume it in one sitting.

Rose, Elle Gonzalez. The Girl You Know. Bloomsbury.
Gr 9 Up–Fast and furious; a must-buy anywhere gritty murder mysteries circulate.

Selznick, Brian. Run Away with Me. Scholastic.
Gr 8 Up–A mesmerizing ode to poetry, art, and love that stands the test of time, Selznick’s first title for young adults is recommended for all collections.

Shaw, Tucker. Right Beside You. Holt.
Gr 9 Up–A precious celebration of queer joy, resistance, and community; a deserved first selection for any well-rounded collection.

Silver, Josh. Dead Happy. Delacorte.
Gr 9 Up–This sequel’s fresh take on dystopian fiction with themes of mental health and eugenics makes it a must-have for library collections.

Smith, Sasha Peyton. The Rose Bargain. HarperCollins.
Gr 8 Up–A deliciously heartrending Victorian-era romantasy.

Soto, Julie. The Thrashers. Wednesday Bks.
Gr 9 Up–With a new-era Pretty Little Liars vibe, this cautionary thriller is the perfect drama for Karen M. McManus and Rory Power fans.

Stewart, Erin. Every Borrowed Beat. Delacorte.
Gr 9 Up–With its perfect blend of chronic illness representation, mental health exploration, and romance, this is a standout addition to the genre.

Taylor, Emily J. The Otherwhere Post. Putnam.
Gr 9 Up–This unputdownable adventure is highly recommended for all collections and perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab’s “Shades of Magic” series.

Tobias, Trisha. Honeysuckle and Bone. Zando/Sweet July.
Gr 9 Up–A well-executed mystery with horror elements, this novel stands out for its social commentary and richly detailed Jamaican setting.

Tran, Trang Thanh. They Bloom at Night. Bloomsbury.
Gr 9 Up–A strange and grisly tale of what we can survive to get closer to our truest selves, deeply infused with Vietnamese cultural concepts.

Trevaldwyn, Harry. The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King. Wednesday Bks.
Gr 8 Up–It is difficult to imagine fans of “Heartstopper” not loving Patch and his larger-than-life personality on the quest for love.

Vacharat, A.A. This Moth Saw Brightness. Dutton.
Gr 9 Up–A remarkable debut novel that delves into both adolescent struggles and mental health.

Williamson, S.F. A Language of Dragons. HarperCollins.
Gr 9 Up–For readers who appreciate fantasy with philosophical depth, this novel offers both a gripping plot and a meditation on the importance of words and empathy in a fractured world.

Womack, Gwendolyn. The Premonitions Club. CamCat.
Gr 8 Up–Recommended for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stranger Things, and Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s The Inheritance Games who relish conspiracy theories, slow-burn romances, and tearful family reunions.

Zhao, Amélie Wen. The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. Delacorte.
Gr 9 Up–With sweeping action, high stakes, and a shocking love triangle, this book has something for everyone with promises of more to come in the duology conclusion.

Zoboi, Ibi. (S)Kin. Versify.
Gr 7 Up–This contemporary YA fantasy novel in verse rooted in Caribbean folklore is an essential title for any middle school and high school collection.

AB4T

Green, John. Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection. Crash Course Bks.
This thought-provoking narrative nonfiction work is highly recommended for high school collections.

Woods, Kell. Upon a Starlit Tide. Tor.
A compelling tale full of the mundane and magical, Luce’s adventures and self-discovery will keep readers engaged in this page turner.