Sidelined from sports because of injuries, these teens find new outlets, from gaming to comedy to cooking.

FOLLMUTH, Alexene Farol. Twelfth Knight. 320p. Tor Teen. Jun. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781250884893.
Gr 9 Up–Being student VP to Jack “Duke” Orsino’s student body president is frustrating. Add in a recent fallout with her tabletop group, and Vi Reyes’s only safe haven is her MMORPG Twelfth Knight, where she plays as a male character. However, Vi’s sacred gaming space is changed when a football injury benches Jack for the season. He is introduced to Twelfth Knight and unknowingly begins late nights gaming with Vi. There’s just one problem; Vi’s pretending to be her brother Bash online. While the pair build a virtual friendship, Vi grapples with telling Jack the truth, especially when their real-world interactions begin to spark feelings. Follmuth’s sophomore YA novel is as lively as it is charming. The modernization of Shakespeare’s work perfectly showcases teens grappling with anger over life circumstances. Vi is no stranger to inequality, and her gruff, guarded demeanor will resonate with many readers. Jack’s search for positivity, coinciding with the potential loss of his future, hits the reality that life is more than just a game; it’s about the people who stand with you. As Vi and Jack’s relationship develops, both learn to appreciate the other while ultimately finding that having conviction, sensitivity, and steadfastness isn’t bad if one cultivates and communicates with the people they love. Jack is Black, and Vi is contextually cued as Fillipina. VERDICT A coming-of-age Shakespearean revamp where building personal connections, while unapologetically being yourself, is at the forefront of this romantic comedy.–Emily Walker

HO, Lauren. Bite Me, Royce Taslim. 320p. Disney-Hyperion. May 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781368095358.
Gr 9 Up–Agnes Chan attends an international school in Kuala Lumpur. A rising track star who is waiting to finalize a college recruitment deal in America, she has a clear path to the future. A scholarship will secure her dreams of making it big and take the weight off her family’s uncertain finances. Agnes’s only obstacle is her rival and track team cocaptain, Royce Taslim. Things come as easy to him as they do to his wealthy family. Everything changes when Agnes has an accident that destroys her running career. While recovering, she spies on Royce and uncovers his secret life as a stand-up comedian. Without intending to, she becomes part of that world. As she works her way up the amateur comedy circuit, she realizes Royce is not the only one with a hidden agenda. Jumping through unforeseen hoops, Agnes grows in ways she never anticipated. Ho creates a vivid picture of teenage life in Kuala Lumpur, her own hometown. The universal high school angst that Agnes feels as she struggles with friendships, flirtations, and home life is portrayed through well-developed, diverse characters. Though the trope of rivals-to-lovers is nothing new, it serves its purpose and gives readers a satisfying romance. VERDICT A sweet, unique rom-com that is recommended for high school libraries.–Karin Greenberg

RUHLMAN, Michael. If You Can’t Take the Heat. 320p. Penguin Workshop. Jun. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780593523445.
Gr 10 Up–Sixteen-year-old Theo has the entire summer mapped out—hang out with friends, listen to some music, get ready for the upcoming football season where he is a star player, and try to get over the recent breakup with his girlfriend. After Theo attends a concert with his friends and meets the enchantingly beautiful Julia, he suffers a freak accident while playing in a pickup football game with his friends. After surgeries to repair his shattered femur and a stint in the hospital, Theo begins to process the reality of his entire athletic career coming to an end. While he is recovering, Theo starts finding comfort in both his newfound love of cooking and Julia, who begins to visit him regularly despite having a boyfriend. After Julia convinces the chef of the upscale restaurant where she works to give Theo a shot as a prep cook, his life is forever changed. Theo begins to truly thrive in the restaurant setting as he embraces the team mentality it takes to create dinner each night. Set in 1980s Cleveland, this novel features a budding romance between Theo and Julia, as well as an accurate representation of a working restaurant in lots of vivid detail. VERDICT A refreshingly different take on the romance genre, written from the male perspective, and a great purchase for all libraries.–Samuel Lovejoy