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Contrary to what most historical novels depict, people from marginalized groups have existed throughout the ages, and their stories were not solely ones of hardship. These authors are correcting that representation in historical fiction.
The Teen shares her post it note reviews of Dig and The Year We Fell from Space by A. S. King
A teen reader tells you in their own words why they like the works of YA author A. S. King.
Brigid Alverson will write SLJ’s manga column, including coverage of various genres, and what’s popular and why, with recommended titles for tweens and teens.
PREMIUM
Rise
Fans of Kendare Blake’s “Three Dark Crowns” books and Morgan Rhodes’s “Falling Kingdoms” series will enjoy this duology, as will readers who are looking for dark fantasy without lengthy and ongoing installments.
PREMIUM
Her Royal Highness
This will likely not be chosen by readers as a stand-alone novel. Purchase where the companion novel was popular.
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Before I Disappear
There aren’t many YA science fiction novels about string theory out there, and while this debut has its flaws, readers will still be drawn into Rose’s story.
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Girls of July
Flinn tackles tough subjects that elevate this beach read; a solid purchase for most libraries serving teens.
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Happily and Madly
Recommended for readers who enjoy the machinations of complicated family and romantic relationships; mystery and thriller fans can skip it.
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Hold My Hand
A delightful and important addition to collections serving teens, whether or not the first book is held.
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Island
Rather than the history of Rad’s family that is conveyed, readers will be left wishing for the side of the story they do not receive.
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How the Light Gets In
Readers will be taken along this journey of grief, loss, and healing. Recommend to fans of realistic romances.
Purchase where contemporary romance, particularly the author’s other books, are popular.
PREMIUM
These Witches Don’t Burn
Great for fans of Supernatural and the story of the Salem witch trials.
Fans of Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation should dig the language, and those looking for a refreshing, normalized treatment of a triumphant lesbian love story may enjoy this tale of two true-blue betties reunited.
PREMIUM
Castle of Concrete
There is a definite need for books with Jewish protagonists. Unfortunately, this one, which lacks transitions and has the feel of a fictionalized memoir, falls flat.
Kicky's Post It Note Reviews: In which a teen reader tells us what they think about several new books including Girls of July, Hot Dog Girl, Poet X, 10 Blind Dates, Stepsister and The Serpent King
Dylan Meconis takes a playful approach to history in her graphic novel Queen of the Sea, which represents the diversity of female experiences in the 16th century.
This is what happened when my teenage daughter and I read the same book at the same time, but not together.
A game-loving librarian's suggestions to raise the level of your collection.
In the latest offering from DC Comics' new YA-focused imprint, author Kami Garcia joins artist Gabriel Picolo to reintroduce Teen Titan Raven as a teen with a past so mysterious even she doesn't know it...yet.
Middle grade author M.G. Hennessey offers up some tricks to spark summer reading that have made a difference at her house. Family book club? Yes, please!
TLT teen contributor Elliot shares their post Pride thoughts.
Inspiring projects, discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating with—not just consuming—augmented and virtual reality were just some of the highlights of ISTE 2019.
With its impeccably developed characters and hard-hitting narrative, this is an essential purchase for teen and new adult collections.
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Qaqavii
The high adventure of the dogsled race and fascinating background of the Native peoples may be enough to keep readers of adventure stories interested in this coming-of-age tale
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The Year They Fell
Readers will find the characters relatable as they navigate the challenging time from senior year into adulthood following tragedy
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Mind Games
While this is a work of suspense first and foremost, romance readers will not be disappointed by the budding love between Arden and the boy with no memories. A recommended purchase for a high school or public library
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The Hive
A gripping immersion in social media gone wrong. Buy Marie Lu’s Warcross and Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One first, and consider this if there is money remaining in the budget
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The Everything I Have Lost
This high-interest, authentic coming-of-age novel adds an important perspective to young adult collections
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I’m Not Dying with You Tonight
Librarians will want to purchase this relevant and discussion-worthy YA novel
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Minor Prophets
A supplemental purchase for libraries where novels like Karen Russell’s Swamplandia! are popular
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Contagion
Fans of Michael Grant’s “Gone” series, Lauren James’s “The Next Together” series, and Emma Pass’s The Fearless will not be able to wait for the next installment in this survival story that is steeped in mystery and revenge
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We Speak in Storms
This sophisticated ghost story is recommended, especially where novels about grief are needed
Give this to fans of the podcast, as well as readers who enjoy Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Rainbow Rowell’s work, and Welcome to Night Vale. A first purchase for libraries that can’t keep romance or superpower books on the shelves
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We Are Lost and Found
A suggested purchase for libraries housing a special collection of LGBTQ+ works. For most libraries, give readers Robin Talley’s LGBTQ+ historical fiction or Adam Silvera’s novels
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Symptoms of a Heartbreak
A first choice for all collections. Give to fans of romance and medical dramas such as John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars
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Butterfly Yellow
While this is not Lai’s strongest book, the universal truths about the lingering aftermath of war make it one that will find readers
PREMIUM
SLAY
This book adds another layer to the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo narrative. Readers are invited to learn about the black experience in game culture through a compelling new lens. Exploring different versions of the African American experience, this is an important title for public and school libraries
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Suggested Reading
Wry, thought-provoking, rebellious, and predicated on the belief that the right book changes everything. This book is a school librarians’ dream, and the well-told story of a frustrated teen fighting for social justice will be a hit with young people, too
PREMIUM
The Merciful Crow
An excellent next read for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Kristin Cashore, and Moira Young
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A Match Made in Mehendi
Fans of Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi and Tanuja Desai Hidier’s Born Confused will enjoy this feel-good story. A solid addition to any library collection
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The Art of Taxidermy
A sad story with a hopeful ending that will appeal to readers who appreciate unique stories and unusual characters
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Remember Me
A mixture of mystery, romance, and horror, this book engages and entertains. A recommended purchase where students are seeking something different
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Who Put This Song On?
A worthwhile purchase for any collection where teen contemporary realistic fiction is popular. Give to fans of Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X
PREMIUM
Hope Is Our Only Wing
Tavengerwei creates dynamic characters who will resonate with readers across the globe. This title is a good fit for public and school libraries interested in showcasing fiction from countries outside of the United States.
PREMIUM
House of Salt and Sorrows
Compulsively readable, with sweet young love and truly creepy horror. First purchase for school and public libraries.
Hand to fans of Courtney Stevens’s Dress Codes for Small Towns or John Corey Whaley’s Where Things Come Back. A first selection
A riveting and important read that couldn’t be more well timed to our society’s struggles with its own monsters
Mark Waid and company take Archie back to the year of his creation for a serious period piece in Archie: 1941
This thorough if somewhat disjointed examination of the events before, during, and in the aftermath of the Stonewall Riots gives young readers an overview of the LGBTQ+ activism of the 1950s and 1960s.
Today we're talking about mental health with a personal and stark reminder that what we say to our teens can have enormous impact.
Today we're talking about mental health with a personal and stark reminder that what we say to our teens can have enormous impact.
You know how I’m always going on and on about how what I really want is just a book of endless dialogue because that’s what I like—strong characters just talking? Well, with this book, I get that. Hand this to readers who like different formats and their romances more on the cerebral side. Good fun.
PREMIUM
The Beholder
This book incorporates classic fairy tales into an alternate universe creating a unique setting, and while choice and freedom are strong themes, the pacing and the underdeveloped world will leave readers wanting more clarity. Purchase where fairy-tale retellings are popular.
PREMIUM
That Night
Readers looking for a psychological thriller with several twists at the end may enjoy parts of this book, but there are better options out there.
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The Exact Opposite of Okay
For teens and adults looking for a mature title to address issues of feminism and sexuality, this title fits, although books like Louise O’Neill’s Asking for It and Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka’s Always Never Yours do so in a more authentic fashion.
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Before the Broken Star
As an entertaining revision on classic fairy tales, this book is recommended for readers who enjoy adventure stories with female leads.
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All the Bad Apples
Recommended for readers who enjoy realistic and historical fiction, particularly those who loved the “Dear America” series or similar books but are now looking for something with more adult themes.
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The Virtue of Sin
While the book is well written, it reads like a cliché of every cult story that has been on the news. There are no surprises, and readers can see the path clearly laid out before them. A simplistic read about a deeper problem.
PREMIUM
Where I End and You Begin
This title may have appeal for older reluctant readers who feel weird or different from their peers. A supplemental purchase for YA collections.
YA author Amber Smith talks about the constantly twisting road that led her to being out, happy, loved, and incredibly proud of the life she's created.
he Rules for Vanishing takes readers on a journey down a ghost road in order to find a missing sister and friend, with mixed results.
Author Suzanne Collins will bring readers back to Panem, 64 years before The Hunger Games began.
PREMIUM
The Kingdom
This highly accessible title is recommended to both science fiction fans and teens who don’t normally read in this genre, and to readers who enjoyed titles such as Lauren Oliver’s Replica and S.J. Kincaid’s The Diabolic.
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Hope and Other Punchlines
Fans of Buxbaum’s earlier works will enjoy her latest offering. A recommended purchase for most teen collections.
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Fake It Till You Break It
While it’s refreshing to read a romance with an Asian American lead, this novel reworks old tropes with no new twists.
PREMIUM
Pros and (Comic) Cons
Nicholson’s latest compendium will appeal to those unfamiliar with comics and readers whose families have been taking them to comic cons from early childhood.
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Bright Burning Stars
While the well-paced prose clarifies some French phrases, a knowledge of ballet vocabulary is largely presumed. This is a story filled with interesting plot twists sure to maintain a high level of interest for readers.
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The Jungle
This solid introduction to Sinclair’s classic text is a humanizing supplement to the at-times tiresome original. Though this work substantially differs from its inspiration, the central message—anticapitalist, pro-socialist, and morally outraged
Recommend to fans of the first novel and fans of realistic romance.
PREMIUM
Amelia Westlake Was Never Here
The variety of social pressures that Harriet and Will struggle with will resonate with readers who find themselves pulled in a dozen different directions by the expectations of parents, peers, teachers, and social norms.
PREMIUM
The Goodbye Summer
While the book is well written for a debut, the narrow subject matter may be less appealing to some audiences. Recommended for limited purchase.
PREMIUM
The Bone Charmer
Although the resolution of this story feels too tidy, plot threads are closed enough to satisfy readers while still leaving room for a sequel. Purchase for large public and school libraries where fantasy circulates well.
Highly recommended as a new crossover fantasy sports series.
A solid selection for school libraries serving middle and high school students, while an additional purchase for public libraries.
PREMIUM
Descendant of the Crane
This rich and complex OwnVoices fantasy deserves a spot on library shelves.
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Ship of Smoke and Steel
This girl power–infused fantasy offers gripping action and an intriguing plot. Graphic depictions of violence and frequent sexual references make this a choice for older teen readers.
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Every Moment After
Recommended for readers of Joelle Charbonneau’s Time Bomb, Shaun David Hutchinson’s Violent Ends, and Marieke Nijkamp’s This is Where it Ends.
PREMIUM
BTTM FDRS
While some readers won’t like the art style, overall this title would be a strong addition to a library’s collection of horror graphic novels. Fans of tentacle or organic horror such as Swamp Thing and “The Neonomicon” will enjoy this read, as will those who love social commentary horror including Get Out.
PREMIUM
Romanov
Older fans of the animated film Anastasia will enjoy this story, as will fans of R.L. LaFevers, Evelyn Skye, and Lucy Worsley’s YA novels. Place in the hands of readers new to the historical fantasy genre.
A selection of recently reviewed books—fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and more—that center the experiences of LGBTQIA+ teens.
When the Ground Is Hard is the tale of an unlikely friendship that blossoms between the societal slabs of systemic racism, colorism, and classism in an Apartheid-era Christian boarding school in Swaziland. Award-winning crime fiction writer Malla Nunn talked with SLJ about the personal experiences that shaped this tightly woven, thoughtful, and timely YA adventure story.
Teen programming in public libraries. What works? What doesn't? Today Karen Jensen discusses the results of an informal survey and her own experiences regarding successful teen programming in public libraries.
TRIGGER WARNING: THIS POST TALKS ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SUICIDE AND LOSS Several Sundays ago, a teenage boy died in the house next door to me. I did not know him personally, but I experienced his death the way I have experienced far too much teenage death – through the eyes of […]
As much about finding yourself as it is about finding love, this smart, feminist story shows that expectations shouldn't dictate the future.
PREMIUM
Waves
Simultaneously raw and compassionate, this is a lovely partnership of words and images. The combination of art style and bittersweet memoir will appeal to older teens who enjoy Lucy Knisley’s and Tillie Walden’s work
PREMIUM
And We Call It Love
This novel in verse highlights the lasting value of friendship, as well as the importance of reaching out and supporting loved ones through difficult circumstances. Purchase where verse novels and/or short, accessible reads about contemporary issues are popular
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