With protagonists who are 18 and older, more and more young adult books are examining early adulthood. These realistic, historical, fantasy, and thriller novels will appeal to teens, with characters navigating the messiness of life after adolescence.
Both drinking and sober teens, and adults who care about them, will be rewarded for seeing this story through.
Readers who enjoyed Fireborne are sure to tear through this sequel. Highly recommended for middle and high school readers.
Characters shine in this story of unlikely friendships and familial love; a solid addition to any middle grade collection.
Young readers will delight in the mystery of both stories.
Recommended for fans of hunting adventure stories or others looking for a plot-driven middle grade book with a modern rural setting. Not a first purchase.
This is a nicely written novel but it will likely not be a big circulator in school libraries.
A well-written conclusion that will not disappoint fans of the first book.
Give to fans of morally gray heroines who like their history served with a side of magic.
Infinity Son fans will be rewarded by this twisty tale of short, quick chapters with a diverse cast of conflicted heroes and villains worth rooting for.
Smith’s timely novel encourages empathy and understanding while spotlighting underrepresented history, and providing an example of how young people can take action. Highly recommended.
Peppered throughout with illustrations, this easy chapter book provides an action-packed fantasy journey with an important message woven in.
The title’s dedication to ocean protection, with tips and examples for readers to become better stewards of marine life, redeems an otherwise formulaic story. Purchase for students who devour Daisy Meadows’s “Rainbow Fairies” and other prolific series titles.
A compelling series with a plucky, determined protagonist who follows her passion. Perfect for young animal lovers.
A sweet, thoughtful, and quick romp, perfect for readers wanting some laughs while also looking for answers to some of life’s biggest questions about love, death, self-worth, and, of course, money.
A strongly written plot, a complementary setting, and strong characters make this a compelling read.
This lighthearted page-turner is recommended for all young adult collections.
Readers who love Karen M. McManus will enjoy this fast-paced, dramatic story.
This emotional look at belonging and identity will make readers consider what it means to be home. Perfect for fans of Erika L. Sánchez and Mitali Perkins.
Younger teens will likely enjoy Katie’s shenanigans.
A readable faerie court fantasy that centers the love triangle over the action quest. Readers will see similarities to Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses and Kiera Cass’s The Selection.
A devastating and beautiful read that clearly shows the complexities of addiction, fear, love, and friendship.
An engaging thriller, recommended for YA collections.
This story, with its slow start but a satisfactory payoff, will find an audience in teens with a sense of wanderlust and an itch for adventure.
An excellent read for a sleepover and a reminder to high school students to take life easy and to not let others define you.
A secondary purchase for public and school libraries with a healthy budget and sophisticated older teen readers who like to read across genres.
An unforgettable and tragic story, with many entry points for deep discussions.
This engaging novel will hook readers immediately. Recommended for all collections serving teens.
A great pick for video game nerds and fans of Brittney Morris’s Slay.
Although there are many unanswered questions, this engaging debut packs authentic dialogue, strong personalities, and fabulous destinations into a heartwarming tale of family drama and personal growth.
While not much here is fresh or surprising, the novel leans into the rom-com tropes fans know and love. Purchase this enjoyable read for collections where teen romances are popular.
Light on romance and heavy on longing, this action-adventure is a recommended purchase where fantasy is popular.
For fans of Ben Philippe’s Charming as a Verb or Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star, Quinn’s story is for readers seeking more than just a simple romance.
A great next-read for fans of Jenny Han, Sandhya Menon, and Syed M. Masood. Recommended purchase.
A solid sequel that ties up loose ends, but can’t stand on its own. Purchase only where the first was popular.
A moving, realistic portrayal of mental illness and grief. Recommended for high school libraries.
A fabulous first purchase that celebrates the awesome power of love, kindness, and being true to oneself.
A complex journey that may conjure connections to Jerry Spinelli’s Milkweed and John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Jacob is a character readers ought to meet.
A good choice for readers seeking a new twist on an old classic; purchase where fractured fairytales are popular.
Jones’ novel isn’t perfect, but its shortcomings are mild enough that this quirky title is still a good fit for medium to large collections.
This title is a great read for upper elementary children. With occasional, whimsical illustrations, it will keep even the most reluctant readers entertained.
A movingly empathetic tale for readers about prejudice, and the pressure to fit in with scrutinizing societies.
With appended facts about pediatric mental health and support contacts, Cora’s story, as told in her own words, will elicit empathy and resonate with those who experience anxiety and similar mental health conditions. Recommended.
Fast pacing and one dangerous situation after another build an exciting genre introduction for fans of sci-fi VR games. Purchase where the first book is popular
Books about gaining independence at summer camp are a crowded field, but there is plenty of room for this sweet, fresh take.
Filled to the brim with comfort and love, this book is a welcome addition to most picture book collections, especially where bilingual books are in demand.
This enjoyable, wordless story is a delightfully accessible tale for readers of all ages.
An easy first purchase, where lowbrow humor meets screwball comedy, this sweet and silly read-aloud is perfect for story times.
For collections where Little Chick’s other adventures have won hearts.
Odd messaging aside, this will tickle children’s funny bones as they take on an impossible thought
Nina ultimately discovers that everyone has different talents—from dancing to gardening
A compelling series with a plucky, determined protagonist who follows her passion. Perfect for young animal lovers.
This mystery might take some hand-selling by librarians but would be a good fit for teens who feel misunderstood and yearn to be heard.
Full of puns, memes, and Disney references, this novel kicks off a trilogy with the perfect balance of history and paranormal and is, in short, pure fun. Recommended for YA collections.
This well-written novel could circulate in romance collections.
An emotional story about coming to terms with grief and guilt and allowing yourself to open up to others to heal. An uplifting and engaging title for all YA collections.
Although this is recommended for purchase, make sure to also have positive, trans-affirming titles on hand such as Aiden Thomas’s Cemetery Boys and Amy Rose Capetta’s The Brilliant Death.
The long-awaited companion novel to The Skin I’m In does not disappoint. Recommend to readers who enjoyed Kim Johnson’s This Is My America.
Reminiscent of Pennypacker’s “Clementine” series, or Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” books, Billy Miller and the laugh-out-loud antics of his little sister Sal make this a darling addition to early middle grade collections for most libraries.
With its specific content and simple writing style, this title will mostly be popular with the vlogger’s many fans, and younger middle graders looking for insight into becoming YouTube stars themselves.
Young readers will enjoy the fantastical and humorous components of the novel, but there is plenty they will also relate to, as well.
A must-have addition to any middle school collection that could easily become a classic like Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars.
A story about the power of friendship with fun references to New Kids on the Block, pay phones, and beepers. This novel will appeal to readers experiencing big transitions
An additional purchase for collections where gentle reads are popular.
A much-needed #OwnVoices story centered on First Nations characters and culture, but may have a harder time pulling in readers seeking a fast-paced mystery.
Full of humor and thrills, this bewitching fantasy blends Korean mythology into an empowering adventure.
A verdant setting for a fantasy book that highlights the persistence of a young girl struggling with herself and her family secrets, both good and evil. A suggested purchase for larger collections.
A thought-provoking and engaging coming-of-age story recommended for libraries of all types; will particularly appeal to fans of Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home, Kelly Yang’s Front Desk, and Hena Khan’s Amina’s Voice.
From its unique magic system to its diverse cast of engaging characters, this adventure is a worthwhile read.
A hopeful examination of grief and gender, and a good ghost story to boot. Recommended as a first purchase for all libraries.
Recommended for fans of Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw who don’t mind a bit of off-the-wall chicken magic.
A moving story about a boy and his dog and the solace a pet, real or imagined, can bring.
An additional purchase where readers relish edgy, intricate fantasy.
Highly recommended for libraries; the strange, fantastical nature of this book is a fresh and welcome remix of the coming-of-age genre.
The dearth of bilingual educational material will nonetheless attract audiences to this series.
Poetic understatement and somber images capture the new normal in this essential purchase.
This important story of connection through sadness is beneficial to children and adults alike.
Glowing illustrations support a poetic text for a visit to what goes on while children sleep
The dearth of bilingual educational material will nonetheless attract audiences to this series.
The dearth of bilingual educational material will nonetheless attract audiences to this series.
The dearth of bilingual educational material will nonetheless attract audiences to this series.
PreS-K–Blooming with luminous painterly forms, this story of four young Black girls getting ready for the day shows a pure pride in their various hair textures, colors, and styles...
Baby-Toddler–A parent’s loving hug is all these baby animals need...
PreS-K–Designed as a marvelous introduction to fine art, this book brings a blue Egyptian hippopotamus figurine to life as a baby hippo playing hide-and-seek with a butterfly...
Toddler-PreS–From Clanton’s early graphic novel series, hilarious best-friend duo Narwhal and Jelly happily talk about their favorite things and dart about in their simple, signature colors across the pages...
Baby-Toddler–Each little animal bravely begins to walk on its own, sometimes falling, sometimes dancing, but always trying...
PreS-K–Good manners are essential to Stanley and his friends as they play with toys or shop for picnic food...
PreS-K–A delightful story about how a young Black girl who loves lions overcomes her worries about the beach with help from her imaginary playmate, the Sand Lion...
Baby-Toddler–Brun-Cosme’s series about Little One, a small white ball personifying different emotions, continues with more everyday situations...
Baby-Toddler–Each little animal bravely begins to walk on its own, sometimes falling, sometimes dancing, but always trying...
PreS-K–Good manners are essential to Stanley and his friends as they play with toys or shop for picnic food...
Baby-Toddler–Brun-Cosme’s series about Little One, a small white ball personifying different emotions, continues with more everyday situations...
Toddler-PreS–From Clanton’s early graphic novel series, hilarious best-friend duo Narwhal and Jelly happily talk about their favorite things and dart about in their simple, signature colors across the pages...
Baby-Toddler–Little Turtle tries and tries to get dressed properly, but his funny results prove such a new responsibility is not easy...
Readers who like mysteries and a little bit of magic will enjoy this one.
PreS–True to other selections of Lundie’s “Amicus Book of...
Toddler-PreS–Ollie Octopus experiences different feelings during his day, from grumpy to sad to relieved, but accepts the comfort of his friend Stella Starfish to help him through...
Toddler-PreS–This awesome interactive book, with tangible textures, inner flaps, pull-tabs, and a pop-up end feature, introduces different animals and their habits in clear photographed moments...
PreS-K–All three new additions continue the “Tiny Travelers” series, where these search-and-find explorations into world cultures include facts about geography, history, customs, and language...
PreS–A new addition to Holub’s series honoring groundbreaking figures, past and present, this book features rhyming descriptions paired with detailed tidbits about ten diverse people whose work helped the environment...
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