Alene, Catherine. The Sky Between You and Me. 496p. ebook available. Sourcebooks/Fire. Feb. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781492638537.

Gr 10 Up –Raesha is determined to win Nationals. She and her horse, Fancy, must make the best time in the barrel race, and Rae has to be as light as possible. So she begins to deprive herself of food. To complicate matters, a new girl is flirting with Rae’s boyfriend, Cody, and trying to steal Rae’s best friend, Asia. Rae copes by creating her own world, where everything is about control, from keeping track of calories to counting seconds on the clock. Her mantra is “lighter, leaner, faster,” and the scale must be “minus five.” Drawing from personal experience referenced in an author’s note, Alene has crafted a novel in verse that articulates the slow decline and ongoing recovery of a teen battling anorexia nervosa. The story’s scope shows how deep and complicated anorexia’s hold can be; Rae’s need for control extends beyond her own immediate situation to her grief over her mother, also an equestrian, who died of cancer. What if Rae can no longer fit on her mother’s saddle? What if she can keep the scale at minus five? What if she could have stopped her mother from dying? Raw and heartbreaking, Alene’s work tackles a very sensitive topic with accuracy and compassion. VERDICT This title will resonate with readers on many levels. A first purchase for most older YA collections.–Erin Holt, Williamson County Public Library, Franklin, TN

Brant, Wendy. Zenn Diagram. 328p. Kids Can. Apr. 2017. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781771387927.

Gr 7 Up –Eva Walker is content to be a self-described math nerd, but she doesn’t like being considered a germaphobe by her classmates. It’s true that she shies away from touching other people, but they don’t know the truth: when Eva touches others, she is immediately able to get a sense of their innermost thoughts and feelings. Overwhelmed by this onslaught of unsolicited knowledge, she turns inward, focusing on her beloved math formulas, her three-year-old quadruplet siblings, and her best friend, Charlotte, who is also lingering on the social fringes. But Eva’s life turns upside down after she begins tutoring new student Zenn. The dark maelstrom of emotions that Eva receives when she accidentally touches his jacket are complicated by her immediate attraction to Zenn’s rebellious, artistic nature. Brant deftly navigates changing friendships and parental bonds with a taciturn, angst-ridden teen protagonist who is also loving and thoughtful—a refreshing yet authentic balance. With the added boost of a surprising (but well-resolved) plot twist and a hint of the paranormal grafted onto a main trunk of realistic YA fiction, this sophisticated debut depicts teen issues with nuance and aplomb. Eva and Zenn’s sexual relationship is referenced, but with a light, not-too-graphic touch. VERDICT Readers who love quirky, character-driven romances, such as John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines and heartstring-yanking melodrama in the vein of Lauren Oliver’s YA books will enjoy this novel, which seems to be an intriguing blend of both.–Evelyn Khoo Schwartz, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC

Belasco, Sonia. Speak of Me as I Am. 272p. ebook available. Philomel. Apr. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399546761.

Gr 8 Up –How does one cope with loss? How can a person move on from the death of a mother? Or that of a best friend? These are the issues Melanie and Damon have to confront as they embark on another year of school. Damon’s best friend, Carlos, committed suicide, so Damon’s family moved to give Damon a fresh start at a new school. Melanie’s mom passed away over the summer from cancer, and Melanie and her father have a hard time dealing with the giant hole in their lives. Hoping to keep his connection to Carlos alive, Damon takes pictures with Carlos’s camera, while Melanie, who has been avoiding any kind of artistic urge since losing her mom, a larger-than-life artist, is convinced to help paint the sets for the school’s play, Othello, in which Damon is playing the lead. Maybe together they can figure out how to live with loss and sadness, instead of trying to ignore it. Chapters that alternate between Damon’s and Melanie’s perspectives begin by addressing the teens’ late loved ones. Readers will come away with a strong sense of not only the protagonists but also the secondary characters, including the departed. In a moving author’s note, Belasco includes helpful links to a variety of supportive organizations whose missions link to the story’s themes. VERDICT A good purchase for realistic fiction collections and for readers looking for books about survivor’s guilt and healing.–Natalie Struecker, Atlantic Public Library, IA

Cagan, Kayla. Piper Perish. 416p. ebook available. Chronicle. Mar. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781452155838.

Gr 9 Up –High school senior Piper Perish is an art monster. She and her two best friends, Kit and Enzo, find opportunities to embrace their artistic talents in just about any situation, especially when it comes to designing their own outfits. But when their collective plan to attend art school in New York City starts to fall apart, Piper must come to terms with not only her friendships but also her chaotic family life. Although the book takes place in Houston, the setting could really be anywhere-America, as Piper and crew mainly shuttle back and forth among school, one another’s houses, and a local diner. Written in Piper’s voice, the novel is in journal format, which results in an easy reading experience; however, entire scenes of dialogue are recorded word-for-word, making this title closer in style to Samuel Richardson’s classic Pamela than Laura Amy Schlitz’s The Hired Girl. Piper’s email correspondence with Silas (a student already enrolled in art school) is a bright point in the narrative. Though few and far between, Silas’s contributions manage to sketch out, in one case literally, New York City and college life in a way that is alluring and realistic, and his voice is a refreshing contrast to Piper’s often tiresome naïveté: “I asked Mom if we were low-income.” VERDICT While readers will likely give the happier-than-happy ending the side-eye, the peek into Piper’s creative process (and ultimate success) will embolden budding teen artists. Consider wherever realistic fiction is popular.–Della Farrell, School Library Journal

Gallagher, Diana. Lessons in Falling. 250p. ebook available. Spencer Hill. Feb. 2017. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781633920378.

Gr 9 Up –Savannah decides to quit gymnastics after one too many injuries. After focusing so intensively on the sport that she hoped would land her a college scholarship, she is struggling to discover who she is. Her dad wants her to resume training, and her longtime best friend, Cassie, wants her to ditch gymnastics and move to the city with her. Then Cassie attempts to take her own life, and in addition to feeling guilty for not recognizing any signs of Cassie’s unhappiness, Savannah no longer has her friend’s support. Fellow student Marcos, who helped to rescue Cassie, brings a new perspective, and as Savannah starts tutoring him, she falls for him, too. Gradually, she begins to feel that he is the only person who supports her and believes that she can achieve her dreams. In her debut novel, Gallagher draws on her deep knowledge of gymnastics to add authentic sports details to familiar YA novel territory of the friends-vs.-relationship drama. Her narrative also reaches into contemporary headlines with Marcos’s story: he’s an immigrant who faces racism and bullying from other students at school. VERDICT Fans of realistic fiction and coming-of-age books will enjoy this touching tale about dealing with difficult friendships, growing up, and finding oneself. A strong choice for most YA collections.–Morgan O’Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY

Jackson, Tiffany D. Allegedly. 400p. ebook available. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Jan. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062422644.

Gr 9 Up –Jackson delivers a requiem about systemic issues of injustice in this debut novel that portrays the juvenile justice system, meant to rehabilitate youth who have gone astray, and the social service system, which is intended to defend those whose rights have been infringed upon. Interwoven with case study excerpts, depositions, and inmate interviews, this gripping thriller centers on 16-year-old Mary Beth Addison, who was incarcerated for the alleged murder of a three-month-old infant. Not all of the clues point to then nine-year-old Mary’s guilt, though. Now Mary is in a group home with hopes of moving into the world and maybe even to college. But she’s been unable to get her birth certificate from her mother, and she needs the document to take her SATs. She’s also just learned that she’s pregnant, which threatens to turn her macabre existence into a permanent nightmare. Because Mary is underage and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Ted, is also in a group facility, their child will be put up for adoption after Mary gives birth, but Mary will go to any length to prevent that from happening. With remarkable skill, Jackson offers an unflinching portrayal of the raw social outcomes when youth are entrapped in a vicious cycle of nonparenting and are sent spiraling down the prison-for-profit pipeline. VERDICT This dark, suspenseful exploration of justice and perception raises important questions teens will want to discuss. An excellent selection for YA shelves.–Sabrina Carnesi, ­Crittenden Middle School, Newport News, VA

Laurence, Matthew. Freya. 352p. ebook available. Imprint. Mar. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781250088178.

Gr 8 Up –Freya is a lesser-known deity from the Norse pantheon. Her bailiwick includes not only love and beauty (eat your heart out, Aphrodite) but also death and war (so take that, Apollo!). In this world built by game designer and author Laurence, gods of all times and cultural traditions remain immortal as long as they are still sustained by believers. But forever is a long time, even for deities, especially when waning belief shrinks divine powers. Sara Vanadi (Freya) has been cooling her heels in a mental hospital for many years when a corporation reaches out through a sinister pitchman, Garen, to recruit her with a nearly irresistible deal. The Norse wisecracker’s refusals are met with escalating violence, semi-deific powers, and magic. Freya pulls Nathan, a new asylum employee, along with her as she reenters society, and he provides the updated savvy she needs about cell phones and fashion while she charms money out of banks and buoys her rising strength, based on the belief of enraptured children at Disney World. Before long, hiding is not an option, and Freya must go the double agent route to try to take down nefarious forces. Hand this to readers ready to move on from the high jinks of Percy Jackson and to fans of Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart. VERDICT While the characters’ ages best fit in the “new adult” bracket, a lack of sappy romance, a kick-butt heroine, and comic book definitions of good and evil make this a natural choice for YA collections seeking adrenaline-infused adventure.–Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA

Nesbitt, Karen. Subject to Change. 288p. Orca. Feb. 2017. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781459811461.

Gr 10 Up –In Nesbitt’s debut novel, readers come face-to-face with Declan, a teen living in Quebec and coping with major family issues. Told through Declan’s point of view, the narrative is somewhat slow-paced until the reason behind Declan’s parents’ split is revealed: his father cheated with another man. With his family life further challenged by his older brother Seamus’s bullying attitude toward him, Declan is at a breaking point, receiving so many detentions at school that he is forced to undergo tutoring. He’s paired with Leah, who turns out not to be the “Little Miss Perfect” he assumed she was all along. Writing in mature language, Nesbitt has crafted a sensitive portrait of a teen’s uncertain relationship with a gay parent, as well as a family dealing with the aftermath of an affair. As Declan spends time with Leah and her grandmother, Bubby, a Holocaust survivor, his perspective changes a bit, allowing him to give his father another chance. VERDICT Fans of John Corey Whaley and John Green will enjoy this realistic young adult story. A general purchase for YA collections.–Laura Jones, Argos Community Schools, IN

O’Sullivan, Joanne. Between Two Skies. 272p. Candlewick. Apr. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763690342.

Gr 7 Up –In August of 2005, Evangeline Riley is starting her junior year of high school in Bayou Perdu, LA. While many kids in her school talk about how they cannot wait to escape small-town life, Evangeline cannot imagine leaving her fairy tale–like surroundings. The daughter of a fisherman, Evangeline has inherited her father’s passion for the sea. She feels most at home on the family’s skiff, exploring the hidden treasures of the deep bayous. During one of her sojourns, Evangeline comes to the rescue of Tru, who has run himself aground. Although the teens are almost immediately smitten with each other, their budding relationship comes to a halt when Hurricane Katrina ravages the Gulf Coast. After Evangeline and her family evacuate, their entire town is pulled into the ocean. Tru and Evangeline do find each other again, but love is hard when one has no home. In the years that have passed since Hurricane Katrina, there have been many stories about the immediate devastation to New Orleans. This tale reminds readers that there were millions of people all over the gulf affected by this tragedy and that for many, the horror of the event was only beginning, not ending, when the skies cleared. VERDICT A compelling novel with a tender romance, this debut is a great choice for teens who appreciated Jewell Parker Rhodes’s Ninth Ward or Denise Lewis Patrick’s Finding Someplace.–Ellen Fitzgerald, White Oak Library District, Lockport, IL

Park, Jennifer. The Shadows We Know by Heart. 304p. ebook available. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Mar. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481463515.

Gr 6 Up –Leah’s life seems to be held together by secrets and lies, especially since her older brother was killed in the woods. After Sam’s death, her preacher father became super strict and angry, her melancholy mother began to sip from a secret flask, and only Sam’s twin, Matt, seems unchanged. Leah keeps the biggest secret of all, because she knows that a trio of Sasquatch live in the woods next door and that a wild boy, with whom she is infatuated, lives with them. Although she is forbidden to go into the woods, Leah is drawn into the handsome wild boy’s world, risking punishment and danger to learn more about him. She keeps this friendship a secret even from her best friend, Ashley, who has lost her father and brother, and from her new boyfriend, the sheriff’s son, on whom she has been crushing for years. As she relates her story, Leah frequently refers to the tragedy that killed Sam 10 years earlier, revealing small clues and memories of the event, and readers may be able to connect the dots of the mystery before Leah does. Peppered with romantic metaphors and flowery descriptions, Leah’s first-person narration is dense and dramatic. The novel’s most satisfying passages are at the conclusion, although many loose ends aren’t entirely wrapped up. VERDICT A fantastical romance that will tug the heartstrings, with a bit of mystery and danger. Recommended for all YA collections.–MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY

Taylor, Whitney. Definitions of Indefinable Things. 336p. ebook available. HMH. Apr. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780544805040.

Gr 8 Up –In her engaging debut, Taylor skillfully captures adolescent depression and anxiety. Reggie, 17, feels alienated from her religious family after enduring several serious losses. Feeling emotionally abandoned, she is determined never to be hurt again. While picking up her Zoloft prescription, Reggie meets fellow teen Snake, who is in line for his Prozac. At first she is extremely resistant to Snake’s attention, but he pursues her relentlessly. She eventually succumbs to his charms, but that’s only the beginning of a very complicated relationship. Reggie’s queen bee classmate Carla is pregnant, and Snake, it turns out, is the father. The three teens’ tenuous connections periodically strain, break, and heal as they realistically stumble their way toward a sort of friendship and, ultimately, happiness. The main characters are well drawn and unique. The secondary characters are less so, but this doesn’t lower the overall quality of this novel’s insightful portrayal of complex teens struggling with mental health issues. VERDICT An emotionally engrossing and powerful exploration of depression and healing that many teens will find meaningful. A strong choice for libraries serving teens.–Susan ­Riley, ­Mamaroneck Public Library, NY

Vinesse, Cecilia. Seven Days of You. 336p. Little, Brown/Poppy. Mar. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780316391115; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780316391085.

Gr 9 Up –Sophia’s last seven days of living in Japan are supposed to be perfect. She has plans to hang out with her two close friends and see everything that the electric city of Tokyo has to offer. But when Jaime, a friend from her past, makes a jarring reappearance right at the beginning of her final week, Sophia is unable to concentrate on anything. With Jaime in the picture, suddenly everything she thought was secure starts to crumble around her. Will Sophia be able to see the good that can come from change before her time runs out? This highly readable novel about finding home and discovering oneself will have fans of Stephanie Perkins’s Anna and the French Kiss swooning. While the character development makes this title a page-turner, the ways that Vinesse realistically weaves in the Japanese setting are the true strengths of the book. The well-placed details effectively capture not only Tokyo but also the experience of studying or living abroad. Though the story plays with the typical teen romance trope of a girl pining for the guy she believes is out of her league, the plot twists and strong writing will keep even the most jaded reader entertained until the very final pages. VERDICT A recommended purchase that will fit comfortably in both contemporary YA and teen romance sections.–DeHanza Kwong, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC

Worsley, Lucy. Maid of the King’s Court. 368p. Candlewick. Mar. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763688066.

Gr 9 Up –The fate of the noble Camperdowne family rests on the marriage prospects of the baron’s spunky but dutiful daughter Elizabeth. After a canceled betrothal, Elizabeth is sent to live with distant relatives in the hopes of furthering her prospects. At the age of 15, she becomes a maid of honor at the court of Henry VIII, along with her cousin and rival, Katherine Howard. Instead of securing an advantageous marriage, Elizabeth befriends Ned Barsby, a courtier of low standing. As it becomes increasingly clear that the king is displeased with his current wife, Elizabeth’s father asks her to aim to become Henry’s mistress. But Katherine beats her to the game and becomes not only the king’s mistress but also his next wife and queen. After two years, word spreads that Katherine is having an affair, and she is arrested and later beheaded. The dialogue-heavy prose and the courtly intrigues make this historical novel a riveting page-turner. Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces and a British television personality, uses the perspective of a fictitious cousin to explore the motives of the ill-fated Katherine Howard. Although some historical details are altered—the character of Francis Manham, Katherine’s lover, is a blend of at least three different individuals, for example—much of the novel comes from documented events, such as the scene in which Queen Anne of Cleves’s staff must inform her “exactly how babies were made.” VERDICT Dense but accessible, this title will enhance larger collections where historical fiction is in demand.–Magdalena Teske, Naperville Public Library, IL

Zoboi, Ibi. American Street. 336p. ebook available. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. Feb. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062473042.

Gr 9 Up –After her mother is detained by immigration officials, Fabiola Toussaint has to finish her move from Port-au-Prince to Detroit alone. The tough-as-nails cousins and exhausted aunt who greet her in Michigan bear little resemblance to the warm family she had dreamed of when she was in Haiti. Left with a mother-size hole in her life, Fabiola begins the unsteady process of assimilation, holding on to her family’s spiritual traditions while navigating the disconnectedness and violence of her new home. A sweet romance and her cousins’ fierce and complex support ease the teen into a halfway space between worlds, but her eyes remain on the prize of reuniting with her mother. When Fabiola is approached by the police to inform on her cousin’s volatile boyfriend in exchange for information about her mother, she must work around the gaps in her understanding to make some explosive decisions. In this bright, sharp debut, Zoboi weaves grittiness, sensitivity, and complexity into every character, but Fabiola’s longing, determination, and strength shine especially brightly. VERDICT A breathtaking story about contemporary America that will serve as a mirror to some and a window for others, and it will stay with anyone who reads it. A must-purchase for YA collections.–Beth McIntyre, Madison Public Library, WI