Sponsored by the Young Adult debuts of the Class of 2k21: 18 MG and YA authors debuting in 2021.
AMERICAN BETIYA: A YALSA nominee for Best YA Fiction. An honest look at the ways cultures can clash in an interracial relationship.
THE HALF-ORPHAN’S HANDBOOK: A coming-of-age story and exploration of grief with a sharp sense of humor and a big heart.
WORDS COMPOSED OF SEA AND SKY: A poetic romance divided by centuries. “A beautiful story about love and making your voice heard.” – SLJ
THE NIGHT NO ONE HAD SEX: “This atypical prom tale is humorous and dramatic in equal parts.” – Booklist
IRON WIDOW: Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha sci-fi.
Hey YA Readers!
We made it through most of the work week, so let’s catch up on the latest in YA news and new books.
YA Book News
- This was an interesting look at how a publisher created a bestseller through its marketing and publicity.
- Some casting news for Rebecca Serles’s When You Were Mine adaptation.
- The forthcoming graphic novel Squad has been optioned for adaptation. This book looks like a lot of fun.
- Books you may have missed during the pandemic.
- There are a lot of things not addressed in this piece — the lack of understanding how broad YA is, how it’s far more inclusive that it used to be, that these books are quite homophobic, these “normie” girl stories referenced are all white — but readers who like to take a walk down memory lane will enjoy this look back at the Georgia Nicholson series.
New YA Books
Hardcover
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Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves
Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas
Burden Falls by Kat Ellis
Devil in the Device by Lora Beth Johnson
Edie in Between by Laura Sibson
Eyes of the Forest by April Henry
Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston
When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles (seies)
Paperback
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Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren
The Companion by Katie Alender
Darius The Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram (series)
The Girl in the White Van by April Henry
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis
Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen (first in a series)
Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
The Whitsun Daughters by Carrie Mesrobian
This Week at Book Riot
It’s been quiet on the YA front the last week at Book Riot, but there are a couple of solid reads for you!
- Lord of the Flies is one of those perennially-read high school “classics.” But here are 8 things you might not know about the book and its author.
- Five YA books about being the new kid.
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Pop this great Young Adult Reader enamel pin to your tote bag and let everyone know what you’re hauling. $11.
As always, thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you again on Monday!
— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram.