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Arthurian Legends, Improve Camp, Best YA Nonfiction, and More YA Book Talk and News: December 15, 2022

Hey YA Readers!

My cramming of horror reads for the upcoming 2023 Summer Scares picks has wrapped up, and I cannot wait to share what the winners are….on Valentine’s Day. It was so nice to dig into some backlist and catch up on some stellar reads I’d missed out on.

Now until the end of the year, I’m officially in “read whatever you want, kid” mode. I’m doing some front list and backlist, as well as hitting some of the titles I’m anticipating most in the new year. I’ve found my reading groove a bit, at least for now, and I’m going to lean all the way in.

Let’s take a look at this week’s YA paperback releases and YA book news.

Bookish Goods

snowed in and reading candle

Snowed In & Reading Candle by FromthePage

Looking for a cozy candle for those snowy days that you curl up with a book, a drink, and do nothing but read? (Or, you know, you imagine that for yourself if it’s not a reality). This one looks like a perfect way to create that ambiance. It smells like amber, musk, apple, berry, and cedar. $16.

New Releases

You know the song and its chorus by now, but the end of the year is a quiettttt time in publishing. This week, there was only one hardcover published in YA, and while we have a few more in paperback, most are not the first book in a series or a standalone. I’m going to get a little more creative, so join me on this one.

unscripted book cover

Unscripted by Nicole Kronzer

Zoe Bailey-Cho loves comedy and has her future all set: she’s going to improve camp, then on to Second City, then on to Saturday Night Live. Currently at the improv camp, she earns a position on the varsity team, but as the only girl, she’s subject to so much ridicule. Zoe won’t blink, though. This is her dream and she knows she’s good. But when the coach is cruel to her during practice and a little too nice to her outside practice, Zoe knows she needs to speak up.

Because the options for books to talk about out this week in paperback (and hardcover) are slim, I’m highlighting two books out in paperback today below that are the conclusions to series. I don’t want to include a description because not having read either one, I am not sure what might be considered a series spoiler. That said, I’ll tell you a little about the series themselves so you can pick up the entire run of it in paperback at your nearest bookstore or library.

The Excalibur Curse boo kcover

The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White

This is the third and final book in Kiersten White’s trilogy that takes a fresh spin on Arthurian legend.

a psalm of storms and silence

A Psalm of Storms and Silence by Roseanne A. Brown

Brown’s second and final installment in her duology is a take on West African folklore.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

YA Book News

As always, thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you on Saturday for your book deals roundup.

Until then, happy reading!

— Kelly Jensen, currently reading Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown