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Frothy History, Hitting the (Bookish) Gridiron, and More YA Book Talk: January 30, 2023

Hey YA Readers!

We’ve reached the last few days of the first month of the new year. I hope it is off to the start you want, and if it’s not, remember there are 11 more to look forward to. And, worse case scenario, we’ve always got books.

SPEAKING of a new month coming: are you looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift for your bookish boo? Consider gifting Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations. Your val/gal/palentine will tell our professional booknerds about what they love and what they don’t, what they’re reading goals are, and what they need more of in their bookish life. Then, they sit back while our Bibliologists go to work selecting books just for them. TBR has plans for every budget. Surprise your bookish boo with Tailored Book Recommendations this Valentine’s and visit mytbr.co/gift.

Bookish Goods

just one more page bookmark

Just One More Chapter Magnetic Bookmark by EmilyCromwellDesigns

Thinking ahead to Valentine’s Day, how adorable is this bookmark? Two lil pups on a bicycle built for two…and two tons of books. Snag this lil gem for under $5.

New Releases

It might be a “quieter” week in new hardcover releases this week compared to the previous few but there are SO many great books this week in the YA world. I’m highlighting one I’ve read and one I’ve not yet read (& if you want to hear about another great one from me, I’m talking about The Black Queen + The Davenports on this week’s episode of All The Books, which drops tomorrow).

Want the full list of new books out this week? Dive on in!

the davenports book cover

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

If you want a frothy, delicious historical novel featuring an all-Black cast at the beginning of the 1900s in Chicago, do not look further. This book DELIVERS and then some.

Inspired by the very real Black entrepreneur CR Patterson, this book imagines what it would be like to be the daughters of a successful businessman at the time, and in addition to the two sisters’ voices, we get to know another daughter of wealth, as well as the assistant of the Davenport daughters. All of the girls have dreams and passions which fall outside of what is expected of them, and all four seem to be falling for people who are outside of their appropriate circles, too. So what happens when they seek to get what they want, rather than what’s expected of them?

This is the first in a proposed series but you can read it entirely as a stand alone…and know there might be more to come from these compelling and engaging characters.

promise boys book cover

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

This is the second of two powerhouse mysteries/thrillers by and about Black people hitting shelves today (the other is the one mentioned above, The Black Queen). If you want a book marrying The Hate U Give with One of Us Is Lying, dive in.

The Principal Moore Method is the standard by which the boys at Urban Promise Prep School are to subscribe. There are strict rules, meant to help turn boys into men and help boys of color to escape the fate of so many others in their communities.

J.B., Ramón, and Trey follow these rules, but when Principle Moore turns up dead, they are the prime suspects to the police. Now the three of them need to work together to clear their names and unearth the real killer.

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

Riot Recommendations

I like sports books, even as someone who is not a big fan of actually watching many of them. Since we’re coming up on the next Superbowl, let’s take a look at a few great YA books with football at the core.

kneel book cover

Kneel by Candace Buford

Inspired by true events but wholly its own story, Buford’s novel follows Rus, who knows his only shot of getting out of his small town is through football. He’s a varsity tight end, working to get that scholarship that’ll give him a bright future.

But his best friend is arrested and kicked off the team for something he didn’t do, and Rus can’t stand for it. So he takes the knee during the national anthem and becomes the new target of hate throughout town.

He knows, though, if he doesn’t do it and doesn’t lead, then more kids like him and is best friend will be victims of an unjust system.

backfield boys book cover

Backfield Boys by John Feinstein

Feinstein is a sports journalist and has published several sports-themed mysteries for teen readers, particularly younger teen readers. In Backfield Boys, readers meet Tom and Jason, two football players with tremendous skills and promise. So when they are called back to an elite sports camp on scholarship and the coach decides to make Tom — who is Black — a receiver and Jason — who is white — the quarterback (a reversal of their actual skill sets), alarm bells sound for both of them.

Suspecting racial bias, the duo begin to compile the evidence that this decision needs to be rectified, putting their futures, their game, and their scholarships on the line for justice.

home field advantage book cover

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler

Want a f/f football romance? Comin’ atcha.

When the high school football quarterback dies in a carwreck, he’s replaced by Jack Walsh. Jack, as in Jaclyn. Now the community is not only grieving, they’re raging about a female taking the key role on the team.

For Amber, cheer captain is her dream. But the only way she can achieve that is through hard work…and joining in the campaign to get Jack removed from her role as QB.

Problem: what if Amber and Jack are falling for one another?

undefeated book cover

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School by Steve Sheinkin

And, of course, one of the reasons I love sports books is the nonfiction about teams which have gone the distance despite the odds. In Sheinkin’s book, he explores the story of the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, often believed to be where the true sport of football emerged in 1907. The book looks at how two legends of the sport, Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner met there and helped create a powerhouse team with a population of students subjugated to violence and discrimination by the government (and, of course, many of their own neighbors).

A few more YA football books for your TBR include Game Change by Joseph Monninger, Sidelined by Kara Bietz, Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning, Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach, Seton Girls by Charllene Thomas, and the forthcoming nonfiction comic Colin Kaepernick: Change The Game.

As always, thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you on Thursday with your YA paperback releases and YA book news.

Until then, happy reading!

— Kelly Jensen