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Sirens, Spirits, Bats, and More: YA Books and News, September 21, 2023

Hey YA Readers!

It was false fall last week, as we’re now zipping back up into the 80s here in Chicagoland. The good news is knowing it will not last long before the changeover happens more permanently. It’s like those final snows in April–you know it’ll end before too long.

Before we get into this week’s YA paperbacks and news, did you know that Book Riot’s editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive? During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler plus five mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required! (My piece for this month centers on the increase of book prices over the last five years, and previously, I wrote about the publishing power of Barbie!).

Bookish Goods

image of three book page holders that glow in the dark and are covered in bats.

Bats Page Holder by TheSparklingQuill

I never thought I wanted or needed a book page holder until now. This one is so fun and seasonal. Bats! Glow in the Dark! Count me in.

As I write this, note there are only a couple of them available, so scoop one up before they fly away (or you have to wait for more). $12.

New Releases

If you’re itching for the entire new release roundup of paperbacks this week, hop on over here. The fall new release lists, both the hardcover and paperback editions, will be dropping very soon.

Find below two of this week’s paperbacks. As always, you might need to toggle your view when you click the link to see the paperback edition.

high spirits book cover

High Spirits by Camille Gomera-Tavarez

This is a book of 11 interconnected, cross-generational stories about the Beléns family. They are a part of the Dominican diaspora, and the stories explore topics like mental health, identity, family, and more. The book won a Pura Belpré Honor and has been compared to Elizabeth Acevedo and Sandra Cisneros, among others.

sirens book cover

Sirens by Braden Cawthon

If you’re looking for a book that’s a bit thriller, a horror, and a whole lot of apocalyptic, this one’s for you.

When Joel wakes up, he finds that a massive power outage has completely changed the world around him. There’s a siren that will not stop blaring, and it seems to be changing everyone who hears it. Desperate to find his mom and sister, as well as save himself, Joel needs to figure out how to protect themselves from the sirens.

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

YA Book News

We had newsapalooza last week, but things are quieter this week.

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

Until then, happy reading!

— Kelly Jensen, currently reading The Space Between Here and Now by Sarah Suk.