Since we’re closing in on the end of the first quarter of the year, take a moment this week to check in on your reading life. Is it going the way you want? Are you reading books that bring joy to your life–noting, of course, that that doesn’t mean you need to be reading joyful books? Have you hit a reading roadblock and need to shake it? Any or all of these experiences are valid ones, and you’ve likely had more than one. Taking the time to reflect on your reading life is where you can make a plan for going forward. Maybe you plan to dip into those TBR titles that have escaped you, or maybe you plan to pick up an entirely different kind of book than the ones you’ve been reading. Perhaps you’re deciding at this point that you need to take a little reading break to force your brain to slow down.
I’ve had a stellar reading year so far, in part because I’ve re-implemented my routine of making sure I read for some period of time every night before bed. Ten minutes is as good as an hour, and I’ve found that I’ll set mini-goals along the way. For example, I’ll read until I’m 25% through the book, or I’ll read during my lunch break on days when it isn’t nice enough to go for a walk outside (which has been a lot, given it’s still winter here). My one weakness has been reading graphic novels, a format I love but haven’t gravitated toward as much as I’d like this year. I’ve wondered why, and the answer is simple: I want my graphic novels in physical form, and I’ve not picked up enough on my library trips. My plans for the second quarter of the reading year are to make sure one or two come home with me during each trip.
As you think about where your reading year is so far and what tweaks you may or may not want to make, why not add some more YA books to your TBR? The flood of new releases we had in the first two weeks of March has slowed a bit for this third week, but don’t get too comfortable. The release numbers will pick up again soon. In previewing what’s hitting shelves this summer, I’m pleasantly surprised to see an uptick in releases during months that have historically been slower, as well as a continued increase in diverse offerings. That said, there’s still a significant dearth of YA nonfiction through August.
This week, read your way into an atmospheric Gothic mystery, a story about the entangled lives of two very different boys, and a debut fantasy steeped in Malaysian folklore.
New Hardcover YA Releases This Week
Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I’m excited to share that it was as excellent as I’d expected. If you’re looking for a work of Gothic historical fiction, Lee’s latest will be everything you could hope for and more.
It’s 1918 on Orcas Island, Washington, and Lucy’s spent her life working at the estate of an eccentric shipbuilder. She washed ashore in a canoe as a child, and the shipbuilder took her in. Lucy’s wanted answers that the island can’t give her, but she didn’t want to find those answers by stumbling across her employer’s severed head. Lucy now not only has to ward off the local rumors of a mischievous spirit being the murderer, but she also has been unexpectedly named heir of the estate–putting her future in peril and casting suspicions she may be the killer.
Whats Up in YA
Sign up for What’s Up In YA? to receive all things young adult literature.
One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram
Dayton and Farshid are high school freshmen who could not be more different from one another. But when Dayton shouts the f-slur during an author event at his school, the two boys’ lives become increasingly intertwined.
Dayton’s dealing with the fallout of his behavior. He’s been shunned by friends, disappointed his family, and had to face the real consequences of an action he didn’t think through. Farshid, meanwhile, is grappling with his own budding sexuality amid the realization that he lives in a world that is hostile toward queer people.
Unexpectedly forced together, the two very different teens must reckon with who they are, what they believe, and the ways that toxic masculinity impacts their lives.
Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong
Caroline Chua has been in exile from her family and home in Malaysia for five years. During that time, she’s been enrolled in a magical academy in New York City. This is to protect both her and her family.
But she’s being summoned home because her brother Aaron, next in line to become the Protector of the Island, is missing. Carolina returns and cannot believe how much things have changed on her island. She can’t figure out, though, if it’s her or the island.
Carolina’s family insists on keeping her safe, while the Council demands that she stay out of trouble. She can’t help herself, though. She wants to find her brother and return him to safety.
Too bad Aaron’s been taken captive by vengeful ghosts with a long-held grudge. Carolina knows she can’t go it alone, so she’s recruiting people she knows and loves to help her get to Aaron. All the ghosts want is to return to the mortal realm during the Hungry Ghost Festival and reclaim their right as rulers of the island. For Carolina, it’s a race against the clock to save her brother and avoid the actions that led to her exile five years ago.
Hardcover YA Series Releases This Week:
- Downfall by Marc J Gregson
New Paperback YA Releases This Week
Two Perfect Lies by Natalie D. Richards
Two years ago, Clara gained a criminal record and ruined a girl’s life. She’s been shunned, an outcast, in the time since.
So when Lily, a popular and beloved student, takes a shine to Clara, things seem to be looking up for her. Clara, of course, is cautious and tentative in this friendship; she’s also grateful for a potential social redemption.
But then Lily keeps talking about wanting to get revenge on some classmates and teachers. Clara thinks Lily has to be joking until she stumbles upon actual plans that Lily has developed to take out people at their school.
Lily’s plan also includes Clara, and before she can do anything about it, Clara’s being not-so-slowly implicated in a series of terrible acts befalling her classmates. Now she’s got to find out the truth and clear her name. Again.
Paperback YA Series Releases This Week:
- His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le
- King’s Legacy by L. C. Rosen
- Sisters of Useyi by Moses Ose Utomi
Another great check-in opportunity at this point in the year? What you’ve read in the world of YA news. Catch up with this month’s roundup of all things YA here.
English (US) · 