It’s time to freshen up your reading wish list with these lovely new spring books. Imagine yourself with an iced coffee, wearing adorable sunglasses out on the mint-green grass, book in hand! Nothing like smelling the flowers and getting your read on!
Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt
With spring comes the promise of that amazing prom dress! But imagine that your school’s prom is one that you’re not invited to because of the color of your skin. Enter Nes, the new kid who’s not going to let her school get away with a segregated prom. Join her rebellion as she plans the ultimate anti-prom!
Dreamology by Lucy Keating
What would you do if the boy of your dreams was real? That’s exactly what happens to Alice as she meets the very real Max, the exact replica of the boy she’s been dreaming of forever. But this Max wants nothing to do with her. Disappear into their dreamy romance as they try to make sense of their intense connection.
Maud by Melanie J. Fishbane
Can’t get enough of Anne of Green Gables even with the new CBC miniseries? This next read will be sure to hold you over until the next episode and is based on the writer who created the adorable redhead. Meet Lucy Maud Montgomery for the first time ever as a fourteen-year-old with some big dreams. Living on Prince Edward Island with her grandparents, she fears she’ll never get to college or have a writing career. Sound familiar?
You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner
Tag yourself as “currently reading” with this fresh and edgy book about graffiti and self-acceptance. When Julia is kicked out of Kingston School for the Deaf, it’s mainstream school for her. There she becomes an outcast by being the only deaf student. Using her graffiti art to mark her territory, she’s challenged by an anonymous tagger showing her up. Bonus: the book has gorgeous illustrations by the author herself.
Flower by Elizabeth Craft & Shea Olsen
They say opposites attract and it couldn’t be truer in the case of Charlotte and Tate. She’s an ordinary girl trying to get to Stanford. He’s the biggest pop star on the planet. Their love story will keep you captivated to the last page!
Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves
Calling all fantasy lovers! Dive into this prestigious world where the magic in your blood defines your status. Thanks to a defect in her blood, Anna is Barren—unable to perform magic—until suddenly she breaks her sister’s debutante spell. As punishment, she’s exiled to Hungary and her family’s once powerful estate that's surrounded by whispers of rebellion. Talk about family drama.
A Season of Daring Greatly by Ellen Emerson White
Jill Cafferty is the girl who’s breaking all the rules. She’s loved baseball all her life and at eighteen has become the first woman drafted by a major-league team. But all that pressure is starting to take its toll as she struggles to make it in the male-dominated sport.
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
This quirky and adorable retelling of the Cinderella story has all the things you loved from the fairy tale sprinkled with unapologetically nerdy pop culture references. Instead of a normal ball, there’s the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball. This Magic Pumpkin is a vegan food truck. And instead of sweet-tempered Cinderella, there’s independent Elle Wittimer, a Starfield fan who seizes her chance to attend the ExcelsiCon before her stepsisters do.
Bellamy and the Brute by Alicia Michaels
A tale as old as time indeed is told in this modern take on Beauty and the Beast. In this version, we have Bellamy McGuire taking a summer job as a babysitter for the Baldwin family that will change her life forever. Rumors surrounding the family's disappearing son Tate doesn't have her afraid—but the rose petals leading to the forbidden third floor of the mansion have her on edge. Spooky, romantic and magical—all signs of a retelling done right!
Lifeblood by Gena Showalter
Catch up with Ten Lockwood in the second book of the action-packed Everlife series. Finally choosing her Everlife realm, Ten has no time for learning its rules as war rages between Troika and Myraid. She also can't keep Killian off her mind. The problem is that he's fighting for the other side. Their killer chemistry is off the charts
All this month, we're going to be offering some recommendations of books with strong female protagonists for our Young Adult readers, starting with Andrew's recommendations:
Devil and the Bluebird, by Jennifer Mason-Black, ISBN# 9781419720000, $17.95, from Amulet.
Rebels Like Us, by Liz Reinhardt, ISBN# 9780373212200, $18.99, from Seventeen Fiction.
If I Was Your Girl, by Meredith Russo, ISBN# 9781250078407, $17.99, from Flatiron Books.
Everything Leads to You, by Nina LaCour, ISBN# 9780142422946, from Speak.
Tuesday’s Treats is a weekly blog post dedicated to newly released books that I’m most excited for. (Books are in no particular order.)
All books featured this week will be released: FEBRUARY 28th
1. The Hate U Give: Angie Thomas (goodreads) (book depository)
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Thomas’ debut novel follows the story of Starr Carter who straddles two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives, and the suburban prep school she attends. When Starr witnesses the death of her best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer, the delicate balance of her life is shattered. The story of Khalil’s death becomes national news and everyone wants to know what happened that night, and the only one who can answer that question is Starr. And what she says can change everything.
Tackling huge issues of racism and place violence, The Hate U Give may be one of the most important novels to be published this year. If this book isn’t on your TBR, it really should be.
YA Contemporary Fiction; Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, Hardcover (US)
2. 10 Things I Can See From Here: Carrie Mac (goodreads) (book depository)
Maeve has been struggling with severe anxiety for as long as she can remember, and she’s heard every positive affirmation that one can say, but it’s not like she can shut off her brain. Constantly imagining the worst and creating obituaries for herself and others make life challenging for her in the first place, the added stress of leaving her mom (the one person who actually understands) to live with her dad for six months is enough to send her spiraling.
While in her new home, Maeve unexpectedly finds moments of peace with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about anything. But with all of the problems at home — her father’s questionable sobriety, her step-mother’s pregnancy — Maeve is still convinced that something will go wrong, because it always inevitably will.
YA Contemporary Fiction, LGBTQIA+; Knopf/Random House, Hardcover (US)
3. Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King: 1): Tricia Levenseller (goodreads) (book depository)
On a mission to find an ancient map, Alosa allows herself to be captured by an enemy ship so she can search it. She has nothing to worry about in regards to the crew (she can handle them on her own), but her captor, the clever and attractive first mate Riden, may cause her more problems that she anticipated.
All I needed to hear about this book was that it had a kickass female protagonist and pirates, and I was sold (adding it to my most anticipated reads list without blinking).
(Oh, and did I mention that she’s a 17 year-old pirate captain? How awesome!)
YA Fantasy; Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, Hardcover (US)
4. Rebels Like Us: Liz Reinhardt (goodreads) (book depository)
Agnes, aka Nes, Murphy-Pujols’ life is turned upside down when she and her mother move from Brooklyn to a small Southern town in the middle of her senior year. Homesick and broken hearted, Nes is determined to graduate without bringing any attention to herself. However, that plan dries up the very first day when she pits herself against the most popular girl in school and the principal. She also draws the attention of Doyle, the town’s “golden boy,” and the two’s relationship heats up the more time they spend together. Not only does Nes find that she likes Doyle more and more, but she realizes that her new home has a serious undercurrent of racism, even at her school where they have two proms: one black and one white.
Outrage, Nes helps organize an alternate prom, an all inclusive prom. But when the backlash starts, Nes realizes that standing for something is more important than nothing at all.
YA Contemporary Fiction; Harlequin Teen, Hardcover (US)
5. The Beast is an Animal: Peternelle van Arsdale (goodreads) (book depository)
When Alys was a child, her village was ravaged by soul eaters. She and the other children in her village were spared, and were sent to live in a neighboring village, where the people have created a fear of the soul eaters and the Beast that guides them, rules over all. But, as Alys grows, she feels a strange connection to the soul eaters, and she discovers that she has a gift; one she must hide or else she will be deemed a witch. When a disaster destroys her home, Alys must find a way to heal herself and everyone, and the answers just may lie in the dark forest that she was kept away from her entire life.
YA Fantasy; Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, Hardcover (US)
6. See You in the Cosmos: Jack Cheng (goodreads) (book depository)
Just like his hero, astronomer Carl Sagan, Alex Petroski wants to send his golden iPod into space to show whoever is out there what life is like — his life is like on Earth. On his journey, Alex finds that he’s actually the one who has things to learn about his world.
It’s never too early to start thinking about prom! We know the struggle is real when it comes to finding that perfect dress, those perfect shoes and the perfect prom date for the big night. Find your inspiration in our top YA Prom books that have the best drama, best dresses and best prom fun!
Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt
Being the new kid is always tough but for Nes, “tough” reaches a new definition when she finds out that her new school has a segregated prom. Rally behind her as she takes a stand on this injustice by forming an anti-prom with her classmates. What forges friendships better than rebellion?
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
We can’t get enough of this amazing book! Starr is an impressive heroine whose stance against the injustice of the death of her friend has her so not stressing about prom. And her boyfriend may not be the ideal prom date her dad will approve of, but she sticks to her guns and brings him anyways. This read has all the book feels!
The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West
What could be worse than being dumped during prom? Gia is left stranded in the parking lot with no date after telling her friends about Bradley for months. Humiliation is not an option, and Gia snags the help of a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister. Their chemistry is too real to fake, and will be sure to make you swoon!
The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
This book is all about friendship goals! Leo is the angry new kid, and defends David when he’s picked on by the school jock. As the two learn each other’s secrets, prom is on the horizon. Will David and Leo make it to the prom to be remembered as they wish to be?
The Prom Goer’s Interstellar Excursion by Chris McCoy
Prepare yourself for a case of the giggles. Bennett unexpectedly gets his dream prom date, Sophie. And of course, she gets abducted by aliens right in front of his eyes. No big deal—he’ll just catch a ride out to space with a band of extraterrestrial musicians to bring her back. Talk about carpooling issues.
Back in 2013 the story of the first integrated prom in Georgia rocked the headlines and shocked the nation. Although it’s been sixty years since the Supreme Court put an end to segregation, certain school districts apparently have disregarded the memo. This is the inspiration behind the story of Nes who, upon moving to the South, discovers there are some lines drawn at her new school where they shouldn’t be. With two proms (one for whites, one for blacks), Nes can’t keep her head down as she’d planned. Every rebellion starts with just one person speaking up.
2. Amity by Micol Ostow
In 1975 the Lutz family unsuspectingly moved to Amityville and into a house where, the year before, a man had brutally murdered his entire family. The Lutz family only stayed in the house for 28 days before being chased away by the paranormal activity within its walls. The bone-chilling horror story Amity tells the story of another menacing home, following the dual narratives of Connor and Gwen who, 10 years apart from one another, try to live in a house chock-full of evil. It’s enough to give us nightmares for weeks!
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Heroine Hazel Grace was inspired by Green’s real-life friend Esther Earl. John Green met the young teen at a Harry Potter conference where neither of them felt much like dancing and instead became fast friends. Hazel’s story is not a retelling of Esther’s battle with thyroid cancer. As John Green has said before in interviews, that story belongs to Esther and her family. But Esther did inspire many of the fictional Hazel’s personality traits.
4. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
This next unlikely story of friendship between Sarah and Linda was inspired by the true events of school integration in 1959. Sarah Dunbar’s high school experience is anything but normal. When you’re expected to pave the way for change, things are bound to get messy. As one of the first black students to attend Jefferson High School, Sarah knows she’s going to face massive resistance. And that face just so happens to belong to Linda, the daughter of a vocal opponent of school integration.
5. Conversion by Katherine Howe
Conversion, an eerie tale of the hysteria, paranoia and possible witchcraft that seem to grip a group of teen girls at an elite private school, was inspired by a real incident in LeRoy, New York. There 14 students (13 girls and 1 boy) began presenting with a bizarre series of inexplicable physical symptoms that included verbal outbursts, tics, seizure-like activity and slurred speech. Eventually most of the students were given the diagnosis of conversion disorder and thought to be suffering a mass delusion. Author Katherine Howe couldn’t help but notice how the symptoms closely resembled those that seemed to befall groups of women during the Salem witch trials, and she used that comparison to fuel her work on the very spooky Conversion.
6. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Kissing took on a new meaning when two young men decided to take part in a 32-hour smooching marathon. Their kiss was of epic proportions and even set a new Guinness World Record. Levithan takes takes inspiration from their amazing achievement to explore, not only the kissing couple’s feelings about one another, but also the thoughts of other gay teen boys struggling with their own issues as they watch the event from afar.
7. Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz
Cruz’s writing is as real as it gets. Inspired by her own immigrant experience of coming from the Philippines to the States, she gives us the brave story of Jasmine de los Santos. All Jasmine knows is that she’s done everything right to get her hands on a full college scholarship. What she doesn’t know is that her parents’ visas expired years ago, which makes her entire family illegal. And suddenly the threat of deportation becomes very real.
8. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This stellar story based on the Black Lives Matter movement will have you flipping pages nonstop. With Tupac references sprinkled throughout and an incredible heroine, Starr, who must navigate through two different worlds—her poor neighborhood and her fancy suburban school—this book breaks down all the walls.
9. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows
You’ll never be able to regard Tudor history the same way again after reading this hilarious retelling of the tragic Nine-Day Queen, Lady Jane Grey. There are magical transformations, out-of-nowhere weddings and laugh-out-loud fun. My Lady Jane is based on the real-life conspiracy to snag the throne of England from under the noses of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I via a hasty wedding. Did we mention there’s a horse involved in this version?
10. Empire of Dust by Eleanor Herman
Need more history? Then check out this magical retelling of Alexander the Great, and meet the young Prince Alex before the fame and the glory. After winning his first battle, he finds himself unsure of what kind of leader he wants to be—can a tyrant be a great leader? Meanwhile, Hephaestion, an outcast general, is on a dangerous mission that leads him to Egypt with the prophetic Katerina. There’s also Jacob, the heartbroken warrior who’s intent on destroying the ancient Blood Magics. Oh, and there’s an imprisoned Persian princess too. And you thought history would be boring!
No plans this March break? Have no fear! We have all the recommended reads to keep you busy and not thinking about that beach you wish you were on… Ah well, there’s always next year, enjoy!
1. Lifeblood by Gena Showalter
Ten is back and after choosing her fate she must deal with the fallout, both good and bad. You won’t want to miss this adrenalin-fueled sequel to FIRSTLIFE.
2. Ronit & Jamil by Pamela L. Laskin
This re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet involves a young Israeli girl falling for a Palestinian boy who meet when their fathers come together for a business arrangement. Forbidden love, war, and family secrets, what more can a reader ask for?
3. Flower by Elizabeth Craft & Shea Olsen
Ordinary girl meets pop star boy and sparks fly. This book will have you believing that your plan to marry Justin Bieber might not be so crazy after all.
4. King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard
It’s finally here! It feels like we have been waiting a lifetime to find out the conclusion to the Red Queen series and we cannot wait to dive in.
5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
It feels like everyone is talking about this book, and rightly so. The Hate U Give offers up a realistic interpretation of the current political scene while still being relatable and heart-warming. You won’t want to miss out on this read.
6. Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley
This book will give you all the feels as Aki enters into her first relationship with a girl and learns new things about herself and love along the way.
7. Long Way Home by Katie McGarry
Violet is the female character we all need and want to be. She is confident, determined, and stands up for what is right, even if it means going against the slightly terrifying Reign of Terror motorcycle club.
8. The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak
Looking for a good laugh this break? You’ll want to check out this book. The year is 1987 and three best friends try and steal the holy grail of magazines: Playboy, and of course hijinks ensue.
9. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Tea is a witch who can raise the dead, and things get even more complicated when she raises her own brother from the dead and becomes ostracized by the rest of her community. Fantasy lovers will want to get this debut read ASAP!
10. Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt
This ripped-from-the-headlines story will have you wanting to rebel right alongside Nes as she rallies together a group of students to create an anti-prom after she learns her new school has a segregated prom. Who says you can’t learn while on spring break.
These kick-ass females will empower you to break the mold and do what you love!
1. Jill Whitaker—If I Fix You by Abigail Johnson
Jill could star in her own The Fast and the Furious movie with her crazy love of cars and her mad skills as a mechanic… Look out, Vin Diesel!
2. Celaena Sardothien—Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Assassin and investigator? Celaena Sardothien has one wicked resume!
3. Alina Starkov—Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
A female soldier who leads an entire revolution to liberate the great nation of Ravka from the oppressive and seductive Darkling—now that is a serious #ladyboss!
4. Agnes “Nes” Murphy Pujols—Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt
Nes is exactly who readers need right now. She refuses to stand on the sidelines and leads a group of students to stand against their school’s segregated prom and fight for what is right.
5. Violet—Long Way Home by Katie McGarry
Raised to live by the code of her father’s motorcycle club, The Reign of Terror, Violet can handle any danger or mayhem thrown her way. Now that’s one woman I wouldn’t want to mess with.
6. Orion—Flashfall by Jenny Moyer
Orion, a miner by day, sets out to protect herself and the rest of humanity from dangerous radioactive particles—sign me up!
7. Tenley Lockwood—Everlife series by Gena Showalter
Ten begins Firstlife locked away, punished for not following her parents’ orders. She’ll fight to first death for her right to choose how to live her life, and she only gets more badass from there!
8. Hermione Granger—Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Who are we kidding? Harry and Ron would not have survived without the help of Hermione. She has brains and courage and can throw a mean punch.
