| The Downstairs Girlby Stacey LeeWhat it’s about: Witty, opinionated advice columnist “Miss Sweetie” has 1890 Atlanta buzzing, and nobody suspects that she’s really 17-year-old Jo Kuan, a sharp-minded, Chinese American lady’s maid who’s begun to wonder if it’s time to leave her anonymity behind.
Why you might like it: Jo is a compelling character with a lot to say about race and gender in the post-Civil War South, as well as a lot of questions about her hidden family history. |
|
| The Merciful Crowby Margaret OwenWhat it’s about: When a routine job takes an unexpected turn, Fie -- future chief of the Crows, Sabor’s lowly caste of undertakers and mercy-killers -- has to decide if the promise of protection for the Crows is worth the risk of a dangerous quest.
Read it for: diverse characters, pulse-pounding adventure, and an intriguing system of magic.
Series alert: This debut fantasy is the first in a duology. |
|
| Wilder Girlsby Rory PowerWhat it’s about: Ever since the Tox infected the Raxter School for Girls, killing some and leaving others distorted, the survivors have been under strict quarantine -- but that doesn’t stop student Hetty from venturing into the Tox-ravaged woods in search of a missing friend.
Is it for you? The gruesome mutations and brutal violence of the Tox might be too much for some readers, but those who like things dark and disturbing will be hooked by this dystopian/horror hybrid. |
|
|
Call It What You Wantby Brigid KemmererWhat it's about: A reviled boy whose father attempted suicide in the wake of an embezzlement scandal and a straight-A student who snapped and got caught cheating on the SAT become school project partners, before a plan to set things right tests the limits of their growing friendship. What it is: a captivating, heartfelt novel that asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?
|
|
| Shatter the Skyby Rebecca Kim WellsWhat it’s about: Maren ben Gao never wanted any trouble, but after her girlfriend Kaia is kidnapped and forced to become one of the Emperor’s prophets, Maren hatches a reckless plan to steal one of Emperor’s dragons and rescue Kaia.
For fans of: the dragon lore, politics, and diverse characters in Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina books.
Series alert: This gripping fantasy will leave you longing for the planned sequel. |
|
| The Closest I've Comeby Fred AcevesWhat it's about: Stuck living in a poor neighborhood with his mom and her abusive boyfriend, it's hard for 15-year-old Marcos Rivas to see any way out. He's got solid friends and a surprising new crush, but when an unexpected opportunity arises, Marcos is afraid to let himself hope.
Author alert: Get in on the ground floor with this authentic, gritty debut from author Fred Aceves.
For fans of: Jason Reynolds and Matt de la Peña. |
|
| Wild Beautyby Anna-Marie McLemoreFeaturing: the Nomeolvides women, keepers of the garden at La Pradera estate and bearers of both a gift and a curse: they can make flowers grow with their bare hands, but if they fall in love, their beloved is doomed to disappear.
What happens: Estrella Nomeolvides finds a mysterious boy in the garden, prompting the family to unearth some long-buried secrets.
You might also like: Lana Popović’s Wicked Like a Wildfire, another lush and leisurely paced tale of magical realism. |
|
| Burn Baby Burnby Meg MedinaThe setting: New York City, 1977, when disco music wafts from radios, a serial killer called Son of Sam is on the loose, and high school grad Nora López is trying to hang on to her family and her hopes for the future.
What happens: Money is tight and her delinquent brother's behaviour is getting more frightening, but Nora’s relationship with co-worker Pablo is getting hotter than the sizzling summer weather.
Read it for: intense emotions and vivid atmosphere. |
|
| The Education of Margot Sanchezby Lilliam RiveraWhat it’s about: After getting caught with her Papi’s credit card, “Princesa” Margot Sanchez has to give up partying with her prep school friends in order to work at her family’s Bronx grocery store, which leads to a new understanding of herself, her family, and her Puerto Rican heritage.
Who it’s for: readers who enjoy characters who aren’t always likable, but are just as flawed, messy, and fascinating as real people. |
|
Ask us for more great recommendations! |
|
|