| The Beautiful by Renée AhdiehWhat it’s about: Fleeing a painful past in Paris, French Asian seamstress Celine arrives in 1872 New Orleans, where she finds herself falling for uncanny underworld leader Sébastien even as she’s stalked by a bloodthirsty serial killer.
Read it for: smoldering paranormal romance and chilling mystery set against a lush and detail-rich backdrop.
Series alert: This vampire fantasy is the 1st in a new series from popular author Renée Ahdieh. |
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| Slay by Brittney MorrisWhat it’s about: No one knows that honors student Kiera is the developer behind SLAY, an online role-playing game she created as a refuge for black gamers like herself. Her anonymity is threatened, however, when the murder of a SLAY player puts the game under fire from the media, and Kiera has to defend the world she’s created.
Why you might like it: Alongside immersive gaming scenes, this own voices debut features an authentic take on the diversity of black experiences. |
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| Who Put This Song On? by Morgan ParkerStarring: music-obsessed, “super-emo” Morgan, who’s dealing with depression and feeling stuck at a small-town religious school where she’s one of only a few black students.
What happens: With the help of new friends, Morgan tries to block out the noisy opinions of others and figure out who she is and what she wants.
About the author: This is the first YA book from poet Morgan Parker, inspired by her own teen years and diaries. |
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| Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura RubyFeaturing: fourteen-year-old Frankie, abandoned by her father in a Chicago orphanage during the lead-up to World War II; and Pearl, the ghost who watches over her.
What happens: While Pearl tries to reconcile her own tragic life and death, she watches Frankie grapple with poverty, family instability, falling in love, and the search for meaning in a harsh world.
Who it’s for: Fans of author Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap will enjoy this similarly subtle, strange, and thought-provoking story. |
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| Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker; illustrated by Wendy XuWhat it’s about: Apprentice witch Nova joins forces with Tam, her long-lost werewolf friend (and crush) to defend her small New England hometown from a demonic threat.
Why you might like it: With a sweet romance and a cozy autumn color palette, this graphic novel is a whimsical, enchanting read.
You might also like: Grace Ellis and Shae Beagle’s Moonstruck, another charming fantasy romance featuring a lovable werewolf. |
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| Kill the Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin HearneWhat it is: a quirky comedic fantasy adventure that riffs on classic genre tropes (think The Princess Bride).
Featuring: a farm boy (briefly), a talking goat, a seven-foot-tall warrior in a chainmail bikini, an enchanted rabbit bard, an alektorophobic assassin, a sand witch, and a dark lord.
Who it’s for: This series opener (written for adults) is sure to grab readers who love Terry Pratchett or Diana Wynne Jones. |
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| My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi MeadowsWhat it is: the tragic tale of England’s Lady Jane Grey, reimagined as a historical fantasy packed with intrigue, crackling banter, and animal shapeshifters.
Featuring: teenage King Edward VI, who’s weary of pesky usurpers; bookish Jane, who'll inherit the throne; and Gifford, Jane’s new husband, who's sometimes a horse.
Try this next: My Plain Jane, by the same trio of authors, offers an equally irreverent spin on Jane Eyre. |
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| Newt's Emerald by Garth NixThe crime: No sooner has 18-year-old Lady Truthful Newington inherited the Newington Emerald than the magical gem is stolen from her.
The investigation: Disguised as a man (complete with enchanted mustache), Truthful travels to London, where her search for the precious family heirloom leads to danger, sorcery, and maybe even love.
Read it for: Jane Austen-style wit mixed with lighthearted fantasy. |
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| An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret RogersonWhat it's about: At first, fairy prince Rook is outraged by human artist Isobel's too-insightful portrait of him. Yet when the two are forced to become allies, hostility gives way to forbidden love.
What’s inside: a bold heroine, breathtaking romantic tension, thrilling action, and unexpected twists.
Why you might like it: Flashes of humor (such as Isobel’s kid sisters, who were transformed from literal goats) lighten this lush, gripping tale. |
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| The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. YeeWhat it's about: Genie is shocked to learn that Quentin, the new Chinese guy at school, isn’t just annoying and weirdly attractive -- he's also the not-so-mythical Monkey King, and Genie’s destined to help him send a horde of demons back to hell.
Why you might like it: You'll be pulling for snarky perfectionist Genie as she tries to balance academics with demon-fighting in this wildly entertaining fantasy.
Don't miss: the sequel, The Iron Will of Genie Lo, out in January 2020. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 14 and up!
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