Author: Rachel Milburn

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2024) Featured Review: Invisible Son by Kim Johnson

  • Invisible Son
  • by Kim Johnson
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Release date: June 27, 2023
  • ISBN: 9780593482100

Seventeen-year-old Andres Jackson just spent two months incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit.  A restorative justice program is allowing him to return to his family home in Northeast Portland–and the neighborhood friends who were actually the guilty parties.  However, Andres’ plans for returning to school and establishing his innocence are interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Andres now must juggle pandemic losses, family struggles, and the realization that perhaps the truth behind who framed him for stealing is much more complicated than he previously thought.  

This title is a suspenseful and dramatic mystery that slowly builds towards an action packed climax.  The story weaves together important aspects of the historical treatment of Blacks in Portland, contemporary social justice themes, a complicated romance storyline, and a slow burning suspenseful mystery plot.  Readers will connect with Andres’ struggle to learn the truth.

Teen readers drawn to storylines about social justice advocacy and emotion-filled dramas will be drawn to this text. Fans of Nic Stone’s Dear Martin and Dear Justyce, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Concrete Rose, and Jason Reynolds’ and Brendan Kiely’s All American Boys will enjoy this important story of racial injustice and its intersection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

-Marie LeJeune

Other Nominated Titles

Release Date: April 4, 2023
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Release Date: January 24, 2023

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: https://bit.ly/BFYA24TeenFB

#ICYMI: 8 Books You Might Have Missed

It’s almost the end of 2023 and time to submit your last carts for the year!  If you find yourself with extra funds, here are some titles from the last two years that you might have missed. Some are from debut authors that snuck under the radar, while others are old favorites with new projects.

    • There’s No Way I’d Die First
    • By Lisa Springer
    • Delacorte Press: 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593643174

    This debut is for the horror-obsessed teen and pulls out all the tropes in what ends up being a campy, gory romp. If the tropes aren’t enough of a tell, each chapter starts with a quote from a horror movie and gives a hint to upcoming events. This is an homage to all the greats, with references to Stephen King, Scream, a killer clown with superhuman strength that rivals Michael Myers, and a heavy dose of teen drama. It also tries to tie in some political and social commentary and a hint of romance. Does this require suspension of belief? Yes. That’s the point. Hand to your older teens or your horror movie buffs.

    • Holly Horror
    • by Michelle Jabé Corpora
    • Penguin Workshop, 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593386217

    A scary take on our patchwork-clad, bonnet-wearing gal, Holly Hobbie. After her parents split, Evie’s mom moves the family back to her hometown and into the Horror House, so named because Holly vanished from it decades before. As Evie pokes around in the attic and discovers more of Holly’s story, weird things start to happen to her. The book ends on a cliff-hanger and readers will eagerly await book two. For younger teens that are more into supernatural mysteries, rather than slasher stories.

    • 16 & Pregnant
    • by LaLa Thomas
    • MTV Books, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781665917278

    If you are a millennial, you probably remember when this show first aired back in 2009. The show followed teens that found themselves pregnant and documented how their lives were impacted, eventually leading to the spin-off series, Teen Mom. Two teens find themselves dealing with a surprise pregnancy that derails their life plans. All options are discussed and the book does not shy away from health challenges that can accompany a pregnancy. This is an empowering story about friendship and parenthood. This is a great option for those looking for relatable stories about teen pregnancy, as well as viewers of the MTV show. This would also be a great option for parents and teens to read and discuss together.

    • Hotel Magnifique
    • by Emily J. Taylor
    • Razorbill, 2022
    • ISBN: 978059340515

    This 2022 debut is Caraval meets Howl’s Moving Castle and my favorite cover of 2022. This dark fantasy features a magical hotel that moves to a new place every night. Employees of the hotel are magically bound to service and although the hotel is gorgeous and luxurious, it’s a gilded prison. Franco-philes and fans of lush, character-driven fantasy will devour this. Additionally, the stunning cover makes this an easy book to hand-sell.

    • A Million to One
    • by Adiba Jaigirdar
    • Harperteen, 2022
    • ISBN: 978006291632

    Published right before the end of 2022, I think this one snuck past a lot of people. Take a diverse group of teens, put them on the Titanic and add in a heist. Jaigirdar’s previous YA novels have been sapphic romances–here she moves more into action and historical fiction territory. This reads quickly and is a nice option for younger teens that enjoy heists or books about the Titanic. 

    • Something More
    • by Jackie Khalileh
    • Tundra Books, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781774882139

    This romance is about a Palestinian-Canadian teen, newly diagnosed as autistic. She makes a list of all the things she wants to accomplish in high school before she graduates. She quickly learns there is no guidebook for matters of the heart when she finds herself caught between two guys. This is a refreshing take on the classic coming of age story.

    • The Grimoire of Grave Fates
    • by Hanna Alkaf and Margaret Owen, et al.
    • Delacorte Press, 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593427453

    If you have teens looking for a Harry Potter-esque story, hand them this one. It checks all the boxes: a magical boarding school that flies around à la Howl’s Moving Castle or the aforementioned Hotel Magnifique, an evil professor, a murder mystery, and magical beasts. This isn’t really a short story collection, nor is it a traditional novel. Each chapter is by a different YA author and features a different character that propels the plot forward. Some stories are stronger than others–I need a whole book about Diego, please! This collaborative effort has something for everyone and is a great option for younger teens.

    • A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy
    • by Jeff Bishop
    • Putnam, 2022
    • ISBN: 9781984812940

    Don’t be fooled by the cotton candy cover!  This book is a lot of things–technically it’s speculative fiction. You could also consider it a romantic comedy. It should be about a boy having the best time of his life, the summer after his senior year. But ultimately, it’s about a boy that suffers a torn ACL, leaving him stuck on the couch recovering from surgery, while dealing with a really bad breakup with his girlfriend, who happens to be in a coma from a car accident, which makes it pretty weird that Cam can see and talk to her while on his sofa. Tandy is chaotic and will have you laughing and weeping, reminiscent of the John Hughes movies referenced throughout. This was my favorite debut of 2022 and one of my favorites of the year. Hand to your older teens– especially your broken-hearted high school seniors

    -Megan Nigh

    Celebrating Faces of Filipino American Music and YA Storytelling

    October is Filipino American History Month, celebrating the second-largest Asian American ethnic group in the U.S. It honors the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in the continental United States in 1587. U.S. Congress officially recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009 (Filipino American National Historical Society [FANHS], 2020).

    So, let’s celebrate! Here are some of the music artists and YA authors contributing to Filipino American history:

    Listen

    H.E.R.

    Ruby Ibarra

    Olivia Rodrigo

    Toro y Moi

    Read

    Tracy Badua

    Mike Curato

    Juleah del Rosario

    Makala Gharib

    Maura Milan

    Rod Pulido

    Randy Ribay

    -Stephanie Mahar

    References

    About. (n.d.). Juleah del Rosario. https://www.juleahdelrosario.com/ 

    About the author. (n.d.). Rod Pulido. https://www.rodpulido.com/aboutandcontact 

    Bazan, M. (2022, April). [Photograph of Toro y Moi wearing hat]. MusicTech. https://musictech.com/features/interviews/toro-y-moi-new-album-mahal/ 

    Blake, F. (n.d.). [Photograph of Juleah del Rosario]. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58917c85a5790a492c823600/1569625827149-2USP4RRFJRQAYGMPR86V/Juleah+delRosario-3.jpg?format=2500w 

    Blog. (2019). Maura Milan. https://www.mauramilan.com/blog 

    Curato, M. (2023). Mike Curato. https://www.mikecurato.com/ 

    Filipino American National Historical Society. (2020). About Filipino American history month. http://fanhs-national.org/filam/about/

    Fury, R. (2020, January 26). [Photograph of H.E.R. at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards]. Harper’s BAZAAR. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a30668618/her-without-sunglasses-grammys-2020/

    Geffen Records. (n.d.). Olivia Rodrigo. https://www.oliviarodrigo.com/ 

    HarperCollins, & Huang, A. (2023, January). [Image of book cover and author, Tracy Badua]. KPBS Public Media. https://cdn.kpbs.org/90/c4/3a0f8f164508ad1cf61be0724ef7/tracy-badua-this-is-not-a-personal-statement.jpg  

    Macaya, L. (2023). [Photograph of the author, Randy Ribay]. http://www.randyribay.com/uploads/1/0/9/7/109705059/ribay-author-photo-by-leopaldo-macaya-2023_orig.jpg 

    Malaka Gharib. (n.d.). https://www.malakagharib.com/ 

    Mercene, M. [Photograph of Malaka Gharib]. (n.d.). Malakagharib.com. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626c4eb59f0cac06991e5799/94afcc15-9a37-44bf-96a6-ab9cb1305939/IMG_0044+%281%29.jpg?format=1500w 

    Osborne, D. (n.d.). Mike Curato. Macmillan Publishers. https://us.macmillan.com/author/mikecurato 

    Randy Ribay. (n.d.). http://www.randyribay.com/ 

    Ruby Ibarra Entertainment, LLC. (2023). Ruby Ibarra. https://www.rubyibarra.com/

    Sony Music Entertainment. (2023). H.E.R. https://www.her-official.com/

    Sykes, C. [Photograph of Olivia Rodrigo on NBC’s “Today” show at Rockefeller Plaza]. (2023, September). KING 5 Media Group. https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/olivia-rodrigo-2024-arena-world-tour-full-list-dates-prices/507-5f065a7c-6a15-42a5-8786-b94d9d8f84df 

    Toro y Moi. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2023 from, https://toroymoi.com/ 

    Vilcek Foundation. (2023, March 20). [Photograph of Ruby Ibarra for Vilcek Foundation Prize]. https://vilcek.org/news/ruby-ibarra-language-is-a-form-of-survival/

    Villanueva, G. (n.d.). Tracy Badua: Author. https://tracybadua.com/ 

    Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2024) Featured Review: Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

    • Spice Road
    • by Maiya Ibrahim
    • Narrated by Krupa Pattani
    • Books on Tape | Listening Library
    • Publication Date: January 24, 2023
    • ISBN: 9780593667859

    Misra tea has the power to awaken magic hidden within. However, the Council closely guards its use and severely punishes those who violate its rules. Misra misuse can lead to magical obsession and death if the Council doesn’t get to you first. Imani shows her loyalty to the Council by strictly following their Misra rules. She is determined to prove her worth as a Shield and is different from her deceased Misra-obsessed older brother. When Imani uncovers evidence that her brother may still be alive and using Misra, she takes the opportunity to prove her loyalty by returning him to the Council. Imani and a group of Council-selected Shields embark on the expansive journey to find her brother. The farther Imani gets from home, the more she learns about her world and Misra, which calls into question everything she thought was true. 


    This sweeping journey draws readers into a new sandswept world filled with ghouls and snarky djinns. There is something for every reader in this adventurous romantic fantasy.  Pattani’s narration takes this gorgeous story to new heights. She successfully helps readers navigate this new world and compels them forward. It is an audiobook that will hold listeners attention for just one more minute, followed by one more. Spice Road is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Roshani Chokshi.

    -Sarah Carpenter

    Other Nominated Titles

    Release Date: November 22, 2023
    Release Date: March 14, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

    Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2024) Feature Review: Pardalita by Joana Estrela

    • Pardalita
    • by Joana Estrela
    • Publisher: Chronicle Books
    • Imprint: Levine Querido
    • Release date:  April 18, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781646142569

    Raquel is a 16-year-old living in a very small town in Portugal. Everyone knows everyone kind of small town. It starts out with Raquel being suspended for cussing out a school aide. She has her two best friends, Luisa and Fred, to help ground her. Then she sees, for the first, Pardalita. Next thing Raquel knows is that she’s applying for the theater program to become closer to Pardalita.

    I think this would be a good candidate for QPRR. It’s very much a slice of life, it’s very relatable, and deals with first loves/crushes, being an “angsty” teenager, and “coming out of your shell.” It’s very much a great book to read for any teen!

     Recommended for readers who also may have enjoyed This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, and Are you listening? by Tillie Walden.

    -Molly Sprague-Rice

    Other Nominated Titles

    Release Date: January 3, 2023
    Release Date: March 7, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

    Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2024) Featured Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

    • Divine Rivals
    • by Rebecca Ross
    • Publisher: Wednesday Books
    • Release date: April 4, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781250857439

    After centuries of slumber, the gods have woken and they are angry, launching the country into a brutal war that forces mortals to choose sides. Iris and Roman are in a fierce competition to become the new newspaper columnist for the prestigious Oath Gazette, both with their own reasons for competing. Iris has struggled to pay the bills ever since her brother joined the war and her mother became consumed by grief and her alcohol addiction. Roman comes from a wealthy family, but wants to carve a life for himself out from under his father’s shadow. While Iris continues to fight for the better paying job and can’t stop worrying about her brother, she finds comfort in writing letters and slipping them into her wardrobe where they vanish – into the hands of Roman, her rival at the paper, who decides to anonymously write her back. 

    Divine Rivals is a historical fantasy romance with a focus on the power of family and love in a time of war. The magical letter writing is romantic and fun. The two main characters, Iris and Roman, are delightful to read about as they face different obstacles from different backgrounds, and the supporting characters are just as powerful and interesting. While some readers may think the pacing starts off slow, the second half takes off at such a rapid pace it’s hard to put down and is utterly captivating as the setting of the story shifts to the war front.
    This is a strong choice for teens who are a fan of rivals-to-romance fantasy titles and don’t mind a cliffhanger. Readers who enjoyed The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski or Lovely War by Julie Berry should give Divine Rivals a try.

    -Allison Riggs

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
    The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: https://bit.ly/BFYA24TeenFB

    Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2024) Feature Review: Extra Life (Young Readers Adaptation) by Steven Johnson

    • Extra Life (Young Readers Adaptation)
    • by Steven Johnson
    • Publisher: Penguin
    • Imprint: Viking Books for Young Readers
    • Release date: January 3, 2023 ISBN: 9780593351499

    Humans have doubled their life expectancy. Extra Life explores the scientific advancements that have prolonged human life, including vaccines, seat belts, and pesticides. It provides a deep dive into modern history and scientific advances, which not only informs, but also speculates on the impact this has on the planet and our future.

    With large font and interesting chapter titles, a hefty bibliography and index, this book also includes recommended reading and would be a perfect resource for basic science inquiries and the starting point for further topic investigations.

    Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary by Gail Jarrow, The Deadliest Diseases Then and Now by Deborah Hopkinson, and History Smashers: Plagues and and Pandemics by Kate Messner.

    -Lorrie Roussin

    Other Nominated Titles

    Release Date: April 11, 2023
    Release Date: April 18, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

    Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2024) Featured Review: This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson

    • This Dark Descent
    • by Kalyn Josephson
    • Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
    • Release date: September 26, 2023
    • ISBN: 9781250812360

    Mikira Rusel’s family was once famous for breeding enchanted horses, but their ranch has fallen on hard times thanks to the spite of the Kelbras family, one of the Great Houses of Veradell. When Mikira’s father is discovered to be an unlicensed enchanter and arrested, Mikira makes a dangerous bargain with Rezek Kelbras: if she wins the Illinir, an infamously lucrative, but dangerous, horse race using an unenchanted horse, her father will be freed. To do this impossible task, she partners with an upstart nobleman, Damien, and a practitioner of forbidden magic, Arielle, who have their own reasons to hate the Kelbras. Yet Mikira wonders if, in pursuit of their own revenge, her allies will eventually become enemies as well.

    This Dark Descent is compelling, fast-paced, and intricately plotted. Dual narrators Mikira and Arielle are strong, sympathetic characters, two women who are tired of being powerless in an unequal society, but who come to have vastly different, conflicting ideals when wresting power for themselves. The dynamics among this group of secret rebels is fascinating, as Mikira, Arielle, and Damien all have something precious to lose that brings them together while also putting them at cross-purposes. Josephson expertly balances each character’s desires, motives, secrets, and moral codes to craft a taut thriller filled with bargains, betrayals, sacrifices, and revenge. The four horse races that make up the Illinir are packed with action and danger, while the introspective character moments make it clear what is at stake. The enchantment-based magic system is unique and steeped heavily in Jewish lore of the golem. Josephson also includes bisexual and demiromantic characters and references other queer couples in the story to make a queer-inclusive fantasy world.

    Teens who love morally gray characters, twisty political intrigue, and dark magics will find much to love here. Readers of other dark fantasies with epic stakes like A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, and The Young Elites by Marie Lu will appreciate the worldbuilding and political intrigue. Those who enjoy the racing aspect may also enjoy The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater and Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin.

    -Krista Hutley

    Other Nominated Titles

    Release Date: January 24, 2023
    Release Date: April 11, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
    The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: https://bit.ly/BFYA24TeenFB

    Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2024) Featured Review: Other Side of the Tracks by Charity Alyse

    • Other Side of the Tracks by Charity Alyse
    • Narrated by Angel Pean, Ruffin Prentiss, Shaun Taylor-Corbett
    • Simon & Schuster Audiobooks | Simon & Schuster Audio
    • Publication Date: November 22, 2022
    • ISBN: 978179715276

    Bayside and Hamilton, nearly identical in design, have been racially divided from the beginning. No one crosses the train tracks. Zach, who was raised in Philly and recently moved to Bayside along with his Bayside-native father, sees no reason to follow the “rules” when it comes to the segregation of the two towns.

    Although they have only left Bayside a handful of times, Capri and her older brother, Justin, have dreams of getting out and making it big. Justin is counting on a basketball scholarship and college while Capri dreams of dancing on Broadway. When Zach learns his idol, a jazz musician, owns a record shop in Hamilton and heads over to meet him he meets Capri, who is working at the shop. Zach and Capri share mutual goals and an instant connection. Told from the three teens’ points of view, this story explores race, division, and class through the people and traditions of two towns. When a Hamilton teen is shot by a Bayside police officer, tragedy strikes the towns. It could further deepen the division between the towns or, just maybe, it will bring about the start of real change. 

    Charity Alyse’s debut novel is both emotionally intense and thought-provoking. Racism, segregation, and interracial relationships are all key components of the storyline. Although set in the present, the events are reminiscent of circumstances of earlier decades. The narrators provide distinctly-voiced characters that will draw listeners to the story.

    Other Side of the Tracks is a perfect next read to follow Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give, I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Gilly Segal or Kim Johnson’s Invisible Son. Be sure to recommend this title to teens watching All American. 

    -Lysha Thompson

    Other Nominated Titles

    Release Date: May 2, 2023
    Release Date June 6, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

    Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2024) Feature Review: Someone is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong

    • Someone is Always Watching
    • by Kelley Armstrong
    • Publisher: Penguin Random House
    • Imprint: Tundra
    • Release date: April 11, 2023 
    • ISBN: 9780735270923

    Blythe’s tight-knit group of friends have started to be plagued by nightmares, hallucinations, and what seem to be repressed memories. The stakes are raised when her best friend Gabrielle has a series of psychotic breaks at school, and is whisked away to a mental health facility following a suspicious death of a school official. Blythe and her friends must work together to find out what really happened to Gabrielle and how this relates to their own nightmares and visions. But can they trust anyone, even one another?

    Someone is Always Watching is a fast-paced, plot driven thriller. Although some parts of the plot feel a bit underdeveloped, especially in the second half of the book, the twists and turns will likely keep readers turning the pages until the end. The book is just about 350 pages, but reads as quickly as a book half its length.

    Also try books by Karen McManus or These Deadly Games by Diana Urban.

    – Julianne Novetsky

    Other Nominated Titles

    Release Date: April 18, 2023
    Release Date: January 3, 2023

    The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

    Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.