Kaz and his crew (including the brave Inej and charming Jesper) offer some of the most entertaining segments in the Shadow & Bone series, and Six of Crows, although it takes a moment to wade into it, delivers this fascinating trio (and then some) right to its pages. It’s a little grittier than Shadow, but this unpredictable cast will keep you reading for sure.
Category: YA Romance
Dark and Shallow Lies
If you like mystery and intrigue with a side of psychic powers and magic, then this book truly is for you. Being able to twist the story around and around, until the reader feels desperate to get to the final pages, is truly an art, and this story does that and more.
Shadow and Bone
When I selected Shadow and Bone from my Netflix menu, I had no idea I was stepping into the Grishverse. Little did I know that the intriguing show is based on a young adult trilogy that takes the reader deep into the heart of a complex and totally captivating world of magic.
Talon
Talon offered me everything I was seeking in a good dragon-inspired YA novel. Thrilling action, well-designed intrigue, and star-crossed romance kept this plot humming. The main characters, who tell the story in alternating first-person voices, were tough and vulnerable all at once, and I think that takes great skill to write well.
The Cousins
McManus does a fine job here, giving us insight into each character and winning us over so we feel like part of the team. As the past and the present collide, this book will keep you guessing about the final outcome–will the cousins restore the relationship with their grandmother and gain back the family inheritance?
An Abundance of Katherines
Quirky is the only word to describe Green’s An Abundance of Katherines. From the main character-narrator, to the story itself, it’s a quirky good read with moments of emotional depth and poignancy.
Reboot
The action in Reboot moves the book scene to scene. At the same time, Tintera builds her characters throughout, ensuring that the action scenes are not throw away, but instead keep the reader highly involved.
The Future of Us
The Future of Us is a thoughtful piece of fiction about what social media can really tell us about our lives (but also very pacey–this is a quick read because the story really moves). The story takes place in the late nineties (the ages of the characters matched my own at the time–so I found this incredibly satisfying as a blast through the past!).
The Downstairs Girl
Historical fiction set in the deep south can give us insight into personal difficulties that other people these days might seem happy to bury. This story focuses on Jo Kuan and the way her own pluck and talent help in the fight against racism and inequality.
Warcross
If you are ready for stories for the next generation, then Warcross is your novel. Warcross brings readers to a near-future world where virtual reality (VR) is literally everywhere.
What Light
This book by Thirteen Reasons Why author Jay Asher is a different kind of story from the hard-hitting bestseller. This light and beautiful Christmas story is classified as a middle grade plus, making it appropriate for young middle schoolers, all the way through high school.
American Royals
What if America had a royal family? Yeah, I know. It’s a little hard to wrap our minds around. But what if George Washington had said yes when he was asked to become king?
That’s the premise behind Katherine McGee’s new novel in a new series. American Royals poses the question: what would it be like to have an American royal dynasty?
Kid List 