Andrea Tang
[isbn]
This deliciously compelling magical whodunit reads like a Knives Out film led by an Asian American Nancy Drew. Despite her mother's hopes for law school and her father's wishes for engineering, Tabatha has devoted herself to the art of sorcery, and landed an apprenticeship with the renowned Sorcerer Solomon to boot. But when Solomon is murdered, Tabatha and his youngest son must work together to clear their names by finding the real... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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H. E. Edgmon
[isbn]
PNW author Edgmon follows up his Witch King duology with this series starter about a nonbinary Seminole teen who happens to be a reincarnated god. With the weight of lifetimes on their shoulders, Gem needs to face down their pasts to choose their future. But what futures do you have when the world will only see you as a monster?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Lex Croucher
[isbn]
Arthur and Gwendoline attempt to live up to their namesakes in this medieval romcom that is, delightfully, not an "enemies-to-lovers" tale, but an "enemies-to-queer-solidarity-that-bucks-tradition-and-arguably-fate" romp. If you thought the only thing A Knight's Tale was missing was a queer love story, or if you did time in the BBC Merlin fandom, this one's for you.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
I'm a bit obsessed with Rick Riordan. I'll try anything he writes, and his Rick Riordan Presents imprint is always quality (and a great example of true allyship), but it all started with Percy — and now he's graduating! I feel like Mushu in Mulan: "My little baby's all grown up!"
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Emily Winfield Martin
[isbn]
I am obsessed with Portland local Emily Winfield Martin's dreamy artwork, which never fails to feel like it came from from a forgotten, beloved childhood fairytale. This charming board book follows The Wonderful Things You Will Be and Wonderful Babies, highlighting wonderful wee ones in all four seasons.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido
[isbn]
This follow-up to Alexander & Sweet's 2019 How to Read a Book comes just in time for National Poetry Month in April! Nikaido joins the team to help craft a beautiful, instructional poem which, combined with Sweet's joyfully vivacious illustrations and collages, is sure to inspire young readers. What poems might they create?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sandra Boynton
[isbn]
Boynton's latest picture book shares the quality that has made her past hits shine: it's just as much fun for adults as it is for kiddos. She's onto something, too — it became a lot easier to finish writing this review when I pictured an enthusiastic chicken watching me type, yelling "WOO HOO, PECK THOSE KEYS!"
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Margaret Owen
[isbn]
If we had the option for audio-clip blurbs, this one would be me squealing at a pitch only dogs can hear. I immediately fell madly in love with Owen’s 2021 masterpiece Little Thieves, a smart, snarky, thoughtful retelling of “The Goose Girl” fairy tale grounded in female agency. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when the payoff of the literal “Find the Lady” game happened, I lost my mind.) That book stands wonderfully on its... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland
[isbn]
Gratton (Queens of Innis Lear) and Ireland (Dread Nation) combine their considerable skills to craft a fantasy world of warring Houses, prophetic doom, and ancient magic in this fantastic duology opener! If you’re a fan of Leigh Bardugo or Sabaa Tahir and you’re watching House of the Dragon, you’ll want to pick this one up. War Prince Talon Goldhoard is determined to uphold his family’s (House Dragon’s) rule. But when the young woman his... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sarah Underwood
[isbn]
This YA debut is justifiably being compared to Madeline Miller’s Circe for its focus on undersung women of Greek myth. On a deeper level, like Miller, Underwood’s poetic turn of phrase gives the novel a racing heartbeat that will have you reading as quickly as you can from the first line: “A silent maid braided Leto’s hair into an elaborate crown for her execution.” Underwood has here crafted a new myth, grounded in the tragic tale of... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Joy McCullough
[isbn]
McCullough showed her historical skillset with National Book Award Longlist debut Blood Water Paint, a novel in verse that fiercely told the story of painter and survivor Artemisia Gentileschi. Here, she turns those skills to Shakespeare’s dead heroines (primarily Lavinia, Juliet, Cordelia, and Ophelia, though plenty of others appear as well), who open this combination novel-in-verse/script-style tale, meeting in the liminal space under... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Griffin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy
[isbn]
The McElroys' brilliant graphic novel adaptation of their beloved podcast (with fantastic artwork by Carey Pietsch) has finally caught up to my favorite arc, and it was well worth the wait! In the vein of Groundhog Day or Palm Springs, our heroes have found themselves caught in a time loop on their most recent (Wild West-inspired) quest, and we begin to see a number of glimpses into the larger series' plot. I laughed, I teared... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Leigh Bardugo and Dani Pendergast
[isbn]
Fans of the Grishaverse (and its Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone) should be sure to pick up Bardugo’s first graphic novel entry to the series: Demon in the Wood, finally illuminating the backstory of the complicated, compelling villain the Darkling. Illustrated by fantastically talented newcomer Dani Pendergast, this prequel will serve as an interesting entry point for new Grishaverse readers as well.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
Mo Willem's beloved, recalcitrant, tricky Pigeon is back (for the first time since 2019's The Pigeon Has to Go to School), and he will ride the roller coaster! It's going to happen! Even if he's nervous! Wait, are you nervous? Why would you think the Pigeon is nervous? He's definitely going to ride this roller coaster...
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Emily Lloyd-Jones
[isbn]
Part heist novel, part Welsh fairytale, this magnificent standalone follows the kingdom’s last water diviner, Mer, on a quest for vengeance and freedom from the prince that abused her powers. With a former spymaster, a fae-marked fighter, and a princess of thieves, Mer sets out to destroy a prince — but ends up carrying the fate of a kingdom.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sunya Mara
[isbn]
The perfect new book to tide you over until the second season of Shadow and Bone! In this YA fantasy debut, Vesper is desperate to keep her revolutionary father from being executed like her mother was. To save his life, she'll need to catch the eye of a cruel prince — and perhaps even brave the fantastical, deadly Storm.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jenn Reese
[isbn]
Portland local Reese — a master of middle-grade literary fantasy — follows her Oregon Book award-winning A Game of Fox & Squirrels with a gorgeous middle-grade meditation on gender identity and sexuality, set against the backdrop of a quest to save the fantastical forest kingdom hidden in preteen Eren’s local woods.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Casey McQuiston
[isbn]
Beloved queer romance author McQuiston (Red, White & Royal Blue, One Last Stop) has penned their first YA novel. I can’t recommend it enough! Reminiscent of Green’s Paper Towns with a fem romance twist, Chloe is on the hunt for answers when popular girl Shara kisses her and then vanishes.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kelly Quindlen
[isbn]
The queer girl high school sports rom-com of my dreams! After a fender bender, Scottie has to carpool with her nemesis, Irene. At least it’s an opportunity to pretend-date to get back at Tally, her ex. Only, Irene has a lot more depth than Scottie’s ever given her credit for…
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Catherynne M. Valente
[isbn]
Once upon a time, a Forest
and a Valley fell in love. They brought the humans to the village and the
Quidnunx to the woods, never to meet. When his mother breaks that treaty, Osmo is
claimed by the denizens of the Eightpenny Woods for a fantastical, original
fairytale quest.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kelly Barnhill
[isbn]
Barnhill (Newbery Award-Winner for The Girl Who Drank the Moon) returns with another masterful original fairy tale for middle grade readers (and anyone else of excellent taste). Pick up this fantasy adventure about kindness, community, and what it means to be a neighbor — you won’t regret it!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Daniel José Older
[isbn]
The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is a platform for authors of color to craft modern myths based in their own cultures, heritages, and experiences. Ballad and Dagger marks the imprint’s first foray into YA, and Daniel José Older is the perfect author for the job. The Brooklyn diaspora community of the (fictional) sunken island of San Madrigal — once home to Cuban Santeros, Sephardic Jews, and pirates — is vibrant, full of real joy and... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Judy I. Lin
[isbn]
I immediately fell in love with this unforgettably unique debut (first in a duology) from Judy I. Lin. Young teamaker Ning is determined to join the competition to choose the next shénnóng-shi (a master of the magical art of tea) of the Imperial court. Ning cares more about the favor granted to the winner; she’s determined to save her sister, suffering from a poisoned tea that killed their mother. But that poison is part of a larger plot, and... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kelly Barnhill
[isbn]
A few things to know about me as a reader: I’m a sucker for a literalized metaphor; I’m very invested in the expression of female rage; and I love dragons. I’m also a huge fan of Kelly Barnhill’s middle grade writing (The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a masterpiece that should be devoured by readers of all ages), so when I found out she was writing an adult fiction novel in which unhappy, furious women spontaneously turned into dragons, my... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Akwaeke Emezi
[isbn]
In this standalone prequel to Emezi’s masterful, award-winning Pet, we see the revolution that shaped Jam’s mother, Bitter, and turned the town of Lucille into a supposed utopia. The best speculative fiction holds a mirror to modern society, and Emezi unflinchingly reflects the contemporary struggles of Black Americans, the queer community, and other marginalized groups in their insightful, poetic writing.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Vanessa Len
[isbn]
A blockbuster fantasy debut! Joan’s family are monsters: not-quite-humans that can travel through time by stealing minutes and years off the lives of the mundane. Joan doesn’t learn the family secret until the day her family is murdered by a monster hunter prophesied to bring an end to her kind — who just so happens to be the coworker she’s been crushing on all summer. On the run with a monster from a rival family, Joan is quickly entangled in... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Preston Norton
[isbn]
One of the best, most original, compelling YA reads I’ve ever had the profound luck to pick up. Hope Cassidy and her sisters, Faith and Charity, have been raised in an ultra-conservative mega-church. When Faith is outed, she runs away to avoid being sent to conversion “therapy,” and Hope finds solace in rock 'n' roll. Channeling her inner Joplin, Hope forms a band with Danny — her newly out, longtime crush — performing anti-establishment... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
Riordan’s first standalone delves into a more modern “myth” — 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Ana Dakkar, descendant of Captain Nemo, is a freshman at the famed Harding-Pencroft Marine Academy. When tragedy strikes, she and her friends (a diverse cast that highlights Riordan’s commitment to representation in fiction, and also an orangutan chef) may be the only ones who can save the day!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kate Dicamillo, Sophie Blackall
[isbn]
Anything DiCamillo writes is gold, but her newest fantasy tale, replete with gorgeous illustrations by Sophie Blackall, has a particularly brilliant shine. From the glorious opening chapter on the delightfully vicious Answelica the goat, I was hooked. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will walk away filled with the importance of sharing stories and love.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Ben Hatke
[isbn]
It’s the intergalactic team-up you’ve been waiting for! Jack and Zita have both had their share of adventures, but it will take all of their combined experience, cleverness, and heart (not to mention their friends!) to take down the army of giants and screeds knocking at Earth’s cosmic door.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rick Riordan
[isbn]
Apollo (or Lester, as he’s known on Earth) faces his toughest challenge yet on his quest to restore his godly powers: the siege of Camp Jupiter. The evil Triumvirate is closing in, and while the key to victory may lie in a forgotten tomb, the ruler interred there may be worse than any foe Apollo has seen yet.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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J K Rowling and Jim Kay
[isbn]
Jim Kay returns at last with his fourth fully illustrated Potter venture, and his gorgeous artwork is well worth the wait! This book marks a turn in the series towards a darker world, and Kay manages to land both the excitement of the Triwizard Tournament and the terror of Voldemort’s plotting with aplomb.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Chris Colfer
[isbn]
When Brystal became a maid at her local library to get around her country’s ban on women reading, she couldn’t know she’d find a room full of banned books, or a future in their pages. Colfer’s new venture is a searing ode to the importance of knowledge, questioning, and compassion, and the power they give us to better our world.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Rainbow Rowell
[isbn]
So, you’ve averted the apocalypse: Now what? Simon was willing to sacrifice his magic to save the world, but even a voluntary sacrifice leaves a wound. Enter boyfriend Baz, best friend Penny, and the road trip of the century. What comes after the “Chosen One” narrative? What do you do after your life’s purpose has been fulfilled?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
The award-winning duo of Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the — well, Piggie — is back! This second “Biggie” gathers five of their previous adventures into one sure-to-be-loved volume (including my favorite, the fourth-wall-breaking We Are in a Book!). As Piggie and Gerald would say: “Five is a LOT of adventures for one book! Also, how did we get in this blurb?”
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Katie O'Neill
[isbn]
Return to the world of the Eisner Award-winning The Tea Dragon Society in this standalone companion! When Rinn finds a sleeping dragon in the woods, they learn that new friends let you see your world through new eyes; and after his long enchanted slumber, Aedhan discovers that even the most winding road can lead you where you’re meant to be.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Clint McElroy and Griffin McElroy and Justin McElroy
[isbn]
The second volume of this graphic novel adaptation of the McElroys' much-beloved D&D podcast grants +2 to all stats and delivers the goods. Longtime listeners and first-time readers alike are sure to be delighted by Carey Pietsch’s joyous rendering of this classic train mystery — featuring, as all good train mysteries do, a secret moon base (with no dogs allowed), a mystical being known as Garfield the Deals Warlock, questionable physics, and... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Margaret Owen
[isbn]
No one in Sabor trusts the Crows. They have no magical birthright; they’re nomads and plague tenders (being the only caste with immunity doesn’t earn them any goodwill); and their witches have an uncomfortable gift: they can channel other castes’ birthrights through bone. When Fie, a Crow chieftain-in-training, finds herself in the midst of a royal conspiracy, she just might be able to leverage her help to make a better life for her people — if... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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DK
[isbn]
This newest installment in LEGO’s excellent Build Your Own Adventure series takes young inventors to the hallowed halls of Hogwarts! The perfect gift for the kid in your life with a giant box of Legos and no idea of what to make; this book has suggestions to build their way from Privet Drive to Diagon Alley.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Terri Libenson
[isbn]
Middle school is tough enough as part of a close-knit clique. But when your best friend texts you that you’ve been voted out? That’s world-shattering. It’s the last day of seventh grade, and Jaime is alone — or is she? Maybe she has more friends than she thinks — friends who don’t need her to be anything but Jaime.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Emma Berquist
[isbn]
A YA murder mystery with a paranormal twist! Lexi has a terrible gift: whenever she touches someone, she sees how and when they’ll die, and she’s powerless to stop it. When the ghost of a (beautiful, vivacious) girl whose death she foresaw shows up asking Lexi’s help in revenge, she’s pulled into investigating a series of murders that hits uncomfortably close to home.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Katharyn Blair
[isbn]
This fantasy debut is just plain fun, even in its darkest moments. There’s been a resurgence of powers in the world, but Vesper’s gift feels more like a curse: she can summon anyone’s worst fears into reality, and the more she tries to bottle it up, the more violently it bursts out. An underground tournament with a powered-up prize of rewriting the past could be her chance to set things right — if she can train as a fighter and master her fear in... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Sabaa Tahir
[isbn]
First in an excellent trilogy, An Ember in the Ashes introduces an ironfisted empire on the brink of civil war. Scholar Laia didn’t plan on rebellion until her brother was charged with treason. Soldier Elias may be the Empire’s poster child, but he plans to defect. When their paths intertwine, magic ensues — and the Empire may fall.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kelly Barnhill
[isbn]
This gorgeous, masterful book reads like the best of fairy tales. Every year, the people of the Protectorate make a terrible sacrifice to keep the witch of the woods at bay — but nothing is quite as it seems, and truth buried deep will always, eventually, erupt. Can Luna piece the whole story together before it’s too late?
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Margaret Rogerson
[isbn]
Elisabeth was raised in the Great Library, where sorcerous texts are kept appeased and imprisoned lest they transform into menacing beasts. When one such monster escapes, Elisabeth is accused of conspiracy. To prove her innocence and catch the real culprits, she’ll need the help of sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn — but can she trust anyone who gained their power from a deal with a demon? Reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle and Strange the... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Kate Allen
[isbn]
Lucy’s mother, a marine biologist who studied sharks, passed away suddenly when Lucy was seven. The summer she’s 12, a great white washes ashore, and her best friend Fred ignites her interest in her mother’s old research. When tragedy strikes again, that research becomes a line through her grief and back to connection with her father. Featuring beautiful line drawings of sharks throughout, this is a gorgeous debut about coping with loss:... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Christian Robinson
[isbn]
This sweet, playful wordless picture book is the first solo offering from Christian Robinson, illustrator of the Caldecott Honor/King Honor/Newbery Medal winner Last Stop on Market Street. A girl and her cat find a nighttime portal to another world, and an adorable adventure ensues. Perfect for the curious kiddo in your life.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Nicole Panteleakos
[isbn]
It’s 1986, and Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. She loves astronomy — plus her sister Bridget promised she’d be back for the launch, no matter what. Nova is autistic and nonverbal, and navigating a new foster family and a new school alone is extra tough; no one but Bridget has ever fully understood that she’s a whole, intelligent person. As Nova counts down to the launch, we share in her excitement, her... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Mo Willems
[isbn]
Mo Willems’s hot-headed bird friend is exploring a brave new frontier: the bathtub! Squishy, waterproof, and cute, this bath book is perfect for any toddler in your life. (Especially reluctant bathers — those who know Pigeon will be unsurprised to hear that he starts out pretty reluctant himself!)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Vera Brosgol
[isbn]
Portland illustrator Vera Brosgol has been a storyboard artist with Laika, and won a Caldecott Honor for her first picture book, Leave Me Alone! Her follow-up, The Little Guys, follows a group of tiny forest dwellers who already know they can accomplish anything if they work together, but need a lesson in being kind to those around them.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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A. S. King
[isbn]
A. S. King is known for stories that defy categorization (save for categorically bowling me over with their brilliance), and Dig. is no exception. Her immersive writing meanders between a handful of teenagers and the retired couple that eventually connects them, like tangled roots climbing back to their source. (That source is a potato. It will make sense later.)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Jennifer Donnelly
[isbn]
By the time Isabelle cuts off her toes to squeeze her foot into the glass slipper, she’s already spent years slicing parts of herself away to better fit in a world that insists only a certain type of girl is worthy: demure, charming, and — most importantly — pretty. To build a future past the end of the fairy tale, Isabelle must toe the line between Fate and Chance, rectifying her mistakes and reclaiming the pieces she’s left behind to become the... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jesse Wiley
[isbn]
Ford the river, or take the ferry? Finish out with trails or rapids? The Oregon Trail has been giving gamers tough choices since the 1970s, so this “choose your own trail” series is a perfect adaptation. Complete with nostalgic 8-bit artwork, The Oregon Trail: Alone in the Wild is sure to entertain parents and kids alike!
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Nicki Pau Preto
[isbn]
They say the Phoenix Riders all perished in the war, but surely some are still out there. Surely Veronyka and Val, sisters with the Riders’ gifts of animal communication, stand a chance at finding surviving phoenixes to bond with — like the sister queens that ignited the war and perished in its fiery conclusion. This electrifying first half of Preto’s planned duology establishes a society on the brink of collapse — or, perhaps, rebirth.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Natalie C Anderson
[isbn]
Refugee, homeless, child soldier, spy: Abdi has been all these things and more to keep his family alive. Where can he go from here? Darting back and forth in time, this is a compelling story about a young man deciding whether to let himself drown or to kick back against the forces trying to keep him under the waves.
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Leigh Bardugo
[isbn]
Civil war left the country of Ravka scarred — quite literally in the case of its king, Nikolai Lantsov. But scars are the least of his worries: there are monsters lurking in Nikolai’s past, and if he wants to save his country, he’ll need to vanquish his demons. Bardugo is in fine form in this return to her compelling Grishaverse!
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Django Wexler
[isbn]
Isoka, a ward boss in the slums, is used to violence. She’ll gladly confront and create it to keep her younger sister safe. But when her hidden magical talent is discovered, that dedication is held over her head: to save her sister, she must become a sacrifice to a ghost ship of legend and claim it for the emperor. With a compelling cast of characters and world building reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson, I can’t wait to see where this series goes... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Lincoln Peirce
[isbn]
When your uncle is a traveling musician, you’re expected to follow in his footsteps. But Max has no interest in singing (terrible) songs to (bored) crowds — Max wants to be a knight! An ancient prophecy and a mystic quest (all told with Lincoln Pierce’s trademark cheery humor) may lead to a chance at knighthood after all.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Justin McElroy, Sydnee McElroy, Teylor Smirl
[isbn]
Justin and Dr. Sydnee McElroy’s first book is as funny, educational, and fascinatingly horrifying as the podcast on which it’s based. Brilliantly illuminated by Teylor Smirl’s fantastic artwork, this is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys strange history, medical facts, or just having a good laugh at human “ingenuity” (with due celebration for the folks who’ve actually gotten things right). Remember: don’t drill a hole in your head!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
[isbn]
YA greats Albertalli and Silvera’s collaboration is more than a love story: it’s an ode to the people whose edges line up with ours like puzzle pieces, who shape our lives and bring out the best in us. A summer — a life — can change in a single moment, if we open our hearts and let it.
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Brandon Sanderson
[isbn]
Spensa has lived her whole life in the underground caverns of Detritus, the shipwreck planet that houses the last bastion of humanity. Her father inspired her to fly, but his desertion branded her a coward’s daughter. How can she claim the stars if the admiralty won’t let her reach them? A thrilling start to a sweeping new series!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Laini Taylor
[isbn]
Return to the exquisite waking dreamworld of Portland author Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer. In the mythical city of Weep, Sarai and Lazlo have been transformed. Can a ghost and a godspawn end a centuries-long cycle of fear and hate? Can we choose forgiveness as our justice, or will the lure of vengeance always be too strong?
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Natalie C Parker
[isbn]
Captain Caledonia Styx helms the Mors Navis, leading a 53-woman crew wanted for their refusal to bow to Aric Athair’s tyrannical Bullet fleet. But when a Bullet defects, saving a member of her crew and offering information, Caledonia must choose between her uncompromising principles and a chance to save someone she thought she’d doomed. A joyous, futuristic adventure on the high seas, Seafire is a much-needed celebration of sisterhood in... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell
[isbn]
This incredible memoir is a masterful example of what the graphic novel format can accomplish. The emotive art and engaging storytelling work hand-in-hand to immerse the reader in Congressman John Lewis’s early life and activism, and the frame narrative of President Obama’s 2009 inauguration pulls the struggles, efforts, and hopes of the civil rights movement into the modern day. March is an essential reminder that this history is far... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Clint McElroy and Griffin McElroy and Justin McElroy
[isbn]
Dungeons and dragons and gerblins, oh my! I’m a big fan of the McElroy family’s D&D/live play podcast, and its first graphic novel adaptation is everything I hoped for and more. The McElroys' clever storytelling and Carey Pietsch’s charming illustrations give new life to this sweeping fantasy adventure without sacrificing the comedy or heart that make the podcast so wonderful. +10 to merriment, -5 to time management (listen, you’re not going to... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Drew Callander, Alana Harrison and Ryan Andrews
[isbn]
The land of Astorya is in danger, and only you can help! As a real human in a land of stories, anything you write or draw comes to life. And yes, I do mean you — you’re the main character in this unique novel/activity book, so have your pencil at the ready. Can you save Astorya?
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Kristin Cashore
[isbn]
I am wildly in love with Cashore's Seven Kingdoms trilogy, so when I heard she had a standalone novel coming out, I pretty much lost my mind. This bizarre gem of a book includes — but is not limited to — umbrellas, espionage, wildlife photography, quantum physics, Winnie the Pooh, and art fraud. In short, it is an unforgettable adventure that you'll simply have to experience for yourself.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Cole Horton, Liz Hee Heinecke
[isbn]
This fantastic project book boasts a balanced blend of scientific fact and Star Wars geekery. Activities range from easy (using the Force of static electricity to levitate tinsel) to tricky (creating a moving droid with a basic circuit). Readers will walk away more knowledgeable about how our world works — and about a galaxy far, far away.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Arree Chung
[isbn]
Reds, Yellows, and Blues each think their own color is best — so it only makes sense for them to live separately. But when a Yellow and a Blue fall in love, they create something magical: Green! A charming illustration of how, in exploring and celebrating our differences, we can make the world a kinder, more colorful place.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Stuart Turton
[isbn]
An atmospheric mystery with a time travel twist. Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11 p.m. the night of her parents’ gala at Blackheath Estate. And until he can uncover the murderer, Aiden is doomed to relive the day again and again, waking in the body of a different guest each time. Who can he trust? What can he change? This completely unique novel grabbed me immediately, and still hasn’t let me go.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Matilda Woods
[isbn]
Fish fly in Allora, a town set into the hills of an Italian folktale-esque countryside. But for all its magic, Allora is still recovering from a tragic plague that struck 30 years ago. This beautiful debut about moving through loss and opening your heart would make a wonderful read-aloud bedtime story.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Marcus Sedgwick, Thomas Taylor
[isbn]
In the wake of her parents’ passing, Scarlett is determined to carry on the family monster-hunting tradition (aided by her trusty butler, Napoleon, and their one-of-a-kind roadster, Dorothy). With its coterie of delightful characters and fantastic creatures, this is a marvelous series starter!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jesse Andrews
[isbn]
In a world where size is literally dependent upon wealth, Warner is littlepoor — rat-sized. His unique speech and bleak sense of humor make this book shine. When society is set up to keep you small, here’s to rooting for the little guy!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Clemantine Wamariya, Elizabeth Weil
[isbn]
In the most important way, this book was hard to read and harder still to put down. Clemantine Wamariya’s voice is strong, sure, and unafraid to be vulnerable, angry, flawed, and human. This is not a feel-good, rags-to-riches refugee story; nor does it sensationalize the horrors that Clemantine and her sister (and so many others) experienced. Instead, we are granted the incredible gift of sitting beside Wamariya as she constructs and claims the... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Tamora Pierce
[isbn]
I first read Tamora Pierce the summer I turned 12, and fell in love with her particular brand of magic. This book (a standalone prequel to Wild Magic) is sure to win over new fans of all ages and recapture the attention of longtime readers.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Malinda Lo
[isbn]
This spellbinding read is perfect for fans of fractured fairy tales or Celtic mythology. A coming-of-age tale about grief and love set against the backdrop of a richly imagined fantasy world, this Cinderella retelling has chilling specters at its edges, and will keep its claws in you long after you've turned the last page.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Maggie Stiefvater
[isbn]
I don't have the words to describe this book, except to say that it feels like finally reaching home in the middle of the night after a long journey and finding that someone has left the porch light on for you. Stiefvater deftly straddles the line between magic and magical realism, populating her porch light world with a cast of unforgettable characters that you will love like family.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Garth Nix
[isbn]
Sabriel lives in Ancelstierre, where magic isn't real — or so they say. Across the Wall in the Old Kingdom, the living dead walk, and Sabriel must take up the bells of the Abhorsen, a Necromancer tasked with keeping the dead at rest. A fascinating, unforgettable blending of worlds from a master storyteller!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Philip Pullman
[isbn]
This oft-banned book is a must-read for any fan of sci-fi or fantasy. In a world where the soul takes the shape of an animal companion, or daemon, young Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pan, leave their home in Oxford to embark on a dangerous adventure to the Arctic — and beyond. This trilogy contains some of the most thoughtful, beautifully written genre fiction I've ever encountered.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Patricia C. Wrede
[isbn]
I owe Patricia C. Wrede a debt of gratitude for Cimorene, who would rather be a dragon's princess (perfecting her Latin verb conjugations and experimenting with tricky pastry recipes) than bow to society's expectations of her (e.g., keeping an empty head, getting married, and fading into obscurity). The true magic of this series is that all of its characters — regardless of gender — are encouraged to follow their hearts and lead the lives that... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Jandy Nelson
[isbn]
The best contemporary YA fiction I've ever read, hands down. Twins Noah and Jude (both artists) alternate as storytellers, with a three-year gap between their narratives. Both have beautiful, clear voices, and you won't be able to rest until you see their stories through (and find out what happened in the years in between).
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Neil Gaiman
[isbn]
"I think
that I would rather recollect
a life mis-spent on fragile things
than spent avoiding moral debt."
So begins Gaiman's introduction to this collection of "short fictions and wonders," which reads as a short story itself. The writing herein is some of Gaiman's best, and this oft-overlooked book makes an excellent gift for any fan of this master storyteller's other works.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Benjamin Alire Sáenz
[isbn]
I picked up this book after hearing a friend talk about how it treats its characters so gently, with such kindness. It's true. Part coming-of-age, part love story, entirely beautiful, this book deserves every accolade it's been given and more.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Libba Bray
[isbn]
This gem of a book operates on a simple concept: take Lord of the Flies, but instead of using stranded schoolboys to illuminate the animal nature of man, Bray uses a plane crash of beauty queens to illuminate the tenacity of woman. The particular young women Bray writes are what takes this satirical adventure from good to great. None of them are without fault or flaw, but by the end, you find yourself rooting for each and every one.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Galway Kinnell
[isbn]
Shattering. Rapturous. Kinnell's often-baroque language belies one of the most frank and powerful reckonings with death I have ever come across. This ten-part poem also wrestles with what it means to build a family and live with tenderness in a world that runs on cruelty.
Recommended by Kai B.
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Neil Gaiman
[isbn]
This slim book holds heavy truths about the human heart, family, friendship, and sacrifice, all written in classic Gaiman style. Steeped in mythology and longing, it's a book I could not put down but nonetheless didn't want to finish.
Recommended by Marianne T
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Bethany Baptiste
[isbn]
The one good thing to come from Review-Bomb Gate is that I get to tell you about this book, a book I probably wouldn’t have known about without The Situation. I get to tell you about family relationships, and allegories for real-world injustices, and magical girls who will stop at nothing to protect their family, both blood and found. I get to tell you about queer representation, and how love really will save us. You get a wonderful book full of... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren M
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Annie Carl
[isbn]
Unique stories, profound stories, wacky stories, highly imaginative stories, all offered through the lens of disability representation. This collection is as compelling — and fun — as it is important.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Brian S. Ellis
[isbn]
Brian S. Ellis’s poems are heady, human, philosophical, sometimes dark, sometimes funny, beautifully nerdy, and always full of story.
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Temim Fruchter
[isbn]
I honestly can't get enough of folklore and queer protagonists. So, whenever a title has both, I'm instantly intrigued. This debut is beautifully constructed and will remain in your thoughts long after you put it down.
Recommended by Lindsay P
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Kim Harrison
[isbn]
As a long-time reader of Kim Harrison's urban fantasy books, the upcoming arrival of her newest series almost slipped past my radar. Once found, I pounced on a copy of Three Kinds of Lucky, and then quickly devoured it. It was so enjoyable to dive into a completely new series, with unique new magical elements and complicated characters. I am now enamored of the world where certain people can see the residue left over from using magic,... (read more)
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Rene Denfeld
[isbn]
"This time will be different," I tell myself. "This time, I won't tear through the new Rene Denfeld book in twenty-four hours and then be sad I don't have it to look forward to anymore," I lie as I turn another page. "This time, I'll savor it," I mutter unconvincingly as I look up from my half-read book to discover day has turned to night.
Recommended by Tove H.
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Roshani Chokshi
[isbn]
Dark and dreamy. Haunting and beautiful. Seeing is deceiving in this gothic fairytale that serves as Chokshi's adult debut. Even in our greatest fantasy, the past won't stay buried long.
Recommended by Sarah J
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Bryan Lee O'Malley
[isbn]
How far would you go to make your life not just good, but great? Join Katie as she answers this question and learns the value of "mistakes," how the future is what we make it, and that you shouldn't always go back for seconds.
Recommended by Sarah J
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Alison Rumfitt
[isbn]
This has to be one of the most intense, searing, hits-you-like-a-bus, disturbing books I've read this year. I loved every minute of it. This is definitely NOT for the faint of heart as this is as extreme as extreme horror can get. But if you can stomach it, this is definitely worth your time.
Recommended by Chris P.
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Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson, Michael Witwer
[isbn]
What better fantasy immersion is there than to enjoy the same delicacies at the gaming table that our characters share in the tavern? Why do we settle for Doritos and Mountain Dew when we can gorge ourselves on Twice-Baked Cockatrice Wings, Underdark Lotus with Fire Lichen Spread, Evermead, and Potions of Restoration?
Recommended by Brandon S.
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Zoe Thorogood
[isbn]
Zoe Thorogood, a cartoonist, recorded six months of her life as it fell apart as an attempt to put it all back together. I can't say whether or not this worked for her but it was certainly helpful to me. This story chronicles her struggles with mental health, her family, and her art as the endless wave of day-to-day trials and tribulations make these struggles easier or harder to keep a grip on. Though some parts of this story are silly and we... (read more)
Recommended by Aster A.
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Genki Kawamura, Eric Selland
[isbn]
This small book tackles some big questions and will leave you wondering — what would you be willing to give up to live just one more day?
Recommended by Sarah J
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Jhumpa Lahiri and Jeff Portnowitz
[isbn]
If you love Rome, either because you've visited this stunning city or because you long to visit it, these stories will sweep you into its contemporary, throbbing heart. The characters — friends and families, some deeply rooted in the city and some marginal — are authentic in the way that all Lahiri's characters are, and their circumstances are familiar despite their splendid setting. And then there's something extra and intimate, perhaps because... (read more)
Recommended by Marianne T
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Kelly Link
[isbn]
Kelly Link's debut novel is as expansive, funny, human, and strange as I could've possibly hoped. The Book of Love reads like it has a heart, beating so strongly and desperately, it strains at its container. The story is full of grief and friendship and acrimony, teenagers trying to sort through impossible feelings and circumstances, memories that erode and rewrite themselves and turn inside out. It's such a phenomenal feat; I'm so... (read more)
Recommended by Kelsey F.
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