Don’t know what to read next? Looking for YA book recommendations? Welcome to the Book Chat with the Young Adult Team. Every month, the YA Team each recommends a favorite book from our YA collection. We cover fiction, non-fiction, manga, comics, and graphic novels, so there is something for everyone! There is also a mixture of new releases and old favorites, so keep an eye on our posts for books to add to your TBR.
GENEVIEVRE RECOMMENDS THE HEDGEWITCH OF FOXHALL BY ANNA BRIGHT
Set in medieval Wales, The Hedgewitch of Foxhall is an excellent cottagecore romantasy to read over the summer. Rebellious and free spirited, Ffion, the protagonist, possesses keen hedge witch abilities, which she channels through her fox companion. Rather than taking briberies like other witches in the area, she embraces a deep rooted connection to nature, which further fuels her natural power.
When the powerful and corrupt Foxhall Coven threatens both her fox companion and her very magic, she teams up with Prince Taliesen, the brooding 2nd son of the king in order to help restore magic to the kingdom. His elder brother, Dafydd, rivals him for the chance at replacing their father on the throne AND soon is vying for a chance at winning Ffion’s heart. Can Ffion restore magic to the kingdom? And will she fall for one of the princes along the way? Note: this book is available digitally through Libby.
NICOLE RECOMMENDS THE NAMELESS CITY BY FAITH ERIN HICKS
Many masters have conquered the Nameless City, but few have held it for long. Follow Kaidu, an outsider from the latest conquering nation, as he learns the city’s twists and turns through his new friend, Rat, a native-born resident who leaps across the rooftops like the wind. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that could shake the foundations of the City itself. The Nameless City is a lushly illustrated graphic novel suitable for tweens and teens, and it addresses heavy topics such as colonization and oppression through complex, sympathetic characters. While reading it, I couldn’t help but think about Avatar: the Last Airbender, so fans of Aang’s adventures should definitely give this story a try!
KAYLEIGH RECOMMENDS LARK & KASIM START A REVOLUTION BY KACEN CALLENDER
When a thread posted on their Twitter account confessing unrequited feelings to an anonymous friend goes viral, aspiring writer Lark thinks that maybe this is their chance to finally get seen by agents they’ve been sending their novel to. But there’s just one problem—they didn’t actually write the thread. Their ex-best friend, Kasim accidentally posted it on their account, and when Lark decides to take credit for it both to preserve Kasim’s privacy and to chase online fame, the lies start adding up.
Soon Lark finds themself trying to manage Twitter trolls and IRL bullies, a fast-moving new relationship, and whatever it is that happened to their friendship with Kasim. They’re in over their head, and they have to figure out what really matters to them—being lauded (and also hated) for who people think they are, or trying to figure out how to be, and love, their true self. Lark and Kasim Start a Revolution is a compassionate but not permissive story about a teen trying to navigate a world as a Black, queer and trans, and neurodivergent person and learning how to mess up and move forward in a way that validates who they are.
KELLI RECOMMENDS READY OR NOT BY ANDI PORRETTA
Ready or Not is a spunky adventurous story that explores the world after high school. Following Cassie and her friends, they decide to make a trip to NYC where they will discover the true meaning of friendship and life after senior year. This book is perfect for those who enjoy coming-of-age stories or are looking for a book about friendship, change, and staying true to yourself.
LAUREN RECOMMENDS WE WERE WARNED BY CHELSEA ICHASO
The legend of Fairport Village is just as notorious as the main character Eden. 25 years ago a shocking murder closed Fairport Village down and since then anyone who has visited has faced an untimely death. Eden, deeply affected by her father’s fall from grace, has decided that the only way to heal herself is to solve the murder of her friend and to save anyone else from the tragic curse of Fairport Village. Throughout the book there are times when you have more questions than answers. Is it ghosts? Is it a prank? Or is it a serial killer on the loose? It will keep you wondering who the real villain is right up until the end. The real twist, though, comes from a gripping epilogue that makes you rethink the entire story.
ADRIANE RECOMMENDS THE NATURALS BY JENNIFER LYNN BARNES
Cassie is recruited to join the Naturals, a group of teens with natural abilities that the FBI normally train their recruits to learn. Cassie is a natural profiler, she reads people and puts pieces together. Though the team of five teens start with cold cases, soon they are working on a case that is hitting a little too close to home. Someone is after one of the Naturals, and they need to figure out what is going on. The Naturals is the first book in a four book series. The series is perfect for those that enjoy a mystery read. The first book can be read as a stand alone, or read the series for an enjoyable progression of their crime solving skills!
YSANNE RECOMMENDS THE CORRUPTION OF HOLLIS BROWN BY K. ANCRUM
Hollis Brown lives in a small town, where he struggles to fit in and doesn’t get along with any of the other kids at school…except for his two best friends, Annie and Yulia. For years, things have always been the same for Hollis: wake up, go to school, pick a fight with a classmate, spend time with Annie and Yulia. He never had a change to his routine, until Annie and him spend the night in a supposedly haunted abandoned town and witness a horrible accident that other students tried to blame him for. As he works to defend himself, something even stranger happens… he gets possessed by the ghost of a 17-year-old boy and must navigate sharing his body with another soul. As the story goes on and he learns more about this spirit, he must decide how to continue living his life and begins to question everything.
SHAWN RECOMMENDS ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DIVE INTO THE WATERS OF THE WORLD BY BENJAMIN ALIRE SAENZ
In this exciting sequel to the critically acclaimed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe comes a continuation of Aristotle and Dante’s story.
The sequel is a brilliant romance and coming of age story as Dante and Aristotle navigate their growing feelings and the challenges that come with living in a border town during the 1980s. Beautifully written with pages that read like poetry, this book is perfect for anyone who is also trying to forge their own path towards joy, happiness, and acceptance.
TEEN RECOMMENDATION: PRANSHU RECOMMENDS THE MIGHTY BITE BY NATHAN HALE
This book is a masterpiece. It perfectly displays not to judge a book by its cover, teamwork can take you anywhere, and sometimes the best thing you can do to your enemy is to be friends with them. I love how at the end the author mentioned that he got the main character, a trilobite, in real life from his uncle who is a prehistorian. My favourite character is of course the all mighty Trilobite because sometimes little things like Trilobite can make big differences.
Want more book suggestions? Stay tuned for future recommendations from our team! If you’re a teen who likes to read, you can also submit book recommendations from our collection. Find out more here.
