From intriguing debuts to new books from beloved favorites, this fall brings a whole host of must-reads. Here are six particularly compelling YA titles.
This Book Kills by Ravena Guron (Sourcebooks Fire, Sept. 3): A boarding school is the ideal setting for a murder mystery: the intensity of the students’ relationships and the small circle of potential suspects help ratchet up the tension. With this story that’s begging for a screen adaptation, London lawyer Guron immediately grabs readers with drily hilarious protagonist Jess Choudhary and the intriguing circumstances in which she finds herself suspected of killing a classmate.
A Second Chance on Earth by Juan Vidal (Holiday House, Sept. 3): Journalist and critic Vidal explored masculinity and fatherhood in his memoir, Rap Dad. His young readers’ debut, written in hypnotic, propulsive verse, follows Marcos, who’s grieving for his father. Returning Papi’s ashes to Cartagena, Colombia, offers the Miami 16-year-old an opportunity to deepen his understanding of himself and his dad. “I’m told / the old stories / live on inside me. / Run like rivers / through my veins, / even if I don’t have / a father around / to tell me / any new ones.”
Ukraine: Remember Also Me: Testimonies From the War by George Butler (Candlewick Studio, Oct. 1): As the Russian onslaught in Ukraine enters its third year, Butler, an artist and journalist who has traveled to many scenes of conflict and disaster around the world, offers poignant personal accounts of the war from its survivors. His spare, delicate illustrations have a haunting quality—portraits that capture the interviewees’ personalities, and scenes of daily life that add to the emotional impact of the narratives.
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow (Delacorte, Oct. 1): Glasgow is a critically acclaimed author of works that honestly address subjects such as self-harm and opioid addiction; her books have also gone viral on BookTok. The latest deals with the crisis of teen alcohol abuse: Bella’s raw first-person narration shows how she uses drinking to cope with overwhelming emotional pressures. The 15-year-old’s journey through rehab offers readers hope without sugarcoating the real challenges of her situation.
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now. . .: A LOVE Story by Jason Reynolds (Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum, Oct. 8): Prolific and versatile Reynolds, a living legend in young readers’ literature, has written an endearingly frank and hilariously sweet story about head-over-heels young love and the anticipation and terror of a first sexual encounter. Neon and Aria have a solid relationship, and they’ve prepared carefully for this special moment—but none of that can quell Neon’s nerves. His conversational, disarmingly honest narration animates this stellar work.
Under the Heron’s Light by Randi Pink (Feiwel & Friends, Oct. 15): Pink brings her magical touch and passion for telling stories rooted in U.S. history to this enchanting novel that spans centuries and celebrates the power of family and endurance. In 1722, after taking revenge on her mother’s murderer, Babylou fled enslavement and retreated with her siblings into the Great Dismal Swamp. Now Atlas, who’s grown up listening to her Grannylou’s colorful tales, is ready to uncover long-hidden secrets.
Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.
