A New York City blackout and romance in Taipei provide the settings for some of these teen books.
Stories of children with parents behind bars are as diverse as the millions of real-life kids familiar with the experience. These 19 fiction and nonfiction titles may offer an empathetic, metaphoric hand for young readers to hold.
Hand to readers who are too young for Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow. An additional purchase for collections actively seeking more science fiction.
High-energy but decidedly disappointing. Only recommended if readers are looking to scratch that spooky amusement park itch.
This romance-infused heist novel is ultimately a solid choice for most collections.
A sweet, unique rom-com that is recommended for high school libraries.
A solid choice for teens looking for their next witchy girl group read.
This imaginative retelling of the story of Huck’s red-headed sweetheart is a rollicking adventure full of rich characterizations that will be enjoyed by junior high and high school readers regardless of whether they have read the book that inspired it.
A must-buy for where horror is popular.
A definite purchase for any library serving high schoolers.
A one-sit read rom-com with lots of heart and plenty of sarcasm, perfect for Jenny Han or Emma Lord aficionados.
A refreshingly different take on the romance genre, written from the male perspective, and a great purchase for all libraries.
A solid collection of speculative queer YA, fitting for monster lovers. Recommended for fans of the various notable contributors to this collection.
A feel-good love story that touches on important issues faced by young adults today. Recommend where upper YA books are popular.
Unputdownable. Readers of thrillers, such as Kathryn Foxfield’s Tag, You’re Dead, will enjoy this debut, as will video game aficionados.
A must-have for upper tween and teen libraries.
A novel long overdue. Highly recommended for teen collections, particularly for readers wanting stories centralizing Black characters and experiences.
A first purchase for YA collections.
For fans of emotionally intense reading, like Ellen Hopkins’s Crank and books by Tiffany D. Jackson.
An optional purchase; give to romance fans looking for something with a paranormal layer.
The romance here burns slowly and will hook readers who enjoy sapphic fantasy. This one is also sure to be a hit with the fanbase Malburi has already built as a popular fanfic author.
A sweet romance about finding your way back to those who matter most.
A funny, inclusive, and queer whodunit that teens will be dying to read. Recommended for school and public libraries.
This is a beach read coupled with a coming-of-age story and will appeal to readers of many genres. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Lynn Painter will enjoy.
At times, the story stalls, but readers who stick it out will be glad they did. A general purchase for libraries.
A coming-of-age Shakespearean revamp where building personal connections, while unapologetically being yourself, is at the forefront of this romantic comedy.
Mystery veterans will find familiar tropes leading to the reveal, but the windows into contemporary Native American culture make this a compelling read. Recommended.
Love and machinations run rampant in a satisfying end to the trilogy. For collections where the first two installments are popular.
This should circulate often in an elementary library and keep readers engaged enough to continue with the subsequent books.
Steeped in clever humor, this story is worthy of multiple readings and will leave readers wanting more. Give this one to fans of “Dog Man” and “Katie the Catsitter.”
Early elementary readers will delight in Willa and Wade’s high jinks, while grown-ups will appreciate the underlying lesson of resilience. A solid addition to school and public collections.
Fans of “The Bad Guys’’ series by Aaron Blabey will welcome these rascally rabbits in this new series that’s ideal for any graphic novel collection.
A clever and charming early reader with a fun out-of-the-blue turn of events and just a few words per page, this is an ideal story for burgeoning readers and a welcome book for any collection.
Recommended for purchase where Pete and early readers are in demand.
A serviceable addition to early reader collections, and an obvious choice for libraries where the chapter book series is popular.
Hank’s story will break readers’ hearts before putting them back together again. Highly recommended for all middle grade collections.
A speedy but satisfying read that should appeal to a wide range of readers who want the perfect combination of scary, clever, funny, and quick.
A bizarre, sweet story of self-discovery and compassion that the right readers will enjoy, if they can get past the rodents of unusual size.
A horror anthology that will find an eager audience of young thrill seekers.
Ultimately this sweet novel reads like an old-school afternoon TV special. It’s realistic, if a bit cheesy, light entertainment with an obvious and hopeful message.
Highly recommended for readers looking for a unique take on the werewolf trope. Readers will root for the gentle and introspective protagonist.
Hand this book to young readers who love realistic fiction and want to save the planet.
Descriptive language and varying types of poetry make this an enjoyable read, but the element of horror is minimal. Recommended for readers who ask for a scary book but aren’t quite ready for R.L. Stine or Mary Downing Hahn.
An enchanting middle grade fantasy and excellent start to this adventurous duology.
This book features a diverse cast of characters for readers who like cooking, mysteries, and realistic fiction; it will circulate well in libraries where mysteries and friendship stories are popular.
This title will receive a double-dose of popularity in its combination of two favorite subjects: dinosaurs and Halloween.
Add to collections with room on the holiday shelves that are in need of Halloween books for a younger audience.
A heartwarming story for Día de Muertos celebrations and displays.
An interactive, year-round read for both old and new fans of the movie.
Recommended for purchase in public and preschool libraries as a new Halloween title that will likely bring laughter and learning.
Bass’s Halloween scare is a fresh fright to rejuvenate holiday collections.
This title is a great read-aloud for toddler story times.
For school libraries or teachers seeking a new resource to introduce students to Diwali, this book is an excellent choice. However, if the collection already includes books on Diwali, this is an additional purchase.
A friendly, simple celebration of Rosh Hashanah, best suited for the very young.
A great addition to libraries looking for Diwali books for younger readers.
A lovely way to practice counting, especially during this holiday, and a great addition to bilingual board book collections.
Recommended for collections in which holiday books are popular.
A picture book about opposites that will charm young children. Read this one in a Halloween story time at the public library or in a preschool classroom.
A good book to have on hand in the library or classroom.
This festive frolic is perfect for a younger audience who like the idea of scary more than they want actual scares.
Emphatically recommended. Readers will fall in love with Nayva and her family.
Zany and offbeat, this Halloween caper will appeal to readers craving sheer silliness.
Recommended as a title for public and preschool libraries. The combination of a new bedtime story, holiday theme, and flaps is likely to be a crowd pleaser for children and their adult readers.
A solid addition to any collection to show the diversity in Jewish cultures.
A rich, rhythmic ode celebrating Día de Muertos, this read-aloud is recommended for all school and public library holiday collections.
A spirited, spooky board book sure to entice readers to decorate a Halloween tree of their own.
Not only a delightful read-aloud but also a celebration of the spirit of Halloween.
A poignant exploration of courage and resilience, perfect for young readers navigating their own fears and uncertainties. A valuable addition to any collection focusing on social-emotional development and self-acceptance.
A tender tale of courage and connection for readers who prefer Halloween stories with more treats than tricks.
The important message found between the pages of this book needs to be heard by little ones, and even if they do not completely understand some of the text, perhaps the book is the spark to get their caretakers talking about mental health.
A positive and realistic story that showcases urban holiday tradition and culture.
A celebration of sisterhood, of play, and problem-solving, all at once. A perfect purchase.
By placing a young girl’s journey to self-love alongside a journey through her ancestral history, the book carries compelling content forward and into the hands of readers. This is a good companion to Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love.
Pure silliness, this is sure to be popular with the early elementary set.
A young girl learns how to empathize with those who grieve and better understands her own mourning of a beloved grandmother.
An entertaining introduction to elephants, this title will be enjoyed by elementary students and hopefully inspire young researchers to create their own research journals.
Pitch perfect friendship-building fun! Highly recommended.
This true-to-life title is a worthy addition to picture book collections, sure to spark conversation and inspire young readers.
Celebrating families who are “wonderfully different” with gusto, this title will be appreciated by a wide spectrum of readers and their families seeking to live their lives to the fullest expression of their true selves.
Not only is it nice to a see a boy doing the party-planning, but it’s good to see a child being a fusspot in a low-stakes situation, since that’s where almost all childhood disappointments start. Recommended only for larger collections.
Everyone gets mad, and this highly relatable story shows what to do when it happens. Recommended for all collections.
A lovely addition to any collection, celebrating the enduring beauty of unconditional love.
An easy purchase to add to the board book shelves.
An affirming tale of being true to your dreams and the power of friendship in making those dreams come true. It’s never too early to learn that haters gonna hate.
Give to readers who are not quite ready for Junie B. Jones and her antics.
A simple ghost story and a mystery, too, but with substantial life lessons that are charming and memorable.
Savage is so reliable; add this to the shelves where worn copies of Polar Bear Night and Supertruck live.
Funny, real, and makes a delicious point without spelling it out; this book is a charmer.
This is a fun addition to seasonal picture book collections for young readers.
Add this reassuring title to the SEL shelves for helping elementary children understand that bad things happen, but they pass.
This is a picture book to enter with an open heart and share widely. It invites everyone into a celebration of dance, life, and being true to oneself.
This unique addition to the shelves celebrates the American experience through the lens of a beloved kitchen table.
A story that shows an environment where the differently abled can thrive, where accessibility means everyone, and featuring an underrepresented group in picture books, this is a truly solid addition for all collections.
A great book to help children be more empathetic to others who are different, and maybe motivate them to prompt their parents and caregivers to provide treats for those with and without allergies on Halloween.
Fans of "Monster High" and the show Wednesday will love this addition to the “Hellaween” series.
This book successfully makes connections to widely known holidays around the world and introduces events of great significance to enlighten readers on the origins of local festivities and observances.
A must-read. This one offers a joyful celebration of culture, tradition, and the spirit of these beloved holidays.
A beautiful Spanish-language picture book perfect for sharing during the holidays.
Perfect for sharing with the littlest The Nightmare Before Christmas fans.
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