Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
A culturally immersive YA thriller set in the intense world of competitive Scrabble. Tackling themes of long-term grief, peer relationships, and mental health, this mystery is highly recommended for readers seeking authentic representation and high-stakes suspense!
Return to Beechwood Island in Family of Liars, E. Lockhart’s gripping prequel to the TikTok sensation We Were Liars. Narrated by seventeen-year-old Carrie, this atmospheric thriller peeling back the perfect facade of the Sinclair family is packed with secrets, grief, and betrayal.
Lovely story: fanciful, with a magic realism vibe, and great characters. Centering on two children with extraordinary sensory gifts searching for a rare flower, this quiet, heartfelt story explores grief, class divides, and belonging.
In The Honeys, Ryan La Sala serves up a glittering, toxic summer fairytale that shifts from a poignant contemporary grief story into dark folk horror. Following a confident genderfluid teen investigating their twin’s mysterious death, this slow-burn mystery is a must-have for YA shelves.
Step into a decaying steampunk fey world where sketches come to life and family curses loom large. In Shades of Rust and Ruin, A.G. Howard crafts a dark, Labyrinth-inspired young adult fantasy that masterfully explores the weight of survivor’s guilt and depression.