Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Heartbreaking, hopeful, and filled with supernatural intrigue, Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things follows a teen determined to save her dying father by finding a vampire. Blending paranormal adventure with themes of grief, friendship, and self-discovery, Margie Fuston’s debut offers an emotional coming-of-age story that will resonate with fans of fantasy and romance.
In Hollow, Shannon Watters and a stellar creative team deliver an enchanting, supernatural graphic novel that updates the Headless Horseman legend into a contemporary queer adventure. Blending gorgeous art, a twisty mystery, and heartfelt personal growth, this story expertly captures the complex relationships of high school life.
Witty, gripping, and tinged with mysticism, Caroline O’Donoghue’s YA debut All Our Hidden Gifts weaves an alluring tale of tarot cards, hidden magic, and modern Irish history. Centering on a relatable heroine navigating peer drama and a supernatural mystery, this highly engaging novel seamlessly explores gender identity and systemic change.
Maggie Stiefvater’s The Dreamer Trilogy is a stunning, 5-star urban fantasy masterclass that secondary educators and librarians must stock on their shelves. Blending unmatched world-building with profound character growth, this spellbinding series follows Ronan Lynch through a landscape of miracles and catastrophes. It delivers exceptional LGBTQ+ representation and intricate plotting that will captivate fantasy lovers from the first page of Call Down the Hawk to Greywarren’s breathtaking end.
Set against the vivid, atmospheric backdrop of the Depression-era Ozarks, Paulette Kennedy’s The Witch of Tin Mountain is a hauntingly dark, dual-timeline gothic novel. Rich in folklore, suspense, and generational secrets, the story follows two young women battling prejudice, cult-like religious fervor, and deep-seated trauma. Perfect for high school readers who love historical thrillers with a supernatural edge.