Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Melding a Cinderella-style family dynamic with an expansive, Asian-inspired mythological landscape. Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.
Fifteen elite young adult authors deliver a whip-smart, beautifully inclusive modernization of William Shakespeare’s classic plays. Tackling vital modern themes of identity, social dynamics, and mental health through diverse perspectives.
Anna-Marie McLemore’s The Mirror Season is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful look at trauma, consent, and healing. While the ornate magical realism and YA pacing might not resonate with every reader, its delicate, honest portrayal of sexual assault survivors makes it a valuable, impactful addition to high school libraries and mature young adult collections.
A chilling and compact contemporary retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale, T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead balances eerie body horror with fast-paced Gothic suspense. Following retired soldier Alex Easton into a nightmare of bizarre fungal overgrowths and family secrets, this masterful novella delivers rich atmosphere without graphic violence. An excellent addition for high school collections exploring literary retellings and environmental dread.
Reimagining the legendary Baba Yaga as an immortal half-goddess healer, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s The Witch and the Tsar plunges readers into a spellbinding historical fantasy set in 16th-century Russia. Striking an unlikely alliance to save her land from the dark forces manipulating Ivan the Terrible, Yaga battles political intrigue and age-old tyrants. A richly atmospheric, captivating read that provides a refreshing exploration of early Russian history for high school collections.