Somewhere In The Deep by Tanvi Berwah

If more fantasy books turn out to be the type of books Tanvi Berwah creates, I’ll begin to be a fan of the genre! Berwah has once again created a fantastic fantasy adventure that grips you from the very first page. The world that Berwah created was unique and creative to see on paper. Although this takes place in a world entirely of make-believe monsters, the story, and plotlines are poignant and relevant, which is excellent since readers will not have difficulty connecting to our current world. A book with excellent writing, world-building, and a powerful message…the perfect elements for a great read. And let us not forget Krescent, a strong and realistic female protagonist that readers will have no problem identifying with and will root for throughout the story as they did with Koral in Monsters Born and Made.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Eighteen-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dredged up from the past when the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And–could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .(Credit: Delacorte Press)

Wander In The Dark by Jumata Emill

This was not only a fast-paced YA thriller where people would kill to prevent a truth to be revealed, but also a diverse mystery where it displays with great detail the brother relationship that I absolutely loved reading. You will find yourself so engrossed in this mystery from beginning to end.

Boy Like Me by Simon James Green

It’s 1994 and thanks to Section 28, there can be no mention of gay relationships in UK schools. When a kind librarian leads Jamie to a disguised novel in the library that reflects his own confused feelings towards boys, Jamie sees that he’s not the only one who has checked the book out. Will Jamie and this mystery boy have the courage to meet and if they do, what will it take to hold on to each other? (Credit: Scholastic Press)

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

I loved Ace of Spades and was so thrilled when Faridah announced her next novel, and I was so excited to read it. And I’m happy to say that “Where Sleeping Girls Lie” so far does not disappoint. This YA novel has everything I am looking for: engaging mystery, dark academic setting, realistic teens (it might be outrageous what they do, but the actions and personalities were authentic), and Diverse characters…this book had everything! Most importantly, it has a story that grips me from the beginning, giving me both chills and excitement. Faridah’s writing is compelling and insightful and entertains you with a thrilling story. ⁠

Where The Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

Ireland, 1846 Nell is working as a scullery maid in the kitchen of the Big House. Once she loved school and books and dreaming. But there’s not much choice of work when the land grows food that rots in the earth. Now she is scrubbing, peeling, washing, sweeping for Sir Philip Wicken, the man who owns her home, her family’s land, their crops, everything.

His dogs are always well fed, even as famine sets in. Upstairs in the Big House, where Nell is forbidden to enter, is Johnny Browning, newly arrived from England: the young nephew who will one day inherit it all. And as hunger and disease run rampant all around them, a spark of life and hope catches light when Nell and Johnny find each other. (Credit: Bloomsbury)

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin

Kurara has never known any other life than being a servant onboard the Midori, a flying ship serving the military elite of the Mikoshiman Empire, a vast realm of floating cities. Kurara also has a secret — she can make folded paper figures come to life with a flick of her finger. But when the Midori is attacked and Kurara’s secret turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, a gut-wrenching escape leads her to the gruff Himura, who takes her under his wing. Under Himura’s tutelage, and with the grudging support and friendship of his crew, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami — wild paper spirits sought after by the Princess of Mikoshima.

But what does the princess really want with the shikigami? Are they merely enchanted figures without will or thought, or are they beings with souls and minds of their own? As fractures begin to appear both across the empire and within Kurara’s understanding of herself, Kurara will have to decide who she can trust. Her fate, and the fate of her friends — and even the world — may rest on her choice. And time is running out. (Credit: Tundra Books)