Let’s start off the new year with some great books! Here are some recommendations for young adults from book reviewers, librarians, and fellow authors.
Six Crimson Cranes
Elizabeth Lim
When a princess discovers she can do forbidden magic, her evil stepmother curses her and turns her brothers into cranes. “The Six Swans” has long been one of my favourite Grimm fairy tales, and Elizabeth Lim’s reimagining of it does not disappoint. It takes all the tropes – the princess in disguise as a kitchen wench, the enchanted brothers, the kindly prince – and twists them just enough to make them fresh, rendering this retelling more nuanced and compassionate than the original tale.
— Caitlyn Paxson, book critic
Me (Moth)
Amber McBride
A girl who lost her family in a car accident takes a transformative road trip across America with a boy she barely knows. Me (Moth) may feature a list of sightseeing stops and a series of motels, but it defies the road trip genre, carving out a pensive path through ancestry, trauma and art. On every page, author Amber McBride builds layer upon layer of meaning, entwining imagery of moths with Navajo creation stories with American history with Hoodoo magic. For a book in verse that is so spare and careful with words, Me (Moth) is very full of meaning.
— Caitlyn Paxson, book critic
Firekeeper's Daughter
Angeline Boulley
Ojibwe college student Daunis has become enveloped in an FBI investigation that threatens to tear apart her community, and once she agrees to go undercover, she realizes that the corruption runs deeper than she ever could have imagined. This absolute powerhouse of a debut combines a contemplative exploration of existing between two cultural identities with backwoods thriller intrigue, and does it with such confidence and grace that you find yourself suddenly at the end, breathless and hard-pressed to believe that it’s over. Firekeeper’s Daughter forges a new path, creating a deeply engaging mystery that illuminates far more than the expected whodunnit.
— Caitlyn Paxson, book critic
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Suzanne Park
Feisty Sun-Hee Song is a 17-year-old Korean American influencer who ends up in a digital detox camp after a slightly PG-13 moment goes viral. She’s forced to spend a month in the cornfields of Iowa among celebrities with no digital devices whatsoever – except the burner phone she smuggled in. Sunny’s in the running for an exclusive influencer contest, and she actually has a shot! But the other competitor is the meanest girl in camp, who has 10 times Sunny’s following. And is maintaining her social status worth risking her adorable budding romance with the farm family’s youngest son? An absolute joy to read.
— Alethea Kontis, author and book critic
Not Here to Be Liked
Michelle Quach
Eliza, the Chinese Vietnamese American heroine of Michelle Quach’s marvelous debut novel, Not Here to Be Liked, has worked tirelessly on Willoughby High School’s Bugle newspaper for years. So when an inexperienced ex-basketball player with tons of charisma walks away with the editor-in-chief position, she’s understandably upset. After her rant about the situation is unintentionally published, Eliza finds herself held up as the Voice of Feminism. But the more she gets to know the handsome and kind “face of the patriarchy,” the more she likes him. Is following through with her activism worth killing their budding relationship? Not Here to Be Liked is a truly excellent book, helmed by two captivating main characters and an author who is not shy about tackling weighty subjects.
— Alethea Kontis, author and book critic
And here are some recommendations for younger readers.
Magic Candies
Heena Baek, translated by Sophie Bowman
This picture book import is so good that it’s been turned into stage productions in South Korea. When Tong Tong purchases a bag of strange, round candies, he discovers that each one allows him to hear the hidden speech of someone, or some thing. Intricately designed models bring this kooky story to life. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to hear what the leaves have to say? You’ll also be sure to treat your couch with greater kindness after a single read. (For ages 4 to 8)
— Betsy Bird, librarian, book critic and author of Long Road to the Circus
Bright Star
Yuyi Morales
Bright Star takes readers on an exploration of the borderlands between the United States and Mexico, inviting us to observe moments of joy, to be attentive to danger and to shout out in anger when necessary. Yuyi Morales includes reminders to “breathe in, breathe out” throughout the book, giving the story the feel of a guided meditation that crosses from the world of animals to the world of people. In doing so, she shows how the actions of humanity can sometimes run counter to the ways of the natural world. (For ages 4 to 8)
— Minh Lê, author of Lift and Green Lantern: Legacy
The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess
Tom Gauld
When a childless king and queen seek kids of their own, they end up with a wooden robot and a girl made from a log. And when tragedy places the siblings in danger, this unlikely duo will plunge into a multitude of adventures to help each other. First-time picture book creator Tom Gauld has a keen ear for fairy-tale conventions with much of the story’s charm coming down to his keen ear for tone. And with blurbs from Neil Gaiman, Oliver Jeffers, Jillian Tamaki, Jon Klassen and Carson Ellis, clearly this book is doing something right. (For ages 4 to 8)
— Betsy Bird, librarian, book critic and author of Long Road to the Circus
Garlic and the Vampire
Bree Paulsen
Bree Paulsen’s debut graphic novel for middle-graders, Garlic and the Vampire, is utterly charming. Garlic is one of the vegetable folk who tend Witch Agnes’ garden. She has anxiety, is best friends with Carrot, and definitely doesn’t want an adventure. But then a vampire moves into the neighborhood, and suddenly everybody is relying on Garlic to deal with the newcomer! This is such a warm-hearted story – and it has neat vampire lore and a caution against assumptions. Paulsen’s illustrations glow, the palate all late summer gold and green and rust, and expressive characters. I desperately want to be Garlic’s friend, and you will too. (For ages 8 to 12)
— Jessica P. Wick, writer and book critic
The Boy and the Sea
Camille Andros, illustrated by Amy Bates
Like the ocean itself, this book sparkles on the surface while containing immense depth below. Following a young boy over the course of a lifetime, Camille Andros’ story ebbs and flows with a comforting rhythm while Amy Bates’ timeless artwork washes over you. As the boy grows older, he returns regularly to the sea looking for answers but discovers something more valuable: perspective. As an author, I desperately wish I had written this book myself, but I’ll happily settle for cherishing it as a reader. (For ages 4 to 8)
— Minh Lê, author of Lift and Green Lantern: Legacy