2025 List
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Fable for the End of the World
Instant New York Times, Indie, and USA Today Bestseller
Indie Next Pick
Amazon Best of the Month
CBC Hot off the Press Pick
★ “Brilliantly imagined. A masterful queer narrative. A thrilling, page-turning must-read: prescient and necessary, impressive and disturbing.” -Kirkus (starred review)
★ “Stunningly crafted. Suzanne Collins fans, meet your new favorite dystopia.” -Booklist (starred review)
★ “VERDICT A dark dystopian novel for readers craving something more mature than The Hunger Games. Perfect for high school collections.” -SLJ (starred review)
The Lamb’s Gauntlet is a live streamed assassination spectacle. And the next Lamb has been chosen.
Inesa must die to absolve her mother’s debts. And Melinoë, a merciless assassin, must kill her.
But alone in the apocalyptic wasteland, they are forced to work together, and they begin to wonder if there’s more to life than surviving or killing—and if they might be falling in love.
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I Am Not Jessica Chen
Indie Next Pick
Junior Library Guild Selection
Forbes Best Young Adult Books 2025
Audible Most Anticipated 2025
★“VERDICT Hand this to students who never feel like what they do is enough, who just want to feel seen, and who long for that moment of fame and feeling perfect. Highly recommended.” -School Library Journal (starred review)
Jenna Chen has spent her life in the shadow of her flawless cousin, Jessica Chen. So when Jenna makes a desperate wish to become her cousin, and it comes true, she suddenly gets the life she’s always dreamed of . . . but being Jessica Chen isn’t quite what she’s imagined. Worse, people seem to be forgetting that someone named Jenna Chen ever existed. But isn’t it worth trading it all away—her artistic talent, her childhood home, even the hope of the golden boy Aaron Cai ever loving her back—to be Jessica Chen?
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A Theory of Dreaming
Return to the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world of the instantly bestselling dark academia fantasy A Study in Drowning.
All stories come to an end.
Effy learned about the power of stories—and their endings—when she defeated the Fairy King. With her nightmares defeated, she has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll. But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university— and soon, the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail.
With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king— and soon these visions start to follow him even in waking.
As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire—Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his. Are dreams ever truly just dreams?
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I'll Pretend You're Mine
Summer Ali has been making a name for herself in the music industry for years, slowly but surely climbing the charts—but the world doesn’t know her stage parents are the ones who molded her entire public persona. Finally eighteen, Summer breaks free of their control and focuses on creating her own path.
Upon running into writer’s block, Summer grows eager to take any opportunity to shake things up—even if it means agreeing to a PR stunt with child-actor-turned-playboy, Jules Moradi, famous for his tabloid escapades.
At first, Jules keeps his distance, maintaining professional boundaries. But as time passes, his walls come down, and Summer uncovers who he is beyond his reputation, and it’s someone more like her than she ever realized. As the lines blur between fake and real, Summer begins questioning who she is and what she wants—and if her dreams are worth sacrificing her heart. -
The Cuffing Game
A K-drama remix of Pride and Prejudice
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that when there is a hot person, there is also someone with a crush on them.
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Sanskari Sweetheart
Raina needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship. That will show her mother that dance can be a financially stable career and prove to her boyfriend and co-captain, Aditya, that they’re still the perfect couple, even if all they seem to do these days is fight. There’s only one problem—Aditya breaks up with her, their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage, and Raina, as well as her hopes of winning the scholarship, is taken right down with it.
All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.
Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough? -
The Summer of the Fortune Tellers
Bestselling author Lisa Greenwald's charming middle grade novel with summertime fun, crushes, and babysitting—and a dash of magic—is a sequel perfect for fans of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and That's So Raven.
Is the magic really back?
When Mille, Nora, and Bea found fortune tellers popping up in unexpected places—with eerily accurate fortunes—they reunited as best friends. Now that they're back to being besties, they're excited to spend the summer together outside the city. Recruited into babysitting eight-year-old triplets and staying with Millie's family, the girls are hoping this will be their own private summer camp, one where they're in charge, away from annoying siblings and toxic frenemies.
But nothing perfect can last. When everything from homesickness and boy craziness to real estate developers threaten their summer, Millie, Nora, and Bea start stumbling upon fortune tellers in the strangest places. And once again it feels like these fortune tellers are speaking to them: Sometimes in life you just have to jump in. Speak your mind and stand up for what you believe in! You are here for a reason. If they speak up, can Millie, Nora, and Bea really save the summer—and the community—before it's too late?
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Broken Dolls
"Scary dolls that multiply. A sinister magician. And an understated but moving subtext about how young people deal with grief. Put it on your list." -Stephen King
"Both tender and terrifying in equal measure, Ally Malinenko's work knows that scary stories can do so much more than just scare us (though scare you, this will)." -Chuck Wendig, author of Monster Movie! and the New York Times bestseller, Dust & Grim
One. Two. Three. Are you ready to play?
Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been obsessed with counting things. It's arithmomania, and with the selective mutism that sometimes prevents her from speaking, she literally can't find the words to talk about how she feels now that Grampa is gone. When they take the summer to clean out and renovate his old house, Kaye finds herself counting the days.
That is, until her younger sister, Holly, starts finding dolls. From the first one, Kaye knows they aren't like normal dolls.
Everyone assumes that Holly's just a kid with a good imagination. Kaye doesn't think it's a game, because she knows that Holly—and the dolls—are going to make her play with them. Forever.
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Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes
Every year, Berry’s mom, Ivy, visits for a three-week “August Invasion.” And every summer, Berry hopes it will be the one when Ivy will stay—forever.
Which is why Ivy’s surprise return visit is amazing—until Berry realizes her mom didn’t come for her. Ivy’s back to pack the last of her things, and she’s brought her new “friend” Mr. Cole to help. When Berry discovers that Mr. Cole is taking a job in England, she’s convinced that Ivy wants to move all the way across the ocean with him, to where an August Invasion can’t reach. Even at school, messy feelings are ruining everything. Berry’s best friend, Lia, rearranges her schedule to have classes with her crush, leaving Berry alone all day. Even Berry’s normally boring dad is making excuses to talk to her gym teacher.
All these crushes are crushing the life out of Berry. Weren’t things better before these extra people came along? Why do things have to change?
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13 Ways to Say Goodbye
"This delicate verse novel enhanced by judiciously employed magical underpinnings in a vividly rendered setting, is a nuanced portrait of a tween stepping out of her sister’s shadow and coming into her own." -Publishers Weekly
"This poignant, emotional novel in verse explores a complicated sibling dynamic and the longterm effects of grief. Sure to appeal to many in similar stages.” -Booklist
In the three years since she lost her sister, Nina has completed Lily’s secret Before Birthday lists to continue in her footsteps. But now Nina is catching up. When Nina flies to Paris, France, and completes tasks that Lily never finished, Nina finds herself magically transported inside of her own memories, face-to-face with the ghosts of her past. Should she follow Lily’s instructions or try something new? And what happens when she finishes the list?
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Martina's Muy Bad Day
"With vibrant colors, adorably drawn, expressive characters, and pages crammed with balloons and musical notes, this is a fantastic reminder that sometimes it’s best to lean into negative feelings. Interspersed with Spanish, the tale warmly acknowledges that tough days are hard but that with support and a good sense of humor, they can eventually be turned into sunnier ones. A lighthearted road map for grappling with ‘muy bad’ feelings." -Kirkus Reviews
"A beautiful tribute to grandmothers everywhere who turn our frowns upside down." -Booklist
Martina just had the worst day, ever. When she tells her grandmother all about her muy bad day, Abuela has a few ideas for how to handle all the big feelings. With humor, love, and a little bit of music, anyone can turn un día muy malo into a fiesta—because even the worst days are worth celebrating!
2024 List
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Death at Morning House
New York Times Bestseller
Indie Bestseller
Indie Next Pick
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Horn Book Fanfare 2024 Booklist
ALA RRT 2024 Rainbow Book List
2025 Edgar Award Nominee
★ "Johnson’s signature mix of wit and mystery shines in this compelling sapphic thriller." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
★ “Marlowe’s self-deprecating, deadpan humor fills the narrative with quirky charm. Suspenseful, smartly executed, and hilarious." -Booklist (starred review)
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Night Owls
Sydney Taylor Award Winner
National Jewish Book Award Winner
SLJ Best Books 2024
Booklist Editors’ Choice
NYPL Best Books 2024
LAPL Best Books 2024
Junior Library Guild Selection
★ “An intense, immersive quest full of deeply woven traditional and cultural lore.” -Booklist (starred view)
★ “A stunning debut. At turns hilarious, heartrending, and historically illuminating. A triumph.” -School Library Journal (starred review)
In this thrilling paranormal YA romance debut steeped in folklore, two estries—owl-shifting female vampires from Jewish tradition—face New York's monstrous underworld to save the girl one of them loves with help from the boy one of them fears before they are, all of them, lost forever.
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Us in Ruins
Junior Library Guild Selection
Strand September YA Pick
“A fun romantic adventure with a bit of magical realism. Great for fans of the film The Mummy and novels like Holly Rose’s Until the Stars Fall." -School Library Journal
Margot is on the quest to uncover and reassemble an ancient—and cursed—vase, with the help of a boy who went missing in 1932, because it's the only way to put back together her broken heart in this standalone adventure rom-com, perfect for fans of What the River Knows and The Lost City.
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Chai Jinxed
"Quickly paced with a variety of explosively enchanting adventures, middle-grade readers who enjoy academic outcasts will be spellbound by the mystical properties of tea brewing. A sweetly satisfying romp, even for those readers who don’t drink tea." -BooklistTrouble is brewing at Margaret's Academy of Tea and Brewing, and unlucky Misha has one chance to fix it with the recipe for the perfect enchanted cup of chai, in this magical, heartfelt, and funny adventure about the power of believing in yourself, perfect for fans of A Taste of Magic and The Marvellers.
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Murder on a Summer Break
Amateur sleuths and wannabe influencers Kerry and Annie are back on the case when a social media festival inspires some killer content—and several on-camera influencer deaths—in this page-turning and sidesplitting sequel to Murder on a School Night from author and comedian Kate Weston.
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The Science of Friendship
★ “A friendship hypothesis—and one failed experiment—leads one girl to investigate the science of middle school friendship makeups and breakups in this hopeful and heartwarming story from Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says.” - Kirkus (starred review)
★ “This is a beautiful depiction of what it mean to be human as a middle school student nd how one can learn from one’s own flaws about empathy, while also receiving validation and support. VERDICT The perfect read for book-smart students seeking social connection and friendship stories.” - School Library Journal (starred review)
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Why Do We Sing by Sam Tsui and Casey Breves
From YouTube creators and married musicians Sam Tsui and Casey Breves comes an adventure around the world to celebrate the role of music throughout cultures after one girl asks, Why do we sing?
Lullabies, love songs, caroling, karaoke—
have you ever wondered . . . why do we sing?
Travel the world and learn about the reasons we sing—to have fun and share our stories; to pass the time and remember times past; and to come together and celebrate! With gentle rhyming text, this musical adventure around the globe is the perfect introduction to the magical world of singing—from Bollywood to Broadway to your own backyard!
Previous Years
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The Cookie Book of Colors by Holly Fox
Amazon Editor’s Pick Best Books Baby-Age 2
If you could taste color, this cookie book would have all the flavors of the rainbow. From social media "cookie-gram" master Holly Fox comes a delicious board book of colors that looks good enough to eat.
Based on the beautiful royal-icing cookie designs that have garnered her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, Holly Fox presents the colors of the rainbow one--well, several cookies at a time in this adorable board book for young readers.
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Unchosen by Katharyn Blair
"Fast-paced action and romantic tension make up the bulk of the story . . . Blair deftly uses her dystopian framework to amplify issues of sexism, classism, and racism, as well as explore the tension between moral responsibility and survival. The Crimson lays bare many of this society’s flaws, as the rich and powerful are able to escape its worst consequences at the expense of the vulnerable. Strengthened by a female protagonist whose insecurities ring true and whose growth is hard-won, this relevant adventure is sure to interest socially conscious fantasy fans." — Publishers Weekly
“Sometimes a novel comes around at just the right time. Charlotte’s struggle throughout Unchosen to find herself in the chaotic world she lives in feels like the story we need right now. If you are looking for a book to give you hope, adventure, sisterhood, and romance, look no further than Unchosen.” — The Nerd Daily
"The worldbuilding is well thought out . . . A fun and action-packed read. " — Kirkus Reviews
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Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko
"A girl who delights in the macabre harnesses her inherited supernatural ability. The creepy supernatural current continues throughout, intermingled with very real forays into bullying (Zee won’t stand for it or for the notion that good girls need to act nice), body positivity, socio-economic status and social hierarchy, and mental health. This debut from a promising writer involves a navigation of caste systems, self-esteem, and villainy that exists in an interesting world with intriguing characters . . . Warning: this just might spurn frenzied requests for Frankenstein." — Kirkus Reviews
"Zee is a likable character, and readers will root for her . . . This is a chilling story that will delight upper elementary readers who enjoy truly creepy books." — School Library Journal
". . . Raising themes of body positivity and feminism, debut author Malinenko writes an atmospheric tale that is rife with chilling moments and an affecting exploration of grief . . . " — Publishers Weekly
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How to Date a Superhero by Cristina Fernandez
Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2023
" . . . through Astrid’s keenly developed and fiercely independent voice, Fernandez adeptly examines the collateral damage and extraordinary stressors of living in a superhuman world, and resulting underlying trauma and anxieties." — Publishers Weekly
"This fun and funny take on superheroes goes back and forth in time, looking at the evolution of Astrid and Max’s relationship . . . Cuteness abounds in this charming story. A romantic, breezy, delightful take on superheroes." — Kirkus Reviews
" . . . this accessible book will appeal to fans of superhero worlds, as well as over-scheduled and overworked teens preparing for college." — School Library Journal
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This Appearing House by Ally Malinenko
Bram Stoker Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild Selection
Best Books of 2022 School Library Journal
★ "Readers will be gripped not only by the terror of a truly haunted house, but also the brutal honesty of Jac on her path to becoming whole. VERDICT Highly recommended; not only for those who have experienced trauma, but for those who love them as well. A gripping, poignant addition to juvenile fiction collections." — School Library Journal (starred review)
★ "Plenty of imaginative frights to creep out even the most fearless young connoisseur of scary stories. Through Jac, Malinenko also offers a vital corrective to narratives of disease and disability still commonplace in children’s literature. At once an inventive and satisfying haunted house story and a powerful exploration of coming to terms with and beginning to heal from trauma, This Appearing House is a triumph." — BookPage (starred review)
"A tale of survival, friendship, and the strength that comes from overcoming fears. Delightfully nightmarish visions chase Jac, offering the feel of a thrilling game with twisted and terrifying imagery, as she navigates the house, seeking to understand her connection to this unusual place in this emotionally resonant story. Offers a hauntingly truthful view of secrets and strength." — Kirkus Reviews
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There Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by Alice Walker
★ "Each richly hued full-page spread celebrates the joys and delights of the world. The simple poetic text is often enhanced by its visual layout. The connection the poet feels between the small flower and the concluding expanse of the sky at book’s end should inspire children to see how they can interact with their surroundings and create their own poetry to express the beauty of the universe and their place within it." — Booklist (starred review)
"Walker shares a vision of oneness with the world in this evocative picture book filled with centering imagery. Walker’s rich poetic conceit juxtaposes with Monyei’s spare aesthetic; working in concert, text and image build to a conclusion that neatly invites the reader to feel connected by embracing the experiential." — Publishers Weekly
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The Song of Us by Kate Fussner
"Two seventh grade Boston girls meet in poetry club, fall in love, fight, and find their way back to each other in this verse novel. Their personalities shine through their beautifully crafted poems, full of aches, worries, and joys. Thirteen-year-old love at its finest." — Kirkus Reviews
"Immediate-feeling verse traces painful self-discovery and heady first love in Fussner’s debut, a queer retelling of “Orpheus and Eurydice.” Snappy verse embodies the girls’ achingly real alternating voices while thoughtfully considering topics such as coming out, mental health, parental abuse, and peer pressure. Hand this yearning-tinged slice-of-life romance to fans of Ashley Herring Blake and K.A. Holt." — Publishers Weekly
In this gorgeous tale, Fussner delivers what feels like…a song. Of us. Of anyone who has ever been in love. Or anyone transformed by it. An impressive debut!” — Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston
"Mean Girls meets Midsomer Murders with a dash of Louise Rennison in this genre-blending story that centers girls’ friendships and two ambitious best friends. Kerry and Annie are self-absorbed friends whose obsession over their lack of popularity results in hysterically funny dialogue and a lighthearted tone. Kerry’s crush on newcomer Scott offers sweet diversions. However, what really elevates the goofy capers and over-the-top scheming is how well Kerry and Annie know both themselves and each other. Secrets add depth and complexity to this insightful parody of teenage life. A nuanced, hilarious page-turning romantic mystery." — Kirkus Reviews
"Channeling the 1980s cult classic Heathers right down to the croquet set, Weston (Diary of a Confused Feminist) flaunts cozy English charm and puerile slapstick comedy in this propulsive mystery . . . The girls’ chemistry as best friends and partners-in-crime-solving is energizing. Refreshing attention to sex positivity and period politics combined with Weston’s timing—both comedic and plot driven—ensure a laugh-out-loud romp." — Publishers Weekly
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The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
★ “Perfectly mixes gothic elements with romance and mystery. Moore incorporates the enemies-to-lovers trope wonderfully, penning rapid and engaging banter between the sassy Mateo and curious Este as they try to ignore their connection. This unique novel blends different genres in a magical way, and readers will happily lose themselves in its twisting passages. Recommend to lovers of gothic tales.” — Booklist (starred review)
"Lyrical prose builds a complex plot featuring a sympathetic protagonist. A lively enemies-to-lovers romance offers a sweet counterpoint to Este’s poignant grief over her father’s death . . . A compelling, ghostly tale interweaving romance and mystery with a thread of horror." — Kirkus Reviews
"Debut author Moore entwines fairy tale horrors and heady romance to craft an eerie boarding school mystery . . . the swoony paranormal courtship between Este and Mateo burns brightly in this dark-academia adventure." — Publishers Weekly
"The characters deal with grief and loss in a genuine manner . . . VERDICT Fans of ghost stories and dark academia will embrace this debut novel. Recommended." — School Library Journal
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Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters by Emi Pinto
"Full of twists, genuine scares, and satisfying reveals, this debut is sure to please readers in search of a thrill. Gingerbread is plentiful in this spooky “Hansel and Gretel” retelling, but the lessons about friendship are sweeter still." — Kirkus Reviews
"Part fairy-tale retelling, part ghost story, part haunted house Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters adds up to one magical thing: A story that is all heart. A fun adventure with a loveable cast of characters that reminds you the only way to fit in is to just be yourself. That is the true gingerbread magic." — Ally Malinenko, author of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House