On the last day of BookExpo online, we were gifted with some young adult books to look forward to! 5 authors and their publishers discussed their new YA books coming out in the coming months. Get excited, because they books are heartfelt, revolutionary, and something you need to add to your TBR list ASAP!
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
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Displacement is a comic written and illustrated by Kiku Hughes. The story is classed as historical fiction with an element of time travel, inspired by Hughes’ own family history and the history of Japanese Americans during World War II. This graphic novel follows the story of Japanese American internment camps, a dark history that often gets pushed aside. With her images and her dialogue from then and even now, Kiku creates a world that truly explores a complex reality.
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Elatsoe by Darcie little badger
Publication Date: September 7, 2020
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Elatsoe is a novel about is about an indigenous girl who is trying to solve the murder of her cousin. In a slightly stranger America than the one we know, magic is real and tangible for many people. Elatsoe is a part of the Lipan Apache family, which passes down the gift to raise the ghosts of dead animals. Elatsoe goes on a journey to uncover the truth of her town, the death of her cousin, and the secrets that try to hide in the shadows. When asked the question how a younger Darcie Little Badger would’ve liked the book she replied, “little Darcie would’ve loved to have a character like her especially since there is a large gap of people like me in literature.” I don’t know about you, but I am extremely stoked to read a story so intriguing and one that fills an important gap in literature.
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Eventide by Sarah goodman
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
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Eventide follows Verity Pruitt and her little sister Lilah from New York City to rural Arkansas on the orphan train. In Wheeler, Lilah is quickly adopted by the town’s beloved schoolteacher—but Verity is not. Willing to do anything to stay close, she pawns herself off as a farmhand, but even charming farm boy Abel Atchley can’t completely distract her from the sense that something is not quite right in this little town. Strange local superstitions abound, especially about the eerie old well at the center of the forest. The woods play tricks, unleashing heavy fog and bone-chilling cold…and sometimes visions of things that aren’t there.
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the magic fish by trung le nguyen
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
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Trung remarks that one of his favorite memories of childhood was going to the library with his family, coming home with a handful of books, and each member reading out loud the books that they chose. This fond memory was one that inspired the graphic novel The Magic Fish.
Real life isn’t a fairytale.
But Tiến still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It’s hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, he doesn’t even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he’s going through?
Is there a way to tell them he’s gay?
A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that is accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what—we can all have our own happy endings.
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something happened to ali greenleaf by hayley krischer
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
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Perfect for fans of Rory Power and Laurie Halse Anderson, this sharp, emotional debut follows two girls as they navigate tumultuous relationships, the effects of trauma, and what empowerment means to them. This book is dark, a kind of dark that most YA publishers try to stay away from, but this novel is important and stands apart from the rest. This novel, written by Hayley Krischer, follows the trauma of two girls Ali Greenleaf and Blythe Jenson.
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if you would like to hear more from the authors and what their books you can catch the video here. I hope you find these books exciting and inspirational as I did, so as they come in the next few months, check them out!