Yes, we do judge books by their covers. And as a high school librarian, my readers advisory absolutely includes the books cover art. Here are six favorites with nothing but the covers to speak for themselves.
Category Archives: Young Adult
Six sensational books with multiple points of view
There’s nothing more satisfying than a book with more than one perspective. I have a Goodreads shelf specifically for books with multiple points of view in them hence why I’m bringing you six of the most sensational.
- Legend by Marie Lu: Polar opposites who end up fighting for the same side.
- Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: Moving toward disaster in this historical thriller, shifting between four stories increases the tension and emotion.
- Allies by Alan Gratz: Is there anyone who can do it better than Gratz?
- Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan: A romance from both angles.
- How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta: Sisters in Nigeria whose outcomes could not have been more discordant.
- The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh: Three stories, three timelines that mesh perfectly and why it’s an award winner not to be missed.
Six sensational books related to beauty standards
There can be multiple list or a super long list of books featuring conversations about beauty standards whether it deals with eating disorders, disability, fashion/style, or body positivity, however here are six that stick out to me.
- Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying: Mom’s focus on body and a tragedy lead Valerie down the path of an eating disorder.
- Lu by Jason Reynolds: Born with albinism, Lu is the co-captain of his track team and helping other makes things right as the stellar main character in the four part series of Reynolds’.
- Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku: The transgender character finds refuge in fashion.
- The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake: This classic in which a student and her teacher bond over conversations of self esteem related to colorism.
- A Face for Picasso by Ariel Henley: Henley details the quest to “normalize” her face having been born with Crouzon Syndrome and always comparing herself to her twin.
- North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley: Born with a port wine stain, the quest to cover it rather than accept it is Terra’s journey of self acceptance in this YA title.
Six sensational vampire stories
I already shared a post about witches so it’s appropriate that I share one about vampires- whether they’re making a comeback or they never really die (see that?!!) there are some oldies and some new for your reading pleasure.
- Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey: A witty mix of Romanian lore, romance, power, and deception.
- Camp Sylvania by Julie Murphy: A middle grade about a woman who is running a camp, but it’s not just any summer camp, it’ll be a blood farm for vampires.
- The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron: A group of pals realize their family’s history and lean into being a part of the solution even though the new problem is their new friend just became the thing they’re supposed to fear.
- A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal: This complex and epic beginning to a series drips with creativity.
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: No need to say more. Love it or hate it, it is a seminal read.
- Fangs by Sarah Andersen: This slim graphic novel is the sweetest love story.
Six sensational funny books
Young adult can get downright dark and middle grade weaves in and out of serious topics, so where’s the funny? Here are a few favorites:
- Slugfest by Gordon Korman: When you have to go to a summer school gym class called PEE, then you know it’s going to be a good time.
- This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry: I mean, it’s right in the title.
- The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee with art by Dan Santat: A supergroup of misfits and a mystery to solve, what could possibly go right?!?!
- American Panda by Gloria Chao: Mom’s voicemails for her 17 year old college student daughter.
- Swim the Fly by Don Calame: When you’re going to try to make the swim team for a girl and all of your “bros” have weird goals for the summer, readers are just along for the ride.
- Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Brooklyn Allen: When aren’t the hardcore lady types from Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp entertaining?
Six sensational books featuring Judaism
So often books with Jewish characters center around the atrocities of the Holocaust, but there are dynamic stories of contemporary Jewish life or folklore that deserve a post.
- Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar: Spanning generations, this one begins in 1492 with the Spanish Inquisition.
- The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum: A teen boy learning about the world having been cloistered for some time.
- The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero: A Jewish cemetery in Prague and a ghost in this atmospheric verse novel.
- Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Feder: Learning about bereavement in Judaism is second to Feder’s poignantly humorous take on losing a parent when you’re still young.
- The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne: I still get chills thinking about the ending of his Holocaust novel featuring a nine-year-old protagonists view of the war.
- Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros: A golem created to get revenge- will she?
Six sensational stories with witches
It might not be spooky season, but that’s okay because a book with witches is immemorial!
- A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi: I devoured every book Rinaldi wrote when I was a tween and this was one of my favorites.
- Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama: I own the entire series and the spinoff Witch Hat Kitchen because the atelier of little witch girls is the sweetest.
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare: A contemporary classic about the dangers of assumptions.
- The Witches by Roald Dahl: Whether in original format or the movie version which is unforgettable, I’m glad to have reread Dahl’s book to remember reading it as a child and being scared out of my mind!
- Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen: This and its sequel featuring vegetables as characters and a mansion on the hill will delight all readers.
- The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner: If ever I’ve wanted a wardrobe, it’s hers.
Six sensational books near/by/about water
With a heat index of about 100 degrees here in New York State, I figured water both to hydrate and swim in is the best way to keep cool besides air conditioning. Hence, today’s topic featuring water!
- The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag: Featuring a selkie.
- A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team by Arshay Cooper: Like Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser, addressing racism in sports notoriously dominated by white people leads to a deeper understanding of the discipline of any sport and how it shapes us as humans.
- In Waves by A.J. Dungo: Deeply emotional, this graphic memoir is an homage to surfing and a woman.
- Swim the Fly by Don Calame: So stinkin’ funny and also about a boy winning the affections of a girl on the swim team by joining the swim team.
- Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez: Being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, Dominican girl Aniana conspires with her dad to swim against mom’s wishes.
- Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas: A middle grade graphic novel with a big heart.
Six sensational manga series
Reading a first volume of a manga series is make or break for me. I’ll know by the end whether I’d want to invest more time in the rest of the series and they typically hold strong if the storyline, characters, or setting (or all three!) are compelling. Here are some of my favorites:
- The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe: A unique relationship between a fantastical creature “from the other side” that the girl calls Teacher.
- Blue Box by Kouji Miura: A sweet sports romance.
- The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Dono: It can’t get more humorous than a reformed gangster taking care of his wife and the household.
- Cells at Work by Akane Shimizu: I wouldn’t want to learn about the human body any other way.
- Spy X Family by Tatsuya Endo: A spy, an assassin, a telepath, and a dog with premonitions create a found family for a mission without knowing each others’ true identities.
- Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama: A magical adventure, a delightful protagonist in Coco, and an atelier that trains witches in sigils and glyphs.
Six sensational books with characters in prison
As with the list featuring characters dealing with sexual assault and violence, it’s hard to celebrate “six sensational” when it comes to being imprisoned, but again, it’s a necessary topic in literature.
- Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
- Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
- Juvie by Steve Watkins
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
- Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman
- Hands by Torrey Maldonado
Readers Be Advised 