#youngadultfiction

[librarycomic]

Mall Goth by Kate Leth. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 9781534476950. 250pp. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781534476950?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Liv and her family just moved, and she's starting at a new high school in Harbour City. She opts to wear a button on her backpack that identifies her as queer (she's bi). As she meets other students, including Jake, his friend Aaron, and his girlfriend Layla, she worries their friendliness just indicates they're going to be extra mean to her at some point. But Layla has a safe space: the mall. Her mom works in an office there, and she eventually gets a job there, too, but it's one of those miserable jobs that requires her to wear a mascot uniform. Friendships develop. So does her crush on Jake, who has a girlfriend. And then things get creepy with Mr. Trent, her English teacher, as her friendships and her parents' marriage start to change.

I loved the ordinary, everyday sense this book had, and it took me right back to high school in a way that most YA fiction fails to do, at least for me. (I was much more a bookstore guy than a mall dude back then, though in the 80s there were still bookstores in the mall.) Highly recommend for YA collections.

[tylermileslockett]

Step into the haunting world of City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab 👻✨ Join Cassidy Blake, a girl who can see ghosts, and her best (ghost) friend, Jacob, as they navigate the shadowed streets of Edinburgh and unravel its darkest secrets. With eerie narrations and spine-tingling music, our interactive book cover brings this chilling Halloween read to life. Are you ready to feel the ghostly chill?

to view the City of Ghosts interactive art piece, journey over to Lcokettstudio.co and visit the "Studio" section and then click on "collaborations" to explore the global projects and excitingl partnerships we are fostering with other creative publishers.

[nectarof-the-gods]

Quote Reflection: Girl in Pieces “I need release, I need to hurt myself more than the world can hurt me, and then I can comfort myself.” This quote from Charlie (a character from girl in pieces) is raw and deeply emotional. It shows the intense pain she is feels and the destructive coping mechanism she uses to deal with that pain. The need to inflict hurt on herself before the world can, almost as a way to regain control over her suffering.

I find this quote because it reflects a common feeling many experience when overwhelmed by emotional pain, the belief that self-inflicted hurt somehow grants a sense of control or comfort. It’s a desperate attempt to release the pressure inside, but the comfort is brief and often comes at a much higher cost.

Kathleen Glasgow uses this moment to show how self-harm can be connected to emotional release. It highlights how trauma can turn the need for comfort into something harmful. This shows the importance of finding healthier ways to cope with emotional pain

How does this quote resonate with you?

What are your thoughts on the way the book portrays self-harm as a response to trauma?

Feel free to share your reflections or interpretations.

[clinically-mad]

OC Spotlight: Francis

Francis grew up in the upper class, constantly questioning his father Stefan Cartier's corrupt beliefs. Though Stefan was a respected official with a positive public image, he was abusive behind closed doors. Francis's mother wasn't in his life, and he had no idea what happened to her, which only fueled his hatred for his father.

From a young age, Francis was subjected to his father's unfair and manipulative views of the world. Despite the luxurious lifestyle, he longed for a life beyond the gilded cage, to experience the world as other kids did. His father, who was one of the governor’s assistants and head of the transactions/goods department, often hid his true nature behind a facade of respectability. But behind closed doors, he was strict, stern, and physically abusive, tolerating little to no dissent.

Francis's life was a constant struggle between obedience and the desire to break free from his father’s oppressive control. He often kept to himself, simmering in the darkness of his father's shadow, attending to his chores and lessons with a heavy heart. Despite the abuse, Francis's spirit remained unbroken. He knew there was more to the world than the lies his father fed him, and he was determined to find it.

After a particularly heated argument, Stefan decided to send Francis away to work for S.E.R.A.P.H., an organization that his father was in charge of funding. Stefan hoped that this experience would instill fear and respect in Francis, making him more compliant. However, this plan backfired spectacularly.

At S.E.R.A.P.H., Francis found something he had never experienced before: camaraderie and support. He formed close bonds with his new group of friends and found parental figures who cared for him genuinely. These relationships helped Francis see the world in a new light and strengthened his resolve to fight against the corruption his father embodied.

[nealshustermanreal]

Just 5 days to go! Are you ready for 'Break to You'? This introspective love story, which I co-authored with Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden, unfolds in a juvenile detention center. Step into the intense journey of two teens daring to love against all odds. Secure your copy today! Pre-order links below.

📚 Bookshop → https://bit.ly/4aiHhYz

📚 B&N → https://bit.ly/3TXsfBA

📚 Amazon → https://amzn.to/4azg5Ez

🙌🏼 HarperCollins → https://bit.ly/4cGBltL

[taylor-reads-books]

“Isolde was the wind and sea and sky of Saint's world. She was the pattern of stars that he navigated by, the sum of all directions on his compass. And he was lost without her.” —Adrienne Young, Fable ��——————————————————————————• I loved Fable and can’t wait to read this prequel and get to know Saint’s story! And thank you @wednesdaybooks for these awesome preorder incentive goodies. This narrows coin and art print are stunning! 🤩 •——————————————————————————• #saint #fable #adrienneyoung #bookworm #constantreader #booknerdigans #bibliophile #bookaddict #yafantasy #bookaholic #yabookstagram #yalit #yabooks #youngadultfiction #readersofinstagram #bookishflatlay #bookishart #readerlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNmdSsP5Eg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[its-suanneschafer-author]

My August 2023 books read. The best of the bunch: #AThousandSplendidSuns (a re-read of Khaled Hosseini, a favorite author, inspired by reading #TheRuleOfThirds). #Ithaca has a surprising narrator: the goddess Hera. #ThisTerribleBeauty is historical fiction at its finest. 

[bidotorg]

Gonzales’s willingness to bring biphobia to the forefront — and then address it so clearly and powerfully, as though she’d read my mind and picked out my insecurities — is what made this novel memorable for me.

[juniper-brontide]

Have you read any of Natasha Preston's books?

To be read Tuesday!! This book is definitely on my tbr list as I read the first book called The Cellar, and I really enjoyed it.

[authorjessowen]

Another scene from the beginning of Don’t Ask If I’m Okay. Gage and his Aunt Gina share a difficult moment. <3

[michaelbaileywriter]

Nadja wanted to congratulate me on finally finishing work on Action Figures - Issue Eleven: Zero Day, even though I was content to celebrate with my traditional glass of Writer's Tears Irish whiskey. My longtime friend and collaborator Tricia Lupien turned in the cover art this morning and I spent the day doing final prep work for the release, which will be on March 2 -- my birthday, FYI. The Kindle edition is already available for presale, BTW: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BW64T76R?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wam_calw_tkin_10&storeType=ebooks #actionfiguresnovel #ya #youngadultbooks #youngadult #yafiction #youngadultfiction #superhero #superheronovel #superherofiction #amwritingya #amwriting #kindlebooks #newrelease #writerstearsirishwhiskey #nadjacravenswoofmuttwedointheshadows #dogsofinstagram #muttsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Co0e5mGv6lM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[naomimoorewrites]

First Date Frights

Brock—the all-star jock—felt queasy. His face paled as the ferris wheel creaked and groaned, carrying them higher into the night.

“Are you good?”

No, Brock was not good. He couldn’t tell which made him feel more unsteady: the glowing full moon above or the dazzling beauty of his date beside him. Chidera was a total babe—crazy smart, too—and he was ten seconds away from traumatizing his dream girl. He forced a nod, trying to focus on whatever it was she was saying.

He’d fantasized about this moment for weeks: stealing the perfect kiss under the stars as the ferris wheel reached its peak. When she’d mentioned the carnival had come to town, he’d jumped at the chance without thinking. Popcorn, prizes, and a ferris wheel ride—it was foolproof.

Except it wasn’t.

What Brock hadn’t accounted for was the full moon or the fact he’d be sprouting fangs and fur mid-date.

A sharp pain shot through him. His fingers curled into claws, tearing at the seatbelt. He had to get out of there before he fully transitioned.

“Brock!” Chidera yelped in surprise as he unlatched the gate and scrambled out onto the ferris wheel’s support beams.

“Brock!”

He leapt from one beam to another, his movements jerky and unsteady as the transformation overtook him. The ride jolted to a stop, throwing him off balance. He slipped, claws scraping metal, and caught hold of a beam a few meters below.

“Brock!”

This time, her voice cut through the noise in his head. He tensed, still clinging to the beam.

“Take my hand!” she shouted.

He twisted, keeping his back to her to hide his half-transformed face. Pain wracked his body again, and he slipped farther.

The crowd gasped below, and Chidera’s voice rang out: “Don’t you dare!”

Her words shocked him into stillness. He looked up at her, golden eyes blazing down at him.

“You—” he stammered, “you’re a werewolf!?”

She rolled her glowing eyes. “Yes, and you’re about to fall to your death. Now take my hand.”

Reluctantly, he reached for her. In one fluid motion, Chidera hoisted him up onto the bar beside her.

“You really didn’t know?” she asked, her lips curving into a fanged smile.

Brock stared, stunned. The moonlight framed her perfectly: golden eyes, chestnut fur soft as velvet, and talons that gleamed like polished obsidian. She was breathtaking.

“You’re beautiful,” he blurted.

Chidera’s eyes softened. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

“I—” he stammered, gripping the bar. “I’m sorry for… everything. I was nervous to begin with, and then I forgot it was a full moon and—”

She cut him off with a kiss.

The perfect kiss.

[badranali-blog]

The Boyfriend by R. L. Stine: A Chilling Tale of Love and Danger – Free Audible Edition Review

Ready for an unforgettable listening experience? Claim your free Audible edition today and immerse yourself in this twisted tale of love gone wrong.

[marshmyers]

QUINTON'S CURIOUS MIND SERIES TRIVIA: The time of day is symbolic throughout the books. Major events in Book 1 occur during the day, in Book 2 during the night, and both during Book 3 to symbolize the life balance Quinton struggled to find.

MORE ABOUT THIS SERIES

[greyshirtunknown]

Aldric's Legacy - Chapter 11 (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1478544234-aldric%27s-legacy-chapter-11?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=GreyShirtUnknown In a world where ancient magic and modern danger collide, Aileen Aldric stands as the last of her powerful lineage, a guardian with control over the elements of fire, water, earth, and air. Her quest to protect an enigmatic artifact from the sinister Order of Shadows plunges her into a labyrinth of secrets and treacheries that threaten not only her life but the fate of her legacy. Joined by a ghostly guide with a penchant for mischief and an unlikely ally in the form of a former Order member, Aileen must harness her abilities and confront her deepest fears. As the line between friend and foe blurs, she faces an escalating battle that tests her strength, resolve, and heart. In this thrilling blend of magic, mystery, and adventure, follow Aileen as she races against time to uncover the truth behind the artifact and defend her world from the encroaching darkness. Will she emerge victorious, or will the shadows consume everything she holds dear?

[nealshustermanreal]

This quote from 'Bruiser' resonates in today’s complex world. How do life’s inevitable challenges shape your personal journey? Get your copy through the links below!

📚 Bookshop → https://bit.ly/3QMgD2B

📚 B&N → https://bit.ly/3V2ZzYF

📚 Amazon → https://amzn.to/4alHSrm

🙌🏼 HarperCollins → https://bit.ly/3wD0xRU