Be That Way by Hope Larson (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House, for ages 14 & up, on sale 10/3/23) Written in journal format interspersed with collage, comic panels, and full color illustrations, Be That Way is Eisner-award winning author and illustrator Hope Larson’s first offering for YA audiences. Seventeen-year-old Christine keeps a journal of an eventful year in her life in mid-90s, while juggling troubled friendships and looking for love. This powerful coming-of-age story set in a time before the Internet that explores themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art.
I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera (Holiday House, for ages 8–12, on sale 9/19/23)
I Am Kavi centers a powerful South Asian voice and stars an unforgettable heroine each one of us can relate to. This dazzling novel-in-verse comes from an astonishing new talent who lived through the civil war herself. Caught between two worlds—a poverty-stricken village and a new fancy big-city school—a young Sri Lankan girl must decide who she really is and where she really belongs. 1998, Colombo. The Sri Lankan Civil War is raging, but everyday life must go on. To fit in at her new school, Kavi begins lying about her background. Now Kavi is afraid of something even scarier than war. She fears that if her friends discover her secret—that she is not who she is pretending to be—they’ll stop talking to her.
Looking to travel even further back in time? Check out a few more recent and upcoming historical fiction novels.
Sweetness All Around by Suzanne Supplee (Holiday House, for ages 8–12, on sale 10/24/23)
Set in the 70s, an indomitable heroine who believes she is destined to find her kidnapped neighbor leads this warm, big-hearted story with irresistible characters and a captivating mystery. In her extraordinary middle grade debut, Suzanne Supplee brings a small Tennessee town and its memorable residents to life. Perfect for daydreamers and unstoppable imaginations. Hand this beautiful, bursting-with-feelings read to fans of Kate DiCamillo's Raymie Nightingale series.
Before the Devil Knows You're Here by Autumn Krause (Peachtree Teen/Peachtree, for ages 14 & up, on sale 10/3/23) Part folkloric fantasy, part journey into the bizarre, this delicious blending of tall tales and Latin American surrealism set in 1800s Wisconsin will haunt you as you devour it. An enchanting mixture of American tall tales and Faustian elements, Before the Devil Knows You’re Here centers a fierce Mexican American poet on a quest to save her brother. Autumn Krause’s vivid, haunting prose and rich symbolism make this a must-read for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Erin Craig.
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (Peachtree Teen/Peachtree, for ages 14 & up, on sale 9/5/23) Andrew Joseph White, author of Hell Followed with Us, returns with the transgressive gothic horror of our time—which has shot to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list! Featuring an autistic trans protagonist in a historical setting, Andrew Joseph White’s much-anticipated sophomore novel does not back down from exposing the violence of the patriarchy and the harm inflicted on trans youth who are forced into conformity.
Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House, for ages 9-12, on sale 9/5/23) From the author of A Place to Hang the Moon comes another World War II story about three siblings on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Based on a very real place in old New York and steeped in the history of the last year of World War II, Nothing Else but Miracles shows how, when things get tough, the neighborhood really will give you what you need… and may even offer up a miracle or two in the process.
The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson (Holiday House, for ages 8–12, paperback on sale 9/5/23) The Star That Always Stays is a fresh and vivid story directly inspired by Anna Rose Johnson’s family history. When bright and spirited Norvia moves from the country to the city, she has to live by one new rule: Never let anyone know you’re Ojibwe. Sensitive, enthralling, and classic in sensibility, this tender coming-of-age story about an introspective and brilliant Native American heroine thoughtfully addresses assimilation, racism, and divorce, as well as everygirl problems.
Constellations by Kate Glasheen (Holiday House, for ages 14 & up, on sale 5/23/23)
Set in the 1980s, this graphic novel follows a queer teen’s search for identity and support in a hostile culture. Are you supposed to be a boy or a girl? It’s a question that follows 16-year-old Claire everywhere. But as long as they have a drink in their hand and a party to go to, Claire can manage. Right? When the latest party goes disastrously wrong, Claire tips too close to the edge. A stay at rehab offers new friends and a chance to do the impossible: to tell the truth. Will Claire will take it?
