Review: Evamar by Margarita Engle

Evamar by Margarita Engle

Evamar
Margarita Engle
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published September 8, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Evamar

From award-winning author Margarita Engle comes a “spellbinding”(Publishers Weekly, starred review) novel in verse about first love, hidden cultures, and ancestral connections that follows a teen’s journey to uncover her late grandmother’s roots in Cuba.

Just before she was transformed
into an invisible spirit
my grandmother whispered her last wishes
into my ear:

Sprinkle my ashes in a patch of girasoles,
wait patiently, harvest the seeds,
fly to la isla, find el jardín,
plant las semillas.
Then and only then—
read my … Continue reading →

Review: Survival Show by Juno Dawson

Survival Show by Juno Dawson

Survival Show
Juno Dawson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published August 4, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Survival Show

K-pop survival shows meet The Hunger Games in this “chilling, satirical dystopian adventure” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about a teen betting her life that her singing talent can make her a star from the celebrated author of This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson.

The world just seems to take and take from Taryn Beck, but there’s one thing it’ll never have: her voice. Only when she’s singing does Taryn feel like she can escape her reality—free from the aftermath of the War, free … Continue reading →

Review: Under a Carnivore Sky by Brianna Jett

Under a Carnivore Sky by Brianna Jett

Under a Carnivore Sky
Brianna Jett
Page Street YA
Published August 18, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Under a Carnivore Sky

I’m the only one left hunting the monster, the only one left with a chance of saving us all.

Raised in a town surrounded by a labyrinthine, man-eating swamp, Lili craves nothing more than to track down the monster lurking in its depths and kill it. 

The monster’s curse claims the flesh and bone of every adult in town, stealing them away, piece by piece. For generations, people have tried to kill it or escape the town altogether, but every path out of town leads them … Continue reading →

Review: The Pools by E. Lockhart

The Pools by E. Lockhart

The Pools
E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press
Published October 6, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Pools

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the We Were Liars series comes a love story full of simmering darkness and astonishing twists, following two teenagers whose lives are shattered by a shocking transformation.

Once, in a small New England town known for its hot springs, something terrible happened. Something that should have been a warning to stay away from the pools, if the stories were to be believed.

But no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if … Continue reading →

Review: The Christmas Wish by Lee Heart

The Christmas Wish by Lee Heart

The Christmas Wish
Lee Heart
Simon Spotlight
Published September 8, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Christmas Wish

A girl full of holiday spirit hopes to get her secret crush’s attention for Christmas in this latest installment in the acclaimed tween middle grade rom-com series, Spotlight Sprinkles—full of evergreen tropes like holiday parties and the magic of the season!

Joy Rudolph is convinced nobody loves Christmastime more than her. After all, she was born on Christmas Day! Joy’s birthday parties are always full of holiday cheer, but this year, she has an extra-special wish: for her secret crush, … Continue reading →

Review: Holloway by Elana K. Arnold

Holloway by Elana K. Arnold

Holloway
Elana K. Arnold
Clarion Books
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Holloway

“Elana K. Arnold paints prose like a master. A fascinating journey through time, love, and forgiveness.” – A.S. King, Printz Award-winning author of Dig

Award-winning author Elana K. Arnold returns with a boldly visionary, deeply felt story that crosses space and time to examine loss and love in a world on the brink.

It is the late summer of 2021, and a girl named Nora is on the Paris Metro.

Nora, whose mother loved her, even though Nora was broken.

Nora, who couldn’t help her mother when her mother needed her most.

Nora, … Continue reading →