New Releases

New Releases

Posted onAuthorCrystal

We found a dozen book releases to watch for today. It’s a good day to stop by a bookstore or check to see if the library has made an order yet.

The cover of up in smoke seems to be a black and white photo of foot prints from tennis shoes or some other shoe with a lot of tread. The Title is in all caps and is made with a thick read font.Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks
Henry Holt & Co.

Unmask a murderer or take the fall.

After Cooper King is pressured by big brother figure Jason to go on a looting spree during a local march, the unthinkable happens: gunshots ring in the air and someone ends up dead. After Cooper flees, the news shows four teens in ski masks near the scene of the murder―Cooper and his friends. Cooper fears the cops will come knocking at his door, and the pressure only mounts when a suspect is taken into custody: Jason.

Monique, Jason’s sister and Cooper’s longtime crush, is willing to go any length to clear her brother’s name. Even if she needs to go into the belly of the beast and confront the killer herself. When she teams up with Cooper, they fall down the investigation rabbit hole and start to fall for each other. But little does Monique know that within this web of deception, Cooper is shrouding the truth that he was there when the shots went off. If the pair fail to uncover the real murderer, Jason will get locked up for a crime he didn’t commit―and drag down Cooper with him.

Cover image for Audre and Bash are Just Friends. A young brown skinned man with pink crocs, cargo shorts, a barely buttoned shirt, a white choker necklace is carrying a pink surfboard and looking at a young Black woman sitting on a pile of pink books. She has long dark hair and is wearing a dark blue dress white necklace and earrings and white high tops. She is writing in a notebook on her lap and is looking at the guy.Audre and Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

MEET AUDRE. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.

MEET BASH. Mysterious new senior. Everybody’s crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewelry. King of having a good time.

It’s the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn’s elite academy—and Audre Mercy-Moore’s life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She’s stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).

Under these conditions, she’ll never finish writing her self-help book—ie, the key to winning over Stanford’s admissions board.

Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her “fun consultant.” His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge—her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She’ll get inspo; he’ll get paid. Everybody wins.

He isn’t boyfriend material. And she’s not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?

Fun fact: Audre Mercy-Moore first appeared in the New York Times bestseller Seven Days in June and now stars in her own story!

Cover image of unOrdinary. There are three young people in school uniforms with wide eyes and electricity flying about. There is also a red glowing orb floating near one the hands of a short haired person.unOrdinary Volume 3 by uru-chan
HarperAlley

The action-packed series from the #1 digital comic platform WEBTOON continues in a whirlwind of drama, conflict, and secrecy as a rogue group called Ember wreaks havoc and begins attacking the students of Wellston High!

When Seraphina finds herself powerless in a world that prizes powers, she becomes an unexpected target. As Arlo grapples with the task of keeping Seraphina’s predicament a secret, a rogue group called Ember begins attacking students without remorse.

Tensions come to a head in this struggle of power dynamics, loss, and the weight of secrets in a world where abilities reign supreme.

Cover of I Can't Even Think Straight has a young Black man in jeans, white t-shirt and a backpack walking off to the right of the cover. The title dominates the cover in Black. Behind it is a swirl of colors like a muticolored ribbon. It's green, yellow, pink and orange and winds all over the cover in and out of the letters in the title.I Can’t Even Think Straight by Dean Atta
Quill Tree Books

In this emotional novel in verse by the Stonewall Award–winning author of The Black Flamingo, a queer biracial teen confronts issues of race, privilege, class, and sexuality on his journey to falling in love.

Kai knows who he is to others: The good grandson, the reliable best friend, the romantic backup. But he doesn’t quite know who he is to himself.

Kai wants to come out at school, but his best friend there, Matt, stays closeted for fear of getting kicked out by his conservative parents—and wants Kai to do the same. Kai unhappily agrees, but when a rumor goes around that Kai and Matt are dating, Matt starts acting differently anyway.

Kai’s other best friend, Vass, is proudly nonbinary and thinks Matt is a negative influence—though maybe that’s just their crush on Kai talking. Kai has always turned to writing to express his emotions, but when his on-page emotions erupt into the real world, he might just be putting the delicate balance of his life at risk.

Told with Dean Atta’s signature lyricism and candor, this deeply feeling story explores the complexities of crushes, navigating identity, and coming out.

Cover of the book The Lost Queen. A person is holding a sword angled down at the side and standing faicing a white building with two large dragons twined above it.The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two things: her bizarre freakout at last year’s swim meet and her fortuneteller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie’s life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school’s it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong’s wing, Jolie’s world transforms, in more ways than one.

As Jolie and Huong’s bond deepens, they unlock long lost powers: telepathic abilities, fluency in Vietnamese, and eerie premonitions. This leads them to a shocking revelation: they have ties to legendary queens and goddesses of ancient Vietnam. While a thrilling discovery, it also sets them on a perilous journey.

The girls must navigate dreams and portals to piece together their past lives and reclaim their immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike again. But all is not what it seems, and Jolie must determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world.

Cover of Snowglobe. There is a giant transparent 2 on the cover. Behind it is snow falling on a snow covered landscape. In the background behind the title is a giant sphere of glass with a city inside it.Snowglobe 2 by Soyoung Park
Delacorte

Chobahm’s perfect life in Snowglobe came crashing down when she discovered the truth about Haeri. The girl she watched faithfully on television was far from perfect. And the TV family revered by millions was nothing more than an illusion created by the sinister Director Cha. But revealing the lies was only the first crack in the domed utopia.

Director Cha may be behind bars, but the Yibonn Media corporation, the corrupt entity that runs Snowglobe, is still in power. They’ll do anything to hide their own secret—the dark truth behind the domed city’s signature warmth—and when footage emerges of Chobahm committing a murder, she knows they’re not finished with her yet.

The only person who can help to clear her name is none other than the disgraced Yibonn heir, Bonwhe—who knows better than anyone that enemies exist everywhere. Sometimes you can’t even trust yourself.

The heat is rising—and with the soaring temperatures come new secrets. And new lies.

Cover of This thing of ours. There is a basketball on the ground. There are shadows of three young men standing behind the ball.This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph
Candlewick Press

In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.

Cover of book It's You Every Time. The mostly pink cover of It's You Every Time has a Black couple sitting on the lines of boxes that seem a little like calendar days. There are numbers in the boxes around them from 23 to 30. They each have a hand on the line above them and the lines are bowing out.It’s You Every Time by Charlene Thomas
Scholastic

When Sydney Michaels stops for breakfast in order to put off scholastic ruin a little longer, she never expected to―quite literally―bump into cute-boy stranger, Marcus Burke.

When Marcus invites her to have breakfast with him instead of going to class, she can’t ignore the urge to get to know him better―or the fact that this charming new acquaintance seems just as interested in her.

After a magical day together in their hometown of New York City, Sydney is finally willing to believe that maybe―just maybe―after years of loss and heartache, she’s finally reached the good part.

But when it comes time to say goodbye, as they linger in a crosswalk, something happens. An accident? Sydney isn’t sure―all she knows is that, after screeching tires, blinding headlights, and a moment of searing pain, she opens her eyes and is back in her bed. On September 24–the morning of her big exam―again.

Book cover of Wake the Wild Creatures. A light skinned young woman with long dark hair is lying on the ground kind of curled up. There is a tear in the knee of her jeans.Wake the Wild Creatures by Nova Ren Suma
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Three years ago, Talia lived happily in the ruins of the Neves, a once-grand hotel in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains, with her mother Pola and their community of like-minded women. Some came to the Neves to escape cruel men, others to hide from the law, but all found safety and connection in their haven high above civilization, cloaked by a mysterious mist that kept intruders away. But as their numbers grew, complications followed, and everything came crashing down the night electric lights pierced the forest. Uniformed men arrested Pola, calling her a murderer and a fugitive, and Talia was taken away.

Now sixteen, Talia has been forced to live with family she barely knows and fit into a world scarred by misogyny, capitalism, disconnection from nature . . . everything the women of the Neves stood against. She has one goal: to return to the Neves. But as Talia awaits a signal from her mother, questions arise. Who betrayed her community, and what is she avoiding about her own role in its collapse? Is it truly magic that keeps the hotel so hidden? And what does it mean to embrace being her mother’s daughter? With the help of an unexpected ally, Talia must find her way to answers, face a mother who’s often kept her at arm’s length, and try to reach the refuge she lost—if the mist hasn’t swallowed her path home.

The cover of The Survivor Wants to Die at the End shows a standing person holding their hand down to a kneeling person. They are on the narrow edge of a structure. Above in the sky is a cityscape with a huge moon above it. The cover is mostly blue with some white.The Survivor Wants to Die at the End (They Both Die at the End Series, 3) by Adam Silvera
Quill Tree Books

Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.

Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.

Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.

This book contains themes that some readers may find difficult.

Illustrated cover for If I Could Go Back. A Black teenage girl she gazes off to the right. Her hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, and she is wearing a fitted blue tank top and gold hoop earrings. She appears to be deep in thought, and maybe a little sad.If I Could Go Back by Briana Johnson
Peachtree Teen

For Aaliyah Campbell, family is everything. Her cousin Ivy is her best friend and track co-star, and Grandpa Joe is her rock. He may be crotchety and dramatic, but he’s raised Aaliyah since she was a toddler. Still, Aaliyah can’t stop thinking about what’s missing—her parents.

When Aaliyah secretly contacts her mom, she risks upsetting the family who’s always been there. But Grandpa Joe refuses to explain why her parents gave her up, and without answers, Aaliyah cannot silence the anxious voice telling her she’s never been good enough.

Surprisingly, it isn’t Aaliyah’s mom, but her dad, Quincy, who steps up. Quincy turns out to be immature but surprisingly fun to hang out with. And when the rest of the family finds out they’re in contact, old secrets will finally be forced into the light.

Aaliyah Campbell is a champion for young Black girls coping with anxiety and depression, and a voice for all teens navigating the messy process of learning how to advocate for ones’ self. Through honest storytelling and a voice that oozes humor and heart, Briana Johnson’s memorable debut explores sensitive topics with authenticity and compassion.

Cover of the book Future Millionaire has a Black woman smiling and looking off to the side. She is wearing a buttoned up white blouse with a bright orange blazer. She has a white headband on and double hoop earings. Her hair is in curls above the headband.Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-By-Step Guide to Making Wealth Inevitable by Rachel Rodgers
Blink

Rachel Rodgers—author of We Should All Be Millionaires and creator of her own eight-figure business—knows what it’s like to be broke. She also knows what it’s like to rise above your circumstances and radically change your future. Now, in her first book for young adults, Rodgers empowers readers 13 and up to do the same.

Future Millionaire unpacks all the financial concepts you never learned about in school, like creating a budget, managing debt, investing your savings, and more. Rachel also discusses how to think like a millionaire—creating a healthy money mindset, boundaries, and goals—and act like a millionaire, using your money to support causes that you believe in and upending systems that favor the 1% over marginalized communities.

You’ll also learn how to:

  • Reframe negative, self-sabotaging thoughts so you can pave the way for future success
  • Invest in yourself by practicing self-care, establishing healthy boundaries, and upgrading your everyday life
  • Create a budget, tackle debt, and start investing so you can see your money grow
  • Use your money to achieve your dreams and make a difference in the world around you