TOP YA FICTION TITLE
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson with Aaron Philip Clark. The Accomplice: A Novel. September 2024. Published by Amistad, an imprint of Harper Publisher, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Hardback $27.99. 272 pages. 9780063312906. Ages 17 & Up.
Nia Adams, the first Black female Texas Ranger, faces her most dangerous case yet.
Listed Alphabetically by Authors
Ruin Road
Written by Lamar Giles. Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Publishing, Inc. Hardback $19.99. 368 pages. 9781338894137. Ages 12-16
Cade Webster lives between two worlds: a star football player at an elite school, but from a neighborhood his classmates look down on. People fear him—not for who he is, but for what they perceive: too big, too fast, too ambitious, too Black. Tired of the constant judgment, Cade makes an impulsive wish in a pawn shop one night: That people would stop being afraid of him. Cade Webster lives between two worlds: a star football player at an elite school, but from a neighborhood his classmates look down on. People fear him—not for who he is, but for what they perceive: too big, too fast, too ambitious, too Black. Tired of the constant judgment, Cade makes an impulsive wish in a pawn shop one night: That people would stop being afraid of him. At first, the wish seems like a blessing. But Cade soon realizes it doesn’t just affect how people see him—it erases fear entirely. Without fear to hold people back, violence and chaos escalate at school and in his community. Now, Cade must confront the unintended consequences of his wish. With the help of loyal friends, he faces one final chance to set things right. But fixing the damage may cost him everything, because as they say, the devil’s in the details.
Trigger Warnings: Police Encounters, Racism, Violence, Guns, Fear Manipulation, Death, Community Trauma
The Glass Girl
Written by Kathleen Glasgow. October 2024. Published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Hardback $21.99. 464 pages. 9780525708081. Ages 14-17.
Fifteen-year-old Bella feels trapped by the constant demands of those around her. Her mom expects her to help keep the household together, her dad wants her to stay quiet and not cause trouble, and her ex wishes she’d be less of herself. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother—until she passed away. To cope with the overwhelming pressure, Bella turns to alcohol. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps—anything to numb the chaos. She convinces herself it’s harmless, that she can stop whenever she wants. But after waking up in the hospital following a blackout at a Thanksgiving party, Bella is forced to confront a harsh reality: she has a problem. Her path to recovery leads her to rehab, where she must face not only her addiction but also the deeper wounds she’s been trying to escape.
Trigger Warnings: Alcohol Abuse, Underage Drinking Death of a Loved One, Mental Health Struggles, Hospitalization, Family Dysfunction, and Emotional Neglect
Better Must Come
Written by Desmond Hall. Published in June 2024 by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers. Hardback $19.99. 336 pages. 9781534460744. Ages 14-18.
Deja is known as a “barrel girl,” a Jamaican teen whose parents work abroad, sending barrels packed with clothes, food, and other essentials to support her from afar. Gabriel is entangled in gang life, desperate to find a way out. When their paths cross at a party, Gabriel sees a glimpse of hope—maybe even a future—with Deja. Everything changes when Deja stumbles upon an abandoned, blood-streaked go-fast boat while fishing. Inside, she finds a gravely injured man who pleads with her to deliver a knapsack for him and to keep it secret. Determined to help, Deja has no idea the bag holds $500,000—or that Gabriel’s gang is hunting it down, willing to do whatever it takes to get it back. Caught in a dangerous web, Deja and Gabriel face impossible choices, forced to risk everything for the people they care about—and for a future neither of them thought possible.
Trigger Warnings: Gang and Gun Violence, Death, Abandonment, Poverty, Mental/Emotional Trauma
Top 10 List
The Accomplice: A Novel (TOP FICTION TITLE)
Written by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson with Aaron Philip Clark. Published in September 2024 by Amistad, an imprint of Harper Publisher, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Hardback $27.99. 272 pages. 9780063312906. Ages 17 & Up.
Nia Adams, the first Black female Texas Ranger, faces her most dangerous case yet. Determined and fearless, Nia is tasked with tracking down Desmond Bell, a shrewd Vietnam veteran-turned-thief who doesn’t just steal valuables—he steals secrets from the elite and uses them as leverage for blackmail. When Desmond’s latest heist targets the Duchamp family, one of the wealthiest and most influential dynasties in the country, Nia’s investigation plunges her into a treacherous world of crime, corruption, and deadly alliances. As the body count rises, Nia’s relentless pursuit of justice puts her career, her life, and everything she stands for on the line. But the Duchamps will stop at nothing to protect their empire—even if it means eliminating both the thief and the Ranger on his trail.
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Death, Racism, Crime War-Related Trauma
Top Fiction Title
Marty’s Kid
Written by Hannah K. Published in December 2023 by Hannah K. Paperback $11.95. 293 pages. 97808989652600. Ages 13-18.
In North Philadelphia, everyone knows Connor as Marty’s drug runner, but few remember that Marty once cared for him like family, buying him gumballs and tucking him into bed. Connor wishes things were still that simple. He longs for the attention of his school crush and can’t shake the curiosity sparked by a neighbor kid who insists that Jesus loves him. Everything changes on Christmas Eve when a job goes horribly wrong, plunging Connor into a dangerous spiral of gang rivalries and threats of retaliation. As he struggles to survive, a new friend offers him hope and a different path. But breaking free from Marty’s control and the world of crime isn’t easy. Can Connor escape the darkness and build a life beyond the streets—or is he destined to be nothing more than Marty’s kid?
Trigger Warnings: Drug Trafficking, Gang Violence, Gang Retaliation, Child Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Death, Religious Themes, PTSD Issues
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Where Was Goodbye?
Written by Janie Lynn Mather. September 2024. Published by Simon and Schuster BYR, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers. Hardback $19.99. 304 pages. 9781665903953. Ages 14-18.
Karmen is about to begin her senior year of high school, but nothing feels the same. Just six weeks ago, her brother Julian died by suicide, leaving her drowning in grief and unanswered questions. How did she miss the signs of his pain? Could she have saved him? When an outburst at school gets her suspended, Karmen’s world feels even more unstable. Tension at home is unbearable, her best friend is distant, and her desperate search for answers only leads to more frustration. Amid the chaos, she forms an unexpected connection with Pru, whose presence both confuses and comforts her. Meanwhile, her longtime crush, Isaiah, finally seems to notice her—but are these relationships real, or just distractions from her grief? As Karmen navigates loss, guilt, and the fragile threads of new connections, she must face the hardest question of all: Can she find a way to live and love again without understanding why Julian is gone?
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Grief, Mental Health, School-Related Stress
The Party
Written by Natasha Preston. December 2024. Published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House.Paperback $14.99. 352 pages. 9780593704080. Ages 12-17.
In the idyllic English countryside, Bessie and her closest friends arrive at a remote castle for an exclusive spring break party, expecting an unforgettable time. But the excitement quickly turns to terror when one of them is found dead. As a deadly storm rages outside, cutting them off from the outside world, the group realizes the killer is among them. With the body count rising and paranoia setting in, friendships fracture, secrets surface, and trust becomes a dangerous gamble. Trapped in the sprawling, isolated estate, Bessie must uncover the truth before time—and lives—run out.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, Violence, Psychological Suspense, Graphic Display of Injury, Isolation and Entrapment
Little Moons
Written by Jen Storm. Illustrated by Ryan Howe and colorist Alice RL. September 2024. Published by Highwater Press, a division of Portage & Main Press. Paperback $20.95. 64 pages. 9781774921074. Ages 12-18.
Thirteen-year-old Reanna is struggling to cope with the disappearance of her older sister, Chelsea, who went missing a year ago on her way home from school. With no answers, her family is fractured by grief. Her mother, overwhelmed by sorrow, moves to the city, leaving Reanna and her younger brother behind on their Ojibwe reserve to live with their father. Reanna resents her mother’s departure, feeling abandoned in a time when she needs her the most. Isolated and lost, she begins to notice strange occurrences—lights turning on by themselves, objects moving without explanation. As these eerie events unfold, Reanna is drawn to the presence of little moons, symbols that seem to hold meaning beyond the physical world. Through her family’s Ojibwe traditions and a growing connection to the unseen, Reanna embarks on a journey of healing. But Little Moons is more than just a story of grief—it is a powerful and sensitively told reflection on the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). With dignity and authenticity, the story gives voice to the painful reality of families left behind, emphasizing that even when there are no clear answers, some things must still be spoken about, read about, and shared. Storm and the art team weave a beautifully crafted narrative, blending culture, heritage, and family into a visually stunning and emotionally resonant graphic novel. With vibrant pages, skillfully placed wordless panels, and a realistic, non-stereotypical portrayal of Reanna, Little Moons humanizes the alarming rates of missing Indigenous women across North America. This is an essential addition to any library seeking to diversify its graphic novel collection.
Trigger Warnings: Grief, Parental Abandonment, Supernatural, MMIWG2S (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-Spirited People, Unresolved Police Investigations & Erasure
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The Second Chance of Darius Logan
Written by David F. Walker. Published in July 2024 by Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Publishing, Inc. $19.99. 384 pages. 978133826425. Ages 12-16.
Darius Logan has never seen himself as a hero. Orphaned at a young age, he’s spent his life navigating foster homes, shelters, and the harsh realities of survival in abandoned neighborhoods. When a drug deal he never should’ve been part of goes wrong, Darius finds himself on the run from the police, convinced that prison is his only future. But instead of a prison sentence, Darius is offered an unexpected lifeline: a spot in the Second Chance program with the Super Justice Force, an elite league of individuals with extraordinary powers dedicated to protecting the world. As Darius discovers strengths he never knew he had, he’s forced to confront not just external threats but his own past. When a dangerous enemy with familiar ties emerges, Darius must find the courage to rise above his circumstances and fight for what truly matters.
Trigger Warnings: Death of Parents, Foster Care, Homelessness, Incarceration, Street and Police Violence, PTSD
Top 10 List
Mid-Air
Written by Alicia D. Williams. April 2024. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers. Hardback $17.99. 320 pages. 9781481465830. Ages 10-12.
As eighth grade winds down, Isaiah feels adrift. He’d planned to spend the summer with his best friends, Drew and Darius, pulling wheelies, watching martial arts movies, and breaking Guinness World Records. But everything changed when Darius was killed in a hit-and-run accident—an accident Isaiah feels responsible for because he didn’t shout, “CAR!” in time. Now Drew can barely stand to look at him, and Isaiah’s heart aches with guilt and grief. Desperate to hold on to their fading friendship, Isaiah convinces Drew to spend the summer breaking records in Darius’s honor. But Drew isn’t the same without Darius, and Isaiah’s quirks—his love for rock music, his sensitivity, his fear of reckless stunts—only seem to push Drew further away. When something traumatic happens to Isaiah, he starts to believe Drew might be right: maybe if he weren’t so different, life would be easier. But how long can he hide his true self before he breaks? A book in poetic formate.
Trigger Warnings: Death of a Friend, Survivor’s Guilt, Grief, Loss, Bullying, Trauma, Identity issues
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