In The Blood
by April Henry

-You can find this book here.

An Oregon teen embarks on a journey, determined to discover her identity—regardless of what she may find.

Adopted as a newborn, Tessa Lundgren, who’s cued white, has always wondered about her birth parents. For her 18th birthday, her best friend, El, who has a fondness for bright hair colors, offers her the opportunity to find them by gifting her an Ancestry DNA kit. In biology class they’re studying genetics, and Tessa opens up to her new lab partner, Victor Lopez, about her history and the testing kit. Meanwhile, local authorities are tracking the Portland Phantom, a serial killer who’s been on the loose for 15 years—and it seems that Tessa might be the link they need. Intrigue surrounds likable Tessa, who’s complex and well developed. The story’s multiple perspectives keep readers engaged as the tension builds. The serial killer plotline includes classic mystery and thriller genre tropes, but the killer’s chapters present his abhorrent beliefs about women and other marginalized groups without additional context. This disturbing element meshes poorly with the novel’s strong exploration of adoption and the experience of adoptees. Henry captures both the hope and idealism surrounding reunification. Seeing how Tessa and her family members engage with her adoption highlights the beauty and challenges of creating identity and family in an honest and emotional way.

A sensitive and insightful adoption story that sits uneasily alongside a shocking thriller. (Thriller. 14-18)

Review found here.

Holloway
by Elana K. Arnold

-You can find this book here.

A teenage girl time travels to mid-20th-century France.

August 2021: Nora, an autistic Jewish 18-year-old who loves art, has travelled to Paris in the midst of the pandemic following her mother’s death from Covid-19. Grieving both the loss and the painful complexities of their relationship (her mother was a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist who blamed Nora’s autism on childhood vaccinations), Nora struggles to imagine what her life will look like now. When she travels to the French countryside, her trip takes a violent and unexpected turn, catapulting her back in time to 1946. There she meets Adrien, a gentle boy who offers her kindness at a moment when she desperately needs it. Overwhelmed by the shock of time travel, Nora is admitted to the asylum of Saint-Alban. Within its walls, she forms meaningful friendships, particularly with Beryl (who’s also Jewish) and Penella (who’s Roma), and finds the acceptance she never received from her mother. Along the way, Nora uncovers traumatic experiences that shaped her mother’s fear and mistrust and begins to understand the generational wounds that affected both their lives. Ultimately, she’s faced with a decision about where—and when—she belongs. Beautifully written and deeply introspective, the novel uses flashbacks to build a profound and moving portrait of generational trauma, and the ways love can both wound and heal.

A poignant meditation on what it means to feel understood. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)

Review found here.

Change of Plans
by Sarah Dessen

-You can find this book here.

Bestseller Dessen returns with the story of a teen who enters an unexpected whirlwind of a summer adventure with family she barely knows.

After high school graduation, Finley Hope expected to spend her customary two awkward weeks with her distant mother, Cat, who left when she was 4, before heading off to begin the life she’s planned around her boyfriend, Colin. But Cat abruptly changes their New York City itinerary, instead taking Finley with her to help prepare her rural family home for sale. Within days, Colin breaks up with Finley over a video call. Reeling from heartbreak, Finley throws her phone into the lake, entering an unexpected period of offline clarity. She also suffers the shock of accidentally discovering that Cat has cancer. But, immersed in the rhythms of the small town, Finley befriends new people—including Ben, a shy, awkward, but adorable cook at her aunt’s diner—while uncovering pieces of her mother’s past and the judgment that led her to keep her distance. Dessen excels at identifying pivotal aspects of young adulthood, allowing them to unfurl with authenticity and robust characterization. With time and reflection, Finley, who’s cued white, recognizes how much of her life she’s surrendered to others’ expectations. Through this forced pause and sudden change in plans, she discovers strength, independence, and the transformative power of being fully present in a place she never intended to be.

A sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story filled with moments of true beauty between family and friends. (Fiction. 12-18)

Review found here.

Shards of Silence
by Brian Lee Young

-You can find this book here.

Award-winning middle-grade author Young (Diné) makes his YA debut with this story set at a prestigious boarding school.

Fifteen-year-old Derrick Hoskie is moving from New Mexico to Connecticut’s Sagefield Academy, leaving behind everything he’s ever known, including his best friends and his extensive multigenerational family. In this classic fish-out-of-water tale, Derrick needs to figure out how to balance his old and new lives. Off the Navajo reservation, he’s suddenly become a minority, thrust into the spotlight and facing questions and comments from people that are based on stereotypes; Indigenous readers will recognize the fatigue of having to educate others. As a scholarship kid and competitive wrestler, Derrick feels pressure to perform in both the athletic and scholastic realms. Encouraged by his Sagefield history teacher, he becomes interested in recording his great-grandmother Másání Mildred’s Indian boarding school stories before she passes, but she has no intention of talking about those experiences. His assignments are piling up—and he sees that his classmates have found other ways to work the system, such as cheating or abusing ADHD medication. Derrick is a realistic teenager who makes good and bad decisions and has to deal with the consequences. The story, with its well-drawn school setting, has strong pacing that will keep readers engaged. Young’s author’s note describes his own time as a New England boarding school student dealing with culture shock.

A superlative, culturally relevant coming-of-age story. (glossary, note from Cynthia Leitich Smith) (Fiction. 13-18)

Review found here.

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