Format: Young Adult

When We Were Monsters

When We Were MonstersWhen We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven
Published by Knopf on September 2, 2025
ISBN: 1524713023
Genres: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

The select high school students chosen for their private school’s prestigious ‘Jan Term’ are excited to work with this year’s mentor, actor and writer Meredith Graffam. Among the students are Effy, a serious writer working through the unrelenting grief of losing her mother in an accident that sent her father to prison, and Arlo, not as serious but working through some severe grief of his own. Did Graffam know these two were ex-lovers and the relationship ended poorly? Perhaps. She seems to know a lot about each student and is prepared to leverage this knowledge to get results. As Graffam’s assignments get more wild and dangerous, the Jan Term students begin to suspect that she might not be exactly who she claims to be.

Told from Effy’s and Arlo’s points of view, this atmospheric thriller will be a hit with Dark Academia fans, though some might find the villain a little too ludicrous to truly invest themselves in the story. 

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

(S)kin

(S)kin(S)Kin by Ibi Zoboi
on February 11, 2025
ISBN: 0062888870
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“(S)KIN” is a YA fantasy novel in verse by Ibi Zoboi. Marisol is a Black teen girl and a soucouyant, a being from Caribbean that sheds its skin during the new moon and feeds on the energy of their enemies. Genevieve is a mixed-race teen living with her white father and white stepmother, but has dreams about her mysterious Black mother. Both teens meet and their stories begin to intertwine. The themes of colorism, mother-daughter relationships, and figuring out who you want to be are well done and readers will enjoy the quick story filled with secrets. A must-buy for YA fiction collections where Zoboi and novels in verse are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Love Unmasked

Love UnmaskedLove Unmasked by Becky Dean
on July 15, 2025
ISBN: 0593647874
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Love Unmasked” is a YA romance novel by Becky Dean. Evie is a student visiting Venice, Italy with her art and architecture class. She is a hug fan of a book series set in Venice called “Elven Realms.” When she hears rumors about a secret Elven Realms club in the city, she decides to try and find it. The story is a fairly predictable romance, but fans of YA cozy romances, gentle mysteries, and travel will definitely enjoy this one. The pacing was good, and a lot happens considering this all takes place within a week. This is an additional purchase for YA collections where cozy romances and travel fiction are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Predatory Natures

Predatory NaturesPredatory Natures by Amy Goldsmith
on July 8, 2025
ISBN: 0593814312
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Predatory Natures” is a YA horror novel by Amy Goldsmith. The main character is a teenager, Lara, who is taking a break from school after doing badly on her exams and working a short-term job on a luxury train. Surprisingly an old friend that she had a falling out with is also working on the train. There are also some mysterious twins, Gwen and Gwydion who are supposedly transporting scientific samples, and staff are told to stay away from them. What is really happening on this train?

Lots of descriptive passages, with intermingled flashbacks helped build the tension and atmosphere, but occasionally were a little confusing. We learn about Lara’s past abusive relationship through these flashbacks. Meanwhile the plant samples take over the train and control others (similar to Lara’s abusive boyfriend). An interesting YA horror with a lot of darkness, this is a suggested purchase where YA horror (especially psychological) is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Lady’s Knight

Lady’s KnightLady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
Published by Harper Collins / STORYTIDE on June 3, 2025
ISBN: 0062893394
Pages: 416
Genres: LGBTQ+, Romance, Historical Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Gwen has always wanted to be a knight but, aside from the fact that she’s a woman and only men can be knights, she was forced to become a blacksmith when grief over her mother’s death left her father unable to work (technically she wasn’t supposed to do that either, but townspeople turned their heads, because a smithy is, after all, a village necessity). That said, she just might have fashioned herself some armor and be planning to compete in the first round of eliminations at the Dragonslayer Tournament, simply to experience jousting once in her life. She’ll wear her helmet, and nobody will know.

Castle-dwelling Lady Isobelle, on the other hand, is used to having the freedoms bestowed upon the wealthy. Until her dowry and hand in marriage are offered up as the grand prize in the Tournament. For the first time, she can’t power her way through a problem by sheer force of will.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s secret, she enlists her – disguised as Sir Gawain – to be her champion. Winning could mean Isobelle’s freedom, and Gwen’s triumph – but being found out would spell disaster for them both.

A fabulous, irreverent, feminist sapphic romance in mostly-medieval-but-sometimes-not setting where there might just be dragons left to fight after all – and not just metaphorical ones. A fun and engaging read with two terrific main characters and distinct, three-dimensional secondary characters. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Lex Croucher will love this epic tale of daring, bravery, betrayal, heartbreak and – maybe, because no spoilers here! – a happy ending.

5 stars/cream

–   Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Dead Happy (HappyHead #2)

Dead Happy (HappyHead #2)Dead Happy (HappyHead, #2) by Josh Silver
on May 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593812069
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Horror, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Dead Happy picks up directly at the end of the first book in this YA duology, HappyHead, with the chosen ten teens regaining consciousness on a flooding boat approaching Elmhallow. Seb has no choice but to fake a relationship with Eleanor as the teens are forced to complete increasingly disturbing and violent challenges for bloodstones under the rule of a perfectly reformed HappyHead couple. When Seb finds out that Fin is also on the island they decide to escape no matter the cost.

Dead Happy is a dark survival drama in the vein of Squid Games and the Hunger Games series with elements of horror such as torture, animal death, gaslighting, and homophobia. The romance between Seb and Fin continues to be the backbone of the duology and remains strong throughout the second novel. Dead Happy moves at a relentless pace, keeping the reader on edge throughout the novel as did HappyHead. Recommended for all teen collections where survival stories or romance are popular genres.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston Maine

five-stars

HappyHead (HappyHead #1)

HappyHead (HappyHead #1)HappyHead by Josh Silver
Published by Rock the Boat on March 16, 2023
ISBN: 0593812026
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Horror, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Psychological thriller, Romance, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

When 17-year-old Seb is offered a place on a radical retreat designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness, he is determined to change how people see him and make his parents proud. When the assessments at HappyHead get increasingly more disturbing and dangerous, Seb finds himself wondering what is really going on and how far he’s willing to go to be ‘happy.’

This first novel in the HappyHead duology by debut author, Josh Silver, features strong character development, a well-developed plot, suspense, horror elements, LGBTQ+ relationships, and steady pacing. The HappyHead series is recommended for fans of Squid Games and the Hunger Games series and features similar elements of survival in extreme circumstances. This series is recommended for YA readers.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston Maine

five-stars

All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey

All’s Fair in Love and Field HockeyAll's Fair in Love and Field Hockey by Kit Rosewater
on May 6, 2025
ISBN: 0593898451
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey

By Kit Rosewater

All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey is a sweet, sapphic romance about two rival hockey players. It’s also largely about Evelyn’s grief after her mother’s passing and her trying to work through the tension between what she thought her future should be and what she might want it to be. Evelyn and her mother loved field hockey–her mom almost went pro–but when her mom is dying Evelyn promises to carry on her legacy and play field hockey at Duke. However, now in her senior year, Evelyn realizes that all she really has is field hockey and as she starts to spend more time getting to know the soccer player turned (forced) field hockey player Rosa from a rival team, she realizes she might not want that anymore–but can Evelyn live with herself for making her own future? I appreciated all of the complex discussions the characters had, how they tried to navigate their lives, and the queer rep (Evelyn’s brother is also trans). I do think Evelyn and Rosa’s relationship moved very fast (spoiler aler,t but they had sex the second time they kissed); I don’t think this is necessarily atypical of high school/teenage relationships but I also think it made their romance feel a little mis-paced (they hadn’t even been talking that long when they were previously arch rivals). Their friendship didn’t really make sense (Evelyn drove to Rosa’s school–and somehow got through security–just to tell Rosa off, and then they essentially fell into friendship). I appreciated Evelyn’s “queer crisis” (her brother’s words, not mine) and how the characters talk about sexuality. I really liked that we find out that Evelyn’s mother wasn’t perfect–and neither is her father–and while those things don’t get resolved, we see Evelyn actually dealing with things in a way she hasn’t in a long, long time. I think this book could be triggering if you’ve lost a parent or loved one, but otherwise I think it’s a solid sports/romance read for high schoolers and will be adding this to our 9-12 library collection. This was four stars for me because of the representation and important conversations.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

four-stars

These Vengeful Gods

Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

These Vengeful Gods
By Gabe Cole Novoa
These Vengeful Gods is a dystopian story with Hunger Games-like competition and action, inclusive and thoughtful representation, and fantastical magic and mythical gods. Crow is a trans and disabled fighter who lives in The Shallows--the lowest rung of society that is constantly flooded, and people live in poverty and strife. We discover that Crow lives with his uncles after the death of his father and a falling out with his mother, who is now the president of Crow's country. When Crow's uncles are arrested for helping "death children," Crow enters a competition (much like the Hunger Games) to win money and a favor from the gods (which he hopes will be his uncles' freedom). In Crow's world, the president rules in consultation with the gods who wield mythical powers--but, a very long time ago, the gods voted and decided to kill off all of Death's children because they could potentially kill. Some of Death's children made it out alive and the descendants -- "death children" were made illegal and, if found, would be killed to prevent their powers. Only a few gods voted against this, but not enough to keep it from happening. As Crow continues on in the competition, he learns more about why the world is the way it is and who's behind it -- all while fighting for greater systemic equality and change and fighting opponents. Anyone who likes dystopian reads like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, etc. will enjoy this read, but what sets it apart is Novoa's characteristic representation and use of storytelling to fight for systemic change. I particularly appreciated how Novoa uses magic to accommodate Crow's transition and use of testosterone and shares how otherwise this would be logistically and financially challenging for people transitioning in the Shallows. This would be a great addition for any secondary library especially those who serve populations with a strong interest in dystopian literature.
Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Cruel is the Light

Cruel is the LightCruel Is the Light by Sophie Clark
on January 21, 2025
ISBN: 0593810724
Pages: 496
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark

Selene, also known as the “Butcher of Rome,” is an exorcist working for the Vatican city in a VERY bloody battle against demons.  Jules, a talented Vatican soldier,  is an orphan with a mysterious background.  The two are forced to join together in an unusual alliance where Jules pretends to be Selene’s estranged fiance.  Together, they track down one of the most powerful demons wreaking havoc on the city, only to find out that not everything they have been taught to believe is true.  

This YA romantasy is advertised as an epic love story.  It has all tantalizing ingredients to make readers prepare to be amazed: war, forbidden love, religious turmoil, mysterious twists. Yet, it just doesn’t deliver.  The writing seems chaotic and it is very easy to lose track of what is happening.  The double point-of-view third person becomes tricky to follow.  The “dream” sequences come out of nowhere and the reader can’t determine if one is happening or not.  Constant backtracking is needed to keep things straight.  The pacing is all over.  There are ten pages of an index like handbook to introduce the reader to the world, the war, the characters, etc, only to have some of those characters killed off in the first three pages.  The amount of blood and gore is excessive to begin, and then the war fizzles out to attempt the romance plot line.  Of all the narrative structures, the romance is the most successful, but it’s still almost forced to the point of being false.  

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME.

two-stars