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Author: Abigail Hsu

Readers Review: “Six of Crows”, “Scythe”, and “Lying in the Deep”

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Welcome to a new review series featuring book reviews written by teens, for teens! Each season, our reviewers will share their thoughts, critiques, and recommendations based on what they’ve read.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91tK5sU9oOL.jpgSix of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Ketterdam is a mischievous city filled with gangs, robbers, and shady businessmen, but the main character, Kaz Brekker, may be the most cunning of all. In Six of Crows, Brekker leads an unlikely gang of six to try and pull off the biggest heist Ketterdam has ever seen; if they succeed in their impossible journey, the gang will end up becoming some of the richest people in the whole city. With this novel, Bardugo creates an creepy, yet infectious world with complicated rivalries and shocking twists by using vivid, grimy imagery. She develops each character in such a way that the reader cannot help but root for them, despite their many human flaws.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456172676i/28954189.jpg

In a future world, humanity has found a way to get rid of death, sickness, and sadness, which could only be described as a utopia. However, to help deal with overpopulation, scythes are instructed to be the only killers in the world. The book follows two teens’ journey to becoming the only people who can take another’s life, crushing any dreams of creating a perfect society. Shusterman creates one of the most well-developed worlds in any sci-fi book, taking time to set up a complex, yet easy to grasp dystopia. On the other hand, the novel takes a long time to set up the world and develop the characters, and only towards the end of the book and in future novels in the series does the plot truly begin to pick up.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91CGp2PShJL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpgLying in the Deep by Diana Urban

After the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak have taken over Jade’s life, she embarks on her Campus on Board journey, hoping that she will make new friends and forget about the old, all while learning and exploring 11 different countries in a span of 4 months. Jade’s plan is foiled, though, when her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend show up on the ship as well, hoping to enjoy their own journey together. To top it all off, after traveling to both London and Lisbon, Jade and her newfound friends realize they aren’t safe when their fellow CoB classmates start turning up dead. Now it is up to Jade to clear her name before the ship reaches the mainland, and before any more bodies turn up. This fast paced story line will have any reader on the edge of their seat, as the characters develop and the plot unfolds. Most of the story takes place in the span of about two days, and Diana Urban executed this perfectly, keeping the story engaging all throughout.

Want to share your book opinions as a reviewer? Email the YA Librarian at abigail.hsu@mmt.mainlib.org.

2025 ALA Youth Media Awards

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American Library Association Youth Media Awards

On Monday, January 27, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held January 24-27 in Phoenix..

A list of the 2025 award winners and honor selections from the Young Adult category follows:

Twenty-four Seconds from Now..., written by Jason Reynolds
Black Girl You Are Atlas, written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Brownstone, written by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia
Bright Red Fruit, written by Safia Elhillo
Compound Fracture, written by Andrew Joseph White
The Deep Dark, written by Molly Knox Ostertag
Road Home, written by Rex Ogle
Chronically Dolores, written by Maya Van Wagenen
Light Enough to Float, written by Lauren Seal
On the Bright Side, written by Anna Sortino
Black Girl You Are Atlas, written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and narrated by Renée Watson
Dispatches from Parts Unknown, written by Bryan Bliss and narrated by Joy Nash
Girls Like Her, written by Melanie Sumrow and narrated by Melanie Sumrow and January LaVoy
Shut Up, This Is Serious, written by Carolina Ixta
Libertad, written by Bessie Flores Zaldívar;
Wild Dreamers, written by Margarita Engle
Canto Contigo, written by Jonny Garza Villa
Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix, written by Gabe Cole Novoa
Navigating with You, written by Jeremy Whitley, illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro
Time and Time Again, written by Chatham Greenfield
Not Like Other Girls, written by Meredith Adamo
Aisle Nine, written by Ian X. Cho
Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear, written by Robin Wasley
The Wilderness of Girls, written by Madeline Claire Franklin
Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire, written by Paula Yoo
A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond written by Elizabeth Rusch
Homebody, written by Theo Parish
Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away, written by Candy J. Cooper
The Unboxing of a Black Girl, written by Angela Shanté
Everything We Never Had, written by Randy Ribay
Lunar New Year Love Story, written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Dragonfruit, written by Makiia Lucier
Night Owls, written by A.R. Vishny
The Forbidden Book, written by Sacha Lamb
Trajectory, written by Cambria Gordon
Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability, by Melissa Blake
Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined, written by David F. Walker, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson
Daughters of Shandong, by Eve J. Chung
Dead Cat Tail Assassins, by P. Djèlí Clark
How to Solve Your Own Murder: A Novel, by Kristen Perrin
I Feel Awful, Thanks, written and illustrated by Lara Pickle
I Was a Teenage Slasher, written by Stephen Graham Jones
The Witch of Colchis, by Rosie Hewlett
The Witchstone, by Henry H. Neff
Woman, Life, Freedom, created by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Una Dimitrijević

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award: Twenty-four Seconds from Now…, written by Jason Reynolds

  • King Author Honor Book: Black Girl You Are Atlas, written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: Brownstone, written by Samuel Teer, illustrated by Mar Julia

  • Printz Honor Books: Bright Red Fruit, written by Safia Elhillo; Compound Fracture, written by Andrew Joseph White; The Deep Dark, written by Molly Knox Ostertag; and Road Home, written by Rex Ogle

Schneider Young Adult Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: Chronically Dolores, written by Maya Van Wagenen

  • Schneider Young Adult Honor Books: Light Enough to Float, written by Lauren Seal; and On the Bright Side, written by Anna Sortino

Odyssey Award for the best audiobooks produced for young adults: How the Boogeyman Became a Poet, written by Tony Keith Jr. and narrated by Tony Keith Jr.

  • Odyssey Honor Audiobooks: Black Girl You Are Atlas, written by Renée Watson, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and narrated by Renée Watson; Dispatches from Parts Unknown, written by Bryan Bliss and narrated by Joy Nash; and Girls Like Her, written by Melanie Sumrow and narrated by Melanie Sumrow and January LaVoy

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: Shut Up, This Is Serious, written by Carolina Ixta

  • Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books: Libertad, written by Bessie Flores Zaldívar; and Wild Dreamers, written by Margarita Engle

Stonewall Book Award given annually to English-language young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: Canto Contigo, written by Jonny Garza Villa

  • Stonewall Honor Books: Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix, written by Gabe Cole Novoa; Navigating with You, written by Jeremy Whitley, illustrated by Cassio Ribeiro; Road Home, written by Rex Ogle; and Time and Time Again, written by Chatham Greenfield

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: Not Like Other Girls, written by Meredith Adamo

  • Morris Award Finalists: Aisle Nine, written by Ian X. Cho; Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear, written by Robin Wasley; Shut Up, This Is Serious, written by Carolina Ixta; and The Wilderness of Girls, written by Madeline Claire Franklin

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992 – Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire, written by Paula Yoo

  • Finalists: A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond, written by Elizabeth Rusch; Homebody, written by Theo Parish; Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away, written by Candy J. Cooper; and The Unboxing of a Black Girl, written by Angela Shanté

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, which promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit:
Everything We Never Had, written by Randy Ribay

  • Youth Literature honor title: Lunar New Year Love Story, written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham; Dragonfruit, written by Makiia Lucier

The Sydney Taylor Book Award, presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience: Night Owls, written by A.R. Vishny

  • Young Adult Silver Medalists: The Forbidden Book, written by Sacha Lamb; and Trajectory, written by Cambria Gordon

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences: Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability, by Melissa Blake; Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined, written by David F. Walker, illustrated by Marcus Kwame Anderson; Daughters of Shandong, by Eve J. Chung; Dead Cat Tail Assassins, by P. Djèlí Clark; How to Solve Your Own Murder: A Novel, by Kristen Perrin; I Feel Awful, Thanks, written and illustrated by Lara Pickle; I Was a Teenage Slasher, written by Stephen Graham Jones; The Witch of Colchis, by Rosie Hewlett; The Witchstone, by Henry H. Neff; and Woman, Life, Freedom, created by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Una Dimitrijević

Coming Soon to Screens: “Children of Blood and Bone”

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From Kirkus Reviews:

“Thuso Mbedu will star in the upcoming film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s young adult fantasy novel Children of Blood and Bone, Variety reports.

Adeyemi’s novel, published in 2018 by Henry Holt, tells the story of Zélie, a 17-year-old girl in the kingdom of Orïsha who is determined to bring back magic to the land after a king does his best to eradicate it. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the book—the first in a trilogy—“powerful, captivating, and raw” and “exceptional.”

The rest of the cast will include Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Viola Davis (Fences), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Idris Elba (The Wire), and Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel). Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King) will direct from a script that she co-wrote with Adeyemi.

Click here for the full article. To request Children of Blood and Bone and/or its sequel Children of Virtue and Vengeance from a library, click here.

Book Playlist: The Grandest Game

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From NOVL:

“The Grandest Game is finally here, and I have the perfect playlist to accompany your reading (or rereading). This book is as unputdownable as they come. They’re not just players—they’re players with a backstory. And don’t even get me started on the romantic tension. It’s giving there can only be one, but I want you anyway. And if none of that makes sense, just hit play and pick up a copy today. You will not regret it.”

Quiz: Choose Your Aesthetic, We’ll Tell You What to Read Next

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From NOVL:

“These days, different ‘aesthetics’, as Dorothy Gale so famously said, “Come and go so quickly!” From “Barbiecore” to “Tomato Girl Summer” sometimes these micro-trends seem very random, and very fleeting. But it’s all about embracing what feels right… So however you woke up feeling today, pick an aesthetic and we’ll give you a book recommendation.”

Click the graphic above to take the quiz!

Quiz: What Type of Dragon Would You Bond With?

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From NOVL:

“If you tell me there are different categories of anything in a fantasy book (be it course of study, magic type, companion, or otherwise), I simply must know what I would be/have/do in this world that does not and will never exist. There is nothing I won’t turn into a personality quiz… And if there are dragons?! All bets are off. Please enjoy imagining your fantasy life along with me by finding out which dragon type from So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole you would bond with.”

Click the graphic above to take the quiz!

2024 ALA Youth Media Awards

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American Library Association Youth Media Awards

On Monday, January 22, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience, taking place in-person for the first time in New Orleans.

A list of the 2024 award winners and honor selections from the Young Adult category follows:

Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi
There Goes the Neighborhood, written by Jade Adia
The Collectors: Stories, edited by A.S. King,
Fire from the Sky, written by Moa Backe Åstot, translated by Eva Apelqvist
The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption, written by Shannon Gibney
Salt the Water, written by Candice Iloh
Forever Is Now, written by Mariama J. Lockington
Where You See Yourself, written by Claire Forrest
Tilly in Technicolor, written by Mazey Eddings
Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore, written and illustrated by Seiji Yoshida, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash
Pardalita, written and illustrated by Joana Estrela, translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Promise Boys, written by Nick Brooks and narrated by a full cast
Once There Was, written by Kiyash Monsef and narrated by Nikki Massoud
Stateless, written by Elizabeth Wein and narrated by Moira Quirk
Saints of the Household, written by Ari Tison
The Prince and the Coyote, written by David Bowles, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos
Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey, written and illustrated by Edel Rodriguez
Ander & Santi Were Here, written by Jonny Garza Villa
Imogen, Obviously, written by Becky Albertalli
The Long Run, written by James Acker
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, written by Andrew Joseph White
Rez Ball, written by Byron Grave
All the Fighting Parts, written by Hannah V. Sawyerr
She Is a Haunting, written by Trang Thanh Tran
Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, written by Dashka Slater
America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History, written and illustrated by Ariel Aberg-Riger
Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam, written and illustrated by Thien Pham
From Here, written by Luma Mufleh
Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself, written by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge
Warrior Girl Unearthed, by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians)
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls, by Cherie Dimaline (Métis)
Man Made Monsters, by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Jeff Edwards (Cherokee Nation)
Heroes of the Water Monster, by Brian Young (Navajo Nation)
I
In Limbo, written by Deb JJ Lee
The Blood Years, by Elana K. Arnold
Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust, by Neal Shusterman, illustrated by Andrés Vera Martínez
Going Bicoastal, by Dahlia Adler, published by Wednesday Books
Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe, by Steve Sheinkin
Wrath Becomes Her, by Aden Polydoros

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award: Nigeria Jones, written by Ibi Zoboi

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: There Goes the Neighborhood, written by Jade Adia

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: The Collectors: Stories, edited by A.S. King,

  • Printz Honor Books: Fire from the Sky, written by Moa Backe Åstot, translated by Eva Apelqvist; Gather, written by Kenneth M. Cadow; The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption, written by Shannon Gibney; Salt the Water, written by Candice Iloh

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: Forever Is Now, written by Mariama J. Lockington

  • Schneider Family Honor Books: Where You See Yourself, written by Claire Forrest; and Tilly in Technicolor, written by Mazey Eddings

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States: Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore, written and illustrated by Seiji Yoshida, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash

  • Pardalita, written and illustrated by Joana Estrela, translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Odyssey Award for the best audiobooks produced for young adults: Promise Boys, written by Nick Brooks and narrated by a full cast

  • Odyssey Honor Audiobooks: Once There Was, written by Kiyash Monsef and narrated by Nikki Massoud; Stateless, written by Elizabeth Wein and narrated by Moira Quirk.

Pura Belpré Awards honoring Latinx writers and illustrators whose young adult books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience: Saints of the Household, written by Ari Tison

  • Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Books: The Prince and the Coyote, written by David Bowles, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos; and Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey, written and illustrated by Edel Rodriguez

Stonewall Book Award given annually to English-language young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience: Only This Beautiful Moment, written by Abdi Nazemian

  • Stonewall Honor Books: Ander & Santi Were Here, written by Jonny Garza Villa; Imogen, Obviously, written by Becky Albertalli; The Long Run, written by James Acker; and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, written by Andrew Joseph White

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: Rez Ball, written by Byron Grave

  • Morris Award Finalists: All the Fighting Parts, written by Hannah V. Sawyerr ; Once There Was, written by Kiyash Monsef; Saints of the Household, written by Ari Tison; and She Is a Haunting, written by Trang Thanh Tran

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, written by Dashka Slater

  • Finalists: America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History, written and illustrated by Ariel Aberg-Riger; Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam, written and illustrated by Thien Pham; From Here, written by Luma Mufleh; and Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself, written by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge

American Indian Youth Literature Awards, announced in even years (e.g. 2022, 2024, 2026) and established to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians and Alaska Natives: Rez Ball, written by Byron Graves (Ojibwe)

  • Warrior Girl Unearthed, by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians); Funeral Songs for Dying Girls, by Cherie Dimaline (Métis); Man Made Monsters, by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee Nation), illustrated by Jeff Edwards (Cherokee Nation); Running with Changing Woman, by Lorinda Martinez (Diné); and Heroes of the Water Monster, by Brian Young (Navajo Nation)

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, which promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit: I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom, written by Shannon C. F. Rogers

  • Youth Literature honor title: In Limbo, written by Deb JJ Lee

The Sydney Taylor Book Award, presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience: The Blood Years, by Elana K. Arnold

  • Young Adult honors: Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust, by Neal Shusterman, illustrated by Andrés Vera Martínez; Going Bicoastal, by Dahlia Adler, published by Wednesday Books; Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe, by Steve Sheinkin; and Wrath Becomes Her, by Aden Polydoros