 Summertime is around the corner, so what better time to indulge in some scorching romantic tension? These nine books featuring the enemies-to-lovers trope will have sparks flying all summer long.  A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Caña, coming June 7th from MIRA Books Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, the tour is the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo: her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she'll have to marry the one man she can't stand: his best friend’s grandson. Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family’s distillery into a contender. Now he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition. Then Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and he has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it’s too late. And Granda knows just the girl... Kamilah Vega. If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for.  TJ Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo, coming June 7th from Penguin Random House/Viking When TJ Powar—a pretty, popular debater—and her cousin Simran become the subject of a meme, with TJ being the “expectation” of dating an Indian girl and her Sikh cousin who doesn't remove her body hair being the “reality”—TJ decides to take a stand. She ditches her razors, cancels her waxing appointments, and sets a debate resolution that she will go all in to defend: “This House Believes That TJ Powar can be her hairy self, and still be beautiful.” Only, as she sets about proving her point, she starts to seriously doubt anyone could care about her just the way she is—even when the infuriating boy from a rival debate team seems determined to prove otherwise. As her carefully crafted sense of self begins to crumble, TJ realizes that winning this debate may cost her far more than the space between her eyebrows. And that the hardest judge to convince of her arguments might just be herself.  A Song of Silver and Gold by Melissa Karibian, coming June 15th from Hansen House Out in the open sea, it’s kill or be killed. No one knows that better than Kaelyn. For the past year, Princess Kaelyn of Avalon has disguised herself as a man, Captain Kae, and led her crew into tumultuous waters to eradicate sirens on a journey fueled by revenge for the death of her brother. When they return home and experience a fatal siren attack on Avalon’s harbor, Kae sets sail again to destroy the sea demons once and for all. Aqeara is a siren warrior of Meyrial, an underwater kingdom hidden from humans. When her negligence during the Avalon harbor attack causes the death of Meyrial’s princess, she seeks the help of a sea witch to overturn her banishment. Aqeara is given a human body and has until the next full moon to carve out Captain Kae’s heart in exchange for a spell to bring the dead princess back to life. When Kae’s and Aqeara’s paths cross, they fall into a whirlwind romance, complicating their respective plans. Kae must decide whether her desire for revenge against sirens overrides her feelings for the woman she’s falling for, and Aqeara must choose between resurrecting the dead princess or sparing Kae’s life.  You, Me and Our Heartstrings by Melissa See, coming July 19th from Scholastic Daisy and Noah have the same plan: use the holiday concert to land a Julliard audition. But when they're chosen to play a duet for the concert, they worry that their differences will sink their chances. Noah, a cello prodigy from a long line of musicians, wants to stick to tradition. Daisy, a fiercely independent disabled violinist, is used to fighting for what she wants and likes to take risks. But the two surprise each other when they play. They fall perfectly in tune. After their performance goes viral, the rest of the country falls for them just as surely as they're falling for each other. But viral fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. No one seems to care about their talent or their music at all. People have rewritten their love story into one where Daisy is an inspiration for overcoming her cerebral palsy and Noah is a saint for seeing past it. Daisy is tired of her disability being the only thing people see about her, and all of the attention sends Noah’s anxiety disorder into high speed. They can see their dream coming closer than it’s ever been before. But is the cost suddenly too high?  For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa, coming July 26th from Harlequin/ HQN All chef Nina Lyon wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere to do the same. Now, as co-host of the competitive reality TV series The Next Cooking Champ!, she finally has a real shot at being top tier in the foodie scene. Too bad her co-host happens to be Hollywood’s smarmiest jerk. Restaurateur Leo O’Donnell never means to get under Nina’s skin. It just seems to happen, especially when the cameras are rolling. It's part of the anxiety and stress he has come to know all too well in this line of work. So nothing prepares him for the fallout after he takes one joke a smidge too far and Nina up and quits—on live TV. To make matters worse, the two are caught in what looks like a compromising situation by the paparazzi…and fans of the show go absolutely nuts. Turns out, a “secret romance” between Nina and Leo may just be what their careers need most. Now all they have to do is play along, without killing each other...and without catching feelings. Easy as artisanal shepherd's pie. Right?  Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen, coming July 26th from Delacorte Press Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it. But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus's love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus. Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can't change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.  Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah, coming September 6th from Sourcebooks/Fire Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve. In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite―have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they're lucky―survive. When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race. But every step of the way is unpredictable as Koral races against contenders―including her ex-boyfriend who ghosted her two years ago―who have trained for this their whole lives and who have no intention of letting a low-caste girl steal their glory. When a rebellion rises and rogues attack Koral to try and force her to drop out, she must choose―her life or her sister's―before the whole island burns.  Don't Let In the Cold by Keely Parrack, coming September 20th from Sourcebooks Fire Lottie trusts no one. Friendships fade fast when you’re always moving. So she’s not thrilled to be forced into hanging out with her new nature-obsessed stepsister, while her mom and new step dad celebrate in Reno. Still, how hard can it be to spend one night at a ski-cabin in Tahoe? But that night, after a solar flare causes a massive blackout and they’re stranded with no cell signal or power, Alex, a fast-talking Asian teen turns up. Lottie knows better than to be taken in by his cuteness. He claims to be lost, but his dog seems to know its way around the cabin a little too well. When the trio are forced into the blizzard, they have to work together, as freezing to death isn’t their only worry. Asthma, bears and white-outs take their toll, but that’s nothing compared to being hunted down by Alex’s ‘friends’. If they don’t get what they bribed Alex to deliver, all of their lives are in danger. After an avalanche of bad decisions, Lottie must get this last one right. Should she deny her feelings for Alex and persuade Jade to leave him behind, or trust her heart and fight for him—even if saving Alex might cost Lottie her life? Mindwalker by Kate Dylan, coming later this year from Hodder & Stoughton
In twelve months, the supercomputer grafted to Sil Sarrah’s brain will kill her—unless the Syntex Corporation kills her first. As their top-ranked Mindwalker, Sil rescues the company’s imperilled field agents by commandeering their minds from afar and leading them to safety. But when a mission goes south, she’s forced to flee the very company she once called home. Desperate to prove she's no traitor, Sil infiltrates the Analog Army, an activist faction working to bring Syntex down. Her plan is to win back her employer's trust by destroying the group from within. Instead, she and the Army's reckless leader, Ryder, uncover a horrifying truth that threatens to undo all the good Sil's ever done. With her tech rapidly degrading and her new ally keeping dangerous secrets of his own, Sil must find a way to stop Syntex in order to save her friends, her reputation—and maybe even herself.
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 At the beginning of the month, we showed some of the many incredible AAPI authors whose debuts release this year. Now, we bring you some more—some spectacular debuts across age groups with ethnicities from all over Asia.  Only a Monster by Vanessa Len from HarperTeen on February 22, 2022 It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place. But she soon learns the truth. Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers. And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down. As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . . . . . she is not the hero.  Wei to Go! by Lee Y. Miao from Clear Fork Publishing on April 5, 2022 WEI TO GO! is a contemporary mystery about a twelve-year-old California girl who wants to help her dad’s threatened company. It features sibling rivalry, travel to Hong Kong, sports, and multicultural family dynamics.  The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra from Pegasus Books on May 3, 2022 When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry handsome young doctor Ramu, she's resigned herself to a quiet life. But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, where she escapes to the garden for some peace and quiet—and instead spots an uninvited guest in the shadows. Half an hour later, the party turns into a murder scene. When a vulnerable woman is connected to the crime, Kaveri becomes determined to save her and launches a private investigation to find the killer, tracing his steps from an illustrious brothel to an Englishman's mansion. She soon finds that sleuthing in a sari isn't as hard as it seems when you have a talent for mathematics, a head for logic, and a doctor for a husband.  Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson from Holt on May 31, 2022 For best friends Miliani, Inez, Natalie and Jasmine, Providence, Rhode Island has a magic of its own. From the bodegas and late-night food trucks to The Hill that watches over the city, every part of Providence glows with memories of them practicing spells, mixing up potions and doing sèances with the help of the magic Miliani’s Filipino grandfather taught her. But when Jasmine is killed by a drunk driver, the world they’ve always known is left haunted by grief…and Jasmine’s lingering spirit. Determined to bring her back, the surviving friends band together, testing the limits of their magic and everything they know about life, death and each other. And as their plans to resurrect Jasmine grow darker and more demanding than they could have imagined, their separate lives begin to splinter the bonds they have depended on, revealing buried secrets that threaten the people they care about most.  The Loophole by Naz Kutub from Bloomsbury on June 7, 2022 Pitched as a speculative Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda with a focus on identity, found family, and friendship, the novel follows a queer Indian-Muslim boy traveling the world for a second chance at love after a possibly magical heiress grants him three wishes.  Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu from Razorbill on June 21, 2022 Hana Hsu can’t wait to be meshed. If she can beat out half her classmates at Start-Up, a tech school for the city’s most talented twelve-year-olds, she’ll be meshed to the multiweb through a neural implant like her mom and sister. But the competition is fierce, and when her passion for tinkering with bots gets her mixed up with dangerous junkyard rebels, she knows her future in the program is at risk. Even scarier, she starts to notice that something’s not right at Start-Up—some of her friends are getting sick, and no matter what she does, her tech never seems to work right. With an ominous warning from her grandmother about being meshed, Hana begins to wonder if getting the implant early is really a good idea. Desperate to figure out what’s going on, Hana and her friends find themselves spying on one of the most powerful corporations in the country—and the answers about the mystery at Start-Up could be closer to home than Hana’s willing to accept. Will she be able to save her friends—and herself— from a conspiracy that threatens everything she knows?  Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan from LBFYR on July 5, 2022 Pakistani 12-year-old Nura works as a mica miner to help her sweatshop worker mother. But when the mines collapse and her best friend is ruled dead, Nura digs deeper to find a portal world of jinn, and that the kids aren’t dead—they’ve been stolen. Set in a rural industrial town in Pakistan, this middle grade fantasy debut explores Pakistani culture, the cycle of child labor, and a glance into Islam.  Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin from Dauntless on July 19, 2022 Seri's world is defined by very clear rules. The beasts prowl the forest paths and hunt the People. Warriors kill the beasts and gain strength from the armor they make from them. And they explore the unknown world, to find new homes for the People. That was how it had always been, and how it would always be. Until the day Seri encounters Tsana. Tsana is a stranger, someone who is – impossibly – not of the People. She comes from the unknown world, from a strange group that speaks a different language, wears metal, and, strangest of all, communicates with beasts. And Tsana's People find Seri's barbaric. Somehow, with the world at the brink of war, Seri will have to find a way to make peace. This is a world of heroes, and that is what Seri will become.  In My Hands by Sathya Achia from Ravens & Roses Publishing, Summer 2022 IN MY HANDS is a YA contemporary fantasy/adventure pitched as Tomb Raider meets Wonder Woman meets Indian myth. After the death of her mother, 16-year-old Chandra S. Chengappa reluctantly leaves small-town Virginia for the jungles of India to find the weapon of a Hindu Goddess to destroy the demon hell-bent on obliterating her ancestral home.  Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije from HarperCollins on October 4, 2022 Twelve-year-old Shad Hadid is an aspiring baker who’s life is uprooted when he discovers he’s descended from a long line of alchemists and sent to the mysterious Alexandria Academy. Only, his arrival at the school awakens a nefarious force long lurking in the shadows, and he’ll soon learn he holds the key to either stopping—or unleashing—their evil plot.  Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad from Disney-Hyperion on October 18, 2022
The Singh sisters grew up helping their father navigate the bustle of the Songbird Inn. Nestled on dreamy and drizzly Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest, the inn's always been warm and cozy and filled with interesting guests—the perfect home. But things are about to heat up now that the Songbird has been named the Most Romantic Inn in America. Nidhi has everything planned out—until a storm brings a wayward tree crashing into her life one autumn . . . and along with it, an intriguing construction worker and a yearning for her motherland. Suddenly, she's questioning everything she thought she wanted. Avani can't sit still. If she does, her grief for Pop, their dad's late husband, will overwhelm her. So she keeps moving as much as she can, planning an elaborate Winter Ball in Pop's memory. Until a blizzard traps her in a barn with the boy she accidentally stood up and has been actively avoiding ever since. Sirisha loves seeing the world through her camera, but her shyness prevents her from stepping out from behind the lens. Talking to girls is such a struggle! When a pretty actress comes to the Songbird with her theater troupe, spring has sprung for Sirisha—if only she can find the words. Rani is a hopeless romantic through and through. After gently nudging her sisters to open their hearts, she is convinced it's finally her turn to find love. When two potential suitors float in on a summer breeze, Rani is swept up in grandeur to match her wildest Bollywood dreams. But which boy is the one she's meant to be with? Ultimately, the magic of the Songbird Inn leads the tight-knit Singh sisters to new passions and breathtaking kisses—and to unearth the truest versions of themselves.  Gorgeous books deserve gorgeous covers, and here are 11 debut novels coming out in 2022 with lovely pink covers!  The Gravity of Missing Things by Marisa Urgo from Entangled on June 7, 2022 This #OwnVoices debut contemporary YA novel follows a bi teen who has to juggle first love and a family secret when her pilot mother's plane mysteriously vanishes, leaving her mother as the prime suspect.  A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch from Dutton on March 15, 2022 A wry and bold debut novel, which is at once an irresistible catastrophe waiting to happen and an unflinching exploration of how we narrate the stories of our lives, as an aspiring novelist finds herself stalking—and writing about—her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.  A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin from Feiwel & Friends on March 29, 2022 For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu. When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life. But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.  Love From Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill from Delacorte on April 5, 2022 This summer, Reese Camden is trading sweet tea and Southern hospitality for cold brew and crisp coastal air. She's landed her dream marketing internship at Friends of Flavor, a wildly popular cooking channel in Seattle. The only problem? Benny Beneventi, the relentlessly charming, backwards-baseball-cap-wearing culinary intern--and her main competition for the fall job. Reese's plan to keep work a No Feelings Zone crumbles like a day-old muffin when she and Benny are thrown together for a video shoot that goes viral, making them the internet's newest ship. Audiences are hungry for more, and their bosses at Friends of Flavor are happy to deliver. Soon Reese and Benny are in an all-out food war, churning homemade ice cream, twisting soft pretzels, breaking eggs in an omelet showdown--while hundreds of thousands of viewers watch. Reese can't deny the chemistry between her and Benny. But the more their rivalry heats up, the harder it is to keep love on the back burner...  Love & Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean from Delacorte on June 14, 2022 An American girl embarks on a competitive scavenger hunt in England--and along the way, meets up with a bookish British boy who can't help her with the clues . . . but might make the trip take some unexpected turns. Britt Hanson jumps at the chance to compete for a literary scholarship--but this is no ordinary competition. Britt must: 1) Travel to England. 2) Solve clues that lead her to locations of classic novels (some of which she didn’t actually read). 3) Write tales about her adventures (even though her teacher called her essays “lacking”). And when she meets the bookish Luke Jackson, she's torn. Britt doesn’t want to get attached to the cute, young Englishman--and besides, he can’t actually help her with any of the clues. But something about Luke compels her to invite him along for the ride. This is not the time to fancy a British boy . . . or is it?  Seton Girls by Charlene Thomas from Dutton on August 30, 2022 A smart and twisty debut YA that starts off like Friday Night Lights and ends with the power and insight of Dear White People. Seton Academic High is a prep school obsessed with its football team and their thirteen-year conference win streak, a record that players always say they’d never have without Seton’s girls. What exactly Seton girls do to make them so valuable, though, no one ever really says. They're just ""the best."" But the team’s quarterback, the younger brother of the Seton star who started the streak, wants more than regular season glory. He wants a state championship before his successor, Seton’s first Black QB, has a chance to overshadow him. Bigger rewards require bigger risks, and soon the actual secrets to the team's enduring success leak to a small group of girls who suddenly have the power to change their world forever.  The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaud from Little, Brown for Young Readers on October 4, 2022 Twelve-year-old human, Sophie Dawes, lives a good life in Hopetown. There, vampires and humans live in harmony and Sophie and her adoptive vampire moms are living (or unliving) proof. There are a lot of rules that vampires must follow to keep the humans they live around feeling safe, but if regular visits from child protective services and abiding by a nightly curfew keeps their family together, Sophie will do anything to stay with her loving vampire parents. But then, normal, law-abiding vampires begin to go rogue, putting the humans they love in danger. After Sophie’s own mother— the sweetest person she knows— goes rogue, Sophie decides it’s up to her and her vampire best friend, Delphine, to find a cure. But taking matters into their own hands might be way more than they bargained for if it means braving a secret council of vampires, executing epic heists, and facing the true bad guys head on. With her best friend by her side, Sophie will fight for hope, freedom and a family bonded by a love that’s thicker than blood in this deliciously charming debut novel.  Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings from Solaris/Rebellion on May 10, 2022 Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven's freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter the research vessel Gallion, which claims to be from 152 years in the future. The Gallion's chief engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the tale of the Fortunate Five, who ended the war with the Felen. When the Gallion rescues a run-down junk freighter, Ozakka is shocked to recognize the Five's legendary ship—and the Five's famed leader, Eldric Leesongronski, among the crew. But nothing else about Leesongronski and his crewmates seems to match up with the historical record. With their ships running out of power in the rift, more than the lives of both crews may be at stake.  The Gentleman's Book of Vices by Jess Everlee from Carina Adores on November 29, 2022 London, 1883 Finely dressed and finely drunk, Charlie Price is a man dedicated to his vices. Chief among them is his explicit novel collection, though his impending marriage to a woman he can’t love will force his carefully curated collection into hiding. Before it does, Charlie is determined to have one last hurrah: meeting his favorite author in person. Miles Montague is more gifted as a smut writer than a shopkeep and uses his royalties to keep his flagging bookstore afloat. So when a cheerful dandy appears out of the mist with Miles's highly secret pen name on his pretty lips, Miles assumes the worst. But Charlie Price is no blackmailer; he’s Miles's biggest fan. A scribbled signature on a worn book page sets off an affair as scorching as anything Miles has ever written. But Miles is clinging to a troubled past, while Charlie’s future has spun entirely out of his control…  Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin from Swoon Reads on July 19, 2022 Seri's world is defined by very clear rules. The beasts prowl the forest paths and hunt the People. Warriors kill the beasts and gain strength from the armor they make from them. And they explore the unknown world, to find new homes for the People. That was how it had always been, and how it would always be. Until the day Seri encounters Tsana. Tsana is a stranger, someone who is – impossibly – not of the People. She comes from the unknown world, from a strange group that speaks a different language, wears metal, and, strangest of all, communicates with beasts. And Tsana's People find Seri's barbaric. Somehow, with the world at the brink of war, Seri will have to find a way to make peace. This is a world of heroes, and that is what Seri will become.  Speech and Debacles by Heather DiAngelis from Finch Books on May 31, 2022 Drama class is nothing like Taryn Platt’s favorite TV show—no one has broken out into song yet, and there isn’t nearly as much kissing. But the seventeen-year-old is surprised to find one thing going the way she’d hoped. It turns out she’s not half bad at acting. When her Drama teacher recruits her for the school’s powerhouse Speech and Debate team, she can’t believe her luck. Even better when she finds out the guy catching her eye, Riker, is one of the team’s strongest competitors—and hopefully he got the hint she likes boys as well as girls. But when painful, amped-up cramps invade her pelvis, performing on demand and getting close to Riker become increasingly less feasible. Up until junior year, Riker Lucas had one life goal—break into the world of voice acting to perform videogame voiceovers. Then one look from the green-eyed new girl from Speech brings on a second goal—getting himself over the hurdle of actually talking to her. The task proves impossible when a nagging inner voice constantly reminds him how worthless he is, how he doesn’t stand a chance. Taryn’s pain worsens, keeping her out of commission at the most inopportune moments, and Riker’s oppressive self-denigrating thoughts steal his interest from his favorite activities. As Riker and Taryn float closer together and then farther apart, they both must work to find solutions for coping—or they’ll miss out on each other as well as their performance goals. Curated by: Judy Lin
Posted by: Erin La Rosa  We shared some adult #22Debuts about family, and we also shared our many YA titles. We're rounding out this list with MG debuts. In some of these, families come front and center, and in others, family is the important backdrop for the characters. After all, who didn't have family on the mind at age 12? Whether it's a guardian refusing to let you go out to the movies with your friends or a sibling who is driving you up the wall, we all remember what it's like to struggle with our families at this formative age.  Air by Monica Roe on March 15, 2022 from FSG Twelve-year-old Emmie is working to raise money for a tricked-out wheelchair to get serious about WCMX, when a mishap on a poorly designed ramp at school throws her plans into a tailspin. Instead of replacing the ramp, her school provides her with a kind but unwelcome aide--and, seeing a golden media opportunity, launches a public fundraiser for her new wheels. Emmie loves her close-knit rural town, but she can't shake the feeling that her goals--and her choices--suddenly aren't hers anymore. With the help of her best friends, Emmie makes a plan to get her dreams off the ground--and show her community what she wants, what she has to give, and how ready she is to do it on her own terms. (I LOVE the idea of a wheelchair smarty not willing to take no for an answer! I bet she’ll have some difficult conversations with family about her choices.)  Wei to Go! by Lee Y. Miao on April 5, 2022 from Clear Fork Publishing WEI TO GO! is a contemporary mystery about a twelve-year-old California girl who wants to help her dad’s threatened company. It features sibling rivalry, travel to Hong Kong, sports, and multicultural family dynamics. (I’m always so happy to see BIPOC getting their books out there, and a story about a girl trying to save her family business will absolutely resonate with kids whose parents are a staple in their communities. Plus, who doesn’t love a good sibling rivalry??)  Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu on June 21, 2022, from Razorbill Hana Hsu can’t wait to be meshed. If she can beat out half her classmates at Start-Up, a tech school for the city’s most talented twelve-year-olds, she’ll be meshed to the multiweb through a neural implant like her mom and sister. But the competition is fierce, and when her passion for tinkering with bots gets her mixed up with dangerous junkyard rebels, she knows her future in the program is at risk. Even scarier, she starts to notice that something’s not right at Start-Up—some of her friends are getting sick, and no matter what she does, her tech never seems to work right. With an ominous warning from her grandmother about being meshed, Hana begins to wonder if getting the implant early is really a good idea. Desperate to figure out what’s going on, Hana and her friends find themselves spying on one of the most powerful corporations in the country—and the answers about the mystery at Start-Up could be closer to home than Hana’s willing to accept. Will she be able to save her friends—and herself— from a conspiracy that threatens everything she knows? (Honestly, you had me at “ghost crab,” but throw in mom/sister feelings, bad corporations, and a conspiracy, and I’m running to the bookstore.)  Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon on June 28, 2022, from Aladdin Twelve-year old Lia Park just wants to fit in. Her parents work with a mysterious organization that makes them ridiculously overprotective. Lia’s every move has been scrutinized since she was born, and she’d love to have the option of doing something exciting for once. So when she gets invited to the biggest birthday party of the year—and her parents say she can’t go—Lia sneaks out. But her first act of rebellion not only breaks her parents’ rules, but also an ancient protection spell, allowing an evil diviner spirit to kidnap and ransom her parents for a powerful jewel that her family has guarded for years. With just the clothes on her back and some very rusty magical skills, Lia finds herself chasing mysterious clues that take her to her grandmother’s home in Korea. (Parents working at a mysterious organization?? Kids breaking rules?? New magic and an undersea kingdom, fighting to save her parents??? Sign me up for Korean Spy Kids ASAP!!!)  Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan on July 5, 2022, from LBFYR Pakistani 12-year-old Nura works as a mica miner to help her sweatshop worker mother. But when the mines collapse and her best friend is ruled dead, Nura digs deeper to find a portal world of jinn, and that the kids aren’t dead—they’ve been stolen. Set in a rural industrial town in Pakistan, this middle grade fantasy debut explores Pakistani culture, the cycle of child labor, and a glance into Islam. (I’ve been psyched for this one since it was announced. It’s been comped to Spirited Away, so you know that means some kids-saving-their-parents goodness!)  The Prince of Steel Pier by Stacy Nockowitz on August 1, 2022, from Lerner The Atlantic City Boardwalk in the summer of 1975 is no place for a kid like 13-year-old Joey Goodman: anxious, fearful, prone to puking at any moment. His close-knit Jewish family babies him, even though he has a younger brother. All Joey wants is to prove his mettle, to his family, to himself, and maybe, to the world. On his way to a Boardwalk arcade, Joey confronts a group of unsavory men who have stolen his bag of prize tickets, demanding that they return his belongings. With this bold act, Joey impresses the so-called King of Steel Pier, kingpin Artie Bishop. As Joey enters Artie’s world on the Boardwalk, he finds a place to belong, to feel important. Artie even hires Joey to chaperone his daughter for a couple of weeks. But running with Artie and his crew means questioning everything he sees and deceiving the people he loves most. And when Artie asks Joey for a very dangerous favor that puts his family’s lives at risk, Joey must learn where strength really comes from before it’s too late. (Anxious Jewish boys working for 1970s GANGSTERS?? I don’t even need to read the rest. Families on all sides of this debut!!)  Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson on August 30, 2022, from Delacorte Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family’s standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it’s hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death. So when fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects. . . . (Siblings are my thing, so a missing sibling is definitely up my alley. Plus, this is pitched as Halloweentown meets Supernatural, which sounds amazing!)  The Trouble With Robots by Michelle Mohrweis on September 6, 2022, from Peachtree Sparks fly when perfectionist Evelyn and "couldn't care less" Allie are thrust together in a metal screeching robotics competition. Together, the girls must find common ground while battling grief and feelings of otherness. (This book is full of queer and disability (autism/anxiety) rep, so I am immediately interested. Plus, the author teaches robotics and engineering for middle schoolers, which means this debut is going to be chock-full of STEM-y goodness. This all sounds like a ripe environment to get some good family scenes in!)  The Last Hope in Hopetown by Maria Tureaud on October 4, 2022, from LBFYR Twelve-year-old human, Sophie Dawes, lives a good life in Hopetown. There, vampires and humans live in harmony and Sophie and her adoptive vampire moms are living (or unliving) proof. But then, normal, law-abiding vampires begin to go rogue, putting the humans they love in danger. After Sophie’s own mother— the sweetest person she knows— goes rogue, Sophie decides it’s up to her and her vampire best friend, Delphine, to find a cure. But taking matters into their own hands might be way more than they bargained for if it means braving a secret council of vampires, executing epic heists, and facing the true bad guys head on. With her best friend by her side, Sophie will fight for hope, freedom and a family bonded by a love that’s thicker than blood in this deliciously charming debut novel. (Vampire/human hybrid families? A human taking vampires head on? Sophie sounds like a dream protagonist, and her fight to save her family makes it a MUST on this list!)  Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije on October 4, 2022, from HarperCollins
Twelve-year-old Shad Hadid is an aspiring baker who’s life is uprooted when he discovers he’s descended from a long line of alchemists and sent to the mysterious Alexandria Academy. Only, his arrival at the school awakens a nefarious force long lurking in the shadows, and he’ll soon learn he holds the key to either stopping—or unleashing—their evil plot. (This is one of my most anticipated reads this year. West Asian mythos? Family secrets? Fart jokes??? SIGN ME UP!)  We shared adult #22Debuts that involve families. Today, we're looking at YA releases this year that look at such a pivotal part of our upbringings. I don't know about you, but I certainly remember fighting with my parents in high school, so I can only imagine how many clashes we're going to see in the pages below!  Being Mary Bennet by JC Peterson on March 15, 2022 from HarperTeen Marnie Barnes is convinced she's the long-suffering protagonist of her life, just like the characters in all her favorite books. But then a series of Marnie-induced disasters forces her to confront the devastating truth: Marnie has more in common with Mary Bennet—the utterly forgettable middle sister of Pride & Prejudice—than effervescent Elizabeth Bennet. Determined to reinvent herself, Marnie enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens herself up to the world—leading lady style. Between new friends, a very cute boy, and a rescue pup named Sir Pat, Marnie realizes that being the main character doesn't mean rewriting your life entirely, just finding the right cast of characters, the love interest of your dreams, and most important, embracing your story. Flaws and all. (Who doesn’t LOVE a Jane Austen story? And a focus on a forgotten Bennet sister?? I’ve been psyched to read this one, and now that it’s out, we all can!! Also: RESCUE PUP.)  Remember Me Gone by Stacy Stokes on March 22, 2022 from Viking People come from everywhere to forget. At The Memory House, in Tumble Tree, Texas, Lucy’s father can literally erase folks’ heartache and tragic memories. Lucy can’t wait to learn the family trade and help alleviate others’ pain, and now, at 16, she finally can. But everything is not as it seems. When Lucy practices memory-taking on her dad, his memory won’t come loose, and in the bit that Lucy sees, there’s a flash of Mama on the day she died, tinged red with guilt. Then Lucy wakes up the next morning with a bruised knee, a pocketful of desert sand, and no memory of what happened. She has no choice but to listen to Marco Warman—a local boy she’s always wondered about who seems to know more than he should. As Lucy and Marco realize there are gaps in their own memories, they team up to fill in the missing pieces—to figure out what’s really going on in their town, and to uncover their own stolen history along the way. But as the mysteries pile up one thing becomes certain: there are some secrets in Tumble Tree people will do anything to keep. (A family trade of memory-taking that hides dark secrets??? I really can just go on that premise. Dads hiding things from their daughters is RIPE for conflict!)  The Monsters Club by Lotté Jean Elliott on April 21, 2022 from Northodox Press A model student at an exclusive private school, Junie Han is popular, bright and destined for Oxford University. Or so everyone believes. Unbeknownst to her wealthy friends and family, Junie is a gifted hacker, and is using her talents to make money as a means of escaping the life they have planned for her. As long as she can maintain her image of perfection, nothing will stop her. Whilst exploring the dark web, Junie and her fellow hacker, Yamazaki, discover a site called the Monsters Club, a place where murderers post pictures of their victims. After investigating the site, Yamazaki disappears. And Junie begins to receive alarming messages from an anonymous stranger... (I love badass hacker girls, and couple that with hiding those skills from your family—well, I’m sold!)  The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes on May 17, 2022 from Balzer & Bray Seventeen-year-old Yamilet Flores prefers drawing attention for her killer eyeliner, not for being the new kid at a mostly white, very rich, Catholic school. But at least here no one knows she's gay, and Yami intends to keep it that way. After being outed by her crush and ex-best friend, she could use the fresh start. At Slayton Catholic, Yami has new priorities: make her mom proud, keep her brother out of trouble, and most importantly, don't fall in love. Granted, she's never been great at any of those things, but that’s a problem for Future Yami. The thing is, it’s hard to fake being straight when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is so annoyingly perfect. And talented. And confident. And cute. So cute. Yami isn't sure if she likes Bo or if she's just jealous of her unapologetic nature. Either way, she isn't ready to make the same mistake again. If word got to her mom, she could face a lot worse than rejection. (Support QTPOCs, I say, but also: crush on the only out girl, who’s perfect. Keep family together and maybe not let them know you’re queer. And killer eyeliner? This book has it all!)  Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson on May 31, 2022 from Holt For best friends Miliani, Inez, Natalie and Jasmine, Providence, Rhode Island has a magic of its own. From the bodegas and late-night food trucks to The Hill that watches over the city, every part of Providence glows with memories of them practicing spells, mixing up potions and doing sèances with the help of the magic Miliani’s Filipino grandfather taught her. But when Jasmine is killed by a drunk driver, the world they’ve always known is left haunted by grief…and Jasmine’s lingering spirit. Determined to bring her back, the surviving friends band together, testing the limits of their magic and everything they know about life, death and each other. (Two words: FOUND!!! FAMILY!!! Okay, more words: family seances, a lingering spirit, and buried secrets??? I cannot WAIT!)  The Gravity of Missing Things by Marisa Urgo on June 7, 2022 from Entangled This #OwnVoices debut contemporary YA novel follows a bi teen who has to juggle first love and a family secret when her pilot mother's plane mysteriously vanishes, leaving her mother as the prime suspect. (Bi teen… missing mother… family secrets… the juicy secrets are DRIPPING from this book!!)  The Loophole by Naz Kutub on June 7, 2022 from Bloomsbury Pitched as a speculative Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda with a focus on identity, found family, and friendship, the novel follows a queer Indian-Muslim boy travelling the world for a second chance at love after a possibly magical heiress grants him three wishes. (A genie and a queer Muslim teen fleeing his toxic family?? I’m so there.)  Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne on July 12, 2022 from Wednesday Books After dropping out of college, all Laurel Early wanted was to resume her life as a tobacco hand and taxidermist and try not to think about the boy she can’t help but love. Instead, a devil from her past has returned to court her, as he did her late mother years earlier. Now, Laurel must unravel her mother’s terrifying legacy and tap into her own innate magic before her future and the fate of everyone she loves is doomed. (Creepy sentient settings are my absolute jam, and repeating family secrets coming back to haunt you just sweetens the deal. I’m psyched to be terrified!!)  Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe by Lindsay S. Zrull on July 19, 2022 from Flux Books Bounced between foster homes since the age of seven, Jessica knows better than to set down roots. Most of the kids at her new Michigan high school think she’s a witch anyway (because, you know, goth). The only one who gives her the time of day is geeky Oscar, who wants to recruit her fashion skills for his amateur cosplay group. But Jess is fine showing off her looks to her Insta fans—until a woman claiming to be her biological mother barges into her DMs. Jess was claimed by the state when her bio mom’s mental illness made her unstable. While their relationship is far from traditional, blood ties are hard to break. There’s only one problem: Jess can’t reunite with her mom in New York City without a bunch of paperwork and she worries her social worker will never approve the trip. That’s when she remembers Oscar’s cosplay group, who are aiming for that big convention in New York… (Just LOOK at that cover! And if that’s not enough, this intimate look at foster families and choosing your own, written by someone who’s been through foster care, sounds like a no-brainer.)  Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah on September 6, 2022 by Sourcebooks Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve. In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race. (Siblings are my thing. Siblings trying to capture SEA MONSTERS to race in order to save their family finances? Plus, have you SEEN that cover???)  Lioness of Punjab by Anita Jari Kharbanda on September 17, 2022 from Yali Books It is the winter of 1705, and the tenth Guru of the Sikhs is under attack by the armies of the mighty Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Under siege and isolated, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s men are exhausted beyond measure, and forty soldiers decide to head home. Back in the villages of Punjab, these forty men are met by a fiery Sikh woman—a warrior who has been preparing all her life for this very moment—who leads the deserters back to the Guru. This is the story of that warrior, the fierce Mai Bhago, who chose the sword to symbolize her unwavering loyalty and devotion to her people and her faith. (An important historical figure in the Sikh community who happens to be a warrior woman?? I can’t help but think there’s going to be some strong found family vibes in this one!)  Jasmine Zumideh Needs A Win by Susan Azim Boyer on November 1, 2022, from Wednesday Books Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win features a bitingly funny, Mindy Kaling-esque, Iranian American heroine, who makes messy, complicated choices that snowball into an avalanche when an international incident intrudes on her high school election, forcing her to reckon with her identity in a way she never has before. (Okay, I’m hella biased because I’m Persian and my dad was actually in the US during the Hostage Crisis, but this is one of my most anticipated reads this year.)  The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim from Salaam Reads, 2023
Zahra Khan is basically Bangladeshi royalty, but being a princess doesn’t pay the bills in Paterson, New Jersey. While Zahra’s plans for financial security involve working long hours at Chai Ho and saving up to study writing in college, Amma is convinced that all Zahra needs is a “good match,” Jane Austen-style. Enter Harun Emon, who’s wealthy, devastatingly handsome, and…aloof. As soon as Zahra meets Harun’s stuck-up gaze, she knows it’s a bad match. It’s nothing like the connection she has with Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher at the tea shop, who just gets Zahra in a way no one has before. So when Zahra finds out that Harun is just as uninterested in this match as she is, they devise a plan to slowly sabotage their parents’ scheme over the course of the summer. And for once in Zahra’s life, she can have her rossomalai and eat it too: develop real feelings for Nayim while “dating” Harun and keeping Amma happy. (Originally, The Love Match was supposed to come out in 2022, so we’re slipping it in as an honorary debut! Plus, a tea store, swoony boys, and arranged marriages are RIPE for drama—family and otherwise.) Curated by: Naseem Jamnia Posted by: Erin La Rosa  This week, we're focusing on 2022 debuts about family broken down by age category. Today's features adult books where family plays a central role. We've got historical fiction, fantasy, thrillers; premises about chickens, generational magic, ghosts—and so much more. Whether you're in the mood for something steamy or heart-pounding but all about family, this list has got you covered.  Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary by Laura Stanfill from Lanternfish Press on April 19, 2022 Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary is a nineteenth-century fable that will appeal to fans of Chocolat and The Invention of Hugo Cabret. In sunny Mireville, France, Henri Blanchard grows up in his legendary father Georges’s shadow. Georges is a master serinette craftsman, building high-pitched barrel organs to train songbirds to sing human melodies—and village lore credits him with chasing off the clouds. Henri, alas, prefers making bobbin lace with the local girls to the workshop he’s supposed to inherit. But when he discovers a secret trove of letters that reveal a prodigy half-brother in America, his efforts to impress his father become increasingly outlandish—and ultimately dangerous. Populated with strong women and one odd young man who doesn’t fit into the box society has chosen for him, Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary is about finding your place in the world—even if it’s all the way across the ocean. (Secret families… secret families… SECRET FAMILIES!!!! This one smells strongly of family drama. Coupled with the historic setting, color me very intrigued.)  Uncommon Charm by Emily Bergslien and Kat Weaver from Neon Hemlock Press on May 17, 2022 In the 1920s gothic comedy Uncommon Charm, bright young socialite Julia and shy Jewish magician Simon decide they aren’t beholden to their families’ unhappy history. Together they confront such horrors as murdered ghosts, alive children, magic philosophy, a milieu that slides far too easily into surrealist metaphor, and, worst of all, serious adult conversation. (Neon Hemlock is a firebrand of a press. They had me at “gothic comedy,” but the other stuff didn’t exactly make my interest less piqued. Unhappy family histories is basically something just about anyone can get into.)  The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou from Flame Tree Press on July 19, 2022 South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. Twenty-two-year-old Cassia's sister is dying, and she doesn't know why. Cassia wakes up in another realm to find her missing best friend, Lucas, who knows how to save her sister. Lucas is part of a community of Reborns, people who were born on earth and after death, were reborn in this realm with magical abilities. The original beings of the realm, the Firsts, rule over them. To keep the Reborn numbers manageable, the king of the Firsts releases a curse to cull them. Cassia needs to break the curse before her time runs out and she is trapped there forever. (Sibling stories are everything to me, so this set-up is an easy sell. Dying sisters and magical realms that maybe can save them?? Missing best friends which spells found family? Hngh!!!!)  The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia from Tachyon Publications on August 9, 2022 In this intricately layered debut fantasy, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease causing political rifts in their new homeland. Persian-American author Naseem Jamnia has crafted a gripping narrative with a moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family. Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic. But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family. Powerful and fascinating, The Bruising of Qilwa is the newest arrival in the era of fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death. (This is a literary masterpiece in the making with the Mandalorian/Witcher/Anne of Green Gables (I know, that one knocked me out) trope of a grumpy caregiver adopting a powerful orphan. Yes, this is my book, which is why I’m calling it a literary masterpiece. YMMV.)  In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker from Forever (Grand Central/Hachette) on September 13, 2022 GARDEN SPELLS meets PRACTICAL MAGIC, in which three generations of witchy women who have the ability to make people forget their pain are coming to a reckoning with a rival family 20 years after their town forgot an entire summer. (Rival families?? Generational magic with hijinks? A town that forgets an entire summer? Did I mention RIVAL FAMILIES?? Oh man, I am itching for this!)  The Registration by Madison Lawson from Camcat on September 27, 2022 In a world where most citizens have one legal murder, Lynell Mize finds herself the victim of many and has fourteen days to survive, find out why, and learn to forgive herself. (One legal murder… is quite a premise. With a ticking clock, there’s bound to be some family drama to pop up in this one. I mean, if you only had two weeks to live, wouldn’t you give some people a piece of your mind??)  The Surviving Sky by Kritika H. Rao from DAW Books on October 10, 2022 High above a jungle-planet float the last refuges of humanity—plant-made civilizations held together by tradition, technology, and arcane science. In these living cities, architects are revered above anyone else. If not for their ability to psychically manipulate the architecture, the cities would plunge into the devastating earthrage storms below. Charismatic, powerful, mystical, Iravan is one such architect. In his city, his word is nearly law. His abilities are his identity, but to Ahilya, his wife, they are a way for survival to be reliant on the privileged few. Like most others, she cannot manipulate the plants. And she desperately seeks change. Their marriage is already thorny—then Iravan is accused of pushing his abilities to forbidden limits. He needs Ahilya to help clear his name; she needs him to tip the balance of rule in their society. As their paths become increasingly intertwined, deadly truths emerge, challenging everything each of them believes. And as the earthrages become longer, and their floating city begins to plummet, Iravan and Ahilya's discoveries might destroy their marriage, their culture, and their entire civilization. (Marriage drama where each half is bi! Inter-marriage rivalries! A society in need of desperate change! This climate-focused book is already rife with family nonsense, and I love it.)  Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne from Berkley on November 15, 2022 A woman goes head-to-head with the CEO of a corporation threatening to destroy her neighborhood in this fresh and modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by debut author Nikki Payne. Liza B–The Only DJ That Gives a Jam—wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at their corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly—but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she’ll settle for getting him out of her head. At first, Dorsey writes Liza Bennett off as an over-caffeinated woke weekend warrior. As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family he’s always felt a bit out of place, and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza’s protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionist is the most real woman he’s ever met. (Gentrification stories where BIPOC are taking back their neighborhoods are *chef’s kiss*, but throw in mistaken identity, meddling families, and enemies-to-lovers, and woooooof. Boy.)  To Get To The Other Side by Kelly Ohlert from Alcove on December 6, 2022 Trixie can’t be exactly sure what she was thinking when she stopped her car in the middle of downtown Chicago, scooped up a chicken struggling to cross the road, and drove off… but she does know that she has to find a new home for herself and her new feathered friend. The landlord at her no-pets-allowed apartment has caught Trixie in one too many pet-smuggling attempts in the past, and isn’t making any exceptions. Bear likes his quiet life, and he’s in for a rude awakening when his meddlesome sisters post an ad to rent the spare room in his simple home, without asking his permission first. Still, when captivating Trixie responds to the ad, he agrees to let her move in, despite immediate worries about keeping things platonic. Trixie’s dance background under intense stage parents has led her to rely on her constant smile, believing that letting people see your real emotions is not an option. Determined to keep her new room, the new friend she has in Bear, and give Chick-chick the care she deserves, she fights to keep her walls up and not get too close. Still, it’s not long before the pair’s proximity, chicken parenting, and money-making shenanigans ignite flames that have Trixie and Bear testing the boundaries of their platonic roomies ground rules. They have to figure out how to save a family business, pay for mounting vet bills, and navigate their own emotional baggage if they want to find the love that they all deserve. (This premise had me at “Chicago,” but for those whose home isn’t Chi-town, the holiday date of this rom-com—which, I mean, that premise—could be a huge draw. Also, stage parents who taught you to repress your emotions… brilliant.) Curated by: Naseem Jamnia
Posted by: Erin La Rosa  From gods and monsters to fairies and forest spirits, these debut novels bring magical creatures to life. SIRENS AND SEASCAPES  MONSTERS BORN AND MADE by Tanvi Berwah from Sourcebooks/Fire on September 6, 2022 In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite— have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others, if they're lucky, survive. When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race. This epic South Asian-inspired fantasy will leave you breathless until the very last page.  SECOND STAR TO THE LEFT by Megan Van Dyke now available from City Owl Press Banished for doing the unthinkable, selling the hottest drug in Neverland—pixie dust, Tinker Bell wants absolution. Determined to find a way home, Tink doesn’t hesitate to follow the one lead she has, even if that means seducing a filthy pirate to steal precious gems out from under his…hook. Captain Hook believes he’s found a real treasure in Tink. That is, until he recovers from her pixie dust laced kiss with a curse that turns the seas against him. With his ship and reputation at the mercy of raging storms, he tracks down the little minx and demands she remove the curse. Too bad she can’t.  A COMB OF WISHES by Lisa Stringfellow now available from HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books Ever since her mother’s death, Kela feels every bit as broken as the shards of glass, known as “mermaid’s tears,” that sparkle on the beaches of St. Rita. But when she discovers a different kind of treasure, she accidentally summons an actual mermaid—the wrathful Ophidia. Ophidia makes Kela a bargain: her ancient comb, in exchange for a wish. And though Kela knows that what she wants most is her mother back, a wish that big will exact a dangerous price… Lisa Stringfellow’s mesmerizing MG novel is set against the backdrop of Caribbean culture and folklore, telling a story of impossible wishes, magic, and of course… mermaids!  A SONG OF SILVER AND GOLD by Melissa Karibian from Hansen House on June 15, 2022 A princess disguises herself as a pirate captain to avenge the death of her brother and eradicate the sirens that plague their waters. A siren warrior, banished for the death of her princess, becomes human with the help of a sea witch so she can bring the princess back to life. The main ingredient for the resurrection spell? The heart of the pirate captain. But the two never expect to fall for each other. A SONG OF SILVER AND GOLD is a young adult, sapphic, fantasy retelling of “The Little Mermaid.” (Seriously, sign me up!) DRAGONS & UNICORNS  SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF by A.F. Steadman now available from Simon & Schuster Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider, and the time has finally come for him to take his Hatchery Exam, which will determine whether he is destined to hatch a unicorn egg. But when Skandar is stopped from taking the exam, and the mysterious and frightening Weaver steals the most powerful unicorn in the world, becoming a rider proves a lot more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. As he faces elemental magic, fierce sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and, of course, bloodthirsty unicorns, Skandar is forced to question whether he’s meant to be the hero…or the villain. (Curating this list left me wondering… why aren’t there more books about unicorns??? Thank you A.F. Steadman, I’m looking forward to reading this one!)  THE LOST RYŪ by Emi Watanabe Cohen from Levine Querido on June 7, 2022 Kohei Fujiwara has never seen a big ryū (Japanese dragon) in real life. Those all disappeared from Japan after World War II, and twenty years later, they’ve become the stuff of legend. Their smaller cousins, who are small enough to fit in your palm, are all that remain. Still, Kohei is determined to bring the big ryū back. With the help of Isolde, his new half-Jewish, half-Japanese neighbor, and her Yiddish speaking dragon, Kohei embarks on a journey to the underwater dragon palace, Ryūgū-jō. There, he uncovers not only the dark truth behind the ryū’s disappearance, but the secrets his own family has kept to ensure his safety.  LIA PARK AND THE MISSING JEWEL by Jenna Yoon now available from Aladdin/S&S When twelve-year-old Lia’s secret agent parents are kidnapped by an ancient diviner spirit, Lia and her friend Joon must follow a series mysterious clues to rescue them. Their journey takes them to Lia’s grandmother’s home in Korea, and eventually to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King. (This book is like Spy Kids with dragons and Korean art history, and I cannot recommend it enough!) GHOSTS & SPIRITS  NURA AND THE IMMORTAL PALACE by M.T. Khan from Little, Brown Books on July 5, 2022 Pakistani twelve-year-old Nura works as a mica miner to help her sweatshop worker mother. But when the mines collapse and her best friend is ruled dead, Nura digs deeper to find a portal world of jinn, and that the kids aren’t dead—they’ve been stolen. This beautiful MG fantasy novel is set in a rural Pakistani town and explores Pakistani culture, the cycle of child labor, and a glance into Islam.  RAVENFALL by Kalyn Josephson from Delacorte PRH on August 30, 2022 Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family’s standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it’s hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death. When fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects… (This book features both Celtic and Jewish folklore, and it’s a perfect spooky read for MG mystery lovers!) GODS & MONSTERS  FRANCES AND THE MONSTER by Refe Tuma from HarperCollins on August 23, 2022 When Frances is left home yet again with only an infuriatingly clever robot named Hobbes for company, she enters her parents’ off-limits laboratory, determined to claim her freedom and prove her scientific mettle. Instead, she accidentally awakens her great-grandfather’s secret and most terrible invention—an enormous monster who breaks out of the manor and disappears into the city below. With her pet chimp, Fritz, and a reluctant Hobbes by her side, Frances sets off to find the monster, facing a persistent constable, angry locals, and an unexpected friendship along the way. But with the trail going cold and the monster nowhere in sight, Frances is running out of time before her future science career, and the town itself, are doomed forever. (Frankenstein retelling? Girls in STEM? This book has it all!)  GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM by Rachel Menard from Flux on June 7, 2022 A gender-bent Hercules retelling set in the fictional island kingdom of Olympia. 17-year-old Gen has to complete the better half of 10 near-impossible labors before the storm-wielding Castor in order to save her father from prison. (I just realized I read a very early version of this back in 2019 and I absolutely ADORED it. Can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy!)  THE LAST FEATHER by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou from Flame Tree Press on July 19, 2022 Twenty-two-year-old Cassia's sister is dying, and she doesn't know why. Cassia wakes up in another realm to find her missing best friend, Lucas, who knows how to save her sister. Lucas is part of a community of Reborns, people who were born on earth and after death, were reborn in this realm with magical abilities. The original beings of the realm, the Firsts, rule over them. To keep the Reborn numbers manageable, the king of the Firsts releases a curse to cull them. Cassia needs to break the curse before her time runs out and she is trapped there forever. Curated by: Emi Watanabe Cohen
Post by: Erin La Rosa  A big month for the #22Debuts - May brings us 38 new releases!We start with 7 wonderful Middle Grade reads.  Catherine Bakewell’s WE ARE THE SONG from Holiday House on 5/3/2022 A lush and beautiful fantasy set in a world where music is magic and the fate of many thrones lies with one girl… https://www.22debuts.com/catherine-morgan-bakewell.html  Jenna Yoon’s LIA PARK AND THE MISSING JEWEL from Aladdin / Simon & Schuster on 5/3/2022 Perfect for fans of the Storm Runner and Aru Shah series, this thrilling middle grade fantasy follows a young girl who must venture to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King in Korea to save her parents from an evil diviner spirit. https://www.22debuts.com/jenna-yoon.html  Tracy Badua’s FREDDIE VS. THE FAMILY CURSE from Clarion on 5/3/2022 In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations . . . or be trapped in an amulet forever. https://www.22debuts.com/tracy-badua.html  Rochelle Hassan’s THE PRINCE OF NOWHERE from Harper Children's/HarperCollins on 5/3/2022 This sweeping middle grade fantasy debut by Rochelle Hassan follows Roda and Ignis, who embark on an adventure filled with magic and mystery—perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. https://www.22debuts.com/rochelle-hassan.htm  Rachel Elliott’s THE REAL RILEY MAYES from HarperCollins/Balzer and Bray/Harper Alley on 5/3/2022 When rumors fly about a queer crush, Riley, with the help of new friends and an old celebrity, wins over the mean girls in this middle grade story about first inklings of identity and belonging in a small town. https://www.22debuts.com/rachel-elliott.html  Salma Hussain’s THE SECRET DIARY OF MONA HASAN from Penguin Random House/Tundra on 5/3/2022 Mona learns to find her voice over the course of a year that sees her immigrating from Dubai to Canada in this novel for fans of Front Desk by Kelly Yang. https://www.22debuts.com/salma-hussain.html  A.F. Steadman’s SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF from Simon & Schuster on 5/3/2022 Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series! https://www.22debuts.com/af-steadman.html Then we have 13 amazing Young Adult books.  Grace K. Shim’s THE NOH FAMILY from Kokila/PRH on 5/3/2022 This sparkling K-drama inspired debut novel introduces irrepressibly charming teen Chloe Chang, who is reunited with her deceased father's estranged family via a DNA test, and is soon whisked off to Seoul to join them... https://www.22debuts.com/grace-k-shim.html  Ann Sei Lin’s REBEL SKIES from Walker on 5/5/2022 A beautifully written and pacy teen fantasy adventure, set in a world of flying ships, sky cities and powerful paper spirits. Inspired by Asian cultures and exploring themes of empire, slavery and freedom. https://www.22debuts.com/ann-sei-lin.html  Kristin Dwyer’s SOME MISTAKES WERE MADE from HarperTEEN on 5/10/2022 Ellis finds herself tangled up in the web of heartache, betrayal, and anger she left behind . . . and with the boy she never stopped loving. Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about! https://www.22debuts.com/kristin-dwyer.html  Jen Ferguson’s THE SUMMER OF BITTER AND SWEET from Heartdrum / HarperCollins on 5/10/2022 In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth. https://www.22debuts.com/jen-ferguson.html  Trisha Blanchet’s HERRICK'S END from Tiny Fox Press on 5/10/2022 Ollie stumbled into a dangerous world below the streets of Boston where magic spills like blood and escape seems impossible. He might not know much about the vast underworld that's ensnared him, but he does know this: He'll never make it out alone. https://www.22debuts.com/trisha-blanchet.html  J. L. Sullivan’s FROM BRICK & DARKNESS from The Wild Rose Press on 5/16/2022 Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts. Now, with everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve a puzzle and banish Ifrit forever. https://www.22debuts.com/j-l-sullivan.html  Angelica Monai’s HUNT A KILLER: PERFECT SCORE from Scholastic on 5/17/2022 It’s time to HUNT A KILLER in this YA mystery series based on the bestselling subscription game! This original Hunt A Killer novel features all new characters, designed in-world clues, and a mystery not seen in the games! https://www.22debuts.com/angelica-monai.html  Sonora Reyes’ THE LESBIANA'S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL from Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins on 5/17/2022 A sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer Mexican American girl navigating Catholic school, while falling in love and learning to celebrate her true self. Told in a captivating voice that is by turns hilarious, vulnerable, and searingly honest, it explores the joys and heartaches of living your full truth out loud. https://www.22debuts.com/sonora-reyes.html  Finn Longman’s THE BUTTERFLY ASSASSIN from Simon & Schuster Children's UK on 5/26/2022 Innocent by day, killer by night: a dark, twisting thriller about a teen assassin’s attempt to live a normal life. From Finn Longman, an exhilarating new voice in YA fiction, comes an addictive new blockbuster series for fans of global phenomena The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Killing Eve and The Hunger Games. https://www.22debuts.com/finn-longman.htm  Brian D. Kennedy’s A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY from Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins on 5/31/2022 (THIS TITLE HAS BEEN PUSHED TO JUNE 7) Dumplin' meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this heartfelt and funny contemporary romance inspired by Dollywood, about two boys who fall in love against the backdrop of a country music-themed amusement park, from debut author Brian D. Kennedy. https://www.22debuts.com/brian-d-kennedy.htm  Riss M. Neilson’s DEEP IN PROVIDENCE from Holt / Macmillan on 5/31/2022 A spellbinding young adult fantasy debut following three best friends who turn to magic when they're haunted by a friend's death...and perhaps her spirit. Thrilling and absorbing, Deep in Providence is a story of profound yearning, and what happens when three teen girls are finally given the power to go after what they want. https://www.22debuts.com/riss-m-neilson.htm  Ebony LaDelle’s LOVE RADIO from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 5/31/2022 Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates. https://www.22debuts.com/ebony-ladelle.html  Heather DiAngelis’s SPEECH AND DEBACLES from Totally Entwined Group / Finch on 5/31/2022 Who knew Speech and Debate could be such a thorn in the side? As Riker and Taryn float closer together, then farther apart, they both must work to find ways of coping—or they’ll miss out on each other as well as their performance goals. https://www.22debuts.com/heather-diangelis.html And last but not least, 18 fantastic Adult debuts.  Karen Winn’s OUR LITTLE WORLD from Dutton/ PRH on 5/3/2022 Perfect for readers of Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You, Our Little World is a powerful and lyrical coming-of-age story that examines the complicated bond of sisterhood, the corrosive power of envy, and how the traumas of our youths can shape our identities for a lifetime. https://www.22debuts.com/karen-winn.html  Harini Nagendra’s THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB from Pegasus Books (US), Little, Brown (UK), Hachette (India) on 5/3/2022 The first in a charming, joyful crime series set in 1920s Bangalore, featuring sari-wearing detective Kaveri and her husband Ramu. Perfect for fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. https://www.22debuts.com/harini-nagendra.html  TJ Alexander’s CHEF'S KISS from Simon & Schuster/Atria on 5/3/2022 A high-strung pastry chef’s professional goals are interrupted by an unexpected career transition and the introduction of her wildly attractive nonbinary kitchen manager in this deliciously fresh and witty queer rom-com. https://www.22debuts.com/tj-alexander.html  Timothy Janovsky’s NEVER BEEN KISSED from Sourcebooks Casablanca on 5/3/2022 Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. A feel-good summer LGBTQIA+ New Adult RomCom, perfect for fans of Red White & Royal Blue, Boyfriend Material, and What If It's Us. https://www.22debuts.com/timothy-janovsky.html  Isabel Cañas’s THE HACIENDA from Berkley/PRH on 5/3/2022 Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca in this debut supernatural suspense novel, set in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, about a remote house, a sinister haunting, and the woman pulled into their clutches... https://www.22debuts.com/isabel-canas.html  Susie Dumond’s QUEERLY BELOVED from The Dial Press on 5/3/2022 A people-pleasing bridesmaid-for-hire falls for the crushable new lesbian in town. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice? ONE OF BUZZFEED’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022. https://www.22debuts.com/susie-dumond.html  Romi Moondi’s 24 HOURS IN PARIS from W by Wattpad Books on 5/10/2022 All bets are off in the City of Light . . . where life and love can change in less than a day. As they spend twenty-four hours exploring Paris in all its beauty, Mira realizes that she and Jake have more in common than they thought, and he may turn out to be the best thing she discovers in the City of Love. https://www.22debuts.com/romi-moondi.html  Amy Lea’s SET ON YOU from Penguin Random House - Berkley Publisher on 5/10/2022 A gym nemesis pushes a fitness influencer to the max in Amy Lea's steamy debut romantic comedy. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, Crystal just might have found her swolemate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength. https://www.22debuts.com/amy-lea.html  Ren Hutchings’ UNDER FORTUNATE STARS from Solaris/Rebellion on 5/10/2022 Two ships. One chance to save the future. Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war, a smuggler freighter breaks down in a strange rift in deep space. But when it's rescued by a research vessel, the crews of both ships may be at stake. A modern, progressive homage to classic space opera stories, with flawed heroes and time travel. https://www.22debuts.com/ren-hutchings.html  Caron McKinlay’s THE STORYTELLERS from Bloodhound Books on 5/16/2022 Trapped between life and the afterlife, three women meet and share their stories while discovering the truth about the men in their lives—and about themselves. Will they find the answer to the ultimate question: what is love? https://www.22debuts.com/caron-mckinlay.html  Jessica Payne’s MAKE ME DISAPPEAR from Bookouture (Hachette) on 5/16/2022 The story of a woman who arranges her own kidnapping to escape her narcissistic, sociopath boyfriend, but when things don't go quite as planned, instead of running, she turns the tables in order to beat him at his own twisted game, pitched in the vein of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen meets Caroline Kepnes's YOU. https://www.22debuts.com/jessica-payne.html  KC Jones’ BLACK TIDE from Tor/Nightfire on 5/31/2022 It was just another day at the beach. And then the world ended. A character-driven science fiction/horror novel that explores what happens to two strangers stranded in a car on the Oregon coast after a cataclysmic event leaves the world crawling with nightmares. https://www.22debuts.com/kc-jones.html  SL Choi’s BAD GIRLS DRINK BLOOD from City Owl Press on 5/17/2022 Part sun fae, part blood fae, all abomination. There is only one hybrid fae in existence, and that dishonor goes to Lane Callaghan. After a routine job goes sideways, Lane must choose—return home to save the fae bastards that almost killed her, or let them burn. https://www.22debuts.com/sl-choi.html  Chelsea Abdullah’s THE STARDUST THIEF from Hachette/Orbit on 5/17/2022 Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, this book weaves together the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp. https://www.22debuts.com/chelsea-abdullah.html  Francesca Tacchi’s LET THE MOUNTAINS BE MY GRAVE from Neon Hemlock Press on 5/17/2022 A wild, pulpy ride through 1944 Italy―packed with killing Nazis, kissing boys and an ancient snake goddess. Veleno is the perfect person to recover a strange weapon the Nazis are planning to use against the Allies in the battle of Montecassino, but doing so may force him to confront his death differently than he expects. https://www.22debuts.com/francesca-tacchi.html  Emily Bergslien and Kat Weaver’s UNCOMMON CHARM from Neon Hemlock Press on 5/17/2022 In the 1920s gothic comedy Uncommon Charm, bright young socialite Julia and shy Jewish magician Simon decide they aren’t beholden to their families’ unhappy history. Together they confront such horrors as murdered ghosts, alive children, magic philosophy, and, worst of all, serious adult conversation. https://www.22debuts.com/emily-bergslien-and-kat-weaver.htm  Maggie Sims’ SOPHIA'S SCHOOLING from The Wild Rose Press - Scarlet Rose on 5/23/2022 A clandestine meeting risks a scandal. Only marriage to a reluctant bridegroom can save Sophia’s reputation. But perhaps the School of Enlightenment can give her an education in love. https://www.22debuts.com/maggie-sims.html  Kathleen Donnelly’s CHASING JUSTICE from Carina Press on 5/24/2022 After losing her military K-9, former marine Maya Thompson swears she’ll never work with dogs again. But when she returns home to Colorado and accepts a job with U.S. Forest Service law enforcement, fate brings K-9 Juniper into her life just as another tragedy unfolds. https://www.22debuts.com/kathleen-donnelly.html Let us know if you enjoy these books @22Debuts on Twitter and Instagram! Curated and posted by: Anna Kopp
 May is a month for celebrating Asian heritage and descent, so here are some 2022 debut authors to celebrate!  The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong from Angry Robot Books on March 8, 2022 Hunted by those who want to study his gravity powers, Jes makes his way to the galaxy's infamous pleasure moon. But it doesn’t take long for him to catch the attention of the crime boss who owns the resort-casino where he lands a circus job, and finds himself faced with a choice: he makes an offer: do anything and everything asked of him, or face vivisection.  A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin from Feiwel & Friends on March 29, 2022 When Ning accidentally poisons her mother, she enters a competition to save her sister from the same fate. But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.  Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li from Tiny Rep Books/Dutton/PRH on April 5, 2022 Ocean's Eleven meets The Farewell in Portrait of a Thief, a lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums; about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identity.  Freddie vs. the Family Curse by Tracy Badua from Clarion on May 3, 2022 In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations. . . or be trapped in an amulet forever.  Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon from Aladdin / Simon & Schuster on May 3, 2022 Perfect for fans of the Storm Runner and Aru Shah series, this thrilling middle grade fantasy follows a young girl who must venture to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King in Korea to save her parents from an evil diviner spirit.  Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu from Razorbill/PRH on June 21, 2022 Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, this thrilling, cinematic sci-fi novel follows Hana Hsu’s mission to save herself—and her friends—from a dangerous plot to control their minds.  Boys I Know by Anna Gracia from Peachtree Publishing/Peachtree Teen on July 5, 2022 A high school senior navigates messy boys and messier relationships in this bitingly funny and much-needed look into the overlap of Asian American identity and teen sexuality.  The Sleepless by Victor Manibo from Erewhon Books on August 2, 2022 In a near-future New York City where a minority of the population has lost the need for sleep, a journalist fights to uncover the truth behind his boss’s murder on the eve of a sinister corporate takeover—while his own Sleeplessness spirals out of control.  The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia from Tachyon Publication on August 9, 2022 In this intricately layered debut fantasy, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease causing political rifts in their new homeland. This moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family hearkens to fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.  Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah from Sourcebooks Fire on September 6, 2022 "She grew up battling the monsters that live in the black seas, but it couldn't prepare her to face the cunning cruelty of the ruling elite. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fable, this South Asian-inspired fantasy is a gripping debut about the power of the elite, the price of glory, and one girl's chance to change it all."  Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije from HarperCollins on October 4, 2022 Twelve-year-old Shad Hadid is an aspiring baker who’s life is uprooted when he discovers he’s descended from a long line of alchemists and sent to the mysterious Alexandria Academy. Only, his arrival at the school awakens a nefarious force long lurking in the shadows, and he’ll soon learn he holds the key to either stopping—or unleashing—their evil plot.  If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang from Inkyard/HarperCollins on October 11, 2022 In this genre-bending YA debut, a Chinese American girl monetizes her strange new invisibility powers by discovering and selling her wealthy classmates' most scandalous secrets.  The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas from Thomas & Mercer on October 25, 2022 On the dark streets of Mumbai, the paths of a missing dancer, a serial killer, and an inspector with a haunted past converge in an evocative thriller about lost love and murderous obsession.  Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer from Wednesday/Macmillian on November 1, 2022 Told with biting insight and fierce humor, Susan Azim Boyer's Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fresh, unforgettable story of one Iranian-American young woman’s experience navigating her identity, a budding romance, friendship, family, and her future, all set against life-changing historical events with present-day relevance.  The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim from Simon & Schuster Children's UK on January 3, 2023 For fans of Sandhya Menon, Gloria Chao, and Jenny Han, THE LOVE MATCH is a young adult romantic comedy starring Zahra Khan, a Bangladeshi-American teenager who has to deal with growing feelings for two very different boys after her meddling widow mother decides to play matchmaker. For more information on May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States, visit https://asianpacificheritage.gov/ Curated by: Tracy Badua
Posted by: Erin La Rosa |
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