Yolande Kleinn

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter navigates between the poverty-stricken neighborhood she has grown up in and the upper-crust suburban prep school she attends. Her life is up-ended when she is the sole witness to a police officer shooting her best friend, Khalil, who turns out to have been unarmed during the confrontation – but may or may not have been a drug dealer. As Starr finds herself even more torn between the two vastly different worlds she inhabits, she also has to contend with speaking her truth and, in the process, trying to stay alive herself.

Why you should read it: Look, there's a reason this book conquered the NYT bestseller list and then lived there for months. It's one of the most powerful stories I've ever read. An incredible main character that captured my heart, an honesty that got under my skin, a whole world of grief and rage and love and people fighting to live. Starr's family is wonderful, and every character in this book felt absolutely real. I could spend this post trying to explain the reasons everyone should read this book, and still not fit it all in. Stunning.

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A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming… The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Why you should read it: This was a quick read, and so full of feeling it took my breath away. An incredible study of grief. I don't want to say too much about it, but it's excellent.

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Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us. Now we rise.

Why you should read it: This is another one where I don't feel like I can coherently explain all the reasons you should read this book. YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. The characters are wonderful, the writing is perfect, and the world building took my breath away. The descriptions of magic are some of the best I've ever read, and I love how well the internal mechanics of it all work. The scope of the story (which is huge and expansive) never trampled the compelling character details, which is an impressive balance to maintain. I adored this book.

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee

Mattie is chosen to play Romeo opposite her crush in the eighth grade production of Shakespeare’s most beloved play in this Romeo and Juliet inspired novel.

Why you should read it: I don't read a whole lot of middle grade, but I saw the blurb for this one and needed it instantly. Sweet and charming and honest, it's a quick and wonderful read. Strongly recommend.

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Dreadnought by April Daniels

Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she’s transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to her, and those secondhand superpowers transformed Danny’s body into what she’s always thought it should be. Now there’s no hiding that she’s a girl.

It should be the happiest time of her life, but Danny’s first weeks finally living in a body that fits her are more difficult and complicated than she could have imagined. Between her father’s dangerous obsession with “curing” her girlhood, her best friend suddenly acting like he’s entitled to date her, and her fellow superheroes arguing over her place in their ranks, Danny feels like she’s in over her head.

She doesn’t have much time to adjust. Dreadnought’s murderer—a cyborg named Utopia—still haunts the streets of New Port City, threatening destruction. If Danny can’t sort through the confusion of coming out, master her powers, and stop Utopia in time, humanity faces extinction.

Why you should read it: This is such a satisfying superhero fantasy story, and I appreciated how complex a character Danny is. She's a teenager with a lot to contend with, including a complicated (not so great) family situation. All of these elements are given the space to really have an impact on the character, and the result is a fiercely believable teenager. Dreadnought is a first book in a longer series, and book two is already out if you finish and are craving more.

[Warnings for bigotry and transphobic language among those complicated things Danny is contending with.]

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The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Paris, at the dawn of the modern age:
Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!

Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend?

Why you should read it: This graphic novel is indescribably lovely. Sweet characters, gorgeous art, a wonderful conclusion. It reads like a fairy tale though there's no literal magical elements in it. Just superb.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff.

Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer?
Is that even possible?

Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.

Why you should read it: Gabby Rivera's book is beautiful and sharp, and it got me RIGHT in my heart. I cried multiple times at the writing and feelings in this story. Juliet is a character who is SO EASY to get attached to and fall in love with. This isn't a romance, but it's packed so full of love my heart was bursting by the end. Strange and difficult at times—Juliet's story isn't always an easy one—but also gorgeous from start to finish.

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Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself - but first she has to make it there, alive.

Why you should read it: I love science fiction that manages to balance a galactic scope with a more tangible world. Binti is beautifully written, and I loved how vivid everything was. I also adored the main character, how deeply she felt, and how important her family and history were even while she was traveling so far away from them. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel to this novella (though it definitely stands alone just fine).

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Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

Why you should read it: This was haunting and morbid, and also full of heart. I enjoyed a lot of things about this novella, most especially (and personally) the fact that the asexual main character isn’t treated like a problem to be solved. It’s a quick read, and well worth it.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later, the mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties.

Why you should read it: This book is strange and confusing and completely delightful. The characters were beautifully painted, the detail and world building were lovely, and the atmosphere was tangible. While the pacing was a little slow to get moving, I never considered setting the book aside, and the ending was entirely worth the investment.

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Line and Orbit by Sunny Moraine & Lisa Soem

Adam Yuga, a rising young star in the imperialist Terran Protectorate, is on the verge of a massive promotion…until a routine physical exam reveals something less than perfection. Genetic flaws are taboo, and Adam soon discovers there’s a thin line between rising star and starving outcast.

Stripped of wealth and position, stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter.

Now the Bideshi, a people long shunned by the Protectorate, are the only ones who will offer him shelter. As Adam learns the truth about the mysterious, nomadic people he was taught to fear, Lochlan offers him not just shelter—but a temptation Adam can only resist for so long.

Struggling to adapt to his new life, Adam discovers his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. Time is growing short, and he must find the strength to close a centuries-old rift, accept a new identity—and hold on to a love that could cost him everything.

Why you should read it: I enjoy good science fiction, and this book hits a lot of great buttons. I found the world building vivid, the characters imperfect and compelling. The physical spaces in the story came across especially well. I liked this one a lot.

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For Real by Alexis Hall

Laurence Dalziel is worn down and washed up, and for him, the BDSM scene is all played out. Six years on from his last relationship, he’s pushing forty and tired of going through the motions of submission.

Then he meets Toby Finch. Nineteen years old. Fearless, fierce, and vulnerable.  Everything Laurie can’t remember being.

Toby doesn’t know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. But he knows, with all the certainty of youth, that he wants Laurie. He wants him on his knees. He wants to make him hurt, he wants to make him beg, he wants to make him fall in love.

The problem is, while Laurie will surrender his body, he won’t surrender his heart. Because Toby is too young, too intense, too easy to hurt. And what they have—no matter how right it feels—can’t last. It can’t mean anything.

It can’t be real.

Why you should read it: God this was satisfying. Gorgeous. Hot. Intimate and sexy as hell. This book was beautifully written, and I recommend it fiercely.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there — known as Raven Boys — can only mean trouble.

Why you should read it: It's been a really long time since I read a series that worked its way this far under my skin. Something about the way the author puts her words together and sneaks into the characters' heads REALLY works for me. These characters are charmingly dysfunctional and beautifully codependent, and I fell for them hard. It doesn't hurt that the settings and world building are just as gorgeous and vivid. This series is one of my new favorites, and I will be anxiously awaiting release of "The Raven King" next year.

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George by Alex Gino

When people look at George, they see a boy. But George knows she’s a girl.

George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part … because she’s a boy.

With the help of her best friend Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte — but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

Why you should read it: Okay, so this one is actually middle grade, not YA. And it is EXCELLENT. I don't have a lot of coherent things to say about it, beyond the fact that it hit me hard and was absolutely wonderful.

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The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they’ll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief doesn’t last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship — one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to ‘fix’ her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self — even if she’s not exactly sure who that is.

Why you should read it: This book was difficult and gorgeous and sharply written. Also devastating and excellent. It's one of those books I know I'll be processing for weeks, and even once I've managed to wrap my head around it I doubt I'll be done. Beautiful.

 
The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox

One summer evening in 1808, Sobran Jodeau stumbles through his family’s vineyard in Burgundy, filled with wine and love sorrows. As Sobran sways in a drunken swoon, an angel appears out of nowhere to catch him.Once he gets over his shock, Sobran decides that Xas, the male angel, is his guardian sent to counsel him on everything from marriage to wine production. But Xas turns out to be far more mysterious than angelic. Compelling and erotic, The Vintner’s Luck is a decidedly unorthodox love story, one that presents angels as fierce and beautiful as Milton’s, and a vision of Heaven, Hell, and the vineyards in between that is unforgettable.

Why you should read it: This book is difficult and bleak, but also warm and gorgeous. Incredibly vivid characters are depicted across a lifetime, a year at a time, and every step is full of life and feeling. There's ugliness, too—a genuine life isn't always pretty—but this was very much a book I couldn't put down once I started. I enjoyed the writing, bluntness and poetry combined in a way that was occasionally downright uncomfortable. This was an excellent read.

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Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin

Growing up in the 1920s, sixteen-year-old Garnet Richardson envies the birds outside her window. Her mother does not approve of Garnet climbing trees to peer into nests or any other such un-ladylike behavior. She has Garnet’s life all planned out: after finishing high school, she’ll marry and tend to the home. But when Garnet is sent away for the summer to stay with relatives in the lakeside resort town of Excelsior, Minnesota, she finds a chance to spread her wings. A newly built amusement park and roaring dance hall beckon, and her explorations land her where she least expects—in a growing relationship with a beautiful and daring flapper, Isabella.

So begins the most important summer of Garnet’s life. Caught between her family’s expectations and her own newfound passions, she must decide whose dreams to follow. Can she seize the freedom she so admires in birds?

Why you should read it: I found this book beautifully written, sweetly insightful, and incredibly genuine. Lovely characters, gorgeous historical settings, excellent pacing. It also sated my craving for well-crafted local (Minnesota) stories.

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Fixing the Hole by Katherine Halle

Heavy rains and strong winds slammed an uprooted tree through Steve Crowell’s roof, leaving a gaping hole to match the one in his heart. After his ex left him for a younger man, Steve’s not sure he’s ready to handle another disaster. His best friend highly recommended the contractor, but the man’s already late, and when he shows up with his music thumping, Steve isn’t impressed—until Riley steps out of his pickup truck. Personable, gorgeous Riley talks a mile a minute, which Steve finds both ridiculously endearing and terrifying. Piecing together a heart isn’t as easy as fixing a roof, but Riley might just be the right man for the job.

Why you should read it: What a lovely novella! Sweet, adorable and absolutely charming. A quick read, worth every moment.

 

Maybe this is just me, but I've noticed a trend. The colder it gets, the more time I want to spend hiding like a burrito under a wall of blankets, reading whatever I can get my hands on. The sad truth about this urge is that I don't often get to indulge.

But it's still a nice way to finish a stressful day, and I'd like to recommend some of the things I've been enjoying when I get the chance.


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Sweetwater by Lisa Henry

Wyoming Territory, 1870.

Elijah Carter is afflicted. Most of the townsfolk of South Pass City treat him as a simpleton because he’s deaf, but that’s not his only problem. Something in Elijah runs contrary to nature and to God. Something that Elijah desperately tries to keep hidden.

Harlan Crane, owner of the Empire saloon, knows Elijah for what he is—and for all the ungodly things he wants. But Crane isn’t the only one. Grady Mullins desires Elijah too, but unlike Crane, he refuses to push the kid.

When violence shatters Elijah’s world, he is caught between two very different men and two devastating urges: revenge, and despair. In a boomtown teetering on the edge of a bust, Elijah must face what it means to be a man in control of his own destiny, and choose a course that might end his life . . . or truly begin it for the very first time.

Why you should read it: I thought this book was incredibly well done, though I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. It's got some dark themes that the author faces head-on, and there are moments that Lisa Henry's vivid writing makes for a stark picture. I definitely count these things as strengths, and was impressed with the way Henry balanced the difficult elements of the story. I found the ending very satisfying (don't worry, no spoilers here). And as always, Henry's dialogue and character voices are wonderful from start to finish.

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Going Home by Mychael Black

When Robbie’s father dies and he agrees to leave Baltimore for a backwoods farm in Alabama, he’s counting on a lot of things. A funeral. Problems with his brother Russ. A lot of time spent in the closet. What he doesn’t count on is the new farm hand, Seth. The handsome Texan has him drooling from the moment they meet, and has him well in hand not long after. That kind of comfort is just what he needs as family issues rear their ugly heads, but will it last for them after the first rush wears off?

Why you should read it: This was an excellent shorter story. Good writing, interesting characters, definitely one I enjoyed. There are further books in the series, though I haven't read them yet. You can find more complete info here if you're interested.

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Hot off the Press Anthology from Dreamspinner Press

Words hold the power to hurt as well as heal, and choosing them is a complicated and delicate process. No one knows this better than the men who work with them every day. Authors, reporters, reviewers and publishers struggle to balance truth, art, long hours, and stressful jobs. Whether they’re trying to write a novel or advance a career, it can leave little time for love. The men in this anthology are seeking romance on and off the job, in print and online, against backdrops of fact, fiction, and even fantasy. Their tales are different but have one thing in common—there’s a happy ending waiting on the last page.

Why you should read it: This is a solid anthology with a huge variety of stories, but there were three in particular that really got under my skin and blew me away...

On the Shelf by Eliza Maszar
I really loved both setup and execution in this one. Very sweet and well thought out, and I can't wait to see more by this writer.

Author's Notes by Kim Dias
I thought the characters in this story were just brilliantly done, and the whole thing was written beautifully in a style that took some fun chances and worked extremely well. This one really got to me.

Role Model by Becky Black
I thought the author did a fantastic job with the higher stakes in this story. The characters are coming from very different places, and Becky Black handles the inevitable conflicts and roadblocks in a way that felt incredibly genuine.