I am usually here to tell you what the adult bestsellers are, but there are some really great ones on the YA and Kids lists this week so here we go!
Early and Middle Grades:
Hatchet - yes, can you believe it? Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, a 1986 Newbery Award winner, is still a bestseller. As a used bookseller and a lover of old books, I love seeing this. A good book is a good book. The new and the shiny books always get the spotlight, but don’t forget about the tried and true.
Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World by Tui T. Sutherland and illustrator Joy Ang. This series is such a hit! And in this new collection, readers can dive deeper into the 10 tribes.
YA:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky was published in 1999, but the angst of being a teen is still relatable. This book has appeared on banned book lists because it deals with difficult topics like rape, mental health and drug use (and so do many teens).
Looking for something completely different than The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole was published in January of 2024. It is a Jamaican-inspired fantasy that follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland. This book features diverse characters, including LGTBQ characters.
While I love old books, the tried and true, I am thrilled with new publications for kids and adults featuring queer and non-white characters. These folks were sorely missed during my childhood reading. I just imagine what my journey would have been like if I were introduced to diverse characters earlier.
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