Holiday Gift Giving Guide for the YA Book Lover

Do you know a teen (or adult?) who loves to read young adult books?  Check out these amazing new reads that any book lover will adore as a gift–or from the library!

 

Cover image for The Language of Thorns
by Leigh Bardugo
Travel to Grishnaverse, a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price. Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo (The Grisha Trilogy) has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.
Perfect for: Fantasy and fairy tale fans, romance lovers
Cover image for Far from the tree
by Robin Benway
Being the middle child has its ups and downs. But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. From award-winning author Robin Benway (Emmy & Oliver), this National Book Award Winner (2017) is about three teenagers, biological siblings separated by adoption, and explores the meaning of family in all its forms–how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.
Perfect for: Fans of contemporary fiction, readers looking for a moving story
Cover image for In other lands : a novel
by Sarah Rees Brennan
Sarah Rees Brennan has finally published In Other Lands (originally serialized online) in novel form! It is at once a celebration and satire of traditional fantasy and coming-of-age novels, starring Elliot Schafer. Who is Elliot? He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands.
Perfect for: Fantasy fans, readers who want to laugh out loud, older readers who loved Harry Potter
Cover image for Jane, unlimited
by Kristin Cashore
After five years, Kristin Cashore(Graceling) has published a new book! Without Aunt Magnolia, Jane is directionless. Then an old acquaintance, the glamorous and capricious Kiran Thrash, blows back into Jane’s life and invites her to a gala at the Thrashes’ extravagant island mansion called Tu Reviens. What Jane doesn’t know is that at Tu Reviens her story will change; the house will offer her five choices that could ultimately determine the course of her untethered life. But every choice comes with a price.
Perfect for: Fans of thrillers and suspense with just a hint of the supernatural
Cover image for Monster
by Michael Grant
The sequel series to Michael Grant’s Gone series is here! When new meteorite strikes introduce an alien virus, humans develop unique superpowers that trigger a battle between teen hero defenders and supermonsters.
Perfect for: Fans of the Gone series, superhero comic lovers
Cover image for Turtles all the way down
by John Green
John Green has penned another winner in 2017, and it is sure to please all his many fans. Solving the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett would bring a hundred-thousand-dollar reward, so Aza and her best friend, Daisy, are eager to investigate.  But Aza is living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. Still hurting from the death of her father years ago, she’s crippled by ‘thought spirals’ and the irrational, obsessive fear she has of microbes and bacteria.
Perfect for: Fans of John Green’s other books, lovers of contemporary fiction
Cover image for Warcross
by Marie Lu

Marie Lu’s newest sci-fi thriller will certainly satisfy fans of her Legend series. When teenage coder Emika Chen hacks her way into the opening tournament of the Warcross Championships, she glitches herself into the game as well as a sinister plot with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Perfect for: Fans of the Legend series, video game lovers

Cover image for Tower of dawn
by Sarah J. Maas
This sixth book in Sarah  J. Maas’s popular Throne of Glass series follows Chaol and Nesryn as they visit Antica hoping the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme can enable Chaol to walk again, and to persuade the rulers to ally with them to save Erilea.
Perfect for: Fans of the Throne of Glass series, fantasy lovers
Cover image for Renegades
by Marissa Meyer

The Renegades are human, but with extraordinary abilities. They emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone… except the villains they once overthrew. Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and is on a mission for vengeance. Adrian is a Renegade boy who believes in justice–and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both. This is the latest novel from Marissa Meyer, who penned the popular Lunar Chronicles series.

Perfect for: Fans of superhero comics and anti-heroes, sci-fi lovers

Cover image for La belle sauvage
by Phillip Pullman

Return to the world of Lyra from Pullman’s classic series His Dark Materials. When Malcolm finds a secret message inquiring about a dangerous substance called Dust, he finds himself embroiled in a tale of intrigue featuring enforcement agents from the Magisterium, a woman with an evil monkey daemon, and a baby named Lyra.

Perfect for: Fans of The Golden Compass, steampunk lovers, fantasy fans

Cover image for All the crooked saints
All the Crooked Saints
by Maggie Stiefvater

Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado, is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars. At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. This is the latest book by Maggie Stiefvater, who wrote the popular Wolves of Mercy Falls and Raven Boys series.

Perfect for: Fans of magical realism, lovers of unique and whimsical fantasy