Clara Kumagai’s sophomore YA novel, Songs for Ghosts, draws readers into a haunting dual narrative that spans a century, following two protagonists bound by longing and their parallel search for family and identity. … More Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai
CLARA KUMAGAI is from Canada, Japan and Ireland. The recipient of a We Need Diverse Books Award Mentorship, Clara was also a finalist for the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, a Yoto Carnegie 2024 nominee and shortlisted for the KPMG Children’s Book Ireland Award. Clara has been chosen
by The Irish Independent as a Top 20 Irish Kid’s Book of 2023, as well as a Best Book of 2023 by The Irish Times, the Observer and Waterstones. She is the author of Catfish Rolling. … More 5 Questions for Clara Kumagai
Mindworks, by Neal Shusterman, is a collection of short stories that intermingle sci-fi, horror, dystopian fiction, the supernatural, and even family drama. Its range is vast and eclectic including stories about various subjects from a dolphin politician, to a spray-painting teen in a love-triangle, to the begrudging “living dead,” and, somehow, it all works. … More Mindworks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction by Neal Shusterman
Coldwire, by Chloe Gong, follows Eirale and Lia, the two protagonists, as they navigate a dystopian world that’s, in some ways, vastly different from our own, and in others, scarily familiar. There, children are implanted with chips to give them access to the “StrangeLoom system,” a portal into upcountry. … More Coldwire by Chloe Gong
Cynthia Leitich Smith returns with a middle grade novel bursting with characters that pay tribute to storytelling traditions of Muscogee People, and Indigenous storytelling in general. On a Wing and a Tear captures the adventure of Melanie “Mel” Roberts, Ray Halfmoon, and Grampa Halfmoon with the legendary Great-Grandfather Bat, who’s fostering an injury to his wing. Together, they hit the road to escort Bat to the historical rematch of the infamous Great Ball Game between the Animals and the Birds on the traditional gaming lands in Georgia. On this wild adventure, readers will see the wonderful characters escape Bat-nappers, rekindle an old romance, visit many relatives, encounter mysterious creatures, and find out if Bat’s wing heals in time for the game. … More On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith
YAing News is back for the week of November 23rd with events, calls for submissions, job postings, and a fantastic First Page Feature! … More YAing News: Week of November 23rd
In the energetic fourth installment of author/illustrator, Katherine Battersby’s, Cranky Chicken chapter book series, Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm return! The Cranky-Verse will have readers wondering how Cranky and Speedy will work through meeting a new friend, what Cranky will do when Speedy becomes the cranky one, and if a camping trip will be the solution to all of their troubles and woes. … More The Cranky-Verse (A Cranky Chicken Book 4) by Katherine Battersby
Set on the cutthroat streets of Manhattan, Julie Berry’s novel, If Looks Could Kill, follows a murderer who finds himself on a collision course with a wrathful sisterhood of Medusas, whom his killings have unintentionally awakened. … More If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
Gigot’s story highlights the many layers of worlds that exist on our planet and reminds us that even though it is easy to feel overwhelmed at the weight and size of our world, we may be small, but significant parts. … More The World in Our Backyard by Jami Gigot
YAing News is back for the week of October 13th with industry news, events, calls for submissions, and job postings. … More YAing News: Week of October 13
YOUNG ADULTING 