Timekeeper by Tara Sim is a young adult fiction novel that explores the concept of time and its impact upon the books’ characters. Set in an alternate Victorian London where time is literally controlled by clock towers, the story follows clock mechanic Danny who is struggling to come to terms with his father's death and the repercussions of a clock tower explosion that has thrown London's time out of sync.
Red, White & Royal Blue is a delightful LGBTQIA+ romance novel by Casey McQuiston that tells the story of Alex, the son of an American president, and Henry, the son of the British Prime Minister, as they navigate their respective identities and growing attraction. The book provides a unique take on identity and family, with the political settings of Washington, D.C. and London serving as the backdrop.
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson is a moving sci-fi novel about identity, romance, and family. It follows unpopular high schooler Henry Denton struggling to cope after his boyfriend commits suicide. He has supposedly been abducted by aliens his whole life, and they give him an ultimatum: the world is going to end, and he can stop it if he presses a button. However, he can’t decide whether or not to.
Malinda Lo’s “A Scatter of Light” is a coming of age novel that sadly falls flat in comparison to its semi-companion piece: “Last Night at the Telegraph Club”. This novel centers Aria Tang West, a teenager sent to live with her grandmother in California as punishment for a scandal that she caused during her last week of senior year.
Dahlia Adler’s Cool for the Summer is a passionate, nostalgic take on young love and identity. Lara returns to high school after a magical summer and immediately hits it off with her longtime crush, Chase. She’s thrilled, but is suddenly caught off guard by the reappearance of Jasmine, the girl she spent the summer with. Told in both the present and in flashbacks to the summer, the novel follows Lara as she grapples with her feelings for both Jasmine and Chase.
Luc is not boyfriend material - he’s a wild drunk party animal that passes out in the street gutters in strange outfits. At least according to the tabloids that chase him because of his parent’s fame (he actually works at a charity and happened to trip in the street - though he was wearing bunny ears at the time). But this public image and his past has ruined his self-confidence and dating life, a huge problem given that he actually has an event where he needs a date.
The Song of Achilles narrates the tragic love story of Patroclus and Achilles. It follows
Patroclus, who murdered a boy and was exiled to a different kingdom, where he soon meets
Achilles. While wary at first, the two form a close bond and run away, where they meet Chiron
and train with him. Everything seems to be going fine, until Achilles is called by his father.
When the two arrive at the palace, they are greeted by Odysseus, who draws Patroclus’ name,
Andrew and Jamie are two teen boys living through a very deadly pathogen. They
sickness has killed all their friends and family members. Andrew and Jamie stumble upon each
other and quickly become friends. The two head south searching for civilization and must
endure many trials and hardships. Throughout their long dangerous journey Jamie and Andrews
friendship starts to develop into something more. They soon realize that all that’s left in the
world is their strong and unmistakable connection.
Aristotle has never had any real friends - maybe he’s too lost in his thoughts on his
brother in prison, his complicated Mexican heritage, his distant father. But when another boy
with a similarly named after a philosopher, Dante, offers to teach him to swim, a bond is quickly
forged between the two. However, a tragic accident and moves and love and heartbreak begin
to warp their relationship - but hopefully, Dante will be able to breach the high walls around
Dante’s heart.
In Chloe Green’s small town of False Beach, Alabama, the golden girl has disappeared.
Shara Wheeler, principal’s daughter and queen bee of Willgrove Christian Academy kisses
Chloe in the school elevator - and then vanishes, leaving only a trail of pink note cards with
confusing messages on them. To figure out this strange mystery, Chloe teams up with star
football player Smith and resident mysterious guitar-player Rory (both recipients of kisses from
Shara as well). Their search for answers will reveal surprising things - about Willgrove, about
