Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate
Farrah Noorzad #1
By Deeba Zargarpur
Publisher: Labyrinth Road (July 2,
2024)
Publisher’s Blurb:
Farrah
sees her father just one day every year—her birthday. But this year, her wish
to bring them closer goes wildly awry when Farrah discovers she is a
half-jinn...and her father is one of the seven great jinn kings. Her wish traps
her father inside a legendary ring, and the other six jinn kings will follow
unless Farrah can rectify her mistake.
Pursued by menacing shadow jinn, Farrah’s quest
takes her to a floating mountain range. Joined by Idris, the jinn boy whom she
inadvertently freed from the ring, and her newly discovered half-brother,
Yaseen, Farrah must find a way to navigate the mysteries and dangers of her new
world in order to save her father and face the most devious jinn lord of all.
I’ve
really enjoyed the increasing offerings of novels based in mythologies beyond
the Greek and Roman that I studied in high school. This one, based in Persian
and Middle Eastern mythology, is no exception.
Magic
and magical creatures. Sneaking around. Kids lie to adults and vice versa.
Parental separation. Perilous situations and mild violence.
Those
who like stories based in mythologies. Those who like coming of age stories and
stories about family.
Rise
By Freya
Finch
Publisher: Melissa de la Cruz
Studio (July 2, 2024)
For
seventeen-year-old Bryn, being the youngest, messiest, most rebellious sister
in a family of valkyries isn’t easy. Especially considering home is a
Renaissance faire in Chicago full of costumed workers who see her as nothing
more than a nuisance. When her mother disappears on a mission for Odin, Bryn
begins having strange visions about the impending Ragnarök. Bryn senses their
mother is in great danger, but her annoyingly perfect older sisters refuse to
take her seriously. Their mother is, after all, captain of the valkyries.
Things only take a turn for the worse when a half
human, half giant named Juniper crashes the party with a violent zombie in tow,
confirming Bryn’s worst fears—her visions of Ragnarök are real. If that wasn’t
enough, the faire’s mysterious new addition, Wyatt the Black Knight, just so
happens to have a ferocious secret that threatens everyone around him.
Determined to survive Ragnarök, Bryn, Juniper, and Wyatt team up to combat the
horde of monsters that keeps appearing throughout the faire. But after Bryn ignores
the call to deliver Wyatt to Odin’s eternal warriors in Valhalla, choosing to
save his life instead, she starts to wonder if she’ll ever get this valkyrie
thing right.
Whispers of divine interference—including
sightings of the mischievous Loki—reach Bryn’s ears. Soon everyone at the faire
becomes a suspect, leaving Bryn, her sisters, and their newfound friends the
only ones who can stop the war to end all realms. Whether she’s ready or not,
Bryn is about to learn how the ties between fate and choice are as interwoven
and unbreakable as the bonds between sisters.
Based
in Norse mythology, this is another one about the importance of family and
finding one’s own strength. Bryn is the youngest of three Valkyrie sisters, but
her magic doesn’t come easily to her.
Magic.
Violence. There are LGBTQ+ characters. Mild cursing. Parental death or
distance.
If
you like Norse mythology, this is definitely one for your collection. Also for
fans of family stories and coming of age. There is a romantic element, but it
is definitely not the focus of the story.
Break
to You
By Neal
Shusterman, Debra Young, and Michelle Knowlden
Publisher: Quill Tree Books (July
2, 2024)
Bestselling author of Scythe and Challenger Deep Neal Shusterman, here with coauthors Debra Young
and Michelle Knowlden, tells an intense yet tender story of two teens, trapped
in impossible circumstances and unjust systems, willing to risk everything for
love—no matter the consequences.
Adriana
knows that if she can manage to keep her head down for the next seven months,
she might be able to get through her sentence in the Compass juvenile detention
center. Thankfully, she’s allowed to keep her journal, where she writes down
her most private thoughts when her feelings get too big.
Until
the day she opens her journal and discovers that her thoughts are no longer so
private. Someone has read her writings—and has written back. A boy who lives on
the other side of the gender-divided detention center. A boy who sparks a fire
in her to write back.
Jon’s
story is different than Adriana’s; he’s already been at Compass for years and
will be in the system for years to come. Still, when he reads the words Adriana
writes to him, it makes him feel like the walls that hold them in have melted
away.
This fast-paced, highly compelling tour de force novel
exposes what life is like in detention—and reveals the hearts of two teens who
are forced to live in desperate circumstances.
I
have used Shustermn’s Bruiser as a read-aloud in my classes for some
time and it’s always a hit with students. Unlike that story, there is no
element of magical realism here. There is, however, some pretty good poetry.
Some
cursing. Difficult family situations. Violence. Lying and sneaking. Parental
death.
Those
who like gritty, reality-based stories of teens in difficult situations.
We
Don’t Have Time for This
By Brianna
Craft
Publisher: Disney Hyperion (July 2,
2024)
Lemonade Mouth meets climate change activism in this enemies-to-lovers
YA romance. A tied election throws two rival teen activists together to lead
their school’s environmental justice club, and they are taken by surprise when
their clashes reveal deeper feelings hidden beneath their antagonism.
What's more romantic than saving the earth?
Two presidents. One club. A sizzling connection.
Isa Brown wishes her life would slow down. She doesn’t want to leave for
college. Not now that her dad finally gets to spend some time at home. Not now
that she’s finally been in one place for longer than a year. But nothing lasts
forever. With wildfires ravaging her community and a new natural gas pipeline
threatening her dad’s job, the last thing Isa can do is relax. The school’s
environmental justice club seems like a promising way to make real change. If
only her annoying co-president Darius would stop being such a control freak.
Darius Freeman can’t stop hustling. If he does, how will he beat the other
honors kids to be valedictorian? How will he get into the top schools in the
country? How will he launch his political career? No. Darius can’t stop, and
the next step in his plan is leading the environmental justice club this
year—putting on a policy summit and rounding out his college applications with
a leadership role. But then Isa joins the club and becomes co-president. Is she
the stumbling block on his road to success?
As Isa and Darius clash over the best way to lead the environmental justice
club, deeper feelings emerge. About what’s at stake for their communities if
they can’t figure out how to work together. And about the sparks they feel
between them.
Will Darius and Isa figure out how to burn brightly together? Or will
their flames leave nothing but ashes behind?
This
book takes place in the general Seattle/Tacoma area on the west side of
Washington, and refers to events in other parts of the state as well. Always
nice seeing my own state represented!
Mild
cursing. Borderline illegal activities. If you don’t believe climate change is
really that big of a deal, you might not like this book; it approaches
preachiness at times.
If
you like high school stories where kids learn about the power of even a single
voice, read this book.
By Farah Heron
Publisher: Forever (July 2, 2024)
A rising movie star
reunites with his high school prom date, now a personal stylist, in this
delightful rom-com for fans of forced proximity, second chances, and celebrity
romance.
This has to be a joke. Stylist Marley Kamal
has waited years for the chance to be a private shopper for a
major celebrity. But finding out that her first big client is the guy she went
to prom with—and slept with and was promptly ghosted by—seems like the universe
is mocking her. Because Nikhil Shamdasani is back, about to star in a major
movie, and is more drop-dead hot than ever . . . at the worst possible time.
Marley’s only weeks away from an elective double mastectomy and breast
reconstruction that’s supposed to save her life. But this surgery is going to
change things in more ways than she can possibly imagine. For one, Nik is so
eager to have her as his stylist, he’s offered to stay in her home and take
care of her while she recovers. Now Marley is about to learn that as the door
to her old life closes, something—or rather someone—else will enter . .
. if she’s ready to let him in.
This
book is a follow-up to Heron’s Accidentally Engaged, but you don’t need
to have read that one to enjoy this one.
Many
LGBTQ+ characters. Sex, not super descriptive, but also not closed-door.
Drinking. Family problems. Mental illness.
If
you like Sonali Dev’s work, give these Desi characters a try. If you are
interested in women battling breast cancer, this is a good book. The way Marley
opens up about her health and joins a support group is a great example for
others.
Fun Fact: I Love You
By Gina Larsen
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (July 2,
2024)
In this friends-to-lovers romance, high school
senior Nellie has her future all planned out—except for a disastrous first
kiss, a hurtful prank, and the unexpected twist of falling in love with her
childhood friend.
Fun fact: Nellie Samsin has ten days left of high school, and she’s never been
kissed—which is fine with her. She’s been more focused on editing the yearbook
and being named valedictorian than worrying about a boyfriend. But when she has
a chance to kiss her longtime crush, she hopes it will be a magical experience.
Until she learns it was all a lie, a hurtful prank orchestrated by her
so-called best friend, leaving Nellie heartbroken and angry with everyone
involved.
Jensen Nichols has spent his senior year keeping three massive secrets: first,
he’s been writing a best-selling romance fantasy series under the pseudonym
“Jen Dimes”; second, he’s been harboring a secret crush on Nellie, to the point
where he’s based his fictional romantic heroine on her; and third, Nellie’s dad
has been his writing mentor and coach. Jensen has promised himself that he’ll
reveal his secrets—but only when the time is right. Then he sees Nellie kissing
his best friend, and his unexpected rush of jealousy means that the time for
keeping secrets is running out.
When a family tragedy rocks Nellie’s world, the future she meticulously planned
for is threatened. And when she learns the people she thought were her friends
have lied to her, she feels lost and betrayed. At least she has Jensen, who is
the one person she knows for a fact she can trust. But the more time the two of
them spend together, the more Nellie suspects Jensen is hiding something from
her. (Fun fact: Keeping secrets is the worst.)
It seems Nellie and Jensen are perfect for each other, but they will need to
separate fact from fiction in order to see if their unplanned romance can last
beyond graduation day.
Nellie
can’t wait to graduate and get away from her very aloof and difficult to please
mother. She adores her dad, but sees cracks growing in the marriage. And her “best
friend” is pretty toxic, so there’s that, too.
Parental
infidelity and death. One character’s family has escaped from domestic
violence, which left a sibling permanently disabled. Deception, though well-intended.
Those
who like high school coming of age stories, especially of the second-chance
love variety.
By Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (July 2,
2024)
Aisley lost everything in a Viking attack. Now,
working alongside the one man she trusts, she is ready to fight for her
people—and for love.
Wessex, AD 878
Aisley’s young life was changed forever when her father accompanied King Alfred
into battle and lost his life in a deadly skirmish with the Vikings. Now,
almost seven years later, the Vikings are once again rallying on Wessex’s
borders, and Aisley fears that her older brother may have treacherous plans to
betray the king by aligning himself with the invading Norsemen. But when Aisley
encounters a handsome nobleman in the market, she feels the first stirrings of
hope. Though they met only once when Aisley was little more than a child, she
recognizes him immediately as one of King Alfred’s most trusted men.
It has been years since Brecc has seen Aisley, but when he spots her in the
marketplace, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to the copper-haired young
lady with a gift for healing. Before his fledgling feelings for her can develop
into something more, however, a Viking attack tears them apart. King Alfred is
forced into hiding, and in a matter of days, the Saxon nation is brought to its
knees. Unwilling to forsake their people, the king and his men embark on secret
raids of Viking encampments. But when Aisley joins the fight, Brecc must
reconcile his steadfast loyalty to King Alfred with his growing love for the
king’s newest warrior.
Bessey
is one of those authors on my auto-request list. I’ll read anything she writes,
because it’s always well-researched, well-written, and well-edited. (Yes, there
were definitely some errors in my advanced copy, but I’m pretty confident they’ll
be cleaned up by publication.)
There
is war, so there is lots of injury and bloodshed. Some drinking. Treachery and
dishonesty. Threats toward women.
Those
interested in well-researched history of the very early years of Britain. Those
who like strong female characters and honorable men.
By Anna
Sortino
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books
for Young Readers (July 11, 2023)
Jenny Han meets CODA in this big-hearted YA debut about first love and Deaf pride at a
summer camp.
Lilah is stuck in the middle. At least, that’s what having a hearing loss seems
like sometimes—when you don’t feel “deaf enough” to identify as Deaf or hearing
enough to meet the world’s expectations. But this summer, Lilah is ready for a
change.
When Lilah becomes a counselor at a summer camp for the deaf and blind, her
plan is to brush up on her ASL. Once there, she also finds a community. There
are cute British lifeguards who break hearts but not rules, a YouTuber who’s
just a bit desperate for clout, the campers Lilah’s responsible for (and
overwhelmed by)—and then there’s Isaac, the dreamy Deaf counselor who
volunteers to help Lilah with her signing.
Romance was never on the agenda, and Lilah’s not positive Isaac likes her that
way. But all signs seem to point to love. Unless she’s reading them wrong? One
thing’s for sure: Lilah wanted change, and things here . . . they're certainly
different than what she’s used to.
I am
proud to say that both of the ASL teachers at my school are Deaf. My school also
has the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for our entire area, and our ASL
teachers are fierce advocates for their students, making sure that videos
created at our school are captioned and accessible.
Conflict
with parents. Some teenage hijinks. Kissing. One camper gets sick and throws up
(ew). LGBT+ representation. Cursing.
People
who like summer camp stories, coming of age, and teen romance. And, of course,
those who want to learn more about Deaf culture.
On
the Bright Side
By Anna
Sortino
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books
for Young Readers (July 2, 2024)
Ellie’s
Deaf boarding school just shut down, forcing her to leave the place she
considered home and return to her hearing family. But being mainstreamed into
public school isn't exactly easy. So her guidance counselor pairs her with
Jackson, a student who’s supposed to help her adjust. Can the boy who tries to
say the right things, and gets it all wrong, be the lifeline Ellie needs?
Jackson has been avoiding his teammates ever since
some numbness in his legs cost them an important soccer match. With his senior
year off to a lonely start, he’s intrigued when he’s asked to help the new
girl, initially thinking it will be a commendable move on his part. Little does
he know Ellie will soon be the person he wants most by his side when the
strange symptoms he’s experiencing amount to a life-changing diagnosis.
Exploring what it means to build community, Anna
Sortino pens a story about the fear of the unknown and the beauty of the
unexpected, all wrapped up in a poignant romance that will break your heart and
put it back together again.
This
is not a followup to Give Me a Sign, although one character from that
book is mentioned in passing. Ellie has to go from being immersed in Deaf
culture to being the odd one out at her school, and the transition is not an
easy one. Living with her parents and sister again is also difficult, as her parents
are very reluctant to make any changes in their home to accommodate that their
daughter can’t, you know, hear.
Parent
conflict. Serious and lasting illness. LGBT+ characters. Cursing. Kissing.
Those
who want to learn more about Deaf culture. And anyone who just likes a good
high school coming of age romance.
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