Hello, The Nerd is the Word readers! I’m so happy to be here today to recommend some Young Adult books to put under the tree this holiday season. The Young Adult book landscape has changed a lot over the last few years…and that’s a good thing. We’re getting so many new characters, so many diverse stories! My bookshelf is overflowing which makes it very hard to narrow down a list to recommend!
For this gift guide, I decided to stick to 2020 releases. 2020 has been a tough year for authors, and a lot of books have flown under the radar because of the pandemic. So, today, I want to recommend books that came out this year and would make perfect gifts for any teen reader you’re shopping for.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
When I was a teenager, my favourite stories were fantasy books set in reality. I loved to imagine that my boring, quiet world could contain something magical. For those readers like me, Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn fits the bill. After the death of her mother, protagonist Bree Matthews enrols in a residential program at UNC-Chapel Hill for a fresh start. Soon after arriving, she finds out that her world has a lot more magic in it than she ever knew, and that her mother’s death may not have been a simple accident. Legendborn debuted on the NYT bestseller list earlier this fall and has been a fan favourite ever since. It is sure to please fantasy fans!
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
Jordan Ifueko’s debut novel Raybearer is another great book to gift those fantasy fans. It’s also just a beautiful book to gift. I mean, just look at that cover! It is bright and striking and sure to stand out on any bookshelf. Raybearer is a coming-of-age story set against a fantastical background and follows main character Tarisai as she competes to be chosen to the Council of 11. It’s a fresh, exciting tale of fantasy and family that is sure to hook readers.
We Were Restless Things by Cole Nagamatsu
“Last summer, Link Miller drowned on dry land in the woods, miles away from the nearest body of water” (Goodreads). I don’t know about you, but all I had to do was read that sentence and I instantly wanted to read this book. Cole Nagamatsu’s We Were Restless Things is described as “an atmospheric contemporary fantasy” which is basically all my favourite thing put together. With themes of grief, friendship, and magic, We Were Restless Things is a great book for those readers that want something a little bit different.
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite edited by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker
I’ve never gotten sick of vampire stories and, honestly, I don’t think I ever will. If you have someone like me on your list, then you definitely have to get them Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite, edited by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker. This collection brings vampires into the social media age, and twists this classic villain into something entirely new. With an all-star cast of authors, Vampires Never Get Old is just the thing for Young Adult fantasy readers this holiday season. Fun fact: Victoria Schwab’s story in this collection, First Kill, has been optioned by Netflix!
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
I’m a sucker for a good ghost story, but Cemetery Boys sounds like so much more than that. A trans main character! A ghost love interest! A cover that makes me want to frame it and hang it on my wall for all to see! There has been non-stop buzz about this one for ages, and I can understand why. This is the perfect book on your list for magic fans and readers that just want a dang good story.
Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis
Now, I won’t lie. I was not a fan of Hatchet growing up. Gary Paulsen’s story of survival in the rugged wilderness made me want to avoid the outdoors at all cost. But survival stories are one of the most common requests I get at work and, thankfully, I now have a new book to recommend. Be Not Far From Me by the talented Mindy McGinnis tells the story of Ashley who must try and survive the harsh wilderness, and a possibly deadly infection, after she is injured deep in the forest. Warning: might make you join me in avoiding the outdoors at all cost…
I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
True crime fans out there are not going to want to miss I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick. Anna Cicconi takes a job as a nanny in the Hamptons and finds out rather quickly that she bears a striking resemblance to a missing girl from the island. A girl whose disappearance she may have had something to do with. Told through both prose and podcast transcripts, this compelling Rebecca-inspired retelling is perfect for those teens that can’t get enough of true crime.
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Rosanne A. Brown
When I first heard about this book, it was pitched to me as Jasmine and Aladdin if they were destined to kill each other instead of fall in love, and I was here for it. It tells the story of Karina and Malik as they fight to save themselves and their families in this West African folklore-inspired tale. Ever since A Song of Wraiths and Ruin came out back in June, my Twitter timeline is constantly filled with people obsessing over this book (and over the love interest Malik). Sounds like the perfect book to gift to the teen reader in your life!
The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning
Something that has never gotten old? The Princess Bride. Seriously, the movie came out how many years ago and you can still find The Princess Bride stuff everywhere. Well, now you can find it in the teen section, too. The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning is a new novel inspired by The Princess Bride that has (in my opinion) one heck of a title. Although inspired by The Princess Bride, this story is perfect for anyone looking for badass female protagonists and a compelling fantasy setting.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Do you have any fans of Knives Out on your shopping list? Well, then you definitely should pick them up Jennifer Lynn Barnes new novel The Inheritance Games. Avery Grambs inherits billions from a man she has never met. And his grandkids? Not too happy about it. Full of twists and turns, puzzles and clues, The Inheritance Games will keep readers flipping the pages, desperate to find out what will happen next!
And there you have it! Ten of my Young Adult picks for this holiday season. I hope you found something to gift…even if it’s just a gift for yourself.
