YA Spotlight (3/27/23)

Mondays are for highlighting YA titles and today we have three excellent new releases for you! A speculative novel that takes a hard look at religious trauma and LGBTQ+ issues, a rom-com about a teen who can’t deny her feelings for her best friend, and a fantasy story about a young girl who must save her mom from an elf kingdom out for vengeance are all on our list today.

INTO THE LIGHT BY MARK OSHIRO

4 starred reviews!

“While retaining space for authentic representations of faith and spirituality, this breathtaking indictment of corrupted religion’s consequences presents a standout, deeply felt portrait of a teenager’s longing for connection.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Oshiro’s storytelling is unsettling and even upsetting, in the best possible way…INTO THE LIGHT is a thoughtful, beautiful, riveting thriller that fans of dynamic character building, gritty mystery, and searing social commentary will devour in a heartbeat.”–Booklist, starred review

“Oshiro uses an intentional nonlinear timeline to build suspense…However, the strength of the story is the horrific realism and exploration of corrupted religious institutions, the broken foster care system, and the survivors that escape. There are depictions of neglect, religious abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, racialized violence, and homophobia.”–School Library Journal, starred review

“In its gripping and raw exploration of White saviorism and the predatory ways White adults in positions of power are able to endanger children of color, this mystery’s proximity to reality is viscerally nauseating, a testament to the author’s skill.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

YOU WOULDN’T DARE BY SAMANTHA MARKUM

“The portrayal of Junie’s relationship with her single mother is touching…Themes of trauma, grief, and forgiveness are balanced with witty narration and clever banter in a way that shows that Markum respects teens’ ability to engage with complexity.”–Kirkus Reviews

THE LAST SUNRISE IN ETERNA BY AMPARO ORTIZ

“Ortiz imbues the narrative’s worldbuilding and magic system with abundant cultural details, entrenching the high-stakes competition with a deep appreciation for Puerto Rican lore. Through a large cast containing characters of varying abilities, sexualities, and skin tones, the author explores myriad themes of grief and identity.”–Publishers Weekly

INTO THE LIGHT by Mark Oshiro; 9781250812254; 3/28/23
YOU WOULDN’T DARE by Samantha Markum; 9781250846785; 3/28/23
THE LAST SUNRISE IN ETERNA by Amparo Ortiz; 9781645676140; 3/28/23