The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Young Adult Fiction

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

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This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
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Supreme and magnificent world building. Tahereh Mafi has created a book to lose yourself in. This Woven Kingdom has it all. Amazing world building, forbidden love, suspense, and unexpected twists and turns. Be prepared for anything! I did have a little problem with the first quarter of the book just because of the extensive world building but after that the story pulled me in as if a string was attached on one end to my heart and the other to the story of Alizeh.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi, (List Price: $15.99, Storytide, 9780062972453, December 2022)

Reviewed by Mandy Harris, Angel Wings Bookstore & Bistro in Oxford, North Carolina

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The Floating World by Axie Oh

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The Floating World by Axie Oh
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Ren lives in hiding with her adopted family in the mountains, performing as an acrobat in their traveling caravan. When danger strikes, she releases her magical power of light. Sunho lives in the Under World, his memories erased. He is one of many sent to find Ren and capture her. When they meet, he doesn’t realize she is the girl he’s looking for as they begin their journey together.. This immersive fantasy world is very cinematic with an intriguing story.

The Floating World by Axie Oh, (List Price: $19.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250853080, April 2025)

Reviewed by Rae Ann Parker, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater

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The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater
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The Raven Boys is one of my absolute favorite series, and I was really interested to see how it would be adapted for this graphic novel. The storyline is complex and not necessarily well suited to this format, and the writing is so beautiful and atmospheric that I wasn’t sure how it would translate. I can happily say this edition does a SUPERB job. Everything looks exactly as I imagined. Every page was full of magic and atmosphere. As a fan of the series, there were so many foreshadowing clues. I absolutely cannot wait to see the rest of the series adapted. Whether a long-time fan or a newbie to Maggie Stiefvater, any lover of magic and dark whimsy will devour this!!

The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater, (List Price: $17.99, Viking Books for Young Readers, 9780593621189, August 2025)

Reviewed by Rachel Randolph, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum

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The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
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At a crossroads within a dying, haunted town, Hollis Brown agrees to help and house Walt, a strange boy he’s just met. This promise is far more literal than it seems, and Walt settles within Hollis’s bones, taking control of his life. With gritted teeth and righteous fury, Hollis has to figure out how to make peace with the spirit who lied to him and now lives within him. And all too quickly, their relationship blooms into something far more dangerous and cascading than a mere possession. This was an achingly romantic story that I had no choice but to devour all at once, at any and all costs. An instant favorite.

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063285835, April 2025)

Reviewed by Jordan April, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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On Again, Awkward Again by Kelly Erin Entrada

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On Again, Awkward Again by Kelly Erin Entrada
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First loves and crushes are always awkward, but never have they been this awkward. From raging bowels to horrible allergy attacks, Star Trek references and Vanilla Ice, Pacy and Cecil are two hot messes. This story of nerd love will leave your heart full as you can’t help by root for these two to get together, but you also can’t help feeling a little vicarious embarrassment as things go horribly wrong.

On Again, Awkward Again by Kelly Erin Entrada, (List Price: $19.99, Amulet Books, 9781419775635, April 2025)

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
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This book is perfect for anyone who wants to read beautiful prose while being absolutely wrecked in the process. Two boys so different you would think they wouldn’t work, but their care for each other runs deeper than their differences. Follow Aristotle and Dante as they grow together and apart. A story about growth and learning to love all the pieces you hated about yourself. A story about healing from the past and letting those feelings be expressed.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, (List Price: $24.99, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781665925419, November 2022)

Reviewed by Gabriela Warner, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Pride or Die by CL Montblanc

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Pride or Die by CL Montblanc
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If you want the Scooby gang, but queer and a little dark, then boy do I have a treat for you. A couple of chapters into this book, I found myself laughing out loud. The characters are funny, the mystery is intriguing, and the representation is fantastic. I’m sure you’ll find yourself rooting for this group just like I did.

Pride or Die by CL Montblanc, (List Price: $20, Wednesday Books, 9781250340474, April 2025)

Reviewed by Brianna Lloyd, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick

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Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick
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Look, whatever Brian Selznick does, I’m here for it–and his first YA novel is no exception! I loved watching Danny and Angelo’s story unfold as they discover the city of Rome, stories hidden across art history, and their love for one another.

Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick, (List Price: $24.99, Scholastic Press, 9781339035529, April 2025)

Reviewed by Lindsay Lynch, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

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How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans

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How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans
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Get ready for some major creepy, serial killer vibes with this new YA horror novel! CJ’s hometown has the nickname Slasherville for a reason. It’s been the site of two mass killings, several years apart. The town has embraced the nickname, but CJ is less than thrilled, since their dad barely survived the first one and was killed in the second. And Moon Satter, the mysterious author who penned novelizations of both events, isn’t helping matters. But when CJ receives a new manuscript, with real names of her classmates, she’s not sure if it’s a prank or something scarier.

How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans, (List Price: $19.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547616312, March 2025)

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones, Bookmiser in Marietta, Georgia

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
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I was so happy to get this book (mostly because of how big it was), but I was even more surprised when I sat down to read it, and I was so engaged that I lost track of time, and I couldn’t put it down. It was so amazingly well written, and the characters were astoundingly well written and hilarious. I spent three solid days reading this book, and it never felt like a chore to do so. The ending was amazing, and I can’t wait to have three solid days free so that I can read the next one.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, (List Price: $11.99, Square Fish, 9781250076960, February 2018)

Reviewed by Mandolin Moore, Story on the Square in McDonough, Georgia

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What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch

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What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch
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Gothic readers rejoice; What Wakes the Bells is exactly what you are looking for! This young adult fantasy boasts a vivid fantasy world filled with ominous bells, luminous Saints, and a sinister city that lives and breaths alongside its citizens. The story follows Mina Strauss, a Bell Keeper, as she learns the secrets and complexities to her family’s bell-keeping legacy. Within Mina’s journey, the story deals with toxic family relationships, the effects of grief, issues of autonomy and consent, and the pressure to protect those you love. From the acme of Lyndell Hall’s bell tower to the shadowy halls of the catacombs, this Czechian myth-inspired tale will captivate you!

What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch, (List Price: $19.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250322807, March 2025)

Reviewed by Catherine Pabalate, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Parachutes by Kelly Yang

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Parachutes by Kelly Yang
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Kelly Yang’s spectacular YA debut follows the lives of Claire, a “parachute” – the teenage daughter of a wealthy Chinese family sent to the United States to attend high school – and Dani, daughter of a first-generation Filipino immigrant. Claire and Dani become reluctant roommates, setting the stage for a novel that has it all – compelling friendships, insights into wealth and power dynamics, complicated relationships with parents, and two #metoo moments that made me feel all the things and had me rooting for Dani and Claire. I didn’t want it to end. A fantastic older YA book.

Parachutes by Kelly Yang, (List Price: $15.99, HarperCollins, 9780062941091, July 2021)

Reviewed by Elese Stutts, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

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Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
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I’m a hoofer. Tap has always been my dance love, and one of Vicki’s Tap Pups’ neatest dances was a compilation of dances of the 50s and 60s. Needless to say, ballroom dancing is not my strength, although a simple jitterbug has given hubs and me a surprising amount of wedding attention. Thing is, it’s not the jitterbug, it’s the connection. I’m proud to say we’ve been married for 20 years. In Instructions for Dancing, Evie receives a dubious superpower that she sees the love lives of couples — how they met, how they grew together, and, prophetically, the tragic breakups that haven’t happened yet but will. That, coupled with her parents’ ugly divorce (and not being allowed to tell her younger sister that her dad had an affair), makes her hesitant to engage in a relationship. But she accepts a challenge that “not everybody can dance good, but everybody can dance”, and ends up paired with X, who lives by a “just say yes” philosophy, and things change in ways she never expected.

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon, (List Price: $12.99, Ember, 9781524718992, May 2022)

Reviewed by Lisa Yee Swope, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

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Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
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This may be the most beautifully written book I’ve ever read. I need to process and come back, but this made me feel all the feels. There are so many insanely gorgeous lines I would love to quote here. Suffice it to say, I about ran out of ink in my highlighter. If you liked Addie LaRue, you will like this book. Even if you didn’t, you will probably like this book. Another note: I It doesn’t remotely read as YA. More like literary fiction.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven, (List Price: $20, Wednesday Books, 9781250333889, March 2025)

Reviewed by Kelley Dykes, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

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Knucklehead: Poems by Tony Keith Jr.

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Knucklehead: Poems by Tony Keith Jr.
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A powerful and empowering collection of poetry. You can feel a sense of urgency as Tony Keith Jr beseeches the next generation to find their voice and speak up.

Knucklehead: Poems by Tony Keith Jr., (List Price: $19.99, Quill Tree Books, 9780063296053, February 2025)

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

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