BOOKS

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Book club in style with a reading pick that pairs perfectly to your polish.

The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames by Lisa McMann (G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR, $18)

Shunned by the people of Estero City, a group of supernatural misfits hide on an island. Fifteen years later, everyone has died or disappeared—except the kids of the original group, each with magical powers of their own. They follow a mysterious map back to Estero, in the hopes of finding a missing parent.

When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods (Nancy Paulsen Books, $17)

This novel-in-verse features Eden Louise Coal, 12, who lives near Watts in Los Angeles. It's summer of 1965, and Eden and her cousin, Winter, are on a mission to find Winter's dad. They soon land in the midst of the Watts riots, sparked by racism and brutality. This relevant read tackles a sad historical event but gives its characters a great ending.

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England (Wednesday Books, $19)

Kaylee heads to GreatCon to meet fanfic friends with three goals: Use they/them pronouns, cosplay in a gender-comfortable way and kiss a girl for the first time. Teagan is staying at the same hotel for a beauty pageant she really needs to win. The two meet and fireworks fly—but will pageant queen and mean girl Madison ruin their chance for love?

Pilar Ramirez and the Escape From Zafa by Julian Randall (Henry Holt and Co. BFYR, $17)

Pilar, 12, is a budding filmmaker hoping to solve the mystery of her cousin's disappearance. She goes to Zafa, a magical island filled with monsters and shapeshifters. Determined, Pilar fights to bring her cousin (and herself) home in this tale that's the first of two books.

In Honor of Broken Things by Paul Acampora (Dial Books, $18)

These eighth-graders have issues—they've gone through the death of a sister, a family divorce and a big move. Oscar, Ellie and Noah bond over their troubles during a clay class at school. A football player, former home-schooler and new kid don't seem like they'd have a lot in common...but they do. It's a humorous and heart-wrenching read.

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye (HarperTeen, $19)

Sloane, 15, decides to infiltrate her enemy's military—the colonists who destroyed her people and might have murdered her missing mother. A descendant of the gods with powers she must conceal, Sloane hopes to beat her foes. But will she become a monster? Based on a Nigerian myth, this book delivers twists, turns and a killer heroine.

Mirror Girls by Kelly McWilliams (Little, Brown BFYR, $10)

In this historical fantasy, twin girls are orphaned after their biracial parents are lynched. Magnolia is adopted by a wealthy white couple, while Charlie lives with their Black grandmother, whose dying wish is to see Magnolia again. Charlie finds her sister in the haunted Jim Crow South, but she soon discovers that Magnolia might be cursed.

Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso (Sourcebooks Fire, $11)

Savannah's little sister Piper is in a coma after falling during a hike. Was it suicide? Was it an accident? Savannah, whom Piper wasn't speaking to at the time, thinks it's something else. She finds a note asking Piper to practice wilderness skills at the same place as the accident. Savannah goes into the woods with the possible perps to solve the mystery.

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our April/May 2022 issue. Want more?
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by GL | 4/8/2022