21-Book Salute! Great New Reads for the Young and Young at Heart

The Book Hog

The book hog realizes books are better when they’re shared with friends in this charming picture book.

Spencer’s New Pet

Spencer and his balloon dog go on an adventure in this quirky picture book about the power of imagination. Signed copies available!

A Stone Sat Still

A poetic lesson in perspective. Everything about this book is peaceful and soft and lovely.

Sir Simon: Super Scarer

Sir Simon is the cutest ghost in the world! This book is perfect for youngsters who want to get into the season without getting scared.

The Fate of Fausto: A Painted Fable

A beautiful story about a man who wants to own the world. I’m a sucker for anything Jeffers, and this book certainly continues this trend.

Seagull & Sea Dragon

What would happen if we took the time to look at things from a different perspective? This delightful tale explores just that! A storytime favorite.

The Big Book of the Blue

Reading this book feels like a trip to an aquarium.

Beverly, Right Here

A beautiful conclusion to the Three Rancheros collection. A Kate DiCamillo classic in the making.

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue

Karina Yan Glaser has done it again! I have lost count of how many times I’ve recommended the Vanderbeekers series, and I am delighted that there is a third book to give to curious and playful friends who love a good tale. The Vanderbeekers are my favorite family read-aloud books, by far.

Guts

This book is for any child who struggles with anxiety and feels alone. I wish this had been available in my childhood!

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

Charlie is a genius who gets recruited by the CIA to help find Einstein’s final equation, and she’s 12! This novel is perfectly paced with page-turning action and adventure.

Lalani of the Distant Sea

This is a beautifully written adventure story about Lalani, a courageous girl who undertakes a very dangerous journey — one from which no one has ever come back alive — all to protect her family and the Sanlagati people. Along the way she meets many mystical creatures, who themselves have complicated stories.

Words on Fire

This is an emotional tale set in a period of history was unknown to me before: Russia’s occupation of Lithuania. When Audra’s parents are arrested for smuggling books, she has to decide how she will live up to their legacy. I especially liked the insights into Audra’s mind.

Discovering Architecture

A super-cool book showing what’s inside iconic buildings from across the world!

Serpent & Dove

A witch on the run ends up stuck in a sham marriage with a witch hunter duty-bound to kill her if her secret is exposed (if she doesn’t kill him for being an uptight jerk first). A complex web of lies, magic, and family secrets makes this one a real page-turner.

School Tales

It’s a common trope that high school is something we survive in order to get to real life. This book reminds us that it’s much more — it fundamentally shapes and tests who we are: our characters, paths, and beliefs. I think every teenager can relate to the five narrators in this story, set in a small town in Virginia, not unlike my own. You will cheer for these characters as they meet life on life’s terms with heart.

Pumpkinheads

In this YA graphic novel, Josiah has one last night to make his move on the girl he’s been pining after for years. That turns out to be a lot easier said than done as chaos descends on the pumpkin patch where they both work. A fun fall romance full of laughs and last chances.

Conceal, Don’t Feel: A Twisted Tale

What if Anna and Elsa were separated at a young age and never knew each other? This alternate version of the Frozen story we all know and love will keep Disney fans on the edge of their seats.

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight

Unfortunate circumstances of violence and trauma bring two unlikely friends together. Lena and Campbell have nothing in common other than a desire to survive when the city goes up in flames. This suspenseful book highlights the importance of female friendships and understanding perspectives different from the ones you carry.

Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All

Two girls, one living and one ghost, in Depression era Chicago navigate love, tragedy, and an impending war in this stunning historical fantasy. Our ParnassusNext selection for September!

ParnassusNext — Our October Selection

A new novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys is always a reason to celebrate! We are thrilled to announce that her new novel, The Fountains of Silence, is our October ParnassusNext pick. The novel takes us to Madrid, Spain in 1957 at the height of a dictator’s regime. We follow four characters on difficult paths to a stunning conclusion.

The novel has received seven starred reviews. Here is some early buzz:

“A stunning novel that exposes modern fascism and elevates human resilience.” —Kirkus (starred review)

“Sepetys again deftly explores a painful chapter in history… This gripping, often haunting historical novel offers a memorable portrait of fascist Spain.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Riveting … epic. An exemplary work of historical fiction.” —The Horn Book (starred review)

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.