Young Adult Authors

In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender. Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power.

Ariana Ruiz wants to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, she goes largely ignored by her peers—despite her bold fashion choices. So when cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen. Luis’s attention soon turns to something more, and they have sex at a party—while Ari didn’t say no, she definitely didn’t say yes. Before she has a chance to process what happened and decide if she even has the right to be mad at Luis, the rumor mill begins churning.

It's been two years since the night that changed Ashley's life. Two years since she was raped by her brother's teammate. And a year since she sat in a court and watched as he was given a slap on the wrist sentence. But the years have done nothing to stop the pain. It's been two years of hell for Derek. His family is totally messed up, and he and his sister are barely speaking. He knows he handled it all wrong. Now at college, he has to come to terms with what happened, and the rape culture that he was inadvertently a part of that destroyed his sister's life.

Lylah and her friends can't wait to spend a night out together. Partying is the perfect way to let loose from the stress of life and school, and Lylah hopes that hitting the dance floor with Chace, her best friend, will bring them closer. She's been crushing on him since they met. If only he thought of her the same way.... The girls are touching up their makeup, and the guys are sliding on their coats when the doorbell rings. No one is there. An envelope sits on the doormat. It's an anonymous note addressed to their friend Sonny. A secret admirer? Maybe. They all laugh it off.

Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age 17. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now, Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows. The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone has declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives - an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie are looking forward to two days of boys, booze, and fun-filled luxury. But what starts out as fun turns twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine. And things only get worse from there. When a mysterious killer begins picking them off one by one, there's no escape. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on one another, can Meg find the killer before more people die?

When the lights go out at a Georgia high school football game, senior Macy Atwood finds herself in the arms of a boy who kisses her senseless - but he's gone by the time the lights come back on. All she knows is that there was something special - and oddly familiar - about her mystery kisser. Noah Granger, Ridgedale's resident bad boy and newest transfer student, has no problem taking credit for the kiss, but Macy can't shake the feeling that he's lying. Especially since a photograph of Macy and former star football player Joel Hargrove resurfaced online moments before the blackout.

Alexis Holt unknowingly meets the woman of her dreams at a party. Unfortunately, Alexis was at the wrong place at the wrong time and walked away from the encounter thinking Stacy Kirkland was an arrogant snob. Alexis knew it wouldn't be the last time she saw Stacy, and she wasn't looking forward to their next meeting. Thanks to the internet, Stacy Kirkland already knows who Alexis is before they meet face to face. She's one step ahead of Alexis because Stacy already has a crush on her.

By day, 17-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie". When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender.

In the wake of the tragedy, 17-year-old Franny found solace in a group of friends whose experiences mirrored her own. The group calls themselves The Ordinary, and they spend their free time investigating local ghost stories and legends, filming their exploits. It's silly, it's fun, and it keeps them from dwelling on the sadness that surrounds them. Until one evening, when the strange and dangerous thing they film isn't fiction - it's a bright light, something massive hurtling toward them from the sky. And when it crashes and the teens go to investigate...everything changes.

The Borderlands aren't like anywhere else. Don't try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border - unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and - best of all as far as Elliot is concerned - mermaids. Elliot? Who's Elliot? Elliot is 13 years old. He's smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands.

Echo Alkaev's safe and carefully structured world falls apart when her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf - the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an ultimatum: if she lives with him for one year, he will ensure her father makes it home safely. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.

What You Want – A Sizzling Workplace Romance 🔥 She wanted the promotion. He took the job. Now, the only thing more intense than their rivalry… is their attraction. 🔥 Victoria Timmons has dedicated years to Albrecht Security, working relentlessly for a promotion that was practically promised to her. But when the position is filled by Jackson Coates—an outsider with charm, arrogance, and a frustratingly perfect smile—her world is turned upside down. Determined to prove she’s the better choice, Victoria is ready for battle. But what she doesn’t know is that Jackson isn’t ...

Trigger Warning: This book contains very serious situations that are encountered by its characters. Many of these situations may be triggering and/or traumatic for readers who have experienced similar situations. Please be advised before reading this novel. WHAT. HAPPENED. TO TWON??? Readers were left in suspense with the first book in this series, When Things Go Left. Everyone is reeling after Twon's split decision. The story jumps right into action with everyone finding out what happened... Will Twon make it? Or will he succumb to his pain? Hype is faced with decision after decision. ...

Keatlyn Willow Makenzie, otherwise known as Shadow, is a down-on-her-luck 23-year-old superhero tasked with protecting the infamous city of Port. But what happens when a suave villain named Hypno waltzes in and turns her life upside down? Backs are stabbed and hearts are broken in this thrilling adventure for teens and young adults.

In this fascinating tale set in 1919, the Thomas family leaves New Orleans for Chicago as part of the Great Migration, seeking equality denied in the South. They are confident and optimistic. But hope is extinguished when they are met by 6,000 National Guard troops deployed to quell an earlier race riot. Linda and Ben prepare their nephew Trey to lead the family through the treacherous landscape of a big city plagued by segregation, police violence, and corruption. Is he ready? They devise a risky plan to challenge real estate covenants banning Blacks from buying homes in white ...

Expectations: Love or Duty? A Contemporary Romance In the glittering world of today's Toronto's elite, the Whitaker sisters face a timeless dilemma: follow their hearts or bow to societal expectations? When charming newcomer Phoenix Orion and the enigmatic Ethan Duncan enter their lives, passions ignite and loyalties are tested. As romance blooms amidst luxury and scandal, sisters Emma and Devon must navigate the treacherous waters of love, family duty, and personal desire. Will first impressions lead to lasting love, or are they destined for heartbreak? "Expectations" delivers a fresh, ...

I slept with her once. Now she’s back, with my kid I didn’t know existed and a target on her back. Isla Moretti vanished after our one-night stand. No number. No name. Just a memory I couldn’t shake. Now she’s crashing in the house I’m guarding, acting like we’re strangers, and clinging to a little boy with eyes just like mine. I should walk away. Instead, I let her stay. Even though she drives me crazy and she’s obviously lying. We fall into old habits—late-night talks, stolen touches, heat that burns through every reason I should stay away. And then it hits me. I never ...

Kai Edwards is confronted with the startling reality that her man’s best friend is a drop-dead, gorgeous woman. Now, what is a girl to do? Kai Edwards has a big problem when Todd Daniels’ best friend, Alana Brooks, moves to Chicago and straight into the middle of their perfect life. Kai devises a deliciously devious plan to compete with the new threat and keep her man, but it takes an unexpected turn when she falls hard for Alana. As the lines between loyalty and longing blur, readers are taken on an exhilarating ride of passion, betrayal, and self-discovery. What unfolds is an ...

When Amerley is offered a job working for one of her mother’s old school friends, she knows she has to accept. Her wages will feed her family, help her sisters stay in school, and ensure that her mother won’t have to worry about them. Amerley’s move to Accra isn’t easy, but she soon settles into her new life away from her small village - until she is raped by the son of her employer. Torn between keeping quiet to keep her job and speaking up for herself and for justice, Amerley must decide how to live her truth.