The 8 Best New YA Books to Read This February
1/10Who needs a Valentine’s date when you can cuddle up with a good book? This month, we’ll be reading a mix of YA fantasy set in faraway lands, contemporary stories examining the dynamics of friendship, and fairy-tale retellings of Snow White and Aladdin. Some of our favorite authors like Victoria Aveyard and Marissa Meyer are releasing new projects this month, and fresh voices like Goldy Moldavsky — whose Kill the Boy Band is every Directioner's nightmare — are on the scene, too.
2/10Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (February 2, 2016)
With her latest novel, Ruta Sepetys brings us a lush love story set during the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff. (Think Jack and Rose from Titanic.) The Wilhelm Gustloff sank during World War II, taking 9,000 passengers with it — even though the sinking had a higher death toll than the Titanic and the Lusitania combined, no one really hears about it...until now.
3/10Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (February 2, 2016)
Stars Above is an anthology of nine short stories featuring characters from the Lunar Chronicles (five of which are being released for the first time). And if that wasn’t cool enough, the collection also includes an excerpt from Heartless, Meyer’s Alice in Wonderland prequel hitting the shelves this fall.
4/10Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (February 2, 2016)
Last year’s #1 New York Times-bestselling Red Queen finally has a follow-up! In the next chapter of the story, Mare’s friend-turned-enemy Prince Maven is now a king, and she’s racing against the clock to rally an army of Red-and-Silver fighters like herself.
5/10The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine (February 9, 2016)
In the first book of C.J. Redwine’s Ravenspire series (which sounds to us like a retelling of Snow White), Lorelai Diederich — sorceress, fugitive, and princess of Ravenspire — is on a quest to take back the throne from an evil queen who killed her father.
6/10After the Woods by Kim Savage (February 23, 2016)
After a predator attacks her best friend in the woods, and Julia tries to fight him off, she finds herself held captive for 48 hours. One year later, when a girl’s body is found close to where Julia was kidnapped, it becomes clear her attacker struck again, and it’s up to her to help catch him.
7/10The Word For Yes by Claire Needell (February 16, 2016)
After their family falls apart, Jan, Erika, and Melanie have to get used to the new world order: a father who’s moved to another continent and a mother who throws herself into moving on. Jan is starting her first semester of college. Erika and Melanie are braving high school together, though they aren’t close. In the aftermath of one fateful party, the sisters realize how much they need each other.
8/10Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky (February 23, 2016)
In this debut from Goldy Moldavsky, four crazed fans kidnap (and accidentally kill) a member of a One Direction-esque band. So basically every Harry Styles’ fan’s worst nightmare realized in a YA book.
9/10A Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury (February 23, 2016)
This magical retelling of Aladdin is told from the perspective of his genie, Zahra. When Aladdin discovers her lamp, Zahra must disguise herself to stay alive until her new master has selected his three wishes. But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra her freedom, she seizes the opportunity — only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin.
