Who Killed Christopher Goodman? (Candlewick Press, 2017) by Allan Wolf is a story based on a true crime. This YA historical novel, set in 1979, is inspired by the an event in the author’s past. The story is told in multiple viewpoints, including the killer’s.
Everyone likes teenager Christopher Goodman, even if he is kinda weird. But that’s what makes his murder even more shocking.
The characters whose voices we hear are Doc Chestnut–The Sleepwalker, Leonard Pelf–The Runaway, Squib Kaplan–The Genius, Hunger McCoy–the Good Ol’ Boy, Hazel Turner–the Farm Girl, and Mildred Penny–the Stamp Collector. They are all participating in the Deadwood Days street festival which everyone attends for some summer excitement.
It’s a story of broken and repaired friendships, love, hatred, revenge, hard work, and more.
Go here to see what else Allan has written and has coming out soon. His bio is here where you’ll find out he is a poet as well as an author.
Category: YA Novels
young adult novels (for 13+ yo)
Six of Crows
Six of Crows (Henry Holt and Company, 2015) by Leigh Bardugo is a fascinating YA fantasy of a band of young people each with their own unique issues. The story is told in multiple viewpoints.
Kaz Brekker has an idea for the biggest heist ever. The item to steal isn’t jewels or money, but a man in an impregnable prison. Those he asks to go with him are Inej–the Suli girl also know as The Wraith, Jesper–a good shot and gambler, Nina–a heartrender–though some consider her a witch, Matthias–the foreigner who knows the layout of the Ice Palace, and Wylan–a run away who can setup explosions.
This crew isn’t the only one attempting this venture. But besides the riches to be had, they might just be the only ones to protect others from a very deadly drug.
What’s really exciting is that this NY Times bestseller has a sequel! It’s called Crooked Kingdom.
Go here to read about the author and to see her other books.
What Goes Up
What Goes Up (Bloomsbury, 2017) by Katie Kennedy is a scifi novel written in two viewpoints. I loved it!
Both Eddie and Rosa are applying to NASA’s Interworlds Agency tryouts. Only two out of 200 just done with their junior year students will make the cut. Two days of testing. And confirmation that there are aliens. The math and physics exams aren’t too unusual, but the idiosyncratic exams are something else. Rosa should make the cut–look at her background. But Eddie–he’s trouble.
The book has humor, danger, romance, friendship, sorrow, and more. Don’t miss it.
You can read Katie’s bio here. She also has another book out–Learning to Swear in America–another scifi. I need to get it.
Daughter of the Burning City
If you’ve read Caravel, I think you’ll like Daughter of the Burning City (Harlequin Teen, 2017) by Amanda Foody, as they have a similar flavor.
Sixteen-year-old Sorina is the only illusion worker in the Gomorrah Festival, a traveling carnival, and she runs the Freak Show. All the freaks, except for Sorina herself, are her illusions come to life. They’re one happy family until one of her illusions in murdered. Her adopted father, Villiam, the proprietor of the festival, is investigating the death, but he has too much else on his mind. So with the help of a new friend, Luca, Sorina starts her own investigation. Will she be able to protect her family?
This compelling book was Amanda Foody’s debut novel. Ace of Shades comes out next April and is the first in The Shadow Games series. Read more about Amanda here.
Before She Ignites
Before She Ignites (Katherine Tegan Books, 2017) by Jodi Meadows was such a compelling read written in two time periods BEFORE and AFTER. (And isn’t that a lovely cover?)
The story begins with a BEFORE: “The last day of my real life began with disaster.”
The speaker is Mira Minkoba and she is the Hopebearer. A treaty was written between six island nations and named after Mira the day she was born. She is the speaker to the people for the Luminary Council. Her father rarely pays attention to her and her mother is often disappointed.
AFTER, she’s imprisoned in the Pit. Surely, she’ll be rescued soon, Mira thinks. But meanwhile in the dark, she’s trying not to panic. Without her calming pills. And without her friends. And with much worse to come than the dark.
This book is the first in a trilogy–yea! The author has also written the Incarnate trilogy and the Orphan Queen duology. Good. More for me to read while I await the sequels to this book. She’s also a co-author with some other books.
You can read about Jodi and her books on her website here.