This list includes books that seem to be aimed at a YA (Young Adult) audience (approximately ages 12 to 18, usually with a protagonist about …
Young adult
The Dark Lady by Akala
A review by Nalini Haynes Henry is an orphan raised by an (unofficial) foster family who use his magical gift of reading any language to …
An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi
A review by Nalini Haynes Shadi is a Muslim teenager living a couple of years after 9/11 while America gears up for war in the …
The Other Side Of Perfect by Mariko Turk
A review by Nalini Haynes Alina, a Japanese American ballet dancer, had an accident. The resulting damage to her ankle prevents her from ever dancing …
Raising Hell by Bryony Pearce
A review by Nalini Haynes Ivy is a security guard in a high school, endeavoring to save hormonal magic-using teenagers from murdering each other. Today …
All The Murmuring Bones by Angela Slatter
A review by Nalini Haynes Miren O’Malley’s home is set in a fantasy world evoking Ireland, possibly in the 19th century. Her family has a …
Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
A review by Nalini Haynes “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” quoth Juliet, who’s writing the play (not THAT one) in 2083 to exorcise the …
Centre of My Everything by Allayne Webster
A review by Nalini Haynes Trigger warning: drug & alcohol use including by teenagers and preteens; domestic violence; rape Centre of My Everything has several …
Ruby Tuesday by Hayley Lawrence
A review by Nalini Haynes Trigger warning: rape Ruby Tuesday Matthews (not the model) lives in the bush near a small town where her mother …
Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim
A review by Nalini Haynes Trigger warnings: domestic violence (depicted), depression, and suicide (not depicted but discussed) Wen is the Tiger Daughter of two Chinese …
Shadow and Bone (Book 1: The Grisha) by Leigh Bardugo
A review by Nalini Haynes After reading The Ninth House, I promised myself some more Bardugo books. Then came her Wonder Woman story. Now Rule …
The Gaps by Leanne Hall
A review by Nalini Haynes Trigger warning: there are no actual depictions of rape or murder but characters contemplate these possibilities and live under the …
Witch by Finbar Hawkins
A review by Nalini Haynes Evey and Dill, two sisters, watch as a group of men murder their mother. They flee to their mother’s coven …
Outlawed by Anna North
A review by Nalini Haynes Outlawed is a change of pace from my recent reads despite the feminist theme running through all the shiny books …
Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham
A review by Nalini Haynes Delilah, Scarlet, Fiona and Jasmine are four famous influencers in Hollywood. They’re all around the same age – 16 to …
Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow
A review by Nalini Haynes Juniper limps towards New Salem, alone after murdering her father. Her sisters fled home seven years earlier, leaving her alone, …