New young adult books for April
by Sophie Green
Looking for some new YA titles to read this April? Take a look at our top picks, from an unlikely friendship between classmates to a supernatural love story set in an endless winter.
Find more recommendations for young adults.
King of Nothing, by Nathanael Lessore
Anton and his friends are the kings of Year 9. They're used to ruling the school and Anton wears the crown. The other kids run away when he's about but that's the way he wants it - he's got a reputation to live up to after all. So when he gets into serious trouble at school, he doesn't really care, but his mum most definitely does. She decides it's time for Anton to make some new friends and join the Happy Campers, a local activity group.
Anton would quite literally rather do anything else, especially when he finds out Matthew, the biggest loser in school, is also a member. But after Matthew unexpectedly saves Anton's life, Anton figures maybe this kid is worth a shot. Teaching him some game is the least Anton can do to repay the debt. As the boys strike up an unlikely friendship, Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was important.
The Reappearance of Rachel Price, by Holly Jackson
18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom's mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness. Rachel is gone, presumed dead. The case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can't wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. But then Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.
Borrow The Reappearance of Rachel Price →
Otherworldly, by F.T. Lukens
Ellery doesn't believe in magic. Sure, they've been stuck in a five-year winter, but there's got to be a scientific explanation for that. They're more concerned with working hard to send money back to the family farm than with whether there's a goddess out there who could put a stop to it. Knox has been trapped in the human realm for years. In service to a powerful witch for a decade, Knox is finally freed when her crossroads deal meets its terms.
But Knox isn't sure he wants to return to the Other World, especially since his queen seems to have abandoned him. When a chance encounter finds Ellery coming to Knox's rescue, they're suddenly face to face with a (annoyingly attractive) guy who claims to be a supernatural familiar - something they definitely don't believe. But Ellery needs a way to stop the endless winter and save his family farm, and Knox needs a human who can tether him to their realm.
The Girl in Question, by Tess Sharpe
Nora O'Malley has survived - senior year, that is. School's over, but her life isn't, which is weird since last she checked, her murderous stepdad Raymond is finally free. Determined to enjoy summer before her (possibly) imminent demise, Nora plans a backpacking trip with Iris and Wes. And Wes's girlfriend tags along. Amanda's nice, so it's not a huge issue. Until she gets taken. Or rather, mis-taken - for Nora.
Now they're deep in the woods. Raymond has a hostage. Nora has no leverage. Iris is carving spears out of sticks. And Wes is building booby traps. It'll take all of them to make it out alive. But someone is lying. Someone is keeping secrets. And someone has to die.
To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, by Molly X. Chang
Known as The Girl Blessed By Death, Ruying wants only to survive, but when her magic is discovered by an enemy prince she must decide if saving her family is worth betraying her country. For as long as Yang Ruying has been alive, the empire of Er-Lang has been occupied by Romans, whose advanced science and military make them Gods. But these Gods are not kind. Their only gifts: cruelty, opian, and destruction.
When Antony, the second Prince of Rome, uncovers Ruying's power, she becomes what she always feared: the perfect assassin. As tensions mount and rebellion stirs, Ruying can no longer deny that peace is a death sentence for Er-Lang. A death she may not be willing to deliver.