2020's Readers' Advisory for Teen and YA audiences, presented by Carla Avitabile

1. Past year favorites
Next in series titles you have been
waiting for (or never needed)
Most Anticipated (by me)
Biggest disappointment
RA Mashup
or more information than you wanted to
know – good thing you are able to doze
off without anyone noticing

2. Report out on my top 5 titles I wanted to read in 2019

3. The caption: Royalty sells Romance sells
Impending death sells says it al in this surprisingly
deranged retelling of the myth of Theseus and
the Minotar . A myth that is bonkers to begin with.
Myth recap: Mino’s the king of Crete’s wife has
relations with a bull and gave birth to the
minotaur. The Minotaur is imprisoned in a maze
designed by Daedalus Mino’s oldest son is killed by
said bull during some athletic games in Athens.
Mino’s the king and father then demanded Athens
send 7 men and 7 women to the Minotaur each
year. Thesus son of Aegeus king of Athens decides
to go to Crete to end the maddens. Ariadne the
daughter of falls in love with Thesus and gives him
a ball of thread so he can escape the maze after he
kills the Minotaur.
Pretty much that but imagine it more as a reality
TV show with Ariadne’s sisters being more like the
Kardasian’s. – For older readers - NOT a transition
from the Rick Riodan universe to YA – even if “my
child reads at a 12th grade level “

4. If you are not a fan of Ronan Lynch then this probably is
not the book for you. If having not read the Raven Cycle
you have no idea what I am talking about don’t worry
you can still pick it up and enjoy it without having to
read the afore mentioned cycle.
Ronan is a dreamer, meaning he can bring things out of
his dreams. Some of the are curiosities like a motor cycle
that doesn't need gas to run, or scary killer crustaceans
or brothers. He is not the only Dreamer. There are plenty
of them and one of them is going to destroy the world.
Dreamers are being tracked down by Hunters who are
given clues by Visionaries - people who see visions of
the future and track Zeds (aka Dreamers)– if you think
the blow back for dreamers is bad whoa nelly it is a
billion times worse for Visionaries and everyone around
them!
Do not worry Ronan is still a total douche – all be it a
loyal one. Plus he still has Adam who is a total gem. Hell
yes if you liked the Dream Thieves – Hell NO if Ronan
was your least favorite in the Raven Cycle.

5. Some of the pacing is difficult but this title
portrayed mental illness, specifically depression
in a very realistic way.
In this semi autobiographical title Morgan lives in
a small town in Southern California. She goes to
a Christian school where she doesn’t fit in
because of her unique style and the color of her
skin. She is one of two black students the other
being her brother. With the exception of her
family she mostly finds that she most of her time
is spent with white people, most of whom are
insensitive (cringy) and say things like she is not
“really” black. Add the alienation of being
clinically depressed and the difficulties finding a
medication that works, and the lack of
understanding by family members and there are
times where Morgan is barely hanging on.
Worth it just for the afterward. Depression and
mental illness are real.

6. The fluidity of the family dynamic during bad
economic times, PTSD, loyalty, romance,
friendship, a KICK ASS sister and a road trip. After
the economic downturn of 2008 Teodoro’s (T)
family went from middle class home owners to
barely getting by in a small apartment. Financial
pressure is straining his parents relationship and all
everyone is doing is waiting for his brother Manny
to return from Iraq secretly hoping he will be the
glue to bind the family back together. Soon after
his return it is clear that Manny is not the same
person. Suffering from PTSD that include violent
episodes that he doesn't remember T is forced to
move in with a friend in order to protect himself.
Xochitl tricks T into joining her and Manny on an
road trip designed to save Manny’s life. – It is HEA
for Manny and Xochitl parts of it are a little wishful
dreaming but it does offer insight into the life long
process of overcoming PTSD.

7. This came out in 2018 but I only just
got around to reading it even though I
was told again and again it was legit. A
retelling of Pride and Prejudice (did
not read) that pretty much kicks ass. A
very solid title about privilege, how
gentrification sucks the magic out of a
neighborhood, and the preconceived
notions we have about each other.

8. After a cataclysmic event known as “The
Rupture” the world was shattered into floating
islands. Each of these islands or Arks has an
omnipotent ancestor whose whims shape each
floating island. Ophelia, a girl who can
communicate with the soul of an object and also
transport herself through mirrors is promised in
marriage to Thorn a member of a powerful clan
on a distant arc – Ark of the Pole. A Ark where
every move is a power play and Ophelia must
keep her identity a secret. A complicated
universe with rich characters – not a
recommendation for reluctant readers.

9. Long awaited additions to the series

10. A underrated series set in a world with a Victorian esthetic but with early 20th
century trappings like cars and electricity. Naïve Enne Salta has traveled to New
Reynes – the city of sin a lot like Las Vegas with gambling houses and a dark
underbelly - to find her mother. Levi is the head of a gang the Iron Lords ends up
helping Enne find footing in New Raynes with the promise of a big reward. his is a
dark world that only gets darker in book 2. If you like gangs, magic and moral
ambiguity, and a game where players are invited and always lose (yeah you die)
this is for you.

11. If you miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer these titles are for you. Never a devote to the series I
found Slayer to be a highly entertaining. Nina and her twin sister Artemis are descended
from a long line of Watchers, those tasked with being the lovely assistant/protector of the
Slayers as in vampire slayer in case you are unfamiliar. In a twist of fate Nina ends up
being the last Slayer EVER the end. Demons still hang on earth even though Buffy is said
to have closed the portals and basically killed magic. There is a demon fighting ring to
investigate and lots of double crossing to resolve. Fun, I have high hopes for Chosen
buuuut it could easily be a rehash of Slayer… Was not crazy for Guinevere Deception.

12. The girls at Innovations Academy are the perfect models of woman hood. They are well
behaved and well rounded in all the most appropriate ways. They know how to create a
lovely garden, are able to discuss art history and interior design. Absent from their
course load are the sciences, history or current events. Perfect in every way, if you are a
bunch of creepy dudes. Mena the female protag uncovers what is going on – who she
and the other girls really are. The truth is not so pretty. To quote a good friend “down
with the patriarchy” – as a bonus the ideology is not set up like a hammer on the head
but deftly woven into a so far so good science fiction series. The people say book 2 is
continues the goodness found in book one.
This
review
will
contain
spoilers

13. Worth the wait but not as amazing as Dread Nation (close to a perfect book).
The ending was not stunning but still a VERY solid and a original entry into the
zombie gene. A parable for the times since just like the zombie plague it seems
like we will have to learn to live with corona doom. At least Covid doesn't drive us
to eat brains…

14. All reports are that book 2 lives up to the hype even if it has some
standard place holder plot markers.

15. Escape is just what Malik and his sisters are
looking for when they try to enter the
dessert city of Ziran for the the Solstasia
festival . A vengeful sprit takes Malik’s sister as
payment to enter Ziran. In order to get her
back Malik makes a deal with the spirit to kill
Karina the crown princess. Meanwhile Karina
has plans of her own. Her mother has been
assassinated and the court is about to turn on
her. Karina decides to resurrect her mother.
The only thing she needs is the heart of a king.
And she knows where to get one offer her
hand in marriage to the winner of the
Solstasia competition. A competition that
Malik has just entered.
Strong possibility this title will be trope heavy
but it is based on West African folklore so for
me that gives it promise.

16. A sequel to Dear Martin on of the best
books about race and privilege that I
have read –Quan, the teen who was
accused of killing a police officer in
book one is in prison awaiting trial. His
story is told through flashbacks and
letters to Justyce (protag of Dear
Martin). Stories for teens about our
flawed “justice” system are few and
far (non existent?). We now live in an
age with for profit prisons and a justice
the discriminates against people of
color and low income people (as it has
since I was born).

17. Liz Lightly low income black teen
in a wealthy mid-west town flies
under the radar until she decides
to run for prom queen so she can
get her hands on a much needed
scholarship. When possible love
interest runs for PQ all bets are
off. Well if there were any bets to
begin with. I forecast it will have a
standard teen romance (since we
now thankfully have those for
LGBTQ teens). BUT seems fun and
the cover is so joyful who can
resist?

18. Female protagonist Ellie Dante is
bi-polar II. She manipulates her
father a formerly famous stage
magician in order to get him to
perform a magic trick that ruined
his career. Under represented plot
points intrigue me: low income,
health care struggles, relationship
between single father and
daughter, mental illness and
magic.

19. Gay protagonist Nick Bell writes
fan fiction about a group of
superhero’s called the
Extraordinaries, also might be
in love with his best friend.
High marks and peaked interest
because the reviews say it is
funny. We need more humor
for teens. Very much looking
forward to this one. Oh and the
Extraordinaries are actual
superheroes in Nick’s universe
so yay!

20. Set in Ireland Nishat; is a Bengali
Muslim Lesbian who is not out
to her parents. Flávia; Irish/Afro
is Brazilian Bi, and gorgeous.
They become rivals when a
school competition invites
students to create their own
business. Both choose henna.
Cultural appropriation, identity,
are plot elements of interest.
Reported to have “authentic
cultural and religious
representation “ . I also find that
I need to read most books
proported as having hijinks.

21. I know the people were crazy for this
when it came out, It has stared reviews
and the people on the Goodreads like
it but for me it did not deliver the
promised dystopian/feminist
goodness. I would have been happy
with a deranged mean girls locked in a
paddock in the middle of the woods
Lord of the Flies kind of tale. How
falling relying on dudes and falling in
love with your captor is feminist is
beyond me. Nope all I got was some
of the same old, waa waa.
Wilder Girls = better option though
has some issues too.

22. Thanks!