13 Brand New Young Adult Novels to Read This February

Upon browsing for new reads at our local bookstore, we recently had a reading revelation. Instead of picking up boring paperbacks just because they're trendy, we've decided to go back to our roots and shop for books we love instead. That's why we're using the month of February to reintroduce young adult literature into our lives. From a story about a badass heroine fighting her Pirate King father to one about a young rebel searching for freedom in the medieval kingdom of Goredd, here are 13 brand new young adult adventures we can almost guarantee you won't want to put down.

Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi ($18): Desperately trying to figure out his passion as college applications loom, Scott Ferdowsi sneaks off to Washington to ask a famous psychologist who claims to know the secrets to success for some crucial advice. During this journey, Scott meets Fiora, a college student whose life ambition is to write crossword puzzles, and finds himself breaking all the rules while desperately trying to figure out his life plan — including sneaking into bars, partaking in a high-speed bicycle chase, and learning how to pick up girls at the National Zoo.

What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper ($20): Gerta is a teen Holocaust survivor who lost everything she loved in the Nazi concentration camps — her Papa, her music, her identity. Now that the camp is liberated, Gerta moves into a displaced persons camp and meets Lev, another teen survivor, whom she instantly connects with. Packed with romance, heartbreak, and history, Vesper Stamper's new novel is a stunning story that'll entertain, educate, and inspire.

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller ($18): You fell in love with her as the badass heroine in Daughter of the Pirate King. Now Alosa is back in a magic-packed sequel that book reviewers say is even better than the first book. After finding all three pieces of the legendary treasure map, Alosa is all set to retrieve the secret fortune for her father. But when one of her prisoners reveals a dark secret about her dad, she decides to take the treasure for herself.

All We Can Do Is Wait by Richard Lawson ($18): After a bridge collapses in their hometown, four Boston teenagers meet in the waiting room of Massachusetts General Hospital. Jason and Alexa are siblings who are anxiously waiting to hear if their parents survived the tragedy, Scott is in the waiting room for his girlfriend Aimee, and Skyler is waiting for her sister Kate who was crossing the bridge when it collapsed. Detailing the complications behind each relationship and unveiling the intense emotions that come with uncertainty and tragedy, Richard Lawson's newest novel is pure literary gold.

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman ($19): Women are expected to be ladylike in the medieval kingdom of Goredd… something that Tess doesn't quite comprehend. While she's used to getting in trouble for speaking out of turn, she eventually goes too far, and her family decides that it's time for her to join a nunnery. But Tess has a different path in mind — she cuts her hair, laces up her boots, and sets out on a journey to find an empowered life where she might finally feel like she belongs.

People Like Us by Dana Mele ($18): Key Donovan is reinventing herself as a popular soccer player at a swanky Bates Academy. But just when Key is starting to settle into her new life, a girl's body is found in the lake. What's more, the girl leaves Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt which begins to implicate everyone around her… including herself.

The Last to Go by Amber Smith ($18): It's junior year for Brooke Winters and she's setting off to make it the best year yet by transferring schools and making plans to finally leave her hometown and set off for college. But all of these plans are put on hold when her mother is arrested for killing her abusive father. While the facts of the case are murky at best, Brook and her siblings are left to deal with this tragedy on their own in this stunning new novel from New York Times bestselling author Amber Smith.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena ($18): Zarin Wadia has been branded a troublemaker whose many romances are fodder for gossip at school. But despite all of the rumors, 18-year-old Porus has only ever had eyes for her. A Girl Like That Is the story of the events that led up to Zarin and Porus crashing their car on the side of the highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Told through multiple perspectives, it's a story that tackles the complicated issues of race, identity, class, and teenage ambition, all in an exciting setting that readers will inhale.

Shatter by Aprilynne Pike ($18): In this near-future world, the residents of Versailles live like it's the 1700s. Now in this action-packed sequel to Glitter, Danica plans to use beauty, blackmail, and a glittering drug to escape from the Palace of Versailles. But her plan is foiled when she's betrayed by the man who promises her freedom. Now she finds herself married to the murderous king and takes a position at the head of the court. In a telling battle between freedom and power, this genre-bending novel is perfect for readers of all ages.

The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary by Nonieqa Ramos ($18): Macy's school may have officially deemed her "disturbed," but Macy has more pressing problems to deal with. Her mom can't get off the couch and is cheating on her father, her father's in prison, and her brother's been taken away by Child Protective Services. Written with incredible grit and ferocity, Macy's teenage memoir is a hard-hitting and original novel that definitely tops our to-read list.

Americanized by Sara Saedi ($18): Thirteen-year-old Sara Saedi only became aware of her undocumented status when her older sister wanted to apply for an after-school job but couldn't because she didn't have a SSN number. In this touching coming-of-age story, readers are treated to a first-hand account of Sara's life as an undocumented Iranian-American teenager — from discovering that her parents secretly divorced to facilitate her mom's green card application to learning that she might be the only one of her friends without a date to the prom. Navigating teenage life intertwined with complicated themes of immigration, Sara Saedi's newest book is not to be missed.

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre ($18): Living alien ships have made a deal with Earth: In exchange for critical technology, they are requesting that 100 human representatives attend a one year tour of space with them. Despite committing a crime in New Detroit, Zara is surprisingly recruited for the mission. But while Zara is quick to run from her past and seize this new opportunity, she quickly learns that this once-in-a-lifetime trip is far more than a mere cultural exchange.

When My Heart Joins the Thousand by AJ Steiger ($18): All of her life, doctors and social workers have been telling Alvie Fitz to pretend to be normal, swallow her meds, and live her life as if she didn't have Asperger's. If she can make it to her 18th birthday without any major incidents, she'll be free to do as she pleases, but if she doesn't, she'll become a ward of the state. When Alvie meets Stanley, a fragile boy who walks with a cane and who's always turning up with new injuries, she immediately finds herself getting close to him. Be prepared to go on an emotional rollercoaster in AJ Steiger's latest heartbreaking romance.