13 Young Adult Books Perfect for Spring

Who remembers signing up for spring break reading challenges at their local library? We sure do! Now that spring break is just around the corner, and we're a little old to be perusing the kids' section of the library, we're coming up with a new program of our own by challenging ourselves to rekindle our love of young adult literature. From daring sea-faring adventures to sweet coming-of-age fantasies, here are 13 fantastic new young adult books being released in March that we can't wait to binge-read this spring.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi ($19): If you're looking for an inspiring fantasy to get lost in this spring, look no further than Tomi Adeyemi's beautiful West-African-inspired debut. Under orders from the ruthless king, magic has been removed from Orïsha and all the maji are sentenced to death, including Zélie's mother. Hell-bent on restoring her home, Zélie makes plans to fight against the monarchy by outwitting and outrunning the crown prince with the help of a rogue princess.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo ($18): Xiomara Batista is a young woman who feels annoyingly unheard in her Harlem neighborhood. Frustrated, Xiomara fills up a leather notebook with all of her troubles — from the tricky dynamics of her blossoming love story to her complicated feelings about religion. Told in stunning verse, Award-winning slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo's newest novel about an Afro-Latina heroine on a journey to reclaim her voice is not to be missed this March.

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen ($19): After her mother is shot at a checkpoint, 15-year-old Sarah meets a member of a secret resistance against the Third Reich. Despite being Jewish in 1939 Germany, this mysterious man convinces Sarah to secretly infiltrate a school for the offspring of top Nazi brass and befriend the daughter of a key scientist. She has a plan to get invited to the daughter's house so she can steal the blueprints to a bomb that could destroy the cities of Western Europe. This exciting new novel blends history and suspense seamlessly.

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo ($19): Princess Lira is the siren daughter of the Sea Queen and she's already managed to gather an astonishing 17 prince hearts in her collection. But a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own, and her mother punishes her by transforming her into a human. Now she has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian's heart to the Sea Queen… or risk being trapped in human form forever.

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro ($18): The third book in the bestselling Charlotte Holmes series recounts the fascinating life of the famous detective's great-great-great-granddaughter. With Jamie Watson trying to finish his senior year at Sherringford and Charlotte Holmes on the run, Charlotte and Jamie haven't spoken for nearly a year after the shocking death of August Moriarty. But now strange things start happening, and it's beginning to become clear that someone has been quietly observing them both while waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter ($19): The daughter of a Secret Service agent, Maddie thought that she would always be friends with Logan (who just so happens to be the son of the freakin' president). But one frightful night, Maddie's dad drags her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness with no phone, no internet, and no way to communicate with Logan for the foreseeable future. Flash forward six years later and Logan unexpectedly shows up at the cabin — but before anything can happen, an assailant appears and drags Logan away. While Maddie would love nothing more than to kill the guy who disappointed her all those years ago, with the weather turning and the animals getting more deadly, she knows she has to save him first.

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman ($19): From the New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay, this cathartic story is the perfect feel-good read for spring. Three strangers are doing their best to make the most of their situations: Freya is struggling with losing her voice recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from everyone he loves, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City with a desperate plan. But when a fateful accident draws the three strangers together, they cautiously begin to chip away at their walls and share their secrets in this Gayle Forman story that's guaranteed to make your heart happy.

Reflection by Elizabeth Lim ($18): We're in love with Disney's Twisted Tales series — dark and daring versions of our favorite childhood stories? Uhh, yes please! In this twisted version of Mulan, Captain Shang is mortally wounded by Shan Yu in battle, and Mulan must travel to an underworld named Diyu to save him from death. With King Yama, ruler of Diya, putting up a great fight for Shang's spirit, Mulan must traverse Diyu to find Shang, face harrowing obstacles under the disguise of Ping, and leave by sunrise or risk becoming King Yama's prisoner forever.

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan ($19): After the tragic suicide of her mother, Leigh Chen Sanders travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. Convinced that her mother turned into a bird after her death, Leigh is determined to find her soaring somewhere in this new place. During her brave search, she uncovers family secrets and begins to forge a new relationship with her grandparents all while trying to come to terms with the fact that while she was kissing her best friend, her mother was taking her own life. A brilliant first novel that explores themes of friendship, grief, and family history, Emily X. R. Pan's novel needs to be on your to-read list this March.

The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk ($18): Told from three different points of view, Ashley Woodfolk's powerful story about life after loss and the healing power of music is an absolutely stunning read. Autumn, Shay, and Logan were all brought together by music. But when tragedy strikes each of these youngsters, music doesn’t seem to be the crutch it once was. Now Logan can't stop watching vlogs of his dead ex-boyfriend, Shay is a struggling music blogger, and Autumn is sending messages that she knows can never be answered. Will music be able to reunite these lost souls and help them work through their grief? You're just going to have to read the book to find out!

Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi ($18): Penny Lee can't wait to leave her high school days behind and head to college to study writing in Austin, Texas. Sam is working and sleeping at a café, doing his best to remind himself that all the things that are currently testing his patience will be incredible creative fodder for when he becomes a famous movie director. When Sam and Penny cross paths, it's incredibly awkward… but they end up swapping numbers anyway. Despite their not-so-stellar IRL encounter, the two become digitally inseparable and form an unbreakable bond — all without ever having to be in the same room as each other.

Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell ($18): Helen Moran was accepting a delivery from IKEA in her shared studio apartment when her uncle called her to tell her that her adoptive brother committed suicide. Knowing that she's the only one qualified to investigate his death, she purchases a one-way ticket to Milwaukee and starts to try to uncover why he chose to die by searching her childhood home, facing her estranged family, interviewing her brother's few friends, and meeting an overzealous grief counselor.

Mapping the Bones by Jane Yolen ($18): It's the year 1942, and Polish twins Chaim and Gittel's lives are about to change forever. Influenced by Dr. Mengele's horrifying experiments, the story follows the twins on their journey from the Lodz ghetto to a horrific concentration camp. The only glimmer of hope in this miserable world is Chaim's poetry, an ongoing literary beacon that Chaim writes so the children and grandchildren of survivors will never forget what happened during the Holocaust.