Readers in their early teenage years can find themselves in an awkward spot, between middle-grade and young adult fiction, but two excellent titles are set to fill that gap this summer. Tamsin Winter’s Bad Influence (Usborne) sees scholarly Amelia agree to something she immediately regrets in a bid to shake off her “loser” status. When a photo goes viral she’s labelled a bad influence, but is determined not to let one mistake define her. Winter has an enviable lightness of touch, tackling complex themes of popularity, self-esteem and social media with heart and humour in this important, empowering read.
From debut author Freja Nicole Woolf comes Never Trust a Gemini (Walker), a feelgood LGBTQ+ romantic comedy with a fresh, joyful energy. Fourteen-year-old Cat is convinced that a match with her oblivious crush Alison is aligned in the stars, until she meets dangerously cool new girl Morgan. Woolf brilliantly captures the chaos of early teen life with relatable characters and a girl gang echoing that of Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicolson series.
For older readers, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher (Bloomsbury) is a queer medieval romp with contemporary sensibilities. Princess of England Gwen has been betrothed to gadabout duke Art since birth, but the only thing they agree on is their mutual hated. When they discover surprising secrets about each other a reluctant alliance is forged. Smart dialogue drives this outrageously entertaining take on the fake dating trope.
For more escapist romance, Kat Dunn’s deliciously gothic Bitterthorn (Andersen Press) sees lonely, grieving Mina offer herself up as companion to a seemingly monstrous witch, travelling to a sinister castle in the wild woods, with no idea of what awaits her. Dunn plays on fairytale conventions to create a lush, atmospheric story of curses, belonging and betrayal with a slow-burn love story at its heart.
One of the most impressive young adult debuts of the year is How Far We’ve Come by Joyce Efia Harmer (Simon & Schuster). In 19th-century Barbados, Obah is a young girl enslaved on a British-owned plantation, dreaming of escape and rebellion. Jacob, a strange, almost unearthly visitor, offers a way out into 21st-century Britain. Moving between the two places, this gripping novel takes a nuanced look at the legacy of slavery and injustice and inequality in today’s world, driven by Obah’s unforgettable narrative voice.
Finally, YA book prize winner Sara Barnard returns with her outstanding new novel Where the Light Goes (Walker). When her big sister, Beth, takes her own life, Emmy is lost in her own sorrow and in the media storm that follows: Beth was also known as girl-band superstar Lizzie Beck. A powerful and raw exploration of grief and fame, Where the Light Goes is infused with empathy and hope, approaching this devastating topic with great care.
