Young Adult books aren’t just for teens! In fact, many of our staff regularly read YA so we asked them what their favorites were this year. We asked them to describe their favorite books in three words and to rate them on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. Check out some of their picks below or you can check the full list in our online catalog – Staff YA Faves 2025!

Dana

“Kindling” by Traci Chee

4/5 Stars ★★★★

heartbreaking, creative, action-packed

Taira, Hayden, and Kayley

“Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins

4.67/5 Stars ★★★★* 

heart-shattering prequel

Exciting, Tragic, Inspirational

No words. Speechless.

*average of the 3 reviews

Aimee

“The Tombs of Atuan” by Ursula LeGuin

5/5 Stars ★★★★

Identity, religion, rebellion

Tori

“Compound Fracture” by Andrew Joseph White

5/5 Stars ★★★★★

Brutal, harrowing, gut-wrenching 

Content Warning: Andrew Joseph White’s writing is about violent transphobia in Southern America and Evangelical Christianity, so it is not at all a lighthearted read.