Plot/Idea: Liliana's story is filled with twists and turns as she discovers her own identity and the magical world around her. Connected to folklore and ghost history, this is a great read for those with interest in the paranormal.

Prose: Gray competently weaves an interesting tale through realistic dialogue and intriguing descriptions. The novel flows very naturally throughout creating a stable canvas on which to paint a beautiful story.

Originality: Although relying on folklore, Secrets and Scorpions takes a unique approach to how it utilizes these stories and brings them into the modern world. With a clear set up for a sequel and larger magical world, there is immense potential for an intriguing universe of stories.

Character/Execution: Liliana's character is strong and expressive as she unlocks her family's past and her present situation. At times the pacing of the plot is uneven, and Liliana's lack of information about her situation leaves the reader more confused than excited.

Plot/Idea: To The Moon And Back is a YA/middle grade novel about the traumas Jessica Maxwell and her mentor, John Garrett, endure as their as their lives are shredded and then, over time, pieced back together like a mosaic.

Prose: Kotchi's prose is clear and understandable, and her characterizations are vivid, even as frequent time jumps can interfere with the overall flow of the storytelling. 

Originality: There are many novels about coping with loss, but Jessica and John are singular, both previously wounded by their traumatic pasts and both desperate for their circumstances to improve even as they shy away from letting another person get close.

Character/Execution: Jessica and John are fully fleshed characters and the author lets the reader see their good points as well as their faults. Kotchi manages to make Jessica's abusive mother sympathetic, a particular feat for YA/Middle Grade, and the additional supporting characters ring true as well.

Plot/Idea: Book two of the Kiara Noir Mother Nature series reunites readers with the titular heroine as she continues to navigate her path forward to becoming queen. Eglington's fantasy worldbuilding is confident and well defined.

Prose: Despite occasionally stilted description, Eglington generally strikes a fine balance between exposition, action, and dialogue.

Originality: The premise of this story depicts a young woman with the weight of her people on her shoulders, making for a complex narrative that ties in familiar and unifying themes of responsibility versus personal wants.

Character/Execution: Eglington's characters are wonderfully distinct and show meaningful development throughout the novel.

Plot/Idea: Wishes Are Free is a charming and nostalgic middle grade story that explores the value of friendship and connection both for the young and old. 

Prose: The prose is eloquent, dynamic, and clean, acting as an effective vessel for Howell's creativity while propelling the circumstances. Howell captures the protagonist's youthful tone, but doesn't compromise the maturity of her craft.

Originality: Wishes Are Free is a gentle and genuine story that centers on coming-of-age themes, while offering a broader perspective on grief and the changing seasons of life. At times, readers may find the story action to be somewhat staid and in need of a more intriguing backdrop. Still, the concept is touching and has much to offer young readers.

Character/Execution:  Mercedes Howell capably depicts the concerns, anxieties, and stresses of her young characters, while the older characters contribute well to the story.

Plot/Idea: The Book of Daniel is a YA horror novel about a boy born with supernatural powers who journeys across America, confronting the good and the bad as he strives to understand his abilities, his family ties, and himself.

Prose: Ian's prose is evocative, but abrupt shifts in perspective can result in reader disorientation. The Book of Daniel is hard-hitting, gory, and profane. Some passages would benefit from additional nuance and supportive context, as the explicit language and descriptions can come across as heavy-handed and unjustified.

Originality: The Book of Daniel integrates numerous coming-of-age tropes, including that of a young man seeking to find his father and himself. The protagonist's extraordinary abilities, his complex relationship with his mother, and the novel's surreal aspects uplifts the work.

Character/Execution: Protagonist Daniel is born with unique powers of perception, which Ian initially introduces via Daniel's ability to understand his mother Barbera's thoughts and experiences while still in her womb. The intensely close relationship between the two serves as a backbone to the story, while other characters can come across as more archetypal than fully formed. 

Plot/Idea: Kaur’s plot takes the form of loosely jointed stories with a distinctive mythological feel to them, centered on the life of Mayuri—a woman growing up in India. The plot meanders, as Mayuri experiences life’s twists and turns, and reflects on the Hindu religion in the process.

Prose: Serpentine prose, with dense philosophical breakouts, makes up the bulk of Kaur’s story, a style that matches the novel’s unique context but makes it challenging to read at times.

Originality: The scope of Mayuri’s life—shared here with an almost lyrical, storytelling slant—is immense, but Kaur manages to spotlight Mayuri’s day-to-day details, from a young girl transformed into a woman, against the larger backdrop of India’s cultural and religious heritage. 

Character/Execution: Mayuri is constructed in dramatic, arresting detail, with careful consideration given to the complexity of her life. The many roles she assumes are fully fleshed out, leading to an intricate, compelling portrait of an Indian woman, though the author’s style does create distance between readers and the central lead.

Plot/Idea: Kaalchakra speeds through Indian mythology and contemporary Mumbai, following two teens on a dizzying, soul-searching journey. The fast pace sacrifices buildup at times, but the story smoothly takes shape in Dhar's capable hands.

Prose: Dhar's sensory descriptions are rich and lyrical, awash in vibrant metaphor. The writing style creates some distance between readers and the story's characters, but it matches the premise well. 

Originality: Dhar puts a fresh spin on everyday heroes and legends saving the world by raising awareness of the effects that an environment in turmoil can have on ancient historical sites.

Character/Execution: Main characters are an intriguing mix of complicated, flawed, and struggling with their own demons, as they serve a greater purpose within the overall narrative. Abhay and Vihaan offer readers an absorbing tale through their coming-of-age experiences, and their relationship is rich with deeper meaning.

Plot/Idea: Dendler starts this intriguing YA novel with careful worldbuilding, constructing the rigid, unyielding environment that both Poppy and Marigold inhabit—an environment defined by strict rules put in place to keep the Orange and Blue territories rigorously separated. That attention to detail slows the plot somewhat in the beginning, but it quickly picks up and holds attention.

Prose: The story's tone and voice are mature and well-developed, light on intense descriptors and delivered with compact prose that fits the intended audience.

Originality: Readers will find this story incredibly relevant, with rich parallels that can be drawn between Poppy and Marigold's troubles and society's broader treatment of prejudice and discrimination. 

Character/Execution: Poppy and Marigold are clearly distinct from each other, but their growth slows as the novel progresses. Most intriguing is Poppy's interior struggles with her choices after meeting Marigold, as she both berates herself for being "an Orange sympathizer" and comes to a painstaking realization that her world has been built on lies.

Plot/Idea: Wishes and Choices offers readers genuine wisdom conveyed through a thrilling adventure with its protagonist Mythral, a wizard who must change his destiny to save his world. First, Mythral needs an apprentice—but he harbors doubts about that plan, as he prefers his own company and already has his hands full. From there, Thomas delivers an entertaining, snappy plot, brimming with magic, danger, and the ultimate hero's quest.

Prose: Thomas's worldbuilding is rich, from wizardry to banishment to time travel, though his heavy reliance on the passive voice detracts some from that experience.

Originality: Wizards, dragons, and magic are fantasy staples and offered in spades here; Thomas elevates the fantasy further by prompting reflections on free will and moral choices.

Character/Execution: Mythral is developed mainly through his actions, though Thomas builds some interiority as the novel progresses. Still, he is an intriguing lead, "doomed by his overconfidence" but desperate to change the course of his future.

Plot/Idea: The plot, pulsing with secrets and double meaning, moves relatively quickly, making it appealing to YA audiences, and Senyard utilizes the story within a story structure remarkably well, as Jeremy, a storyteller's scribe, assist in recording an intriguing tale of a kidnapped storyteller.

Prose: Senyard sprinkles the narrative with rich descriptions, at times almost overwhelming, that capably set the stage while drawing readers into the plot. Jeremy and the Storyteller's interjections throughout the novel add depth and meaning to the story's events.

Originality: Readers will be entertained by the story's balance of adventure—particularly between the pirates—and intrigue, as well as the plot's long-held secrets, all of which combine to make this a fast-paced fantasy ride.

Character/Execution: Senyard's characters are fascinating and likable, though their growth is subdued. Berenice's journey is rife with excitement and conflict, but her reactions at times feel out of sync with the chaos around her. Series fans who have read the first installment will be more familiar with the characters' backstories.

Plot/Idea: Wright's novel starts with the death of 12-year-old Shane's mother, immediately diving into his considerable shock and grief. As he moves to Utah with his grandparents, the plot picks up, drawing in a myriad of moving parts. The pacing is easy to follow and readers will find the story engaging.

Prose:  Shane's voice is strong, both in his grief and in his wise observations of the world around him. The prose is interesting and multilayered, always hinting at the deeper currents driving this poignant story.

Originality: Scar Dakota is ambitious, but Wright's character study of Shane is sharp and nuanced, addressing themes that will appeal to a YA audience.

Character/Execution: Wright's characters possess their own quirks, each growing substantially throughout the novel, though Shane transforms the most: from broken and lost to inspiring and strengthened, his character takes shape and will appeal to readers.

Plot/Idea: Everything That Was starts strong, with a striking portrait of grief centered on Pru, a teenager when her brother Davis shockingly dies. Initially, Hansen draws Pru's bottomless grief extraordinarily well, dredging her desperation and pain as she tries to start over without her brother; when the novel moves into the romance between Pru and Steve, the progression feels less natural. Still, this is a strong rendering of the heartbreak that comes with a loved one's death.

Prose: Hansen creates vivid imagery throughout this story, especially in Pru's adventures within her dreamland. At times, the dialogue lacks authenticity, but overall the writing is sharp. 

Originality: Pru's grieving will resonate with many readers, but the universality of her experience makes the novel that much more engaging. Hansen's complexity in penetrating Pru's character allows readers to fully connect with her—and digest the challenges she confronts.

Character/Execution: The most powerful part of this novel is its exploration of trauma, as Hansen eloquently focuses on complicated grief and its aftereffects for her main characters. Pru stands out as a deeply developed, multilayered character.

Plot/Idea: Boyd's plot moves forward at a steady rate, with few lulls in the action. The tone and character construction, however, are uneven, following central leads Jeremy and Jahred and driven by the book's undercover government program, the "Secret Influencers." 

Prose: Straightforward prose helps readers follow the storyline, though Boyd's changes in tense disrupt the book's flow.

Originality: The idea of taking influencers out of the online world to personally impact people's lives is both terrifying and intriguing—and a relevant topic in today's society.

Character/Execution: Boyd's characters fit the plot, but they tend to blend together rather than dynamically standing out as distinct entities.