Category Archives: Young Adult

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton

Long ago, a village made a bargain with the devil: to ensure their prosperity, when the Slaughter Moon rises, the village must sacrifice a young man into the depths of the Devil’s Forest. Only this year, the Slaughter Moon has risen early.

Bound by duty, secrets, and the love they share for one another, Mairwen, a spirited witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a restless outcast, will each have a role to play as the devil demands a body to fill the bargain. But the devil these friends find is not the one they expect, and the lies they uncover will turn their town—and their hearts—inside out.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Homomisia
  • Transmisia
  • Child abuse & neglect mentioned
  • Alcoholism mentioned
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Death of a parent
  • Death of a child
  • Murder
  • Torture
  • Bullying
  • Animal death

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

It starts off simply. Draw a circle. Place a dead leaf in the centre. Sprinkle some salt. Recite a little Latin. Add a drop of blood…Maybe that last part isn’t exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents’ horrific deaths. She’s willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family—even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep … and spill some blood.

The book isn’t the only recent arrival in Silla’s life. There’s Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She’s not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Parent with a substance addiction
  • Suicide & attempted suicide mentioned
  • Self-harm
  • Death of a parent
  • Loss of autonomy (possession)
  • Animal sacrifice

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy

Waylon Russell Brewer is a fat, openly gay boy stuck in the small West Texas town of Clover City. His plan is to bide his time until he can graduate, move to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine, and finally go Full Waylon, so that he can live his Julie-the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music-Andrews truth. So when Clementine deviates from their master plan right after Waylon gets dumped, he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for his favourite TV drag show, Fiercest of Them All. What he doesn’t count on is the tape accidentally getting shared with the entire… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Lesbomisia & lesbomisic slurs
  • Homomisia & homomisic slurs
  • Blood & physical injury depiction (broken bone)
  • Physical assault

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever. The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Lesbomisia & lesbomisic slurs
  • Alcohol consumption

Puddin’ by Julie Murphy

Puddin’ by Julie Murphy

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Fatmisia & body shaming
  • Dieting discussed

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia mentioned
  • Fatmisia & body shaming (theme)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Bullying

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs. So she convinces her best friend, Harvey, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge as it is about hope. But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission, and now she must face the consequences of all she’s said and done.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Cancer (leukemia)

Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect. Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her best friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers. Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Death of a mother by murder

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He’s trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won’t get into college. He’s trying to keep his brother’s business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He’s trying to keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel – or he fears he’ll lose his family. And he’s trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his ‘girlfriend’s’ partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Child abuse
  • Coming out themes
  • Parent with alcoholism
  • Grief & loss depiction

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies. He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust. . .

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Death of a father recounted