Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in fragile bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the thinnest. But then Cassie suffers the ultimate loss – her life – and Lia is left behind, haunted by her friend’s memory, and feeling guilty for not being able to help save her.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Eating disorders (theme), specifically anorexia & bulimia
  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia & hallucinations
  • Suicide, attempted suicide, and self-harm (cutting)
  • Death of a friend
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn’t believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father’s boss’s daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy—and Tyler’s secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Suicide & suicidal ideation
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Meet Kate Malone – straight-A science and math geek, minister’s daughter, ace long-distance runner, new girlfriend (to Mitchell “Early Decision Harvard” Pangborn III), unwilling family caretaker, and emotional avoidance champion. Kate manages her life by organizing it as logically as the periodic table. She can handle it all – or so she thinks.

Then, things change as suddenly as a string of chemical reactions; first, the Malones’ neighbors get burned out of their own home and move in. Kate has to share her room with her nemesis, Teri Litch, and Teri’s little brother. The days are ticking down and she’s still waiting to hear from the only college she applied to: MIT. Kate feels that her life is spinning out of her control – and then, something happens that truly blows it all apart.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Rape
  • Paedophilia & child sexual abuse
  • Incest (father-daughter)
  • Child pregnancy
  • Pregnancy from rape
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a child
  • Death of a brother
  • Fire & loss of property
  • Electrocution
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Every Single Lie by Rachel Vincent

Every Single Lie by Rachel Vincent

Nobody in Beckett’s life seems to be telling the whole story. Her boyfriend Jake keeps hiding texts and might be cheating on her. Her father lied about losing his job before his shocking death. And everyone in school seems to be whispering about her and her family behind her back.

But none of that compares to the day Beckett finds the body of a newborn baby in a gym bag-Jake’s gym bag -on the floor of her high school locker room. As word leaks out, rumors that Beckett’s the mother take off like wildfire in a town all too ready to believe the worst of her. And as the police investigation unfolds, she discovers that everyone has a secret to hide and the truth could alter everything she thought she knew.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Cheating
  • PTSD & panic attacks
  • Substance addiction & alcoholism
  • Alcohol & drug abuse, including overdose
  • Child pregnancy, childbirth & stillbirth
  • Physical injuries
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father to suicide by a drug & alcohol overdose recounted
  • Death of an infant*
  • Bullying & cyberbullying, including death threats

*Note: the book’s plot centres around the protagonist discovering the dead body of a newborn in her school’s gym.

Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful. Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racist microaggressions & antisemitism
  • Fatphobia and body-shaming (theme)
  • Anxiety & panic attacks
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Bullying

Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

When Quinton Peters mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news?

Then Amari discovers a ticking briefcase in her brother’s old closet, meant for her eyes only. There was far more to Quinton, it seems, than she ever knew. He’s left her a nomination for a summer tryout at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari is certain the answer to finding out what happened to him lies somewhere inside, if only she can get her head around the idea of mermaids, dwarves, yetis and magicians all being real things, something she has to instantly confront when she is given a weredragon as a roommate… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism & racist microaggressions*
  • Hospital
  • Comas
  • Disappearance & presumed death of a brother (theme)
  • Home invasion, off-page
  • Bullying & cyberbullying
  • Poverty themes

*Note : The protagonist learns her ancestors were enslaved in chapter 23.

Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The King’s Men by Nora Sakavic

The King’s Men by Nora Sakavic

The King's Men by Nora Sakavic book cover

Neil Josten is out of time. He knew when he came to PSU he wouldn’t survive the year, but with his death right around the corner he’s got more reasons than ever to live.

Befriending the Foxes was inadvisable. Kissing one is unthinkable. Neil should know better than to get involved with anyone this close to the end, but Andrew’s never been the easiest person to walk away from. If they both say it doesn’t mean anything, maybe Neil won’t regret losing it, but the one person Neil can’t lie to is himself.

He’s got promises to keep and a team to get to championships if he can just outrun Riko a little longer, but Riko’s not the only monster in Neil’s life. The truth might get them all killed—or be Neil’s one shot at getting out of this alive.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia
  • Ableism
  • Rape
  • Sexual assault
  • Child abuse
  • Physical & emotional abuse
  • Self-harm
  • Addiction
  • Alcohol & drug use, consensual and non-consensual
  • Graphic blood and gore depiction
  • Physical injuries
  • Knife violence
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic

The Foxes are a fractured mess, but their latest disaster might be the miracle they’ve always needed to come together as a team. The one person standing in their way is Andrew, and the only one who can break through his personal barriers is Neil.

Except Andrew doesn’t give up anything for free and Neil is terrible at trusting anyone but himself. The two don’t have much time to come to terms with their situation before outside forces start tearing them apart. Riko is intent on destroying Neil’s fragile new life, and the Foxes have just become collateral damage.

Neil’s days are numbered, but he’s learning the hard way to go down fighting for what he believes in, and Neil believes in Andrew even if Andrew won’t believe in himself.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia
  • Ableism
  • Rape
  • Sexual assault
  • Child abuse
  • Physical & emotional abuse
  • Self-harm
  • Addiction
  • Alcohol & drug use, consensual and non-consensual
  • Graphic blood and gore depiction
  • Physical injuries
  • Knife violence
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic book cover

Neil Josten is the newest addition to the Palmetto State University Exy team. He’s short, he’s fast, he’s got a ton of potential—and he’s the runaway son of the murderous crime lord known as The Butcher.

Signing a contract with the PSU Foxes is the last thing a guy like Neil should do. The team is high profile and he doesn’t need sports crews broadcasting pictures of his face around the nation. His lies will hold up only so long under this kind of scrutiny and the truth will get him killed.

But Neil’s not the only one with secrets on the team. One of Neil’s new teammates is a friend from his old life, and Neil can’t walk away from him a second time. Neil has survived the last eight years by running. Maybe he’s finally found someone and something worth fighting for.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia
  • Ableism
  • Rape
  • Sexual assault
  • Child abuse
  • Physical & emotional abuse
  • Self-harm
  • Addiction
  • Alcohol & drug use, consensual and non-consensual
  • Graphic blood and gore depiction
  • Physical injuries
  • Knife violence
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised. With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Coming out themes & blackmailed forced outing
  • Homophobia & slurs
  • Bullying