The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean

The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean

The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean book cover

“Sometimes I have trouble filling out tests when the name part feels like a test too. . . . When I write letters, I love that you have to read all of my thoughts and stories before I say any name at all. You have to make it to the very end to know.”

Rowan has too many secrets to write down in the pages of a diary. And if he did, he wouldn’t want anyone he knows to discover them. He understands who he is and what he likes, but it’s not safe for others to know. Now, the kids at school say he’s too different to spend time with. He’s not the “right kind” of girl, and he’s not the “right kind” of boy. His mom ignores him. And at night, his dad hurts him in ways he’s not ready to talk about yet.

But Rowan discovers another way to share his secrets: letters. Letters he attaches to balloons and releases into the universe, hoping someone new will read them and understand. But when he befriends a classmate who knows what it’s like to be lonely and scared, even at home, Rowan realizes that there might already be a person he can trust right by his side.

Tender and wise, The Ship We Built is about the bravery it takes to stand up for yourself–even to those you love–and the power of finding someone who treasures you for everything you are.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Transmisia and transmisic language
  • Misgendering and deadnaming
  • Paedophilia
  • Child sexual assault and grooming
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Same But Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express by Holly Robinson Peete

Same But Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express by Holly Robinson Peete

Same But Different  by Holly Robinson Peete book cover

Being a teen is hard enough. But when you have autism–or when your sibling is struggling with the condition–life can be a topsy-turvy ride. What happens when you come face-to-face with dating, parties, sports, body changes, school, and kids who just don’t get you? Where do you turn when your sibling with autism is the butt of jokes, the victim of misunderstood social cues, and the one everyone thinks is weird? Through alternating narratives based on their own lives, Ryan Elizabeth Peete and her twin brother, RJ, who has autism, bravely and honestly reveal what it means to be a teen living with the disorder. With insight and humor, Same But Different explores the many aspects of teen autism, while daring to address issues and feelings nobody talks about. This powerfully rendered, timely book is the only one of its kind. It paints an important story of hope for teens and families living with autism—and lets us see that everybody’s unique rhythm is worth dancing to.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Child abuse
  • Child neglect
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn’t stick out more if she tried. Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book – he thinks he’s made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor… never to Eleanor. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you’re young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism & racial slurs, including the fetishization of Asian characters
  • Ableism & ableist slur
  • Fatphobia & body shaming
  • Transphobia
  • Domestic abuse & child abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Alcohol consumption & abuse
  • Recreational drug use
  • Bullying

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past… She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abuse mentioned
  • Sex work mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood & injury depiction, including mentions of corpse mutilation, dead bodies, broken bones, beheading & branding
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Torture mentioned
  • Physical assault & fistfights mentioned
  • Poisoning mentioned
  • Hostage situation (being held at knifepoint)
  • Knife & bow and arrow violence
  • War themes & general fantasy violence (on-page)

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma Carstairs must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Racism
  • Fatmisia & body shaming
  • Rape by coercion mentioned
  • Psychological, emotional & physical child abuse recounted
  • Trauma (theme)
  • Nightmares
  • Schizophrenia
  • Hallucinations
  • Nonconsensual drugging
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Dead bodies
  • Emesis
  • Physical injuries
  • Cancer mentioned
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a friend
  • Death of a brother
  • Death of a mother & father
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Torture
  • Kidnapping
  • Home invasion
  • Exile
  • Drowning
  • Fire
  • Whipping
  • Cults
  • War themes including graphic battle scenes
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Forced sex work
  • Sexual assault
  • Physical & emotional abuse
  • Child abuse
  • Arranged marriage
  • Murder
  • Torture
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian—but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Homomisia & queermisia
  • Racism
  • Hate crimes
  • Attempted rape & sexual assault recounted
  • Incest
  • Child abuse & neglect
  • Parental abandonment
  • Intimate partner violence recounted
  • Cheating recounted
  • Nightmares
  • Suicide, self-sacrifice & attempted suicide
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Self-inflicted injuries
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Nonconsensual drugging
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a child
  • Death of a friend
  • Death of a brother & sister
  • Death of a mother & father
  • Death of a husband & wife
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Knife violence & stabbing
  • Torture
  • Kidnapping & captivity
  • Blackmail
  • Exile
  • Drowning
  • Fire
  • Whipping recounted
  • Disappearance of a loved one
  • War themes including graphic battle scenes
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Astrid has been raised by her mother, a beautiful, headstrong poet. Astrid forgives her everything as her world revolves around this beautiful creature until Ingrid murders a former lover and is imprisoned for life. Astrid’s fierce determination to survive and be loved makes her an unforgettable figure.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Graphic child sexual abuse
  • Domestic abuse
  • Cheating
  • Suicide
  • Alcoholism
  • Murder
  • Gun violence
  • Incarceration
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece, bound by blood and oath, must lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Slavery & human trafficking
  • Rape
  • Child abuse & neglect
  • Self harm
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Physical injuries
  • Murder
  • Torture
  • Kidnapping
  • Animal death
  • War themes & military violence
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family home happens to look like a palace, that she’ll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors on her arm.

Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick’s formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should–and should not–marry.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Racism & racial slurs
  • Slut shaming
  • Classism (theme)
  • Domestic abuse
  • Child abuse
  • Cheating
  • Dog fighting mentioned
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com