Ancestor Approved by Various

Ancestor Approved edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

A collection of intersecting stories set at a powwow that bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride by Joseph Bruchac, Art Coulson, Christine Day, Eric Gansworth, Dawn Quigley, Carole Lindstrom, Rebecca Roanhorse, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Kim Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Monique Gray Smith, Traci Sorell, Tim Tingle, Erika T. Wurth, and Brian Young.

In a high school gym full of color and song, Native families from Nations within the borders of the U.S. and Canada dance, sell beadwork and books, and celebrate friendship and heritage. They are the heroes of their own stories.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism
  • Cancer
  • Death of a parent
  • Death of a grandparent
  • Bullying
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The Academy by Quinn Anderson

The Academy by Quinn Anderson

Nick Steele just wants a normal life, cliché or not. He had one once, back in Chicago. Before his father died and he took a year off from college to grieve. Now, he’s starting fresh at a prestigious—but tiny—Catholic university. Adjusting to small-town life will be a challenge, along with making friends and keeping his scholarship. All he wants to do is blend in, get his diploma, and go back home. But Sebastian Prinsen—campus heartthrob and a notorious player—has other plans. He notices Nick right away and makes a bet with his two best friends: Who can kiss the… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father recounted

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

When fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan deep in the forbidden woods of Neverland, the two form an unbreakable bond. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland’s inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. And yet, she is willing to risk everything—her family, her future—to be with him.

Then an English girl named Wendy Darling arrives on the island. With dangers tightening around them, Tiger Lily soon finds out how far she is willing to go to keep Peter with her in Neverland… and discovers that the deadliest enemies lurk inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Queermisia
  • Transmisia
  • Death of a father to suicide by drowning
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The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

“With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he’s got mad beats, too, that tell his family’s story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood.

Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story’s heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Death of a parent
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Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too.

Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari’s right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy’s wrath. With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Depression
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Amputation
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Death of a friend
  • Torture
  • Riots
  • War themes
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Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she’s prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she’s been in love with her brother’s best friend, Alex, since forever.

After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust—her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organization called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they’ve found them.

In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realizes that she is not alone—there are others out there just like her—people with special powers—and her mother’s killer is one of them…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Death of a mother
  • Murder
  • Mugging recounted
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Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Milo Lionetti is not a gamer. Not even close. But when a stupid bet costs him his brother’s prized cards, he’ll do anything to replace them before anyone notices they’re gone. To do that, he’ll need a little help from the best gamer he knows…who also happens to hate him.

Jasper Quigley is known for moonlighting on a popular gaming blog, but he’s eager to stop playing the sidekick. The last thing he wants is to help out Milo and dredge up feelings he’d rather forget. But helping Milo comes with some perks, including getting his help running a cosplay event at the local children’s hospital. All that forced proximity was not supposed to come with kissing, and definitely not falling in love…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Homomisia
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Death of a parent
  • Bullying mentioned
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Heart2Heart, Vol 3 by Various

Heart2Heart, Vol. 3 by Annabeth Albert, May Archer, Mary Calmes, Charlie Cochet, Eden Finely, Susane HAwke, Sloane Kennedy, Lucy Lennox, Lily Morton, K.M. Neuhold, Nora Phoenix, Layla Reyne, Piper Scott, Damon Suede, Hailey Turner & Aimee Nicole Walker

Once upon a time, a group of authors wondered… What if the Heart2Heart app — the dating app with a glitch that matched up the oddest, most perfect couples, and sponsored the charity date raffles that helped dozens of people find love — offered a classifieds section, too?

Need a handyman who knows how to wear a tool belt? Have a closet of drag costumes that needs a new home? How about finally tracking down that guy who made the perfect drink, or who’s just the right height to reach the top shelf?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

The Closet by Eden Finley• Homomisia
• Cancer
The Last Drop by Layla Reyne• Alcohol consumption
The Dog Walker by Lily Morton• Homomisia
• Death of family members in a fire
• Car accident
• Animal injury
The Restoration by Mary Calmes• Cheating mentioned
• Deployment of a spouse mentioned
The Wedding Date by Susane Hawke• Cancer mentioned
The Wrong Guy by Sloane Kennedy • Homomisia
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Wrapped Together by Annabeth Albert

Wrapped Together by Annabeth Albert

For a stationery store owner, the holidays are great for business. But for Hollis Alcott, Christmas reminds him of the tragic events of three years past, and the last thing he wants to do is take part in Portland’s over-abundance of festive cheer. But Sawyer Murphy, a hunky gift shop owner whose brother is married to Hollis’s sister, has made it his mission to pluck Hollis out of his holiday blues. And his plan is beginning to work.

Wrapped in the warm glow of newfound passion, the former business rivals hit up Portland’s finest holiday traditions—and Hollis’s icy attitude begins to melt like snowflakes on his tongue. But he isn’t sure he can trust anyone with the only gift he has—his heart—without breaking it like an antique ornament. Unless he can find the courage to take a leap with the one lover he never expected…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a parent mentioned
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Knit Tight by Annabeth Albert

Knit Tight by Annabeth Albert

One of Portland’s hottest young baristas, Brady is famous for his java-topping flair, turning a regular cup of joe into a work of art. Every Wednesday—aka “Knit Night”—hordes of women and their needles descend on the coffeehouse, and Brady’s feeling the heat. Into the fray walks a tall, dark, and distractingly handsome stranger from New York. His name is Evren, and he’s the sexy nephew of Brady’s sweetest customer, the owner of the yarn shop down the street. He’s also got a killer smile, confident air, and masculine charm that’s tying Brady’s stomach in knots. The smitten barista can’t wait to see him at the next week’s gathering. But when he tries to ask Evren out, his plans unravel faster than an unfinished edge. If Brady hopes to warm up more than Evren’s coffee, he’ll have to find a way to untangle their feelings, get out of the friend zone, and form a close-knit bond that’s bound to last a lifetime…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Bimisia
  • Death of a parent from a car accident mentioned
  • Death of a parent from cancer, on-page
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