Hot Fall Roundup Reads: 5 YA Reads to Take You From Summer into Fall
A Little More Bite Than Your Beach Reads
This time of year is always pretty busy for me. As a teacher, I’m headed back to school which means a lot of planning, change in routine, and excitement. And in New England, September is a time when the weather changes a lot too. We start the month with the same oppressive heat that August brings, but by the end, we’re starting to wake to cool, crisp mornings and the promise of fall.
The books on my list are kind of like that. They still burn bright like the summer heat – you’ll have a hard time putting them down -but a few of them are also a bit moodier. They’re the kind of read you’re more likely to devour while curled up in a blanket rather than at the beach. With a back to school story all about starting over in a new place, a murder mystery, and a couple spooky fantasy stories, this list a little something for everyone getting ready to transition from summer to fall.
1. They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman (284 pages)
Image via Penguin Random House
Stella and Ellie might only be a year apart, but their personalities could not be more different. And to make the tension worse, they’re both striving for the top spot on their school’s cross country team hoping it will help get them out of their small town. Stella is too driven to let anything distract her while Ellie is naturally talented but also more distracted. Though the competition between the two is already fierce, it gets more complex when another talented runner named Mila transfers to their school. But just as regionals approach and the college scouts arrive, Mila disappears. With Stella and Ellie the most likely suspects, their lives just got a lot more complicated.
Why You Should Read It
One of the most common criticisms I have of books is that they’re longer than they need to be, however, this book really takes advantage of its pages. The pace is brisk, the chapters are short, and both of those traits will keep you turning the pages to see what comes next. While Stella and Ellie do fall into some common stereotypes, they are strong and well-developed characters. This story sheds some realistic light on female sports and includes some great feministic takes all inside an exciting mystery.
Crisp Factor
4/5 Brookie Stars
2. Fresh by Margot Wood (352 pages)
Image via abramsbooks.com
When Elliott steps foot on campus to start her freshman year, she has no idea what she’s doing. She isn’t thinking about choosing a major, or studying for finals, or taking advantage of any of the academic opportunities her school has to offer. What Elliott is doing, though, is partying. A lot. And having a lot of sex. And while some of her decisions don’t make her proud, and test the patience of those around her, she takes each new experience as one to learn from as she moves through the world just trying to find her place.
Why You Should Read It
I really, really enjoyed this novel. Wood takes an honest look at what the pressures of college can sometimes do to young people and she doesn’t shy away from it. Elliott experiences real emotions in realistic settings and encounters realistic characters along the way. This novel deals with some heavy topics, so be advised before diving in, but watching this character along her journey was genuinely fulfilling.
Crisp Factor
5/5 Brookie Stars
3. The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin (384 pages)
Image via read.sourcebooks.com
For hundreds of years, witches have been able to use their powers to control our climate. Each witch draws on the power from the season in which she was born and throughout the year, they all work together to bring balance. But as the climate becomes more erratic, the witches are losing control and they must turn to Clara. Clara is an Everwitch, a witch with rare powers who can draw strength from every season. As readers follow her through the year, they watch as the pressure to keep things in balance drives Clara to do things she never thought possible, all while forming and breaking relationships along the way.
Why You Should Read It
This is a great read for this time of year. While it starts off in the fall, we go on a journey with Clara all through the year and end right back in summer. For those of us looking to savour the last bit of the summer season, you’ll end on that note. If you’re like me and are already ready for fall, you’ll be pleased with the crisp feeling at the beginning of the book. The more natural take on witches will make you feel more connected to nature, so you’ll definitely want to read this one outside.
Crisp Factor
4/5 Brookie Stars
4. A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee (384 pages)
Image via Penguin Random House
Another back to school story, this one is dripping with intrigue and mystery. When Felicity Morrow returns to Dalloway School for her senior year, it’s not under the circumstances she would’ve thought. The tragic death of her girlfriend and four other girls looms over the ivy-covered, gothic campus. Everywhere Felicity goes she can hear whispers about how the girls all mysteriously died one after the other. While some suspect foul play, others think the campus is haunted by the girls’ ghosts, and others think the girls were witches. And even though Felicity just wants to keep her head down and graduate, she’s intrigued by a new girl who wants to know more about the infamous Dalloway Five.
Why You Should Read It
This book really does have it all. It’s spooky, takes place at a boarding school, and has a murder mystery. The pace is quick to make sure you want to turn the page and the atmosphere is really engrossing. Felicity is a really intriguing character and her interactions with her fellow students are authentic. And with all the spookiness and deception going on around her, Felicity is a bit of an unreliable narrator which means the reader has to stay on their toes!
Crisp Factor
4/5 Brookie Stars
5. How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao (352 pages)
Image via Bloomsbery
Nancy Luo is devastated when she learns that her best friend (well, former best friend) Jamie Ruan is found dead. To make matters worse, she and three other top-ranked students at Sinclair Prep become the prime suspects after “The Proctor” begins anonymously posting incriminating information about them on the school’s social media app. The five of them used to be best friends and therefore have access to each other’s deepest secrets, but academic competition and other factors drove them apart. And now the clock is ticking to expose “The Proctor” before they can expose too many secrets and destroy the lives of Nancy and her friends.
Why You Should Read It
This is a natural choice for fans of One of Us is Lying and Pretty Little Liars. Katie Zhao has also spoken at length about the pressures she felt as an Asian-American to perform academically and how that has attributed to a dark period in her life. She wanted to write about an authentic experience in a way that was accessible and entertaining to all. The mystery really drives this story and you’ll keep turning pages to see what comes next!
Crisp Factor
3/5 Brookie Stars
YA Reads to Take You From Summer into Fall
Fall is such an important time for many of us for a lot of different reasons. I think a lot of this has to do with school. We spent so many years getting ready to go back to school that this feeling of transition is ingrained in us. It also happens to coincide with the transition of the season. So, if you’re looking for some books to help bridge the gap between your lighter beach reads and your darker winter ones, these picks will do the trick!
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Rachel Gomes is a 30-something high school English teacher who lives with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband and their son. Rachel is a voracious reader who loves to learn and has her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. She’s happiest listening to podcasts and talking to friends about the latest news in nerd culture.
Favourite book: Don’t make me choose between A Song of Ice and Fire and Harry Potter
Favourite brunch spot: The Farmer’s Table
