The Most Anticipated Young Adult Books of April

Squarely in the long and storied tradition of Gothic fantasy, author Emily A. Duncan’s intriguing Dark and Holy series follows the fates of three companions—a prince in danger, a boy with a secret, and a girl who can speak to the gods. In this second installment, the trio delve deeper into the series’ central mystery and start to suspect that they are just pawns in an ancient and lethal game.

Release date: April 7

Renata Convida is an agent of the Whispers, the skilled rebel spies fighting a desperate struggle against the ruthless machinations of the Crown. But Renata was once on the other side of the fight, after being kidnapped as a child and forced to use her magical abilities for the king. Renata’s enemies are hunting her, her allies don’t entirely trust her, and the love of her life has just been abducted. The only solution? Storm the castle, quiet-like.

Read our exclusive interview with Zoraida Córdova

Release date: April 28
 

A sex-positive coming-of-age story, The Best Laid Plans follows 18-year-old Keely and her efforts to find the right man—the kind of guy she can go all the way with. Trouble is, Keely has known all the boys in her small town since kindergarten, and it’s hard to get excited about a guy when you’ve watched him eat crayons. But lo! Yonder squinteth a hot new guy on a motorcycle! Author Cameron Lund offers a fun and funny tale of first loves and first times.

Release date: April 7

Joseon, Korea, circa 1800: A 16-year-old girl named Seol is indentured to the local police bureau and ordered to partner with a respected young detective. Their first case is treacherous as they investigate the politically charged murder of a noblewoman. June Hur’s debut novel takes readers to a time and place they’ve almost certainly never been and is particularly recommended for readers of historical fiction writers like Kerri Maniscalco (Stalking Jack the Ripper) and Renée Ahdieh (The Wrath & the Dawn).

Release date: April 21

Winner of this month’s informal Superior Book Title Award, Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know tells the story of two young women separated by several hundred years in time. In the present-day narrative, 17-year-old Khayyam Maquet is in Paris, preparing for a career in art history. Her boyfriend appears to be ghosting her. Two hundred years earlier, ambitious young Leila finds herself in deeper waters, crossing paths with historical figures including Alexandre Dumas and Lord Byron. As one woman’s life is revealed, the other’s is transformed.

Release date: April 7

The classic prison break story gets a sci-fi update with this intriguing entry from debut author Ben Oliver. Teenage convict Luka Kane is stuck in the Loop, a particularly cruel death row for underage offenders. Prisoners like Luka can delay their executions, six months at a time, by agreeing to bizarre medical and scientific experiments. But something has happened in the outside world, and Luka finds his chance to escape. He just has to dodge the insane warden, the rioting prisoners, and some rabid rats. Good luck, kid.

Release date: April 7