2027 Starred Reviews

A new student arrives at Prentiss Everton Academy, a renowned boarding school attended by America’s Black elite, bearing a striking resemblance to its previous Queen Bee—who mysteriously died the year before—in this juicy thriller filled with lies, wealth and murder for fans of Gossip Girl.

★ “A twisty, un-put-downable thriller….For fans of Karen McManus and Tiffany D. Jackson, this suspenseful page-turner will keep readers guessing through the final twist.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “The steadily paced plot will keep readers guessing up until the very end….A perceptive, page-turning look into the shadowy lives of the elite.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

What if one wrong number dialed you into the right person’s heart? From the bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star comes a romance about looking for your person—with help from a boy who doesn’t believe in love.

★ “Another Yoon page-turner that belongs on YA shelves everywhere. Heartstrings will be pulled, swoons and tears will be engaged, and readers will not put this one down without a fundamental shift to their hearts.” —School Library Journal, starred review

In this captivating fantasy romance, a scullery maid must hide her forbidden magic when she enters an elite witching academy in a world on the precipice of war.

★ “Fans of Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn and Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen will appreciate this sophisticated fantasy. This expertly crafted story is an essential, high-stakes addition for secondary libraries that rewards readers with a profound exploration of lineage and ­power.” —School & Library Journal, starred review

From the author of Finding Jupiter comes a powerful new novel about love, self-esteem, and mental health. Reeling from unresolved family trauma and a viral heartbreak, a Black teen is thrust onto an unexpected journey of self-discovery, healing, and first love.

★ “A brilliant exploration of mental health blended with a swoonworthy romance.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A funny (and true!) picture book about the silly mistakes two famous peregrine falcons made trying to raise a chick on the Evanston Public Library from librarian Betsy Bird and Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell.

★ “Clever and comical, this informative text soars.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From the author of the BookTok sensation A Broken Blade comes a high-stakes paranormal thriller about two Indigenous teens, born decades apart, who must solve a string of murders haunting their community, before the past and present collide in deadly ways.

★ “Striking the perfect balance between an engaging plot and the exposure of all-too-recent colonial wrongs, this is a critical purchase for both school and public libraries.” —School Library Journal, starred review