The truth about lemon drops is that they start out sour and become sweeter over time. Morgan's mom started the tradition of lemon drop talks in their family because sometimes challenging conversations are sweetened by a lemon drop. But Morgan can't ask for a lemon drop from her mom anymore because her mom isn't here. She's gone in the blink of an eye, and her sudden death has plunged Morgan into panic attacks and basic survival mode. Morgan tries to fulfill her mom's last words to her: keep their family together and happy. When Morgan feels like she isn't protecting her father and younger siblings, her struggles deepen. Trying to bring the family together, her dad decides to take them on their yearly camping trip. What could be better than hiking, reading hammocks, and homemade ice cream? Having their mom with them. Morgan's anxiety worsens on the trip as she is constantly reminded of her mom, her voice echoing in her mind. Finally, in a desperate attempt to prove herself, Morgan makes a dangerous and possibly deadly decision: She takes off alone to hike a flooded canyon trail. Young readers will connect with the expertly told story, written in dual time periods, before and after Morgan's mother's death. The author's portrayal of the family's pain is heart-wrenching and authentic. She creates characters who experience raw emotions as they process their grief, which greatly enriches the story. Kids will relate to Morgan and the pressure she feels trying to keep her family together. Reminiscent of The Bridge to Terabithia, the loss of a loved one may be triggering to some individuals. However, as Morgan says, "You can't wish away things that are hard." Perhaps this story can be used to help others in grief, finding some sweetness beneath the sour.

This is a story about a virus, about risk, about quarantine, and about families. True's mother, a mapmaker who works for the government, travels for her work. Now that fifth-grader True must be homeschooled because of the virus, True is beginning to teach her younger brother, Georgie, the basics of mapmaking, just like Mom taught her. True is anxious for life to be normal again, but with Georgie's asthma and Grandma Jo in treatment for cancer, it is important to avoid places or people that might cause them to catch Covid. So, when Grandma Jo says they can go outside for a little while, True grabs Georgie and runs before she can change her mind. The only place True wants to go is to the barn. That is her secret place, even though it is dirty and dusty and smells of horses. True is skirting the edge of safety by going there, but the barn draws her in, and she there she meets a schoolmate, a grumpy old man, and a new litter of kittens. Over the next weeks, her life will become entwined with theirs, and she will learn lessons that she cannot learn in books. Along the way, readers will follow True as she fulfills a school assignment to write a tutorial on making a map. Author Gina Linko teaches readers that some broken things cannot be fixed, and some problems have no answer.

If you knew you only had weeks to live, how would you spend that time? People come to know the exact date and time of its extinction when scientists project that an enormous comet will strike Earth and kill all life. Simon wants to spend the rest of his time with his family and his girlfriend, Tilda. Tilda, however, has different plans. Wanting to experience everything she can while she can, Tilda dumps Simon and loses all inhibitions. Meanwhile, Tilda’s best friend, Lucinda, stops chemotherapy and attempts to reconnect with those she lost touch with when she was first diagnosed with cancer. But when Tilda is found murdered, Simon is accused of being her killer. Desperate for the truth, as the time they have left ticks down, Simon and Lucinda join forces to find out who murdered Tilda. This slowly-paced story alternates between Simon's first-person perspective and Lucinda's perspective via online posts. Chapters are delineated by how many days and weeks are left before the comet hits. The pre-apocalyptic dystopian setting tackles numerous social issues, often making this a tough read. Recurring themes of violence, sex, and drug use suggest this book is best suited for mature audiences.

Meyer has gathered a luscious collection of romantic short stories featuring some of the most popular romantic tropes, from friends-to-lovers to fake relationships. Some authors embrace their focal trope, as Johnson does in her take on the stranded together trope, in which Perry gets locked in a party supply store with her senior class co-president, Jada, and discovers she's misunderstood her for years. Others turn their trope on its head, as Eulberg does with the trapped in a confined space trope. Morgan can't stand her best friend Dani's boyfriend, Tyler, but when they get stuck together in a car on the famous London Eye, they don't fall in love— just realize they can be friends and enjoy one another's company. There are plenty of grand romantic gestures (and a few that go terribly wrong), romantic confessions, and romantic epiphanies. Most are written in first person, though Wen's take on class warfare features a third person limited view of an upper middle class Chinese American boy in love with an uber wealthy Chinese exchange student. Searle's comic Keagan's Heaven on Earth, features a queer girl who's newly out and feels like she doesn't have room in her head for romance, while trying to navigate her new space, but a secret admirer opens up other possibilities. The stories include a wide range of character perspectives, skin tones, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Romance readers of all types will fall in love with this sweet collection of stories that show the breadth of possibility for high school romance.

Olivia and Ruth are sisters who share a love of adventure, pirate ships, and really anything at all to do with pirates! Three years ago, when Ruth was thirteen, the family moved from San Diego to Tennessee. Now that Olivia is thirteen, they are traveling back to San Diego for a visit, sharing an RV with friends of their parents. Ruth is the oldest, but Olivia feels driven to take care of her as Ruth is suffering from depression, although her parents haven't given it a name yet. Olivia is making plans to use the memories from their first trip to remind Ruth of what fun they had in the past, such as filling their treasure box and burying it by the shore. Author Sarah Allen has incorporated her love for adventure and David Attenborough documentaries into a story of two sisters, one lost in her own sadness and the other trying to help her sister remember when life was fun. Although the prevailing themes are mental illness and family relationships, there is also the geographical element of a road trip across country and learning the art of photography. This story will appeal to upper middle school readers because the majority of the story is told from a thirteen-year old's perspective. The characters are well developed, enabling readers to form an emotional bond with this family and others who have children dealing with depression.

Seventeen-year-old Hyeon has devoted much of her life to the study of medicine, working tirelessly to achieve the coveted position of palace nurse. Upon achieving her goal, though, Hyeon quickly discovers that not everything is as she once presumed. Secrets are hidden beneath layers of deception that exist at every level of society, weaving complicated trajectories from one person to the next. When a series of brutal murders occur and the Crown Prince himself is a suspect, Hyeon finds herself immersed in an investigation that may put her own life at risk. As Hyeon steps into her unexpected new role, she discovers more about herself and her past that help guide her toward both justice and a successful future. Korean language and beliefs appear throughout the narrative, immersing readers in Hyeon's world in memorable ways. This gripping young adult novel is loosely based on what is known of the life of Crown Prince Jangheon. While the plot surrounds this story, however, it focuses on Hyeon, a seventeen-year-old daughter of Lord Shin's concubine and effectively a fatherless child. A lifetime of feeling inadequate in the eyes of both her parents and society has given Hyeon the drive she needs to be successful, but it also makes her wary of others and unsure if she will ever be worthy of affection. This internal struggle guides Hyeon's actions throughout the novel, leading to complicated interactions that challenge her understanding of her world. Beautiful descriptions and a driving plot make this narrative highly engaging and incorporates light romance and some violence along the way. These scenes are tasteful, and they serve to accent moments of the mystery-centered story. The Red Palace is a gripping historical fiction novel that will enhance libraries for young adult readers.

In this collection of poems, Kalli Dakos offers insights about topics such as loss, anger, bullying, and coping. Poem by poem, Dakos explores experiences that are part of many people’s lives, creating simple yet profound poems that offer lessons in hope. Readers of Dakos’ poems learn that they are not alone in suffering when a pet dies, a friend moves away, a bully plagues them, or people make fun of their deficits. They also learn that simple things like a sunny day, a friend’s smile, or a happy dog can bring joy to each of us. Demonstrating a gift for verse, Dakos takes readers to places of healing by giving examples of how other people share their pain. Not every poem in this anthology is fraught with sadness; Dakos also offers humor and joy as normal aspects of everyday life. Going on a field trip that takes a child from an urban school district to a forest park offers insights into a natural world that is far different than the asphalt and concrete of his neighborhood. Bringing a group of friends together to play on the playground leads to an afternoon filled with fun and comradeship. Talking to a dedicated teacher about a personal interest can be a memorable moment. All of these common experiences convey that each moment in life is the most important one to focus on. As Dakos shares in one of his poems, nobody really understands what value resides in another person, except themselves. In fact, most people only see the outside of another person and take little time to catch a glimpse of what is happening inside them. Written with a combination of love and concern and illustrated in a lovely way, this is a book that tells important stories in a thoughtful way. Poetry is not always the most accessible of art forms, but Dakos and illustrator Oliver combine their talents in this kind-hearted book to offer readers some earnest food for thought through verse.