A Portal Fantasy, Gods-Turned-Human, and More New YA Book Releases for April 22, 2026
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It’s a big week to celebrate and take small steps to help make the world a little better. First: It’s National Library Week. If you have access to a public, school, academic or special library, take time to visit there this week and browse. Then take some time to write to the library board and tell them how much you appreciate the place. There’s no need to make it long or complicated. A simple letter saying that you like the thoughtful displays in the library and/or appreciate the range of programming or titles available is sufficient. Now, more than ever, boards listen to those who want to complain rather than celebrate. Be a positive light and reminder of how great the library is.
If you’re reading this on the day it’s published, April 22, it’s also Earth Day. If you’re able, get outside and into nature, whether today or sometime this week. Is there one thing you can do to make the world around you just a little bit better? Again, there is no need to complicate this. Pick one thing worth doing and know you’ve made a difference. You can easily celebrate National Library Week with Earth Day too – perhaps you visit your local library and pick up some seeds for planting from their seed exchange.
Not everyone can do everything, and that’s okay. But if we are all able to care for the part of the garden we can reach, it has a meaningful impact.
Maybe this is the week you reach out to your library and ask if they’ll buy a newly released YA book. This is something you can do, and it benefits the library – they get to hear from users and help meet user needs – and it benefits your community – more opportunities for discovery and reuse.
Take a look at what’s hitting shelves this week. There really is something for everyone.
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New hardcover YA releases this week
god and comics by Kat Cho
The mythology trend will continue in the coming months, and Cho’s latest book – a romance meets fantasy read – revolves around the Korean god Haemosu and his love, Yuhwa.
Grace Bach has her whole life planned. She will become a doctor like her parents. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she’s worked and how close this goal appears to be, she continues to struggle with excruciating panic attacks, and this has affected her relationships. What’s worse, her beloved grandmother has died, and she is not only mourning that loss, but she is also reliving the grief of losing her mother when she was young.
To process her grief, Grace starts a webcomic based on Korean mythology. But instead of placing his gods in a mythical world, they become teenagers trapped in high school. Grace doesn’t expect the comic to go viral, but it does. Worse, his imaginary Hemosu has become real, and he has opened the door for more mythical creatures to enter the real world. With a new crush in her life, Grace realizes she has to help him conquer the mythical world she’s created, while also trying to reorient herself to her life and feelings.
Labyrinth of Waking Dreams By Michelle Kulwicki
Thea LaGuerre lives in Barrens Peak, West Virginia. It’s not much of a town, but it’s the home of Thea, who dropped out of high school after her mother’s unexpected death. Thea works and looks forward to the holidays, when she can hang out (and have a relationship) with her boyfriend Callum. He’s new in town, so that’s a fresh and exciting thing.
What Thea doesn’t know is that Callum was sent to her town to keep an eye on her. He is part of a secret group of magicians tasked with helping humans stay safe from underground demons. Callum is devoted to the Order, but he is struggling because he is feeling a real, meaningful connection with Thea that he has never felt with anyone before. At least, she hasn’t felt this way since her first love, Oliver, disappeared from the Order of Wizards.
However, Oliver is not gone. He’s on a mission to find Callum again, and he does. He finds Callum and his new girlfriend at a barn party, where demons have arrived and begun a massacre. Oliver knows what he has to do: open a portal into the labyrinth to save both Callum and Thea.
Now the three of them must make their way through the maze to save their lives.
Readers who love portal fantasies, this is for you!
May the Dead Keep You By Jill Baguchinsky
You may remember that last week, when I was talking about one of the new YA titles, I mentioned that Necromancy was a topic that came up a few times this year. Here’s another headline for that microtrend!
Katy loves living alone in the woods near her family’s historic and strange house. A scientist and his son have moved into a cottage on their property to do some work deep in the woods, and soon, Katy can’t take her eyes or interest off the son. He is able to bring a dead woodpecker back to life.
However, soon, scary and disturbing things begin to happen with greater regularity. This is troubling Katy, and she’s noticing how the men around her (including her new crush) are becoming possessive.
It wasn’t long before Katie realized something was wrong with her house. Perhaps this is why things are going from bad to worse.
it’s a twist Wuthering Heights (gothic horror part) and don’t let the forest in.
morbid curiosities By S Hati
Arya has her life mapped out, and it includes graduating, enrolling at a prestigious collegiate institution, and entering the field of biology research. The opportunity to attend the Elizabethan Institute is another step toward her dream. It is the supreme life sciences academy, and the work there changes the world.
However, things are not so good when Arya arrives. He is having a hard time fitting in, and being the only scholarship recipient makes the situation even worse. Her partners are rich and eager to take each other out. But now she’s getting notes to escape – and despite finding an ally in the mysterious Sophia, Arya is on edge.
Sophia claims to be the subject of one of the organization’s experiments. Arya is finding it hard to believe him, but Arya’s own memories and experiences seem to blur the lines between real and imaginary. So when a murder shakes the institution, Arya now needs to figure out who and whom she can trust. His life is in danger.
New paperback YA releases this week
dragonfruit by Makiya Lucier
Tamarind’s Hanalei comes from a respected and revered family. But his father’s decision to steal a seadragon egg meant for a sick princess forces him and his family into exile. This is not what he saw for his future. So a meeting with a female dragon, who offers her a chance to return home to Tamarind, is an opportunity for Hanalei to find happiness and right the wrongs that led to her family’s exile.
Samhatitamahenle, aka Sam, is in a tough situation. He is the last prince of Tamarind, but will never inherit the throne. Tamarind is matrilineal. She is in a difficult situation as her grandmother’s reign is about to end, and her mother is very ill. Sam knows he can only do two things: get married or cure his mother’s illness. So when his childhood friend Hanalei returns, he turns to her for help. Together, they set out to hunt down the dragonfruit that can heal Sam’s mother…but it won’t be easy, and they won’t be alone on this mission.
queen’s spade By Sarah Roughley
Roglie’s latest historical and political thriller is based on the true story of Sarah Forbes Boneta, Queen Victoria’s African granddaughter.
It’s 1862, and 19-year-old Sally is out for revenge. She wants to bring down all those working with and for the Crown for their “humanitarianism”. It was this “philanthropy” that stole him from his home and made him royal property.
To succeed, Sally will need to juggle a lot of court politics and must work closely with both the Queen’s inner circle and a crime lord from the London underworld. But when Rani finds out what is happening, she will make sure that Sally does not succeed in taking her revenge by marrying him.
Sally is determined, even though time is running out for her freedom.
summer i ate the rich By Maika Moulait and Maritza Moulait
Brielle Petitfour loves cooking, but she knows it’s not a viable career for her. However, when her terminally ill mother loses her job, Brielle thinks she can at least do some cooking to bring in a little money. The rich people who have employed him are liking his work.
But he has a big secret. Components, that is. She’s not afraid to have a little human flesh for a taste.
Inspired by Haitian zombie lore, it explores social class and racial inequality. It’s also got one of the best covers in a long time.
Paperback YA series releasing this week:
More paperback YA releases this week:
Enjoyed reading!