4 YA Books to Read in 2024

I graduated university in December, and since then I've been determined to read more now that I finally have time.

So, here are 4 books that I'm revisiting, and that you should read (or re-read!) in 2024.

The Magic in the Weaving

With her gift of weaving silk thread and creating light, Sandry is brought to the Winding Circle community. There she meets Briar, a former thief who has a way with plants; Daja, an outcast gifted at metalcraft; and Tris, whose connection with the weather unsettles everyone, including herself. At Winding Circle, the four misfits are taught how to use their magic - and to trust one another. But then disaster strikes their new home. Can Sandry weave together four kinds of magical power and save herself, her friends, and the one place where they've ever been accepted?

If you like found family, Read. This. Book. Reading this series feels like coming home. Tamora Pierce is probably best known for her Tortall universe, but the Emelan books have such a beautiful charm to them. The Magic in the Weaving (sometimes called Sandry’s book) is the first in the Circle of Magic quartet, and there’s about eight other books set in the same universe. There’s some quiet representation of polyamory and LGBTQ+ (particularly in the later books) and the cast is very racially diverse. I wholeheartedly recommend this entire series for fans of found family, and fans of finding magic in the mundane.

Ingo

Sapphire's father mysteriously vanishes into the waves off the Cornwall coast where her family has always lived. She misses him terribly, and she longs to hear his spellbinding tales about the Mer, who live in the underwater kingdom of Ingo. Perhaps that is why she imagines herself being pulled like a magnet toward the sea. But when her brother, Conor, starts disappearing for hours on end, Sapphy starts to believe she might not be the only one who hears the call of the ocean.

Ingo is set in Cornwall, and is such a truly beautiful book. It’s the first in a series, so if you’re a fan of mermaids, selkie mythology, and magic, Ingo and the rest of the books in the series are for you. I’ve re-read this book a number of times, because it really is a wonderful story. It brings the magic and mystery of the ocean to the fore. This one’s also great for younger readers.

The Gathering

When Nathanial and his mother move to the quiet, safe streets of Cheshunt, he immediately senses something wrong. Violent gangs patrol the streets, feral dogs roam at night, and the oppressive stench from the abattoir lingers over the school.

Soon, Nathanial learns that his presence is no accident. As he uncovers the dark secrets of Cheshunt's past, and event spiral desperately out of control, he and his new friends must confront phantoms from their past in the battle to stop the Gathering and its terrifying creator.

TW for animal death/death of a pet. Listen, I loved this book. I was also disturbed by this book. The Gathering is YA fiction, but I’d say it’s for older teenagers. I studied this book in one of my units at university, and there are some heavy themes in it, but it’s also something that I would have related to as a teenager. None of the protagonists are listened to, or believed, by the adults in their life who they are meant to be able to trust. It’s allegorical in nature, and adult readers will immediately spot the links to fascism. Definitely worth a read, but it can be brutal at times.

An Unexpected Party.

Co-published by Get YA Words Out and edited by Seth Malacari, An Unexpected Party brings together the stories of emerging authors from the LGBTQIA+ community.

From fantastical realms to real-world struggles, this anthology champions queer identity by challenging stereotypes and exploring the many facets of identity. Written with wit, heart and honesty, these stories take queer protagonists outside the box of young adult romance and centre them at the heart of stories that involve magic, paranormal beings and adventure.

Featuring trans and gender-diverse voices – asexual, aromantic, bisexual and more – the stories in An Unexpected Party are as diverse as their writers.

Do you want to read more, but don’t want to commit to a novel or series? Read an Unexpected Party. Yes, maybe I’m biased, but there are some absolutely stunning short stories in here from a beautiful spread of very talented emerging Australian authors. I’m particularly fond of the Parade of the Weeds, and Shellshocked. There's a massive variety of different speculative fiction short stories here, so if you'd like to explore a new genre or just love speculative fiction, check it out. You might even spot a familiar name! ;)

What are your reading goals for 2024?