(3) YA High-school junior Brynn works as a con artist so that she can afford college and escape her mom's drug-dealer boyfriend. Her swindling talents earn her a spot at secretive boarding school Vale Hall, making her dreams of escaping come true--at a cost. This twisty, high-stakes modern thriller (based on Norse mythology) will make readers question their own codes of ethics.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA In a polluted, dystopic future America, smuggler Marin comes from a line of corsarios (pirates). Riots over the Relocation Act--moving impoverished "Shorelings" to the man-made island Pacifica--connect Marin with the president's son Ross, who ultimately needs Marin's help on a desperate sea-faring quest. The dark, atmospheric story's theme of internment (expanded on in the author's note) echoes history, while the climate change–ravaged dystopia rings unsettlingly possible.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) YA Living in a world destroyed by famine and plague and forced to work munitions jobs unfit for teenagers, Colin and Ty have few comforts other than friendship. When they go on strike, they're joined by an unlikely ally: Lena, heiress to the munitions factory. This dystopian tale is anchored by vivid world-building and peopled with multi-dimensional characters who compel readers to root for the underdogs.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(4) YA Teen activists Ember and Chase (Article 5; Breaking Point) are on the run from a dangerous government bureau and find their safe house in ruins. With only a few clues to go on, they search for Three, a mysterious organization they hope will take them in. Despite clumsy exposition, romance, dystopia, and suspense mingle to create a gripping conclusion to the trilogy.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(4) YA In this sequel to Article 5, Ember and Chase are struggling to balance romance with their activism as resisters to an increasingly hostile and dominating government. Exposition masking as dialogue and a weak, frustratingly impulsive protagonist mar what is otherwise a compelling story of how a well-intentioned government can go intensely awry.

Reviewer: April Spisak