Plot:  The Gold Dark Summer is a rich coming-of-age story that unfolds in the late 1950s. Papas creates a realistic, relatable narrative that is fully relatable to modern readers, despite its historical setting.

Prose: The prose style is eloquent with detailed descriptions that make the story vivid and filmic. The narration is smooth, clear, and interesting.

Originality: Historical stories of characters finding their footing in life and defining their individuality are familiar. Papas's fine level of detail and the distinctive characters who grow and change throughout the story, allow the work to stand out.

Character/Execution: Characters are engaging and interesting; their concerns, fears, and feelings are age-appropriate and believable.

Plot/Idea: The idea of harvesting dreams and tears is interesting and appealing.

Prose: There are some lengthy descriptions and summarized portions of the story, thereby causing the imagined world to come across as less realistic and relatable. 

Originality: The story is a fresh interpretation of human life, and the author's distinguishing between dreams and nightmares is immensely compelling

Character Development/Execution: The characters have the same complexity as real-life human beings, but the reader needs to know more about their backstories, personalities, flaws, and values. A road map of growth and conflict for these characters would be helpful. 

Plot: The Unraveling of Luna Forester is an intense and inventive story with paranormal elements and psychological depth. Readers will easily engage with the well-staged narrative and welcome its plot twists.

Prose: Writing in clipped sentences, the author immediately creates tension and intrigue. The conversations among the many characters are natural and drive both character development and propel the storytelling. 

Originality: Noelle integrates familiar fairytale and fantasy elements while also maintaining a high level of originality and unpredictability. 

Character/Execution: The author does a fine job of developing her characters and their relationships while maintaining the degree of mystery surrounding the protagonist in the aftermath of overwhelming loss.

Plot: Effective worldbuilding drives this paranormal narrative for middle grade readers, the third of a series. Strong themes of friendship and grief trump the repetitiveness of the plot throughout the story. 

Prose: Clear, exciting, and evocative, McCauley executes a well-written ghost story with an atmospheric setting.

Originality: While reminiscent of classic middle grade mystery adventures, McCauley provides a fresh and fun supernatural element. 

Character/Execution: The main character is likable and comes across as a gifted hero who is mentored by his cranky teacher. He takes his gift seriously and strives to help others, all while grappling with his own personal struggles. Some encounters with spirits are cut short, leaving readers craving more.

Plot/Idea: This thought-provoking installment in the Eye of Ra series is filled with adventure, action, and fun. The plot is intense and questions scientific ideas that will invite readers to think. The author tackles the nuances of time travel with ease, and the well-researched plot moves at a fast pace.

Prose: The story flows well and strikes a balance between well-described history, science, and action without relying on exposition. The enthusiastic tone throughout keeps the action moving forward while the descriptions of Mexico allow the various locales to come alive.

Originality: While time travel adventures are a familiar staple in YA literature, this series effectively blends science and history, creating a memorable reading experience.

Character Development/Execution: The curious and intrepid protagonists effortlessly lead the reader through the action of the plot. 

Plot/Idea: Alsever’s finely developed story is one of overcoming stigmas, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice. The plot is delivered with a quick pace, from both past and present perspectives, and the storyline takes shape in an astonishingly creative way. 

Prose: The prose is crisp and realistic, particularly in light of the protagonists’ ages. Alsever permeates the text with suspense and intensity, giving readers the opportunity to employ imagination in scene-building.

Originality: The focus on using social media and recorded interviews to deliver the storyline adds an element of creativity, and the finale is wrought through multiple perspectives that all come together smoothly.

Character Development/Execution: Alsever stuns with weighty characters and profound self-exploration. Eva’s fragile façade and desperation will resonate with the intended audience, as will Sophia’s deep-rooted anger at injustice – and the eventual triumph over her own selfishness.

Plot/Idea: Abernathy has written a strange and delightful adventure that combines magic with the discomforts and joys and challenges of coming of age. Exploring friendship, love, death, magic, and supporting those who are most in need, The Aquamarine Surfboard is a welcome read for both younger and older crowds alike.

Prose: Abernathy is excellent at describing magical scenes and windswept beach settings, which are aplenty in this novel. Sometimes the verbiage can be a bit awkward, leading but the majority of the novel is beautifully phrased and well-written.

Originality: The Aquamarine Surfboard is extraordinarily unique in its storytelling. Although it does incorporate some tropes, such as the orphaned child searching for meaning, they work well within the context of the novel.

Character Development/Execution: Abernathy excels at bringing to life sympathetic, dynamic characters. She is highly capable of displaying the awkwardness and fun of teenaged relationships, the love between a grandmother and her grandchild, and the terror of an evil villain. Her characters all feel very different even from first meeting them, and carry with them a distinctness that makes them easy to differentiate.

Plot: Fast-paced and with lots of adventure, Krakover submerges the reader into a tech world that could credibly take place in the future. This intriguing storyline is well executed; however, the interactions between the characters feel rushed. More development in these areas would allow this book to reach a broader audience and to leave a deeper impression on readers.

Prose: Well-written, the novel features a solid flow of dialogue, detail, and action throughout. Told in first-person, the reader learns plenty about the smart, quick-thinking main character and her circumstances. 

Originality: The author introduces a number of familiar sci-fi themes and tropes, but does so with panache and authenticity. 

Character/Execution: The main character is cunning and always thinking ahead. Her interactions with the other characters would benefit from additional development, particularly in order to develop the romantic angle of the story.

Plot/Idea: Take Me With You poignantly documents young adult angst, the impacts of trauma, and absorbing relationships. The story follows a group of intimate friends and their lives, most notably 16-year-old Sam, who is walking the line between his abusive home life and common teenage conflicts. Along the way, Duddridge reveals the devastation of early childhood trauma played out interpersonally, and the effects of substance abuse on meaningful relationships. The novel draws readers in and keeps them invested in the outcome of the main characters, and readers who prefer realistic problems with happy endings will embrace this book. 

Prose: Duddridge’s prose is remarkably clear and concise, and readers will devour the passages where she bares Sam’s heart and portrays his internal struggles. Dialogue flows naturally between the protagonists, with a contemporary and authentic feel, and the main characters have strong, distinct voices that will resonate with readers.

Originality: Although Duddridge depends heavily on certain conventions common to young adult fiction, the novel offers an unusually intense psychological reflection that expertly connects readers with the emotional battles of the main protagonist.

Character Development/Execution: Duddridge is accomplished with character development, and Sam shines as a tortured, lost protagonist desperately trying to right his wrongs. Kennedy is equal parts inspirational and frustrating in her passive acceptance of heartbreaking circumstances, but even these interactions come across as genuine for the intended audience. The author weaves the main players together in a nearly effortless dance that smooths the novel’s storyline.

 Blurb: A moving coming-of-age story bursting with insight and authenticity.

Plot: The story is intricately and meticulously plotted, with a well-established sense of suspense that builds throughout.

Prose: The writing and narration style draws the reader deep into its mythical and mythological creatures and realms.

Originality: The author proves to be no stranger to golems, djinns, nagas, and fairies, and depicts them with energy and inventive flair.

Character/Execution: The characters are vivid, convincing, and well-described.

Plot/Idea: Roberts's novel is dark and grim, set against a dystopian world where low-tier living in New Cascadia forces Fenlee and her brother, Elliott, to scavenge to survive—while those lucky enough to inhabit the upper tiers are surrounded by green landscapes and fresh air, with seemingly anything they need for comfort. When Fenlee discovers the mysteries of her deceased mother's necklace, a whirlwind chain of events ensues as she vows to save her family, and the world, from destruction.

Prose: Roberts elicits deeper meaning without overwhelming readers, broaching topics such as identity, family, freedom, and individual choices. The style stays consistent and skillfully amplifies the imperfections in Fenlee's world, allowing readers both despair and hope as the story progresses.

Originality: Child of Etherclaw is immersive, and readers will immediately be swept into the protagonists' world—although the future of New Cascadia may feel bleak at best.

Character Development/Execution: Fenlee is a relatable protagonist, and her loyalty to family is admirable. Roberts generates an interesting cast, although some characters resort to clichés, which detracts from the novel's impact.

Plot/Idea: A timely and relatable story for contemporary readers, During the Pandemic with Edward Jenner skillfully commemorates Edward Jenner's innovative contributions to immunization and the ensuing eradication of smallpox. 

Prose: The author's writing style is overly formal in places and contains lengthy conversations that may make the story less engaging, but the prose is designed to match the tenor of the story's time period, adding legitimacy to the narrative.

Originality: This is a research-based story, although it's delivered in an accessible way for young adult audiences, and the documents and background knowledge conveyed by the author make it more reliable.

Character Development/Execution: Fictional characters added to the plot are welcome additions and beneficial to bringing the historical background to life. The characters' interactions and dialogue could be smoothed out to boost the entertainment aspect, given the age of the intended audience.

Plot/Idea: The twin stories of Lynd and Gai are touching, effective, and compelling. Dyson slowly reveals a time discrepancy between their arcs that further draws readers into their stories as they hunt for clues concerning who is where and when.

Prose: Though Dyson's descriptions can be clunky, especially their use of metaphors, the overall dialect is superb in this story. The heroes sound true to their impoverished background and markedly different from the nobility in their world—a somewhat unusual feature from similar novels.

Originality: Although the idea of a "light" power (Elix) contrasted against a "dark" power (Ruin) is not new, Dyson injects so many additional details and points of interest into this classic set-up that one hardly notices the familiar elements.

Character Development/Execution: From Commandress Ada to Mac, the cast is thoroughly engrossing, with few outright villains, and readers will find those characters who do possess villainous qualities easy to empathize with.  The cities of Hop, Carpé, and Electri feel like characters unto themselves, each with a distinct personality.

Blurb: The tale of two siblings with extraordinary powers, Myracles in the Void is guaranteed to keep readers entertained from the characters' humble beginnings straight to their fantastic conclusions.

Plot/Idea: Kindall offers readers a luscious plot that gives the impression of a daydream. There are a handful of surprises to keep readers invested in the outcome, but the novel maintains a satisfying mysteriousness throughout. Themes of belonging and destiny are lyrically revealed through the eyes of the eccentric main characters.

Prose: The prose is a dreamy, playful reflection on classical tales and proves pitch-perfect for the intended audience. Kindall delivers natural dialogue and the extravagant descriptions generally fit the story—although a select few verge on the overindulgent.

Originality: This fantasy story combines whimsy with a quirky, subtle humor that will entertain readers of all ages. YA stories of self-discovery are well-known, but the fanciful and offbeat scenes in this novel are anything but conventional.

Character Development/Execution: Morris is profoundly dispirited, and his internal struggles are skillfully wrought through fanciful prose and perfectly delivered musings. Tim is equally magnetic in his own sensitive, wistful way, and Kindall manages to imbue both characters with a satisfying mix of eccentricity and familiarity.

Plot/Idea: Jewbilly is a fast-paced and highly entertaining coming-of-age tale. Often a bawdy narrator, Rosenberg then surprises the reader with moments of pathos.

Prose: Told in the first person in self-deprecating tones and chock-full of cultural references to the early 1970s, Jewbilly brings to light several interwoven storylines which work well, though the novel could be shortened and made sharper by trimming some of it.

Originality: The book feels unique and unusual, infused with the right mixture of humor and expert storytelling.

Character Development/Execution: Yosef is imminently likable and will appeal to a YA audience. Calvin is a surprisingly sympathetic character who Rosenberg paints in shades of gray. Yosef's family members come across as distinct individuals and it was a pleasure to be able to read about their real lives at the end of the novel.

Plot/Idea: Troy crafts a rich, multilayered story reminiscent of classic fairytales with a darker twist. The plot centers on five orphans, each possessing magical gifts, who must embark on a dangerous enchanted journey – and in the process, Troy reveals separate but intertwined journeys of self-discovery.

Prose: Troy’s prose is nearly flawless, featuring astounding mythical world-building alongside writing that skillfully builds tension in all the right moments. Though some of the text struggles to keep up with the multidimensional plot, in the end the narrative is delivered with brilliant flair.

Originality: The Lucky Diamond borrows from iconic fairytale stories and melds them into one harrowing, entrancing adventure. Troy balances the dreamy settings with plenty of action, giving the novel a well-rounded feel.

Character Development/Execution: Troy’s central characters are appealing, and readers will eventually root for their victory – despite a lack of in-depth development. The five main children undergo satisfying transformations, and their antagonist is equal parts chilling and mesmerizing