One of the best parts of my job is ordering new books for the Edge–reading the reviews, seeing what popular authors come up with next, or finding out about an upcoming sequel to an old favorite. Read on to find out about some of the new YA fiction titles coming to our shelves this month.

Sky’s End by Marc J. Gregson
Grades 9 and up
Library Catalog

“To save his younger sister from their villainous uncle, a 16-year-old enters a perilous contest that involves killing massive sky serpents. Anyone living on the socially stratified floating islands can rise in status by dueling or entering a Trade. Conrad, once a High, is demoted after his uncle kills his father and assumes the role of Archduke. After his mother is killed, Conrad tries to reunite with Ella, the sister his uncle abducted, but Uncle demands that he first enter the Selection and rise through the ranks of one of the Twelve Trades. Chosen by Hunter, which is responsible for exterminating the menacing, steel-scaled gorgantauns, Conrad is soon taking part in the Gauntlet, a deadly contest between airships to see which crew can kill the most gorgantauns. But he won’t just have to battle sky serpents—Conrad also faces the ever-present threat of mutiny, a murder attempt, and shifting loyalties.” –Kirkus Reviews

Yours from the Tower by Sally Nicholls
Grades 8 and up
Library Catalog

“Via letters rendered using a chatty, confiding tone, Nicholls (The Silent Stars Go By) presents a captivating epistolary novel set in 1896 that chronicles the friendship of teens Tirzah, Sophia, and Polly after they leave boarding school and embark on separate lives. Contrarian Tirzah chafes in her role as an unpaid companion to her grandmother in Scotland, practical Sophia revels in participating in her first London Season but faces pressure to find a wealthy husband to help her financially struggling family, and idealistic Polly teaches in an orphanage in Liverpool.” –Publisher's Weekly

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia
Grades 8 and up
Library Catalog

“Tara Rituveni, an Indian American student at St. George’s Preparatory Academy for Boys, was granted permission to attend its all-girl sister school, Ainsley Academy. Now she has her sights set on the Sibyls, a secret society offering access to a hefty, much-needed scholarship. However, Angel Beaumont, the benefactor of the Sibyls, doesn’t want to award the scholarship to a trans girl, and the controversy could draw the attention of Child Protective Services to Tara’s parents, who are supportive of her transition. Tara is a complex character, full of very human contrasts.” –Kirkus Reviews

Diary of a Confused Feminist by Kate Weston
Grades 9 and up
Library Catalog

“Activism and laugh-out-loud hijinks abound in this diary-format novel about an aspiring teen journalist with anxiety. Kat Evans, nearly 16, lives in a quiet English town and worries a great deal, especially about being left behind by her friends, who are pairing up with romantic partners. Kat’s three best friends work hard to support her: Millie is an actress who’s determined to be cast as Juliet in the school play, Sam is a talented artist, and Matt is Kat’s neighbor and a popular out gay classmate. The story opens in early September. After learning more about feminism from Kat’s and Matt’s mums, Kat, Millie, and Sam decide to spray-paint “#TimesUp” on the tarmac at school to commemorate the 2018 Golden Globes #MeToo protest. Unfortunately, they’re caught by the principal after only having completed “#Tim,” giving their creepy classmate Tim Matthews the wrong idea.” –Kirkus Reviews

Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta
Grades 9 and up
Library Catalog

“High school seniors and best friends Belén and Leti, the daughters of working-class Mexican immigrants, live in Oakland, Calif. Tenacious and hardworking Leti dreams of attending UC Berkeley, but when she finds out she’s pregnant by her secret boyfriend Quentin, things get complicated. Leti fears the reaction of her racist parents, who don’t know that she’s dating a Black classmate. Belén, meanwhile, must navigate an unstable home life after her father abandons the family, leaving them in a precarious financial situation, while also contending with the fact that she might fail out of high school.” –Publisher's Weekly