With both Pride Month and our colorful Summer Reading Club in full swing, we've decided rainbows should be the star of the show for this week's blog post!
And honestly, can you blame us? These colorful natural phenomena never fail to capture our attention in new ways!
We might be drawn to rainbows because our home is the only known planet to have them-- because Earth is the only planet in our solar system to have both high precipitation and direct sunlight, we're the only ones who get to experience these natural phenomena.
Or maybe rainbows hold a personal significance to so many because no two people see them the exact same way. Because no two people have share the same vision, every rainbow is an experience that is unique to the person who views it. Maybe that's why so many people love these colorful sights.
No matter what the reason is, rainbows hold a special significance for us too. That's why this week we're featuring books in all the colors of the rainbow--two each so we can have double the fun!
From radiant red to powerful purple, read on as we show off the books with our favorite vibrant covers! This is the only time we're okay with judging a book by its cover.
Starting off strong, these are two of our favorite red covers in the Teen Section.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is a thrilling sci-fi that includes an insane AI and a zombie apocalypse as just a few of the hurdles our heroes must overcome to save the day. Told in the forms of various files like emails, ship memos, and conversations transcripts, Illuminae's unique format is just as captivating as its gorgeous cover, so we'd recommend giving it a shot!
Our other pick is the maroon cover for Aiden Thomas' Cemetery Boys, which perfectly captures the Latinx culture that suffuses it. Shadowed by Santa Muerte, main character Yadriel is a trans Brujo trying to prove himself to his traditional family. Enter Julian, the ghost of his school's bad boy who might just have the answers he needs. Steeped in Latinx customs and culture, you'll find yourself quickly immersed in Yadriel's world.
Next up are the orange covers... which always make us think of citrus when we see them. Now we're craving orange juice!
The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth is a quintessential sapphic read that we'd be stupid not to include during pride month. With its warm oranges and soft pinks, this cover provides the perfect vibes for a rom-com that is both heartwarming and relatable. When Saoirse met Ruby, they decided they would have a whirlwind summer of cliche dates then part ways at the end of the season. No love. No stress. No problem! But love rarely goes according to plan...
Glowing fairy lights and orange inner tubes invite readers to the state of California in Jenn Bennett's Alex, Approximately. Bailey Rydell is torn. She's torn between her old hometown and her new house in California, but more than that she's torn between two boys: her online crush Alex who she's liked for months, and Porter-- her frenemy turned into something attractive and messy at the same time. What's a girl to do??
Our top picks for yellow covers showcase strong characters who stand tall in the face of adversity.
By popular author Tiffany D. Jackson, Grown's main character is Enchanted, who's determined to become a famous singer. But Enchanted's dream turns into a nightmare when she's exposed to the dark side of the music industry by the slimy Korey Fields. And it only gets more so when Korey turns up dead! This intense thriller is a powerful read that shouldn't be missed.
Sold by Patricia McCormick is a tragic novel that explores the world of human trafficking. Shown in front of patterned yellow wallpaper, young Lakshmi is only 13 when she is sold to a brothel and forced into a new life. Her story is one of perseverance in the face of tragedy and is recommended for anyone who wants to read realistic fiction that doesn't shy away from the harsh reality that many girls face. Readers are encouraged to mind the trigger warnings for this story, which include slavery and prostitution among other topics.
The green covers we're drawn to feel lush and natural, just like the stories inside them.
April Henry's The Body in the Woods is a campy murder mystery that revolves around three teenagers with a budding friendship. Each teen's personality and background is as interesting as the clues they find along the way, making it a fun light read. The book's cover perfectly captures the wood's setting in a way that feels both beautiful and intriguing at the same time.
Our other green pick is one of our favorite graphic novels in the collection: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. Tien is a second generation Vietnamese American who doesn't know how to share a new truth about himself with his parents-- he's gay. Finding the words are hard enough as it is, and the language barrier between them only complicates things. Tien finds a way to connect with his family through fairytales like The Little Mermaid, which appears on the book's cover. These stories are which are beautifully illustrated and we find it heartwarming to see how these Asian retellings bring new meaning to our favorite fairytales.
Following them are the best of the blues. Don't worry though, you won't feel blue when reading them!
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson is a book that all Nancy Drew fans will love! Stevie Bell is a true crime enthusiast who wants to solve the crime of the century: the Ellingham case. That's why she sets her sights on Ellingham Academy, an elite and highly competitive school for the greatest young minds-- and also founded by the same Albert Ellingham from the Ellingham case. When mysterious deaths occur on the school grounds, Stevie has a chance to put her sleuthing instincts to use. Can she solve the real life mystery before it's too late?
The cover of Neal Shusterman's Unwind is bold and distinctive, showing readers a boy who looks like he's being taken apart at the seams. In Schusterman's dystopian version of a future America, that's not very far from the truth. After the bloody Second Civil War, pro-choice and pro-life fighters reached a compromise: Unwinding. Fetuses can't be aborted, but from ages 13-18 parents can send unwanted teens to be unwound, murdered but still 'kept alive' by harvesting their body and reusing it for other members of society. For any fans of dystopias, Unwind is a politically charged satire that readers will be hooked by.
Last but certainly not least, our purple picks are some of the prettiest covers on this list!
Framed by a starry background is Aurora, the titular character of Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman. Aurora has been in cryosleep for the past 200 years so she's a bit disgruntled when she wakes up in a society she no longer understands-- especially when she starts developing strange powers! Joined by a charmingly quirky ragtag crew, this fast-paced sci-fi represents the best of the genre.
On the more paranormal side of things, White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson is ironically represented by purple smoke on its cover. We still love it though! White Smoke is a classic YA horror, complete with a haunted house. The real selling point of this creepy tale is its main character, Marigold. Marigold is incredibly relatable and complex, making us sympathize with her all the more as the tale unfolds. For a good scary story, give this a shot!
So, which books were your favorites? We hope that you've found some one that caught your eye-- if so, join us in our Book Cover Inspired Mood Boards program next month to make a gorgeous work of art inspired by your favorite!