What were some of the most popular young adult books released last year? This article will go over some of the recently released novels and what they are about.
Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collin’s Sunrise on the Reaping debuted on March 18, 2025. Collin’s popularity stems from her success with the Hunger Game series, this novel was quick to hit store shelves because of said popularity. Sunrise on the Reaping follows seventeen year old Haymitch Abernathy as he is chosen for the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, an event that contains tributes from each district who will fight to the death. However, instead of two tributes, the quarter quell changes the rules to take four tributes from each district. Taken away from the love of his life and thrust into the arena, Haymitch needs to decide how much his life matters in the end.
I Am Not Jessica Chen
Ann Liang uses her novel, I Am Not Jessica Chen, to illustrate how easily it is for someone to wish for a different life. The story begins with seventeen-year-old, Jenna Chen, who has always been overlooked in comparison to her cousin, Jessica Chen. After being rejected from the Ivy-League schools to which she applied, she wishes to be her more accomplished cousin who always seems to be perfect. Except after making the wish, it comes true and Jenna is now Jessica. It seems that life is infinitely better for Jenna, except for the fact that no one remembers her true self. Now she needs to decide if losing herself is okay with her, or if she should go back. The only problem is, Jenna doesn’t know how to do this.
All Better Now
All Better Now is written by Neal Shusterman, the author of award-winning series Scythe and Unwind, and follows in the theme of sci-fi. This novel explores what it would be like if sadness and stress were no longer a thing. Instead of everyone being happy, though, Shusterman thinks about how the government and companies would panic. Without stress, there would be less productivity and fewer products for people to buy. The government starts to quicken its control of the country by convincing people that happiness is a trap.
There are many more books that released last year, so be sure to check them out!
