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Though inspired by a 74-year-old radio serial, this old-fashioned tale of derring-do still packs a hefty punch of contemporary social commentary. It's 1946, and when the Lee family moves from Chinatown into central Metropolis, they soon run afoul of the cross-burning Klan of the Fiery Kross. Luckily, the ever-intrepid siblings Roberta and Tommy Lee cross paths with none other than Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane, which means Superman isn't far behind. This, however, is a Superman at the beginning of his career, still learning about his powers and, crucially, discovering that he himself is the quintessential American immigrant. Moving at the breakneck pace of a movie serial and filled with spunky kid protagonists and blistering punch-'em-ups, Yang's story feels like a slice of rollicking, old-time adventure. The layered handling of characters-particularly the quick-witted but uncertain Roberta Lee and the righteous-but-searching Superman-is as sophisticated as any of Yang's award-winning work. Likewise, his handling of racism is sharp with nuance, showing how it works on many levels, in many forms, and how it gets into the head of everyone, regardless of where they come from or what they look like. Gurihiru envisions the work in bold lines and striking angles that capture the energy and look of manga as much as classic Fleischer Superman cartoons. Grades 7-12. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

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Frank Li has always known his parents expected him to date a fellow Korean American. It was an unspoken rule he tried not to think about until he finds himself kissing, texting, and overall obsessing over Brit—who's white. To save himself from his parent's disappointment (or outright condemnation) Frank hatches a plan to create a faux relationship with longtime family friend Joy, who has also fallen for a non-Korean. It seems like the perfect plan, at least, for a little while. With Frankly in Love, Yoon has created a story within the well-trod rom-com trope of fake relationships becoming more than a facade that is completely fresh. Frank is a wonderfully self-aware protagonist with a compelling voice that sometimes seems much older than 18 but never in a way that rings false. To say this debut novel is more than a romance would be to malign the genre it is a credit to, but even readers who aren't fans of romance will be drawn into this beautifully written exploration of family, identity, and self-discovery. Grades 9-12. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

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Sixteen-year-old Cash's best friend Delaney has—with Cash's help—made an astonishing scientific discovery that leads to her being offered a full scholarship to the tony Middleford prep school in Connecticut, a world away from their small East Tennessee town. Delaney accepts on the condition that Cash be offered a similar scholarship. The school agrees, but Cash has reservations, principally because he is reluctant to leave his beloved papaw, who is dying of emphysema. But Delaney is persuasive, and soon the two are off to Connecticut, where they at first feel as out of place as brown shoes with a tuxedo. Happily, though, they soon make friends: Korean American Alex and beautiful Vi, who is from Brazil. Cash falls in love with Vi, but when he reveals his feelings, she rejects him, explaining that he is in love with Delaney. Cash is thunderstruck, but is it possible that he actually might be? Zentner (Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee, 2019) has crafted a heartfelt and deeply moving love story with a well-realized prep school setting and wonderfully empathetic characters. The novel's prose is beautiful—the sky holds "gleaming soapsud clouds," while freckles are "an atlas of stars"—though occasionally overwritten. But this is a small quibble about a book that readers will unhesitatingly take to their hearts. Grades 9-12. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

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A gay, transgender brujo with burgeoning powers seeks answers about his cousin's death. Sixteen-year-old Yadriel also wishes for acknowledgement from his community but unexpectedly finds himself entangled in the unresolved wishes of a strong-willed, good-looking spirit. He descends from a long line of brujx who have been granted magic power by Lady Death to heal the living and to guide spirits into the afterlife. Although he's grown up surrounded by a close-knit community, Yadriel feels alone, excluded indefinitely from a sacred rite of passage because he is transgender. When he senses that his cousin Miguel has died suddenly but the family can't locate him, Yadriel sees an opportunity to prove to everyone he's a true brujo by solving the mystery and releasing his cousin's lost spirit. His plan quickly falls apart, as he accidentally summons the spirit of Julian Diaz, a boy with unfinished business who died the same day as Miguel. Both the romance and mystery burn slow and hot until the climax. Stakes begin high, and the intensity only increases with a looming d eadline and a constant risk that Julian might lose himself, turning maligno. The cast of characters represents a diversity of Latinx identities sharing a community in East Los Angeles. Julian is Colombian while Yadriel is Cuban and Mexican. Their romance provides joyful, ground-breaking representation for gay, transgender boys. Heart-pounding. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus 2020 Kirkus

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For 16-year-old Alex, having a secret superpower is more of a curse than a blessing. Ever since his parents' deaths, Alex can see into the future—seconds, days, and years beyond the present of anything he touches. Rather than giving Alex an advantage, this supernatural gift gives him endless anxiety. Alex and his 12-year-old brother, Isaiah, live with their Aunt Mackie in an affluent suburban Chicago neighborhood. They are all Black. Alex keeps his secret powers from everyone, including his devoted Spanish-speaking girlfriend, Talia, whose family struggles to make ends meet. Alex's constant visions interfere with his job at an ice cream shop and his intimate relationship with Talia. But when Alex has a vision foretelling Isaiah's impending death, his anxiety goes through the roof: The clock is ticking, and he must journey into his ancestral past and grapple with what it means to be a man. This portrait of Black boys as sensitive, vulnerable, and complex is refreshing, unfolding within a powerful and provocative narrative about brotherly love and the insidiousness of racism. Morris seamlessly and beautifully weaves together multiple plotlines (including frank talk about sex) with crisp and sometimes humorous dialogue that always rings true. A timely, poignant page-turner about grief, love, and facing your fears. (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus 2021 Kirkus

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Rukhsana Ali chafes against her conservative Muslim parents and their hopes for her future. The 17-year-old has her own plans, like going to Caltech for engineering and openly being with her girlfriend, Ariana. But when her parents ultimately find out about Ariana, they're quick to send Rukhsana to Bangladesh to be married. Can she balance fighting for the life she wants for herself without devastating her family? Khan's moving novel brings humanity and nuance to the topics of arranged marriage and familial obligations, and her characters are beautifully fleshed out. Rukhsana's genuine love and respect for her family and culture amplify the stakes of her choice to determine her own path, and Khan's account of Bangladeshi traditions, food, and various aunties to dodge rings true. While some characters might initially seem very black-and-white, as Khan gradually peels away the layers of their backstories, they become more fully formed. This moving novel offers readers a deep look into Bengali traditions and dreams for a more inclusive future, with a resilient girl at the heart of it all. Grades 9-12. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.