WHAT TO READ NEXT IN YOUNG ADULT
APRIL 2026
by Sydney Spell
Welcome to Texas Reads YA! As a teen who loves to read YA, I sometimes have a hard time finding quality YA novels.
These novels are retellings of classic stories we all know and love, but with twists. One adds an even more fantastical element to the story of Cinderella, and the other adds a real world historical aspect to the story of Romeo and Juliet.
Ella Rose Tremaine lives a life of drudgery as a servant in her own home, catering to the whims of her stepmother and stepsisters. All she wants is a life to call her own, but with no way out, she’s trapped. Even when the royal ball is announced, she is forbidden to attend.
Left alone on the night of the ball, a mysterious package arrives addressed to her. Inside, a pair of beautiful glass slippers. When she puts them on, she’s transformed and whisked off to the ball by none other than her fairy godmother—but with a warning. Remove the slippers before the last stroke of midnight to break the spell and all will be as it was before.
Lost in the magic of the evening while dancing with a handsome stranger, she is heedless of her fairy godmother’s warning. With the last strike of midnight, she is transported to the Christmas realm of Rovenheim.
Her arrival garners the attention of a dangerous queen determined to have the slippers for herself. She’ll stop at nothing to get them by issuing an ultimatum—bring her the slippers or she’ll destroy the enchanted realm and the Spirit of Christmas itself.
With time running out, Ella embarks on a perilous journey through the mystical realm on a quest to save it. She must embrace her destiny and discover the power of love and magic. But will it be enough to overcome the darkness that threatens to consume them all?
Once Upon a Midnight Clear is an inspiring story that uses Cinderella and Christmas to weave a story about knowing your worth and holding on to hope. The novel is unique in its retelling and is overall a feel good, easy read!
Michelle Miles writes fantasy, paranormal, and young adult books packed with adventure, action, and swoon-worthy romance. A Texas girl through and through, she loves getting lost in a good book, binge-watching movies, hiking the trails, and sipping a glass of wine.
In this reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, eighteen-year-old Joaquín del Toro’s future looks bright. With his older brother in the priesthood, he’s set to inherit his family’s Texas ranch. He’s in love with Dulceña—and she’s in love with him. But it’s 1915, and trouble has been brewing along the US-Mexico border. On one side, the Mexican Revolution is taking hold; on the other, Texas Rangers fight Tejano insurgents, and ordinary citizens are caught in the middle.
As tensions grow, Joaquín is torn away from Dulceña, whose father’s critical reporting on the Rangers in the local newspaper has driven a wedge between their families. Joaquín’s own father insists that the Rangers are their friends, and refuses to take sides in the conflict. But when their family ranch becomes a target, Joaquín must decide how he will stand up for what’s right.
Shame the Stars is a rich reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in Texas during the explosive years of Mexico’s revolution. Filled with period detail, captivating romance, and political intrigue, it brings Shakespeare’s classic to life in an entirely new way.
Shame the Stars is a compelling novel that depicts aspects of the true history of the Rio Grande Valley wrapped up in a story we all know and love. It is a powerful story about family, persecution, and truth.
Guadalupe Garcia McCall was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. She grew up in Eagle Pass, a small, border town in South Texas. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and English from Sul Ross State University. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of English at George Fox University in Newberg, OR and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest.
Sydney Spell is a college freshman at UT Austin. She has enjoyed reading through adolescence and is a big fan of YA novels specifically.