2026 Tayshas Reading List

Bingsu for Two

Witherspoon, Sujin,


Booklist Starred Reviews, Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, Seventeen-year-old Korean American River Langston-Lee has the worst day of his life when he breaks up with his girlfriend and co-manager, quits his job at his parents' cafe, and dumps coffee beans down the shirt of a rude green-haired customer. Then he lands a job at Bingsu for Two, a struggling Korean cafe around the corner. On his first day, he learns one of his co-workers is Sarang Cho, the green-haired customer he insulted, and the two immediately have it out for one another. After accidentally uploading a training video to his fandom account, the video gains a following and soon Bingsu for Two has new customers and fans who think Sarang and River are a couple. Fake-dating for the sake of the restaurant, the two discover they might not hate each other after all and must figure out what to do when River's ex-girlfriend and parents discover he's working for the competition.
Date Published:2025

Booklist Starred Reviews, Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, Seventeen-year-old Korean American River Langston-Lee has the worst day of his life when he breaks up with his girlfriend and co-manager, quits his job at his parents' cafe, and dumps coffee beans down the shirt of a rude green-haired customer. Then he lands a job at Bingsu for Two, a struggling Korean cafe around the corner. On his first day, he learns one of his co-workers is Sarang Cho, the green-haired customer he insulted, and the two immediately have it out for one another. After accidentally uploading a training video to his fandom account, the video gains a following and soon Bingsu for Two has new customers and fans who think Sarang and River are a couple. Fake-dating for the sake of the restaurant, the two discover they might not hate each other after all and must figure out what to do when River's ex-girlfriend and parents discover he's working for the competition.

Date Published:2025

Death in the cards

Manansala, Mia P.,


Booklist, Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Though she runs a side hustle as a tarot card reader, seventeen-year-old Danika Dizon really wants a paid spot working at her mother's private investigation business. When her classmate Eli Delgado goes missing shortly after a reading with her in which she dealt the Death card, Danika is approached by Eli's younger sister Gaby to take the case. Danika learns Eli was keeping secrets and as she and Gaby uncover her hidden life, they learn some people don't want the truth to come out.
Date Published:2025

Booklist, Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Though she runs a side hustle as a tarot card reader, seventeen-year-old Danika Dizon really wants a paid spot working at her mother's private investigation business. When her classmate Eli Delgado goes missing shortly after a reading with her in which she dealt the Death card, Danika is approached by Eli's younger sister Gaby to take the case. Danika learns Eli was keeping secrets and as she and Gaby uncover her hidden life, they learn some people don't want the truth to come out.

Date Published:2025

Death in the jungle : murder, betrayal, and the lost dream of Jonestown /

Fleming, Candace,


Prologue : "The horrors of Jonestown" -- Beginnings -- Relocating -- Radicalizing -- Exodus -- Jonestown -- After. Booklist starred reviews, Horn Book Guide starred, Kirkus Reviews starred, Publishers Weekly starred, School Library Journal starred, Provides a nonfiction account of the cult known as the Peoples Temple, led by charismatic leader, Jim Jones, who later convinced hundreds of followers to commit mass suicide and ordered the murder of at least five others. Follows Jones' early life, his ministry as a preacher, and the establishment of his church, the Peoples Temple, which was eventually moved to a settlement in Guyana known as Jonestown. Draws from survivors' accounts, transcripts, and interviews to explore his beliefs, how his views became twisted over time, and why so many people blindly followed him to their death.
Date Published:2025

Prologue : "The horrors of Jonestown" -- Beginnings -- Relocating -- Radicalizing -- Exodus -- Jonestown -- After. Booklist starred reviews, Horn Book Guide starred, Kirkus Reviews starred, Publishers Weekly starred, School Library Journal starred, Provides a nonfiction account of the cult known as the Peoples Temple, led by charismatic leader, Jim Jones, who later convinced hundreds of followers to commit mass suicide and ordered the murder of at least five others. Follows Jones' early life, his ministry as a preacher, and the establishment of his church, the Peoples Temple, which was eventually moved to a settlement in Guyana known as Jonestown. Draws from survivors' accounts, transcripts, and interviews to explore his beliefs, how his views became twisted over time, and why so many people blindly followed him to their death.

Date Published:2025

Every borrowed beat

Stewart, Erin, 1982-,


Booklist, Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal starred, Sydney Wells was supposed to have died, but she received an unexpected heart transplant after the tragic death of another girl her age, Mia. Looking into Mia's life out of gratitude, Sydney meets Clayton, Mia's best friend, and together they decide to honor Mia by checking things off of her life vision board. The one thing holding Sydney back from falling for Clayton, though, is that she lied to him about having known Mia--she has kept her heart transplant a secret, and worries she will never be able to tell him.
Date Published:2025

Booklist, Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal starred, Sydney Wells was supposed to have died, but she received an unexpected heart transplant after the tragic death of another girl her age, Mia. Looking into Mia's life out of gratitude, Sydney meets Clayton, Mia's best friend, and together they decide to honor Mia by checking things off of her life vision board. The one thing holding Sydney back from falling for Clayton, though, is that she lied to him about having known Mia--she has kept her heart transplant a secret, and worries she will never be able to tell him.

Date Published:2025

The executioners three

Dennard, Susan,


Maps on endpapers. Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying? Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.
Date Published:2025

Maps on endpapers. Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying? Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

Date Published:2025

The glass girl

Glasgow, Kathleen.


Everyone in fifteen-year-old Bella's life needs something from her. Her mom needs her to help around the house, her dad needs her to not make waves, her ex needs her to not be so much. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother--and now she's dead. There's only one thing that dulls the pressure. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps...alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella's life. And what's the big deal? Everyone drinks. Besides, Bella can stop whenever she wants. But after she gets blackout drunk at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital, it's time to face reality. And for Bella, reality means rehab.
Date Published:2024

Everyone in fifteen-year-old Bella's life needs something from her. Her mom needs her to help around the house, her dad needs her to not make waves, her ex needs her to not be so much. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother--and now she's dead. There's only one thing that dulls the pressure. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps...alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella's life. And what's the big deal? Everyone drinks. Besides, Bella can stop whenever she wants. But after she gets blackout drunk at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital, it's time to face reality. And for Bella, reality means rehab.

Date Published:2024

Sisters in the wind

Boulley, Angeline,


Ever since Lucy Smith's father died five years ago, "home" has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a ward of the state. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson, a man with an interest in her case, comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe. Five years in the foster system have taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his "friend-not-friend," a tall and fierce-looking woman, when they say they want to be a part of her life. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has--had--a sister; and she has more siblings, a grandmother who'd look after her, and a home where she would be loved. But Lucy is being followed. As her secrets threaten to swallow her whole, Lucy must decide what she's willing to give to protect the only love she has left.
Date Published:2025

Ever since Lucy Smith's father died five years ago, "home" has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a ward of the state. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson, a man with an interest in her case, comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe. Five years in the foster system have taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his "friend-not-friend," a tall and fierce-looking woman, when they say they want to be a part of her life. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has--had--a sister; and she has more siblings, a grandmother who'd look after her, and a home where she would be loved. But Lucy is being followed. As her secrets threaten to swallow her whole, Lucy must decide what she's willing to give to protect the only love she has left.

Date Published:2025