10 YA books we can’t wait to dive into this July

Destroy All Monsters – Sam J. Miller

Sam J. Miller is back this month with his latest release, Destroy All Monsters. A genre-bending novel that’s been compared to those of Ned Vizzini and Patrick Ness, Destroy All Monsters takes a deeper look at childhood traumas and how they can affect us later in life.

The story follows Solomon and Ash, two teenagers who were involved in a tragic accident when they were twelve years old. Ash doesn’t remember much about the day she fell from Solomon’s treehouse, but she knows that he’s been acting strangely ever since. He seems to have withdrawn completely into his own head, where he claims to spend plenty of time interacting with animal and human monsters.

And as Solomon retreats further and further into the part of his mind he calls the “Darkside,” Ash decides that she needs to remember what happened the day she fell from the treehouse. It seems to be the only way to save her friend from himself. Of course, who knows if Ash will be able to cope with what she finds in the blank spaces of her memory?

With darker themes and a suspenseful plot that toes the line between contemporary and science-fiction, Destroy All Monsters is the perfect summer read for anyone seeking out a thrilling story this July. As readers venture into Ash’s memory with her on July 2, they’ll likely be as surprised by what’s revealed as she is.