12 new YA books you should stay indoors and read this August

All the Bad Apples  – Moira Fowley-Doyle

A book full of emotional content and intense writing, All the Bad Apples sits somewhere between folklore and realism. It follows the story of seventeen year-old Deena, whose sister Mandy has disappeared, and is presumed dead. Her family is devastated, but when Deena starts receiving letters that just might be from Mandy, she heads to Ireland to search for her. And to investigate the supposed curse that has haunted her family for generations.

Along the way, Deena discovers many facets of her family history, as well as some secrets too. The story also intertwines with Ireland’s historically restrictive views on cultural and social issues, such as teenage pregnancy and reproductive and LGBT rights.

The official synopsis describes the story as follow.

"When Deena’s wild older sister Mandy goes missing, presumed dead, Deena refuses to believe it’s true. Especially when letters start arriving – letters from Mandy – which proclaim that their family’s blighted history is not just bad luck or bad decisions but a curse, handed down to women from generation to generation. Mandy’s gone to find the root of the curse before it’s too late for Deena. But is the curse even real? And is Mandy still alive? Deena’s desperate, cross-country search for her beloved sister–guided only by the notes that mysteriously appear at each destination, leading her to former Magdalene laundry sites and more – is a love letter to women and a heartbreaking cathartic journey."

All the Bad Apples is available on August 27.