New year, new books: 15 YA releases to watch out for this January

Wench by Maxine Kaplan

Looking for a fun, feminist read to ring in the new year? Maxine Kaplan’s Wench meshes a magical tale with the typical troubles of being a teenager, giving YA readers a lot to look forward to in this January release.

The story follows Tanya, who has had the pleasure of working in a tavern since she was barely even a teenager. From breaking up bar fights to managing the place, Tanya knows the ins and outs of the business — but when her guardian passes away, she could lose the only home and purpose she’s ever known.

This sets her on a path to journey places she’s never been and entreat the queen to let her keep her hold on the tavern. Of course, a young woman traveling in a fantastical land comes with its own obstacles, and it seems that Tanya will face quite a few of them before her story is through:

"“So she heads out on a quest to petition the queen to keep the tavern in her name—dodging unscrupulous guards, a band of thieves, and a powerful, enchanted feather that seems drawn to her.”"

Tanya’s adventure sounds full of relatable problems that modern women face every single day — just in a more medieval setting — which means it’s likely to be a blast, even while it points out some of society’s biggest flaws. Wench arrives in bookstores on January 19, and we cannot wait to get our hands on it.