14 must read YA book releases to kick off summer right this June

June 2021 release: Gearbreakers – Zoe Hana Mikuta

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they’re fighting for a common purpose–and falling for each other–in Zoe Hana Mikuta’s high-octane debut, described as perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising saga, and Marie Lu’s Legend series.

Set in an age where a power-hungry nation uses micro-chipped humans to control 100-foot-tall mecha robots known as Windups, a rag-tag group of resisters known as Gearbreakers are determined to stop them for good.

The story follows two girls – Sona and Eris. Sona is one of these cybernetically-enhanced humans trained as a Windup pilot. But she’s got a secret: She’s plotting to take down Godolia’s academy from within. Eris, for her part, is one of the most notorious Gearbreakers. Known as The Frostbringer, she specializes in bringing down the giant Windups throughout the free Badlands.

When the two girls join forces, they’ll have to not only overcome their distrust for one another – but possibly some very different feelings along the way.

The official synopsis describes the story as follows.

"The shadow of Godolia’s tyrannical rule is spreading, aided by their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. War and oppression are everyday constants for the people of the Badlands, who live under the thumb of their cruel Godolia overlords. Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a brash young rebel who specializes in taking down Windups from the inside. When one of her missions goes awry and she finds herself in a Godolia prison, Eris meets Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot. At first Eris sees Sona as her mortal enemy, but Sona has a secret: She has intentionally infiltrated the Windup program to destroy Godolia from within. As the clock ticks down to their deadliest mission yet, a direct attack to end Godolia’s reign once and for all, Eris and Sona grow closer–as comrades, friends, and perhaps something more…"

Gearbreakers is available on June 29.

Whata YA books are you planning to pick up this month? Let us know in the comments.