11 thrilling new YA releases hitting shelves this October

October 2021 release: Why We Fly – Kimberley Jones and Gilly Segal

From activist Kimberley Jones and Gilly Segal, the duo behind the bestselling YA novel I’m Not Dying with You Tonight comes Why We Fly, a timely story of friendship and social activism with a ripped from the headlines feel.

Inspired by the real-life story of the Kennesaw State Cheerleading Team, the story follows a pair of best friends – Nelly, who is Black, and Leni, who is white and Jewish – as the struggle to navigate the combined pressures of high school sports, family expectations, college admissions, and the complex decisions necessitated by their burgeoning social activism

When they rally their cheerleading squad to take a knee during the national anthem at a high school football game, their decision kicks off a waterfall of unexpected consequences, including for the girls themselves, who must wrestle with the blindspots and biases in their own relationship.

The official synopsis describes the story as follows.

"Two high school cheerleaders face the ultimate test when an act of solidarity spurs chaos. With a rocky start to senior year, lifelong friends Eleanor and Chanel have a lot on their mind. Eleanor is still in physical therapy months after a serious concussion from a failed cheer attempt. Chanel’s putting tremendous pressure on herself to get into the best colleges and starts making questionable decisions. But they have each other’s backs just as always. Eleanor’s new relationship with star quarterback Three may be causing a rift between the best friends. When the cheer squad decides to take a knee at the season’s first football game, what seemed like a positive show of solidarity suddenly becomes the reason for a larger fallout between the girls. Grappling with the weight of the school’s actions as well as their own problems, can the girls rely on the friendship they’ve always shared?"

Why We Fly is available on October 5.