The House of Tongues by James Dashner

 

So, this is a very strange, creepy, strange horror story.  It goes back and forth between 2017, when David is a 44 year old widower with 4 children on a visit to his parent's house, and 1989, when David and his best friend Andrea are 16 and suffer horrors that David has forgotten/suppressed the memory of until now, when they once again threaten him and his family.  The audio book is well done and gripping.  

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

 

This book is absolutely awesome!  It is absolutely my favorite book that I have read this year.  Middle school science teacher, Ryland Grace, has been recruited to help save the earth from an alien microorganism that is eating the sun. When he awakens in a space ship, he can't remember who he is, where he is, or why.  The book cycles between his memories of the past as they return to him and his attempts to find out why another star is able to resist the alien microbes so that he can send that information back to earth.  It just so happens that an alien spaceship from another planet whose sun is also being eaten is there for the same reason and soon Ryland and Rocky, the name he gives to the alien, work together on a solution to the problem so they can save both their planets.  

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

 

It is now senior year and El and Orion have successfully cleansed the Scholomance of  the majority of the deadly mals, but can they survive graduation?  Can they help their friends survive with them?  There is more sorcery, romance and intrigue in this second book in the series which ends with a major cliffhanger.  

Boy Underground by Catherine Ryan Hyde

 

In 1941, fourteen year old Steven Katz has made friends with 3 sons of men who work on his father's farm.  This is not socially acceptable to his family, especially because one of his friends, Suki, is Japanese.  As the war goes on, Manzanar, a Japanese relocation camp is built nearby, Steven's friend Ollie joins the army and Nick, who Steven has feelings for, is in trouble with the law.  Steven struggles with his feelings, and his family, and tries to protect his friends. 

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

 

This book has much sorrow as well as much joy.  Katrina has been abused because she is transgender and she longs for love and acceptance.  Shizuka has made a deal with a demon to provide him with talented violinists and she thinks that Katrina can fit the bill as her last student. And Lan, an alien who is running a donut shop while trying to save her family, and possibly the universe, falls in love with Shizuka. Can they help one another and banish their demons?