Here's the thing: this is legitimately excellent YA literature. It won the Printz for a reason—the writing is sophisticated, the themes are thought-provoking, and the representation is meaningful. A.S. King curated a collection that treats teen readers like the complex humans they are.

But it's also very much a high school book. The f-words, the graphic violence, the sexual themes—these aren't gratuitous, but they're present. If your teen loved 'Dig' or 'I Crawl Through It,' they'll eat this up. If they're still reading Percy Jackson, wait a year or two.

The experimental, literary style is both a feature and a potential bug. Teens who enjoy unconventional narratives will find this refreshing. Kids who want straightforward plots might find it frustrating. This is a 'discuss with your English teacher' book, not a 'zone out on the couch' book—and that's perfectly fine for the right reader.