Eight books to help you own your wild

Kim DeRose writes dark, magical stories about strong, magical girls for teens and former teens. She is the author of Hear Her Howl and For Girls Who Walk Through Fire, which was selected for ALA’s 2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, received a starred review from School Library Journal, praise from Kirkus Reviews and Booklist, and was the recipient of the 2024 Millikin Medal for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction.

[Q&A with Kim DeRose; The Page 69 Test: For Girls Who Walk through Fire; My Book, The Movie: For Girls Who Walk through Fire; The Page 69 Test: Hear Her Howl; Writers Read: Kim DeRose]

She grew up in Santa Barbara, California, earned her MFA in film directing from UCLA, and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY as a recovering Catholic and ex-good girl. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found listening to endless podcasts, taking long walks through the woods (of Prospect Park), and teaching her children how to howl.

Hear Her Howl is her most recent book.

At The Nerd Daily DeRose shared eight book recommendations to help you own your wild. One title on the list:

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

This debut YA novel a) has an amazing title, and b) is such a delight. It follows Yamilet, a queer closeted Mexican-American girl who’s transferring schools after being outed to her friend group…by her best friend and crush, no less. With this fresh start, Yami’s determined to hide her sexual identity. But when she becomes friends with annoyingly perfect Bo, the only out queer kid at her new school and begins to fall for her (whoops!), Yami’s entire plan becomes a little…difficult. This book handles Yamilet’s experiences so sensitively, and the characters are all so nuanced and heartfelt. And if you read this book and love it, I have great news for you, Sonora Reyes has a new companion book out: The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar.

Read about another book on DeRose's list.

--Marshal Zeringue