Needy Little Things

Because of a genetic trait passed down by her paternal ancestors, clairvoyant Black teen Sariyah Lee Bryant possesses the ability to hear other people’s thoughts—specifically about things they need (“Paper clip. Crayon. Shoelace. Chewing gum”). Though she often dons noise-canceling headphones to drown out the voices, ignoring them for too long causes painful migraines. Therefore, she sometimes grants these unspoken desires, earning her the nickname Santa Bag, as well as free tickets to the Atlanta Afro Alt Music Festival from a grateful stranger. While attending the festival with friends Deja, Jude, and Malcolm, Sariyah insists they stay together. Then Deja disappears, prompting traumatic memories surrounding Malcolm’s twin sister Tessa’s disappearance and launching an unsettling series of events into motion. As Sariyah searches for Deja, her loved ones’ secrets come to light. In this mesmerizing speculative thriller, debut author Desamours eschews standard plotting surrounding superpowered individuals: instead of secrecy, isolation, or derision, Sariyah receives genuine support and ample resources from family and friends alike, who help her manage her gift and its side effects. The high-concept premise serves to balance instances of intimate partner violence while bolstering themes surrounding spirituality, grief, and racism. Ages 13–up. (Feb.)