The Top 5 Best YA Covers of 2021
As the saying goes, I know we are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but with these covers that will be hard. They are extremely eye catching and some of them may be the reason my To-Be-Read pile is so big. The artists creating them are so talented and I want to highlight some of the best of 2021, because I think that these artists deserve a shout-out for the amazing work they are doing!
The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He
Cover Artist: Aykut Aydoğdu
Set in a climate-ravaged future, Joan He’s beautifully written novel The Ones We’re Meant to Find follows the story of two sisters separated by an ocean, desperately trying to find each other.
This cover just captivated and drew me to it instantly. A super unique design and one that I will not easily forget. The fact that it’s a great Sci-Fi story about two sisters makes it even better. The cover sets the tone for the book and compliments the story.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Cover Artist: Tran Nguyen
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry.
Nowadays a lot of books have their main protagonist featured on the cover. The premise of the story Six Crimson Cranes is masterfully illustrated in the cover. The crane wings circling her, the vibrant colors, and the small paper crane (Kiki!) just makes this cover stand out from the rest.
Wings of Shadow by Nicki Pau Petro
Cover Artist: Kekai Kotaki
Val is willing to destroy everything to get her revenge on a world that rejected her, and if Veronyka wants to bring peace to the empire and Pyra alike, she must face down her sister once and for all.
The Wings of Shadow cover just gave me so much serotonin. The contrast between the dark and the fiery phoenix and the way the fire glows on the feathers on the dark bird is absolutely stunning. My favorite part is that the front continues to the back of the dust jacket with the beautiful fiery wing. I can just keep going on and on about the details on this cover.
Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Roth
Cover Artist: Annie Stegg Gerard
A teen seeks revenge in a land of dreams and nightmares.
The Dreams Lie Beneath cover just fires my imagination; I keep thinking about it. If I pass it in the ABC store, I have to look at it. I don’t know what it is, the soft style, the darker colors, the way her face is partially hidden in shadows or the soft glow of the book she is holding, maybe all of them. This cover has stayed with me. The attention to detail Annie Stegg Gerard shows here is impressive.
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
Cover Artist: Rich Deas
This book is about a teen girl who is grieving the death of her family, and a teen boy who crosses her path.
Another cover with beautiful color combinations. The vibrant blue butterfly on her forehead is a perfect example of how Rich Deas knows just how to get your attention with a simple design. I also love that her face is partially unfinished because that ties in perfectly with the subject of identity and self-discovery. Me (Moth)‘s cover fits really well with the story.
These are our top 5. It was extremely hard to pick just five out of all of the great books that were published in 2021. Behind the artists are of course the cover designers and they are also a big part of this process, so a big thumbs up to everyone involved in making these amazing covers.
The links will direct you to our website where you can buy each book. We also have a lot of amazing suggestions on our Instagram account so follow us there and see what we have to offer.
