(Portero Universe #1 — Simon Pulse, 2010) This young adult fantasy is the definition of “underrated classic.” It’s dark, it’s weird, it’s diverse, and it’s delightfully paranormal. Dia Reeves passed away a few years ago, but her work in YA in the early 2010s helped shape it into the wonderland of chaos and brilliance it is today. The first in what would eventually become known as the Portero Universe series, this book is about a teen, Hanna, who is biracial Black and white (Finnish). She runs away from her dysfunctional home and washes up in a small Texas town. As she tries to manage her bipolar disorder, her new life delivers new challenges, like ghosts, demons, and a boyfriend. It’s got those early season Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes.
