Episode Description This week’s out-of-this-world news: Election anxiety levels have skyrocketed in recent times! Karissa walks us through how to recognize election anxiety triggers so we can manage them well. Then, Arielle takes us away from the stress of this planet and onto the moon. She shares a spacey solution about Lego-inspired bricks made of meteorite dust that could shape the future of sustainable lunar construction. The Optimist Daily is a project of The World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http://   Transcript  Theme music  Karissa  Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup. I’m Karissa.  Arielle  And I’m Arielle, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement.  Karissa  Hey everyone. We’re back again with another episode of the pod to share solutions from the Optimist Daily this week. How are you doing, Arielle?  Arielle  I’m doing great, actually. There’s lots of things happening in life. My partner’s brother is moving back to Amsterdam, So, that’s nice. We’ll have an extra dog walker in town.   Karissa  Oo yeah! Babysitter.  Arielle  Yeah, exactly. And um, yeah, he’s celebrating his birthday this week, So, we’re going to do that over the weekend, and yeah, it’s uhh… Oh, actually Karissa! I totally forgot to tell you that I heard from Kristy last week!   Karissa  Oh!  Arielle  Yes! Really devoted listeners of the Optimist Daily’s podcast would remember that Kristy was one of the hosts from before, and it was just nice to hear from her. She said that she’s been tuning in to the podcast and she really liked the dad dancing one. And yeah, it was just nice to catch up for a bit.  Karissa  Ah, that’s great. Shout out to Kristy. We miss you!  Arielle  Yes! Shout out Kristy! But how are you, Karissa, how’s life?  Karissa  I’m doing well. Yeah. Last weekend was a very big mix of animal care. I am a part-time animal specialist-whisperer I feel like. I’ve been house-sitting for another dog. I have pets. A dog in my house and my cat. But I was house-sitting for another dog. I was house-sitting for two cats, one of which is diabetic and has to have an insulin shot morning and night.   Arielle  Ohhh wow.   Karissa  And then we also found a baby kitten in my grandma’s yard and it was maybe like three or four weeks old.  Arielle  Oh my gosh.  Karissa  It was so, little and so it should have been with its mom. And I think it got, like, abandoned and was super hot out. And it had been like hours. And the mom didn’t come back. So, my grandma took it inside. And I helped her out, I ran and got some kitten formula. And then, I mean, we talked about it before on the Optimist Daily: a lot of, like, the foster homes (for cats) are filled right now. The foster care because it’s kitten season over the spring and summer especially. So, yeah, it was kind of a chaotic 24-plus hours. And my grandma was taking care of it and feeding it. But we found out that her neighbors across the field are cat sanctuary owners I guess! So, they have a ton of cats.   Arielle  Ohhh.  Karissa  So, she went over and asked. And they were like. ‘Oh my gosh. Yeah, we are missing a kitten.’ So, they were able to take little kitten back and kitten is happy.  Arielle  Ah, that’s good.  Karissa  And I am happy but… I do miss her because she was so, adorable and the size of my hand (laughs).  Arielle  Well, it sounds like you have a lot of animals already (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, I really… I was like… ‘grandma!’ ’cause she doesn’t have a cat. She likes to babysit my cat when I’m out of town. I’m like, that’s my cat at the end of the day and I’m trying to steal her and my dog too. So, she has her ‘grandpets’ that she’ll babysit.   Arielle  Aw, so cute.  Karissa  So, no extra cat, but I was left pretty happy amongst all the chaos of the weekend…  Arielle  Mmhm  Karissa  …that has been ensuing. And kind of the stress of the political climate going on right now.  Arielle  On yes. Oh, my gosh, you guys stateside are dealing with, um, quite the anxiety-inducing situation over there.  Karissa  Yeah. So, we have to talk about it because we are here to provide solutions.  Arielle  Mhm  Karissa  Already the political climate has been very anxiety-inducing over here in the United States. And then over the weekend, there was an assassination attempt. To Donald Trump. Political violence is never the answer, so, I feel like it’s just caused a lot more divide and a lot more ‘what ifs’ of what’s going to happen this November.   Arielle  Yeah, so, much more polarization and aggression.   Karissa  So, I guess I’ll go into my solution first, if that’s OK, Arielle.   Arielle  Yeah, of course. Go ahead.   Karissa  I wanted to talk about this one, especially for us in the States because, you know, as I said. This election anxiety is a lot to deal with. Truly. I have talked about before how I really love focusing on kind of Wellness and solutions that start with us and localized and smaller. So, I thought this one would be appropriate to share today. The title of my solution is called: Election anxiety levels through the roof? Strategies to deal with election-induced anxiety.  Arielle  Mmm.  Karissa  Election anxiety is a growing problem, particularly as political tensions deepen and intensify, especially in the United States right now. Understanding the causes of this distinct type of stress and how to deal with it will help you navigate this election season with more serenity and stability.  Arielle  I know it’s kind of obvious that election anxiety is anxiety caused by election times, but is there an actual definition for it? Like what is it exactly?  Karissa  Election anxiety is a term that has gained popularity in recent years, actually. And it describes the increased tension that many people experience during political campaigns and voting times. So. The American Psychological Association stated that 52% of Americans felt significant stress during the 2016 presidential election. This figure rose to 56% before the 2020 election, and I don’t know if we have stats on what that feeling is right now, but if you’re feeling election anxiety, you are definitely not alone. Social media discussions and news cycles compound this stress, resulting in a pervasive sense of unease about the future.  Arielle  Yeah, that makes sense. Have the experts been able to pinpoint certain causes of election anxiety?  Karissa  Yeah, it arises from a variety of reasons, and recognizing these triggers is definitely the first step towards effectively managing them. So, the first one definitely without a doubt is media overload. Because we live in an era of continual information flow. There’s news updates, social media, and 24-hour news cycles that easily overwhelm us, particularly during election season. I mean, just this weekend with the assassination attempt, I was out paddle boarding…  Arielle  Mhm.  Karissa  …and I get like, you know, like New York Times. LA Times, like Washington Post notifications on my phone. So, all of a sudden, I have a flood of information coming in.    Arielle  Oh, wow.  Karissa  And I mean, obviously, that’s a breaking news event. But all day long, I’m getting something about, like, the election or politics going on.  Arielle  And you’re just trying to calmly paddle.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. I shouldn’t have even taken my phone. But I just did, just in case something happened to me. So. (long sigh).  Arielle  Yeah.  Karissa  You know, this media overload can really lead to feelings of exhaustion, helplessness, frustration, and anger for sure. And another trigger is definitely the polarization, which seems to get, you know, more and more deep every day. And political debates are more acrimonious than ever, perpetuating an ‘us versus them’ attitude. This divisiveness can intensify concerns about election results, making the political situation even more unsettling.  Arielle  I wish things weren’t so… black and white all the time. There’s a lot of nuance that goes into even the most heated issues. So, yeah, it’s important to keep that in mind when reading headlines and doing your own research that, you know. I mean, headlines themselves are supposed to be polarizing because they’re supposed to grab your attention and make you want to click. Either you agree or you’re like, so, angered by it.  Karissa  Totally. Another trigger of election anxiety is the fact of uncertainty and the loss of control because elections can feel like watershed moments, with the future hanging in the balance.  Arielle  Mmhmm.  Karissa  This sense of high stakes and lack of control can be disconcerting, increasing anxiety. I know I definitely feel that way a lot. And I’m sure everyone else can relate too.   There’s some signs of election anxiety. Yeah. So, common signs are similar and kind of the same as typical anxiety symptoms, and they include excessive worrying, difficulty sleeping, feeling agitated or on edge. Doom scrolling, which we really like to, at the Optimist Daily, promote against doom scrolling. Feeling hopeless about the future, physical symptoms like stomach issues, headaches and muscle tension, changes in appetite, mood swings, unexplained or misdirected anger. All of these are symptoms, and you know with any, like, anxiety case, it’s important to pinpoint the triggers.  Arielle  Well, now that we know the symptoms and the signs that we need to look out for, do we have any tips to share on how to cope with election anxiety properly?  Karissa  Well, of course, because we’re all about providing solutions here.  Arielle  Mm-hmm.  Karissa  So, we definitely want to help out our listeners/readers with some practical advice.  While we can’t stop election season in its tracks, you can reduce the tension it generates. So, here’s a few tips that will help you deal with the election anxiety going on right now.  So, number one of course is limit your media consumption.  Arielle  Yes.  Karissa  It’s really easy to become engrossed in endless scrolling, but setting boundaries can greatly reduce your anxiety. You can try these tips for this point, and that includes designating certain hours for checking news and social media. Use phone features to control app usage. I feel like I kind of want to turn off my app notifications for the news and just designate a certain time to go on and look.  Arielle  Uh-huh. Karissa  Consume news sources that are balanced and credible, or you can balance your news with positive news like the Optimist Daily of course (laughs). Also, engage in positive activities like reading the Optimist Daily, if you like (laughing), but just positive interactions in general can shift your focus and boost your mood. You can volunteer for causes you care about, go outside, spend time with loved ones, engage in creative hobbies such as painting or writing. Research shows that positive thinking and rewarding hobbies can significantly decrease anxiety. So, it’s important to disconnect from all of this. At least a little bit each day. And then our second tip point is to remain informed in healthy ways. It’s important to be informed without overloading yourself. So, again, set time limits for reading news. Vary your sources and participate in healthy, constructive discussions. And to avoid misinformation, think critically and double-check your facts. And then another point is to focus on what you can control because, at the end of the day, election results are beyond individual control. So, concentrate on what you really can influence. Participate in activities like voting, volunteering, and lobbying for causes.  Set reasonable goals and direct your energy towards productive efforts. And I really like this tip because again, I’m all about the localized smaller solutions and we can see differences on a smaller scale, and we can be in control of these outcomes.  Arielle  Yeah, I like that as well because it gives you like a sense of control, even if the rest of the world is chaos and… Actually, all of these tips are good for, not just political and election anxiety, but it seems like good for managing just regular life anxiety as well.  Karissa  Yeah, totally. That’s also kind of another reason why I picked the solution this week because I feel like I’ve been having like a little bit of life anxiety lately, too. And this on top of it. It’s just, so many factors. And that goes into the next point of practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques.   So, I’m also a really big fan of promoting these tips. I feel like I share a lot of mindfulness and relaxation things on this podcast. These exercises might help you control your anxiety, So, meditation, yoga, writing, and deep breathing techniques can all help you feel more calm and peaceful. If you want tips for any of these, check out our archive because we have tons of different solutions on all of these different techniques.   Arielle  Mmhm  Karissa  Mindfulness practice really trains your brain to stay in the present moment, lowering your worries about the future, and that’s key to stay in the present moment.  Arielle  Yeah, you can’t have enough mindfulness. Just, everybody, take deep breaths. (laughs)  Karissa  Yeah. Exactly. (laughing) And then our final tip is to get professional help. If election anxiety really becomes unbearable, there is no shame in seeking professional help. It’s a very viable choice. Therapists can provide useful tools and strategies for anxiety management. There’s cognitive behavioral therapy, self-help strategies and, if necessary, medication can all be part of a successful treatment strategy. Election anxiety is real. Like, I know it might sound, like, kind of silly, but it does affect our lives. So, very important to understand the reasons and recognizing the symptoms so you can better treat this stress.   Arielle  Yeah  Karissa  I hope everyone is able to handle this election season with a better sense of tranquility and resilience with these practical suggestions.  Arielle  Wow, thank you for that.   Karissa  Yeah!  It’s especially… tense in the States right now, I think it’s safe to say. But all over the place there are quite some political struggles; I mean, a lot of my friends from the UK were also very stressed about their elections and, after, I think 14 years the Tories are out, so, a lot of my friends are actually quite happy about that. But they also aren’t fully happy with who got elected.   Karissa  Right.  Arielle  You know, it’s often that we’re picking from the lesser of two evils, it seems in this world. Uh, so, no matter where you are at this point. There will be election anxiety following you around. But yeah, thank you for those tips. I’ll definitely be taking them to heart.  Karissa  Yeah. And I guess like one more thing on the the UK right now. I’ll just like kind of add to the bonus solution of what we’ll show later is that on the bright side of the UK election, besides I guess that someone a little more progressive is in office, the most diverse parliament got elected to Parliament.   Arielle  Anxiety abounds, but there is some progress. Hopefully, this diverse Parliament will represent those who have been underrepresented in the past, so, we’ll see.   Karissa  I’m optimistic!  Arielle  Yes, we’re all optimistic. We have to be.   Karissa  Mmhm  Arielle  But with all of the stress and anxiety that we feel on this planet, we all just want to escape a little bit. And that’s why I chose this super exciting topic that will literally take us out of this world. Kind of what we need. (laughs)  Karissa  Yes, totally, at this point (laughs).  Arielle  This article is a mix of space, science, and believe it or not, Lego bricks which we talk about a lot on the Optimus Daily, actually.  Karissa  Oh, yeah.  Arielle  Not just the bricks, but of course the company that’s been doing a lot of good things for education, gender parity, women in STEM, etcetera, etcetera.   Karissa  Yeah  Arielle  The title of the article, which I didn’t put in my notes… (laughs)…Is…  Karissa  (laughs)  Arielle  OK, 3D printing lunar Lego bricks to test out building on the moon  Karissa  Wait, Lego bricks in space?   Arielle  Yeah!  Karissa  Now you got my attention! What is this all about? (laughs)  Arielle  (Laughs). I know we’re all… well, we’re probably all familiar with Lego bricks. They were a staple in my childhood and also as an adult. You know, my dad bought me like a botanical Lego set and everything.  Karissa  Aww, so cute.  Arielle  Which we actually wrote about on the Optimist Daily before he bought it for me. I think that’s how he got the idea. (laughs). Which was super cute.  Karissa  Aww.  Arielle  Anyway. For decades, scientists and space enthusiasts have been dreaming about building permanent structures on the moon. It’s not just science fiction anymore, though. Academics are coming up with some pretty innovative solutions to tackle the unique challenges of building in space.  Karissa  Ah. OK, so, where do Lego bricks fit into the picture of building in space?  Arielle  Hm. So, the scientists at the European Space Agency, or ESA for short, have taken a fun yet practical approach. They’ve designed 3D-printed bricks made from meteorite dust, which is so, cool! And the meteorite dust happens to be a whopping 4.5 billion years old.  Karissa  Uh! That’s so cool. Meteorite dust and 3D printing the bricks? What’s the big idea behind these bricks and what are they going to do with it?  Arielle  Well, they aren’t just any, like, random little Lego bricks. They’re called the ESA space bricks, and they’re part of a larger effort to create sustainable and clean buildings on the moon. It’s so sci-fi! I’m loving it.  Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  The idea is to use resources found on the moon’s surface to minimize reliance on supplies from Earth.  Karissa  Yeah, that totally makes sense.   Arielle  Yeah. Because we don’t wanna keep hauling things from earth to the moon. It’s quite the commute. So, we’d probably just want to localize.  Karissa  Definitely a commute. Don’t want to pollute space any more than we have to.  Arielle  Yeah, exactly. But here’s the cool part. They’ve modeled these bricks after Lego parts, and this decision was both practical and inventive. Although they’re not planning to use these exact bricks for lunar construction, they’re proving that 3D printing long-lasting interlocking components from lunar materials is totally doable.  Karissa  Yeah, it’s like playing with Legos to figure out how to build real stuff on the moon. Sounds pretty exciting.  Arielle  Mmhm, it definitely is. Aidan Kelly, an ESA science officer, mentioned that nobody has built a structure on the moon yet. So, having the flexibility to experiment with these space bricks has been incredibly useful, and plus it’s fun. It’s Lego at the end of the day.  Karissa  (Laughs). Yeah, definitely, it sounds fun. So, it’s kind of like also like building a sandcastle in a way. I mean, I guess they’re 3D printing it, but if it’s like from space material.  Arielle  Yeah! It’s like meteorite-dust-sandcastles just sounds like my childhood dream.  Karissa  Yeah. Wasn’t there something called, like, Moon sand that… I think… I don’t know. I think it was moon sand and it was super…  Arielle  Moon sand. It’s ringing a bell. But what’s… what I’m thinking of now are moon boots.  Karissa  Moon Boots is a thing too. Yeah, I think it’s called moon sand. But it was just like very soft. And I don’t think that it like dried out at all, but… there was definitely like a sandcastle element to it so. But Arielle, what’s next for these space bricks?  Arielle  Well, these ideas might become practical sooner than we think, because NASA’s Artemis program is planning to land a crew near the moon’s South Pole in late 2026, and they might test these approaches then. But until then, ESA has shared some of these single bricks with select Lego stores around the world. And you can check them out until the end of September.  Karissa  OK, I’m gonna need to find the nearest Lego store and see one of the bricks in person. It’s kind of like a sneak peek into the future of space exploration.  Arielle  Yeah, right. I mean, Lego just continues to amaze us. But it looks like the Amsterdam store will have one of these bricks, or already has one. So, I know what I’m going to do this weekend. (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, I don’t blame you.  Arielle  Yeah, and uh, you can check. I think. Yeah, you can just check on the ESA site to see which Lego stores are participating in it. Just for our listeners to know. But this project showcases how advances in 3D printing and material science could pave the way for future space exploration. And using locally available materials can significantly reduce the costs and logistical issues of building on the moon in the first place.  Karissa  It’s like setting up a new neighborhood with local supplies instead of importing everything, which makes perfect sense. And is probably what we should do if we’re going up to the moon.  Arielle  Yeah, I mean it’s what we should do everywhere really.  Karissa  Definitely, we should take note.  Arielle  But this isn’t just about building structures. It is a step towards sustainable living in space. And Cowley emphasized the importance of an in-situ resource utilization, or ISRU, which means using what’s already there.  Karissa  So, how soon could we see these space breaks in action I guess?  Arielle  Right now the focus is on research and development, but if these bricks prove to be effective, they could revolutionize how we think about building in space. Yeah. And I guess in 2026 when the Artemis crew lands on the moon, that could be the first time that we actually see them used practically. But imagine just turning lunar dust into sturdy, interlocking structures. It’s a big shift in space exploration techniques, and I’m pretty excited about it. (laughs)  Karissa  Yeah, from the concept to its reality. I can’t wait to see where this goes because it sounds super interesting.   Arielle  Yeah, me neither. So, keep an eye on the stars, folks. The next big thing in space exploration might just start with something as simple as a Lego brick.  Karissa  I am so, intrigued by that one, and I gotta find the nearest Lego store too. (laughs)  Arielle  Well, I hope that kind of took our minds off of the stress on this planet anyway.  Karissa  Yeah, I feel like a lot of us are gonna be wanting to move to the moon after what might happen soon, but it’s OK, we’ll focus on solutions, focus on what’s going right in the world…  Arielle  Yep, that’s what we’re good at.  Karissa  …and we will be OK. Well, good roundup of solutions this week, but we also have some other great solutions that you can find on our website optimistically.com including.  Arielle  It’s already a hotter-than-normal summer. Here’s how to handle heat stroke. Oh, this is the one that you were talking about earlier.   Karissa  Uh-huh.  Arielle  The United Kingdom just elected its most diverse Parliament ever. Yay. Colombia’s battle against deforestation achieves remarkable results, and US track star Allyson Felix opens the first-ever nursery for Olympic parents. What else do we have Karissa?  Karissa  Alright, so, we also shared quite a few solutions this week that have to do with the heat and wildfires that are going on, especially in America and Canada right now over on the West Coast. I know in California we are going through a lot of that. So, we have: Exposed to wildfire smoke? Here are 5 tips to protect your skin. Beating the heat: your comprehensive guide to staying cool and safe in extreme heat. And Preparing for a smokier future. And then our final solution doesn’t have to do with the heat and wildfires is: A historic $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins eliminates tuition for most medical students, so, great for them.  Arielle  All right. If you want to start your day off right, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter to get our solutions straight to your inbox.  Karissa  Yeah. And we also have more on our social channels. You can find us @OptimistDaily on all of our platforms, including Threads and Pinterest. The only difference is on X we are known as @OdeToOptimism.  Arielle  We are a small team of optimists working hard to bring you positive news. If you want to support our mission of putting optimism into the world, please click on the link in the show notes to find out how you can do that.  Karissa  Yeah. And support doesn’t always have to be financial. Even just recommending our podcast to a friend, leaving a positive review on Apple or Spotify going onto the Optimist Daily, and forwarding a link to a friend, sharing a solution on your socials, would be a big help. And we all need it. We all need the solutions-oriented mindset.  Arielle  This was a great episode. Even though things are a bit tense right now, I’m sure that with a little bit of optimism, we will pull through, OK.  Karissa  All right, Arielle. Well, that was so great and I was glad to be here with you today again and looking forward to next week.  Arielle  Yes, likewise, and I hope you have a great weekend; I wish that for all of our listeners as well.  Karissa  Yeah, me too. Bye, everyone!  Arielle  Bye!   The post July 19, 2024: Election Anxiety and How To Deal With It and Building with Lunar Lego first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that hope and purpose aren't found in money, power, or people but in a relationship with God.

'Largest polling advantage since February'

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Former President Donald Trump spoke at the RNC Convention, just days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt

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There wasnt even blood

A post shared on social media purportedly shows that President Joe Biden ignored a Black woman in the audience when he was greeting attendees at his rally. Verdict: False The full video shows Biden exchanging a handshake and hug with the woman. Fact Check: The White House announced recently that Biden has contracted Covid-19 and the […]

Scientists have developed a way to dramatically reduce the cost of recycling certain electronic waste by using whey protein. Their method allows for the easy recovery of gold from circuit boards at a cost of energy and materials amounting to 50 times less than the price of the gold they recover—these are the numbers that […] The post Eco-Friendly Sponges Made of Dairy Byproduct Can Extract Gold from Old Computer Parts appeared first on Good News Network.

Books Young Adult Spotlight Most Anticipated Young Adult SFF/H for July & August 2024 Horror, romantasy, and of course, VAMPIRES! Check out the best upcoming YA titles. By Alex Brown | Published on July 19, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share Some interesting things happening in the young adult speculative market this summer. Horror is still alive and kicking, and the stories just keep getting wilder. On the other hand, pretty much all fantasy is now being marketed as “romantasy,” so good luck to anyone trying to define that genre label into anything useful. If you were hoping for some sci-fi, the best I can offer you are a couple of genre-benders and some superheroes. On the plus side: vampires are back, baby!  Vampire Chronicles The Ones Who Come Back Hungry by Amelinda BérubéJo’s sister Audrey is the star of the family, until she dies suddenly. And just as suddenly, she’s back from the grave, with an oozing autopsy wound and an insatiable hunger for blood. As Jo steps into Audrey’s recently vacated role—joining her friend group and flirting with her ex-boyfriend—she also tries to find a cure to her sister’s increasingly bloodthirsty situation. Toxic family relationships with a vampire twist. (Sourcebooks Fire; July 2, 2024) Castle of the Cursed by Romina GarberEstela is the lone survivor from a terrible, unexplained event that killed her parents. After a stint in a mental hospital, she’s sent to live in her aunt’s ancestral family home, a castle in the Spanish countryside. There she meets the enigmatic Sebastián. There she encounters strange happenings and dark secrets. There she realizes that discovering the truth of what happened to her parents may turn out to be worse than not knowing. (Wednesday Books; July 30, 2024) This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings (This Ravenous Fate #1)The first in a duology from a debut author, this book tweaks the vampire mythos. It’s 1926 and Harlem is brimming with Jazz Age magic and mayhem. Elise, recently returned from Paris, is the heir to a mob empire that makes cash hand over fist hunting reapers. Layla, one of said reapers, is still nursing a grudge over Elise’s role in her getting turned. A series of murders forces the two young women to work together, turning enemies into lovers. (Sourcebooks Fire; August 6, 2024) Genre-benders The Second Chance of Darius Logan by David F. WalkerSixteen year old Darius has spent much of his life bouncing around between shelters and foster homes. Years ago, Earth was attacked by aliens, and although the planet was saved by the superhero team Super Justice Force, his parents died in the invasion. After he gets caught selling drugs, Captain Freedom, the leader of the supes, offers him a trade: instead of jail, he must join a rehab program working with the Force. Can he make something new with his life now that he has a second chance? (Scholastic Press; July 2, 2024) Grief in the Fourth Dimension by Jennifer YuKenny Zhou and Caroline Davison are dead. But also still alive? Kinda? The two high school seniors wake up in a white room with almost nothing in it but a giant television. They’re also not alone. Something or someone seems to be watching them. When they realize they can influence the world of the living, they decide to use their powers to help their families. Although Kenny and Caroline couldn’t be more different, the strange circumstances pull them together. (Amulet Books; July 16, 2024) Gallows Humor Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch by Codie CrowleyAnnie Lane isn’t well liked in her home town. Too crass, too rough, too bad. Until one day she wakes up dead in a river on Resurrection Peak. Her best friend is also missing. Ghosts haunt her town, and a team of fellow spirited misfits join her to help her figure out whodunit. Annie wants revenge, and she’ll get it even if it takes her entire Afterlife. This is giving me Lisa Frankenstein meets Undead Girl Gang vibes. Into it. (Disney Hyperion; August 6, 2024) Helga by Catherine YuWhen her father created her, Helga was supposed to be a docile, compliant automaton. Instead, she’s a curious, excitable, eager young woman chafing under his rule. As soon as he leaves for a two week work trip, Helga escapes her minder and heads into the teeming, tumultuous Amaris City. A tempestuous relationship with a boy who isn’t who he seems is balanced by new friends ready to show Helga the world, but an impending volcanic implosion puts a damper on things. A little bit Frankenstein, a little bit Poor Things, a little bit seminal 1997 disaster movie Volcano. (Page Street YA; August 20, 2024) Thrills & Chills Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam MetouiWhen her sister Inez vanishes without a trace, Mae sets out to find her. At her Brooklyn apartment, she discovers an unsettling painting, all white except for a peeling corner. Why did Inez have this strange thing? And what is underneath the white paint? Dev, the boy next door, offers to assist Mae in tracking down Inez, but there’s something off about him, something Mae can’t quite put her finger on. (Henry Holt & Company; July 16, 2024) The Dark We Know by Wen-yi LeeArt student Isadora left home at sixteen to escape her isolated hometown and abusive father. Now that he’s dead, she plans to return just long enough to collect her inheritance and polish her portfolio. Mason, a friend she abandoned when she left, convinces her to help him investigate the disappearance and deaths of other kids they grew up with. Something wicked is lurking in Isa’s hometown, and whatever it is, it has a connection to her. (Gillian Flynn Books; August 13, 2024) Hocus Pocus A Magic Fierce and Bright by Hemant NayakFour hundred years in the future, technomancer Adya is caught between colonizer forces and family struggles. Her sister, Priya, left home to use her magic to help defeat the invading British army, but when she gets into trouble, Adya makes some risky decisions to try and save her. A new ally, who has plans of his own, helps her escape the clutches of a local crime lord. To stop the colonization of her homeland, Adya must use her rare magic in ways she never imagined. (Simon & Schuster BYR; July 9, 2024) So Witches We Became by Jill BaguchinskyNell is looking forward to spending the final spring break of high school with her friends on a private island in Florida, but the secrets from her painful past follow her. Tensions flare as personalities clash, made worse when a sinister mist surrounds the island. Something hunts the teens from within the mist, and the things Nell desperately wants to forget are clawing their way out of her. (Little, Brown BYR; July 23, 2024) Anthologies The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power by edited by Terry J. Benton-WalkerI don’t need to know a single thing more about this anthology beyond the title. Sold. Here’s my money. But in case you, for whatever reason, need more enticement, this is a collection of stories where, instead of the trope of a character of color dying first in a horror movie, this time it’s the white guy. YA social horror is having quite the moment. Authors include: Adiba Jaigirdar, Alexis Henderson, Chloe Gong, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, H. E. Edgmon, Kalynn Bayron, Karen Strong, Kendare Blake, Lamar Giles, Mark Oshiro, Naseem Jamnia, Tiffany D. Jackson, and Terry J. Benton-Walker. (Tor Teen; July 16, 2024) The House Where Death Lives by edited by Alex BrownThis is a book about a house. Not just any house, but one filled with magic dark and strange. Each of the sixteen stories are set in a different room. Spanning different genres and themes, this haunted house anthology will leave you cowering under the covers. Authors include: Alex Brown, Nova Ren Suma, Gina Chen, Traci Chee, Linsey Miller, Rosiee Thor, Courtney Gould, Kay Costales, Liz Hull, Shelly Page, Justine Pucella Winans, Sandra Proudman, C.L. McCollum, Nora Elghazzawi, Tori Bovalino, and g. haron davis. (Page Street YA; August 6, 2024) Magic with a Twist The Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly MurashigeAfter her friends drop her, Machi stops speaking. Her therapist sends the lonely teen to a Shinto shrine where she makes a wish to be turned into a robot vacuum cleaner. Why be human when it sucks so much? Benzaiten, a god of fortune, takes pity on Machi. The two head out into the world of the living and the dead to help Machi rediscover her faith in humanity and herself. (Soho Teen; July 23, 2024) The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe ChowPrincess Ying Yue was prepared for an arranged marriage. What she didn’t expect was a prince who was indifferent to her at best, hostile at worst. Locked away in her chambers with only a maid and her reflection to keep her company, she spends the days leading up to her wedding fretting over the fates of the seven previous brides who were never heard from again. The night before the big day, she’s sucked into the mirror. The Mirror Prince is everything his counterpart is not, but this new world holds dangerous secrets. (Delacorte Press; August 6, 2024) The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan IfuekoWith no family and no friends, Small Sade is alone in the bustling metropolis of Oluwan. She has vitiligo and uses a cane, disabilities that others may see as a sign of weakness but that she has learned to survive with in a world that doesn’t accommodate her. She also has the magical power to destroy curses. That ability that lands her a job in the estate of the Crocodile God who is suffering under an unbreakable curse. This is a standalone story set in the same world as the Raybearer series. (Amulet Books; August 13, 2024) Ghost Stories Trespass Against Us by Leon KempTwo years ago, four teens snuck into Saint Dominic Savio’s School for Troubled Youth, an abandoned reform school with a brutal past. Only three made it back out. Riley, Colton, and Vee are scarred, literally and psychologically. A documentary filmmaker and ghost hunter pays them to return to the scene of the crime, and things go even worse the second time around. Whatever is haunting the school has been waiting for them all this time. (Harperteen; July 16, 2024) Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. ParkerFive years ago, Fern, Jaq, and Mallory found refuge in their little queer found family. One night while taking a break from the outside world in an abandoned house, Mal vanishes. Neither Fern nor Jaq have any memories of that night…until now. While at a high school graduation party in the woods, the two closeted teens encounter a spirit who looks an awful lot like Mal. Something terrible happened all those years ago, and it’s about to happen again. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR; August 27, 2024) [end-mark] The post Most Anticipated Young Adult SFF/H for July & August 2024 appeared first on Reactor.