If you are searching for upcoming YA novels with empowering themes for young adults, you have found the perfect destination. Among the most anticipated releases this year is YAME by Sensei Sarhn, is a story defined by its deep emotional growth and resilient protagonist.|
YAME is #2 in the OSU Rising series.
Upcoming Release!
Important Dates
October 1, 2026: Digital & Physical YAME Pre-Orders ARE NOW OPEN!
October 23, 2026: Official Launch Day (Paperback, Hardcover, & Ebook)
Coming in 2027: The Official YAME Audiobook
YAME Description
Everything she wanted. Everything to lose.
She has never felt this strong. So why does it feel like everyone’s trying to hold her back?
Olive is so close to realising her dreams. With her final year of high school looming, she’s got a lot on her plate, but she can handle it…right?
Her training. Her boyfriend. Her schoolwork. Her friends. But then a new boy arrives, showing her a different world, and a different side of herself. As she prepares for the fight she’s risked everything for—the same stage where her mother once competed—the past refuses to stay buried.
A stranger who isn’t quite a stranger, holding a secret that will change everything Olive and Boyan thought they knew about where they came from.
In this powerful second book of the OSU Rising series, Sensei Sarhn returns to the dojo with an empowering and gripping story of ambition, family secrets, and the challenge of forging her own path without losing herself in the process. Because for Olive, the hardest fight was never going to be on the mat.
YAME Official Book Trailer
BookLife by Publishers Weekly Review of YAME
“Touching story of a teen finding peace and power in karate.”
“…young readers will gain insight into the ways they can shut out destructive thoughts and channel restless energy.”
Read the whole YAME BookLife by Publishers Weekly review.
Kirkus Reviews of YAME
In the publishing world, a glowing industry review is usually the ultimate megaphone—a badge of honor we plaster across every piece of marketing material we can get our hands on.
So, when Kirkus Reviews—a notoriously unforgiving critic known for pulling zero punches—delivered a genuinely solid verdict on YAME, our first instinct was to shout it from the rooftops.
There was just one catch.
Kirkus didn’t just praise the book; they dissected it. The reviewer took a scalpel to the narrative, plunging deep into the plot mechanics and laying bare some of the book’s and series’ twists.
As a publisher, we want to celebrate this validation, but protecting your reading experience matters more. We refuse to let a marketing win ruin the ride for you. Because of this, we’ve made the executive decision to keep the full review under wraps.
Trust us: when you finally turn that last pages, you’ll be glad we kept the secret safe.
What Beta Readers Are Saying About YAME?
“I loved it!”
– 14YO Beta Reader
“I want to read the 3rd book now!”
– 17YO Beta Reader
“We are truly hooked on the OSU Fandom!”
– Mum & daughter Beta Readers
“I am eager to see where the relationship between Sebastian and Olive goes.”
– 18YO Beta Reader
Why Readers Will Love YAME?
- If you are searching for an uplifting YA contemporary book that captures the messy, transformative journey of finding one’s place in the world, YAME is the perfect addition to your shelf.
- This second book in the OSU Rising series is an uplifting teen fiction story that explores the complex dynamics of found family books and the courage required to forge a unique path while reconciling with the weight of the past.
- Perfect for those seeking feel good fiction for teens that prioritises emotional authenticity, character growth, and the universal experience of choosing who you want to become.
YAME is Perfect for Fans of:
- Uplifting YA contemporary books with a heart-pounding edge and stay grounded in reality.
- No spice books ya readers who prioritise emotional depth and intense character arcs over adult content.
- Stories about coming of age books for girls and boys who are wanting to take control of their own future.
YAME Tropes
- Inner Warrior
- Found Family
- The Coming-of-Age Crossroads
- The Overachiever’s Wall
- First Love vs. Next Chapter
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Publishing Information
Author: Sensei Sarhn
ISBN paperback: 978-1-7636312-4-3
ISBN hardcover 978-1-7636312-5-0
ISBN ebook 978-1-7636312-6-7
ISBN audiobook 978-1-7636312-7-4 (launching in 2027)
Publisher: Empowering Books
© 2026 Sensei Sarhn. All Rights Reserved.