This is the type of YA that, while new, feels really familiar, and that’s good thing when it works. And The Luminaries really worked for me. 

It’s mysterious, a school(ish) setting, family drama and monster fighting, all of that in an enclave of “our” world and stereotypical and yet compelling characters. 

What I mean by “stereotypically compelling” is that they are the characters you expect in a YA story and it just works. Nothing extraordinary but when well done, it’s exactly what you’re looking for. 

And I found The Luminaries to do this quite well.