Month: May 2020

BONUS REVIEW: The Lost Carnival by Michael Moreci

BONUS REVIEW: The Lost Carnival by Michael Moreci

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Dick Grayson is tired of his life with Haly’s Circus. It’s the same thing every day. And the crowds just keep getting smaller.

On an afternoon away with his best friend Willow, Dick meets Luciana. She’s from the Lost Carnival that has set up nearby. The circus folks are angry that the carnival is cutting into their crowds and their profits. And Luciana’s uncle, Caliban, has magic that seems like much more than illusions and cutting people in half. That is drawing crowds away, too. As tensions between the rival attractions heat up, and as Dick develops feelings for Luciana, the two teens are caught in the middle.

But when Willow falls into an unexplained coma, and her uncle, the circus magician, insists it is a spell, Dick pushes Luciana to share her secrets and save his best friend.

Review

Dick Grayson – at least the older version – is one of my favorite DC characters. (I loved the Grayson: Agents of Spyral graphic novel series.) I was eager to check out this story because it starred Dick Grayson. And I’m glad I did.

I feel like the story starts with some typical teen angst and developmental stuff. Dick is pulling away from his parents. He wants to live a life he chooses for himself – something more exciting than his current existence. (There is a foreshadowing panel about his future that was fantastic!) Then he is pushed to choose between the mysterious girl he likes and his circus “family.” And finally there’s a magical showdown and all the secrets are revealed. It was a satisfying arc. I don’t know that there were any big surprises. Frankly, I read this after Superman Smashes the Klan, and this might have suffered in the comparison because that was full of nuance and subtlety and a few surprises. This story is just more straightforward. It’s not really comparing apples to apples.

Fans of DC’s latest foray into graphic novels for kids and teens should be sure to check this one out. We get a glimpse of Dick’s life before Batman and before personal tragedy strikes, which is nice.

DC has been generous and provided some images of some of the interior pages of this book. Check them out here:

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

REVIEW: Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are on the scene when Superman takes down The Atom Man. No one seems to really notice his sickly reaction to the green crystal that powered the villain’s transformation.

Roberta’s family is moving from Chinatown to Metropolis proper. Her dad has a new job which comes with a new house, more money – and hostility from one of his colleagues. Jimmy Olsen lives nearby. On the day they move in, Roberta even gets to see Superman run across the telephone wires above the neighborhood.

Not everyone in the neighborhood is as nice as Jimmy. Roberta and her brother Tommy run into trouble with a bigot on the youth baseball team. But the racist teen is small time compared to the hate rising in Metropolis.

The Lee family is targeted by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. Time and time again they are attacked. The places important to them are in the line of fire. Thankfully Superman is always there to lend a hand.

But while Superman helps the Lees, he has problems of his own. Ever since he encountered that green crystal he’s been hearing a strange language and seeing beings no one else can see. What is happening to Metropolis’ hero?

Review

This was excellent! It’s a meaty story with a TON of things going on. Roberta and Superman tell most of the story. Between the two of them they wrestle with the obvious racism, Roberta tries to fit in with the kids in their new neighborhood, Clark remembers parts of his childhood, and then deals with his new visions. Both Roberta and Clark are dealing with identity issues and questions. I loved that Superman wasn’t just the guy swooping in to save the day – he had a character development arc, too. I definitely got my “money’s worth” out of this book. There’s so much to this story! It’s excellent.

I got to see about 60% of the artwork, and I loved it. The art style is one I enjoy, and the color was beautiful. The story was so easy to follow.

Stories about racism are hard to read – the hate, the duplicity, the name calling. But I think it’s good for readers – kids, teens, and adults – to wrestle with the issues, the language, and the hate. And to try to recognize the fear that runs underneath those other things. It’s subtle, but the feeling of desperately grasping for power and security is definitely there in the bigoted characters. There are even moments of racial tension between minorities, like when the Lee family resists interacting with some African American men who try to help them. Those more subtle pieces in the story add to the richness of the graphic novel. I feel like I could read this again and again and discover more depth each time.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. There’s great historical context in the back matter – for Superman the character as well as for racism in America and also personal stories from the author. The story is enjoyable, but readers who are willing to go deeper will find lots to think about here.

DC has graciously shared some of the interior art from this book. You can check it out here:

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

REVIEW: The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing/Forever in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Liya thought she was having dinner with her parents. Not her favorite activity thanks to her father’s constant disapproval. But she expressly told them she was not in the market for a husband. She wanted no part of some matchmaking dinner engineered by her parents.

Then Jay and his mom came to the door.

In her fury, Liya ended up slamming right into Jay, knocking them both to the ground, as she tried to escape. He probably thought she was rude – or crazy – but his opinion doesn’t matter. She’s not going to have to see him again.

But she does. When she should be celebrating a new promotion at work, she discovers her company is going under. They never mentioned the lawsuits or other issues during her interview. And the lawyer who’s been brought in to determine if the company can be saved? Jay.

And he’s furious that Liya ran out and was so disrespectful to his mother. He’s heard all sorts of rumors about Liya at church. She’s sassy and hard headed. Almost impossible to get along with. And she clearly wants nothing to do with him. So why does his heart race like that when he gets in verbal sparring matches with her?

Review

Tons of rich, emotional content in this contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance! Liya is a complex, complicated character. She’s fun and loyal with her friends, protective of her mother, and respectful of Jay’s mother. But at the same time she has no patience for gossipy aunties. And she’s openly hostile to the trash-talking men at her church. Her hostility is a shield, but Jay sees through some of that when he finally starts really paying attention.

Liya doesn’t make a very good first, second, or third impression with Jay. And he’s willing, after all that, to write her off. But his true character comes through when she’s too vulnerable to be hostile or protective. And that gives them a chance.

The author has a note right at the front of the book that indicates there are references to sexual assault in the book. Sensitive readers should know that going in.

Both Jay and Liya bring significant baggage into the story. And those situations are huge enough to derail the healthiest couple. There’s a lot for them to work through. And I was here for all of it. The final conflict in the story – and the subsequent wrap up – was an emotional powerhouse. My heart was racing, and I was hanging on every word. I though the ending was faithful to real life – no miracle endings. It was satisfying, although I would have happily taken an epilogue to see how things played out later. (Some language, CW: sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Voyagers: The Third Ghost

REVIEW: Voyagers: The Third Ghost

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher – Dancing Lemur Press – in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This is a collection of short stories for middle grade readers. There’s a mix of genres – fantasy, science fiction, history.  As examples, there’s a story with ghosts, some with time travel, one with a character on a slave ship, and another with nature-based magic. It’s an eclectic mix so readers are likely to find a few stories that click for them no matter what genre they prefer.

I think the format of short stories can be especially helpful for developing readers. Shorter stories means a shorter time commitment. For the longest time the books my students all wanted to read were 400 page behemoths. My poor kiddos who weren’t strong readers languished for weeks trying to make some progress on those longer books. A collection of short stories might have allowed them a sense of accomplishment when they finished some of the stories. They can also be great for classroom use as a group of students could all read one story fairly quickly and move on to discussion, where reading whole novels takes longer.

“The Orchard” was probably my favorite of the stories – I liked the characters. “The Blind Ship” was good and also horribly sad. I liked that it was based on a true story and that the actual journal the character was keeping was used to fight slavery. “The Third Ghost” is the story that has stuck with me the most since I finished reading.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: May 12, 2020

BOOK NEWS: May 12, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

   

It Is (Not) Perfect – Two friends try to make their sandcastle perfect. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Memoirs of a Tortoise (May 15) – Book 5 in this series. Oliver and his human Ike are both 80 years old and have a lot of similar interests. But when Ike stops visiting the garden, Oliver wonders why. One of the subjects of this book is death and dying, so this sounds like a more serious entry into this fun series.
Teddy Spaghetti – A boy who loves spaghetti gets teased at school.
If You Love Robots, You Could Be… (Early Reader) – The latest in a line of leveled readers about career options based on childhood interests.
Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion – Book 3 in the Questioneers chapter book series. Iggy Peck, Architect, and his friends the Questioneers, hunt for missing treasure in an old mansion. You can read about some of the picture books that launched this series here.
The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out – Book 4 in the Infamous Ratsos series. This time the boys are going camping. But their special guide tells them that good scouts never ask for help, which causes a lot of trouble.
The Unbelievable Oliver and the Sawed-in-Half Dads (LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the Unbelievable Oliver series. This time, Oliver has been hired to do magic at a wedding. He decides to use the grooms as his helpers in the sawed-in-half trick.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Bella’s Story – Looks like this is book 8 in the Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tales series (Ellie’s Story: ♥♥♥♥♥). When Bella has to go to a foster home, she is determined to get back to her boy, Lucas.
Dragon Ops – From the author of the Camelot Code series comes this new book about a video game theme park, and three kids lucky enough to beta test it. But once there they get trapped inside by a rogue artificial intelligence dragon.
Elsa’s Hero Journal – The flip side of this is Anna’s Hero Journal. It’s one volume, but two pieces that start at the covers and meet in the middle. This guided journal includes writing prompts and gorgeous Frozen 2 artwork.
By the Book – A teen tries to use 19th century literature to create a Scoundrel Survival Guide to warn her friends off of guys who are bad news. I have this on hold already at the library. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dear Universe – A teen navigating her senior year and her father’s terminal illness encounters an unusual hospital volunteer who helps her walk the line between her two lives.
House of Dragons – “Three Dark Crowns meets The Breakfast Club with dragons.” I don’t know that I need to hear much more than that to put this one on my list!
The Princess Trials (e-book – May 14) – A desperate teen signs on for the Princess Trials, a contest to find a wife for the future king, in order to get into the castle and search for weaknesses to help the rebellion. This sounds like The Selection (♥♥♥♥♥), and I am here for it. At the time of this writing, this is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers to read for free.
Say Yes Summer – A girl with lofty goals has spent her high school career saying no to everything but studying. And now that she has graduated, she is ready for a summer of “YES.” I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Superman Smashes the Klan – The latest graphic novel from DC Entertainment focuses on Superman in 1946 where he shows up to help a Chinese family who is being targeted by the Klan. I will be reviewing this one soon as well.

Books for Adults

A Study in Murder (e-book/Hardcover) – First in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series. This will be releasing electronically this week, but the hardcover won’t release until June 9. 1890, England. When a mystery author gets news that her fiance is up to something illegal, she dumps him. When he winds up dead in her library a couple days later, she is the prime suspect. I can’t wait to read this one!
Aleph Extraction (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Galactic Cold War series after The Bayern Agenda. Misfit spies on a space heist? Yes, please. I have this series on my list.
The Bright Side of Going Dark (Trade Paperback) – One of the most popular influencers on social media chucks it all – literally, she chucks her phone off a cliff – to live life off the grid for awhile. Another young woman hacks the influencer’s idle accounts and pretends to be her in an effort to connect with her sister who is a fan and is struggling. This is currently available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. I’m eager to read this one!
A Deadly Inside Scoop (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series. A woman trying to relaunch her family’s ice cream shop with a new image gets more than she bargained for with an unexpected snow storm and a dead body.
Love in Deed (e-book) – Book 6 in the Green Valley Library series. A recluse and a nomad find an unexpected life alongside one another – and the possibility of love. I am so intrigued by these books from Smartypants Romance because of their great covers. I have several on my reading list.
Of Literature and Lattes (Trade Paperback) – A woman reluctantly returns to her hometown after a series of problems and meets a man who is looking for help to save his business. The sparks between them won’t mean anything, though, if they keep running into roadblocks.
Read or Alive (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Bookmobile Mystery series (not to be confused with the Bookmobile CAT mystery series by Laurie Cass – Book 1 is Lending a Paw – ♥♥♥♥ ). When a book scout comes to town for the Antiquarian Book Society fair and swindles locals out of rare and valuable tomes, it’s really no surprise he ends up dead. (This is a mystery after all!) But the surprise is that Cleo’s cousin Dot AND Cleo’s beau, Henry, are suspects.
A Spell for Trouble (e-book/Hardcover) – First in the new Enchanted Bay Mystery series. This is another book where the e-book will release this week, but the physical book won’t be out until June. A woman ignores her father’s warnings, forbidding her from contacting her extended family, and returns to Bellamy Bay, NC. What she finds is the family apothecary shop, rumors that her family are descended from MERMAIDS, and murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
To Kill a Mocking Girl (e-book/Hardcover) – The series debut for the Bookbinding Mystery series. This is yet another book (all from the same publisher) that will release electronically this week, but in print on June 9. A woman back in her home town at her family’s bookshop is suspected of murdering her high school nemesis – the woman engaged to her ex. So she teams up with her older brother’s detective friend and her cousin-turned-nun to find the truth. Frankly, it’s the ensemble that makes this one sound so amazing. I am eager to read this one.
The Trouble with Hating You (Trade Paperback) – A successful biochemical engineer has had enough of her family’s fix-ups. The latest, a lawyer, actually shows up at her work a week after the disastrous fix-up dinner, as he’s been hired to come in and help save her company. She realizes she might have been hasty to dismiss him early on, but both of them may have too much baggage to make a relationship work. I am eager to read this, too!
100 Days to Brave Guided Journal (Hardcover) – The latest accessory to Annie F. Downs’ popular devotional 100 Days to Brave. This guided journal walks users through excerpts, writing prompts and Bible verses. It can be used on its own or alongside the devotional.
For All Who Hunger: Searching for Communion in a Shattered World (Hardcover) – A memoir from the founding pastor of St. Lydia’s Dinner Church in Brooklyn, New York. The founding of this church sounds fascinating, and then add in the stories of how they interacted with their community in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and this will be one not to miss. (LGBTQ+)
This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers (Trade Paperback) – If God loves us, why does he allow us to hurt? This memoir/spiritual growth resource looks at suffering in the middle. What can be learned in this space, especially if it is a suffering that isn’t going to go away? I loved this description: “An antidote to our cultural idolatry of effort and ease.” This will be a timely resource!

REVIEW: War and Speech by Don Zolidis

REVIEW: War and Speech by Don Zolidis

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In most high schools, the kids at the top of the social food chain are the jocks – the football or basketball players, the cheerleaders. Not at Eaganville. At Eaganville, it’s the Speech and Debate team.

The varsity Speech stars can do no wrong. They will verbally eviscerate another student in class, and the teachers are silent. Teachers offer breaks on class assignments. The teacher’s lounge is like their clubhouse for lunch. They are in the spotlight of the school culture, bright and shiny. They are also catty and cruel. Their coach is esteemed by administration, parents, and colleagues. He’s a winner. And he makes sure the team wins, too. Even if that means he is catty, and cruel as well.

And Sydney is determined to join the team.

Not because she wants to be one of them. Sure, she’s loved to argue her whole life. She’s clever and witty with a sharp sense of humor and plenty of snark. But she wants to join the Eaganville Speech team for the joy of taking them down once and for all, from the inside.

Review

Wow! This was great!! The writing is SO sharp – quick, and snappy. You can hear the rhythm of the debates in the early attacks on Sydney and her friends. It was like reading an Aaron Sorkin West Wing walk-and-talk. I was hooked by the writing. I have to find out what else this author has written.

On top of that, this is SO funny!! I was screenshotting sections and texting them to my husband in another part of the house because they begged to be shared. Between Sydney’s job and the pop culture references, I was in love with this story.

A revenge story – for me – has to be compelling. I need to feel the anger rise up in me, the righteous indignation. I need to feel the fictional vengeance is necessary or justified. (Moxie is a great example of this.) Because otherwise, the revenge acts are just as wrong, just as mean. And when it comes to the coach, that happened. He needed to be dealt with here, and pursuing the proper channels went no where. And his part of the ending was satisfying.

The students’ behavior wasn’t as strong for me. Yes, they were snide and condescending. Yes, some of them were cruel to Sydney’s friends to varying degrees. But those stories happened mostly before Sydney was even there. She didn’t witness them or live through them. Since she is the only point of view character, there was an emotional distance to those stories. It made complete sense for her to be hurt for her new friends, to recognize the wrong-ness of how they were treated. But the emotional punch wasn’t there for me as I considered what drove Sydney to revenge.

There’s is so, so much to love with this book. Yes, I wanted a stronger motive for Sydney to take down the team, but everything else here was absolute perfection for me as a reader. If you enjoy sharp, witty stories with amazing writing, be sure to check this one out! (Language, underage drinking, sexual references, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan

BONUS REVIEW: Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke has been managing the family diner – The Bear Claw – in Elkview, Alaska, for about a year. Her main cook, Oliver, is a chef who trained in Paris. She has a circle of staff and friends who pitch in any time a tour bus threatens to overwhelm the smallish diner. And locals and tourists alike love the food, from the mooseloaf to the “grilled cheese extravaganza” to the cherry cheesecake mousse.

Charlie and Oliver were having something of a verbal tug-of-war over the diner menu. He wanted to remove the mousse from their offerings. She wanted to add chocolate to their signature bear claws. Sure, they had argued, and he had stormed off. But that was just what it was like sometimes when working with Oliver. When Oliver doesn’t return, Charlie calls in other staff to cover, figuring Oliver’s pout will be over soon. But no one at the diner is prepared for the news that Oliver was murdered.

Charlie’s shouting match with Oliver makes her a suspect, although not a serious one. But knowing how overloaded Alaskan law enforcement tends to be, Charlie and her friends decide to help track down a killer.

Review

This was fun! I loved the Alaskan setting as well as the diner. Both gave an opening for interesting characters and events in the story. I enjoyed Charlie and her sleuthing partner, Chris. The relationship with law enforcement in this book is fun. Trooper is willing to let Charlie and friends help as long as they are smart and careful. The deputizing routine is a hoot, especially in the end.

The cast of characters working in the diner were fun. Their camaraderie reminds me a little of the Bakeshop series crew in the early part of the series when we were getting to know everyone. I’m eager to see how this crew develops over time. There’s lots of potential for future stories and character development in this group. And Charlie’s relationship with her cat, Benny, was sweet, with some clever and unique twists that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The mystery was good. I had a suspect in mind super early on, but it was the wrong one. But I latched onto the right one about 2/3 of the way through the book. It was satisfying to watch the reveal come together in the end and find out I was right.

This was a great series kick off. Cozy mystery fans should not miss this one. Fans of culinary mysteries should add this to their TBR piles. There are two recipes included at the end of the book. Book 2, Fishing for Trouble, will be releasing later in 2020.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

REVIEW: Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Hadley was one of the last two contestants on America’s Fiercest Chef. She was going head-to-head against Max Cavanagh into the final round. And that’s when Max fell apart. He was drinking heavily, and he treated Hadley poorly. By the time the show was over and the winner was announced, one of the judges was wearing Hadley’s final dish.

It’s no surprise then that Max disappears for a few months, and his TV show on the Culinary Channel is put on hiatus.

It’s a huge surprise, though, when Max shows up at Hadley’s house to apologize.

Max seems sincere. He’s been in rehab. He’s sober. And he’s embarrassed by his behavior towards Hadley. Could the change be real? Or is this just a ploy to get her to agree to being on Renowned with him.? The show has never highlighted two chefs at once before. But putting Hadley and  the old Max together in a kitchen would be ratings gold! It’s less clear what new and reformed Max might be like, if he can even hold on to the changes he is trying to make in his life.

Review

I became a Bethany Turner fan after reading the spectacular The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck. But she has solidified that status with this book’s story and characters as well as a West Wing reference and a shout out to Aaron Rodgers in the acknowledgements. I have her second book, Wooing Cady McCaffrey, on my TBR shelves.

I enjoyed Hadley and Max’s story. The cooking scenes were so well written – fun and engaging without being technical or dry. And the cooking was a great backdrop for exploring the characters and their dynamic together. I was a little sad there were no recipes in my review copy. The foods sounded scrumptious.

I read this in one sitting. I was captivated by Max’s efforts to be a better version of himself. It was realistic because it wasn’t easy. His first instinct after all these years was to be critical and argumentative and demeaning. I loved watching how his relationship with Hadley helped him grow and learn a different way to be.

The Christian elements are subtle. I was thrilled that the faith pieces weren’t overwrought or wedged awkwardly in. But I would have liked more from the faith angle. For me this is more “clean” romance (meaning no sex scenes) than a blatantly Christian romance.

Fans of contemporary romance and romcoms – especially those who enjoy enemies-to-“lovers” stories – should check this one out. The faith pieces are light enough I don’t believe they will push away any reader who might be disinclined to read a faith-based story.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Rival Magic by Deva Fagan

REVIEW: Rival Magic by Deva Fagan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Antonia Durant wants nothing more than to be a wizard. She’s been apprenticed to Master Betrys for almost 6 months. She’s learning so much all the time. But her magic isn’t getting any better. She can’t even make a turnip dance.

Moppe Cler works in the kitchen at Master Betrys’ home. She has enough magic to make a whole kitchen full of turnips dance! But she’ll likely never have Antonia’s magical knowledge.

Antonia’s afraid her mother will make her leave Master Betrys if her magic doesn’t improve. But then she finds out her mother only let her go in the first place because she wanted Antonia to spy on Master Betrys. Betrys knows something about the lost crown of Medasia. Rival factions want the crown for their own purposes. And Master Betrys and the girls are caught in the middle.

After a disastrous magical display at a gala, Master Betrys is ready to expel both of her apprentices. But when she is later falsely accused of treason, Antonia and Moppe are her only hope for freedom.

Review

This was fantastic! It’s well-written middle grade fantasy with magic and mermaids, sea serpents and secrets. The world-building and the pacing was great.  I especially enjoyed how the author chose to deal with magic words/spells. Brilliant. And if you get a close look at the cover, you will see all sorts of great references from the book.

At its core, this is a friendship story. Antonia and Moppe see a lot to envy in one another. They are antagonistic to each other out of jealousy and competition. The envy/jealousy was realistic without being too angsty or overplayed. But in time they start to see they are better together. There’s great foreshadowing of the conflict that will arise. And all of it plays out so well!

I would absolutely read more books from this world if this becomes a series. Hand this to fans of the Twinchantment books or the Fairytale Reform School series or the Camelot Code series – or really any middle grade fantasy.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: May 5, 2020

BOOK NEWS: May 5, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy May! Yes, there have been a lot of release dates postponed because of the pandemic, but you can’t tell it by this great slate of books we have to look forward to. Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Pterapunzel (Board Book) – Book 3 in the Once Before Time board book series of fractured fairy tales starring dinosaurs. You can read my review of Sleeping Bronty here. A dinosaur with a beautiful singing voice is captured by a witch and imprisoned in a tall tower. This looks adorable!
I Really Want the Cake – A girl and her pup struggle against temptation when there’s cake!
Llama Unleashes the Alpacalypse – Sequel to Llama Destroys the World (♥♥♥). Llama clones his friend Alpaca to help him clean up his baking mess leading to the “alpacalypse.”
The One and Only Dylan St. Claire – A boy who loves the spotlight is cast as a squirrel in the school play about outer space – instead of the starring role he was hoping for.
Welcome to the Party – A new picture book by Gabrielle Union inspired by the anticipation of the birth of her daughter.
Clever Hans – The true story of a clever horse that changed the course of science! I am so excited to read this!
Cutiecorns: Heart of Gold – The first of two books launching this series this week. It’s time for the Cutiecorns to learn to use their magic when Sparkle’s locket is stolen.
Frog and Dog: Frog Meets Dog AND Goat in a Boat (ACORN) – There are three short, rhyming friendship stories in each of these books launching the Frog and Dog series from Scholastic Acorn.
Hotdog! AND Hotdog!: Party Time – These two books launch the Hotdog! series. Hotdog and his friends help a baby bird find its mother in book one, and in book two the friends are planning a surprise party.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Puppy Prince – Book 3 in the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty series about a princess kitty and her unicorn best friend. These look DARLING!! This time, a royal family of dogs comes to visit, and Itty has trouble connecting with the prince.
Jewel Kingdom: The Ruby Princess Runs Away – The first of FOUR books launching the Jewel Kingdom series release this week! Four girls about to become princesses must face personal challenges in their kingdom(s). These look so fun! The covers for all four are gorgeous! The other titles are: The Sapphire Princess Meets a Monster, The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick, and The Diamond Princess Saves the Day.
Layla and the Bots: Happy Paws (BRANCHES) – Book 1 in the new Layla and the Bots series from Scholastic Branches that combines a rock band with cool inventions. In this book, Layla tries to help a failing amusement park by turning it into a park for dogs. This also looks adorable!
Jesus, Who Are You? – An inductive Bible study for kids on the names of Jesus from Kay Arthur and other authors. This sounds really cool!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Becoming Brianna – Book 4 in the Emmie & Friends line of graphic novels after Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime (♥♥♥♥). This book focuses on Bri’s preparations for her Bat Mitzvah, especially considering she does not enjoy being in the spotlight. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
Camp Jupiter Classified (Trials of Apollo) – The journal of Claudia, a probatio at Camp Jupiter might lead readers to discover who is really responsible for all the problems that have cropped up recently at the camp. Fans of Rick Riordan’s series should check this one out.
Cursed (Older Middle Grade) – The sixth and final book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series which started with Flunked (♥♥♥♥). Gilly is pitted against her own sister as she battles Rumpelstiltskin and his Stiltskin Squad when they try to curse Enchantasia out of existence.
Donut Dreams: Family Recipe – Book 3 in the Donut Dreams series focuses on an adopted girl wrestling with a family tree assignment for school.
Jacky Ha-Ha (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the Chris Grabenstein/James Patterson novel.
Katie Cupcakes and Wedding Bells – Book 33 in the Cupcake Diaries series. Katie is excited about her mom’s upcoming wedding until she finds out it means they are going to have to move.
Keep It Together, Keiko Carter – At the start of middle school, Keiko finds herself caught between her feuding best friends as the pressure builds to have boyfriends before Fall Ball.
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy from 15 Muslim Voices – A collection of short stories about the celebration of Eid, the festival at the end of Ramadan.
The One and Only Bob – The long-awaited sequel of The One and Only Ivan. Ivan, Ruby, and Bob set off on an adventure as they search for Bob’s sister as a hurricane approaches.
One Last Shot – In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a book by John David Anderson. I’ve already pre-ordered this one, I am so confident it will be amazing. A non-sporty kid discovers he loves mini-golf, but his dad’s sports obsession threatens to ruin the game for him.
Real Pigeons Eat Danger – Book 2 in the Real Pigeons series starring crime fighting feathered friends. I have book 1 on hold at the library. This series looks hysterical!
Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe – Book 2 in the Sal and Gabi series from Rick Riordan’s imprint for mythological stories. This time, there is a rogue Gabi duplicate on the loose that threatens the world as we know it.
Shuri – My favorite character from the Black Panther movie now gets her own book (in addition to the comics and graphic novels where you can already find her). From the author of Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥). In a story that seems to be launching a series, Shuri leaves Wakanda to find out what is causing the Heart-Shaped Herb to die. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Sprinkle Sundays: A Sprinkle of Friendship – Book 10 in the Sprinkle Sundays series. Allie and Sierra are trying to do the jobs of three people at the ice cream shop when Tamiko goes on vacation during the busy summer season.
Swimming with Dolphins – A girl’s worries about her family’s move and how she’ll adjust to new spaces with her wheelchair are compounded when her dream of swimming with a dolphin doesn’t go like she thought it would.
Throwback: The Chaos Loop – Book 2 in the Throwback series from the author of the Seven Wonders books and the Max Tilt series. In the first book, Corey discovered he has the power to go back in time and change history, but now he’s becoming addicted to the rush of fixing past problems. And a trip back to WWII Germany could ask more of him than he is able to give.
Turtle Boy (Older Middle Grade) – Will, a struggling middle schooler who prefers a quiet life by himself, gets to know RJ, a boy in the hospital with an incurable disease, as part of his Bar Mitzvah preparations. But when RJ’s health starts to decline, Will decides he needs to tackle the items on RJ’s bucket list for him. This will be powerful.
We Dream of Space – Three siblings in 7th grade (a pair of twins and an older sibling taking a second run at it) dig into a class assignment in anticipation of the Challenger launch (1986). This sounds lovely. I am fascinated by the full description of the three kids, the ways they are each struggling, and I’m eager to see how the class assignment impacts each of them.
Show Me History: Benjamin Franklin, Inventor of the Nation! (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel biography of Benjamin Franklin.
What Is Lego? AND Where Is the Congo?

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Aurora Burning – Sequel to the terrific Aurora Rising.  Squad 312 is still on the run as Aurora tries to get a handle on her powers. And a message from the past – the black box on the Hadfield – could be just what they need to figure out how to save the galaxy. I already have this on hold at the library.
The Betrothed – Kiera Cass, author of the fantastic Selection series, is back with a new story about a would-be queen. Hollis has grown up at the palace, so of course she is thrilled to hear the King has his eye on her. But a commoner with a mysterious gift shows Hollis that her heart may actually want something besides the future she was raised to pursue.
Clap When You Land – A novel in verse about two girls – one in the Dominican Republic and the other in New York – who learn about one another when their father is killed in a plane crash.
The Declaration, the Sword and the Spy – Book 6 in the Epic Order of the Seven series. The Epic Order of the Seven animals try to help the Founding Fathers through the treacherous twists of the American Revolution.
Forged in Fire and Stars – Ara was always told her destiny was to become the Loresmith, the blacksmith who armed the kingdom for war. But after the kingdom was overthrown years back, she thought that destiny was gone. Until the lost prince and princess come looking for Ara to help them retake their kingdom and defeat their foes.
Four Days of You and Me – Every year their class takes an all-day class trip. And every year the trip draws Lulu and Alex together again. Looks like this will explore the class trip from all four years of high school with these two teens.
Fractured Tide – A new novel from Blink YA publishing. A scuba diving teen is marooned on an island after her boat is attacked by a mysterious creature and some of her tourist passengers are killed. Reuniting with some survivors on the island is not the relief she first thinks it is. Described as a mix of suspense and horror.
Hunting November – Sequel to the stunning Killing November. November has survived her training at the espionage boarding school where her father sent her, but now she has to use those skills – and the ones he gave her growing up – to find her father before someone kills him. I adored the first book and will be reading this one as soon as I get my hands on it.
The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly – A teen waitressing at a medieval-themed restaurant longs for the chance to be a knight instead of a wench. The pay is better – and her family needs it – and the job is more fun. But when she fills in for her brother as a knight, wins, and then is revealed to be a girl, she decides there’s no way she is going back to waiting tables without a fight. I have this on hold at the library, too.
War and Speech – When her dad goes to prison, Sydney loses a lot. But she gains a new school that is ruled by the blistering speech team of all things. But Sydney’s new group of misfit friends realizes she could actually get onto the speech team and help them take it down from the inside. But what will Sydney choose to do when she realizes she actually has a chance to win the national competition and get some of her life back instead of toppling the power structure? I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

Books for Adults

The Farm Stand (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Amish Marketplace series. An Amish woman running her own produce stand at the market starts to fall for the Mennonite chef working next door. But she’s already in a relationship.
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey. The top two chefs on the Culinary Channel have to work together as he is trying to repair his reputation, and she has all the sweet and respectable qualities he needs to find if he wants to keep his career.
Hello Summer (Hardcover) – A journalist stuck back at home working on the gossip column in the family newspaper stumbles into the story of a lifetime.
The Imperfects (Hardcover) – The three Miller siblings launch an investigation into their family history when their grandmother dies and they discover a  famous, long-missing diamond among her belongings.
Mousse and Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. A chef returns to her Alaskan home to take over the family diner, but soon finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation when her head cook is killed.
A Murderous Misconception (e-book May 8) – Book 7 in the Victoria Square Mystery series. When Kate hears her boyfriend Andy’s assistant manager is pregnant with his child, she is floored. When the woman is later killed (and determined to NOT be pregnant), Kate and Andy both become murder suspects.
My Brother’s Keeper (e-book May 8) – Book 4 in the Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery series. When Margot tries to get away for a restorative vacation, the Lord has other plans. She finds plenty of people at the B&B in need of pastoral care and counsel. When one of those people ends up dead, she feels compelled to investigate. I love the idea of a Christian Cozy mystery! Book 1, Into the Lion’s Den, is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
Network Effect (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Murderbot Diaries series, the first full-length, standalone novel in the series. I am fascinated by this Artificial Intelligence story. I have book 1 on my list at the library.
The Resolutions (Hardcover) – The Brennan siblings are close to achieving everything they ever dreamed. But when roadblocks threaten to undo everything, they return home to each other for the holidays, and then head to West Africa to try to save everything they have worked for.
Storing up Trouble (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the American Heiresses series. An independent young woman encounters a scientist on the train to Chicago when someone tries to steal the man’s research. When they bump into each other again, it becomes clear that the thieves have not given up their plans to steal the research, and both the scientist and the young woman may get caught in the middle. This series looks delightful! I can’t wait to read these.
The Tourist Attraction (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Moose Springs, Alaska series. A grumpy local with no patience for tourists may have to change his tune when he gets to know the  young woman who frequents his diner and blushes every time he catches her eye. I have had this on hold at the library for ages!
Upsy Daisy (e-book) – Book 1 in the Higher Learning series. Two young people at college believe this time in their lives is crucial to achieving the future they dream of, but they could quickly become a distraction for one another.
Grace for the Moment Family Devotional (Hardcover) – 100 devotions for families from Max Lucado.
The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America’s Sixteenth President – and Why It Failed (Hardcover) – The latest from Brad Meltzer looks into a little-known failed assassination attempt against President Lincoln.
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power (Hardcover) – A collection of essays around these four American values and how they line up to Jesus’ commands for his followers.