BOOK NEWS: February 6, 2024

Happy February! Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids


Lucky Duck (Picture Book) – Every time something unlucky happens to Susan the duck, Wolf shows up with something she’s won. Isn’t that lucky?
The Fix-Its: Nail Needs Help (Early Reader Graphic Novel) – Hammer and Nail are best friends, but when Nail needs help, Hammer might not be the right helper.
The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion (Chapter Book) – First book in a new Acorn chapter book series. Viv and Sanjay can shrink really small to help animals. This time they help a lion with a leaky heart.
The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn (Picture Book) – A small unicorn who doesn’t feel like he fits in runs away. I am looking forward to reading this one!
Zips & Eeloo Make Hummus (Early Reader Graphic Novel) – Two aliens who have been on Earth six whole days believe they know all things about being human. And to show that. they are going to teach readers to make hummus. I have to see this in person.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Art Club (Graphic Novel) – An art-loving kid tries to convince his family and his school that art matters by starting an art club.
City Spies: Mission Manhattan (Middle Grade) – Book 5 in the City Spies series from James Ponti. The City Spies head to NYC to protect a teen climate activist.
Drawing Deena (Middle Grade) – A girl with anxiety tries to use her art to help her family through a difficult time.
Liar’s Society (Middle Grade) – A new book from Alyson Gerber focuses on two kids hiding personal secrets at their exclusive school when they are invited to help solve the mystery of what happened to the money for their school trip.
Not the Worst Friend in the World (Middle Grade) – A girl experiencing friendship trouble at school is asked to help out a new girl who says she’s been kidnapped. This sounds fascinating.
Sunny Makes her Case (Graphic Novel) – Book 5 in this graphic novel series by Jennifer L. Holm. Sunny and a friend start a debate club.
Be More Wednesday (Older Middle Grade) – A guide to being more goth, like Wednesday Adams.
What Is a Solar Eclipse? (Middle Grade Nonfiction) – The folks at Who HQ take on solar eclipses like the one happening in April this year.
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You (YA) – A girl who channels all of her anger and frustration into scathing email drafts has to face her true feelings when the drafts are accidentally sent. Sounds amazing.

Books for Adults


Bride (Trade Paperback) – Something different from author Ali Hazelwood. The daughter of a powerful vampyre and an alpha werewolf are thrown together in an arranged marriage.
Just Stab Me Now (ebook) – A romance writer struggles to get her main character to behave. And she can’t reach out to her editor for help  because he might realize that the story’s villain is based on him. Yes, please! I have already pre-ordered this one.
The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck (Trade Paperback) – Lilah Goodluck saves the life of a mysterious woman and in return is given 5 predictions – including winning lottery numbers and a statement that she is days away from her death. Yeah, I couldn’t hit the preorder button fast enough on this one, either.
To Woo and to Wed (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Regency Vows series. A widow reaches out to her former betrothed to help her stage a fake relationship so her sister will move forward with her own happy ending. Looking forward to checking this one out.

REVIEW: Mercy Watson Is Missing by Kate DiCamillo

Summary


The Watsons are devastated when their beloved pig, Mercy, goes missing. They even seek out a private detective to help. The whole Deckawoo Drive neighborhood shows up to help – well, not Eugenia. But a couple of clever kids are able to save the day.

Review


This is a hoot! There are a ton of familiar faces in this story as well as porcine antics and buttery goodness. Series fans – of both the original Mercy Watson books and also fans of the Deckawoo Drive stories – will find a lot here to connect with. Savvy readers will likely solve the mystery before the characters do. But Mercy’s adventure takes several twists and turns I think readers will enjoy.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!