Tag: June New Releases

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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What Is God Like? – A picture book from the late Rachel Held Evans written to answer children’s questions about God. I’m eager to see this one in person.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Harriet Tubman AND I Am Nikola Tesla – The latest from the Xavier Riddle series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Dead City Saga – The three books of the Dead City Saga, by James Ponti (FRAMED series, City Spies series) are collected into one volume about a zombie hunter.
The Double Life of Danny Day – Danny lives each day twice. The first day is like a dry run, and the second is his chance to make every moment count. I am super excited to read this one!
Even and Odd – A magical middle grade book by Sarah Beth Durst. Two sisters who share magic are trapped on the magical side of the border between our world and the one where they were born because a wizard is manipulating magic for her own purposes. This one sounds fun, too! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Islanders – Jake has to stay with his grandmother on a small island nature sanctuary while his mother goes to care for his father who was injured in Afghanistan. While he’s expecting a boring summer, he makes some new friends and they have to band together to save a turtle’s nest from predators. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Mischief and Mayhem: Born to Be Bad (graphic novel) – First in a new middle grade graphic novel series about a supervillain girl and her sidekick. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Box in the Woods – Book 4 in the YA Truly Devious series. Stevie Bell has caught a killer, and now she’s been invited to the site of a 1978 unsolved murder to help the owner with a true crime podcast about the case.
Don’t Hate the Player – After bonding over video games when they were kids, Emilia and Jake reconnect in high school when they are both competing in a gaming tournament. Emilia is desperate to keep her gaming life a secret from her friends and family, but the high profile nature of the tournament puts her secrets in jeopardy. You can read my full review here.
Indestructible Object (LGBTQ+) – After a series of disappointments and losses, Lee and some friends team up to produce a podcast about whether love really exists.

Books for Adults

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The Abduction of Pretty Penny (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery series. Joanna and the Watsons are investigating the case of a missing young actress.
Once Upon a Royal Summer (Trade Paperback) – From Hallmark Publishing. A theme park princess meets a real-life prince. I’ve already pre-ordered this one!
Plot Twist (Trade Paperback) – A wannabe screenwriter has a meet cute with a wannabe actor and then they part, planning to meet up at the same coffeeshop in 10 years. I’ll be reviewing this latest book by Bethany Turner soon.
Start Trek The Original Series: Living Memory (Trade Paperback) – Admiral Kirk is dealing with murder at the Academy as he is trying to settle in as the new commandant. Spock, on the Enterprise, and Chekov, on the Reliant, are investigating cosmic storms that seem to be targeting Federation worlds. I love stories that involve Starfleet Academy, and I would gladly pick this up to spend time with favorite characters.
Very Sincerely Yours (Trade Paperback) – A new romantic comedy from the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks (♥♥♥♥) and Not Like the Movies. A woman dealing with a disappointing break up reaches out to the host of a local children’s show about her problems – just like the kids in the audience do – and they start corresponding. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Dangerous Damsels series. A member of the Wisteria Society crime sorority is targeted by an assassin whose boss wants to eliminate all of England’s troublesome women, starting with the ladies of the Society. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. I can’t wait to read it!!

 

Here are some of the new books releasing this week that caught my attention:

Books for Kids

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Franklin Endicott and the Third Key – Book 6 in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, a spin-off of the Mercy Watson series. This is a new adventure starring Franklin.
The Incredible Power of God’s Word – Young readers get to discover the power of God’s Word thanks to this new book from Joyce Meyer.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Marvel-Verse: Shang-Chi (Graphic Novel, Older Middle Grade) – Book 12 in the Marvel-Verse series. This collects a variety of comics to lay out the story of Shang-Chi. Other heroes include Spider-Man, Wolverine, Nick Fury, and Black Widow.
To Tell You the Truth – A new story from Beth Vrabel. Trixy needs a story for school, and fast, but the only ones she can think of are the ones her grandmother told – and no one believed. And since her grandmother is gone, Trixy doesn’t think anyone will mind that she uses one of her stories. But the story grabs everyone’s attention and things start to get more complicated. So Trixy and her friend start looking into her grandmother’s past. Maybe when she knows the true story, Trixy will be able to come up with a story all her own.
What Comes Next – A new story from the fantastic Rob Buyea. After Thea loses her best friend in a tragic accident, she stops speaking. Her parents feel like a fresh start somewhere new might help, and her dad has promised all three girls that they will get a dog at their new house. Thea isn’t sure any of that could make any sort of difference, but Jack-Jack the dog opens up doors for her that she thought might be closed forever. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love – Oscar is biding his time until the end of high school so he can turn his full focus on the food truck he runs with his grandfather. Mary Louise – Lou – is a lock for valedictorian and she has a plan for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, too. But Lou’s plans hijack Oscar’s plans and he ends up roped into helping someone he can’t stand on a project he never wanted to take on. This is on my list for this week!
Down with this Ship – A secret fanfiction writer is exposed when her work receives an award, and she finds herself caught up in not only “ships” over the characters in her work but also “ships” of her with people at her school.
Fire with Fire – Two sisters, raised to be dragon slayers. One is all about the hunt, driven and committed to their mission. Her sister is the one who forges a magical connection to one of the creatures, putting them at odds as war looms.
The Marvelous – The heiress-turned-social-media-influencer who created the most popular video-sharing app has returned dramatically from a year out of the spot light to make an announcement. Selected users of her app will be invited to her estate for a weekend. Once there, the guests discover they are part of an elaborate game to see who has what it takes to win, no matter the cost.
We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This – Two teens, thrown together repeatedly thanks to their parents’ businesses (Hers are wedding planners – and she is a wedding harpist. His are caterers, and he often waits tables for them), clash the summer after she confessed her feelings for him and he left for college without saying anything.

Books for Adults

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Deadly Delights (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the delightful Bookish Baker Mystery series. Teddie is on the case again when the lecherous judge of a baking contest is killed and her distinctive rolling pin is the murder weapon. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Love for Beginners (Hardcover) – Recovering from a coma – and from learning that while she was unconscious her fiancé fell in love with her best friend – Emma refuses to give up. She pushes through treatment with her evil physical therapist and opens a doggie day care, even though it means renting space from her nemesis. But nothing goes as she expects – she starts falling for the evil physical therapist, she might actually be becoming friends with her nemesis, and people start dropping off their elderly relatives instead of dogs at her new business. This is on my list for this week!
Reserved for Murder (Hardcover) – Sequel to Booked for Death in the Booklovers B&B Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. When one of the hottest authors of romantic fantasy comes to Chapters Bed and Breakfast, it’s to get away for awhile. But her fans start pouring into town, so she agrees to host a couple events and then get back to her retreat. But when the president of the author’s fan club is found dead, Charlotte starts sleuthing. I have book one in the series on my e-reader TBR.
A Rogue’s Company (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series. Iris and Gwendolyn are on the case when something is very clearly going on in the Bainbridge family. Gwendolyn’s father-in-law threatens to send her son away and undo all of the work she and Iris have been doing. And then the ladies take on a new case for a client who seems to be harboring secrets related to the Bainbridge family. I enjoyed the last book in the series, so I would definitely give this one a go.
Star Trek The Next Generation: Mirror Universe Collection (Graphic Novel) – A collection of Mirror Universe TNG stories.
The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration  of the Avengers and Beyond (Hardcover) – An in-world book compiled on Shuri’s request to collect documentation of Wakanda’s inventions and technology from over the years.
Creative Polymer Clay (Paperback) – Learn to work with Polymer Clay. I can get lost for hours on Instagram, watching videos of people rolling out clay to make earrings and such. It’s very soothing!

As June kicks off tomorrow, I am starting a new full time job. I’m hoping to keep up with my blogging schedule, but know that there might be adjustments this summer as I see what I can manage in a healthy way. I am scaling back my Book News posts for sure, which you will noticed this month. I’m hoping to focus on the new things I am most excited about. With the VOLUME of new books releasing each week, it likely means I will miss something *you* would be excited by. If you have questions or are looking for specific recommendations, let me know. For now, here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Arnold the Super-ish Hero – A humble kid in a family of superheroes discovers that even without special “powers” of his own, he can be helpful to others. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite! – Burt would love to be a bug with super powers, but he’s not sure june beetles are very special. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, too.
Dear Librarian – A thank you to a librarian who helped a child during a difficult time.
Nia and the New Free Library – As a town tries to decide what to do with the space the library had been in, before it was destroyed by a tornado, Nia looks for ways to convince everyone that what they need most is a new library.
Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature – Nathan W. Pyle’s first picture book starring his alien characters who are captivated by the sneaking, hiding, vibrating creature in their house.
Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress – A picture book biography focused on Shirley Chisholm’s daring qualities.
Layla and the Bots: Cupcake Fix – Book 3 in the Layla and the Bots series. Layla and the bots want to build a cupcake machine to make the opening of the new community center special.
Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves – Book 11 in the Mia Mayhem series. This time, Mia’s family goes on vacation.
Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker: Horn Slayer (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Pacey Packer series. While Pacey weakened the evil Arkane last time when she cut off his horn, she didn’t finish the job of defeating him, so she heads back to Rundalyn.
Pizazz – Pizazz shows readers the downsides to being a superhero. First in a new series.
Pup Detectives: The Soccer Mystery (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Pup Detectives series. Rider Woofson and the pup detectives start sleuthing when the school mascot and the star soccer player go missing.
She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor – An early chapter book biography.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Clique Here – After an embarrassing incident, Lily is more than ready to change schools and re-invent herself as Blake. But when a friend from her old school shows up at her new school, Lily/Blake will have to figure out who she wants to be.
Ham Helsing, Vampire Hunter (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series about a reluctant vampire-hunting pig.
The Hidden Knife (Older Middle Grade) – A girl hidden by her mother, a former-queen. Wise gargoyles who train and coach. A school full of secrets and mysteries. This sounds great!
Marcus Makes a Movie – An illustrated novel by actor Kevin Hart. Initially Marcus feels “stuck” in his after school film class. But then he realizes he can use the class to help him bring a comic character he created to film. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Shock Waves (Graphic Novel) – Miles heads up a fundraiser to help Puerto Rico after an earthquake, but the missing father of a classmate might have ties to the corporation backing his fundraiser, so he has to investigate.
The Monster Missions – Two kids living on an old cruise ship, scavenging for supplies from the drowned cities around them start to hunt sea monsters when they accidentally awaken a Hydra that is seeking revenge.
Super Secret Super Spies: Mystery of the All-Seeing Eye – First in a new series. A lonely girl is recruited to join the Illuminati as a spy who works with other kids to keep things on the planet spinning along as they should.
Upside Down Magic: Night Owl – Book 8 in the Upside Down Magic series. Nory and her friends are part of the all-school sleepover. Nory is hoping if their team wins the big competition that night, her best friend won’t change schools. Meanwhile, Sebastian is struggling with the loud noises from the event, but none of his friends seem to care.
Brick Science: STEM Tips and Tricks for Experimenting with your LEGO Bricks – Science experiments kids can do with Lego bricks.
Who Is Neil deGrasse Tyson? AND Who Was A. A. Milne? – The latest Who Was biographies.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Ace of Spades – Devon and Chiamaka have been chosen to be senior prefects at school, which also means either could become valedictorian. But when anonymous text messages start going out from someone calling themselves “Aces” and their secrets are revealed, Devon and Chiamaka must stop Aces before things get deadly. This is already on my library wishlist.
Better Together – “Parent Trap meets Freaky Friday.” Sisters raised with no knowledge of one another meet at a retreat and magically switch places when they go home. Once they are stuck living each other’s lives, they start looking for a way back to themselves. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Castle of Refuge – Book 2 in the Dericott Tale series, this one an adaptation of the story of the Ugly Duckling. Scarred by her sister in an act of malice, Audrey flees her home when her father decides to marry off his “damaged” daughter. She finds a home at Dericott Castle, working as a servant, and falling in love with Lord Dericott. But when the man she’s supposed to marry shows up hunting for her, Audrey and Edwin will have to see if their love can triumph. This sounds awesome!
A Chorus Rises: A Song Below Water novel – A teen influencer finds her fans turning on her for exposing a Siren to the world. So Naema heads to the Southwest to start over and re-create what she has lost. But when some of her new fans start turning on other Black girls, Naema will need to discover her true purpose.
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms – From the same line and author as Loki: Where Mischief Lies. Gamora has been sent to Torndune to collect the heart of the planet. Nebula is in hot pursuit hoping to beat her “sister” to the prize and earn some credit for herself. Each aligns with different factions on the planet for help. But the closer they get to their prize, the more secrets are revealed about what they have really been sent to do.
Jay’s Gay Agenda (LGBTQ+) – As the only out gay kid in his town, Jay can only dream and plan what it would be like to be in a romantic relationship. But when his family moves to Seattle for his senior year, and Jay can start checking things off his “gay agenda,” he’ll find himself torn between his old life and his new one.
The Passing Playbook (LGBTQ+) – When Spencer transitioned last year, he experienced isolation and bullying. Now at a new school where no one knows him any other way, Spencer is finally getting to experience friendships and a chance to start for the soccer team. But when a new discriminatory law forces Spencer’s coach to bench him, Spencer has to decide if he will accept this or if he’s going to challenge it, which would mean coming out to his new community.
Poison Ivy: Thorns – Pamela Isley is keeping secrets and keeping people “out,” especially men who always seem to want something she isn’t willing to give. But when Pamela connects with a girl at school, she’s tempted to lower her guard. But Pamela – whose mother called her Ivy – has secrets that could turn deadly. I am fascinated by this one! I have been enjoying the DC YA graphic novels that have come out over the last few years.
A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions – In 1926, a quintet of teens trained by the Society to snare powerful men are dropped off in a new city, charged with cozying up to a young man who is likely to one day become President.
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous – The latest from the fantastic Suzanne Park! When Sunny accidentally films a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral, her parents send the social media influencer to a digital detox camp in Iowa. While she’s determined to do what it takes to find her way back online, there are some surprises in store for Sunny out on the farm. This is on my list for this week!
The (Un)Popular Vote (LGBTQ+) – A transgender guy with a politician for a father is supposed to be keeping a low profile and his past a secret, but he’s drawn into the election for student body president. This is on my list for this week, too.

Books for Adults

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Dead Dead Girls (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Harlem Renaissance Mystery series. A kidnapping survivor gets drawn into a mystery when she notices that young Black women are being killed. This sounds excellent!
Girl One (Hardcover) – Josie is “Girl One,” one of 9 babies conceived without male DNA and raised in a compound. When the compound is attacked, the Girls and their Mothers scatter. When Josie’s Mother later goes missing, she starts looking for her “sisters,” believing they hold a key to the truth. I will be picking this one up for sure!
Murphy’s Slaw (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. Charlie is resistant to going to the state fair with her friend, but when a vendor is murdered, Trooper Graham calls her in for help.
On Skein of Death (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Riverbank Knitting Mystery series. A knitting celebrity is coming to Libby’s new store Y.A.R.N., but when she is murdered, Libby starts looking for answers.
One Last Stop (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – August meets a gorgeous girl on the train and develops a subway crush, but Jane is actually displaced in time from the 1970s. August will have to dig into all the things she tried to leave in her past in order to help Jane.
I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope (Trade Paperback) – New from Chicken Soup for the Soul.

It’s the last week of June – this summer is zooming by. Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Grover (Board Book) – A new board book starring my favorite Muppet!
Baaad Hair Day (Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep) – In this sequel to Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep, it’s sheering day. And Sheep could use a haircut because her wool is so long it covers her eyes and she trips over things. But she doesn’t want to lose her beautiful curls.
Hey, Who Made This Mess – Someone tracks through purple paint and causes all sorts of trouble at the zoo. Who could be the culprit?
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Theodore Roosevelt AND We Are the Brontë Sisters – New biographies based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I am Alexander Hamilton (Early Reader) – A new biography based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Magic on the Map: Escape from Camp California – Book 4 in the Magic on the Map series. Finn and Molly are in California helping wildfire refugees.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Amelia Six – When a pair of Amelia Earhart’s goggles go missing from the museum in her childhood home, the six girls who were spending the night there for scavenger hunts and fun instead band together to find a thief. This looks fantastic! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Really Truly (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the Pumpkin Falls mystery series. I just got to read book one, Absolutely Truly, and I enjoyed it (♥♥♥♥½). This time, Truly and her friends discover a mystery at mermaid camp.
Show Me History: Susan B. Anthony, Champion for Voting Rights! – Graphic novel biography of Susan B. Anthony.
What Is a Presidential Election? – The What Was books look at presidential elections just in time for the 2020 election season.
Goddess in the Machine – A girl asleep for 1000 years instead of the hundred that would have taken care of her trip through space wakes to find all of her family and friends gone, while their descendants call her “Goddess.” She teams up with an unlikely accomplice to find how why she was left in stasis and what happened in the meantime.
I Killed Zoe Spanos – Anna comes to town for a summer nanny job and finds the community still in shock from the disappearance of Zoe Spanos on New Year’s Eve. Anna seems weirdly connected to Zoe, and when Zoe’s body is found later in the summer, Anna confesses. But her story is full of holes and inconsistencies. Martina, the host of the Missing Zoe podcast is determined to find out the truth.

Books for Adults

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About a Rogue (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Desperately Seeking Duke series. Bianca takes her sister’s place at the altar so she can marry her true love. Max doesn’t care which sister he marries as long as he can accomplish his own goals which include a dukedom.
The Black Swan of Paris (Hardcover) – Genevieve is a singer secretly working with Allied Forces against the Nazis. When her mother Lillian is captured, the resistance movement will do whatever it takes to keep Lillian quiet, even if it means killing her. But Genevieve is determined to risk everything to rescue her.
Crushing It (Trade Paperback) – Sierra needs to conquer her stage fright before she can pitch her new role playing game at a conference, so she tries a diary slam. She has no problem sharing the highs and lows of her college crush with a bunch of strangers. But the reader right after her? It’s the college crush. But the chance to see what might have been could keep Sierra from seeing what was right in front of her all along.
Daring and the Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bareknuckle Bastards series after Brazen and the Beast (♥♥♥♥♥). Grace has made a life for herself despite the rough moments in her history, but she has no room in her life for the Duke of Marwick, the man who broke her heart.
Death of a Wandering Wolf (Mass Market Paperback) – Book two from the delightful Julia Buckley in her Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. Hana finds a lovely wolf figurine at a yard sale, but it only leads to trouble, especially for the man who sells it to her. He ends up dead.
Don’t Keep Silent (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Uncommon Justice series from Christian publisher Revell. An investigative reporter is looking for her missing sister-in-law when she reconnects with the former DEA agent whose cover she blew.
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby (Trade Paperback) – First in the Rogues and Remarkable Women series. The Widow’s Grace is a secret society dedicated to helping widows find their way in the world. This time they are helping an heiress who loses her son, her fortune and her station when she questions her husband’s suicide. She’s arrested and the Widow’s Grace helps her get a job as a nanny – to her own son. His guardian, the Duke of Repington, is looking into the death as well so he can do what’s best for his charge. Sounds delightful!
Fatal Fiction (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Deadly Edits Mystery series. This time, freelance editor Mikki Lincoln is working on a tell-all memoir that puts a spotlight on a condemned building in town. When a body is found there, all attention turns to Mikki who was seen arguing with the man before he died.
The Finders (Hardcover) – First in the new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. When Reid starts training his latest rescue dog to be a cadaver dog, they are pushed to their limits on a new murder case.
A Killer Ending (e-book) – Book 1 in the Snug Harbor Mystery series. When Max opens a new bookstore in Snug Harbor, Maine, she has her hands full with the shop and the unexpected arrival of her ex – accompanied by a famous author. Then Max’s dog finds a dead body, and the murder weapon came from Max’s shop.
The Last Curtain Call (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Haunted Home Renovation series. While Mel and her fiancé are in the middle of their own renovation process, her work on an old theater turns up a connection to the ghost in her attic – and another dead body.
The Lion’s Den (Hardcover) – When Belle’s friend Summer invites her on an exotic yacht trip, it sounds like the perfect getaway. But everything is not what it seems, and before long Belle and the other women on board are more prisoners than guests. Wow! Sounds amazing.
Murder in a Scottish Shire (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series. A young woman who owns a sweater and knitting shop gets an unwelcome surprise when a part timer at her shop is found dead.
Murder in Waiting (Trade Paperback) – Book 11 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill may be the boss at work, but as Amy’s maid-of-honor, she can hardly keep up with the bridezilla to be. But Jill has more going on than just the wedding prep, and when an ally in some of her community dealings is killed, she’s hoping to catch a killer instead of the bouquet.
Nacho Average Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie leaves Indiana and heads to California for her high school reunion, but while she’s there she hears rumors that her mother’s death might not have been from natural causes.
Nothing Bundt Trouble (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 11 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. This time Jules takes on a hit-and-run from the 1980s.
Puppy Kisses (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Forever Home romance series. Dawn “rescues” (steals) an abused Golden Retriever and her friend Adam goes along with the story that the dog is one she is training to be his seeing eye dog. Dawn is a force of nature and Adam has trouble saying no to her. But when she tries to take the puppy home with her, he puts his foot down and says he’s keeping her just like he said he was. This was great! You can see my full review here.
A Sprinkling of Murder (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Fairy Garden Mystery series. Courtney has built a magical life for herself around her shop Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden business and tea shop. But when a neighboring shop owner is killed and Courtney is the prime suspect, she’s adding sleuth to her job title.
Still Knife Painting (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Paint & Shine Mystery series. Miranda’s brilliant business plan – an outdoor painting and moonshine tasting in the middle of a national forest – leads to trouble when her cook is murdered.
Sunset in Sydney (e-book – July 3) – Book 3 in the Holiday Romance series. Sarah returns home from her trip with two men hoping to wine and dine her. Her decision is complicated by the fact that neither man lives in Australia where she does.
Star Trek Discovery Guide to Seasons 1 and 2 (Trade Paperback) – A fan’s guide to the first two seasons of the CBS All Access show.
Sweet & Savory Keto Chaffles (Paperback) – Chaffles are waffles made with eggs and cheese and are a trendy bread substitute for those on a keto diet. This includes 75 recipes and ideas for both sweet and savory chaffles.
West Side Story: The Jets, the Sharks, and the Making of a Classic (Hardcover) – A behind the scenes look at the classic West Side Story.

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

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Library Books Are NOT for Eating! – Ms. Bronte is a terrific story time guest except that she eats every book once she finishes reading it. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat: Secret Agent – Pete the Cat goes undercover as Secret Agent Meow.
Uni the Unicorn Goes to School – Uni goes to school to learn to use her unicorn magic.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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Braver  – First in a new fantasy series by Suzanne Selfors. A young wombat longing for adventure finds more than she bargained for when an exiled predator returns and captures the other wombats, including her parents.
Con Quest – A pair of twins ditch their family at a comics convention while they try to win a huge scavenger hunt. I am so excited about this one!
Disney Moana Movie in Comics (Graphic Novel) – The story of the movie in comics form.
Marvel Action Spider-Man Venom (Graphic Novel) – The Spider team tries to determine if Venom is friend or foe.
Super Puzzletastic Mysteries  – An anthology of mystery short stories from favorite children’s authors like Chris Grabenstein. This is at the top of my list for the week.
Deadly Curious – From the author of the delightful Duels & Deception comes a new YA mystery. Sophia would love to become a Bow Street Runner, but ladies do not become detectives! If they would even let a woman join them anyway in 1834. But Sophia gets a chance to solve a case when her cousin asks her to investigate the death of her brother. This is on my list for this week, too.
Hunted by the Sky – First in the Wrath of Ambar series. Gul’s parents are killed and she is forced into hiding because of the birthmark on her arm. But when a group of women find her and offer to train her in magic, she sees the opportunity for revenge.
My Eyes Are Up Here – A teen struggles with the changes in her body and the way puberty changes her feelings about herself and her interactions with the people around her. For the title alone I am going to read this one.
Seasons of the Storm – A young man is forced to choose between death and immortality. Immortality means he becomes Winter, knowing that in his world, Winter kills Autumn and is killed by Spring – even though he and the girl who is Spring have fallen in love. The magical set up of this one is fascinating. I have this on my list, too!
Sisters of Sword and Song – When Evadne’s older sister finally returns from her service in the queen’s army, she is on the run and accused of murder. Evadne agrees to take part of her sister’s punishment in order to investigate and find out the truth of what happened. Another intriguing plot!
The Sullivan Sisters – Three sisters, each struggling in her own way, must band together when they receive news of an inheritance that draws them into sinister family secrets.

Books for Adults

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The Last Flight (Hardcover) – Two women fleeing terrible circumstances switch plane tickets hoping the misdirection will give them time to establish new lives where no one from their pasts can find them. But when one of the planes crashes, everything changes for the survivor. Fascinating!
Murder on the Silver Screen (e-book) – Book 3 in the fantastic Movie Palace Mystery series after Murder at the Palace and Murder in the Balcony (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). This time, Nora opens the theater for the launch of a new online game, but the event ends in murder. I have had this on request with the library for months. Can’t wait to continue this series!
Party of Two (Hardcover) – A woman moving to LA to start her own law firm spends a delightful evening flirting with a stranger with no clue that he is a hotshot junior senator. While they find creative ways to keep their relationship out of the spotlight, when it becomes public she has to ask herself if what they have together is worth the drama that ensues.
Star Wars: Shadow Fall (Hardcover) – Book two in the Star Wars Alphabet Squadron series. Alphabet Squadron, with help from General Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels), prepares to take down Shadow Wing once and for all.
Take a Hint Dani Brown (Trade Paperback – LGBTQ+) – Sequel to Get a Life, Chloe Brown and book 2 in the Brown Sisters series. Dani is really only looking for a friend with benefits, so when a sexy security guard rescues her during a fire alarm gone awry, he seems like the perfect candidate. But video of the rescue goes viral, and he asks her to play along that they are a couple so his children’s charity can benefit from the attention. But after awhile, it’s hard to keep track of what is real and what is fake in their fake relationship.
Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It (Hardcover) – The latest from Bob Goff focuses on dreaming big.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Antiracist Baby (Board Book) – Board book from the author of How to Be an Antiracist.
You Should Meet Shirley Chisholm – Early reader biography of the first African American woman elected to Congress. She also ran for president in 1972.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: Rockin’ Rockets – Book 2 in the Adventures of Allie and Amy series. A new girl in the neighborhood has only one extra ticket for a concert. Who will she choose to take – Allie or Amy?
Hand-Me-Down Magic: Stoop Sale Treasure – Book 1 in the new Hand-Me-Down Magic series about “best friend cousins” who are going to be living together for the first time and the conflicts that arise between them.
Little Goddess Girls: Artemis and the Awesome Animals – Book 4 in this series about the Greek goddesses and their adventures. This time Artemis is hoping Zeus can help her be a little more brave when Medusa comes along to stir up trouble.
Mack Rhino: The Candy Caper Case – Book 2 in the Mack Rhino detective series. Mack’s 101st case is one where a new candy cart is stealing business from other sweet shops while other shops are having break-ins, but nothing appears to be missing.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Disney Incredibles Movies in Comics (Graphic Novel) – A comics retelling of both Incredibles movies.
Nancy Drew Diaries: The Vanishing Statue – Book 20 in the Nancy Drew Diaries series. Nancy and her friends are invited to an art gala by a reclusive duchess. Days before the event, a statue is stolen, but the duchess insists that the gala go forward. So Nancy decides to use the event to sleuth out a thief.
Raising Lumie (Older Middle Grade) – Olive longs for a dog, but she knows this is NOT the best time for that. Recently orphaned, Olive is moving in with a half-sister she hardly knows. But then Olive gets the chance to help train Lumie, a guide-dog puppy. This sounds amazing!
The Rider’s Reign – The third and final book in the Rose Legacy series. Anthea’s mother has stolen enough horses to start her own herd and might be negotiating with an enemy kingdom. Anthea and her friends must set things right before they are caught up in hostile territory in the middle of a war.
The Rise of Greg – Third and final book in the Epic Series of Failures series. Greg and his friends are running out of time to save the world from his ex-best friend Edwin and his Elven army who want to steal the world’s magic supply for themselves.
Action Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt AND John F. Kennedy – Real history and fake jokes about these two American Presidents as the Action Presidents series continues.
Basher Civics (Older Middle Grade) A Basher book (infographics and information) about the presidents and states as well as some other governmental vocabulary.
The Kinder Poison – A stable girl’s longing for a peek at palace events puts her life at risk when she is caught up in a rivalry between the three royal heirs. As the heirs compete in a race across the desert, she will be the human sacrifice at the end that determines the winner.
You Say It First – Two teens connect through a voter registration phone call. What starts as bickering and obvious differences in social status becomes something more.

Books for Adults

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28 Summers (Hardcover) – Based on the movie Same Time Next Year. As she lays dying, Mallory gives her son instructions to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk. He has no idea that the person he is calling is married to the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election. The book details how Mallory and Jake know each other and what their relationship has been over the years. This sounds fascinating.
The Art of Deception (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mystery series. A criminal is running around London sneaking into houses and art galleries, slashing paintings of women. But when Joanna and the Watsons are called in they discover that the criminal is only cutting deep enough to see behind the painting. He’s searching for something.
I Was Told It Would Get Easier (Trade Paperback) – From the author of one of my top books for 2019, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. A mother-daughter college tour doesn’t go at all according to plan. Emily is hoping for a taste of freedom, some clarity on if she even wants to go to college, and maybe a friend or two, unlike what she had in high school. Jessica is hoping to connect with her daughter. She’s not even sure if Emily likes her – or if she likes herself. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
Sisters and Secrets (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Jennifer Ryan. The Silva Sisters are keeping secrets – from each other and the rest of the family, and in some cases even from themselves. But when those secrets start to come out they will discover there’s more to their family and their connections than they thought.
Stranger Planet (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – A comics collection sequel to Strange Planet.
The Essential Vegetarian Air Fryer Cookbook: 75+ Easy Meatless Recipes (Paperback) – Recipes for your air fryer.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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A Family for Louie – Louie the French Bulldog looks for a family of his own. This looks darling!
Lift as You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker – A picture book biography of Civil Rights leader Ella Baker.
Mindy Kim and the Birthday Party – Book 3 in the Mindy Kim early chapter book series. Mindy tries to convince her parents she is responsible enough for a puppy.
Sparkleton: The Magic Day AND The Glitter Parade – The Sparkleton early chapter book series kicks off this week with two books. In The Magic Day, Sparkleton the unicorn tries out wish-granting powers for a day, but the results are the opposite of what he had in mind. In The Glitter Parade, Sparkleton’s gloomy friend, Gabe, gets an embarrassing unicorn power.
Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem – Book 5 in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, a spin-off from the Mercy Watson series. In this book, Stella Endicott, Mercy’s neighbor, writes a poem all about Mercy. But one of her classmates doesn’t believe Stella’s stories which leads to an argument and a trip to the principal. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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American as Paneer Pie – Lekha deals with the prejudice in her community by separating herself into two versions – the home version and the school version. When another Indian family moves into her community, Lekha assumes Avantika will be like her – quiet about her culture. But Avantika is proud of her heritage, and she does not take the bullying quietly.
Catalyst (Older Middle Grade) – A new fantasy adventure from Sarah Beth Durst. Zoe’s tiny kitten Pipsqueak grows into a talking cat the size of a horse. Zoe and her best friend Harrison have to figure out why and if there is a way to keep Pipsqueak safe and make her small again.
Curse of the Night Witch – A boy marked with a fate he doesn’t want makes a wish to change it. Instead of a more desirable future, he gets a death sentence. He has one week to find the Night Witch to break the curse.
Disney Frozen Movies in Comics (Graphic Novel) – One of my favorite graphic novelists, Alessandro Ferrari, tackles the stories of Frozen and Frozen 2 in this graphic novel retelling. The sample pages I have seen are gorgeous!
Disney Princess Follow Your Heart (Graphic Novel) – Three short comics starring Disney Princesses – Mulan, Cinderella, and Belle.
Doodleville – Drew’s doodles tend not to stay in her sketchbook. And when she draws a leviathan – Levi – after an inspiring trip to the art museum, Drew and her friends will have to find a way to contain the monster when he starts causing trouble for her friends’ creations.
Five Things About Ava Andrews – From the author of Summer of a Thousand Pies. Ava Andrews’ quiet exterior hides a mind and heart overflowing with thoughts and ideas – as well as the anxiety and heart condition that leave her feeling disconnected from others. But when her writing abilities get her invited to join the improv group at school, she discovers new things about herself as well as about the people closest to her. This is at the top of my reading list for this week.
Glitch – Two kids who have been training to become Glitchers – people who travel through time to protect key moments in history – must put aside their rivalry when they find a letter from the future about a coming event that could destroy everyone they know.
Seven Clues to Home – A girl still grieving the loss of her best friend a year ago decides to follow the clues he left for her on her birthday last year to see what he might have left behind. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Turnover – The latest from Mike Lupica. When Lucas’s English teacher assigns them a project to write about their hero, it’s a no-brainer for Lucas to pick his grandfather, who also happens to be his basketball coach and a legendary player. But when Lucas tries to ask him anything for the project, his grandfather clams up, leaving Lucas to wonder what his grandpa might be hiding.
Agnes at the End of the World – A young woman loves her life in Red Creek with no idea that it is a cult run by a madman. But when she meets a boy from outside the community, and she starts to question her “sin” every time she barters for her brother’s insulin, she wonders if she shouldn’t pack up her brother and escape to the Outside. But the Outside is facing a viral pandemic making it a different sort of dangerous than Red Creek.
Hood – A re-imagined Robin Hood tale that focuses on the daughter of Robin and Marien, a teen targeted by King John’s right-hand man.

Books for Adults

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500 Miles from You (Trade Paperback) – A nurse in London and an Army veteran/paramedic in a little town in the Scottish Highlands switch homes for a season so she can recover from PTSD. Both of them feel out of place in their temporary homes so they strike up an email correspondence to keep each other apprised about their patients. And even though they have never met in person, they start to develop feelings for one another.
Always the Last to Know (Trade Paperback) – While the Frosts seem like the perfect American family, when John has a stroke, it shakes everyone up. His favorite daughter, Sadie, gives up her career to come home and care for him while her sister Juliet starts to recognize that her own “perfect” life might be a sham. And Barb and John have to take a long look at their marriage in the face of John’s health.
The Boyfriend Project (Trade Paperback) – When Samiah’s bad date goes viral, and she discovers she’s been “catfished,” she’s ready to take a break from men and invest in herself. That includes developing the app she’s always wanted to – which brings her into contact with a sexy guy at work. What a terrible time to be on a break from men. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Full Scoop (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Riley Ellison Mystery series. Riley starts investigating the cold case of her grandfather’s murder where she will have to decide just how far she is willing to go to get to the truth.
Gone in Seconds (e-book) – Book 2 in the Max Carter series. Max is investigating another child abduction, this time of an infant from a mansion. But Max starts to wonder if the baby’s father, and his brother, might have something to do with the kidnapping.
Hush, Puppy (e-book – June 12) – Book 5 in the Dogmother’s series. A guy trying to launch his new business and take care of a rambunctious new puppy encounters a captivating woman – and her daughter who wants the puppy for her own. The woman was in town looking for something and someone else, but now she has a fella and a job and a chance at a fresh start. But then her past catches up to her and threatens everything.
In the Dark with the Duke (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Lost Lords of London series. After hiding away for 8 years after a tragedy, Lady Lila March is ready to return to the outside world, once she’s learned some self-defense. Her coach is the Savage Gentleman, a street fighter who longs to leave his brawling life behind.
Llama See that Evidence (e-book) – Book 2 in the Friendship Harbor Mysteries series. Ex-actress turned pub owner Sophie is sleuthing again when rumors swirl that her grandmother killed her grandfather back in the 80s and a body is found in her guest house. I have book 1 in this series on my TBR list.
The Marriage Game (Trade Paperback) – When her life falls apart, Layla goes home where her father gives her some office space above his restaurant, creates an online dating account for her, and sets her up on a series of blind dates. When Sam goes looking for a quiet office space, a misunderstanding lands him in shared space with Layla. Instead of a quiet work environment, he ends up with a parade of Layla’s crazy family and her hopeful suitors. Sparks will fly. This sounds so fun! This is on my list for this week, too.
Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies (Trade Paperback) – When her life falls apart on the eve of her 40th birthday, Kate starts volunteering. She meets 97-year-old Miss Cecily who has no patience for Kate’s poor choices. She prescribes a self-help book called Food for Thought which has recipes and menus for any sort of event life can throw at Kate.
Star Trek: The Original Series – Agents of Influence (Trade Paperback) – Three Starfleet agents, deep undercover in Klingon territory, initiate emergency extraction protocols, but everything goes wrong, threatening to expose the agents. Starfleet sends The Enterprise in to save the day. This will be a must read for me – I love anything in the Star Trek Universe about the Klingons.
Rage Against the Minivan: Learning to Parent Without Perfection (Hardcover) – Blogger, podcaster, and licensed therapist Kristen Howerton talks real life and parenting. This sounds fantastic!

Happy June! Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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I Am Curious AND I Am Strong (Board Books) – Board book adaptations of picture book biographies by Brad Meltzer.
Best Day Ever – A high strung boy wants to have the “best day ever” before his summer break ends, but his flighty next door neighbor keeps interrupting his plans with crazy suggestions.
I’m Trying to Love Rocks – A girl who loves rocks tries to help a skeptical reader see that geology is cool. The format of this is fantastic. Other titles in the series address bees, spiders and math.
What If You Could Sniff Like a Shark? – A spin-off of the What If You Had series. In this book readers explore the superpowers of ocean animals.
Barney – Book 57 in the Puppy Place series. The kids try to re-home a boisterous puppy for an overwhelmed family.
Craftily Ever After: Best Buds Forever – Book 7 in the Craftily Ever After series. The kids learn about community activism when they try to resurrect a community garden.  This sounds fantastic!
Dragon Masters: Call of the Sound Dragon – Book 16 in the Dragon Masters series. The Dragon Masters have to stop a wizards’ battle which is destroying a nearby city.
Take a Hike! – Book 2 in the new Scholastic ACORN series Moby Shinobi and Toby Too! Moby tries to use his ninja skills on a camping trip, but Toby helps him see that teamwork is the key to a great outing.
Thea Stilton and the Race for the Gold – Book 31 in the Thea Stilton series, this one focused on the Summer Olympics.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Agatha Oddly and the Silver Serpent (Middle Grade and Older) – Book 3 in the Agatha Oddly mystery series. This time Agatha is investigating a missing employee from the National Gallery. This series looks so fun.
Brave Like That – A boy expected to follow in his father’s footsteps of greatness doesn’t think he is brave enough. But with the help of a stray dog and some new friends he might realize he is more brave than he realized.
Dactyl Hill Squad: Thunder Run – Book 3 in the Dactyl Hill Squad alternate history series. The kids try to help the Union Army when the Confederates join forces with Imperial troops in Mexico to fight for a spread of slavery. Dinosaur fans should not miss this series!
The Great Pet Heist – “Ocean’s Eleven meets The Secret Life of Pets.” What a great description! Sign me up. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Gryphon’s Lair (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series. Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter and one of her first tasks in the role is to return a baby gryphon to the wild. The journey is hard and makes Rowan wonder if she really has what it takes to be the Royal Monster Hunter for her kingdom.
I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the story. This is the second graphic novel in this series.
Klawde: Target Earth – Book 4 in the Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat series. (Book 1: ♥♥♥♥♥, Book 2 – Enemies: ♥♥♥♥) Klawde is ready to conquer earth, and all he needs to do it are an army of zombie squirrels and a ton of cash.
Once Upon a Space-Time (Graphic Novel) – From the author of the original Jedi Academy books comes this new series launch about two kids chosen to go on a research mission to Mars. This looks terrific!
Rescue Dogs: Dusty – Book 2 in the Rescue Dogs series. When Dusty is rescued from the side of the road, he is cared for at the Sterling Center where search and rescue dogs are trained. Dusty thinks he has the determination to do SAR, but his trainers are afraid he might be too small. When disaster strikes, Dusty will have a chance to prove himself.
The School for Good and Evil: One True King – The sixth and final book in the School for Good and Evil series.
Treasure Hunters: Plunder Down Under – The Treasure Hunters are on a race across Australia to find the pirate who framed their parents and got them arrested and get the proof to clear their names.
Warriors: A Shadow in Riverclan (Graphic Novel) – An original full-color graphic novel from the Warriors universe. Feathertail tries to find forgiveness – and compassion for some newcomers – after the events of the past with her clan.
Who Was Ida B. Wells? – Biography of the most famous female Black journalist of the American nineteenth century.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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Again Again – The latest from the author of We Were Liars (♥♥♥♥) about a summer of love for a teen who survives a near-fatal family catastrophe.
Burn – Only the poorest people have to hire dragons to help on their farms. And that is the position where Sarah and her father find themselves. But the dragon who arrives is there for more than just the job. He carries a prophecy about assassins, dragon-worshipers, the FBI – and Sarah.
The Court of Miracles – A re-imagined Les Miserables where the French Revolution fails and nine underworld criminal guilds develop. Eponine, a member of the Thieves guild, watches over her adopted sister, Cosette, who has caught the eye of the head of the Guild of Flesh.
Jo & Laurie – A “romantic re-telling of Little Women” by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz. After the success of her first novel Jo, and her best friend and neighbor, Laurie, head to New York for inspiration for her next one. Laurie has romance on his mind, but Jo turns down his proposal to protect her independence. When he shows up later with a new girlfriend, Jo has to wonder if she has made a big mistake.
My Calamity Jane – Book 3 in the Lady Janies series. Calamity Jane is a werewolf hunter. After a hunt goes bad and she finds a suspicious bite on her arm, Jane heads to Deadwood where there’s rumor of a cure. I have this whole series on my TBR list.
A Song Below Water – Best friends negotiate junior year of high school as well as demons from the past and hidden siren powers.
Star Wars: Queen’s Peril – Companion novel to Queen’s Shadow (♥♥♥♥). This book will focus on Queen Amidala and her handmaidens when the Trade Federation attacks Naboo. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed (Graphic Novel) – On Diana’s 16th birthday, the day she expects to be finally accepted into the warrior tribe, the boundary of Themyscira is crossed by boats full of refugees. When Diana goes to help them, she is swept out to sea. I’ll be reviewing this one soon as well.
You Should See Me in a Crown (LGBTQ+) – When a young woman’s college scholarship falls through, she sees her dreams of getting out of her small town going up in smoke. Until she remembers that her high school has a scholarship for the Prom King and Queen. As her campaign for queen progresses, though, Liz realizes she is falling for her rival, the new girl in school. Which would be better – winning Prom Queen or winning the girl?

Books for Adults

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Broken Genius (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the new Will Parker Thriller series. In 2011, a coding error by young revolutionary CEO Will Parker cost a college student her life. His self-directed penance was joining the FBI Cyber Division. Years later, Will is on a case at a Midwest comic convention when he discovers the case involves tech from his pre-FBI life. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Cottage Wedding (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Heart’s Landing series from Hallmark Publishing. A journalist is in town, charged by her boss to “de-bunk” the romantic reputation of Heart’s Landing. This could destroy the economy of the town and all the people who live there. The townspeople ask the descendant of the town’s founder to wine and dine the reporter to save their community.
Deadly Sweet Tooth (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Vintage Sweets Mystery series. Tally finally has her sweet shop on the road to success and feels she can afford to take a day off to throw an event for her parents, travelling performers. It will give her an opportunity to share her sweets with a new audience, which could be great for her shop. But a dead body at the party is not going to help much at all.
The Grim Reader (Hardcover) – Book 14 in Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series. Brooklyn and her new husband are eager to enjoy a new book fair. Her mom is spearheading the whole event, including having her own booth for palm readings and tarot cards. But things quickly turn ugly at the quaint event – a nasty local businessman stirs up trouble, a member of the planning committee is murdered, and the proceeds from the fair go missing. (I haven’t kept up on this series, so I can’t say if the occult pieces are there for novelty or if there really is an occult component.)
Lady Rights a Wrong (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Manor Cat Mystery series. Lady Cecilia is captivated by the idea of Women’s Suffrage, but when the movement’s local leader is found dead, Cecilia trades marching for investigating.
The Lies that Bind (Hardcover) – Cecily takes the advice of a stranger in a bar and instead of calling her ex she strikes up a conversation with the stranger. Months later, after their relationship has continued to develop, she loses track of him in the aftermath of 9/11. When she sees his face on a poster of those who have gone missing, Cecily uses her investigative reporter skills to  dig into the man she loved who might have been more of a stranger to her than she thought.
Where the Road Bends (Hardcover) – Fifteen years after college graduation, four friends set off on a camping trip in the Australian Outback. Just as they are realizing how much each of them has changed since college, a storm drives the four of them into desert where each finds a guide that helps them set out on a path to find what they are looking for.
The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook: 60 Sweet and Savory Recipes for Your Oven and Mini Donut Maker (Paperback) – Simple sweet and savory donut recipes. I had NO idea there was such a thing as a “mini donut maker.” How fun!
Game Changers: The Story of Pictionary and How I Turned a Simple Idea Into the Bestselling Board Game in the World (Hardcover) – The history behind the board game Pictionary.
What If Jesus Was Serious?: A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore (Trade Paperback) – A devotional with charts and doodles. This is on my list for this week.

It’s the last release week of June 2019. Let’s see what books are out this week.

Books for Kids

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Bug Off! – When one girl keeps Maude from being able to join the Bug-of-the-Month Club, Maude is determined to deal with the girl’s rudeness – but not in the way anyone expects.
Can Cat and Bird Be Friends? – Can this traditional predator-and-prey pair really become friends?
Nugget & Fang Go to School – Sequel to the amazing Nugget & Fang: Friends Forever or Snack Time! This time the unlikely friends are off to school – but can a shark fit in at a minnow school? When I was teaching, the first book was always a hit with students. I can’t wait to see what happens with book 2.
Bruce’s Big Fun Day – Mother Bruce is back in a new Early Reader format. I can not wait to read this one!!
A Sea Otter to the Rescue (Tails from History) – In this non-fiction Early Reader, kids can read about the mother sea otter whose story led to protections for endangered species.
A Good Team – Book 2 in the Unicorn and Yeti series from Scholastic ACORN about two unusual friends.
Amelia Earhart and the Flying Chariot – Book 4 in the Time Twisters early chapter book series about historical figures. A time travel adventure with bits of history and a whole lot of crazy adventures. This time, Amelia Earhart lands in Ancient Greece, and the kids have to get her back on track for her flight across the Atlantic.  This series sounds fantastic!
The Bad Guys in Big Bad Wolf – Book 9 in the Bad Guys series. The Big Bad Wolf has grown humongous and the Bad Guys have to deal with him AND an alien invasion. Such a FUN early chapter book series!
The Battle for Perodia – Book 6 in the Last Firehawk series from Scholastic BRANCHES.
The End of Orson Eerie? – Book 10 in the Eerie Elementary series from Scholastic BRANCHES has a Halloween/haunted house/ Fall Festival theme as Sam and his friends try to defeat Orson Eerie once and for all.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Artemis Fowl The Graphic Novel (New) – This is a NEW graphic novel adaptation of the series, launching in advance of the movie which releases in August.
Digging Deep – Book 4 in the Hoops series about a girl who gives up basketball in search of her passion.
Level 13 – Book 2 in the Slacker series from the fantastic Gordon Korman. An infamous slacker has found his calling – playing video games online in front of an audience. Too bad there are so many things getting in the way of his calling – like school and the club he never meant to start. This series is hard to describe – I haven’t even mentioned the beaver – but you cannot go wrong with a book by Gordon Korman.
The Problim Children: Carnival Catastrophe – Book 2 in the Problim Children series. The 7 Problim children are catching all the blame when a series of catastrophes strike the local carnival – and their mother has gone missing.
Harry Potter Origami – Fifteen projects including a dragon, an owl, a Howler and the castle. Includes specialty paper and notations of how difficult each pattern is to complete. On Amazon you can see a few of the patterns and see how the printed paper they provide will work to help you create each structure. This looks like great fun!
Better than the Best Plan – A teen who has been living on her own since her mom disappeared ends up in foster care when someone reports her living situation. She ends up back in the foster home where she was as a baby. She starts to wonder what her life would have been like if her mom hadn’t regained custody way back then. But now her old life and her new one are about to collide again.
Call It What You Want – The latest from the awesome Brigid Kemmerer! Two ostracized teens are thrown together for a class project and find in one another a person who understands them. I will be reviewing this one later this week.
The Evil Queen – First in the Forest of Good and Evil series. A teen raised in the mortal realm discovers she is a fairy tale princess – and fated to become Snow White’s nemesis, the Evil Queen. This is definitely on my wish list for this week!
The Virtue of Sin – A teen raised in New Jerusalem under the watchful eye of the founder and leader is obedient and quiet as expected. But when the life she expected to live in the community is not the path set before her, she finds her voice and starts to question everything she’s been told and everything she has believed.

Books for Adults

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An American Duchess (Trade Paperback) – When a Duke marries a Colorado rancher, the new duchess has NO idea what she is doing in the English nobility. An unusual friendship with one of her maids gives both women a chance to open up about their hopes and dreams and help one another out with life’s ups and downs. This sounds lovely.
Andrew (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Petersheim Brothers series. A proper young Amish man is looking for the right woman to marry and settle down with. But the young woman who catches his attention wouldn’t be proper at all. Two years after leaving the community she is back, single and pregnant. As she refuses to hide in shame and ignores the whispers all around her, she stands out as a woman of grace and resilience. This is on my list for this week, too.
The Bookshop on the Shore (Hardcover) – A single mother takes a job in Scotland as a part time bookseller and an au pair for a widower’s three children who have become somewhat wild as they have been left to their own devices.
Clause & Effect (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Deadly Edits mystery series. Mikki is working on a cold case that may be connected to the town’s bicentennial celebration 25 years ago.
Cross My Heart (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Legacy of Faith series. A couple discovers a lot of common ground between them from their upbringing to their love of horses. But his history of alcoholism and her experiences with her addicted brother could end up tearing them apart.
Decades: Marvel in the 90s – The Mutant X-plosion (Paperback Graphic Novel) – See how the X-Men franchise grew in the 1990s at Marvel.
Down in Flames (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series. This time Savannah is looking into a deadly hit and run that took place right outside her store.
Evvie Drake Starts Over (Hardcover) – A woman still holed up at home a year after her husband’s death allows a friend to invite a down-on-his-luck baseball player to stay in the apartment on her property and the two become friends – and then maybe something more.
Frugal Lissa Finds a Body (ebook – June 28) – First in a new series about a small town woman who stumbles across the body of a person she argued with recently. And the investigating officer is someone she teased in high school, and he seems to be holding a grudge. I pre-ordered this one the first time I heard about it. I can’t wait to read it.
Guilty as Charred (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Cook Off Mystery series. While Sherry is supposed to be celebrating a big Cook-Off win on the radio, she instead finds out an acquaintance from the community garden has been killed. The food mentioned just in the blurb for this book will have me picking this one up to check the recipes – and to try out a new-to-me series.
Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody (Mass Market Paperback – exclusive to Barnes and Noble) – First in a new series. A retiree gets a reputation as a local “fixer.” A condo community hires her to come in and deal with some hostilities between residents. And then someone is murdered. I have already pre-ordered this one!
A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder (Hardcover) – Sequel to the outstanding A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder. Frances had such luck with finding a suitor for her younger sister, she is now playing host to one of Lily’s friends, and trying to find a spouse for her cousin as well. When the woman she matched with her cousin is murdered, Frances will be sleuthing again to keep him out of jail. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Left Fur Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Jules & Bun Mystery series. A woman running a rabbit rescue, and a special “bun” who can communicate with her telepathically, find a body and look into the mysterious death. This sounds like a hoot!
Lost and Found (Hardcover) – After suffering a fall and injury, a mother of three adult children heads off on a road trip to reconnect with three men who might have been “the one” to see if the decisions she made in the past were the right ones. I can’t remember the last time I read a Danielle Steele novel, but this one really caught my attention. I love stories where characters go back to confront choices they made in the past. I am 49th on the hold list for this at the library – so it’s going to be awhile until I read it.
Murder’s No Votive Confidence (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. When the candlemaker’s unity candle for a wedding is used to commit a murder, it leads to a loss of business for Stella. To help a friend who is under suspicion and to save her own business, she joins forces with a reporter to sniff out the killer. I’ll definitely be trying out this new series!
Once Upon a Bad Boy (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sometimes In Love Series. (I enjoyed book 2 – Smitten by the Brit.) An actress goes into training for the role of a lifetime and the person training her is the ex who broke her heart.
A Rainbow Above Us (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Blessings, Georgia series. After Hurricane Franny, a woman who is the only surviving member of her family tries to put the pieces of her life back together. A young man who returns to Blessings to help his grandmother rebuild doesn’t plan to stay for long, but the lost young woman captures his attention.
Strangled Eggs and Ham (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Country Store Mystery series. When a developer wants to put a luxury resort monstrosity at one of the prettiest parts of Brown County, Indiana, tempers run high and protesters are out in force. When one of the protesters is murdered, Robbie is on the case, if for no other reason than to keep her Aunt Adele, another vocal opponent, from winding up dead. I never realized that this series takes place in Indiana. How fun!
Tell Tail Heart (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. A big-name writer is killed and an eccentric woman comes to town saying Maddie’s cat, JJ, is hers. Just when Maddie was hoping things would quiet down for awhile so she could work on her business – and a special relationship. But now she’s back to sleuthing.
Toxic Toffee (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 of the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. This time Bailey is looking into the murder of a sweet old rabbit farmer with a twenty-year-old secret. I am on the hold list for this at the library, too. Looking forward to reading this addition to the series. There’s also a novella for this series (Criminally Cocoa) that I need to catch up on. And there will be a spin-off series – The Amish Matchmaker Mystery series – coming at the end of 2019/first of 2020.
Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating Space Where Everyone Belongs (Trade Paperback) – A mom  to adopted and special needs children shares some of her family stories with the underlying message that there is room for every one at the table and it’s our job to watch for those who are left out and invite them in.

Here are some of the books out this week for your summer reading pleasure! There are lots of books for kids this week, both picture books and early chapter books.

Books for Kids

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Bunny’s Book Club Goes to School – Book 2 in the Bunny’s Book Club series. Bunny’s new friend is nervous about starting at a new school, and Bunny is determined to help. This series looks so sweet!
Dragons From Mars Go to School – Book 2 in the Dragons from Mars series. The dragons from Mars are back and eager to join their friend Nathaniel at school.
Even Monsters Go to School – Sequel to Even Monsters Need to Sleep. Shows all the different ways monsters enjoy school.
The Great Gran Plan – One of the Three Pigs tries to save Little Red Riding Hood’s granny.
Hey, Dog – A boy works hard to show an abused dog that he can be trusted.
The Peculiar Pig – A dachshund puppy finds herself in a family of piglets where what makes her peculiar can also save the day.
How to Read a Book – Poetry by Kwame Alexander, art by Melissa Sweet.
Frankie Sparks and the Class Pet AND Frankie Sparks and the Talent Show Trick – The first two books in the Frankie Sparks, Third Grade Inventor series, a new early chapter book series with an emphasis on STEM.
Miss Porter is Out of Order! – Book 2 in the My Weirder-est School series by Dan Gutman. The kids get a substitute teacher who as a Personal Digital Assistant.
Moles (Superpower Field Guide) – A 96-oage field guide to moles.
Mummies, Myths and Mysteries (My Weird School Fast Facts) – The latest nonfiction book from Dan Gutman.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Curse of Greg: An Epic Series of Failures – Book 2 in the Epic Series of Failures series. A middle schooler finds out he’s a fantastical Dwarf and he is drawn into a war between the Dwarves and the Elves.
The Art of Breaking Things – A teen with her eyes on graduation and freedom has to rethink things when her mom rekindles a relationship with the man who crossed serious boundaries with her when she was too young to understand what was happening. Will she hold her secrets and focus on escape or will she give up her dreams to protect her younger sister?
Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food and Love – 13 interconnected short stories about a baker’s dozen of teens and their families, cultures, and foods.
Last Bus to Everland – A lonely teen makes a friend who introduces him to Everland, a “knock off Narnia” where he finally finds a circle of friends. But when the doors to Everland start to disappear, the teen will need to decide if he will stay in Everland or return to his normal life.
Risking It All – Two teens at Wallingford Academy, an elite military school, could not be more different. One is disciplined and determined to pursue her dream of an Air Force career, and the other is there because he took the fall for his girlfriend’s crime. Can Paige help Logan get the most out of his time at Wallingford or will his past drag both of them down in the end?

Books for Adults

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Answers in the Attic (ebook) – Book 4 in the Inn at Holiday Bay series.
Ever Faithful (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Vintage National Parks series. Yellowstone National Park is the setting for this romantic mystery about an illiterate man who needs a fresh start – and some reading skills to help him keep his job – and the young woman who tutors him while mysterious fires threaten their relationship.
It’s a Ghost’s Life (ebook) – Book 5 in the Murder By Design series. A home stager is the only one who believes the death of her grandmother’s bingo partner is suspicious, so she enlists her ghost friend’s help in her sleuthing.
The Trouble with Talent (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series. Colbie and her cat Trouble are on the case when a couple of shady school employees are killed after some crooked deals to help or hinder kids getting into college.