Search Results for: shannon hale

REVIEW: Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale

REVIEW: Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Josie used to be “kind of a big deal.” Her choir director told her she had “star power.” She knew how to light up a stage. And her talent and some connections got her a Broadway audition. She left home – and quit high school – with a one way ticket to New York.

When the audition doesn’t go as planned, Josie decides to stay in New York, crashing wherever she can find a spot. She eventually starts nannying part time, going to any casting call she can find. Nothing clicks. How awful to discover your best moments were in high school. When her nanny job moves to Montana, Josie goes, too, for lack of any other plan.

On a trip to the park with her charge, Mia, Josie stops in a local book shop. And everything changes. She picks up a book, and as she’s reading, she falls into the story, becoming one of the characters. It’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. All of the people in Josie’s life play the characters in each story she falls into. Each time she dives into a book, she has a harder time remembering her real life and pulling back. What would happen to Josie – or to Mia – if she fell into a story and never came back out?

Review

This one didn’t click for me. Spending time with Josie felt like going to a high school reunion with someone who had never moved on. It’s tragic in a 40-year-old, and it’s tragic in an 18-year-old. Josie believes she peaked in high school. She puts everything into a shot at Broadway, and when it fails, she has no direction. She is lost, desperate. And she doesn’t know how to bounce back.

To Josie’s – and the book’s – credit, she doesn’t stay stuck. She starts to develop some insights, and she gets a better understanding of herself and the relationships she has been relying on. She sees the toxicity in some of her relationships as well as in her perceptions of herself and her life.

The jumps into books, and the big climax for that part of the story, while effective for producing some change in Josie, didn’t work for me. I skimmed over most of the book jumping. Josie’s a lot to take at times. In these passages especially, she was exhausting for me. I was more interested in the things going on in her real life. Josie’s charge, Mia, and her transgender friend Nina were the characters I most wanted to see. In the end it felt like the story I wanted with the characters here and the story the author wanted to tell with them just weren’t the same story. And the climax, while an interesting twist, felt a little too out of left field for me.

Readers who enjoy angsty teens (who feel like realistic teenagers) and fantasy stories centered around books might give this one a try. Some readers have really enjoyed this one. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥½*

*♥♥½=mostly solid to solid

REVIEW: The Legend of Shadow High by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

REVIEW: The Legend of Shadow High by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Something is going on at Monster High. First, Frankie Stein and Draculaura’s presentation for school is a disaster! Then there’s a strange plopping sound like leaking pipes. And finally there’s a reference to a mysterious place called Shadow High. But no one seems to know what that is.

When Frankie and Draculaura attempt to find Shadow High on the Mapalogue, they set off an earthquake and discover a land they’ve never heard of – Ever After.

Things are strange at Ever After High. There are earthquakes, strange old women in the school, whispers of something call “Shadow High,” and Maddie has gone missing. Maybe the Evil Queen is up to something! But surely not. She’s in mirror prison. Isn’t she?

When Draculaura and Frankie meet Apple White and Raven Queen, there’s lot of screaming (monsters!) and disbelief (fairy tales!). But the only way they can figure out the mysteries of Shadow High will be to work together.

Review

Once upon a time, I read the first two books in the Ever After High series. I loved them! They were fun and fit in with my love of fractured fairy tales. I moved away from the series after the Wonderland story line grew (Wonderland is just not my style) and when the author changed. Now, Shannon Hale is back, this time drawing characters from Monster High into the Ever After High world.

The fun, quirky things from Every After High – the creative language (“hexcellent” and “pin-the-horn-on-the-unicorn”) and narrator commentary, etc. – are back. So the structure of this book felt familiar. As an adult, I find that sometimes these cute little plays on words can get old, but my students adored them.

I loved seeing the Ever After High characters again. Raven has always been my favorite. The new Monster High characters were a neutral piece for me. I didn’t dislike them or like them. They added a “diversity” layer to the story as both pairs of girls had to get past their prejudices. But Monster High is not a franchise I am familiar with, so I have no previous contact with these characters and their stories.

The overall story of the book was interesting. Not what I was expecting. There was a lot  about the structure and process of reading and books – about the separation of readers and story, the “fourth wall,” and the role of narrators, etc.. It was a clever idea, but it didn’t click for me.

There’s an excellent twist to the structure towards the end of the book. That redeemed the reading experience for me. I literally sat up taller in my chair, and hunched over the book to see how the structure change would play out. It was a fun twist that fit with what was happening in the story – it wasn’t just tossed in randomly.

I think this book will click for fans of the original Ever After High books and fans of Monster High as well as kids who love both.

Thanks to Little, Brown books for an ARC of this story for review purposes.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Real Friends by Shannon Hale

REVIEW: Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Shannon Hale shares stories of her elementary school years, mostly focused on school friendships in this graphic novel memoir. Girls’ friendships in those years can be fraught with cliques, and girls can get caught up in the ebb and flow of in-crowds and outcasts. Shannon shares experiences from both sides of that continuum. She also faced backlash at home from an older sister who was also struggling with social relationships and friend issues.

Review

This is a lovely graphic novel memoir along the lines of Raina Telgemeier’s Smile or Cece Bell’s El Deafo. If I was still teaching, I would want to have multiple copies of this one because my students would keep this in circulation all year.

For every Queen Bee clique leader in school, there are 3-10 girls who feel the rush of acceptance and the sting of being shunned that cycles in these circles. Even though Shannon’s story is anchored in the late 70s and early 80s pop culture (Charlie’s Angels, Wonder Woman, Michael Jackson, Chicago 17), the friend experiences – and some sibling experiences – span generations.

The art work is beautiful and will grab the attention of graphic novel fans. Also, the end notes explain some of the story factors – anxiety and minor OCD behaviors – as well as sharing a little of the “epilogue” that is Shannon’s life today.

This book can give readers a sense of hope and feeling of being understood. They will hopefully glean that they are not alone in the struggle. Perfect for school and home libraries.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Diana, Princess of the Amazons by Shannon and Dean Hale

REVIEW: Diana, Princess of the Amazons by Shannon and Dean Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Diana, princess of the Amazons, is lonely. It’s hard to be the only kid on Themyscira. She’s too old for her dolls and other things she used to play with. And she’s too young for warrior training or to be included in her mother’s work running the Paradise Islands.

While playing with some clay, Diana fashions a friend the way her mother formed her. She doesn’t expect magic to happen – like with her own “birth.” But it would be awfully cool!

Then her creation, Mona, comes to life. At first, it’s everything Diana hoped it would be. She has a friend to play with, someone her age. But Mona doesn’t want Diana to tell anyone about her. And some of her choices lead Diana to do things she’s never done before – like lie, steal and rebel.

When one of Mona’s “great ideas” puts everyone on Themyscira – and the world – in danger from monsters, Diana has to rethink her choices and her new friendship.

Review

This was great! I loved this new look at young Wonder Woman. Poor Diana is struggling as the only kid on the island. Add to that the fact that all of the Amazons are strong and perfect. How can a young girl live up to all that? And when the business of the islands consumes her mother’s attention, Diana is set to take a fall.

I think kids will see the trouble Mona is up to before Diana does. And there’s lots to talk about and think about in her manipulations.

The wrap-up is perfect – there’s a happy ending, Diana takes responsibility for her actions, AND the adults actually listen to her concerns and ideas and take action. I loved it.

The art work in this graphic novel is lovely. Kids are going to adore this. Mythology fans (and Percy Jackson or Kate O’Hearn fans) will see some familiar references here. And kids who haven’t moved to Percy Jackson yet will find a place to launch their mythology journey here.

Librarians and teachers should stock up on this one. It’s going to be a hot commodity in your schools and libraries!

DC graciously sent me some pictures of the art for this one that I wanted to share with you so you can see how great it is.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon and Dean Hale

REVIEW: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon and Dean Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Doreen Green is new in town. She had to leave her friends – squirrel and human – behind in California. But her mom insists there are lots of squirrels in New Jersey, so Doreen will get to make new squirrel friends. And there’s always her junior high school for human friends.

Sure enough, Doreen’s first friend in New Jersey is a squirrel named Tippy-Toe. Doreen saves Tippy from a high tech squirrel trap. Since Doreen also speaks squirrel and has a bushy squirrel tail, Tippy decides she might be okay.

Doreen’s first human friend is a girl at school named Ana Sofia. They initially bond over Doreen’s efforts to brush up on her sign language to help her communicate better with Ana Sofia in the loud lunchroom. Then they also click over some of the mysterious things going on in town – stolen bikes, vandalism, wild dogs and now the squirrel traps. Ana Sofia discovers Doreen’s secret when Doreen starts dealing with some of the neighborhood crime. And she encourages “Squirrel Girl’s” efforts to clean up their community. But their activities catch the eye of the local super villain, the Micro Manager. And he’s determined to make his reputation by destroying Squirrel Girl.

Review

This was outstanding! It took me a little while to find a rhythm with the story. There are footnotes all through the book – like in Hale’s Ever After High series – which I found tiresome at times in that series. And it takes a little while for Doreen to find her footing in her new community, which also made it hard for me to connect to the story. But once she had carved out a little niche for herself, I was hooked.

The characters are fantastic. I love Doreen and Ana Sofia. Doreen’s parents are a hoot – they are completely enamored with Doreen so they have a hard time disciplining her when she’s saving the day, even though they want her to stay safe. The sections with the villain reminded me of another awesome superhero series – N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley. Both are smart and funny with excellent action and pacing.

The story is terrific – a classic superhero/supervillain tale – but with squirrels. The chapters when Tippy tells her story are some of my favorites. She has a great voice for the story. My other favorite parts were the text exchanges between Doreen and various Marvel heroes. They’re smart and funny and remind the reader that Squirrel Girl is part of the Marvel universe (a veiled reference to DC comics was also funny).

This was a treat all the way around. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the story, the world building – all of it! I bought book 2 immediately after finishing this one, and it is on my TBR pile right now.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: November 9, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Lots of fantastic books releasing this week – here are some of the ones on my radar:

Books for Kids

Who Was Walt Disney? (Board Book) – A board book from the Who Was folks.
Off-Limits – Dad’s office is “off limits.” But who can resist all of those cool, fascinating gadgets and supplies? Certainly not me – this is on my list for this week!!
Stitch by Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly Sews Her Way to Freedom – An enslaved seamstress is able to buy her freedom because of the gorgeous gowns she made.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: Tea for Two – When Itty starts spending time with some pegasi she meets, her best friend Luna starts to feel left out.
When Pigs Fly (A Batpig Book) (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A bite from a radioactive bat gives Gary special powers. This looks so fun!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Amethyst: Princess of Gem World (Graphic Novel) – From Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. When a prank goes wrong, Amethyst is grounded to Earth. She’s only supposed to be there a week, but three years later, Amy has completely forgotten her old life.
Batman, Robin, and Howard (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series from the author of early Jedi Academy series, Jeffrey Brown. When Robin/Damian Wayne makes a mistake on patrol, he is benched from his superhero-ing and sent to a new school where he encounters a new rival. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Out of My Heart (Older Middle Grade) – A sequel to the bestselling Out of My Mind. This time, Melody is determined to experience summer camp and all the adventures one has to offer.
What Was the Plague? and Who Was David Bowie?
Margot Mertz Takes It Down – A teen who launched her own business as a digital cleaner to clean up your most embarrassing online gaffs uncovers a revenge porn site featuring girls from her school and vows to take it – and those behind it -down.
Year of the Reaper – A former engineer’s apprentice and a young historian team up to find a royal assassin.
You’ve Reached Sam – A girl missing her dead boyfriend calls his cell to hear his voice again – and he picks up the phone, giving her a second chance to say goodbye.

 

Books for Adults

The After Party (Trade Paperback) – Three women commiserating over their awful boss after a holiday party find themselves facing new challenges when their boss is later murdered.
The Archivist (Hardcover)- An archivist working to finish processing the papers of a writer on the short list for a Nobel finds herself investigating her predecessor who died – a woman who had a torrid affair with the writer. Could her death be more than the accident the police believe it was?
An Eggnog to Die For (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series. While Sam was hoping for a nice, quiet Christmas, stumbling over the body of the town’s Santa Claus has made that dream a whole lot less likely.
How to Murder a Marriage: The Ex-Whisperer Files (Trade Paperback) – A relationship advice author is trying to make a new life for herself, but instead she is dodging a stalker and looking for a woman who went missing after the author told the woman to leave her husband.
Maggie Dove and the Lost Brides (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Maggie Dove series. While Maggie is hired to find a runaway bride, she instead finds her niece on her doorstep in a wedding gown after being jilted by her own fiancé. But when the runaway bride is found dead, her groom is suspected of murder, and Maggie’s niece has fallen in love with the murder suspect, Maggie still has plenty of sleuthing to do.
Never Fall for Your Fiancée (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Meriwell Sisters series. A woman struggling to get by after her father abandoned her and her sisters can’t afford to pass up the Earl’s offer to pretend to be his fiancée while his mother is visiting. But if they were to actually fall in love, it would complicate things for both of them.
The Return of the Pharaoh (Hardcover) – Dr. Watson’s journal shares the story of a previously unknown Sherlock adventure, where he went searching for a missing Duke in Egypt.
The Undertakers (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Murders & Magic series. Hetty and Benjy are investigating a series of fires around Philadelphia as well as a fire company that seems all too willing to let homes burn if they belong to Black citizens.
Vanishing Edge (Hardcover) – A former FBI agent and a former SEAL, both working with the National Parks, team up to determine what happened to the folks who disappeared from their exclusive campsite full of high-tech gear.
The Wedding Ringer (Trade Paperback) – A woman, down on her luck and settling for playing a princess at birthday parties agrees to be a bridesmaid for hire as a means to an end. But the gig could end up getting her a real friend – and a real chance at love. This is on my review list!
Divine Disruption: Holding on to Faith When Life Breaks Your Heart (Hardcover) – Pastor Tony Evans and his family have endured several tragedies in recent years. In this book, Pastor Evans and his adult children, including writers/preachers Priscilla Shirer and Chrystal Evans Hurst (She’s Still There – ♥♥♥♥♥, share how their faith has withstood the tragedies.
Will (Hardcover) – A memoir.

 

 

BOOK NEWS: August 31, 2021

BOOK NEWS: August 31, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the final release week of August. Let’s take a look at the new books out this week.

Books for Kids

Gitty and Kvetch – An enthusiastic girl and her grumpy bird friend have an adventure, but things don’t go like Gitty planned. This looks darling. I love all the Yiddish expressions included!
Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates – An introverted hamster strugglers with his chatty, extroverted roommate. This looks adorable!
Survivor Tree – The story of the Survivor Tree planted at the base of where the Twin Towers stood.
The Chicken House – The Chicken Squad get a leveled reader! I have loved the Chicken Squad chapter books, so I’m excited to see how they transition to leveled readers.
Nugget and Dog: Yum Fest Is the Best – Book 2 in the Nugget and Dog series of leveled graphic novels about a hot dog and a chicken nugget pair of friends. This looks so fun!
The Snoopy Show: Nest Friends – A new leveled reader starring Snoopy.
Thunder and Cluck: The Brave Friend Leads the Way! – Book 2 in the Thunder and Cluck series of leveled graphic novels.
Doodling 101: A Silly Symposium –  A kids activity book

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Fast Pitch – A new middle grade novel from Nic Stone. A softball player struggles to prove herself both on the field and off.
Friends Forever – Book 3 in the Real Friends graphic novel series by the delightful Shannon Hale.
Kid Classics: Dracula AND Frankenstein
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche – Book 7 in the Enola Holmes series. Enola and a somewhat reluctant Sherlock work on the case of a missing woman. Her twin sister has been told the woman died, but she doesn’t believe the story. You can read my full review here.
Take Me With You When You Go – When Bea leaves home on a quest to find someone who might not want to be found, she leaves her brother at home at the mercy of their abusive step-father and negligent mother. I am intrigued by this one.

Books for Adults

Be My Ghost (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Haunted Haven Mystery series. A woman inherits an inn and discovers it has ghostly inhabitants – and a dead body on the property.
Brides & Brothers (September 1, e-book) – A modern retelling of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers? Yes please! This is on my review list.
Carved in Stone (Trade Paperback) – First in the Blackstone Legacy series. A reclusive heiress is charged by her powerful family with the task of getting a lawyer to drop a case that would dredge up a 30-year-old family mystery. That sounds awesome!
The Devil You Know (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Mercenary Librarians series. I have book one, Deal with the Devil, on my TBR shelves already. Can’t wait to dig into this action/sci-fi/romance series!
The Heart Principle (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Kiss Quotient series. Frustrated in her career and in her relationship with her longtime boyfriend (who has recently decided he wants an “open” relationship), Anna sets out to have as many ill-advised one night stands as she wants. But her quest doesn’t go as planned.
Her New Story (Trade Paperback) – The latest novel from the fantastic Laura Bradford. A journalist dreading her latest assignment in Amish country goes looking for scandal but finds only kindness and unexpected friendships. This is on my review list.
The Last Chance Library (Trade Paperback) – A wallflower librarian musters some moxie when her beloved library is threatened with closure. This is on my library list.
The Meeting Point (September 2, e-book) – While Maya planned to surprise her boyfriend for her birthday, the tables are turned when a Lift driver clues her into her boyfriend’s extracurricular relationship. But the Lift driver saves the day, encouraging her to explore a nearby beach town. I pre-ordered this months ago! I can’t wait to read it.
Partners in Lime (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Seaside Café Mystery series. Everly is sleuthing when a friend is accused of murdering a surf pro.
The Royals Next Door (Trade Paperback) – When British royals – and their hot bodyguard – move in next door to Piper, she finds herself in the middle of a royal scandal. This is on my review list – I am so excited to read it!
What the Cat Dragged In (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the Cat in the Stacks mystery series. Charlie and Diesel are on the case when Charlie inherits his grandfather’s old home and discovers a skeleton in a closet. This is on my review list, too. I’m intrigued by this story.
Messy Art, Full Heart (Paperback) – A four-week Bible journaling study. [Disclosure: This book is published by Warner Press which is the same publisher that I work with when writing small group curriculum and who published my Identity in Christ Bible study.]
Reverse Coloring Book – In this reverse coloring book, the colored pages are there, waiting for you to draw the picture over the top. Some of the sample pages are clearly floral scenes while other are more generic and could be a background for almost any picture.

 

BOOK NEWS: August 25, 2020

BOOK NEWS: August 25, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of August 2020. Watch for some fall and Halloween titles to start releasing this week and in the weeks to come. Let’s see what books we are getting this week!

Books for Kids

How Big is Zagnodd? (Board book) – The newest board book from the brilliant mind and pen of Sandra Boynton!
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice – Picture book biography of Senator and Presidential candidate – and now Vice Presidential candidate – Kamala Harris.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul – Picture book biography of Aretha Franklin. The artwork on that cover is stunning.
Interrupting Cow – First book in a new Early Reader series starring Interrupting Cow.
Little Goddess Girls: Athena and the Island Enchantress – Book 5 in the Little Goddess Girls series. Athena and Hercules encounter Circe on their quest to save a queen.
Tiny Truths: Wonder & Wisdom – A look at Psalms and Proverbs. I love this line of books for little kids. The illustrations are fantastic.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Donut Dreams: A Donut for Your Thoughts – Book 4 in the Donut Dreams series. When Casey gets back from summer camp, everything back home seems different.
Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter – First in a new series. When her archaeologist dad goes missing while on the hunt for a mythical stone that could control the world, Lola goes looking for him.
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel AIM Small – Book 2 in the Captain Marvel series from Marvel Action. As Carol is teaching Nadia Van Dyne to drive (see The Unstoppable Wasp), AIM gets control of some Pym Particles and causes trouble.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel – JJ convinces his mother to accept the odd invitation for a weekend at the most haunted spot in town. But when the owner is killed and JJ’s mother is blamed, he and his new friends start investigating for themselves.
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket – Book 5 in the Mr. Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein.  The hunt is on for one of 4 tickets that will entitle the winners to compete to  win Mr. Lemoncello’s whole business.
Once Upon a Unicorn – A scientifically-minded unicorn teams up with a flaming horse to save their home from monsters.
The Places We Sleep – This novel in verse takes place in September of 2001 and focuses on a girl who is adjusting to a new home with her military family when the attacks take place on 9/11. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark – A collection of Star Wars stories that take place during the Clone Wars. NOTE: These are not new, original stories but are adaptations of episodes from The Clone Wars show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Triple Threat (Older Middle Grade) – A football-loving girl who can throw a perfect spiral has to fight for the opportunity to play on the school football team.
The Assignment – When a favorite teacher gives a class assignment to argue the merits of the Nazi’s “Final Solution,” two students refuse to participate which escalates the issue to the whole school and then the community.
The Con Code – Fiona and her dad have been performing difficult heists to track down the clues her mother left behind before she disappeared. But when her dad is captured by the FBI before their final three heists are completed, Fiona pulls together a crew of kids from school to help her. This is at the top of my list for this week. I love heist books!
Darius the Great Deserves Better (LGBTQ+) – Sequel to Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Just when Darius starts to feel like he has a handle on his life and his relationships with his dad, his best friend, and his boyfriend, everything shifts.
Kind of a Big Deal – The latest for teens from Shannon Hale. A highschooler who hit it big – and then lost her career – is finding books to be a great way to escape all the issues in her life. And they are literally an escape – she goes into each book and becomes a character. But each time she uses this power, it becomes harder to get back out of the book to her real life. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Nemesis – Book 3 in the Diabolic series. Emperor Tyrus killed the woman he loved, but some say Nemesis is not truly gone and that she will return to confront her enemy.
Now That I’ve Found You – A young woman trying to restore her Hollywood career thinks she can turn things around by bringing her famous – and reclusive – grandmother back into the spotlight. But when Gigi goes missing, Evie will have to team up with the last person to see her grandmother – a cute musician – to help her.
Twin Daggers – A new story from Blink YA publishing. A pair of twins posing as normal Technocrats are secretly rebels trying to take their city back. Aissa agrees to take on a mission to find the Heartless heir to the Technocrat throne, but her sister Zandra is captured, changing Aissa’s mission completely.
Where Dreams Descend – First in the new Kingdom of Cards series. The magical feats at the Conquering Circus are more than just dazzling – they’re dangerous. And as more magicians go missing, three members of the circus wrestle with their own secrets as they wonder who might be next.

Books for Adults

15 Minutes of Flame (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. While investigating an old candle-making shop, Stella finds the body of a long-dead Quaker woman. As she looks for answers as to what might have happened to the woman, another murderer strikes.
Boston Scream Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. When Emily goes to deliver her Boston Scream donuts to the birthday party for an eccentric local man, she finds him dead.
Cat Me If You Can (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, and I can’t wait. Charlie and Diesel hit the road with Charlie’s significant other, Helen, as well as the Ducote sisters from the Southern Ladies Mystery series,  for a mystery readers’ gathering in North Carolina.  When an uninvited guest turns up dead, Charlie and his friends start investigating.
Dead End Detective (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series from the folks at Hallmark Publishing, written by prolific mystery author Amanda Flower. When Darby’s business partner is killed and she becomes the prime suspect in the death, Darby will have to trust her partner’s nephew – the man who inherited her half of the business – to help her discover the truth. I can’t wait to read this one! I’ll be reviewing this soon as well.
Digging Up Remains (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 of the Garden Squad Mystery series. The Fall Festival’s 10K fundraiser is only one of the many tasks Lilly is juggling right now. But when an annoying reporter is found dead near the starting line, she’s going to have to add sleuthing to her to do list.
Dough or Die (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Bread Shop Mystery series. As Yeast of Eden is on the brink of Reality TV notoriety, an attempted murder in front of the store means Ivy is sleuthing again.
Eat Drink and Be Wary (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cook-Off Mystery series. When Sherry’s competition is killed in the cook-off at the Fall Festival, her brother, Pep, who was serving as her sous-chef, is the prime suspect.
Goodnight Moo (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Buttermilk Creek Mystery series. As Brynn plays host to a cheesemaker’s contest, a tractor accident starts to look a lot like murder. When a second death puts her top cheesemaker under suspicion, Brynn starts investigating. I have this series on my wishlist.
Gourd to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pie Town Mystery series. Val and Charlene are investigating when a pie contest turns deadly. This series sounds so yummy!
Hidden (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Texas Murder Files series. An investigative reporter and a detective team up to track down a murderer that could have ties to a high tech research facility working on something dangerous.
How To Catch a Sinful Marquess (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Disreputable Debutantes series. An orphaned heiress trapped by her position and her guardians volunteers to help her neighbor when a young child is dumped on his doorstep with a note saying she’s his daughter.
Kickbacks, Kayacks, and Kidnapping (e-book) – Book 12 in the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. When an Olympic kayaker dies during a race hosted by Happy Trails Campground, the bad press could undo all the hard work Mae has put into her business. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Killer Kung Pao (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Lana is a witness to the car accident and blow up between two local women. But when one of them ends up dead, Lana feels the blame falling on the other woman is a little too easy.
Knit of the Living Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. A murder during the Halloween Parade pull the Knit and Nibblers into sleuthing again.
The Mother Code (Hardcover) – In a future where a deadly bioweapon threatens human survival, scientists place genetically engineered children into large robots that will gestate, birth and raise the children. But when children like Kai come of age, the robots change as well, making the government consider destroying them. Kai will have to decide if he will allow this destruction to take place or fight for the only parent he has ever known. This sounds fascinating!!
Murder at Kingscote (Hardcover) – Book 8 in the Gilded Newport Mystery series. Emma’s role as the new editor-in-chief for the Newport Messenger puts her in place to witness a drunken accident during the first automobile parade in Newport (1899). Then, at a dinner party, she sees the same drunk driver, but this time he’s nearly killed the family butler. When Emma receives word that the butler in question could have had numerous enemies, she has to wonder if the car accident was a convenient ruse.
Thread and Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Apron Shop Mystery series. During Iris’ visit to a cottage estate to scout vintage fabrics for her shop, she gets drawn into a mystery when the teaching assistant to an environmentalist who is renting the cottage is killed.
Three Treats Too Many (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sarah Blair Mystery series. Sarah is investigating another murder when a friend is suspected of killing a line cook from a rival restaurant.
To Coach a Killer (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mystery series. Cat is sleuthing a client’s “curse” as well as murder when a series of violent deaths strikes the Hamptons.
Wednesday Walks & Wags (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sunday Potluck Club series. As Bridget juggles her busy schedule and the grief over losing her mother, her new neighbor – and his dogs – might be just the distraction she needs.
Who Wants to Marry a Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Duke Dynasty series. When a female chemist is brought in to determine if Grey’s father was murdered, his half brother, Thorn, can’t stop thinking about how she once blackmailed him – or about the kiss they shared.
You Lucky Dog (Trade Paperback) – When their dog walker mixes up their Basset Hounds, Carly discovers that Max’s dog, Hazel, could be just the thing to help her rescue, Baxter, with his depression. And she certainly doesn’t mind spending more time with Max. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth (Hardcover) – Explores the relationship between the President and Fox News, especially when it comes to lies and disinformation.
The Presidents vs. The Press: The Endless Battles Between the White House and the Media – from the Founding Fathers to Fake News (Hardcover) – A history of the relationship between the Presidents of the United States and the news media.

BOOK NEWS: January 7, 2020

BOOK NEWS: January 7, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy 2020! Here are some of the books releasing during this first week of the new year.

Books for Kids – Board Books and Picture Books

Hello, World! Construction Site (Board Book) – Board book about a construction site.
Black Widow – A Little Golden Book about Black Widow and her friends and foes.
Cuddle Monkey – A monkey goes looking for the perfect cuddle when his parents are busy with his new baby brother. This looks DARLING!
Emergency Kittens – Kittens to the rescue in this adorable-looking picture book.
Snakes on the Job – A group of construction snakes are building a sss-surprise.
Lizzie Demands a Seat!: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights – The story of a school teacher who started the fight for equal rights on streetcars in New York in 1854.
Martin Luther King Jr (Little People Big Dreams) – Biography of MLK, Jr.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read – Born into slavery in 1848, Mary Walker learned to read when she was 116 years old. I can’t wait to read this one!
Overground Railroad – Illustrated poetry about a train journey from North Carolina to New York City during the Great Migration.
Patricia’s Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight – The story of the African American ophthalmologist who pioneered laser eye surgery.
A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story – The story of the desegregation of a Maryland amusement park in the 1960s. One of the authors was the first African American child to ride the carousel at that amusement park.
A Voice Named Aretha – Picture book biography of Aretha Franklin.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

Crane Song (Molly of Denali) – New leveled reader starring Molly of Denali, this one focused on baby cranes.
John Cena’s Elbow Grease: Get Out and Play AND My Monster Truck Family – Leveled readers starring the monster truck Elbow Grease and his friends.
Pinkalicious and the Merminnies – A leveled reader about friendship.
Vote for Minnie – Leveled Reader. Minnie is running for president of the Adventure Club.
Bad Kitty Joins the Team – When Kitty’s owner hears her wheezing after the slightest activity, it’s time for Kitty to get some exercise.
Mulan’s Secret Plan – Part of the Disney Before the Story series. In this book, before Mulan saves China, she’s a girl who longs to learn.
Narwhal on a Sunny Night – Book 33 (in the revised numbering system) in the Magic Tree House series. Jack and Annie meet Leif Erikson and save a narwhal.
Snoopy: A Beagle of Mars (Graphic Novel) – An original Snoopy graphic novel.
We’re Red, Weird, and Blue! What Can We Do? – The My Weird School kids star in this special edition all about the U. S. Presidents.
Narwhals and Other Whales – The nonfiction companion book to Narwhal on a Sunny Night.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Agatha Oddly: Murder at the Museum (Older Middle Grade) – For readers 11 and up. Book 2 in the Agatha Oddly series. This time Agatha is solving a murder at the British Museum. This series looks great! I have book one on my Kindle to read soon.
Clean Getaway – From the author of Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥) comes this middle grade road trip story about a kid who goes on an unexpected adventure with his grandmother.
Diana: Princess of the Amazons (Graphic Novel) – From Shannon Hale, the author of the Princess in Black series as well as the Squirrel Girl books and other terrific stories comes this graphic novel about a young Wonder Woman. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow!
Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles (Graphic Novel) – Middle school friends are writing a comic book together, but a younger sibling gets a hold of their sketch book and changes their creation. I LOVE this idea of kids who trade a sketchbook back and forth while they work on an original story. I can’t wait to read this one!
Escape This Book!: Tombs of Egypt – Choose Your Own Adventure meets I Survived in this series where readers try to escape from danger with doodles and the choices presented in the book. This sounds brilliant!
Josie Bloom and the Emergency of Life – Josie discovers wads of money in strange places – like in a package of bologna – which comes in handy when she sees some overdue bills. But when one comes in that is too big for her to handle alone, she’ll have to figure out what to do to get more money while keeping her grandfather’s odd behavior a secret. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow, too.
Notorious – The latest from Gordon Korman. Two kids team up to investigate the possible murder of one of their pets, but they stumble onto a much bigger mystery than they planned. Friendship story + mystery + dogs. Sign me up.
Real Pigeons Fight Crime (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series about a secret squad of crime-fighting pigeons. This looks hilarious!
Rescue Dogs: Ember – First in a new series about rescue dogs. In this one, Ember, can’t find a forever home because she is “untrainable.” So the Sterling family takes her in to see if they can train her to be a rescue dog. Sounds fantastic.
50 Fearless Women Who Made History: An American History Book for Kids – Women who impacted American History. At the time of this writing, this is available to Kindle Unlimited subscribers to read for free.
Brave, Black, First: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World – Published in cooperation with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Cub (Graphic Novel/Memoir) – A middle schooler secures an internship with her local newspaper in the early 1970s, learning a lot from a female reporter at the paper who mentors her.
Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents: A World War II Book for Kids – A WWII history book on spies.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

All the Days Past, All the Days to Come – Wraps up the story of the Logan family started in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The whole series explores the Civil Rights movement in America.
Every Other Weekend – Two teens with difficult family situations get to know one another as they spend every other weekend at the same apartment complex. As their friendship develops and grows into something more, the differences between their situations becomes complicated. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
A Heart So Fierce and Broken – Sequel to A Curse So Dark and Lonely from the spectacular Brigid Kemmerer. This picks up after the events of Curse, and focuses more on Grey’s story. I’m planning a re-read of book one so I am ready to dive into book to the minute I have it in hand!
How to Speak Boy – Bitter debate rivals start exchanging anonymous notes and begin to fall for one another without knowing who the other person is. This sounds great!
A Love Hate Thing – A troubled teen recovering from a gunshot wound moves into a ritzy neighborhood with a polished family. Their daughter, who works so hard to cultivate the right image to get along in their community, is concerned his presence will ruin everything. But neither teen can deny the chemistry between them.
The Map from Here to There – The sequel to The Start of Me and You (♥♥♥♥). This book focuses on Paige and Max as they launch their relationship in the same city after a summer apart and focus on their futures with senior year speeding along. You can read my review here.
Nameless Queen – A peasant unexpectedly inherits the throne, and therefore inherits all of the trouble that goes with it – including those who want to take the throne from her by any means. Ill be reviewing this one soon.
One of Us Is Next – Sequel to the twisty One of Us Is Lying (♥♥♥♥) by the masterful Karen McManus. This time, instead of a gossip app, it’s a truth or dare game with high stakes. I’ll be re-reading book one asap so I am ready for this one!
Only Love Can Break Your Heart – This is the US debut of a UK hit about two teens who find each other while wishing their lives were less conflicted and complicated.
Plain Janes (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel about art activists from Cecil Castellucci. When Jane moves to a new community, she finds a home at the outcast table with other girls who happen to be named Jane and who also are frustrated by the adults in their lives. Includes three stories – The Plain Janes, Janes in Love and Janes Attack Back. I’m eager to check this one out in person.
Scavenge the Stars – An act of mercy changes Amaya’s life, taking her from the debtor’s ship where she has lived for years to a new life with a new identity and new, dangerous opportunities.
Shadowshaper Legacy – The third and final book in the Shadowshaper Cipher series about a magic that can inhabit art, music and stories, and a girl who must decipher her family’s true history and stop those who would kill the magical shadowshapers. What a fascinating premise!
Three Things I Know Are True – An accidental shooting changes the lives of three teens and two families when Liv’s brother accidentally shoots himself with Clay’s father’s gun and needs round-the-clock care while Liv’s mom sues Clay’s family for the accident.
Throw Like a Girl – A moment of temper costs a softball player her scholarship, her boyfriend and her fancy private school. When she transfers to public school, she has to face the player she hit and her ex every single day. She struggles to convince the coaches to give her a chance to play softball for the school. The injured star quarterback offers her a deal – fill in for him while he is injured, and he will get her a spot on the softball team. I am intrigued by this one!
We Used to Be Friends – Half of this story of a fractured best-friendship moves forward while the other half works backward as readers get to dig into what happened between the two friends – including new romantic interests, college preparation, and an unexpected divorce. LGBTQ+ elements.
Wonder Woman: Warbringer (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the DC book Wonder Woman: Warbringer . (♥♥♥♥) I’ll be reviewing this later this week.
The First Conspiracy – The Young Reader’s Edition of a book by Brad Meltzer about a conspiracy to  kill George Washington.
Flowers in the Gutter: The True Story of the Edelweiss Pirates, Teenagers Who Resisted the Nazis – Teens who grew up in Hitler’s Germany stand against the Nazi party at great risk.

Books for Adults

Bound for Murder (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. When Amy’s friend, Sunny, runs for mayor, a skeleton is found on her grandparents’ organic farm which had been a commune in the 1960s.
Collateral Damage (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Danger Never Sleeps series from Christian publisher, Revell. Brooke, a  former military psychiatrist, is determined to leave the counseling of military folks to others so she can work on her own healing journey. She’s encouraged to make an exception for Asher James, but when he shows up for his first appointment, he finds a dead body in her office. Now they are working together to keep Brooke safe and find out who is trying to kill her. This sounds like a fascinating story.
End Game (Trade Paperback) – Book one in a new Capital Intrigue series from Christian publisher Bethany House. An FBI agent teams up with someone from NCIS to investigate a rash of military murders in Washington DC.
The Game Changer: A Parkwood Mystery from Hallmark Publishing (Trade Paperback) – Two podcasters who talk about murder try investigating a case of their own when there’s a hit and run in their small town. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Moral Compass (Hardcover) – The latest from Danielle Steele. An attack at a posh prep school ignites a firestorm when parents and administrators try to determine what happened and the student body closes ranks to protect their secrets.
A Mysterious Mix Up (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Allie Cobb Mystery series. Literary agent Allie Cobb is investigating a mystery again when she finds her friend and mentor moments from death after being poisoned. I have the first book in this series on my wish list.
No, We Can’t Be Friends (e-book – January 10) – A woman thinks she has finally found “the One,” but he has a devastating secret. Crushed, she’s forced to do some self-examination and find out if there’s a way to love herself more than she loved “the One.” I have this one on my wish list, too.
On Wings of Devotion (Trade Paperback)  – Book 2 in the Codebreakers series. A disgraced military man and a nurse team up to clear his maligned name and protect her while foiling a plot that puts the codebreakers to the test. Historical fiction fans should check this series out. Sounds fascinating.
Secrets and Stilettos (Trade Paperback)  – Book 1 in the new Murder in Style series. A former stylist to the stars goes home to Minnesota to help her mom save her thrift shop. But while applying her stylist skills to a groomsman in a high profile wedding, she has to fend off his advances with her stiletto. When he’s later found dead, she’s the primary suspect. At the time of this writing, this is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. This one is on my list, too.
Silenced in Sequins (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to last year’s Murder Wears a Little Black Dress. Kelly is counting on Black Friday sales to help her struggling consignment shop, but a public cat fight and later a murder connected to a dress sold at her shop pushes Kelly into sleuthing again instead of focusing on her business. I find the covers for this series to be absolutely stunning! Of course I would pick one of these up to take a look.
There’s Murder Afoot (Hardcover)  – Book 5 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. Gemma and her friends go to London for a Sherlock convention, but get pulled into an old family conflict over art forgery.
Thistles and Thieves (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series. The ladies at Yon Bonnie Books get pulled into investigating more than one murder that might have something to do with a mysterious box of first editions that were left for them on the doorstep of the store.
The Vanishing (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the new Fogg Lake series. Decades ago an explosion in the cave system left residents of Fogg Lake with unusual powers. Two young women who grew up there have become investigators in Seattle, but one is kidnapped because of something they witnessed years ago – a murder. I have requested this one from the library.
The Way of the Brave (Trade Paperback)  – Book 1 in the new Global Search and Rescue series from Christian publisher Revell. A former pararescue jumper living in Alaska and a former CIA profiler both have missions from their past that they would like to forget, and a connection neither expects. But when she is in need of rescue on a climb, and he’s part of the team that shows up, they’re going to have to deal with their pasts in order to survive.
Cauliflower Power: 75 Feel-Good, Gluten-Free Recipes Made with the World’s Most Versatile Vegetable (Hardcover) – 75 recipes built around the 5 ways to prepare cauliflower – whole, florets, steaks, riced, and meal.
Eat, Fast, Feast: Heal Your Body While Feeding Your Soul – A Christian Guide to Fasting (Trade Paperback) – Looks at intermittent fasting from a Christian perspective.
Keto Simple (Paperback Cookbook) -100 simple recipes for a Keto diet. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Reckless Love: A 40-Day Journey into the Overwhelming, Never-ending, Reckless Love of God (Hardcover Devotional) – Songwriter Cory Asbury digs into the lyrics of his popular worship song and the principles explored there like God’s love, grace and kindness.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Books from DC Comics

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Books from DC Comics

Posted on by Jaymie

Superhero stories – and villain stories – are all the rage these days. Marvel has had a HUGE year at the box office while I feel like DC has done a better job with their print offerings. My emphasis for this post is on prose books and graphic novels that are original in that form, rather than graphic novels that are collections of comic books. You can read some of my reviews of DC books here. But there are other DC books I have enjoyed that I haven’t given a full review. Read about some of those books below as well as some things DC will be publishing in the coming months.

DC Backstories

I loved this line of books that gave the backstories for these DC superheroes (as well as Superman and Supergirl).
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Super Hero High

I did a full review of the Batgirl story from this series, but I have read all of these. I am missing two books in the series to read – Harley Quinn and Bumblebee. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Middle Grade Books

Flash: Hocus Pocus – I loved the first book in this Flash series! I haven’t kept up with the books (and now there is a new crossover series starting), but I liked how this one tied into the TV show, but was from a different timeline where Barry hadn’t gone back in time to change things (creating a slew of problems). The villain in this was legitimate and made for a very suspenseful story. Fans of the TV show should definitely check this series out. Rating: ♥♥♥♥ There’s also a Supergirl series like this, but I haven’t read any of those. Book one is called Age of Atlantis.

Study Hall of Justice – The first  Secret Hero Society book was fun. They are set up like the Jedi Academy books with comic panels, journal entries, etc. I did not like the art style for the first book, so I didn’t keep with it, but it looks like they changed artists with book 4, so I might have to try them again. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

DC Icons

I loved the idea of these DC Icons books – prose novels about the “heroes” as teens – so I read all four of them even though I have only posted a full review for Batman: Nightwalker. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wonder Woman story (Rating: ♥♥♥♥) and the Catwoman story (Rating: ♥♥♥♥), but the Superman book was a disappointment (Rating: ♥♥♥). The WW and Batman stories are being turned into graphic novels.

Early Readers/Chapter Books – Coming Soon

DC Super Hero Adventures – Four books release February 1, 2020 from DC including these two titles. It looks like these will be chapter books rather than graphic novels. I’m excited to see that!
DC Super Hero Girls at Metropolis High  – A new Super Hero Girls iteration launches on October 15, 2019. A second graphic novel in the series will release in spring 2020.
Winner Takes All – A chapter book starring Wonder Woman in Metropolis. Releases November 19, 2019. There may be a second book in the series releasing the same day.

Middle Grade – Coming Soon

Batman: Overdrive – Middle grade graphic novel releasing in March 2020.
Black Canary: Ignite (Dinah Lance) – Graphic novel, releasing October 29, 2019
Diana Princess of the Amazons – New graphic novel from the fantastic Shannon Hale releases in January 2020.
Field Trip Disaster – Book 5 in the Secret Hero Society series. Releases October 1, 2019.
Green Lantern: Legacy – New graphic novel releases in January 2020.
Super Sons: The Foxglove Mission – Book 2 in the Super Sons series releases on October 29, 2019
Zatanna and the House of Secrets – Middle grade graphic novel releasing in February 2020.

Teens – Coming Soon

Batman: Nightwalker Graphic Novel – Releases October 1, 2019
Gotham High (Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, Jack Napier) – Graphic novel, releasing April 2020
The Oracle Code (Barbara Gordon) – Graphic novel, releasing March 2020
Shadow of the Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) – Graphic novel, releasing February 2020
Wonder Woman: Warbringer Graphic Novel – Releases in January 2020