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REVIEW: Stick Cat by Tom Watson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Stick Cat and his neighbor cat, Edith, get together each day after Stick Cat’s owner leaves the apartment. (They’ve scratched a hole in the wall between the bathrooms.) Usually they play with socks or play the staring game (It is not like the human version!). One of their favorite things to do, though, is listen to “Mr. Music” play piano in the building across the street. With the window open, the cats can hear Mr. Music tune the pianos and then play them. On one particular day, though, Mr. Music gets into some trouble and no one knows he needs help – no one but Stick Cat and Edith.

stick-cat

Review

I’ve never read the Stick Dog books before, but as a cat person, I wanted to try this spin off. I heard the author speak at a Children’s Literature Festival, and I really liked him. He was funny, and he related well to the kids at the event.

Stick Cat is the smart one. Edith is pretty ditzy. They are great friends and they make a great rescue team. I can see why kids love these books. This one was so fun. The style reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Timmy Failure or Big Nate. If you know a reader who likes those books, you might suggest they try Stick Dog and Stick Cat!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

There are supposed to be at least two more books in this series, plus ongoing Stick Dog books. There are pictures of those posted below.

stick-dog-collage

BOOK NEWS: September 8, 2020

BOOK NEWS: September 8, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Let’s take a look at some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away – Best friends are challenged when one of the families is moving away. This looks sweet.
Fairy Science: Solid, Liquid, Gassy – Book 2 in the Fairy Science series from Ashley Spires.
Snow Day for Groot – Rocket and Groot have a day off to hang out with Spider-Man in New York. I was sold when I saw Shuri tucked into an illustration of the characters at the NYPL. I love clever storytelling and illustrations!
Speak Up Molly Lou Melon – Sweet little Molly Lou Melon stands up for her friends.
God Speaks in Whispers – A new picture book about hearing God from Mark Batterson.
Happy Narwhalidays – Book 5 in the Narwhal and Jelly series. Narwhal is excited about the holiday arrival of the Merry Mermicorn while Jelly is trying to figure out the best gift to give Narwhal. This is a cute series.
Stink and the Hairy Scary Spider – Book 12 in the Stink series. Judy and her friend Webster try to help Stink with his spider phobia.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Alex Rider: Ark Angel (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the 6th Alex Rider novel.
The Canyon’s Edge – The latest from the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. When a girl and her father are exploring a canyon in Arizona, a flash flood sweeps him and their supplies away, leaving Nora on her own in the desert.
Izzy Newton and the SMART Squad: Absolute Hero – First in the new SMART Squad series. Izzy Newton, Allie Einstein, and Charlie Darwin are the SMART Squad, and they use science to solve problems at their school, like when the air conditioning goes on the fritz, creating a chilly situation. This looks cute!
Kudo Kids: Mystery of the Masked Medalist – First in the new Kudo Kids series, set at the Tokyo Olympics. A mysterious Olympic medalist has created a scavenger hunt game for Olympics fans to play while they are in Tokyo. But when someone sabotages the game, Andy and Mika start looking for the troublemaker.
Lost Wonderland Diaries – First in a new series. Lewis Carroll created four diaries of his actual journeys into Wonderland, but the journals have been lost. Two kids find the diaries and are pulled through a portal into Wonderland, but it is a Wonderland that has changed in dark ways.
Revver the Speedway Squirrel – First in a new illustrated series. A squirrel who lives above a race track longs to be a race car driver.
Stick Dog Meets His Match – Book 10 in the Stick Dog series by Tom Watson. This time, Stick Dog is trying to rescue Karen and track down a meat truck to feed his friends.
Unwanted Quests: Dragon Slayers – Book 6 in the Unwanted Quests series. The twins have been captured by a dragon woman who traps them between four vicious dragons, hoping to coerce them to fight on her side.
Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls – Devotions to address the questions girls may have about identity and self-image.
Where Is Chichen Itza? – Readers can learn about the center of Mayan culture.
The Bookweaver’s Daughter – An OwnVoices YA fantasy centered around Indian culture. Reya can trace her family back through generations of Bookweavers, those who guarded Kasmiri culture. Reya’s father, who can use this Bookweaver magic, has been taken by those who would like to see magic stamped out. Reya and a friend flee with only one book to help her discover her magic and save her father and her people.
Charming as a Verb – A teen working a dog-walking scheme can’t charm the classmate who discovers his less-than-honest system. So he agrees to help her change her image at school in exchange for her not ratting him out.
Currents (The Ables) – Book 3 in the Ables series, set four years after the events in book 2, Strings. Now in college, the heroes are fighting an energy-hoarding villain while Philip struggles with the loss of his sight again.
Devastation Class – A new book from the folks at Blink YA publishing. Triumphant after a 9 year war with the Kastazi, Earth sends the California out for a science expedition. But the crew stumbles on a new advancing force of Kastazi. Two cadets who think they have the best plan for the ship’s survival activate experimental technology that takes them not to a safe region of space but to an alternate reality. Sounds awesome!
Nobody Knows But You – A new thriller about a summer at camp that ends in murder.
The Other Side of the Sky – His home is in the sky, powered by technology. Her’s is on the Surface. Despite their feelings for one another, a prophecy makes it clear what could happen if they act on their emotions.
Sources Say – Angeline and Leo, exes who are both running for class president, up their games when someone posts doctored photos of scantily clad girls from their school. Angeline’s sister, Cat, is content to report on the election – and the photos – for the school paper. But when someone anonymously starts reporting “fake news,” Cat is ready to throw down for journalistic integrity.
These Vengeful Hearts – Ember has seen the damage a secret society, the Red Court, and their leader, the Queen of Hearts, have done to her school, so she decides to tear them apart from within.

Books for Adults

Checked Out for Murder (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie, the librarian, and Evelyn, the library ghost, team up again when a woman shows up claiming to be a psychic, but she somehow never perceives the danger she is in from a killer.
Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Halloween Moon (e-book) – First in a new series. Ainsley is in Gooseberry Bay looking for answers after losing the man who raised her about his death and about the family she once belonged to. This sounds fascinating. This is free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers to read at the time of this writing.
A Deception at Thornecrest (Hardcover) – Book 7 in the Amory Ames Mystery series. While Milo is in London on business, Amory is at home at Thornecrest getting things ready for the arrival of their baby. Then a stranger arrives claiming she is also Milo’s wife. I haven’t read any of these before, but I will absolutely be picking this up to check out that plot twist!
For Whom the Book Tolls (Hardcover) – First in the new Antique Bookshop Mystery series. Jenna accepts her uncle’s invitation to come for a visit so she can flee some trouble at home. But trouble finds her anyway when she finds her uncle’s body and she’s accused of the crime. I’m looking forward to this one!
In Case You Missed It (Trade Paperback) – After 3 years away, Ros comes home to find everything has changed, just when she wants to pick things up where she left off.
Little Bookshop of Murder (Hardcover) – First in the new Beach Reads Mystery series. I posted a full review of this one last week. You can read it here.
Murder at Hotel 1911 (Hardcover) – First in the new Ivy Nichols Mystery series. Ivy works behind the check in desk at the Hotel 1911, so she gets to meet all the guests. Unfortunately that includes the unpleasant ones like the wealthy Ms. Swain. When Ms. Swain later dies from eating something she was allergic to, the hotel chef is implicated. But Ivy is sure her friend is innocent.
Murder Most Sweet (Hardcover) – First in the new Bookish Baker Mystery series. A local baker and mystery writer becomes the suspect in a real-life murder case when the fiancée of a touring author is found dead. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
One By One (Hardcover) – A trendy startup decides to hold a team building retreat in a rustic ski chalet in the French Alps. But one team member doesn’t make it back to the chalet before an avalanche. And the surviving group members may be in an equal amount of danger as tempers flare and they are cut off from outside help.
Portrait of Loyalty (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Codebreakers series. One of Russia’s top cryptographers offers his services to the Brits and meets a photographer who is also working for British Intelligence. As feelings grow between them, though, can they get through the roadblocks caused by his past?
Prime Deceptions (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Chilling Effect series. Captain Eva Innocente agrees to help her sister by tracking down a missing scientist. She’s not sure she can trust her sister, but the payday is worth the risk. But her hunt takes her back to the scene of her greatest failure. Can Eva pull off this latest quest cleanly, or is she doomed to repeat the past?
Two Reasons to Run (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Pelican Harbor series by Colleen Coble. Police Chief Jane Hardy is still dealing with the fall out over her father’s lie and a convoluted history that involves a cult and her mother, not to mention her newly-returned ex with her presumed-dead teen son. But those things will have to go to the back burner when an environmental terrorist strikes and Jane’s son’s life is on the line.
A Literary Holiday Cookbook: Festive Meals for the Snow Queen, Gandalf, Sherlock, Scrooge, and Booklovers Everywhere (Hardcover)
The Liturgy of Politics (Trade Paperback) – Includes 17 full four-course holiday meals from 25 classic stories including Little Women and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor (Trade Paperback) – Looks at how the Church’s practices and habits shape its politics and suggests course corrections to get us back to Jesus. I have this one on my list.
Pass It On: Work Hard, Serve Others, … Repeat (Hardcover) – From Houston Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson. Watson shares the story of his family receiving a house from Falcon’s RB Warrick Dunn’s charity when Watson was a kid and the impact it made on him. Includes 7 core values that Watson uses to anchor his life including generosity, service, and empathy
Peace: Hope and Healing for the Anxious Momma’s Heart (Trade Paperback) – Wrestling with anxiety and fear in a world that tells women they just need to “have more faith.”
The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Urgent Challenges and Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation (Hardcover) – Suggestions based on the research of Church Answers to lead a post-Covid congregation.
Proof of Corruption: Bribery, Impeachment, and Pandemic in the Age of Trump (Hardcover) – The third book in the author’s Proof series after Proof of Collusion and Proof of Conspiracy. Focuses on the years from 2015 to early 2020 with examples of corruption from the president and his advisors.

BOOK NEWS: February 25, 2020

BOOK NEWS: February 25, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last week of February. 2020 is zooming by! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Count With Olaf (Board Book) – Book comes with plush, movable hands.
Balletball – A girl who loves ballet is “stuck” playing baseball in the spring, but discovers she might actually like it.
Don’t Feed the Coos! – She was warned what will happen, but the girl still feeds a pigeon. Then all of its little pigeon friends start following her every where she goes. I can not WAIT to see this in person!
Feast of Peas (March 1) – Jiva works so hard in his garden to care for his peas. And he can hardly wait to enjoy them. But every time he goes to take the ripe ones from his garden, they are already gone.
Mr Pig’s Big Wall – Hog is annoyed that after a hard day’s work he can’t just relax in his garden because his neighbor always wants to play. So he builds a wall to keep her out, not realizing that his wall will deprive him of what he values most.
Piper & Mabel – An adorable story of two dogs sent to “Happy Trails Ranch” instead of going on vacation with their people. I can’t wait to see this in person.
Supertato: Books Are Rubbish (February 27) – The evil Pea thinks books are rubbish, and the other vegetables are determined to prove him wrong.
Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the Vote – The story of Alice Paul and President Woodrow Wilson’s battle over votes for women.
Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means – Picture book exploring the first amendment to the Constitution.
Cats in the Crater – Book 3 in the early chapter book My FANGtastically Evil Vampire Pet series. The Great and Powerful Mark, and his vampire cat, are spending the summer at Evil Scientist Summer Camp. This sounds hilarious!
InvestiGators – First in a new graphic novel early chapter book series about super spy alligators. This. Looks. Amazing. I have this one on my list for this week, too.
Trouble at Table 5: The Candy Caper AND Busted By Breakfast – The first two books in a new early chapter book series from the author of the Stick Cat and Stick Dog books, Tom Watson. The stories focus on a set of three friends and the antics they get into as they help one another.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Finding Home – Book 2 in the Baxter Family Children series, a spin off from the adult Baxter family novels.
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! – Novel in letters. A girl on the autism spectrum writes letters to a baseball star sharing her own dreams of playing on the team. This one is on my list for this week!
A Home for Goddesses and Dogs (Older Middle Grade) – When a girl loses her mother and goes to live with an aunt and her wife, she struggles to find a place of belonging. Then the adults also take in a rotten, misbehaving dog. Wasn’t taking her in enough “rescuing” for them for awhile? This one is on my list for this week, too.
Village of Scoundrels (Older Middle Grade) – For older middle grade readers and teens based on a true story about teens in the French resistance in WWII.
We Could Be Heroes – A boy on the autism spectrum is suspended for a week because of his choices when his teacher makes the class read a really sad book. A girl has been looking for a kid just like him – someone with the gumption to help her save a dog with seizures. This is also on my list.
The Wonder of Wildflowers – A girl looks forward to when her family completes the path to citizenship so she can finally access Amber and the magic it provides and be an insider instead of an outsider.
The Opposite of Falling Apart – A YA story of two teens preparing to leave for college, one battling extreme anxiety and the other dealing with the fallout of “The Accident.” As they find each other, they also find a means of overcoming some of the obstacles in their paths.
Rebelwing – That cover is screaming my name! It’s amazing!! This book has it all – it’s dystopian, there are cybernetic dragons and smugglers, and it takes place in a near-future Washington DC. This one is already in my Amazon cart.
The Shadows Between Us – A girl with a murderous plan for the king needs to keep him alive long enough to make her queen before she takes him out. And plenty of others are trying to hunt him down.
The Sound of Stars – In a world where a misunderstanding led to the death of 1/3 of the population and takeover by an alien race, music, books and art are illegal and emotional expression can be grounds for death. But Ellie is keeping a secret library anyway. When one of the aliens discovers her secret, he knows he should turn her in, but his love of music compels him to keep her secret. This sounds fascinating.

Books for Adults

Al Dente’s Inferno (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series. An American chef trying to launch a farm-to-table culinary school in Tuscany stumbles across a murder. Looking forward to this one!
The Body in the Bookmobile (e-book) – First in the new Millie Monroe Mysteries series. A law school drop out who takes on the job of driving the local bookmobile discovers a dead body in the van.
British Murder (Trade Paperback) – Combines previously published books 17 (English Tea Murder) and 23 (British Manor Murder) into one volume.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 25 in the Hannah Swenson Mystery series. Hannah’s sister’s boyfriend is the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
A Cowboy to Remember (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Cowboys of California series. A chef who loses her memory in an accident heads to California and family friends who might be able to help her put her life back together again. There she sees the face that has been haunting her dreams even though she doesn’t remember the history between them. I already have this one on hold at the library.
Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Death by Chocolate Mystery series. When a Pirate Festival comes to town, bakeshop owners Jake and Ellie find a dead body instead of a boost in their bottom line. And then Jake becomes the prime suspect.
Death with a Dark Red Rose (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. While Lena should be working on her next book with friend and author Camilla Graham as well as enjoying her engagement, she’s instead looking for one of her friends who has gone missing. I am two books behind on this fantastic series, but I’ll be catching up soon!
Dressed Up 4 Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. Phee’s mom is consumed with showing her dog Streetman in the Precious Pooches Holiday Extravaganza costume contest. But a couple dead bodies could be a sign that someone is after the dog owners in the contest, including Phee’s mom.
Egg Drop Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Lana’s first ever catering event is a flop when a dead body is found at the event.
Finna (Trade Paperback) – A Swedish big box store is home to multiverse-spanning portals. And when an elderly customer slips through one, two minimum wage employees (who recently broke up) must go after her to save the company (and the woman). (LGBTQ+)
Here Comes the Body (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Catering Hall Mystery series. A dead body at the family catering hall is not what Mia needed at the bachelor party she planned as her first event back in town. Now she is sleuthing to be sure her father doesn’t end up in jail for a crime he didn’t commit.
The King’s Justice (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Maggie Hope Mystery series. Secret Agent Maggie Hope is looking for connections between a missing violin and a series of murders.
Lupine Lies (e-book, February 27) – A Gray Whale Inn short story.
Murder Makes Scents (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. Coming home from a Paris perfume conference, Stella and her mom, Millie, have brought trouble home with them. Millie is attacked and a stranger accuses her of stealing a formula and smuggling it home.
On the Lamb (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. While preparing for Easter and enjoying the annual Bikers on the Beach celebration a man is killed and Lucy’s friend is the prime suspect.
Pies Before Guys (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Pie Town Mystery series. A poet accused of plagiarism is found dead at the pie shop, and the Baker Street Bakers are asked to look into it.
A Silent Stabbing (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the A Lady and a Lady’s Maid Mystery series.  Lady Phoebe and her lady’s maid, Eva, are in a puzzling mess when their new head gardener is murdered. His brother is the most likely suspect, but Eva’s sister – her MARRIED sister – has been spending time with him while she’s on holiday. If she is his alibi, her reputation will be ruined. Phoebe and Eva know they have to investigate so the killer can be brought to justice.
Stayin’ Alive (e-book) – Book 10 in the Country Club Murders series. After all this time, Ellison has sort of come to expect that she’ll find a body any time there’s a big event – like the exhibit of Chinese funerary at the museum. She’s happy, though, to stay far from the investigation this time, until someone tries to kill her.
Who’s Dead, Doc? (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Jules and Bun Mystery series. Jules and her telepathic rabbit Bun are sleuthing again when someone is killed at a birthday party.
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot (Hardcover) – The author asserts that the feminist movement is too often focused on “increasing privilege for the few” instead of the basic needs – food, quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage – for the many. This is on my list of nonfiction books to add to my TBR.
The Illustrated Feminist: 100 Years of Suffrage, Strength, and Sisterhood in America (Hardcover) – Highlights 10 landmark moments for women from each decade from 1920 to 2020.
On the Bright Side: Stories about Friendship, Love and Being True to Yourself (Hardcover) – The latest from Melanie Shankle. How to anchor yourself to unchanging principles in a world gone mad.
Suffrage: Women’s Long Battle for the Vote (Hardcover) – History of Suffrage from pre-Civil War to now.

BOOK NEWS: October 3, 2017

BOOK NEWS: October 3, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Star Wars. Humpty Dumpty. Harry Potter. Stick Cat. More Star Wars! The first Tuesday of the month always means a huge crop of new books! In fact, there are so many middle grade books, they get their own section this week! Here are some that I am looking at this week.

Books for Kids

 

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) – Tells the story of what happens AFTER Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall. I cannot wait to read this! I love Dan Santat’s artwork and I’ve been hearing about this story for months. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Alfie (The Turtle that Disappeared) – When Nia’s turtle, Alfie, goes missing, the story changes to Alfie’s point of view. This looks adorable, and I can’t wait to read it.
Dough Knights and Dragons – A knight and a dragon bond over a common passion, but discover they have to fight each other. This looks darling!
God’s Great Love for You – From the author of The Purpose Driven Life comes this picture book about God’s love being with us wherever we go. The cover really grabbed my attention on this one. The artwork looks terrific.
The Great Puppy Invasion – In a town where cuteness is forbidden, puppies appear. This sounds like a hoot!
I Am Gandhi AND I Am Sacagawea – From the Ordinary People Change the World series by Brad Meltzer. This has been a great series of picture book biographies that focus on the character qualities of the subject. Two new books in the series release this week.
Pigeon P.I. – A kids’ first “noir” detective book. I love the whole idea of this. Can’t wait to read it in person.
Pup and Bear – A lost wolf pup is raised by a polar bear. The cover of this one calls to me. This looks and sounds absolutely lovely.
Remembering Vera – A dog, found by some men in the Coast Guard, becomes a hero. This true story sounds perfect for every animal fan you know.
Roaring Rockets – My son ADORED the books in this things-that-go series when he was a toddler. Now they are available as board books!
That Is My Dream – An illustrated picture book of Langston Hughes’ poem, “Dream Variation.”
Amelia Bedelia on the Move – Early Reader Level 1 starring Amelia Bedelia. Now the earliest of readers can read along with Amelia Bedelia.
Heroes Who Risked Everything for Freedom: Civil War – Early Reader Level 3 acquaints kids with the heroes of the Civil War
Pinkalicious and the Babysitter – Early Reader Level 1 starring Pinkalicious and her little brother, Peter
How to Catch a Dino Thief – Book 4 in the Dino Riders series for kids branching out into chapter books. This series looks fantastic!
Star Wars Coding – Kids can learn and practice coding skills while enjoying their favorite characters from Star Wars

Middle Grade/Books for Older Kids

 

Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic (Timeless) – First book in a new fantasy series where the past, present and future collide.
Flash: Hocus Focus – Fans of the Flash TV show can enjoy an original story in the timeline where Flashpoint never took place. Our family loves the TV show; I hope the book lives up to that legacy.
Greetings from Witness Protection – This book was beyond fantastic, and I will be reviewing it on Thursday. Be sure you come back to read all about it!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Book 3 in the Harry Potter series is now illustrated. This is my favorite book in the series, and I am so excited to see what they have done with the illustrations for this.
Inferno in Tokyo – Book 20 in the Imagination Station series which is like a Christian take on Magic Tree House.
Max Tilt: Fire the Depths – First book in a new series that stars the great-great-great grandson of Jules Verne who finds an unpublished manuscript and clues that Verne’s science fiction writing was actually based on science FACT. This sounds like a terrific new adventure series!
The Midnight Peacock (October 5) – I’m not sure how I missed this series before now, but this is book 4 in a middle grade historical mystery series about two girls who solve mysteries at a departments store, a couple of balls, and one about a missing painting.
Mistress of All Evil – Part of the Villains series, this looks at the story of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Great for Disney fans, especially those who love the villains.
Ms. Marvel’s Fists of Fury – Ms Marvel teams up with Thor to handle an inhuman bird infestation. Sounds great for kids who love original Marvel stories.
Mustaches for Maddie – A girl with a brain tumor faces bullying, the school play, and her medical issues with strength and bravery. This sounds amazing. This is definitely on my list.
Pashmina – A new graphic novel about a girl with questions about her culture and her family who finds a magical pashmina.
Past Times at Super Hero High – In the fourth graphic novel starring the kids from Super Hero High, time travel and one jealous choice change everything for the worse. I read this over the weekend. It’s a fun story.
Predator vs Prey – Book 2 in the Going Wild series about a group of kids with magical bracelets that give them the powers of animals. I have book 1 on my wish list right now.
Serpent’s Shadow GN – The final book in Rick Riordan’s Egyptian Mythology series gets the graphic novel treatment this week. While the graphic novels condense Riordan’s work in a lot of cases, the stories are still enjoyable in this visual format.
Ship of the Dead – Book 3 in the Magnus Chase series about Norse mythology. This is the book where Magnus meets Percy Jackson! For that reason alone, we will be reading this one at our house!
Sled Dog School – A boy who is struggling at school sets up a school for training sled dogs. That cover is adorable. I’m curious to check out this series.
Sven Carter & the Trashmouth Effect – The latest MAX book from the folks at Aladdin is about Sven Carter, a boy who is also part robot. Only, Sven didn’t know that about himself. He also didn’t know he’s part of a plot to destroy the human race.
The Perfect Score – When I was teaching, I fell in love with the Mr. Terupt series by Rob Buyea. This is the latest book by Buyea, the start of a new series. And it’s terrific! You can read my review here.
The Touchdown Kid – The latest from Tim Green is about a kid who gets a chance at a better life for himself thanks to his talent with a football. I enjoy these kinds of sports books by both Green and Mike Lupica. Check this one out for the sports lover in your life.
Two Catch a Thief – Book 3 in the Stick Cat series by the awesome Tom Watson. In this book, Stick Cat and Edith discover a burglar.
The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City – The gorgeous cover of this book gets me every time I see it! This book has been compared to Charlotte’s Web. It’s the story of a girl who lives in the city and tries to find a home for a rescued piglet.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street – The Vanderbeekers are in danger of losing their home on 141st Street. They have 11 days to convince their landlord to let them stay. The cover of this one is lovely, too. It calls to me to pick it up and dive right in.
The War I Finally Won – Sequel to the highly praised The War that Saved My Life about World War II. I don’t readily read much historical fiction, but several of my friends have recommended book one to me.
Wizards of Once – From the author of How to Train Your Dragon (the book series, not the movies) comes this new fantasy series about a kingdom of wizards and warriors at war. I’m eager to read this one!
Jesus Always for Kids – The bestselling author of Jesus Calling releases a new devotional for kids focusing on joy.
Master Chef Junior Cookbook: Bold Recipes and Essential Techniques to Inspire Young Cooks – Great first cook book for aspiring chefs.
Who Was Alexander Hamilton? AND Who Was Lewis Carroll? – The latest in the Who Was series.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Everything Must Go – A girl gives up her city/prep school life for a “hippie” farm experience all for a guy – who doesn’t show up. I would love to read this one and find out how she picks up the pieces after her expectations were destroyed.
Remember Me Always – A girl who suffered through a major car accident enters treatment for anxiety that takes her memories of the accident away. But she starts to feel as though she lost something more.
Select – Romeo and Juliet with a supernatural twist. Yes, please! Looking forward to reading this one!
NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Teen Girls – Lovely new coloring Bible for teens.

Books for Adults

     

Death on Tap – First in a new series by Ellie Alexander about a woman about brewing beer. I have the novella where the main character for this book meets the main character of the Bakeshop mystery series. I’m looking forward to reading that teaser and then checking out this new series.
Fatal Masquerade – Book 4 in this Kindle series. In this book there is a death at a masked ball. While I don’t generally seek out historical mysteries, I love the covers of these.
Fixing to Die – Book 4 in the Southern Ladies mystery series is a ghost story. I’ll be reviewing this one on Wednesday this week!
The Force Doth Awaken – The 7th Star Wars movie gets the Shakespeare treatment. I love these!
Lydia, Woman of Philippi – A fictionalized account of the woman, Lydia, from the Bible (Acts 16). I have done some work on this passage of scripture and have loved her story every since. I’d like to see what the author did with this story.
Merry and Bright – The latest from Debbie Macomber focuses on a young woman whose family sets her up for an online dating service. Her best match turns out to the be last person she wanted it to be. I LOVE to read holiday stories at this time of year, so this is on my library list.
A Room with a Brew – Book 3 in the Brewing Trouble series about a brewpub owner who solves mysteries.
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck – The author of steamy romance novels becomes a Christian, but she is still under contract to write books that would make the church folks blush. I absolutely HAVE to read this book. I hope it lives up to my expectations because I think this sounds terrific.
Star Wars from a Certain Point of View – Forty short stories about iconic Star Wars scenes, told from the perspective of a secondary character. Our whole family is looking forward to reading this one! All proceeds from this book support the charity, First Book.
Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces that Make Up a Life – The fourth book from author Melanie Shankle tackles the subject of the small, seemingly insignificant parts of our days that truly make up the core of our lives. I have read a little of her work before and found her writing style to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to this one.
The Daily Question – A five-year journal with a spiritual flavor, this book poses a question every day for you to answer. Then you can look back at what you wrote in previous years. I am looking at getting this book when my current five-year journal wraps up.
Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful – One woman’s story can inspire readers to see God as good in all the ups and downs of life. Sounds amazing.
Divine Encounter with the Holy Spirit – This book digs into the person of the Holy Spirit. This looks great!
Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not About You. – If you are looking for a bigger life that than the one you are living that centers on you and you alone, check this book out.
A Life Beyond Amazing: 9 Decisions that Will Transform Your Life Today – Titles like this get me every time. What are the 9 decisions? How many have I made?! I will have to check this one out to be sure I’m not missing out!
The Midlife Kitchen: Health-Boosting Recipes for Midlife and Beyond – The older I get, the more I wonder about the long term impact of what my family is eating. I’d love to check this one out.
A Moment to Breathe – A delightful devotional from the folks at (in)courage. I will be posting a BONUS review tomorrow morning of this book.
Real American – From the author of How to Raise an Adult (which is awesome) comes this memoir about being a bi-racial black woman in America. Considering the current culture in our country, and how much I loved the author’s first book, this is on my list.
Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World – Peace-making strategies for Christ-followers. Sign me up for this one. I think this would make a great group discussion book.

So many books – what will you add to your TBR this week? 

Saturday Smorgasbord: Children’s Literature Festival

Posted on by Jaymie

Today I attended a local children’s literature festival. What a great time! We heard from author Shannon Anderson, author/illustrator Troy Cummings, author/illustrator Tom Watson, and author Carolyn Crimi.

Books for sale at children's literature festival

The crowd was mostly professionals – teachers, librarians, and students studying to be one or the other. There were only a few kids in the crowd, but they were the stars of the show! Both Troy Cummings and Tom Watson drew the kids in (pardon the pun) with great audience participation. And the kids loved it!

Authors and Illustrators at children's literature festival

The two author/illustrators presented like they would for school. I would recommend both highly for school visits. They related well to the kids there without talking down to them. They seemed genuinely pleased to interact with their target audience. Shannon Anderson was able to link her writing and her books to her roles as mom and elementary teacher. This was especially helpful for the teachers in the room. Carolyn Crimi spoke on the value of humor – both in books and in the classroom/library setting. She gave great, practical ideas for teachers and librarians to use.

Overall this was a great event! I am so pleased that we have such a stellar opportunity in our community for children’s literature lovers and professionals.

BOOK NEWS: June 15, 2021

BOOK NEWS: June 15, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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

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

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!!

 

BOOK NEWS: October 15, 2019

BOOK NEWS: October 15, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

 

Buck Denver’s Big BIG Bubble: A Lesson in Courage – Buck tries to keep himself safe by living in a big bubble, but his friends have to rescue him and talk with him about courage when the bubble starts bouncing out of control.
The Crayons’ Christmas – Duncan and the crayons celebrate Christmas with this interactive Christmas book with letters to open, a game, a poster, and more.
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment – Based on the viral photograph of young Parker mesmerized by the portrait of Michelle Obama. The illustrations on the sample pages I have seen are stellar. I can’t wait to read this one!
Pete the Cat’s Super Cool Science Fair – Book with stickers about Pete and his friends enjoying the science fair.
Sulwe – From actress Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther’s Nakia). A young Black girl feels like her skin is too dark – darker than her family members, darker than the kids at school, dark enough to keep kids from wanting to be her friend. I’ve only seen a few sample pages, but they left me in tears. This is a hard but honest, beautiful story. I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
This Is Not That Kind of Book – New picture book from the author of the fantastic Hero’s Guide series! Just when you think you are reading one kind of story, this wild book turns in another direction. I can’t wait to read this one.
The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City – So many good picture books out this week! This is the sequel to the terrific 7 Ate 9.  Private I is on another case when all the capital letters go missing. This is on my list, too!
All the Fun Winter Things – Book 4 in the Arnold and Louise early chapter book series. While Arnold is ready to hibernate, Louise doesn’t want him to miss all the winter fun. Darling!
DC Super Hero Girls at Metropolis High (Graphic Novel) – Launches a new look at the DC Super Hero Girls. This time the girls are getting in trouble at school for always being late (fighting criminals is rarely an after-school only activity), and they have to join a club to show some school spirit. I’m not sure how a joining a club helps with an attendance problem, but the sample pages I saw of this were great, and I am eager to dig into the whole book.
Superhero Playbook – Real life lessons for kids from their favorite fictional superheroes.
Pizza, Peanut Butter, and Pickles – The latest Fast Facts book from the world of My Weird School, this time with facts about food.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Allies – From the author of such books as Refugee and Ban this Book comes this new novel about D-Day.
Charlie Brown: All Tied Up – Comics collection
Dog Diaries: Happy Howlidays! – Book 2 in the Dog Diaries series. Junior the dog shares his story of the holidays.
The Dragon Warrior – Based on Chinese mythology. A girl and her brother go on an adventure to defeat demons and discover her destiny. Looks like this would be a good fit for Rick Riordan fans.
Give and Take – From the author of Finding Perfect and Smart Cookie (♥♥♥♥). A girl struggling with the death of her grandmother and other changes in her family starts hoarding.
Hope: Project Middle School – From actress Alyssa Milano. A bright, optimistic girl tackles middle school head on, but discovers things don’t go exactly as she planned.
The King Is Born – Book 7 in the Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series focuses on the birth of Jesus.
Knock Three Times – Book 3 in the Wizards of Once series from the author of the How to Train Your Dragon series.
The Memory Keeper – A girl with a stellar memory tries to help her aging grandmother by finding the past trauma that must be the cause of her fading memory.
Naked Mole Rat Saves the World – Sometimes without warning kit (with a small k) turns into a naked mole rat. It started when her best friend was hurt in an acrobatic performance – in fact, both girls changed that day, inside and out. I am curious about this one!
The Perfect Star – The kids from the Perfect Score series by Rob Buyea (Because of Mr. Terupt) are back for their 8th grade year. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky – First in a new series from the imprint Rick Riordan Presents. This one focuses on African-American folk heroes and West African mythology. A boy who lost his best friend in a bus accident is not looking forward to “recovering” at his grandparents’ house in Alabama. But when a weird creature steals the only thing he has from his best friend, he chases after it and finds himself in a fight to save the world.
Wings of Fire: The Hidden Kingdom Graphic Novel – The graphic novel version of the third book in the original Wings of Fire series. I have enjoyed both of the books in this graphic novel series so far.
What Is the Story of Doctor Who? AND What Is the Story of The Wizard of Oz? – Read about the stories behind the Doctor Who franchise and The Wizard of Oz.
Fireborne – Book one in a new series about two orphans who are on the path to becoming dragon riders when the enemies of their world rise up to drag the world back to the old ways. As lines are drawn and one of the teens is drawn back toward the family he lost, they will have to decide if the family they have forged together will be more important than what they left in the past. This sounds great! My library has already bought this one for the collection.
Jackpot – From the author of Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥). A teen who sold the winning lottery ticket at her gas station job tries to track down the winner who hasn’t cashed in his/her prize.
The Never Tilting World – After generations of twin rulers, a rift splits a pair of sisters so that one ends up ruling the dark half of their planet while the other rules in perpetual sunlight. Each has a daughter who is sent out on a quest that might be just what the world needs to be united again. I’ve requested this one from the library.
Our Wayward Fate – A Taiwanese girl who hides behind a bland existence to blend in and avoid harassment finds a kindred spirit in the new boy at school who is also Taiwanese. But when the two start dating, the girl’s mother tells her to end the relationship. As the girl digs into her mother’s past to find out why, she uncovers family secrets. Sounds great!
War Girls – In a future war-torn Nigeria, two sisters dream of a life beyond the existence that’s been handed to them. Our library has already bought this one, too!
Girls Who Run the World: 31 CEOs who Mean Business – Highlights the women CEOs of companies like Spanx, 23andMe, Soul Cycle and more. I bet this book will be inspiring! I’ve requested this one from the library.

Books for Adults

The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols: Adapted from the Journals of John H. Watson, M. D. (Hardcover) – Holmes and Watson board the Orient Express to investigate the death of a British Secret Service agent who had proof of a secret society determined to take over the world.
The Art of Theft (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Lady Sherlock series. Charlotte Holmes finds herself at a Yuletide Ball trying to secure the secrets posted behind a work of art that is about to be sold. This sounds terrific – an unusual premise!
Better Watch Out (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Merry & Bright Handcrafted Mystery series. A Christmas parade participant who is determined to publicly share her own “Santa’s Naughty List” is found dead, and Merry is sleuthing for a killer.
Christmas Angels (Trade Paperback) – A woman longs to return her grandparents’ inn to its former glory, and her neighbor – who had a huge crush on her when they were kids – is eager to help, but an accident leaves the woman wondering if she has made a huge mistake.
Christmas Shopaholic (Hardcover) – The Shopaholic is stuck hosting Christmas when things take a turn towards disaster.
The Devil’s Own Game (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Somebody’s Bound to Wind Up Dead mystery series. After winning the lottery and falling in love, Tom and Allie have started a detective agency. And it’s becoming obvious that someone is still bitter about the couple’s good fortune. I haven’t read book 2 yet, but I am eager to get caught up on this series. I got such a kick out of the first book!
Finding Christmas (Hardcover/Trade Paperback) – Trying to help her boyfriend out of his Scrooge-ish slump, Emmie plans a Christmas scavenger hunt that will lead him to Christmas Point where she has planned a romantic weekend. But the wrong guy has been picking up her clues! This is at the top of my list for this week.
The Guardians (Hardcover) – The latest from John Grisham. A man convicted of a murder he didn’t commit has been languishing in jail for 22 years when he reaches out to the Guardians, a nonprofit that takes on a few innocence cases a year. But there are powerful people committed to keeping their secrets and keeping this man in jail for the rest of his life. I haven’t cared for the recent Grisham books, but this one sounds like one I might have to try.
Murder in Black Tie (e-book) – Book 4 in the High Society Lady Detective series where murder at a black tie event puts Olive on the case to protect her cousin Peter. These look fun!
Owl Be Home for Christmas (Hardcover) – Book 26 in the delightful Meg Langslow Mystery series! A Christmas-time conference on owls ends in a snow storm – and murder. I can’t wait to read this one! I have read every book in this series, including the 5 previous Christmas books. I love this series!
Read and Buried (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Lighthouse Library series. When repair work to the library digs up a Civil-War era diary and a coded map, people just can’t stay away from the library or the artifact. When murder follows, Lucy is drawn into sleuthing again.
Be More RGB: Speak Truth and Dissent with Supreme Style (Hardcover gift book) – Includes quotes and inspirational stories about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation (Trade Paperback) – A guide to help Christians pursue racial reconciliation and be leaders of the process for their communities.
Creative Cookie Decorating: Buttercream Frosting Designs and Tips for Every Occasion (Hardcover) – ‘Tis the season for holiday baking! Includes detailed instructions, instrument lists, and pictures.
Double Blessing: How to Get it, How to Give It (Hardcover) – The latest from Mark Batterson is based on the idea that the first blessing is what God gives to us and the “double” is what we give back to God.
Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share (Hardcover) – Safe to eat cookie dough as well as recipes to bake. This looks like a fantastic resource – lots of clear instructions, photos, etc.
Live in Grace, Walk in Love: A 365-Day Journey (Hardcover devotional) – The latest from Bob Goff (Love Does)
Rachel Ray 50: Memories and Meals from a Sweet and Savory Life: A Cookbook (Hardcover) – Memoir and cookbook combined.
Surviving the Great Indoors: A Baby Blues Collection (Paperback Comics Collection) – Comics collection.
To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent and Overconnected World (Trade Paperback) – Embrace the slow, relaxed pace of Jesus.
Whole 30 Friends & Family: 150 Recipes for Every Social Occasion (Hardcover) – Entertaining on Whole 30.
Whole in One: Complete, Healthy Meals in a Single Pot, Sheet Pan or Skillet (Hardcover) – One pot/skillet meals.

BOOK NEWS: June 11, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 11, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Books for Kids

 

Codzilla – When a big codfish is teased for his size, he thinks maybe he should just live up to the taunts from the littler fish who call him Codzilla.
Sumo Joe – A boy playing Sumo with his buddies is torn between his favorite sport and his beloved little sister when she asks to join their fun.
Go For the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing – An exploration of Apollo 11.
Horse & Buggy Paint It Out – Horse is so eager to get started on his mural, he ignores the advice of his friend Buggy and makes a big mess.
Imagine You Were There…. Winning the Vote for Women (June 13) – Celebrates the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.
Goldilocks, Go Home – This illustrated early chapter book is a mash up of classic fairy tales starring Goldilocks and Bobby (Baby) Bear.
Nixie Ness Cooking Star – Book 1 in the Afterschool Superstars series. When her mom gets a job, Nixie has to go to aftercare at school instead of hanging out at home with her best friend. But the afterschool program gives her a chance to attend a cooking camp.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Briar and Rose and Jack – Sleeping Beauty meets Jack and the Beanstalk in this fairy tale mash up starring two girls who may be cursed and their friend Jack,  who are all willing to do what no adult has been – fight the giant terrorizing their kingdom.
The Prisoner of Azkaban Ravenclaw Edition (June 13) – I was so excited about this one, but in the last week the purchase option at Amazon has disappeared. The publisher’s website says you can only get this in the UK. If you still want a house edition, you can find them  in hardcover and paperback at Book Depository (dot) com. Now that I think about it, I think that is how I got my Ravenclaw edition of the first book, too.
Midsummer’s Mayhem – A contemporary retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An Indian American girl who feels forgotten in her super talented family enters a baking contest. But her mysterious new friend and the wondrous and strange ingredients he helps her find for her baking may be causing more trouble than she realizes.
This Was Our Pact (GN) – At the Autumnal Equinox Festival, the town sets lanterns adrift in the river. Tradition says that the lanterns eventually float up to the Milky Way and become stars. One group of kids decides to follow the lanterns’ journey down the river to see where they actually go.
The Time Museum Vol 2 (GN) – The Time Museum chooses kids from all over history for internships.  A group of time travelers go to Versailles in 1778 under the direction of a squad led by President Richard Nixon to save an alliance between the US and France.
Treasure Hunters: All-American Adventure – The treasure hunters are stuck in Washington DC when they discover a fake Bill of Rights. Book 6 in the series.
The Ables (GN) – A teen with telekinesis is excited to find out he’s going to superhero high school, but he doesn’t expect to be placed in the special education class for “disabled empowered kids” who call themselves “the Ables.” Book 2 will be out in September.
The Exact Opposite of Okay – A teen is caught in a compromising position with the son of a politician and finds her reputation trashed. She expects things will blow over so she can get back to her regularly scheduled high school life, but there is no end to the scandal in sight.
Rise – Sequel to Rule, about a kingdom with a dying king and a murdered heir as well as three illegitimate daughters who have a chance at the throne. I have both books on my library wish list.
Screen Queens – Three young women competing in a highly competitive tech competition learn that all-female teams never win, and they have several factors working against them. I have requested this one from the library.
Urban Legendz (GN) – A police officer’s son joins a group of vigilantes looking into some monstrous events going on in town.
The Hormone Diaries: The Bloody Truth About Our Periods (June 13) – From the woman who hosts a YouTube series by the same name. An honest look at periods, hormones and contraception.

Books for Adults

The Black Cat Steps on a Crack (ebk) – Book 4 in the Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. A headstrong librarian meets a dark end and a friend is accused of murder, so mystery writer Sabrina Tate and her cat Hitchcock start to investigate. This series sounds delightful! I need to check this one out.
Chai Another Day (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Spice Shop Mystery series. The owner of a Pike Place Market spice shop stumbles across another murder.
A Crafter Hooks a Killer (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Handcrafted Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week!
The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series. This time, Joanna and the Watsons are drawn into a case involving a cryptographer held captive by the Germans during the war. You can read my review of book one here.
Fix Her Up (Trade Paperback) – A woman who chose being a clown and planning children’s birthday parties over her family’s home renovation business can’t get anyone to take her seriously in the romance department. So she convinces her brother’s friend, a former baseball player, to be her fake boyfriend. They can use their fake relationship to help both of them out of personal problems – what could go wrong? I ADORE fake relationship stories in romance books, so this is definitely on my list for this week.
The Friend Zone (Trade Paperback) – Kristen is facing a serious medical procedure that will make her unable to have children. And she hasn’t told anyone else. When she meets an amazing guy who wants to have a big family one day, she determines to steer clear of him so neither of them will get hurt. But their mutual attraction is hard to resist. I have been on a romantic-comedy streak lately and this sounds like just the right story to continue that streak!
Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune (Trade Paperback) – Food, heritage and finding family.  Natalie Tan returns home after her estranged mother’s death and discovers she has inherited her grandmother’s restaurant. The neighborhood “seer” tells Natalie she must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook to help the neighboring businesses that are struggling. Then her own restaurant will see success. This sounds fascinating – a little magic, some bitterness and old wounds, and plenty of cooking. Sign me up!
Over the Line (Trade Paperback) – When a dying man shows up gasping her brother’s name, Gabby turns to her homicide detective ex to help her find her brother.
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron (Hardcover) – First in a new trilogy set after Return of the Jedi. A squad of pilots commanded by General Hera Syndulla herself are tasked with tracking down a rogue group of TIE fighters wreaking havoc in revenge for the fall of the Empire.
Sweet Tea and Secrets (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Book Tea Shop Mystery series. In the midst of planning a Fourth of July Tea for her great-aunt’s vintage tea room, Callie gets caught up in the rumors about the disappearance of a famous TV actress who was last seen in Heart’s Harbor. You can read my review of book one here.
This Is Home (Trade Paperback) – A military wife with a missing husband moves into the first floor apartment of a building owned by a policeman’s sister. The policeman knew the woman’s husband in the military.  I am still reading this one, but I will be reviewing it later this month.
Waiting for Tom Hanks (Trade Paperback) – A screen writer who dreams of being the next Nora Ephron thinks finding her own Tom Hanks will solve all her troubles. This is at the top of my list for this week.
The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America (Hardcover) – CNN’s Jim Acosta details his rocky relationship with President Trump and the President’s war against the media.
For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre (Trade Paperback) – A hospital chaplain who lost her mother and two cousins in the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in 2015 talks about hope and forgiveness in the face of tragedy.

BOOK NEWS: April 2, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 2, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

No fooling – these are some of the books releasing tomorrow! There are a ton of picture books, plus plenty of other titles to add to your TBR piles.

Books for Kids

Dandy – A dad’s quest for a pristine lawn runs into a problem when his daughter falls in love with the lone dandelion in their yard. I can’t wait to read this one!
Gargantua (Jr!): Defender of Earth – Gargantua Jr wants to be just like his mom.
Georgia’s Terrific, Colorific Experiment – A scientist in a family of artists needs help to come up with an original experiment.
Giant Tess – A giant wishes she could be like everyone else.
The Hug – A hedgehog and a tortoise are both on the hunt for a hug, but they don’t understand why no one will hug them.
I Am So Clever – The big bad wolf only finds a nightgown at Grandma’s house, so he puts it on and goes in search of lunch. I can’t wait to read this twist on Little Red Riding Hood.
Lenny the Lobster Can’t Stay for Dinner – When Lenny is invited to a fancy dinner, he arrives with the proper hostess gifts. But when he is greeted by a pot of boiling water, he has to decide (with the help of the reader) if he should stay or go.
The Little Green Girl – A topiary girl longs to see the world while her gardener can’t imagine any change in his routine.
The Little Guys – A cautionary tale about a group of little guys who believe there’s strength in numbers.
My Tree and Me – A girl celebrates life with her tree.
Noah NOasaurus – When Noah wakes up he’s feeling like it is going to be a very “NO” sort of day.
The Panda Problem – A narrator tries to explain to a carefree panda that as the main character in a story, he needs a problem. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
A Piglet Named Mercy – An origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series. Mercy Watson as a piglet? Yes, please!
Through the Elephant’s Door – A boy and his elephant head to the museum where a guard assumes they will be nothing but trouble.
Undercover Ostrich – I’m not sure what this one is about, but that cover begs you to pick up the book and find out.
Underwear! – A bare bear plays with his underwear instead of wearing it. This is sure to be a huge hit with kids!!
We Are (Not) Friends – When two friends are joined by a third, everyone has a moment of feeling left out.
Sisters – Picture book biography of Venus and Serena Williams.
Mr. Monkey Takes a Hike – Mr Monkey’s video game controller is taken by a little bird who leads him on a chase that turns into a hike.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Becket List – A city girl adjusts to life on a farm
Caterpillar Summer – In a family still reeling from grief, a brother and sister spend their summer vacation with grandparents they’ve never met, and the girl who has been trying to hold her family together gets a chance to be a kid again.  This is on my list for this week, too.
Katt vs Dogg – The classic rivalry plays out in this new series from James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein when a katt and a dogg both get lost in the woods and need each other to find their ways home.
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer – Two sleuthing kids get more than they bargained for on their last day of summer break when a mysterious man uses a device to stop time.
The Legends of Greemulax – In a strange land where the girls and women were destroyed by dragons and the boys grow up and turn into monsters, a boy catches a girl in a dragon trap and the two of them start looking for answers. I am curious about this one!
My Life as a Meme – Book 8 in this series.
The Pirate Angel, the Talking Tree and Captain Rabbit – Novelization of part of the Avengers Infinity War movie.
The Strangers – Book 1 in the new Greystone Secrets series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The three Greystone kids are shocked when they hear about a group of three kidnapped kids who sound alarmingly familiar.
Super Sons: The Polar Shield Project – New graphic novel series starring the sons of Superman and Batman. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Trace – A grieving boy adjusting to a new life in New York encounters a mysterious figure in the New York Public Library. I have already requested this one from the library.
Wizard For Hire: Apprentice Needed – Book 2 in the Wizard for Hire series about a boy whose parents were kidnapped and he was left in a remote cabin to fend for himself. Now, Ozzy is on the run once again, this time from the people who took his parents. Ozzy is the first subject of an experiment in mind-control, and the bad guys want him to help them find the secrets of the experiment. But the “wizard” Rin is back as well, hoping Ozzy will be his apprentice in a wizard contest that might not even be real. As I said in my review of book one, this is a weird series, but I loved it. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Ozzy.
Who Was H. J. Heinz? AND Who Was Norman Rockwell?
Lovestruck – The daughter of Eros is a cupid in training who wants no part of the family business. So she is going to defy oracles and fates and expectations to set her own course for her life. Sign me up for this one!
Mera: Tidebreaker – Graphic novel for teens about the underwater princess Mera and her quest to destroy Arthur Curry. I will be reviewing this one later this week.
Mirror, Mirror – Book 6 in the Twisted Tale series covers the story of Snow White and is written by Jen Calonita.
The Princess and the Fangirl – The long-awaited sequel to the fantastic Geekerella is here! In this Prince and the Pauper-like tale, a Starfield fan and the actress who is absolutely over the series must team up to find out who is causing trouble for the franchise. I have had this one on my holds list for the library for months!
Since We Last Spoke – When two teens in love lose their older siblings in an accident, the bitter fall out between their families threatens everything. I have this on my wish list.
We Rule the Night – Two young women. A world at war. And magic that can help them win – if they can learn to work together and don’t kill one another first.
We Were Beautiful – A teen who survived the crash that killed her sister has few memories of what really happened – just rumors, accusations and guilt. So she is sent to spend the summer with a grandmother she barely knows where she can begin to find healing. This is on my wish list for this week too.
White Rose – A fictionalized account of the young adults who formed the White Rose and criticized the Nazi regime, leading to dire consequences. I’ve read some historical accounts of the White Rose. This novel should be fascinating.
You’d Be Mine – The daughter of country music royalty, Annie is grieving her parents’ deaths. But she is an up-and-coming star in her own right, and Clay’s record label says he needs to get her on his tour or he’s going to be dropped. The fans would love to see the two become a couple, but Annie has seen what a high-profile couple goes through in the public eye, and she is not interested in heading down that road. This has been getting a lot of positive buzz on social media. I’ve had this one on hold at the library, too.

Books for Adults

Death Waits in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. I am a book behind on this one, but I’ve loved the first two books! In this one, a local busybody is killed when she threatens to expose a family secret. I need to get caught up on this one!
Gimme Some Sugar (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Southern Eclectic series of stand alone romances. In this one, a widow is taking charge of her life including starting a new bake shop. And she knows just the guy to help with some of the carpentry work she will need to have done – the one who might have saved her from a difficult marriage if he had just shared his feelings in high school.
Lights!Camera!Puzzles! (Hardcover) – Book 20 in this series about a puzzle maker and her aunt Cora who is the face of the brand. In this book, Cora  signs on as a producer for an unflattering movie about her life because she needs the money. While Cora doesn’t have anything positive to say about the movie, she wasn’t expecting that dead body.
The Loch Ness Papers (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. A bookseller befriends a Loch Ness Monster fanatic who is later accused of murder.
The Memory House (Hardcover) – Once again Rachel Hauck delivers a story that spans two timelines but is woven together. This time it is the 50-year-old story of a young widow with a secret that ties to a contemporary story of a former cop who lost her memories when her father died on 9/11.
Mother’s Day Mayhem (e-book Novella) – Part of the Tourist Trap mystery series. This story is focused on a mother who returns from jail and the impact she makes on the town and the son she left behind.
Geek Girls Don’t Cry: Real Life Lessons from Fictional Female Characters (Hardcover) – I’m so excited that my local library ordered this one! I love reading pop-culture explorations like this one which includes interviews of creators about the characters they have developed.
Why We Read : Quotations for Book Lovers(Hardcover) – A collection of illustrated quotations.

BOOK NEWS: October 17, 2017

BOOK NEWS: October 17, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

We’re half way through October, and the holiday season is quickly approaching. I’m feeling ready for sweatshirt weather, soup, and crunchy leaves! Here are some new books releasing this week to enjoy as the season turns colder.

Books for Kids

Doctor Tenth: Christmas Surprise! – A Christmas story about Donna and the Tenth Doctor. I have yet to see this line in person, but I think the idea is adorable.
Malala’s Magic Pencil – Activist, Malala Yousafzai releases her story in picture book format to reach younger readers. This is going to be a powerful story! This would work in classroom settings, libraries and at home.
Merry Christmas, Peanut! – One of the things I love about this time of year is that Christmas books start releasing. In this book, a peanut has a yummy-looking adventure on his way to visit family for the holidays. The illustrations in these books are fantastic and clever. This is sure to be a hit!
Thanksgiving in the Woods – Based on the true story of a family who hosted their Thanksgiving celebration in the woods. As a teacher, I had a hard time finding great Thanksgiving stories to read in November. I would add this one to my repertoire if I was still teaching.
The Doctors Time and Space Collection – A collection of the first 8 books in this line (Includes Doctors 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12). Includes a poster. This is a great gift idea for Doctor Who fans who are also kids at heart!
Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Tales of Hope & Courage – Maz Kanata’s journal records the stories of 6 heroines of the Star Wars Saga.
Miss Tracy Is Spacey! – Book 9 in the My Weirdest School series by Dan Gutman. My students loved these short chapter books about a group of elementary school kids and their wacky school staff.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe – Book 12 in this super popular middle grade series with a diary format. This time, Nikki has a dilemma when a new boy has a crush on her.
Frank Einstein and the Bio-Action Gizmo – Book 5 in this great science fiction series starring fun, smart kids and quirky robots.
Harry Potter: A Journey through the History of Magic – Based on the new exhibition at the British Library. I can’t wait to see this one in person!
Kid Sherlock – Graphic novel about new kid, John Watson (who happens to be a dog) and Sherlock Holmes. This looks adorable!
The Legend of Shadow High – The kids of Monster High meet the ones from Ever After High in this new book by Shannon Hale. I’ll be reviewing this one on Thursday this week.
Open If You Dare – Three friends find a box labeled “Open if you dare” and now they are solving a forty-year-old mystery. This sounds right up my alley.
Paper Chains – Two friends from very different family situations work their way through strains at home and in their friendship. This sounds absolutely lovely. It is at the top of my wish list for this week!
The Phantom of the Opera (Muppets) – The Muppets put their special spin on the classic story, The Phantom of the Opera. I’d love to see this in person to see what the Muppet influence is on the story.
The Summer of Owen Todd – Owen and Sean have been best friends for ages, so it’s no surprise when Sean opens up to Owen about things going on with the new babysitter Sean’s mom hired to look after him for the summer.  The question becomes what Owen should do – does he stay quiet like Sean asks him to? Or is this too big to keep to himself? This sounds like a younger kids version of A List of Cages (which is one of my favorite books of 2017). This is going to be a difficult but important book to read. This is also at the top of my list for this week.
The Magic Storm – Book 6 in the Phoebe and her Unicorn series. I LOVE this quirky comic series about a girl and her unicorn best friend. I pre-ordered this MONTHS ago, and I will be stalking the mail carrier on Tuesday, waiting for my copy.
Who Is Ralph Lauren? – Latest in the Who Was series of biographies
36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You – Two kids join a psychology study at their university to see if love can be engineered. Told in IMs, sketches and texts, this sounds like a fun read for teens and young adults. This is on my wish list for the library.
Dear Martin – A young African American journals to Dr. King, wondering if his teachings still hold up today when the young man is caught in an altercation with a white police officer. This is a timely story which has received a LOT of positive buzz leading up to the release. This is on my library list, too.
What Was That All About? – A 20-year look at the Duncan family from the Zits comic strip. As the mom of a teenager, I adore this comic. I have this book on my Christmas list!

Books for Adults

Cold as Ice – Book 6 in the Country Club Murders series about an amateur sleuth socialite. The covers for this series are appealing to me, so I have this whole series on my library list.
Planet Hulk – Prose novel based on the comic series about the Incredible Hulk on the planet Sakaar where he is sold into slavery. The Hulk is one of my favorite Marvel characters, so this is on my Christmas list.
Thor Ragnarok Prelude – Graphic novel prelude to the movie releasing in November. Collects Prelude 1-4, Thor (1966) 361, and Hulk (2000) 95.
30 Days to Joy – A one month creative journal including quotes and prompts. Could be a great gift idea, or something to structure my desire to be crafty when I don’t know what I want to do.
Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff – For fans of the show Fixer Upper comes this book by Chip Gaines about some of the antics and ideas he has pursued and the things he has learned along the way.
Chasing Light – As a visual person, I am a sucker for a fantastic photograph. When our family toured the White House several years ago, I was struck by the gorgeous pictures that lined the walls. This looks like a lovely collection of photos of one of our First Ladies.
Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It – If you are trying to make more healthy choices in your diet, this book could be a resource to motivate you, looking at the impact of processed food on our health. This is on my library list.
Seeing the Unseen – A 90-day devotional by Randy Alcorn with a focus on eternity. Includes scripture references as well as quotes from Christian leaders.
Why the Vote Wasn’t Enough for Selma – Examines the impact of the right to vote on African Americans in the south, specifically in Selma, with regard to economic justice and true “citizenship.”