Month: October 2017

REVIEW: Miles Morales Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

REVIEW: Miles Morales Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Miles is an exceedingly bright kid on scholarship to a pricey prep school. He longs to overcome his family history of crime and hustling. And this school is his way to accomplish that.

But his spider-sense is jacking up his opportunity. It keeps going off in history, and Miles can only make up so many bathroom excuses before he gets in trouble and is suspended. So Miles is DONE with Spider-Man. He’s just going to be Miles for now and try to stay out of trouble.

Just being “Miles,” though, isn’t as easy as it sounds. He has horrifying nightmares. He feels tremendous guilt about his uncle Aaron. There’s a cousin in juvenile he never knew existed. Folks in his neighborhood seem to be disappearing. There’s a girl he likes, but he keeps blowing his chances to let her know. And his history teacher seems to think the South was right on the issue of slavery in the Civil War and takes every opportunity to point that out to Miles, who is half black and half Puerto Rican. Just being Miles is a lot more intense than he thought it would be.

Review

I am not familiar with the Miles Morales iteration of Spider-Man from the comics. So I approached this book with no preconceived notions or comic book story lines in mind. I knew the name Miles Morales and nothing else. And I enjoyed this story!

Miles is an awesome character. He’s bright and determined. He’s haunted by his past. He has superpowers but they are more of a burden than a blessing. When should he draw the line between taking care of his responsibilities and his own life and trying to save  the neighborhood around him?

Diversity and race issues are primary in the story which makes this a timely read. The villain and “mystery” of the story was really interesting. While it is resolved on one level in the book, there are many questions still open, too. Hopefully those will be addressed in a future book. Give this to your young superhero fans in 5th grade or older. I think they will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

REVIEW: The Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

On the way home one night, a priest passes by the scene of a car accident. No one is hurt, so she continues on. Shortly thereafter, she comes across a body. A dragon, clinging to life. “Father Penny” administers last rites, heads home, and resolves to reconsider her drinking habits. She’s obviously hallucinating.

Except she’s not. Penny is a rare human who has encountered a creature from Lloegyr, the equivalent of England in a parallel world where dragons, vampires, elves and such exist. With her love of Dr. Who and enough familiarity with Buffy the Vampire Slayer to fill her 55,000 word Master’s thesis, Penny is the perfect choice to be Vicar of General Incursions. Serving as Vicar means Penny would work with the church leadership of both worlds on instances where creatures from either side ended up in the other and problems ensued.

One of the first problems Father Penny has to address is her dead dragon, who appears to have died from poison rather than the car accident.

Review

I agreed to review this at the request of the author who provided an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. I rarely agree to such requests, but I enjoy fantasy stories and dragons and such, so I said I would give it a try. The book was a pleasant surprise!

This was so fun to read. The pop culture references were enjoyable and the characters were fascinating. I loved Father Penny. While my faith didn’t line up all the time with the book, I found the faith pieces genuine and moving. Penny is honest and earnest about the challenges and blessings in her calling. The other major characters are terrific – the humans, dragons, gryphons, and “snail sharks” (Clyde, the baby snail shark, is adorable in so many ways – and terrifying in others).

The story was delightfully layered. There was the human layer of Penny and her brother and their grief over Penny’s husband. Then there was the layer of world building for the fantasy characters/lands. Romance – or potential romance – creates another layer. And finally, there is the poison/murder plot layer. Each part was nuanced and enjoyable. I’m so glad I had the chance to read this! I’m looking forward to checking out the other two books in the series.

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: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: October 10, 2017

BOOK NEWS: October 10, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Peanuts! John Green! Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Schools around here are kicking off the fall break season. Some kids even get two whole weeks off this month to rest up for the second quarter of the school year! That’s a perfect time to pick up a new book or two to help fill the time. Here are some of the titles debuting this week:

Books for Kids

Everything Is Mama – Companion book to Jimmy Fallon’s Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada.
Last Laughs: Prehistoric  Epitaphs – Pithy poems about the demise of prehistoric creatures.
Me and Mr. Fluffernutter –  Her cat is her best friend, but what happens when a girl and her cat want to do different things? This looks adorable!
Ninja Claus! – A young ninja tries to catch a glimpse of Santa
The Wolf, The Duck and the Mouse – A mouse is eaten by a wolf and discovers a duck living comfortably in the wolf’s stomach. This is the latest from the team of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Thor vs Hulk (Leveled Reader) – I don’t know that I have been this excited about a Marvel movie since the first Avengers came out. I can’t wait to see Thor Ragnarok in November.
Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package – This is the latest early chapter book in the Deckawoo Drive series. I loved the Mercy Watson books that started this series. And the book before this, Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?, is my absolute favorite. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
Louie in a Spin – Book 3 in the Unicorn in New York series about a unicorn who can’t dance but ends up in a dance competition.
Rabbit & Robot and Ribbit – Sequel to Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover. Now, two friends become three which leads to hurt feelings. This sounds cute.
Super Turbo Protects the World – The hamster sidekick from Captain Awesome tells his own story in this spin-off series.
Tug-of-War – Book 2 in the Chocolate Lab series. I read book one and it was adorable.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

Dog Day After School – Book 3 in the Crimebiters series about a group of crime-fighting kids and their pets. I read the first book in this delightful series a couple years ago. I’d love to read this one!
The Downward Spiral – Book two in the Lock and Key series which re-imagines the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. I’d love to read this series!
Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Famous Writers – This explores the childhoods of popular authors like JK Rowling and Stan Lee.
The Kids Who Knew Too Little – Book 3 in the League of Unexceptional Children series about a pair of completely average kids who get to be spies. I have book 1 on my TBR list.
Laura Ingalls Is Ruining My Life – A girl’s family moves to Walnut Grove because her Laura Ingalls-obsessed mom is convinced the environment will help her write a book. I’m not even that into Little House, but I can’t wait to read this book!
The Magical Match – Book 4 in the Fairytale Matchmaker series. I read the first book in this series, and it’s a lot of fun. This is from the author of the Wide-Awake Princess series, which is one of my favorites.
Molly in the Middle – The latest in the MIX line from Aladdin is this story about a girl who is tired of always being in the middle so she decides to stand out. I love this line of books! This one sounds great.
Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race – Book three in the awesome Mr. Lemoncello series. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
The Silver Mask – Book 4 in the Magisterium series about kids with magic powers and a magician who has hijacked the life of a young man. I read the first book in this series, and it was fascinating!
Snow and Rose – Snow White and Rose Red, reimagined.
Spy School Secret Service – Book 5 in the spy school series. I have these on my reading wish list. I love the graphic covers for this series. This time, Ben is assigned to stop a presidential assassination.
Thor Ragnarok Junior Novel – A kids’ introduction to the new Thor movie releasing in November.
What Are the Ten Commandments?
What Was the Ice Age?
What’s Wrong Dog Lips? – A collection of Snoopy comics
Gatekeepers – A trio of teens react to the suicide of a peer and to their own pressures and doubts. This is high on my list for this week, too.
Into the Garden – Earlier this year I reviewed a terrific YA book called Dividing Eden. This novella, set decades before the events of that book, releases this week for Kindle and other ebooks. I’ve already requested this one from the library!
Librarian of Auschwitz – Based on real-life people and events, this story focuses on a teen in Auschwitz who is the keeper of the 8 books the prisoners were able to sneak into the camp.
Turtles All the Way Down – John Green’s latest story is about a teen investigating the mystery of a fugitive billionaire. I am #42 on the waiting list at my local library. This one is going to be huge.

Books for Adults

Death Overdue – The first book in a new Haunted Library mystery series. A man who says he has information about a 15 year old cold case keels over at a library event. The events librarian will partner with the library ghost to solve the mystery.
Homicide For the Holidays – Book 2 in the Viv and Charlie mystery series is a holiday mystery set around a radio actress and private detective. I love the creative premise of this. This is on my list.
Perilous Poetry – Book 3 in the Book Barn Princess series. In this one, a new book app  brings a famous author to the Book Barn and a murder to the community. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Running Out of Time – Book 3 in the Dodie O’Dell  mystery series about a restaurant manager who finds a body at an adaptation of Our Town.
Twelve Slays of Christmas – The first book in a Christmas Tree farm mystery series. This sounds perfect – great cozy mystery and a Christmas story. This is the time of year I love to start reading holiday stories.
Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together – Journalist Van Jones weighs in on our current political culture in America. I have enjoyed some of Jones’ work over the last year and I’m looking forward to reading this.
Grant – Ron Chernow, renowned author of the Alexander Hamilton biography that led to the Broadway show, looks at the life of Ulysses S. Grant.
My Time with God – A new devotional from Christian speaker and Bible teacher, Joyce Meyer.
Norbert’s Little Lessons for a Big Life – Lessons from an adorable therapy dog.
Only Dead on the Inside – Twitter sensation, James Breakwell’s first book about surviving the zombie apocalypse with your family. Our whole family enjoys Breakwell’s humor on social media. I can’t wait to see what the book is like.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: York Children’s Literature Festival.

Posted on by Jaymie

A few weeks ago I attended a local Children’s Literature Festival (you can see my post from last year here) and it was delightful!

There were four authors/illustrators this year – John David Anderson, Jeff Stone, Louise Borden and Loren Long.

I was most excited to hear from John David Anderson. I have read – and loved – several of his books. His presentation was inspiring and a lot of fun! The pop culture references – like Star Wars and Harry Potter – were so fun. It really solidified my high opinion of him. Anderson does skype visits with schools for FREE. If I was a writing teacher, I would get on his schedule asap because he had great things to say about his writing process.

Jeff Stone was a new author to me. I have seen his books in book stores, but I have not read them. Since my son does taekwondo, I was interested in the pieces of his talk that centered on his own martial arts training (he has a black belt in kung fu) and how he wove that into his stories. He has one series that takes place in the past and another that is contemporary. If I was still teaching, I would put these books into the hands of kids who love adventure stories as well as the ones interested in martial arts.

I hadn’t heard Louise Borden speak before but I was familiar with her book on the back story of the author of Curious George. Borden’s presentation felt like she was reading a book; there was a lovely rhythm to her talk. And the research she does for her books made me want to run to the library and start researching something myself. Her presentation was inspiring. If you are looking for excellent nonfiction picture books, look up her material.

Loren Long was the only illustrator in attendance this year. I had never read an Otis book before the conference, but I was familiar with his art work from the covers of Otis books, which I have seen in bookstores, as well as his work on the Obama book, Of Thee I Sing, and Matt de la Pena’s 2018 release, Love. My favorite part of the presentation was when he talked about the evolution of Otis, from his first sketch to the final product.

Any of these four folks would be amazing presenters at schools. If you are a teacher or librarian, be sure to check them out!

REVIEW: Greetings from Witness Protection by Jake Burt

REVIEW: Greetings from Witness Protection by Jake Burt

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Charlotte Trevor is in 7th grade, oldest child of Harriet and Jonathan Trevor, big sister to Jackson. She’s an average student. She plays on the basketball team at school, but they’ve never won a game. She has a handful of good friends, but she tries to blend into the background.

That’s because Charlotte Trevor doesn’t exist.

None of the Trevors really do. Harriet and Jonathan and Jackson are in Witness Protection because Harriet testified against her mob family. Charlotte’s real name is Nikki. She’s been in foster care and out-of-home placements for years after her grandmother died. But the US Marshals think Nikki is book smart and street smart enough to pose as part of this family so they can become a family of four if anyone’s trying to find them.

But the rules for secrecy and safety are strict. And Nikki’s past is no joke. There’s a lot for her to overcome if she’s going to pull this off. Everyone’s lives depend on her getting this right.

Review

I have loved the idea of this book since I first heard the premise. But the actual execution of the story exceeded my expectations. There’s lots of humor and lots of heart to this story. I loved it from start to finish.

Nikki/Charlotte is a fantastic character. When you consider all she does to stay under the radar at her new school, you get the idea that she is wicked smart. She has some unhealthy coping mechanisms from her past, but her past doesn’t make her angry or keep her from making attachments to others. She’s confident and wise. She uses her past to help in her new “assignment” with the Marshals.

The story holds together so well. There’s the witness protection piece, the piece that focuses on Nikki’s past, and then the present piece of a 13-year-old girl (who comes off a little older) trying to negotiate a new family and a new middle school. I was thrilled with how it all clicked into place. I recommend this book highly!

Many thanks to the folks at Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for providing an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. It was a treat to read this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Fixing to Die by Miranda James

REVIEW: Fixing to Die by Miranda James

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Miss An’gel Ducote, her sister Dickce and their ward, Benjy, travel to Cliffwood, an historic home in Natchez, Mississippi. The Caitlins, Mary Turner and Henry Howard, have invited them into their home, which serves as a bed and breakfast for most of the year. The Ducote sisters were dear friends to Mary Turner’s grandmother. The Caitlins seem to be having issues with a ghost. Mary Turner hopes An’gel and Dickce can figure out what’s going on while the B&B is closed to guests for a little while.

Cliffwood isn’t as empty as the Caitlins expected it to be when the Ducotes arrive. Mrs. Primrose Pace is a psychic who claims she was summoned to the house to help them deal with spirits. Then Mary Turner’s distant cousin, Serenity, her lawyer, Truscott, and Serenity’s brother, Nathan, also arrive. Nathan is convinced that his branch of the family was cheated out of part of their inheritance. He’s determined to either find another will or pester Mary Turner until he gets what he wants.

While the ghost – or prankster – makes several appearances to the guests of the house, something even more sinister is going on when one of the guests ends up dead.

Review

I’m not much for ghost stories, so it took me a little while to find my rhythm with this book. Once all the players were in place, though, I was completely engrossed in trying to figure out whodunit.

I enjoy the Ducote sisters and their entourage, including their pets. It was nice to see them in a new setting with new characters and crimes. (This is the fourth book in the series.) The references to the Nancy Drew mysteries the sisters read as girls were fun. I read them as a kid along with the Bobbsey Twins and Trixie Belden mysteries. They set the foundation to my life-long love of mysteries with spunky protagonists. And the Ducote sisters, while in their 70s, certainly qualify as spunky!

Solid mystery in this one. I guessed wrong – and I was certain I was right. I enjoyed the surprise in the solution that I didn’t see coming. The ones that keep me wondering all the way to the end are almost as fun to read as the ones I am able to puzzle out.

I think readers can enjoy this mystery out of order, but to understand the sisters and their ward and how that all came together, it’s better to read the series in order. It’s going to be awhile until we see a 5th book in this series as the author has announced a shift to publishing two books per year in another series. This will give readers plenty of time to get caught up on this fun southern series if you haven’t been reading it all this time.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Eagle of Rome by Dan Metcalf

REVIEW: The Eagle of Rome by Dan Metcalf

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It’s 1928. Lottie Lipton lives at the British Museum with her Uncle Bert who is the Curator of Egyptology there. One day adventurer extraordinaire, Lady Viola, shows up at the museum, announcing she is off to find the Eagle of the Ninth Legion. She’s at the museum to check their library for clues.

Lady Viola is one of Lottie’s idols. But once the reporters are gone, Viola turns from gracious and sophisticated to rude and ruthless. While Lottie would put the missing Eagle into the museum so everyone could enjoy it, Viola wants it so she can sell it to finance her vacations. So Lottie vows to find it first.

Lottie, Uncle Bert and Reg, the museum’s caretaker, will have to solve several logic puzzles if they’re going to beat Lady Viola to the Eagle!

Review

This is a cute, simple book with puzzles embedded into the story (with solutions). Lottie is sweet and values learning and art for the masses. The fast story means we don’t get to know her very well, but she is likable from the start.

The puzzles are fun and appear to be set up so the reader doesn’t see the solution until he/she turns the page (I saw an early electronic arc, so I don’t know what the final version will look like). There are bonus puzzles in the back matter along with vocabulary and facts related to the book.

Good for early elementary elementary classrooms and readers starting to test out short chapter books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Darby Creek Publishing for providing and electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: A Moment to Breathe by The (in)courage Community

BONUS REVIEW: A Moment to Breathe by The (in)courage Community

Posted on by Jaymie

(In)courage is a website that offers encouragement for women of faith. They have daily devotional posts, a shop for mugs and stationery and such from Dayspring, book clubs, and other opportunities for connection.

A Moment to Breathe is the latest book from the folks at (in)courage. It includes 365 daily devotions written by a variety of (in)courage contributors. Each devotional includes a scripture reference, the devotional, and an encouraging thought about taking a moment to breathe and reflect. A Moment to Breathe releases today. And I enjoyed it so much, I am posting this bonus review today – when I usually just talk about books for kids on Tuesdays – because I don’t want to wait to get the word out about this book.

Before publication, (in)courage made the first ten devotionals available to the public to sample the pieces in the book. I loved what I read in the sampler, and I was fortunate to be chosen for the Launch Team. I received a copy of the full book for review purposes and found it full of excellent encouragement and opportunities for growth.

When I first read the sampler, I tried to pin down a “favorite” from the first ten. But my favorite changed regularly; there were so many good pieces in just that small taste of the larger book. When I received the book, I was determined to jump around, sampling entries from all over the book. I was pleased to see the quality was consistent from start to finish. In fact, I could apply every entry I chose to something going on in my life.

I have bought bunches of devotionals in my life, and they usually end up on a shelf within 30 days. I get out of the habit of reading it, and it starts to gather dust. That won’t be the case with this one. This is the kind of devotional that I will use. I have been dog-earring pages and underlining passages and posting pictures since I started reading it. I look forward to digging in, seeing what each day has in store for me, and journaling or praying about what I read.

This book would make an excellent gift – for yourself and your spiritual life or for a friend or family member. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the folks at (in)courage for the review copy and the opportunity to be part of the Launch Team and an early reader of this meaningful devotional.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

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?