Happy August! School is in session – or it will be soon if you are one of the lucky ones who still has a couple weeks of summer to go. And that means it’s a great time to consider a new book! Here are some of the books releasing this week – there are a BUNCH to choose from.
Books for Kids
Would You Ever Pet a Platypus? (Board Book) – Board book celebrating the animals God made.
The Buddy Bench – A fictionalized example of a Buddy Bench designed so that when kids sit there it is a sign for other kids to reach out to that child and include him/her in play. This sound sweet!
The Evil Princess vs. The Brave Knight – Familiar sibling squabbles play out between the “evil” princess and the “brave” knight. The sample pages look fantastic! I can’t wait to read this one! From the pair behind the Babymouse graphic novels.
Just in Case You Ever Wonder – A picture book offering readers assurance of God’s love through the ups and downs of life. By Max Lucado.
The Pencil Eater – A teacher on the perpetual quest to track down her missing classroom pencils wrote this new book about a pencil eating monster.
Penny and Penelope – Two girls on a playdate struggle to play together with their very different dolls – one a princess and the other a secret agent.
Fabio, The World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: The Case of the Missing Hippo – A flamingo detective named Fabio? Sign me up for this new chapter book series! Fabio is asked to judge a talent contest, but when one of the contestants goes missing, he is on the case. A second book releases next spring.
Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Bear Scare AND The Case of the Hat Burglar AND The Case of the Haunted Scarecrow AND The Case of the Golden Key AND The Case of the Vanishing Painting – When my teen was learning to read, the Jigsaw Jones mysteries were some of our favorite stories. These five titles appear to be new additions to this classic, and well-loved series.
Super Turbo and the Fountain of Doom – Book 9 in the Super Turbo series. The superpets have figured out how to get water without having to deal with the Rat Pack every time, but once they’ve all tried out the water fountain, they notice the water won’t stop flowing.
Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults
Cape – Book 1 in the League of Secret Heroes series. Set during World War II in an alternate timeline where superheroes exist, a girl longs for a way to make a difference in the world, but many dismiss her because she is a girl. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
Dear Justice League – Justice League heroes answer mail from their biggest fans. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month as well.
Double Cross – Book 3 in the Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls series. At a prep school competition, the kids find out their nemesis is using the competition site as a launch point for his next attack. This series looks so great. It’s on my list.
Each Tiny Spark – As a girl watches her father try to piece his life back together after deployment, her community starts to fall apart, and some of her classmates are caught in the middle. There’s been a lot of talk online lately about the need for “older middle grade” books that bridge the gap between middle grade and YA. This book is targeted for kids 10 and up. It’s on my list for this week.
Rise of the Dragon Moon – A new middle grade fantasy about a princess and her friends who trek to Dragon Mountain to rescue her mother the queen. This sounds great!
Star Wars Ahsoka: A Star Wars Rebels Cinestory – A graphic novel presentation of Ahsoka’s story in the Star Wars Rebels TV show.
Star Wars Myths and Fables – Original fairy tales and myths from the Star Wars universe.
The 47 People You’ll Meet in Middle School – An older sister gives her younger sister the scoop on middle school now that she has finished her first year there. From the author of Annie’s Life in Lists. I’ve requested this from the library just based on the author’s previous work which I adored!
Who Is R. L. Stine?
Hello Girls – Two teens meet outside a police station, each wondering if it is finally time to report their families. When both girls realize they can’t just wait for graduation to take charge of their own lives, they pair up to make a run from their midwestern small town to a big city for a fresh start. This is also on my list for this week.
I’m Not Dying with You Tonight – Two teens – one Black, one White – find themselves tossed together when a rivalry football game turns violent and sets a city already on edge aflame. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Let’s Call It a Doomsday – From the author of Heretics Anonymous. Two girls meet at their therapist’s office. One is caught up in all the possible ways the world could end. The other has had a “premonition” of when the apocalypse will occur. As the girls work together to prepare for the worst, they wonder if anyone will believe them. This is another I will read solely because I have enjoyed the author’s other work.
#MurderFunding – Sequel to #MurderTrending. The latest reality show craze is Who Wants to Be a Painiac?, the show that’s looking for the next great serial killer. One contestant is there to find out what really happened to her mom. She thought she was just your typical suburban soccer mom, but someone else says her mom was one of the serial killers at Alcatraz 2.0. I read the first book this summer; it was the one recommended to me by my teen. It was not a good fit for me as a reader (too gory and the premise felt a few steps farther than even The Hunger Games). But I know the rest of my family will be picking this one up for sure.
Postcards for a Songbird – A teen starts to expect everyone to leave her after her mom leaves, then her sister and her best friend. But a house-bound neighbor might finally be someone who will stick around. But a guy in driver’s ed and postcards from her sister leave the girl with more questions than ever before. At the time of this writing, this book is available on Kindle Unlimited (free for subscribers).
Star Wars: A Crash of Fate (Galaxy’s Edge) – Childhood friends on Batuu find themselves with vastly different lives as young adults. She is a smuggler, on her own after the death of her parents. He is a farmer who never left Batuu. Rekindling their relationship leaves both of them questioning if they have a chance at love when they live such different lives. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Swipe Right for Murder – A teen on his own for a night in New York City is looking for a hook up but finds a dead body instead. The latest from James Patterson’s publishing imprint.
Radiant: His Light Your Life for Teen Girls and Young Women – A candid conversation about identity with author Priscilla Shirer (Prince Warriors series, Fervent).
Books for Adults
A Bias for Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop mystery series. The quilters are hired to make quilts for a new B&B by the owner, a woman who inherited the property when her brother died. But when his cause of death goes from heart attack to murder, the sister is the number one suspect.
Bursts of Fire (Hardcover) – First in the new Addicted to Heaven political fantasy series. Magic, gods and war abound in this series opener that sees three sisters scattered to the wilds determined to regain their legacy. This sounds great!
Enchanted Ever After (e-book) – Book 9 in the Enchanted, Inc. series which I have adored since the first book. While Katie and Owen are trying to get the plans for their wedding finalized, someone is trying to expose the magical world to the general public.
Life and Other Inconveniences (Trade Paperback) – A generational story that spans from grandmother (who lost her husband and a son) to granddaughter (who lost her mother and whose father dumped her on his mother’s doorstep). When she got pregnant, Emma’s grandmother kicked her out. But she has pushed through the hard times. And Emma and her daughter have made a good life for themselves. But Emma can’t fathom why, after all their history, her grandmother would call HER for help. This is on my list for this week, too.
Love and Death Among the Cheetah (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Royal Spyness Mystery series, a fun historical fiction series. When Georgie and Darcy are on their honeymoon in Kenya, Georgie starts to suspect Darcy is there on a mission. What starts as the hunt for a thief turns into a hunt for a murderer.
The Perfect Wife (Hardcover) – A woman awakens with no memory next to a man who describes her as the perfect wife who was in an accident five years earlier and has, thanks to a technological breakthrough, just been revived. It’s not long before she starts to question if she can trust the story he’s told her.
Reticence (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Custard Protocol steampunk series, a spinoff of the author’s Parasol Protectorate series which I enjoyed. The brother of one of the globe-travelling women flying the Spotted Custard airship is the focus of this entry in the series. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the original series. I might need to pick them up from the library for a re-read.
The Right Swipe (Trade Paperback) – A dating app creator is not looking for love when she meets a former pro football player. But after one night he disappears and she’s left to guard her heart again. But when he drops into her life again, he’s counting on a second chance at love, but his business relationship with a rival developer could kill their relationship before it even starts. I’ll be reviewing this later this month.
Terns of Endearment (Hardcover) – Book 25 in the always delightful Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews. Meg and several members of her family are on board a cruise ship when her grandfather is asked to provide part of the ship’s educational programming for the voyage. The ship breaks down in the Bermuda Triangle, some passengers go missing, and Meg’s dad is ready to use the confinement of the passengers to investigate the missing persons cases. This series is a must read for me – I have already requested this one and the new Christmas book (Owl Be Home for Christmas – October) from the library!
The Time for Murder Is Meow (August 8 – Trade Paperback) – First in the new Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery series. A former actress takes over her late aunt’s pet shop. She’s looking forward to getting involved in the community like sharing some of her aunt’s Cary Grant posters with the local museum. But when a board member vetoes the plan and then ends up dead, she becomes the prime suspect in the murder. I’m looking forward to checking this one out.
Love at First Like (Trade Paperback) – A jewelry shop owner uploads a picture of her wearing a diamond engagement ring accidentally and reaps a publicity bonanza. Now she’s off to find a fake fiancé to help her keep up the ruse and improve the business’ bottom line.
Say You Still Love Me (Trade Paperback) – A VP at a multibillion-dollar business recognizes the new security guy as her first love. Can two people from vastly different backgrounds make love work?
Best Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes: Quick and Easy Dinners, Casseroles, Soups, Stews and More (Paperback Cookbook) – Includes a section just on wings and another on five-ingredients-or-less recipes.
Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God’s Best for Your Next (Trade Paperback) – Practical ideas for surviving and thriving this next stage of life.
The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System – And How to Fix It (Hardcover) – Digs into the impact of decontextualizing reading comprehension skills in elementary classrooms. I’m curious to read this one.
Middle School Matters: The Ten Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – And How Parents Can Help (Trade Paperback) – An exploration of skills to help kids transition to adolescence.
Raise Them Up: Praying God’s Word Over Your Kids (Trade Paperback) – Prayer guide for parents
Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump (Hardcover) – I can’t know without reading what the author’s bias might be, but I am curious to read this one.
The View From Rock Bottom: Discovering God’s Embrace in our Pain (Trade Paperback) – The author shares her experience of finding Jesus in the midst of her pain.