As June kicks off tomorrow, I am starting a new full time job. I’m hoping to keep up with my blogging schedule, but know that there might be adjustments this summer as I see what I can manage in a healthy way. I am scaling back my Book News posts for sure, which you will noticed this month. I’m hoping to focus on the new things I am most excited about. With the VOLUME of new books releasing each week, it likely means I will miss something *you* would be excited by. If you have questions or are looking for specific recommendations, let me know. For now, here are some of the books releasing this week:
Books for Kids
Arnold the Super-ish Hero – A humble kid in a family of superheroes discovers that even without special “powers” of his own, he can be helpful to others. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite! – Burt would love to be a bug with super powers, but he’s not sure june beetles are very special. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, too.
Dear Librarian – A thank you to a librarian who helped a child during a difficult time.
Nia and the New Free Library – As a town tries to decide what to do with the space the library had been in, before it was destroyed by a tornado, Nia looks for ways to convince everyone that what they need most is a new library.
Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature – Nathan W. Pyle’s first picture book starring his alien characters who are captivated by the sneaking, hiding, vibrating creature in their house.
Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress – A picture book biography focused on Shirley Chisholm’s daring qualities.
Layla and the Bots: Cupcake Fix – Book 3 in the Layla and the Bots series. Layla and the bots want to build a cupcake machine to make the opening of the new community center special.
Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves – Book 11 in the Mia Mayhem series. This time, Mia’s family goes on vacation.
Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker: Horn Slayer (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Pacey Packer series. While Pacey weakened the evil Arkane last time when she cut off his horn, she didn’t finish the job of defeating him, so she heads back to Rundalyn.
Pizazz – Pizazz shows readers the downsides to being a superhero. First in a new series.
Pup Detectives: The Soccer Mystery (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Pup Detectives series. Rider Woofson and the pup detectives start sleuthing when the school mascot and the star soccer player go missing.
She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor – An early chapter book biography.
Books for Older Kids/Teens
Clique Here – After an embarrassing incident, Lily is more than ready to change schools and re-invent herself as Blake. But when a friend from her old school shows up at her new school, Lily/Blake will have to figure out who she wants to be.
Ham Helsing, Vampire Hunter (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series about a reluctant vampire-hunting pig.
The Hidden Knife (Older Middle Grade) – A girl hidden by her mother, a former-queen. Wise gargoyles who train and coach. A school full of secrets and mysteries. This sounds great!
Marcus Makes a Movie – An illustrated novel by actor Kevin Hart. Initially Marcus feels “stuck” in his after school film class. But then he realizes he can use the class to help him bring a comic character he created to film. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Shock Waves (Graphic Novel) – Miles heads up a fundraiser to help Puerto Rico after an earthquake, but the missing father of a classmate might have ties to the corporation backing his fundraiser, so he has to investigate.
The Monster Missions – Two kids living on an old cruise ship, scavenging for supplies from the drowned cities around them start to hunt sea monsters when they accidentally awaken a Hydra that is seeking revenge.
Super Secret Super Spies: Mystery of the All-Seeing Eye – First in a new series. A lonely girl is recruited to join the Illuminati as a spy who works with other kids to keep things on the planet spinning along as they should.
Upside Down Magic: Night Owl – Book 8 in the Upside Down Magic series. Nory and her friends are part of the all-school sleepover. Nory is hoping if their team wins the big competition that night, her best friend won’t change schools. Meanwhile, Sebastian is struggling with the loud noises from the event, but none of his friends seem to care.
Brick Science: STEM Tips and Tricks for Experimenting with your LEGO Bricks – Science experiments kids can do with Lego bricks.
Who Is Neil deGrasse Tyson? AND Who Was A. A. Milne? – The latest Who Was biographies.
Books for Teens/Young Adults
Ace of Spades – Devon and Chiamaka have been chosen to be senior prefects at school, which also means either could become valedictorian. But when anonymous text messages start going out from someone calling themselves “Aces” and their secrets are revealed, Devon and Chiamaka must stop Aces before things get deadly. This is already on my library wishlist.
Better Together – “Parent Trap meets Freaky Friday.” Sisters raised with no knowledge of one another meet at a retreat and magically switch places when they go home. Once they are stuck living each other’s lives, they start looking for a way back to themselves. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Castle of Refuge – Book 2 in the Dericott Tale series, this one an adaptation of the story of the Ugly Duckling. Scarred by her sister in an act of malice, Audrey flees her home when her father decides to marry off his “damaged” daughter. She finds a home at Dericott Castle, working as a servant, and falling in love with Lord Dericott. But when the man she’s supposed to marry shows up hunting for her, Audrey and Edwin will have to see if their love can triumph. This sounds awesome!
A Chorus Rises: A Song Below Water novel – A teen influencer finds her fans turning on her for exposing a Siren to the world. So Naema heads to the Southwest to start over and re-create what she has lost. But when some of her new fans start turning on other Black girls, Naema will need to discover her true purpose.
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms – From the same line and author as Loki: Where Mischief Lies. Gamora has been sent to Torndune to collect the heart of the planet. Nebula is in hot pursuit hoping to beat her “sister” to the prize and earn some credit for herself. Each aligns with different factions on the planet for help. But the closer they get to their prize, the more secrets are revealed about what they have really been sent to do.
Jay’s Gay Agenda (LGBTQ+) – As the only out gay kid in his town, Jay can only dream and plan what it would be like to be in a romantic relationship. But when his family moves to Seattle for his senior year, and Jay can start checking things off his “gay agenda,” he’ll find himself torn between his old life and his new one.
The Passing Playbook (LGBTQ+) – When Spencer transitioned last year, he experienced isolation and bullying. Now at a new school where no one knows him any other way, Spencer is finally getting to experience friendships and a chance to start for the soccer team. But when a new discriminatory law forces Spencer’s coach to bench him, Spencer has to decide if he will accept this or if he’s going to challenge it, which would mean coming out to his new community.
Poison Ivy: Thorns – Pamela Isley is keeping secrets and keeping people “out,” especially men who always seem to want something she isn’t willing to give. But when Pamela connects with a girl at school, she’s tempted to lower her guard. But Pamela – whose mother called her Ivy – has secrets that could turn deadly. I am fascinated by this one! I have been enjoying the DC YA graphic novels that have come out over the last few years.
A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions – In 1926, a quintet of teens trained by the Society to snare powerful men are dropped off in a new city, charged with cozying up to a young man who is likely to one day become President.
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous – The latest from the fantastic Suzanne Park! When Sunny accidentally films a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral, her parents send the social media influencer to a digital detox camp in Iowa. While she’s determined to do what it takes to find her way back online, there are some surprises in store for Sunny out on the farm. This is on my list for this week!
The (Un)Popular Vote (LGBTQ+) – A transgender guy with a politician for a father is supposed to be keeping a low profile and his past a secret, but he’s drawn into the election for student body president. This is on my list for this week, too.
Books for Adults
Dead Dead Girls (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Harlem Renaissance Mystery series. A kidnapping survivor gets drawn into a mystery when she notices that young Black women are being killed. This sounds excellent!
Girl One (Hardcover) – Josie is “Girl One,” one of 9 babies conceived without male DNA and raised in a compound. When the compound is attacked, the Girls and their Mothers scatter. When Josie’s Mother later goes missing, she starts looking for her “sisters,” believing they hold a key to the truth. I will be picking this one up for sure!
Murphy’s Slaw (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. Charlie is resistant to going to the state fair with her friend, but when a vendor is murdered, Trooper Graham calls her in for help.
On Skein of Death (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Riverbank Knitting Mystery series. A knitting celebrity is coming to Libby’s new store Y.A.R.N., but when she is murdered, Libby starts looking for answers.
One Last Stop (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – August meets a gorgeous girl on the train and develops a subway crush, but Jane is actually displaced in time from the 1970s. August will have to dig into all the things she tried to leave in her past in order to help Jane.
I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope (Trade Paperback) – New from Chicken Soup for the Soul.