Happy Pumpkin Spice Latte season! Let’s take a look at some of the books out later this week!
Books for Kids
1 Grumpy Bruce (Board Book) – The star of the terrific Mother Bruce series gets his first board book. I can’t wait to see this one in person. If you haven’t checked out Bruce’s Christmas book, Santa Bruce, you should.
You Are: Speaking God’s Word Over Your Children (Board Book) – This is another one I am eager to see in person. From the sample pages I have seen, this is one I would have loved to have when my son was little.
The Very Last Castle – A girl wonders what happens in the last castle still standing in her town. I wonder too! This is on my must-read list.
A Girl Named Helen (American Girl) – Biography of Helen Keller
News from Me Lucy McGee – A young songwriter deals with a school bully and finds that enjoying being herself is the best revenge. I’d love to read this new early chapter book, the kick off of a series.
Unicorns and Germs – I’m a huge fan of the Zoey and Sassafras series. In this, the 6th book in the series, Zoey meets a giant unicorn in a lot of pain. I love the science threads in this series as well as the fantasy elements. I’m excited about this one!
Books for Old Kids/Teens/Young Adults
The Collectors – A boy who collects the lost trinkets of others discovers a girl stealing coins from a fountain and follows her to an underground world full of wishes and the people who collect them. First in a new duology.
The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone – A girl who has been raised by her aunt (her parents were killed by pirates while they were off having adventures without her) discovers a series of clues in her parents’ will that send her off on an adventure. Yes, please!
Grenade – An historical novel set in 1945 about a Japanese boy and a young American Marine in Okinawa.
In Your Shoes – A girl who dislikes living above the family funeral home meets an anxious boy whose family owns the local bowling alley. That’s about all I know about this one – but I want to know more!
Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment – A genius is recruited to help other kids like her solve the world’s problems with science. This is at the top of my list for the week!
The Perfect Secret – As is this one. Book 2 in the Perfect Score series by one of my favorite Middle Grade authors, Rob Buyea. I loved the first book, and I can’t wait to read what happens with this group of kids as they move up to 7th grade. I have already requested this one from the library!
Soof – A girl tries to find her place in the world while her family struggles through a bout of bad luck. A companion novel to the book So. B. It.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Illustrated) – After the first three Harry Potter books received the illustrated treatment, I wondered how they were going to handle a book the size of Goblet of Fire, or the latter books in the series. I guess for now they are going to handle it by turning to some of the smaller books in the collection. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of stories that figures largely into the action of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now fully illustrated.
Twice Magic – Book 2 in the Wizards of Once series by the author of How to Train Your Dragon. I have book 1 on my wish list at the library. In this book, the boy Wizard and the girl Warrior team up again, this time to fight an Evil Spell.
Wicked Nix – A fairy left to guard the forest runs into trouble when he tries to run off a determined intruder. I am curious about this one.
Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science Superstars – The latest in this nonfiction series, this time focusing on scientists like Jane Goodall and Katherine Johnson (per the cover).
Anything but Okay – A friendship is in danger of destruction when one girl’s brother returns home from military service and then is arrested for assault. I’m intrigued to see how the author puts all the pieces together in this one.
Dear Evan Hansen – A novelization of the hit Broadway musical.
Hearts Unbroken – A Native American student responds to everything from her boyfriend’s disrespect of Native people to the community’s reaction about an inclusive casting of The Wizard of Oz. I am fascinated by the whole idea of this one. This is high on my list for this week.
Hey, Kiddo – A graphic novel memoir about the childhood of author Jarrett J. Krosoczka as his mother struggled with addiction. This is a mature story for older readers – teens, young adults, and adults. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, but it was excellent. Moving and thought-provoking.
Books for Adults
Bird, Bath and Beyond (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Agent to the Paws mystery series. Kay is birdsitting a client when the bird becomes the only witness to a murder. I thoroughly enjoyed book one, and will definitely be reading book two!
Catching Christmas (small format Hardcover) – A first year law associate and a cab driver connect over a wheelchair-bound old lady who is on the hunt for a date for her granddaughter. Right now I am maxed out on how many holds the library will allow me, but as soon as I get some wiggle room, this one is on my list!
A Crafter Knits a Clue (Hardcover) – First in the Handcrafted Mystery series. A woman returns to her home town (in Wisconsin!) for the funeral of her best friend and discovers her friend’s craft shop is in danger of closing. So she moves home to take over the store – and then finds a dead body. Yep, I’ll be adding this to my library list, too!
Fight or Flight (Trade Paperback) – An annoying fellow-passenger on a flight becomes something much steamier – and more complicated. This sounds like a fun romance.
Mycroft and Sherlock (Hardcover) – The latest from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s series about Mycroft Holmes. I’d love to try the first one in this series.
The Royal Runaway (Trade Paperback) – A princess desperate to get out from under the duties that have complicated her life encounters a guy who at first blush could be the one to help her experience a few moments as just a normal woman. But no, he’s her ex’s brother – and a spy who is not above blackmail. I have this one in my Amazon cart – it sounds perfect!
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. (Hardcover) – The latest from Brené Brown focuses on leadership. I have loved everything I have read by Brené, so I will definitely be reading this one!
The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament (Hardcover) – An exploration of the Old Testament specifically highlighting connections to Jesus and the Good News. This is on my Christmas list!
If You Ask Me: Essential Advice from Eleanor Roosevelt (Hardcover) – If I had to read about any famous family from history, the Roosevelts would be my choice every time. I’m looking forward to reading this one, too.
See It Feelingly: Classic Novels, Autistic Readers, and the Schooling of a No-Good English Professor (Oct. 12 – Hardcover) – Written by an English professor whose son was one of the first non-speaking autistic students to graduate from college. This is part-memoir and part autism research review. Sounds like a fascinating book.