Tomorrow is the first release day in September 2020. Let’s see what books we have to look forward to this week! There are TONS of choices.
Books for Kids – Picture Books
Catkwondo – Kitten wants to break a board, but she has to be patient in her training.
Every Night Is Pizza Night – Pipo thinks pizza is the best food, but her tastes are expanded when she cooks with her friends.
I Am Every Good Thing – A Black boy celebrates all the great things he is.
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog – The third book in this excellent series sees Madeline and Star volunteering at an assisted living facility as Star trains to be a therapy dog. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man – A Little Golden Book about Miles Morales.
Rocket Says Clean Up! – When Rocket visits her grandparents, she is shocked at the volume of trash at the beach. And when she finds a turtle trapped in a net, she decides something must be done.
Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock! – When Pete shows his latest artwork to his friends, they don’t react like he expected.
Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie – A Thanksgiving celebration can be tricky for particular eaters like Peyton. I so get Peyton!
Short & Sweet – Book 4 in the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series. When Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast become worried that they are going stale, Professor Biscotti tries to help but ends up turning them into toddlers.
Sweet Child O’Mine – A picture book based on the lyrics of the Guns N’ Roses classic.
Wonder Woman: Christmas Comes to Paradise Island – Wonder Woman celebrates Christmas.
Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books
Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! AND Zip, Zoom! – The first two books in a new Early Reader series.
BunBun & BonBon: Fancy Friends (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A lonely bunny becomes friends with a fancy piece of candy. This I have to see for myself!
The Critter Club: Amy the Puppy Whisperer – Book 21 in the Critter Club series. A girl with a talent for training puppies does such a good job she soon as more customers than she has time or energy for.
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (Graphic Novel) – Book 9 in this uber-popular graphic novel series.
Fairylight Friends: A Magic Spark – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Three fairy friends discover their special powers.
Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Fox siblings try to get ready for bed.
I Survived the California Wildfires 2018 – Book 20 in the I Survived series focuses on the California Wildfires of 2018.
Mac B, Kid Spy: The Sound of Danger – Book 5 in the Mac B, Kid Spy series. This time Mac is searching for a stolen violin.
Owly: Just a Little Blue (Graphic Novel) – Owly and Wormy try to help a family of bluebirds living in a damaged tree.
Pawtriot Dogs: Save the Sanctuary AND Everything’s Bigger in Texas – The first two books in this new series about a team of dogs who take on various missions. These two books look at a case to save an animal shelter and a case of kidnapped puppies.
Squidding Around: Fish Feud! (Graphic Novel) – The first book in this new series. Squizzard and Toothy are best friends, but Squizzard’s bossiness when they play games pushes Toothy too far. This looks adorable!
Books for Older Kids/Teens
Alpaca My Bags – Part of the WISH line of middle grade novels. When an anxious girl moves from homeschooling to a public school, she finds comfort working with alpacas. But when a prank goes wrong and puts the alpacas in danger, she will step up to save the place that has been a sanctuary for her. This looks great!
Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector – The fourth and final book in the Coin Slot Chronicles series from Christian publisher Zonderkidz and former NFL running back Rashad Jennings. Arcade and Zoe travel through time to the top and bottom of the world.
Battle for the Crystal Castle – Book 13 in the Kingdom of Fantasy series.
Before and Ever After (Older Middle Grade) – The latest from National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson looks at ZJ, the son of a former pro football player, and what happens to his family when his dad starts experiencing personality and memory issues because of head injuries during his career.
The Candy Mafia – The story of a private detective in a world where sweets are forbidden who stumbles onto a shady underworld of sweet smugglers. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
DC Super Hero Girls Midterms (Graphic Novel) – The latest Super Hero Girls graphic novel focuses on Bumblebee, Lois Lane, and Harley Quinn when midterms will determine who is the best in their Metropolis High class. You can read my review of other books in the DC at Metropolis High here as well as reviews of the Super Hero High series here.
Forget Me Nat (Graphic Novel) – Sequel to the delightful Nat Enough. Nat’s crush tells her he just wants to be friends, and the rejection throws Nat into self-doubt. I am looking forward to this one.
The Gerbil Ate My Homework – Book 23 in this comics collection starring Big Nate.
Jayla Jumps In – Jayla tries Double Dutch as a way to stand out in her family.
The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the Worst Olympic Athlete – Book 5 in the Long-Lost Secret Diary series. A boy living in Greece gets to help an Olympic athlete, but when his athlete falls sick, Alexander has to find out why. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Max Einstein: Save the Future (Older Middle Grade) – Max is still on the run from The Corporation when she and her friends receive their next challenge – eliminate childhood hunger.
Millionaires for the Month – The latest from author Stacy McAnulty. When two boys find a wallet and one “borrows” $20 because the owner is a famous billionaire who can afford it, she challenges them to spend over $5 million to learn the value of money. There’s a Brewster’s Millions feel to this, and I am 100% here for it. I am so excited to read this! I will be reviewing this one soon.
Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters – When Lizbeth switches to a new school mid-year and gets stuck with the “weirdos,” she finds herself becoming friends with them as they prepare to participate in the required school talent show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life – Another WISH book releases this week. Nadine and Daniel have been best friends for most of their lives, but just as Nadine realizes her feelings for Daniel are a little more than just friendship, he falls for the new girl at school.
Real Pigeons Nest Hard – Book 3 in this silly and fun graphic novel series. This time, the pigeons put their detective skills to work looking for a missing family while dodging a vulture. I got a kick out of the first book in this series.
Tune It Out (Older Middle Grade) – From the author of Roll With It. A girl with a sensory processing disorder adjusts to a lot of change when child services places her with her aunt and uncle. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Graphic Novel) – Book 12 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series, a hilarious comics collection starring Phoebe and her best friend Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. I adore this series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Who HQ Now: Who Is Greta Thunberg? AND Who Was Kobe Bryant? – A new line from the folks at Who HQ which will focus on “trending topics.” The first two books in the line focus on environmentalist Greta Thunberg and the late Kobe Bryant.
Books for Teens/Young Adults
As the Shadow Rises – Book 2 in the Age of Darkness series. Forces of light and darkness collide as prophecies comes to pass and the end of the world approaches. I have both books on my library list.
Cemetery Boys (LGBTQ+) – A trans boy determined to prove himself to his family conjures a ghost with unfinished business. At first, he can’t get the ghost to leave; after awhile, he’s not sure he wants him to leave after all.
Fable – Book 1 in a proposed duology. Grieving her mother and abandoned by her father, Fable enlists the help of a trader who isn’t who he seems to help her get back to her father and the life she lost when he left her four years ago.
Flyy Girls: Lux AND Micah – The first two books in this new series about four Harlem highschoolers. The Flyy girls are a trio of girls who seem to have it all together – just the sorts of girls Lux should hang out with to help her stay out of trouble. Then Micah’s world is upended when her perfect older brother dies.
Greythorne – Book 2 in the Bloodleaf Trilogy. A princess on the run because of her magical abilities flees to her friend’s family mansion. But it holds secrets that might mean she isn’t as safe there as she hoped. This series sounds great! I have both books in this series on my library list.
The Inheritance Games – First in a new series by the fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes! When Avery inherits a mansion and fortune from a man she never met, there are plenty of puzzles to solve as she moves into his old home – with the four grandsons he disinherited when he left all his money to her. I have had this pre-ordered for weeks. This is my top pick for the week.
The Insomniacs – A competitive diver with insomnia after a fall spends her waking nights with her neighbor/crush, trying to put her memory of that day back together.
Love & Other Detours – Book 3 in the Love & series. Lina is desperate to leave Italy and time with the father she never knew until she receives a journal her mother kept when she was alive. Through the journal, Lina sees Italy in a new way – and discovers a secret that will change everything.
Majesty – Book 2 in the American Royals alternate history series about an America ruled by royalty instead of democracy. As Princess Beatrice prepares to become the country’s first Queen, her siblings and their friends wrestle with their own secrets and choices.
Punching the Air – A novel in verse about a teen convicted of a crime he didn’t commit who finds refuge in words.
Queen of Volts – The third and final book of the Shadow Game series. Enne and Levi are forced into a dangerous final game where they will have to decide if they are partners or rivals.
Recommended for You – The employee who sells the most books at Once Upon will receive a holiday bonus. And Shoshanna needs that money. But new hire, Jake, who doesn’t even read, is starting to outsell her. So Shoshanna is just going to have to take him down. I will be reviewing this one soon – I can’t wait to read it!
Sanctuary – A near-future dystopian story where everyone is chipped and tracked, which makes it extra hard to survive as an undocumented immigrant. When Vali’s mother’s status is discovered, Vali has to get herself and her brother to the sanctuary state of California before it’s too late.
Save Steve – Billed as “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels meets The Fault in Our Stars.” Steve is a jerk – a cancer patient, boyfriend of the most perfect girl, Kaia, and a jerk. But when Kaia asks Cam to help her pull off a fundraiser for Steve’s experimental treatment, he agrees, hoping it will show Kaia that he is really the guy for her, not Steve. But Steve sees through Cam’s plan and is determined to make Cam’s life miserable. This is already on my library list.
The Somebody People – Sequel to The Nobody People. Fahima’s old friend has been manipulating those who gained superpowers after the Pulse and building an army to fight anyone who would oppose him. This leaves Fahima to rely on unproven allies to help her fight for everyone’s freedom.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Graphic Novel) – A sequel of sorts to Teen Titans: Raven, although she doesn’t make an appearance in this book. This is Gar Logan’s origin story. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Unbirthday – Book 10 in the Twisted Tale series of fractured fairy tales. The characters Alice met in Wonderland are appearing in photographs she takes around town. I’m not a Wonderland fan, but the premise of this one sounds fascinating.
We Are Not Free – The story of a group of 14 Japanese-American teens who are sent to internment camps during World War II.
Better Than Life – Teen Girls’ Bible Study Book: How to Study the Bible and Like It – A nine-session study of Psalm 63. (Videos included in leader’s guide.)
The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai AND Michelle Obama – Leveled readers for English Language Learners.
Books for Adults
Avengers Extinction Key (Trade Paperback) – A prequel to the Marvel’s Avengers game. An ancient group of heroes once assembled to fight the Zodiac, a group of foes who used a Key to channel their powers. When the Key was lost, the Zodiac went into hiding. Now they are returning, and the Avengers are answering the call to fight once again. But if they are to have any hope of winning, they will need to find the Key.
A Case of Cat and Mouse (Hardcover) – Book 12 in the Magical Cats series. Kathleen is using her skills as a librarian to advise a reality baking show that is filming in town. When one of the judges is killed, Kathleen and her very special cats, Hercules and Owen, are on the case.
The Christmas Swap (Trade Paperback) – Since Emma has no chance of getting her dream White Christmas in Arizona, she signs up for a house swap in Colorado. When Tyler catches a glimpse of her, he decides not to leave after all. Tyler hopes to keep his identity as a famous musician and songwriter a secret, but Emma’s friend finds out and decides she wants him for herself. I could see this as a Hallmark movie, easily!
Gored of the Rings (e-book) – Book 1 in the Matchmaker Marriage Mysteries series, a spin off from the Matchmaker Mysteries by Elise Sax. Gladie is married now, and after three years of wedded bliss, there have been no dead bodies or murders to solve. Frankly, Gladie is a little bored. Her Grandma Zelda has decided to expand their matchmaking business into wedding planning and put Gladie in charge. When a member of the wedding party is killed during the festivities Gladie planned, she’s on the case. I have picked up a prequel for the original series – Road to Matchmaker – to try it out.
Off With Their Heads (e-book) – Book 1 in the Wonderland Library Mystery series. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.) Wonderland, Alabama embraces their ties to the classic stories with an annual Tumbledown Festival. But when a guest is killed at the festival, and her mentor bizarrely confesses, librarian Emerson Bloom starts investigating.
One for the Books (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Library Lovers Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. As Lindsey and her friends scout out a location for her upcoming wedding, they stumble across a body – the justice of the peace who was supposed to perform her wedding. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Rogue of Ones Own (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the League of Extraordinary Women series. Lucie and her suffragettes have enough money to take over a publishing house to advance their agenda, but the last obstacle, Lord Ballentine, sets an outrageous condition – a night in her bed.
Seven Ways to Kill a King (e-book) – A princess is out to kill the seven murderous kings who destroyed her life. I’ve pre-ordered this one.
Star Wars: Thrawn: Chaos Rising (Harcover) – Book 1 in the Ascendancy Trilogy which will explore Thrawn’s origins and the home of the Chiss Ascendancy. I haven’t read any of the Thrawn books so far (my husband has enjoyed them), but this one sounds amazing!
The Way Out (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Forbidden Minds series. Natural pregnancy has been deemed an unnecessary risk when artificial means have been developed. But a reporter investigating the new technology and subsequent laws discovers that some natural-born children have developed supernatural powers. She teams up with a former Marine whose son has some of those powers, and both women become targets for those who want them silenced. This sounds fascinating.
When No One Is Watching (Trade Paperback) – A thriller from the author of the Reluctant Royals series. As Sydney’s neighborhood starts changing, she notices her long-time neighbors disappearing. Sydney turns her frustration into something fruitful by digging into the history of the neighborhood with one of the new residents. But what they discover is truly disturbing.
Yours to Keep (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Man of the Year series by the author of the Central Park Pact series. A sidelined shortstop heads home to recover and to attend his high school reunion. But things don’t go the way he expects them to. This sounds fun. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)
28-Day Prayer Journey: A Daily Guide to Conversations with God (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Christian writer Chrystal Evans Hurst. Includes three daily prompts, space for writing, as well as prayer and praise prompts.
Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage in the Face of Fear (Hardcover) – The latest from Joyce Meyer. Recognize, confront and conquer fear.
Is God Speaking To Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction (Booklet) – A 64 page booklet from author Lysa TerKeurst about learning to recognize God’s voice.
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio (Hardcover Graphic Novel – September 4) – A 50th Anniversary look at the Kent State shooting when National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students, and wounded several others, protesting the Vietnam War.
The Primal Gourmet Cookbook: Whole 30 Endorsed: It’s Not a Diet If It’s Delicious (Hardcover) – 100+ gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free recipes.
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation As an Exercise in Hope (Trade Paperback) – The author, a New Testament scholar, posits that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition helps address the issues of our times. He also explores how the Bible speaks to topics often ignored by white interpreters such as ethnicity, policing, slavery, and political protest. This is also at the top of my list for this week.
Seeking the Lord: A 30 Day Start to Your Journey (Trade Paperback) – A 30 day devotional exploring the lives of 22 people from the Bible who sought and found God. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)
Star Trek: Quibbles with Tribbles (Puzzle book) – A puzzle book for Trek fans.
Who Will Be a Witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance (Trade Paperback) – A call to action for the Church to respond to the need for justice in our times. This is on my September list, too.