Category: Book News

Either I am just getting better at my book research, or September 2019 has just been a HUGE month for publishing. The list of great books out this month has been overwhelming. And we have a lot more out this week.

(Note there are SEVEN books out this week categorized for “older middle grade readers.” Sometimes this means kids 10-12, or 12-14, or 10-14, so basically in the upper elementary/middle school age range.)

Books for Kids

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Eee-Moo! – A platypus egg hatches on a farm and the platypus says “Eee-Moo” and the animals think he is an emu and therefore should travel to Australia where he “came from.”
Explorers – A wordless picture book about a family’s trip to the museum.
Pigeon Math – The storyteller struggles to share a tale of pigeons as they keep flying off and changing the number of birds in the scene. This looks darling.
Reading Beauty – From the author of Interstellar Cinderella comes this book-related take on Sleeping Beauty. A princess who is cursed to fall into a death-like sleep if she ever gets a papercut hunts for the fairy who cursed her so she can bring books back to her kingdom. This is on my list for this week!
This Book Just Stole My Cat! – Ben’s cat disappears into the gutter of the book. I get such a kick out of this series.
The President Sang Amazing Grace – The true story of President Obama singing Amazing Grace at the site of a church shooting during his eulogy.
Pete the Kitty Goes to the Doctor – A leveled reader about going to the doctor.
If You Love Fashion, You Could Be…. – A new leveled reader in this line of nonfiction books that explore career choices.
Dragon Trouble – Book 5 in the Dragonling series that has new cover art.
Mia Mayhem Stops Time – Book 5 in the fun Mia Mayhem superhero chapter book series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Bookwanderers – A girl living with her grandparents finds out she can travel into stories when her favorite book characters start showing up at her grandparents’ bookstore. This sounds fun!
Explorer Academy: Double Helix – Book 3 in the Explorer Academy series. A boy trying to find his missing mother hears his father has disappeared, too, and his guardian leaves in search of him while the boy and his friends continue their quest.
Remarkables – A new story from Margaret Peterson Haddix. A girl in a new town discovers a mysterious group of teens called the Remarkables who can disappear and reappear like magic.
The Stolen Show – Book 18 in the Nancy Drew Diaries series. Nancy and her friends track an international jewel thief at a dog show.
Two Cats to the Rescue – Book 5 in the Stick Cat series. Stick Cat and Edith are on a rescue mission to find Millie who has wandered off.
What Was the Berlin Wall?
Amy’s Diary: The World Is Upside Down (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Amy’s Diary series for older middle grade readers. Amy heads to her grandparents’ farm as a distraction from her recent break up and other events at home.
Anya and the Dragon (Older Middle Grade) – A girl promises to help trap a dragon in an effort to help her family with money problems. But when she gets to know the dragon in question, she starts to think she should save it instead.
The Crossover (Graphic Novel – Older Middle Grade) – A graphic novel adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s amazing book, The Crossover.
Emmy in the Key of Code (Older Middle Grade) – A friendship story with a coding and music angle. A musician discovers coding – and a new friend – at her new school, but a series of disappointments leaves her feeling like her new life isn’t so great after all.
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages (Older Middle Grade) – The long-awaited fourth book in the Mysterious Benedict Society series. A new society member and a new threat send the kids onto a new case.
The Tyrant’s Tomb (Older Middle Grade) – Book 4 in the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan. The god Apollo has been turned into a teenager and sent on a quest that should restore his godly powers. In this book, Apollo heads to Camp Jupiter and connects with some friends from the Heroes of Olympus series. I started this series, but didn’t stick with it, but the connection to Heroes is a FUN twist.
Born to Fly: The First Women’s Air Race Across America (Older Middle Grade) – A middle grade history of the 1929 Air Derby, the first women’s air race across America.
A Dream So Dark – Book 2 in the Nightmare-Verse series after A Blade So Black where Alice confronts a new villain in Wonderland.
The Infinite Noise – A teen running back develops a supernatural gift of extreme empathy. He’s an Atypical. And when his empathic gifts draw him toward another student at his school, his therapist encourages him to befriend the other teen. Based on the Bright Sessions science fiction podcast about a group of therapy patients. I had never heard of this podcast, but now I am thinking about trying it.
Six Goodbyes We Never Said – Two teens connect over their grief as well as their struggles with mental illness (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.).
Slay – A Black teen video game developer sees her creation at the center of a media firestorm when a game-based conflict spills over into the real world. What was once a haven for Black gamers becomes the focal point of conflict over “anti-white discrimination.” This sounds fascinating.
Strings – Book 2 in the Ables series. Three years after their last major battle, the Ables, a group of disabled kids with superpowers, find new challenges in a world hostile to those with special abilities. I’ve heard great things about the first book in this series.
Verify – The latest from Joelle Charbonneau, author of The Testing and other YA novels. In this dystopian story, in a world of unprecedented peace and complete honesty, the death of a teen’s mother launches her into a search for truth that will show her secrets her government doesn’t want anyone to find. This is on my list for this week.
Who Put This Song On? – A depressed teen feels like the whole world is shouting the rules that everyone needs to follow while she is wondering if it is time to decide for herself how she wants to live.

Books for Adults

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The Amish Christmas Cookie Club (Mass Market Paperback) – Sequel to the delightful Amish Cookie Club (♥♥♥♥½ – review to come later this year) by Sarah Price. Edna Esh and her friends use their cookie baking Fridays to talk about their families – and maybe do some more matchmaking!
Carpet Diem (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Tallie Graver Mystery series. When Tallie is up for a big , new cleaning contract against her fancy rival, she has to wonder how the woman can do the work she says she does and still maintain that manicure. When she finds her rival dead in a rolled up carpet, Tallie will be sleuthing again.
Christmas Cocoa Murder (Hardcover) – Three holiday themed mysteries – a dead Santa in a hot cocoa-filled dunk tank, a Chocolate lab at the scene of a murder, and death at a Christmas-themed escape game. These sound fun!
Christmas Cow Bells (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. A woman starts her life over just in time for the holidays with a big move and a shift to a new job as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. But a murder in the neighborhood has a way of throwing off her holiday groove. This sounds fun!
Coming Home for Christmas (Trade Paperback) – When a man finds his long-lost wife seven years after she disappeared, he needs her to come home to prove he didn’t murder her. But neither of them are sure the kids – or the town – are ready to accept her. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Cup of Holiday Fear (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 10 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. When Jules invites the Torte crew to a local Dickens Feast to celebrate the holidays, she has no idea murder is on the menu. I never miss a book in this series.
The Empty Birdcage (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Mycroft and Sherlock series by NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This time the brothers are looking into a murder of someone in the Queen’s extended family while Mycroft is also looking into a kidnapping.
Fudge Bites (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Candy-Coated Mystery series where a zombie festival for Halloween is used as a cover for murder.
Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery Series. The sisters are sleuthing once again when the mayor is killed and stuffed into his Santa Bear suit for the village parade.
A Killer Carol (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in Laura Bradford‘s Amish Mystery series. Claire is asked to help a young Amish couple convince the police that they aren’t responsible for the deaths of the older Amish couple they had been visiting just before they died. As Claire looks into things, she’s not even convinced herself that they aren’t guilty. I have several of the books in this series on my TBR shelves.
Last Pen Standing (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. Delta quits her job and invests her early-inheritance into a stationery store in Montana. But there’s a murder at the site of their first event, and Delta’s new business partner is suspected of involvement in the crime. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Lavender and Mistletoe (e-book, Novella) – A brilliant woman decides researching love is the perfect holiday challenge for her to take up since everything else in her life is clicking along. But the subject she chooses might be the perfect match for her if she can let love take its course instead of trying to approach it like science. This sounds cute.
Mischief in New Orleans (e-book) – Book 2 in the Accidentally Undercover Mystery series (after Peril in Pensacola). Evie and Dora are looking for evidence for another case when they stumble onto a murder. I haven’t read either of these books yet, but this series sounds fun!
Murder in the Balcony (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to the fantastic Murder at the Palace.  Nora is drawn into another murder investigation as she juggles The Palace and her personal life. I’ve already requested this from the library.
Murder in the Corn Maze (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Granny Reid Mystery series by G. A. McKevett. This series takes place when Savannah, star of McKevett’s long running series, was a kid. A skull found in the middle of the local corn maze might be connected to the mystery of what happened to Granny’s mother. I enjoyed the first book, although I did think that readers who are not already familiar with the characters will have trouble getting into this series.
Murder in the First Edition (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. A bookstore owner discovers her donation of a rare copy of A Christmas Carol has been stolen when she also discovers the dead body of the woman running the charity auction.
No Judgments (Hardcover) – When a hurricane severs power and access to a Florida island, a young woman teams up with her boss’s sexy nephew to rescue as many of the pets on the island whose humans can’t get home as she can.
Puppy Christmas (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Forever Home series. Lila knows that donating a service puppy and its training is a great business move, but she’s not prepared for the impact Ford Ford and his daughter Emily will have on her life when they receive the donated pup. I’ll be reviewing this next week. (This was so good, I grabbed the first book off my TBR shelves and read it right away – delightful!)
Tide and Punishment (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Seaside Café Mystery series. Everly would rather be enjoying the first Christmas in her iced tea shop, but instead she has to be sure her Aunt Fran isn’t accused of murder when her rival for the office of mayor is found dead.
Two Bites Too Many (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sarah Blair Mystery series. When her sister’s business plans get shot down, it’s Sarah’s mother who is suspected of killing the chair of the city council that nixed the plan.
An Unforgettable Christmas (Trade Paperback) – A Christmas story from Hallmark Publishing. When her workaholic boss ends up with amnesia, a widowed mom steps in to care for him. Both of them get a fresh look at his life thanks to the amnesia. I’ll be reviewing this one in a few weeks.
Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion (Hardcover) – A how-to book to build your own snack boards for celebrations and every day use. The pictures for this are gorgeous.
Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus (Hardcover) – The latest from Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners. His premise is that Christians have become disconnected from Jesus. Wallis explores 8 questions Jesus either asks or is asked in Scripture and uses those to ask readers if they are aligned with the priorities of Christ. This is on my wish list for this week.
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love (Hardcover) – A memoir from Jonathan Van Ness from the Netflix hit, Queer Eye. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
How Not to Get Eaten by Ewoks (Hardcover Gift Book) – A humorous guide to surviving the Star Wars universe.
The Unqualified Hostess: I Do It My Way So You Can Too! (Hardcover) – From my fave, Whoopi Goldberg, who asserts that readers have everything they need right now to set a great table for entertaining and hospitality. I can absolutely hear her voice as I read the full description of this book. I can’t wait to read the whole thing (although right now it is PRICEY at $35 for 128 pages).
You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You (Trade Paperback) – From the title alone, I would be buying this book. Embrace the idea that God has prepared you for this moment in your life – and prepared this moment for you. A workbook for the video series for this releases October 1, and a DVD/Study Guide set releases October 15.

Here are some of the books coming out this week!

Books for Kids

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Dear Mr. President – A boy who has to share his room hears that the president wants to build a border wall. And that seems like a good solution to the boy’s problems, too.
Don’t Call Me Bear – Koala is sick of being called a bear, and he’s ready to let everybody know!
Five Minutes (That’s a Lot of Time) (No It’s Not) (Yes It Is) – It’s all about perspective in this new picture book about a kid and “five minutes.” The sample pictures I’ve seen are outstanding! Can’t wait to read this one .
The Squirrels Who Squabbled – Two squirrels fight over the last pinecone of the season.
Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts – A picture book biography of the creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
An Elephant and Piggie Biggie-Biggie – The second collection of Elephant and Piggie books.
My Tooth Is LOST! – The third Monkey & Cake book. Monkey has lost his tooth, and he’s afraid the Tooth Fairy won’t come.
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – Heroes & Villains – Leveled reader about the heroes and villains of Star Wars.
Snazzy Cat Capers: The Fast and the Furriest – Book 2 in the fun Snazzy Cat Capers series. The Furry Feline Burglary Institute (FFBI) sends Ophelia in after thieves steal an artifact from a vault. But the Central Canine Intelligence Agency (CCIA) is on the case, too.  I got a kick out of the first book in this series.
Spy Penguins: The Spy Who Loved Ice Cream – Book 2 in the Spy Penguins series. Jackson and Quigley didn’t get to join the Frosty Bureau of Investigation (FBI), but they are still on the hunt for adventure. And adventure finds them when they have to prove their favorite uncle isn’t a master thief. This series sounds fun.
Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures – Illustrated chapter book of Star Wars mini adventures.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Guts – The highly anticipated next book from Raina Telgemeier. Another autobiographical tale of young Raina, who this time is having a lot of tummy trouble which coincides with stress at school.
It’s Me, Two – Book 2 in the Catwad series with funny stories about two cats.
Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus – Sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus about a girl born without arms. In the sequel, Aven moves on to high school.
Paws vs. Claws – Book 2 in the Queenie and Arthur mystery series. Arthur the dog is worried about his humans and the stresses that are piling up for their family while Queenie is distressed that the neighbor’s cow has gone missing which means she is not getting her morning cream.
Top Secret Smackdown – Book 3 in the Mac B., Kid Spy series. This time, ravens have been stolen from the Tower of London, and Mac is off to Iceland to solve the case.
The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue – Book 3 in the Vanderbeeker’s series. The Vanderbeeker kids are on spring break and having  a grand old time of it until city officials show up at their mother’s bakery. I have heard rave reviews about this series. Book 1 is on my TBR shelves.
Mammal Takeover: Journey through the Cenozoic Era – Book 3 in the Earth Before Us series focuses on the mammals that thrived after the destruction of the dinosaurs.
Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation (Older Middle Grade) – First in a new series from the author of Spy School, The Last Musketeer, and the FunJungle series. The CIA drags a young genius into the hunt for a secret Einstein equation that could save – or destroy – the world. This looks SO fun! For readers 10 and up.
The Humiliations of Pipi McGee (Older Middle Grade) – Pipi has decided this is the year she is going to right all the wrongs and humiliations of her past before she goes to high school next year. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow. For readers 10 and up.
It’s a Whole Spiel – A collection of stories about Jewish teens.
Shatter City – Book 2 in the Impostors series from Scott Westerfeld (Uglies). Frey has taken her twin sister’s place as she tries to find her missing sister and take revenge on those who created her.
Suggested Reading – When the principal at her school bans a bunch of classic stories, Clara decides to strike back. I already have this one on hold at the library.
The Survival List – When her sister commits suicide, a young woman digs into the puzzle she left behind to find out why.

Books for Adults

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A Gingerbread Romance (Trade Paperback) – Based on a Hallmark movie from 2018. An architect teams up with a baker in a life-sized gingerbread house competition.
A Golden Grave (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Rose Gallagher mystery series about a maid-turned Pinkerton detective dealing with paranormal activity. And this time Rose’s job is to protect Teddy Roosevelt who is running for mayor of New York City.
Love on Lexington Avenue (Trade Paperback) – Book two in the Central Park Pact series. Claire is still reeling from the death of her husband, even though he was a philandering jerk. Her solution is to remodel their brownstone so it feels like a fresh start. The famous contractor her friend recommends might be more trouble than the job is worth. I am ADORING this series! I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
A Trick of Light (Hardcover) – A gifted hacker and social media darling runs into a vlogger who has cyberkinetic powers after a lightning strike. And together they decide to right the wrongs in the world. This one is on my list for this week.
Bread for the Resistance: Forty Devotions for Justice People (Trade Paperback) – A devotional for those standing up to injustice in the world, a necessary but exhausting work.
Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (Hardcover) – A gift-sized book of lessons from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show that Defined a Television Era (Hardcover) – A behind-the-scenes look at the TV show Friends.
How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together (Hardcover) – Memoir from a writer about the year he traveled with his family to get out of their rut and see how families around the world live together.
Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World (Trade Paperback) – Helping your girls deal with worry and anxiety from a Christian perspective.
Teaching When the World Is on Fire (Hardcover) – Advice for K-12 teachers wanting to engage students with today’s real-world issues.

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Big Bird (Board Book) – A board book celebrating a Sesame Street favorite.
Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck (Board Book) – Board book celebrating Cookie and his foodie truck.
I Am Brave (Board Book) AND  I Am Caring (Board Book) – Board book versions of Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World series of picture book biographies.
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border – A family travels to the border of California and Mexico to celebrate Christmas with their Abuela.
Fairy Science – The latest picture book from the delightful Ashley Spires. Esther the fairy believes in science instead of magic which is handy. When a tree in the forest stops growing, Esther uses her science skills to look for the cause. I cannot wait to read this one!!
I Am Marie Curie AND I Am Walt Disney – The latest picture book biographies in the excellent Ordinary People Change the World series.
Musical Mac – A shy millipede wants to compete in a talent show, but he’s too shy to compete by himself. When he tries to join a band there’s no group that will take him. The sample pages I have seen look delightful! I can’t wait to read this one, too!
A Mustache Baby Christmas – Mustache Baby becomes Elf Baby at Christmas time, and he’s eager to help his friend Javier whose beard turned white so he can be Santa Baby. But when Elf Baby finishes helping with all the new toys, he decides to keep them for himself. This is another one I will be looking for this week!
You’re In Good Paws – His distracted parents accidentally take Leo to the animal hospital to have his tonsils removed. This looks fantastic!
Didi Dodo Future Spy: Robo-Dodo Rumble – Book 2 in the series. Koko’s cookie shop is in trouble when a Robo-Dodo starts selling cookies for only a penny.
Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz – Book 15 in the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald. This time Judy, Stink and their friends are competing in a quiz tournament about books. This was delightful! I’ll be posting a full review tomorrow.
Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue AND Kitty and the Tiger Treasure – The first two books in a new early chapter book series about a superhero cat.
The World Series Kids – Part of the Ballpark Mysteries series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Astronuts – First in a new series. Four hybrid animals created to find planets suitable for life after the Earth is destroyed check out the Plant Planet. Addresses some environmental issues in a fun, space-related story. I can’t wait to read this one!
Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes – Sequel to Kid Normal. Kid Normal and his friends meet up with the world’s worst supervillain.
Max Eintsein: Rebels with a Cause – Book 2 in the Max Einstein series, the latest from the team up of James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. Max and her genius friends are off to tackle a water crisis while dodging kidnappers.
Magic Misfits: The Minor Third – Book 3 in the Magic Misfits series by Neil Patrick Harris. I enjoyed the first book and felt it had a Lemoncello-esque feel to it. In this book, Theo the violinist is the central character, and the kids are up against a suspicious ventriloquist.
Stargazing – A middle grade graphic novel. Two kids become friends and one confesses to the other that she sometimes has other-worldly visions. But those visions have an earthly cause and soon the girl is in the hospital. How does a kid be a best friend to someone fighting for her life in a hospital? This one is going to be amazing.
The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Magical Places – Small gift book with art from the Harry Potter films.
Broken Strings (Older Middle Grade) – When a middle schooler gets cast in Fiddler on the Roof, she thinks her Jewish grandfather might have things in his attic the school production can use. But she discovers an old violin with broken strings and some secrets of her grandfather’s past that he wants to keep to himself. This is one of the best books I have read all year! I will be posting a full review of this tomorrow. The intended audience for this is older middle grade readers – kids 10 and up.
Cracking the Bell – A teen who finds order and structure on the football field after a family tragedy wonders if the costs of football are worth it after he suffers a concussion. This is a timely story for teens. I have this on my library list.
Frankly in Love – When a Korean teen falls in love with a white girl, going against his family’s expectations, he turns to a Korean friend for a fake dating scheme to keep their parents off their backs. But things don’t go the way they planned.
The Liar’s Daughter – A teen raised in a cult is reunited with her biological mother when the government raids the cult. But she is determined to get back to her Family no matter what.
Lost and Found – A teen with a “micropower” of finding lost things thinks his power is a waste because it only makes people think he is a thief. But a police detective thinks his power could be a gift for the case of a missing girl.
The Magnolia Sword – A story of Mulan.
A Match Made in Mehendi – A teen in a long line of Indian matchmakers accidentally sets up her cousin and everyone thinks she has the family “gift.”  But when she starts making matches at school via an app, she turns the social hierarchy upside down and people are NOT happy.
Rebel Girls – A punk rock teen at a conservative Catholic school puts her girl-power vibe to work when her older sister is accused of having an abortion, an act that could get her expelled from school.
Tiger Queen – A princess who must fight in the arena to keep her kingdom must flee to the desert when she faces a fight she cannot win.  I am intrigued by this one.
A Treason of Thorns – After seven years of exile after her father’s treason, Violet returns home to the magic of Burleigh, but the magic has become wild and tormented in her family’s absence.
When She Reigns – Fallen Isles, book 3. After the events of the first two books, everything in the Fallen Isles is being destroyed. But if Mira can find the bones of the very first dragon, she might be able to save the dragons and the people she loves.

Books for Adults

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Captivating in Love (Trade Paperback) – Maverick Billionaires, book 6. When Rosie and Gideon agree to watch a friend’s son while that friend is on their honeymoon, they have no idea what sort of matchmaking trouble the boy and Rosie’s son can cause together. But when Rosie and her son are in danger, Gideon will put everything on the line to protect them.
Don’t You Forget About Me (Trade Paperback) – When a woman loses her job and finds out her boyfriend is cheating all in the same day, it sends her life spinning. To get some control back, she takes the first job she finds, as a bartender at a new pub. She has no idea it’s owned by “the one who got away.” And he doesn’t remember her at all. I have this on hold from the library.
The Girl with the Pearl Pin (Trade Paperback) – First in the Society of Single Ladies series about a crime-solving group made up of single lords and and overlooked ladies. In this book, it’s a case of a fake engagement to protect a young woman accused of a crime until the Society can ferret out the truth.
The Institute (Hardcover) – New from Stephen King. Kids with special gifts are kidnapped and taken to the Institute while their parents are murdered. The kids are manipulated into using their gifts by unscrupulous staff . Those who don’t cooperate are brutally punished. No one escapes the Institute. This sounds so interesting, but I’ve never met a creepy King story that couldn’t give me nightmares, so I will probably skip this one. I just need someone to tell me what happens so my curiosity is satisfied.
The Nobodies (Hardcover) – A thirty-something journalist who has been unemployed for almost a year takes the only job she can find – a junior copywriter at a new tech start up. But something about the company seems fishy. So she teams up with some of the other outcasts at her job to see if they can get to the truth. I’ll be reviewing this later this week.
One Christmas Star (e-book, September 12) – A woman with no musical talent in charge of a school Christmas program teams up with a washed out superstar to work on the program. This looks fun! I’m ready to start digging into Christmas books in preparation for the season.
Strands of Truth (Trade Paperback) – A woman who grew up in foster care discovers a half-sister with a similar story – dead mother, mysterious and unknown father. When the man who took Harper in as a teen is attacked, she and his son team up to find out what secrets are threatening everything they care about.
Survival Can Be Deadly: A Discount Detective Mystery (Trade Paperback) – First in the Cameron Chandler Mystery series. A single mom and new widow takes a job at a detective agency. When she picks up the runaway girl case her missing predecessor was on, she ends up at a survivalist camp armed with only a Swiss Army knife. This sounds fun and quirky.
The Testaments (Hardcover) – The highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. This picks up the story 15 years later.
The Vanished Bride (Hardcover) – First in the new Brontë Sisters Mystery series. The Brontë sisters of Yorkshire in 1845 are drawn into the mystery of a missing mother and gruesome crime scene. This sounds terrific! I have this on my library list.
Where the Light Enters (Hardcover) – Two women doctors in the late 1800s are called in to consult on a missing person’s case and a murder.
The Wonder of Now (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sanctuary Sound series. A breast cancer survivor is writing a memoir and reliving every trial when she’d rather be moving on from it all. She’s hoping her European book tour will give her a chance to consider other writing projects and think about her future, but her PR agent is determined to keep her on track and focused on her current project. Currently available for free through Kindle Unlimited.
Antoni in the Kitchen (Hardcover) – One of the Queer Eye guys from Netflix, Antoni Porowski is the food and wine guru for the show. This book is designed to help anyone become more confident in the kitchen.
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 (Hardcover) – A unique look at the events of September 11, 2001 from those who experienced it directly.
A Republic if You Can Keep It (Hardcover) – Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch shares his journey to the Court and his views on his role in regard to the Constitution.
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know (Hardcover) – The latest from Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell uses real-world examples to talk about how our systems for evaluating the safety and integrity of people we don’t know are flawed.
The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together (Trade Paperback) – An “easy-to-follow” go-to guide for families gearing up for the college admissions process.
Why Meadow Died: The People and Policies that Created the Parkland Shooter and Endanger America’s Students (Hardcover) – A Parkland father teams up with an educational expert to investigate what allowed Parkland to happen and how to keep it from happening again. This seems to be less about gun control and more about school policies and procedures. I am curious about this one.
Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant (Hardcover) – This explores what it was like for the first groups of women to attend Yale University in the early 1970s.
Your Battles Belong to the Lord (Hardcover) AND Study Guide (Paperback) – The latest from Joyce Meyer. Recognize your true enemy and learn to overcome him by recognizing what tasks are yours to do and what belongs to the Lord.

 

Happy Labor Day to those in the US and Happy Monday to the rest! There are a TON of fun new books releasing this week – let’s take a look.

Books for Kids – Board Books

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Be Bold Baby: J.K. Rowling AND Sonia Sotomayor – Board book biographies of strong women
Dinosnores – The latest from Sandra Boynton
Little Big Nate Draws a Blank – Big Nate moves to board books in this story about getting anew box of crayons

Books for Kids – Picture Books

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Bruce’s Big Storm – The latest book in the Bruce series (after Mother Bruce and others) shows us what happens at Bruce’s already-full house when a big storm blows in.
The Buddy Bench – Another friendship story based on the trend of “buddy benches” where school kids can find a new friend to play with.
Grace Goes to Washington – The girl from Grace for President gets to learn more about politics and leadership in this book where she and her friends are trying to decide how to spend some fundraising money and as they visit Washington DC. I can’t wait to read this one!
The Great Santa Stakeout – A huge Santa fan tries to get a holiday selfie with the big guy as he comes out of the fireplace. This looks adorable – and I love Dan Santat’s illustrations in everything he does.
Hey Grandude! (September 5) – An adventurous grandfather whisks his four grandkids off to tour the world in this new picture book by Paul McCartney.
Juniper Kai: Super Spy – A girl who was born to be a spy starts spying on her usual partners in spying – her parents – when they seem to be hiding a big secret. At the time of this writing, this is available for free through Kindle Unlimited.
The Knight Who Said No – A knight who always follows directions takes a stand and makes a friend. This looks darling.
The Llamacorn is Kind – In a land filled with one-horned animals (Tigercorn, Walruscorn, etc.), the Llamacorn is known for being nice.
Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party – Pete makes his perfect pizza, covered in delicious pepperoni. But when his friends arrive, they start adding their own favorite toppings to his pizza.
Snack Attack – From the author of Peanut Butter and Cupcake comes this spooky story of loose snacks and a “monster” kid ready to munch.
Unicorns 101 – Get the full scoop on everyone’s favorite mythical/magical creature from this delightfully silly picture book. The sample pages I have seen are spectacular!
Little Libraries, Big Heroes – Read the story behind Little Free Libraries in this nonfiction picture book celebration of reading and books.

Books for Kids – Leveled Readers and Chapter Books

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Friendship on the High Seas – This new leveled reader is a school story that takes place under water.
Beneath the Bed and Other Scary Stories – New from the folks at Scholastic ACORN*. Includes five scary stories for young readers.
Boa Constructor – Book 2 in the Binder of Doom series from Scholastic BRANCHES.
The Candy Cane Culprit – Book 4 in the Isle of Misfits series.
Dead Sea Squirrels: Nutty Study Buddies AND Squirrelnapped! – Books 3 and 4 in the Dead Sea Squirrels series from Veggie Tales creator Mike Nawrocki.
Dragon’s Fat Cat – Book 2 in the relaunch of Dav Pilkey’s (Captain Underpants, Dog Man) Dragon series from Scholastic BRANCHES.
I Am A Super Girl – The first book in the new Princess Truly line from Scholastic ACORN. In this book, Truly helps her friend find her confidence.
Land of the Spring Dragon – Dragon Masters book 14 from Scholastic BRANCHES.
Let’s Have a Sleepover – Book 2 in the Hello, Hedgehog series from Scholastic ACORN
Junior Monster Scouts: The Monster Squad AND Crash! Bang! Boo! – The first two books in a new early chapter book line from Aladdin. These junior “monsters” want to help others in need. These look adorable!
The Magic Mirror – The first book in the new Once Upon a Fairy Tale series from Scholastic BRANCHES.
Rusty – Book number 54 in the Puppy Place series.
Superman of Smallville – Thirteen-year-old Clark Kent is saving the day for people all around Smallville (although no one knows that but his parents). But when things start floating and disappearing, Clark has to prove to his parents it’s not him by finding out what is responsible.
Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck: A Sesame Street Celebration of Food (Cookbook) – Recipes, principles of healthy eating, etc. for kids.

[*ACORN is for younger readers than BRANCHES. The ACORN books are shorter with simpler stories and text geared towards readers in the 4 to 6 year old range. BRANCHES are for readers in the 5 to 7 or 6 to 8 year old range.]

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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All the Impossible Things – A girl with power over the wind finds a foster family where she seems to fit for the first time. Then her mother blows back into town.
The Big Shrink – Book 6 in the Upside Down Magic series. A girl with the power to make things very very small doesn’t always know how to make them big again. When all the kids in the Upside Down Magic class want to take a stand against an unfair rule, her wacky power makes it hard for them to make a big statement. This is such a cute series!
Dragon Curse – Book 4 in the Unwanted Quests series chronicling the latest from the lands of Quill and Artimé where a new set of twins are central to the events.
The Fire Keeper – Book 2 in the Storm Runner series, part of the Rick Riordan line of mythology books. This series focuses on a child of a Mayan god. When Zane writes about his adventures, the gods start hunting down their half-human children and his father is in danger of being executed.
I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 – I read about this Molasses Flood in the author’s book, I Survived True Stories: Five Epic Disasters. It was something I had never heard of before. Now it is getting its own book. This one should be amazing.
The Island of Dragons – Book 12 in the Kingdom of Fantasy series staring Geronimo Stilton. Geronimo is hunting for other adventurers who can help him save a group of princesses kidnapped by a witch.
Lalani of the Distant Sea – The latest from the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, Erin Entrada Kelly.  A girl heads off on a dangerous quest in an effort to save her mother from grave illness.
The Land of Roar (September 5) – When the twins were little they played in the imaginary Land of Roar, a magical place with dragons and wizards that they found inside a folding bed in their grandfather’s attic. Now they are 11 and as they are helping their grandfather move some furniture out of the attic, their grandfather disappears into that same folding bed. Is it possible that the Land of Roar is real? This sounds so fun!
More to the Story – The story of four Muslim American sisters living in Georgia, inspired by the novel Little Women, centers around Jameela who longs to be a journalist and make a difference with her work.
My Jasper June – Two girls feeling lost at the start of summer, find each other and a friendship as they carve out space away from the hardships in their lives. But when those hardships start to close in on them, they will have to see if their friendship is strong enough to save them.
The Okay Witch – A middle schooler who loves witches discovers her family is at the center of some magical events in her town’s past. I’ll be reviewing this graphic novel tomorrow.
Some Places More Than Others – A girl longing for a connection to her extended family in Harlem finds her New York experience not living up to her expectations and hopes.
Strange Birds – Three very different girls receive a mysterious invitation to a lavish mansion and find there another kid and a mission to tackle in their community. I have already requested this one from the library.
SW Jedi Academy: Attack of the Furball – Book 8 in Jarrett Krosoczka’s Jedi Academy series (which starts after Jeffrey Brown’s Jedi Academy series). Christina is struggling with her workload during her second year at the academy. She is doing a lot of traveling with her master, and while on one planet, she discovers the cutest critter she has ever seen. When Christina sneaks Fluffernut back to the academy with her, her troubles only get worse.
The World Ends in April – From the author of the fantastic The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl. When Eleanor reads about an asteroid scientists think will strike Earth in April, she’s sure her survivalist family will make it, but she’s not so sure about her peers at school. And frankly, she doesn’t care about most of them. But somehow word gets out, and Eleanor finds herself the president of a secret End of the World Club – and she’s enjoying the camaraderie a lot more than she thought she would. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
Harry Potter: Magical Places – A Paper Scene Book – Illustrated Harry Potter information with pages of cut paper depicting various scenes.
I Am Yours: Prayers for God’s Girl – Wynter Pitts’ final book is an exploration of prayer for tween girls.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

 

American Royals – What if George Washington had accepted a crown instead of a presidency? That question is explored in this alternate history novel that takes place in a version of today where Washington’s family still sits on the throne of America. The story focuses on the current king’s royal children, including his oldest daughter who will be the first Queen of America. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine – A teen is suspended and shipped off to Haiti as a punishment for a school presentation gone horribly wrong. It’s actually a great opportunity for her to learn about where she comes from and her extended family. She’s in for a few unexpected surprises.
Five Dark Fates – The closing book in the Three Dark Crowns series. Find out what happens to the three sisters and their friends! I already have this on hold at the library.
The Girl the Sea Gave Back – A girl found along the shore has a gift to see the future. The people who have raised her ask her to use her powers to help them decide if they should enter a war, and it sets them all down a path that will change everything forever.
Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass – Teen Harleen Quinzel is on her own in Gotham and finally finds a home with a drag queen named Mama. But when Mama’s cabaret is in danger Harley will have to decide if she wants to side with her activist best friend Ivy who wants to make the neighborhood better or her friend “Joker” who wants to tear the city apart. This is the latest graphic novel from DC Comics in the line with Mera: Tidebreaker and Teen Titans: Raven.
Have a Little Faith in Me – When CeCe’s Christian boyfriend dumps her after they have sex, she follows him to “Jesus camp” to get him back. When he shows up with a new “good girl” girlfriend, CeCe and her best friend Paul pretend to be dating. But throughout the camp, CeCe starts to question everything she once thought about her relationship – and about the night she lost her virginity. I am fascinated by secular stories that include major faith components. I have this one on my list.
The Lady Rogue – YA author, Jenn Bennett leaves the world of contemporary romance for a new fantasy title. A treasure hunter digging  up information on a relic belonging to Dracula goes missing and his daughter and his protégé go looking for him.
Loki: Where Mischief Lies – Loki the trickster god and brother of Thor finds himself in 19th century London looking into some mysterious and possibly-magical deaths as a favor to Odin. Loki knows it’s really more of a punishment for a diplomatic mission gone wrong, and he resents being banished to a magic-less realm, but there may be more to the deaths in London than he thinks at first look. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Sword and Pen – Book 5 in the Great Library series. The Library is under siege. It’s corrupt leadership has been overthrown, but the Archivist is plotting a return to power. Jess and his friends have their hands full if they are going to be able to save the Great Library.
There Will Come a Darkness – Book 1 in the Age of Darkness series. Seven prophets used to guide humanity, but one hundred years ago they disappeared and left one final prophecy behind – one that said a new prophet would arise who would save – or destroy – them all. I have requested this one from the library, too.

Books for Adults – Fiction

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A Bittersweet Surprise (Trade Paperback) – A woman who always helps others is in need of some help herself when her stepmother announces she is selling the family chocolate shop. This is available right now for free through Kindle Unlimited; I don’t know how long that will last. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
A Call to Charms (e-book) – First in a new series from Denise Swanson (Scumble River series, Chef-to-Go series, Devereaux’s Dime Store series). A mysterious inheritance from a great-aunt she’s never heard of – and a fresh start in a new town – sounds great to a woman who recently escaped a kidnapping attempt by her ex. But this new town is full of quirky characters and maybe some magical goings-on. There’s plenty to keep Lexie hopping in her new home. I’m curious to try this one out.
Close Encounters of the Curd Kind (e-book, September 5) – Book 3 in the Wits’ End Cozy Mystery series. The owner of a UFO-themed B&B gets drawn into another murder case, even though the local sheriff has threatened her with jail time if he catches her interfering again. But how can she stay out of things when her neighbor shows signs of alien abduction and the whole town is experiencing weird phenomena? I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but this is one I definitely want to check out!
A Dangerous Engagement (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Amory Ames Mystery series. As Amory is looking forward to serving as a bridesmaid, one of the other members of the wedding party is found dead.
Diamond in the Rough (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the American Heiress series after Flights of Fancy (which is on my TBR list). A young woman participates in the New York social scene to convince her grandmother to help the family with a debt that has come due, but she encounters one fiasco after another. This is on my list for this week.
A Night’s Tail (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Magical Cats mystery series. The local librarian gets drawn into another murder when one of her brother’s bandmates is accused of a crime.
Out of the Picture (Trade Paperback) – First in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series, new from Hallmark Publishing. An art authenticator turned elementary art teacher gets pulled into a mystery at an old mansion when she is hired to paint a mural. I am eager to try out some of the Hallmark Publishing original stories to see how they hold up.
The Paris Orphan (Trade Paperback) – The story of a World War II-era model reporting for Vogue and an orphan named Victorine  is connected to a contemporary woman working on a collection of wartime photos who discovers secrets connected to her mother. This is not my usual sort of story, but I am intrigued by this one!
The Shop on Main Street (Trade Paperback) – The owner of a lingerie store feels her life falling apart when she finds evidence of her husband’s cheating. At first she is humiliated, but then she is encouraged by the women in her small town to move beyond her grief. I am curious enough to try this one, too.
Texts from Mittens: The Friends and Family Edition (Paperback) – Hilarious text exchanges between Mittens the cat and members of his family. I’ll be reviewing this one in a few weeks.
Well Met (Trade Paperback) – A women coming home to help her sister after an accident is roped into participating in the local Renaissance Faire. Her lighthearted take on the faire puts her in conflict with the man responsible for the volunteers who bears the weight of his family’s legacy. This sounds delightful! I already have this on hold from the library (I am #13!)
Word to the Wise (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Library Lover’s Mystery series from Jenn McKinlay. Lindsey is only doing her job at the reference desk when she helps Aaron Grady with his questions. But Aaron takes her help as interest and starts stalking her. When he is found dead, Lindsey and her fiancé are murder suspects. This was terrific! I’ll be posting a full review later this week.

Books for Adults – Non-Fiction

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Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults (Hardcover) – Advice for parents of teens. I have gotten a lot out of the website of the same name, so I am looking at picking up this resource soon.
How to Raise a Reader (Hardcover) – This is an outstanding resource for parents, grandparents and teachers who want to help kids connect with books. I’ll be posting a full review of this next week.
If I Don’t Make It, I Love You: Survivors in the Aftermath of School Shootings (Hardcover) – This is over 500 pages of stories from mass shootings, specifically school-based shootings. A hard read to be certain, but an important one nonetheless.
The Joker Psychology: Evil Clowns and the Women Who Love Them (Trade Paperback) – 15 chapters looking at the psychology of The Joker and those who fight and love him.
Six Ingredients with Six Sisters’ Stuff: 100+ Simple Family Meals (Paperback) – I love the idea of simple recipes like these!
So Many Angels: A Family Crisis and the Community that Got Us Through It (Trade Paperback) – The true story of a woman with two young sons – whose world falls apart when her husband is arrested and she is diagnosed with a serious illness – and the community that rallied around her.
Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Animated Series (Hardcover) – An illustrated guide to the animated Star Trek series that was on the air for two years in the 1970s.
You Can Trust God to Write Your Story: Embracing the Mysteries of Providence (Hardcover) – Trusting God with your story when you haven’t gotten to the happy ending yet.