Category: Book News

BOOK NEWS: May 7, 2019

BOOK NEWS: May 7, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy May! Spring is in the air, Mother’s Day is right around the corner. There’s plenty of reason to celebrate with a new book. Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

The Story of Rap AND The Story of Rock (Board Books) – Darling board books celebrating the history of Rap and Rock.
Cowhide-and-Seek – When the farmer starts counting his cows, Bessie thinks it’s the beginning of a game of hide and seek. This looks adorable!
Forky in Craft Buddy Day – Some of the characters from Toy Story 4 appear in this story from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit.
The Karate Kid (Classic Illustrated Storybook)
Lambslide – When a girl says she’s running for class president and her family says she’ll win in a “landslide,” the lambs outside hear “Lambslide” and start searching for this special slide made just for them. Sounds hilarious!
Llama Destroys the World – A llama who loves cake accidentally kicks off the destruction of the world. Yep, I have to check this one out!
The Sad Little Fact – A fact who can’t tell a lie is locked up  until a group of fact finders help free the facts and save the day.
David Bowie – Picture book biography
The Eternal Soldier: The True Story of How a Dog Became a Civil War Hero – The true story of a dog at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Moon’s First Friends: How the Moon Met the Astronauts from Apollo 11 – A celebration of the Apollo 11 flight.
Teddy: The Remarkable Tale of a President, a Cartoonist, a Toymaker and a Bear – A blend of fact and fiction about the first teddy bear and its ties to President Roosevelt.
Harold & Hog Pretend for Real! – Dan Santat authors this new book about a pair of friends who pretend they are Piggie and Gerald.
Splat the Cat and the Lemonade Stand – Splat needs to earn money to go to the water park.
A Is for Elizabeth AND Big Mouth Elizabeth – A new transitional chapter book series that is a spin off from the Justin Case series. This looks darling!
Dead Sea Squirrels: Squirreled Away AND Boy Meets Squirrels – A new transitional chapter book series from one of the creators of Veggie Tales, Mike Nawrocki. The series focuses on a boy who finds two 2,000-year-old squirrels preserved at an archaeological dig site. When the squirrels are revived, they share stories and lessons they learned from Jesus. I am eager to try one of these out.
Lost at Sea – Book 7 in the Puppy Pirates series.
Polly Diamond and the Super Stunning Spectacular School Fair – Book 2 in the Polly Diamond series about a girl with a magic book that creates whatever she writes.
Tales from Vader’s Castle – Kids graphic novel collection of stories that sound like Scooby-Doo adventures set in the Star Wars universe.
My Weird Reading Tips – Dan Gutman’s nonfiction series turns to reading tips including information on context clues and main ideas.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Doughnut King – Sequel to The Doughnut Fix. Tris has launched his donut business, but it’s so popular he can’t keep up with demand. A reality TV cooking show could be his chance to get the money for a machine that will speed up the production process. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow – it was excellent!
Emily Out of Focus – Two girls meet when their families travel to China to adopt. One of the girls was adopted from China, and she is determined to find her birth mother while she is there. I’ve requested this one from the library!
Endling: The First – Book 2 in Katharine Applegate’s Endling series about near-extinction, finding family, and a potential war. The first book has received rave reviews.
Fenway and Hattie in the Wild – Book 4 in the Fenway and Hattie series. Fenway notices some new things about his girl, Hattie, when the family goes on a camping trip. The description makes this sound like Fenway tells the story, and I love books where the pets tell stories from their perspectives.
Finding Orion – The latest from John David Anderson. When a boy’s quirky grandfather dies, his family heads out for the funeral, but nothing goes like they expect. I’m eager to read this one.
Jaclyn Hyde – A Dr. Jekyll/Mr Hyde story starring an eager-to-please girl who thinks the secret to life is to be as perfect as possible. This sounds amazing, too.
Just Jaime – Book 3 in the Emmie & Friends graphic novel series. In this book, two friends at the end of 7th grade struggle to figure out where they fit in their friend group.
Mr. Bambuckle Rule the School AND Class 12B Fights Back – A new series about an unusual teacher, the kids who love him, and the principal who wants him gone.
Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game – Kyle Keeley is back in this 4th Lemoncello book. This time, Mr. Lemoncello is launching a TV network where kids can compete in live action Lemoncello games. I have requested this one from the library, too.
Once Upon a Twist: The Kitty Mermaid – The latest from Ever After High.
Order of the Majestic – In this new fantasy book, a boy is sucked into an old theater where he finds out that magic is real, but it is dying out. The boy has a chance to make a difference, but his efforts put him in the middle of an ancient battle.
Shouting at the Rain – Two friends explore their home area around Cape Cod while also wrestling with family and friend issues. This one is already getting some positive buzz.
Soldier Dogs: Victory at Normandy – Book 4 in the Soldier Dogs series.
The Startup Squad – First in a new series about a group of girls competing in a lemonade stand competition.
Toby’s Story – Book 5 in the Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tales series. A beagle puppy finds his purpose as a comfort animal. This sounds sweet.
Toy Story 4 Junior Novel – Junior Novel for the upcoming movie
Up for Air – A swimming star starts to wonder who she is without her sport when a prank goes wrong and she loses her opportunity to swim for the high school team.
What Is NASA? AND What Was the Vietnam War?
Bible Infographics for Kids Volume 2: Light and Dark, Heroes and Villains, and Mind-Blowing Bible Facts – Infographics are illustrations of facts and figures. I adore them! I’m interested in checking out this book of infographics based on the Bible. A fantastic format for visual learners.
Again But Better – A college student who has done all the academic things right, but who has no social life to speak of decides to take a semester in London and find all the college experiences she’s been missing.
All Our Broken Pieces – A girl with compulsions hopes that this time things in her life will be different, better while the boy next store sees her as a muse for his songwriting.
Aurora Rising – A rising star risks his future as the lead of an elite squad in order to save the sole survivor on a space ship that disappeared 200 years ago. This one choice will set their universe on an unexpected course. This is a terrifically fun space romp! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Broken Throne – Includes 5 novellas (three new, two previously released) set in the world of the Red Queen series.
The Goodbye Summer – A girl who is counting down the days to her 17th birthday so she can run away with her older boyfriend, makes a new friend over the summer and starts to question her plans to leave town.
Hope and Other Punchlines – A girl forever remembered as “Baby Hope” after a photo of her from 9/11 went viral and a boy whose life was also fundamentally changed on that day meet while working a day camp. Together they encounter difficult questions about the impact of that day and that photo. SOOO excited to read this one!
Last Things – A teen with world-class talent considers where to take his musical gifts after high school while an odd girl seems to always be in the background – lurking or protecting? This sounds spooky and amazing!
The Lovely and the Lost – A girl and her adoptive family train search and rescue dogs. They are called in to find a missing girl on a mountain, but the search digs up the past for the girl, her adoptive brother and their mom. This was AMAZING! I’ll be reviewing it later this week.
Romanov – The story of Anastasia Romanov with a magical and romantic twist. This sound fantastic!
The Rule of Many – Book 2 in the Rule of One series. A pair of twins, living in a dystopian America with a one-child rule gear up for a showdown with the government that would see them dead.
Somewhere Only We Know – The biggest K-Pop star is about to debut on The Tonight Show, but for now she is just desperate for a hamburger, even if she has to sneak out of her hotel to get one. A tabloid reporter is trying to sneak into a hotel for a story when a familiar girl walks by in her slippers, determined to track down a burger. This sounds delightful! I can’t wait to see what happens with these two!
This Is Not a Love Scene – A film student with muscular dystrophy thinks there’s no room in her life for romance, but the hot older guy starring in her senior project might just change her mind.
Tinfoil Crowns – A teen looking to make it big in the world of online videos hits a roadblock when her mom – who tried to kill her when she was three – is released from prison.  When her mom moves back in with the family, the teen’s online fans can tell something is up and dig up her tragic past. This is a fascinating story idea – I can’t wait to read this one!
With the Fire on High – A teen mother with a talent in the kitchen wonders if her dream of being a chef is even possible. Look at that cover! Wow. How can you NOT pick this one up to check it out?

 

Books for Adults

The Big Kahuna (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Fox and O”Hare series. An FBI agent and a con man team up to track down a missing Silicon Valley billionaire.
The Bride Test (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Kiss Quotient. A Vietnamese man on the autism spectrum isn’t sure that there is room in his life for romance, so his mother takes the situation into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him a bride. This looks great. The internet has been buzzing about this one for ages.
A Deadly Feast (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Key West Food Critic mystery series. Hayley is days away from Thanksgiving and her post-holiday wedding when she gets a call from a friend whose business is in danger because a customer dropped dead on the seafood tasting tour.
Dying for Devil’s Food (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 11 in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series. It’s murder at the high school reunion – one of my FAVORITE sorts of mysteries. I’m going to have to get caught up on this series soon so I can check this book out.
For a Good Paws (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Barkery & Biscuits mystery series. The man who was in prison for 10 years for killing the local mayor stirs up trouble when he returns to Knobcone Heights and the mayor’s widowed husband is found dead. Interesting premise on this one!
Middlegame (Hardcover) – Twins, one with a gift for language, the other with a gift for numbers, are being manipulated and used by their creator in a quest for power. This standalone fantasy sounds amazing!
Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors (Trade Paperback) – How can a prominent neurosurgeon be the “black sheep” of her family? This is the story of the Raje family, an Indian American family that lives by strong rules and high expectations, and the daughter who is trying to redeem herself in their eyes. This sounds fascinating!
Read on Arrival (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Bookmobile Mystery series. Just as Cleo is getting ready to unveil the renovated library to the community, her plans are put in jeopardy by members of her board and the murder of her library nemesis, a woman with a 40-year-old overdue library book. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Scent of Murder (Hardcover) – A woman who trains cadaver dogs discovers a body in an abandoned building. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, too.
Shuri: The Search for Black Panther (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A comics collection telling the story of Shuri, princess of Wakanda. When her brother T’Challa is lost on a mission in space, everyone looks to Shuri to step forward, but she knows she is happier in her lab than on the throne. I can not WAIT to read this. And I’ve looked at the next book, out in October, and it looks spectacular!
The Art of Toy Story 4 (Hardcover Coffee Table Book) – Art for the new movie
Every Tool’s a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It (Hardcover) – From one of the stars of Mythbusters comes this book about creativity and problem solving.
It’s the Manager (Hardcover) – The latest from Gallup about leadership, business, and personnel management.
Let Love Have the Last Word (Hardcover) – A memoir from actor, musician and activist, Common
Millenneagram: The Enneagram Guide for Discovering Your Truest, Baddest Self (Hardcover) – A modern, sometimes irreverent, spin on the classic 9 types. I have this at the top of my list for this week.
My Life in Lists: An Illustrated Journal to Record Your Loves, Goals and Dreams (Paperback Journal) – Over 100 pages of guided journal entries/lists. This is on my personal list, too.
Rise of the Servant Kings: What the Bible Says about Being a Man (Hardcover) – Written on the premise that masculinity is found through surrender to God. Part of the Promise Keepers movement.
The Way We Eat Now: How the Food Revolution Has Transformed Our Lives, Our Bodies, and Our World (Hardcover) – How the world has changed regarding food/eating over the last two generations.

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last week for an April release day Tuesday. Let’s see what some of the books are that are out this week!

Books for Kids

How to Care for Your T-Rex – How to babysit a dinosaur. This sounds hilarious!
Most Marshmallows – Most marshmallows do all the things marshmallows do. Some marshmallows were born to stand out!
You’re Missing It! – While a kid enjoys the neighborhood park, he admonishes his dad that he’s missing everything because he is on his phone. Timely!
Handimals: Animals in Art and Nature – This may be the coolest book I have seen in awhile! Filled with animal facts, it’s the pictures of animals painted on human hands that left me with my mouth hanging open. Stunning!
Little People Big Dreams Mahatma Gandhi – Picture book biography
Do You Like My Bike? – It’s no secret around here that I adore the Branches line of transitional chapter books from Scholastic. Now they have a new series for slightly younger readers called ACORN which is also fabulous. I haven’t read this story yet, about a hedgehog and his friend, but I have read a few of the others and loved them.
A Friend For Dragon – Scholastic is reissuing this story from Dav Pilkey (Dogman, Captain Underpants) as part of their Acorn line.
Hello Crabby! – This was my FAVORITE of the new Acorn books I read this spring. It’s SO funny!
Sparkly New Friends – This darling story of a Yeti and a Unicorn is the last of the Acorn books out this week. It’s so cute!
Brute-Cake – Scholastic Branches kicks off a spin off of the Notebook of Doom series, the Binder of Doom. As before, this includes weird monsters and the kids who have sworn to protect their town.
Eye of the Earthquake Dragon – Book 13 in the Dragon Masters series from Branches. None of the other series in this line have gone on this long! (Owl Diaries is closest with 10 books so far, and two more due out this year.) There are two more books out later this year, too. This is a fun dragon series for kids ready to dive into chapter books!
Bentley – Speaking of long-running series, this is book 53 in the Puppy Place series!
Dragons of Krad – Book 4 in the Dragonling series. This is another reissue, but with new cover art. I haven’t checked the latest books, but my thoughts on the first one were that the story was terrific but the interior art could use an update as well as the covers.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Aru Shah and the Song of Death – Book 2 in the Pandava series, part of Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint for mythology stories. I have’t read book one yet, but this series has been a huge hit with readers!
Bigger, Badder, Nerdier – Geeked Out, book 2. A team of geeks have decided to fight back against the cliques and bullies at school in a familiar sounding plot with a dystopian twist. I have GOT to read book one. This sounds like a fantastic and fun series!
A Dog’s Porpoise – A porpoise thrown off course and lost from his pod teams up with a puppy who was rescued after being knocked off a boat and a local girl in this story full of heart. I can’t wait to read this one.
A Kind of Paradise – After a BIG mistake at the end of the school year, a girl has to spend her summer volunteering at the library as punishment. I already have this on hold at the library.
The Library of Ever – An act of protective kindness opens a new world to a girl who ducked into the library to escape the boredom perpetrated on her by a negligent nanny. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Spill the Beans – Book 13 in the Whatever After series tackles the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. This is a fun fractured fairy tale series.
Spy School British Invasion – Book 7 in the Spy School series. The Spy School kids are going rogue and joining up with MI6 to try to take down SPYDER.
Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story – How to make your own graphic novel from the author of Smile. Includes a sneak peek at her new book, Guts, out this fall.
Where Is Broadway?

 

Books for Adults

Avengers: Infinity Prose Novel (Hardcover) – This is NOT related to the Avengers Infinity War movie but instead based on a graphic novel line. While the Avengers are away, trying to protect the galaxy, Thanos decides to attack Earth. The Inhumans, Doctor Strange, Black Panther and the X-Men must protect the planet. I adored the prose novel of Planet Hulk, so I’d like to try this story out, too.
Bitter Brew (Hardcover) – Book 24 in the delightful Savannah Reid Mystery series.  This time, Savannah’s medical examiner friend is the one asking for a favor when a choice she made to help a dying friend could be helping someone hide a murder. This sounds fantastic!
Getting Hot with the Scot (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new  Sometimes in Love series. Scottish Highlander meets a pop-culture reporter. The second book in the series (Smitten by the Brit, May 28) is the one that is primarily on my radar from this series.
Knit One, Die Two (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Knit and Nibbles series, which I have on my TBR list – look at those adorable cats on the cover!! A newcomer to the community – and to the knitting club – is killed when she threatens to dish dirt on others in the community theater. I need to carve out some cozy mystery time this summer to get started on this series.
Murder in the Reading Room (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Book Retreat Mystery series. Retreat manager Jane leaves Storyton on the hunt for her missing boyfriend. One dead body later, she finds him, but she also finds a ton of trouble which could lead to another victim. This sounds so good. I need to get caught up on this series, too!
A Prince on Paper (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Reluctant Royals series. I adored book one – A Princess in Theory – and I have book two on my TBR shelves (A Duke by Default). In this new book, my favorite trope – fake relationship – is at work when a woman returns home and stumbles into a fake engagement with the bad boy step-prince. There are also two novellas that are part of this series.
Prologue to Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. Trying to launch a new life in a new town proves difficult when Addie is accused of murder. I’m looking forward to digging into this series, too.
Sweet on You (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bradford Sisters series after Falling for You. Old friends team up to look into a mysterious death while also trying to deny the feelings between them.
Wed, Read & Dead (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bookshop Mystery series. Bookstore owner and mystery writer Sam has a new mystery on her hands when the wedding planner working on her mom’s wedding is killed. I have this series on my shelves too.
Jesus, King of Strangers: What the Bible Really Says about Immigration (Trade Paperback, May 1) – Looks at how Christians, people who have been described as “aliens and strangers” should respond to the questions of immigration.
So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians in a Challenging World (Trade Paperback, May 1) – Research-based training for those who work with young people and are dismayed to see so many leaving the church.

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

If you celebrate Easter or Passover, I hope you had a good celebration with family and friends! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

How I Learned to Fall Out of Trees – When a friend is getting ready to move away, she promises to teach her buddy how to climb a tree before she goes. This looks darling. I can’t wait to read the whole story!
I Will Be Fierce – A book about courage and kindness.
Flubby Is Not a Good Pet AND Flubby Will Not Play with That – A new series about a disinterested cat and his owner. Those covers are adorable.
Motor Mouse – First in a new series. Includes three stories starring Motor Mouse.
The Great Bake Off – Book 14 in the darling early chapter book series starring Sophie Mouse. In this book, Sophie and her mom have a lot of fun baking, but they make too much and have to find a way to share what they have before it spoils.
Love the Fur You’re In – Life advice from the characters of Sesame Street. A celebration of 50 years of the show.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers – First in a new series. Kazu is on the hunt for a ring of dognappers when their crimes hit close to home.
Marvel Spider-Man Spideyography – Peter Parker’s secret notebook.
Toy Story Toyography – The story of Andy’s toys through the years.
Unicorn Bowling – Book 9 in the fun and fabulous Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
If I’m Being Honest – A new twist on Taming of the Shrew. Cameron is the shrew in question, and when she shows her true colors to her crush, she decides she has to change her ways if she wants to redeem herself in his eyes. As a big Shrew fan, I am eager to read this one.
The Tiger At Midnight – A legendary rebel and a soldier think they are calling the shots in a volatile world, but someone else is pulling the strings. Inspired by Hindu mythology and ancient Indian history.
Secret Soldiers: How the U. S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis – The story of actors and set designers and sound engineers who fooled the Nazis. I am fascinated by this whole idea!

Books for Adults

Decades: Marvel in the 70s (Paperback Graphic Novel) – This is the decade of monsters for Marvel.
Fumbled (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Playbook series. (I really enjoyed book one, Intercepted.) A single mother has carved out a life she loves, but when she crosses paths with the NFL wide receiver she dated in high school the secrets they never shared with each other put a potential rekindling of their relationship at risk. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
New Orleans Rush (Trade Paperback) – An artist follows her boyfriend to New Orleans only to discover his cheating. Now she’s the assistant to a magician, struggling to keep her relationship with him strictly professional.  This looks fun!
Sifting Through Clues (e-book) – Book 8 in the Cookbook Nook series. A book group’s progressive dinner ends in murder.
Star Trek TNG: Terra Incognita (Trade Paperback Graphic Novel) – After a season in the Mirror Universe, the crew of the Enterprise returns without realizing that one of their own has been replaced by his mirror counterpart.
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool (Hardcover) – From the author of Expecting Better comes this exploration of the data regarding the choices new parents will be making about their children.
Nanaville (Hardcover) – A celebration of grandparenting from Anna Quindlen. I can’t wait to read this one – and I am years away from being a grandparent.
Road to Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame (Hardcover) – A collection of all that has led to this moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Stressed Years of Their Lives: Helping Your Kid Survive and Thrive During Their College Years (Hardcover) – A focus on the emotional skills adolescents need to successfully launch to college.

BOOK NEWS: April 16, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 16, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

As Easter approaches, here are some books you might want to tuck into an Easter basket for yourself or for someone you love!

Books for Kids

Marvel Alphablock: The Marvel Cinematic Universe from A to Z (Board Book) – Die cut pages make this a beautiful alphabet book!
Bruno the Standing Cat – Bruno is unlike any cat  you have met. He stands on two legs, chews gum and skateboards. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dog vs. Ultra Dog! – Tuffy is afraid he will lose his boy, Tim, to  the hero Ultra Dog when Tim goes to Ultra Land. Yep, this is on my list, too!
Let Me Sleep, Sheep! – When Amos tries to count sheep to help him sleep, he gets a pair that are quite demanding.
Mr. Posey’s New Glasses – An elderly man and his young neighbor try on new glasses and get quite a surprise. I can’t wait to see this one in person!
Watch Out for Wolf! – A new take on the story of the Three Pigs. I am always on the look out for stories like this.
Popcorn Country: The Story of America’s Favorite Snack – A look at the history and science of popcorn. How fun!
Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants – Book 2 in the early chapter book series The Questioneers. This time Ada and her friends are trying to help Rosie’s Uncle Ned whose helium pants have carried him away. Ada is my favorite Questioneer so far (we’ll meet a new Questioneer later this year). I’m excited that she is going to have another story.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Camp Average – The boys in Cabin 10 are content to play the games and never win, but a new camp director focused on winning could ruin all their fun. I am really excited about this one! First in a new series.
The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande – Book 4 in the Unicorn Rescue Society series about a secret group of adventurers who protect the creatures of myth and legend.
The Hamilton-Burr Duel – Book 4 in the Flashback Four series from Dan Gutman about a group of time traveling kids who get photographic and video evidence of historical events.
Lizzie Flying Solo – A girl who lives in transitional housing with her mom finds herself opening up after spending time at a local stables and working with a frightened pony. I think horse fans will want to check this one out.
Project Me 2.0  – The latest from Aladdin MAX. A kid hoping to impress his oldest friend/secret crush accidentally activates a magical internet genie who requires him to complete Seven Steps to a Whole New You. I love this line of books for kids!
Summer of a Thousand Pies – A homeless girl is sent to live with aunt she barely knows and helps in her aunt’s pie shop. When she discovers the pie shop is in danger of closing, she is desperate to save the one safe place she has in her life. This is at the top of my list for this week.
I Am Hermes!: Mischief Making Messenger of the Gods – An illustrated exploration of Hermes from Greek mythology.
What Is the Story of Hello Kitty? AND What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? – The latest from Who HQ is a line of books exploring the stories of famous characters – where they started and how they got famous. Future books include Wonder Woman, Frankenstein and Doctor Who. I am so excited about this new series!
Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate (Science Comics) – An exploration of weather in graphic novel form.
The Exalted – Book 2 following The Diminished. Two teens, one destined for the throne, fight against those who would usurp the throne. I’ve been wanting to read the first book in this series since it released.
The Hummingbird Dagger – A new mystery from Cindy Anstey! A young woman with no memory joins forces with those who have been caring for her since a near-fatal accident to find out the truth about her identity.
Serious Moonlight – A new romantic mystery from Jenn Bennett! Two teens with a fascination for mysteries stumble across a real-life mystery at the hotel where they work.

Books for Adults

Avengers Endgame Prelude (Paperback Graphic Novel)  – I’m not sure if this will be a collection of comics about what happened in Infinity War or a collection of things that tell more about what happens right after. This is one we’ll know more about once it actually releases.
Before She Was Found (Hardcover) -When 3 girls at a sleepover decide to sneak out, they have no idea what danger awaits. By the end of the night one of the girls will be found barely clinging to life while the others are no where to be found. I’ve read several 5-star reviews for this thriller. Fans of the genre should be sure to check this one out.
The Better Sister (Hardcover) – A twisted story of a pair of estranged sisters and the murder that draws them together. This one sounds wild!
Redemption – Book 5 in the Amos Decker series. Decker questions his first arrest of a murderer as a rookie 12 years later.
Roar (Hardcover) – A collection of stories of women in a magical world where perception can become reality.
Star Wars Master & Apprentice (Hardcover) – A Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan story that takes place before The Phantom Menace. The story centers on the relationship between the two men, mentor and apprentice, and their different philosophies about the Jedi. This is going to be amazing!
Under the Table (Hardcover) – My Fair Lady with a modern twist. A young woman rebooting her life encounters an awkward and reclusive millionaire who could be quite the catch if she gives him a bit of a make-over. This is on my list for this week, too.

BOOK NEWS: April 9, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 9, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

New books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

The Great Indoors – When a human family heads to the woods for vacation, the animals move in for a vacation of their own.
My First Pop-Up Dinosaurs – Fun 3-D dinosaurs!
When a Tiger Comes to Dinner – An interactive read-aloud.
Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World – Fascinating picture book biography of Les Paul.
Peter & Ernesto: The Lost Sloths – After losing their best tree in a hurricane, Peter and Ernesto are leading their friends on a quest to find a new home.
Searching for Stinkodon – I love this early reader series starring Stink and Judy Moody! This time Stink is hunting for a sabertooth tooth in the backyard.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

  

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid – Greg Heffley’s friend Rowley Jefferson gets his own book this spring where he chronicles the life and times of his “best friend,” Greg.
The Door at the End of the World – The assistant Gatekeeper of the access point to alternate worlds goes on a quest to save her boss and set right the problems caused by sinister forces determined to destroy the fabric of time and space.
Eight Times Up – A group of kids learn about life and their places in the universe through their study of aikido.
The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten – A girl looking forward to art camp finds herself at math camp instead. To prove she can find her place there, she takes on the hardest logic puzzle and solves it in a day. But not everyone is happy with her skill or achievement. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Twinchantment – A set of twin princesses in a land where anything magical – including twins – has been outlawed  have managed to convince everyone that they are one person. But when their mother is magically attacked, the girls will have to shed their secrets and fight for their family and their kingdom. This sounds amazing!
It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime – Noah’s autobiography has been adapted for young readers (ages 10 and up). It’s the story of Noah’s childhood in South Africa as a mixed-race child in a culture where his mere existence was illegal. I’ve heard rave reviews for the original book; I’m excited kids will now have their own version to enjoy.
Descendant of the Crane – Princess Hesina is forced into a role she never wanted when her father is murdered and she becomes Queen. She turns to two unlikely sources to help her find the person who killed her father.
In the Neighborhood of True – Moving to Atlanta in 1958 means Ruth can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both. So she chooses to align with the Christian students even though she still goes to synagogue every week. But a hate crime will force her to decide who she wants to be in her new home and where she stands in her community.
This Book Is Not Yet Rated – A quirky group stand together to protect their beloved Green Street Cinema from developers who want to tear it down to build luxury condos.

 

Books for Adults

An Amish Reunion (Trade Paperback) – A collection of four short stories about love and reconnecting with relationships from the past. All four stories sound great.
Deadly Vows (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Britton Bay Mystery series. This time Molly is drawn into sleuthing when a wedding caterer is killed and the bride-to-be goes missing. I really enjoyed the first book in the series. I’m eager to read this one.
The Eighth Sister (Hardcover) – A former CIA operative desperate for money agrees to go undercover for his old boss to find the person killing off a US spy cell known as the seven sisters. This sounds interesting!
Fame Adjacent (Trade Paperback) – When a former child star finds out she’s been left out of the 25th anniversary celebration of her old show, she decides to crash the party. I’ve already requested this one from the library!
Foul Play on Words (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Mystery Writer’s Mystery series. Author Charlee Russo is headed to a writer’s conference, but her friend and the chair of the conference is having a personal crisis. Her daughter has been kidnapped, and she needs Charlee to help her find her daughter and save the conference. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Trek TNG: Available Light (Trade Paperback) – Following the events of Star Trek 31: Control, now that Section 31 has been exposed, everyone with a connection to the rogue group is being rounded up. And Captain Picard is implicated for past choices. But he and the crew of the Enterprise have their hands full with a mysterious craft in a remote and unexplored region of space. Sign me up for this! I’ll have to dig out my old Section 31 books for a refresher.
With a Kiss I Die (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Theater Cop Mystery series. This time Sully and her friends are trying to help out with a production of Romeo and Juliet in Boston when Sully’s history as a copy comes in handy when there is a murder.
A Witch to Remember (Hardcover) – The ninth (and maybe final ) book in the Wishcrafters Mystery series. It’s time for Darcy and Nick’s wedding, but Darcy will have to make time for sleuthing when a dead body is discovered and a psychic goes missing. I’ve enjoyed this paranormal cozy series since the beginning, and I’m eager to read this installment.
They All Fall Down (Hardcover) – Seven strangers on a remote island harbor many secrets in this thriller that sounds like a take on And Then There Were None.
The Pursuit of Grouchiness: Oscar the Grouch’s Guide to Life (Hardcover) – How to be more curmudgeonly!
The Science of Marvel: From Infinity Stones to Iron Man’s Armor, the Real Science of the MCU Revealed! (Trade Paperback) – The technology behind some of Marvel’s comic book wonders.
Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game – From Olympic gold-medalist Abby  Wambach comes this inspirational book based on a commencement speech she gave in 2018. I’m looking forward to reading this one!

BOOK NEWS: April 2, 2019

BOOK NEWS: April 2, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

No fooling – these are some of the books releasing tomorrow! There are a ton of picture books, plus plenty of other titles to add to your TBR piles.

Books for Kids

Dandy – A dad’s quest for a pristine lawn runs into a problem when his daughter falls in love with the lone dandelion in their yard. I can’t wait to read this one!
Gargantua (Jr!): Defender of Earth – Gargantua Jr wants to be just like his mom.
Georgia’s Terrific, Colorific Experiment – A scientist in a family of artists needs help to come up with an original experiment.
Giant Tess – A giant wishes she could be like everyone else.
The Hug – A hedgehog and a tortoise are both on the hunt for a hug, but they don’t understand why no one will hug them.
I Am So Clever – The big bad wolf only finds a nightgown at Grandma’s house, so he puts it on and goes in search of lunch. I can’t wait to read this twist on Little Red Riding Hood.
Lenny the Lobster Can’t Stay for Dinner – When Lenny is invited to a fancy dinner, he arrives with the proper hostess gifts. But when he is greeted by a pot of boiling water, he has to decide (with the help of the reader) if he should stay or go.
The Little Green Girl – A topiary girl longs to see the world while her gardener can’t imagine any change in his routine.
The Little Guys – A cautionary tale about a group of little guys who believe there’s strength in numbers.
My Tree and Me – A girl celebrates life with her tree.
Noah NOasaurus – When Noah wakes up he’s feeling like it is going to be a very “NO” sort of day.
The Panda Problem – A narrator tries to explain to a carefree panda that as the main character in a story, he needs a problem. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
A Piglet Named Mercy – An origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series. Mercy Watson as a piglet? Yes, please!
Through the Elephant’s Door – A boy and his elephant head to the museum where a guard assumes they will be nothing but trouble.
Undercover Ostrich – I’m not sure what this one is about, but that cover begs you to pick up the book and find out.
Underwear! – A bare bear plays with his underwear instead of wearing it. This is sure to be a huge hit with kids!!
We Are (Not) Friends – When two friends are joined by a third, everyone has a moment of feeling left out.
Sisters – Picture book biography of Venus and Serena Williams.
Mr. Monkey Takes a Hike – Mr Monkey’s video game controller is taken by a little bird who leads him on a chase that turns into a hike.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Becket List – A city girl adjusts to life on a farm
Caterpillar Summer – In a family still reeling from grief, a brother and sister spend their summer vacation with grandparents they’ve never met, and the girl who has been trying to hold her family together gets a chance to be a kid again.  This is on my list for this week, too.
Katt vs Dogg – The classic rivalry plays out in this new series from James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein when a katt and a dogg both get lost in the woods and need each other to find their ways home.
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer – Two sleuthing kids get more than they bargained for on their last day of summer break when a mysterious man uses a device to stop time.
The Legends of Greemulax – In a strange land where the girls and women were destroyed by dragons and the boys grow up and turn into monsters, a boy catches a girl in a dragon trap and the two of them start looking for answers. I am curious about this one!
My Life as a Meme – Book 8 in this series.
The Pirate Angel, the Talking Tree and Captain Rabbit – Novelization of part of the Avengers Infinity War movie.
The Strangers – Book 1 in the new Greystone Secrets series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The three Greystone kids are shocked when they hear about a group of three kidnapped kids who sound alarmingly familiar.
Super Sons: The Polar Shield Project – New graphic novel series starring the sons of Superman and Batman. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Trace – A grieving boy adjusting to a new life in New York encounters a mysterious figure in the New York Public Library. I have already requested this one from the library.
Wizard For Hire: Apprentice Needed – Book 2 in the Wizard for Hire series about a boy whose parents were kidnapped and he was left in a remote cabin to fend for himself. Now, Ozzy is on the run once again, this time from the people who took his parents. Ozzy is the first subject of an experiment in mind-control, and the bad guys want him to help them find the secrets of the experiment. But the “wizard” Rin is back as well, hoping Ozzy will be his apprentice in a wizard contest that might not even be real. As I said in my review of book one, this is a weird series, but I loved it. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Ozzy.
Who Was H. J. Heinz? AND Who Was Norman Rockwell?
Lovestruck – The daughter of Eros is a cupid in training who wants no part of the family business. So she is going to defy oracles and fates and expectations to set her own course for her life. Sign me up for this one!
Mera: Tidebreaker – Graphic novel for teens about the underwater princess Mera and her quest to destroy Arthur Curry. I will be reviewing this one later this week.
Mirror, Mirror – Book 6 in the Twisted Tale series covers the story of Snow White and is written by Jen Calonita.
The Princess and the Fangirl – The long-awaited sequel to the fantastic Geekerella is here! In this Prince and the Pauper-like tale, a Starfield fan and the actress who is absolutely over the series must team up to find out who is causing trouble for the franchise. I have had this one on my holds list for the library for months!
Since We Last Spoke – When two teens in love lose their older siblings in an accident, the bitter fall out between their families threatens everything. I have this on my wish list.
We Rule the Night – Two young women. A world at war. And magic that can help them win – if they can learn to work together and don’t kill one another first.
We Were Beautiful – A teen who survived the crash that killed her sister has few memories of what really happened – just rumors, accusations and guilt. So she is sent to spend the summer with a grandmother she barely knows where she can begin to find healing. This is on my wish list for this week too.
White Rose – A fictionalized account of the young adults who formed the White Rose and criticized the Nazi regime, leading to dire consequences. I’ve read some historical accounts of the White Rose. This novel should be fascinating.
You’d Be Mine – The daughter of country music royalty, Annie is grieving her parents’ deaths. But she is an up-and-coming star in her own right, and Clay’s record label says he needs to get her on his tour or he’s going to be dropped. The fans would love to see the two become a couple, but Annie has seen what a high-profile couple goes through in the public eye, and she is not interested in heading down that road. This has been getting a lot of positive buzz on social media. I’ve had this one on hold at the library, too.

Books for Adults

Death Waits in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. I am a book behind on this one, but I’ve loved the first two books! In this one, a local busybody is killed when she threatens to expose a family secret. I need to get caught up on this one!
Gimme Some Sugar (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Southern Eclectic series of stand alone romances. In this one, a widow is taking charge of her life including starting a new bake shop. And she knows just the guy to help with some of the carpentry work she will need to have done – the one who might have saved her from a difficult marriage if he had just shared his feelings in high school.
Lights!Camera!Puzzles! (Hardcover) – Book 20 in this series about a puzzle maker and her aunt Cora who is the face of the brand. In this book, Cora  signs on as a producer for an unflattering movie about her life because she needs the money. While Cora doesn’t have anything positive to say about the movie, she wasn’t expecting that dead body.
The Loch Ness Papers (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. A bookseller befriends a Loch Ness Monster fanatic who is later accused of murder.
The Memory House (Hardcover) – Once again Rachel Hauck delivers a story that spans two timelines but is woven together. This time it is the 50-year-old story of a young widow with a secret that ties to a contemporary story of a former cop who lost her memories when her father died on 9/11.
Mother’s Day Mayhem (e-book Novella) – Part of the Tourist Trap mystery series. This story is focused on a mother who returns from jail and the impact she makes on the town and the son she left behind.
Geek Girls Don’t Cry: Real Life Lessons from Fictional Female Characters (Hardcover) – I’m so excited that my local library ordered this one! I love reading pop-culture explorations like this one which includes interviews of creators about the characters they have developed.
Why We Read : Quotations for Book Lovers(Hardcover) – A collection of illustrated quotations.

BOOK NEWS: March 26, 2019

BOOK NEWS: March 26, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s our final release week of March. Here are some of the books out this week!

Books for Kids

Baby Lit Storybooks: Little Women AND The Wizard of Oz (Board books) – Classic literature for babies.
Little Poet – William Shakespeare: I Love You AND Emily Dickinson: In Emily’s Garden (Board books) – Snippets of classic poems set to lovely illustrations.
The Book Hog – A book loving pig who can’t read is invited to story time. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays – Two monsters argue about a dragon story they are making up while a real dragon lingers close behind, listening. Yep, this is on my list, too.
Felipe and Claudette – Felipe, a grumpy cat, and Claudette, a wild dog, have been waiting a long time to be adopted from the pet shop. (Felipe is certain it is Claudette’s fault.) But when one is adopted and the other is left behind it impacts both of them more than they expected. I’m eager to read this one, too.
Raise Your Hand – The daughter of CNN’s Jake Tapper  noticed in her classroom that girls were less likely to participate in class than the boys. So she put together this book to encourage girls to be more confident in school. Sounds terrific!
Sweety – A quirky naked mole rat comes to appreciate how special she is. I can’t wait to read the whole story on this one!
Monkey and Cake: What Is Inside THIS Box? AND This Is MY Fort – This unusual pair star in a set of friendship stories that address issues that will feel familiar to kids everywhere. From the author of The Day the Crayons Quit.
Peg+Cat: Math in the Bath – A leveled reader starring Peg and Cat.
BAT and the End of Everything – The third book in this sweet series about a boy on the autism spectrum and his friend Thor, a young skunk. When the end of the school year approaches, Bixby/”Bat” feels anxious about all the changes coming. This would be a great read-aloud for lower elementary classrooms (1st/2nd through 4th grade).
Into the Game – First in a new series based on Minecraft where five players are transported into the game.
Mermaids to the Rescue: Nixie Makes Waves AND Lana Swims North – The first books in a new series about a rescue crew of mermaids.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Apocalypse Taco – A new graphic novel from the author of the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series. Three teens on a food run for the high school theater group cross into an alien parallel dimension.
The Astonishing Maybe – A sheltered boy with a relatively safe life sees things from a different perspective when his family moves and he meets the neighbor girl who takes him on great adventures, but who also is in need of help. This sounds great.
Because of the Rabbit – A girl starting public school for the first time is eager to make the right best friend. But while she and her partner on a project bond over a bunny she found, she’s afraid this impulsive boy could keep her from the friend she thinks she needs.
Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen – A tough, sassy girl who’s something of a bully decides to change her ways when she is stuck living with her aunt (who’s a real live nun) in a new town. Bernice sounds like an intriguing character!
Catwad – A collection of comics starring Catwad, a grumpy cat, and his optimistic friend, Blurmp.
Cilla Lee-Jenkins: The Epic Story – Book 3 in the series. I love the whole idea of this series starring a young author in training. This time, Cilla is writing an “epic” story.
Dragonfell – A new tale about a misfit boy, a brilliant scientist, and dragons. Sign me up!
Fallen Empires – Book 5 in the graphic novel series Cleopatra in Space. This volume includes a hunt for a spy, a mysterious death, and a big reveal about Cleo and the villainous dictator. I am all caught up on this fantastic series and I am ready to see what happens next!
Focused – A girl notices how often she gets distracted and how she has trouble staying focused. In fact, everyone is starting to notice, which leads to a diagnosis of ADHD. I’m curious to read this one. ADHD seems like such a common diagnosis these days, I’d like to see what the author does with this story.
Friendroid – Two boys bond over an online role play game and in each other find the friend they were both looking for. Neither of them knows, though, that one of them is an android. Sounds fascinating!
Jake the Fake Goes for Laughs – Book 2 in this series about a class clown who lets his success as a budding comedian go to his head.
Maybe a Mermaid – The author’s debut novel about a girl looking to make her first “true blue” friend in a new town where there are rumors of a mermaid. This sounds fun!
Over the Moon – In a town where boys get to toil in the mines and girls get to work as servants and everyone’s families count on those jobs to stay afloat, one girl gets the chance to change things by training flying horses. But in the process she stumbles across a mystery in her town that powerful people want to keep hidden. This is on my list for this week.
Revenge of the Sis – Star Wars Jedi Academy, book 7. This kicks off a new story arc starring Christina Starspeeder who has graduated from the Academy and now goes into advanced training. I have loved this series since the beginning, and I’m excited to see where it goes with this new story line.
Ruff vs Fluff – Queenie the cat and Arthur the dog love their lives at the Blackberry Hill Inn with their people, twins Harmony and Bro. But they can’t stand eachother. But when the twins’ cousin is framed for murder, the animals will team up to clear his name. This sounds adorable!
The Size of the Truth – When Sam was little, he spent 3 days trapped in the bottom of a well. Now as a bright eleven-year-old in eighth grade, Sam wants to leave his PTSD and his parents’ plans for his life behind and start working toward his own dream of being a chef. I am fascinated by the whole host of threads coming together in this story!
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny: May the Force Be With Us Cinestory Comic – The ladies of Star Wars star in three stories in this graphic novel.
Star Wars: Solo Graphic Novel Adaptation – Alessandro Ferrari is back with another graphic novel adaptation of a Star Wars movie. I love – and own – all of the previous books. The art work is spectacular. If you loved the Solo story, be sure to check this out.
Through the Untamed Sky – Book 2 in the Riders of the Realm series about pegasi and a people who have endeavored to tame the wild animals into war horses. I enjoyed the author’s previous Guardian Herd series, but I haven’t tried these yet.
The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom – In this new fractured fairy tale, a “Tragical” – a doomed orphan – and a Witch meet in what should be a disaster. But with the right opportunities they could become friends and write a new story for themselves. Yes, this is definitely on my list for this week.
The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins – Lyndie’s grandmother is determined to shape Lyndie into a proper Southern girl and that starts with learning to keep family secrets secret, like the struggles Lyndie’s dad has had since returning from Vietnam. I’m curious to read this one.
In Another Life – A new YA thriller about an adopted girl who moves to a new town for her senior year and meets a boy who says she reminds him of the daughter of his foster parents who was kidnapped. This was a must read for me! I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Killing November – A girl in an elite hidden school for training assassins and spies must figure out where she fits before she is either accused of murder, or the next victim. Teen thrillers have been really popular in the last few years. I’ll be reviewing this one later this spring, but I can already tell you it was amazing!
The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe – From the author of the Matched trilogy comes a new story about the teen captain of a mining ship who is out for revenge against the raiders who took everything from her.
Sky Without Stars – First in a new series re-imagining the the story of Les Misérables set in space. Sounds amazing!
Unleaving – The survivor of an off-campus assault leaves town to heal and to avoid those who side with the athletes she accused. But when another victim contacts her, and Maggie pushes through her own struggles to respond, the other girl goes silent. This will be an emotional one, but an important and timely subject for teens to consider. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Dear Ally: How Do You Write a Book? – Practical tips and helpful advice for aspiring writers from the author of The Gallagher Girls series, The Embassy Row series, and Not If I Save You First. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy.

Books for Adults

Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers (ebook, March 25) – Book 6 in the Camper and Criminals series. Mae is invited to teach at the local high school which puts her in a perfect spot to do some sleuthing when a fellow teacher is murdered.
Decades: Marvel in the 60s – Spider-Man Meets the Marvel Universe (Paperback Graphic Novel) – This tour through Marvel history focuses on Spider-Man in his early interactions with other Marvel heroes such as the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and Doctor Strange.
Half Finished (Trade Paperback) – A group of crafters gathers with the purpose of encouraging one another to finish the projects they start. That theme carries over into life outside of their craft projects. This one is on my library list.
The Hidden Corpse (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Food Blogger Mystery series.  When Hope’s neighbor dies in a fire, she feels a little guilty because her neighbor probably needed more help at home and shouldn’t have been living alone. But when another body is found in the house, things take a darker turn.
Leave No Scone Unturned (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Chef-to-Go Mystery series. As Dani hopes the return of the college students will boost her business, a string of incidents on campus, including a murder, shake up the whole town.
The Library of Lost and Found (Hardcover) – When a librarian receives a gift of a book of fairy tales from her dead grandmother, it sets her on a course to uncover family secrets and maybe even get to the truth of what happened to her grandmother. I already have this one on hold from the library.
Murder in Tranquility Park (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Ferrera Family Mystery series. Grandmother and granddaughter are sleuthing again when the Ferrera ladies find a hidden tree house – and a dead body. This sounds like a fun series. I have book one on my TBR shelves.
Murder Lo Mein (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. A local food critic dies with his face in a bowl of noodles so everyone in the local noodle competition is a suspect. I have this series on my shelves, too.
Reading to Make a Difference (Professional – Paperback) – The latest instructional book for teachers from Lester Laminack (Professor Emeritus of Education, speaker, writer) on using books in the classroom as windows, mirrors and doors.

BOOK NEWS: March 19, 2019

BOOK NEWS: March 19, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the fabulous books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

  

Little Naturalists: The Adventures of John Muir AND John James Audubon Painted Birds (Board Book) – Board books celebrating naturalists.
Baby’s First Bank Heist – Baby Frank is planning a bank heist to get money for a fluffy pet. This looks hilarious!
Buck Denver’s Hammer of Strength: A Lesson in Loving Others – New from Phil Vischer (Veggie Tales). Buck wants everyone to know how strong he is but his friends encourage him to show his strength through kindness.
Bach to the Rescue – A colorful and “zany” story about the Goldberg Variations.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mr. Rogers – 75 songs by Fred Rogers collected in an illustrated book.
Didi Dodo Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster – Book 1 in this new early chapter book series from Tom Angleberger (The Origami Yoda series) focused on food-related mysteries.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Payback Time! – Big Nate, book 20. A new collection of Big Nate comic strips.
Star Wars: Choose Your Destiny An Obi-Wan & Anakin Adventure – The third Choose Your Destiny novel from the folks at Star Wars/Disney/Lucasfilm
Tangled in Time: The Portal – An orphan girl sent to live with a grandmother she’s never met before discovers a portal to the past in her grandmother’s green house.
The Wizenard Series: Training Camp – First in a new series by Kobe Bryant about the worst basketball team in the league and their magical new coach who could change everything for the players both on and off the court.
Girls With Sharp Sticks – First in a new series for teens about an all-girls school that promises to make the girls obedient and free of independent ideas or troublesome opinions. But the girls are learning to fight back. Sounds fascinating!
Internment – In a dystopian near-future USA, Muslim-Americans are kept in internment camps. The main character learns to find allies and seeks to fight for freedom. A timely story in a world where the news can leave me feeling  like I am living in a dystopian novel.
Sherwood – With Robin of Locksley dead and the Sheriff’s right-hand goon ready to step into his fortune and his betrothal, Maid Marian takes up the cape and mantel of Robin Hood.
To Best the Boys – In a world where girls are trained to become wives and boys are sent to university, two girls will pose as boys to enter a dangerous competition for the chance at a university scholarship in order to find a cure for a disease that is destroying their home. This sounds like a Hunger Games/Maze Runner mash up, and I am eager to try it out.

Books for Adults

Can’t Escape Love (ebk – novella)- From the author of A Princess in Theory comes this novella addition to the Reluctant Royals series about a nerdy business woman and a livestreamer. I pre-ordered this one weeks ago. I really enjoyed A Princess in Theory and I have one of the other series novels on my TBR shelves.
Magnificent Nine (Hardcover) – The second original Firefly novel focuses on Jayne and an old flame who may be raising his daughter in the middle of a fight over water rights on a desert world. Fans of the series will gobble this one up!
Murder Once Removed (Hardcover) – First in the Ancestry Detective series about a genealogist who solves part of a 19th century murder which stirs up a contemporary political firestorm. Many years ago I read a different genealogist mystery series by Rhett MacPherson that I adored. I am so excited to dig into this new series! I’ll be reviewing this one in a few weeks.
One Potato, Two Potato, Dead (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Farm-to-Fork mystery series about the death of a culinary professor. I have this series on my wish list.
Unpacking Fake News: An Educator’s Guide to Navigating the Media with Students (Professional – Paperback, March 22) – “Fake News” has become a phrase frequently thrown around to describe any story a person doesn’t care for. But in reality, fake news reported as real and factual has caused an untold number of problems in America in recent years. Teachers are at the front line in the effort to help the next generation become careful consumers of news and information and to check sources and facts before accepting a headline or report at face value. Covers information for K-12 educators.

BOOK NEWS: March 12, 2019

BOOK NEWS: March 12, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

There’s another crop of great books out this week. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Books for Kids

Charlotte the Scientists Finds a Cure – Charlotte’s second book focuses on a mysterious forest malady and Charlotte’s efforts to help her friends. I loved the first book, and I’m eager to read this one.
A Little Chicken – A fearful little chicken takes a big risk to rescue her future sibling. This looks adorable.
Noah Builds an Ark – While a boy’s family prepares for a big storm, Noah tries to help the animals in their garden who will be impacted.
The Puddle – Peg and Cat use their math skills to figure out how deep the puddles are when they go puddle jumping. I love this series!
Saying Goodbye to Barkley – A girl grieves the lost of her best-pal/pet dog and tries to adjust to a new dog who just isn’t the same as Barkley.
Wolfie’s Secret – Wolfie isn’t quite the “big bad wolf” everyone thinks he is. He’d rather eat cakes he makes rather than eat little pigs. This looks fun.
A Computer Called Katherine: How Katharine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon – A picture book biography of Katharine Johnson.
A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park – The story of Central Park in New York City.
Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of The Man Behind the Machines – A delightful-looking picture book biography of Rube Goldberg.
Marty Frye Private Eye: Case of the Busted Video Games – Book 3 in this early chapter book series where Marty Frye the poet detective solves three short mysteries. I’m eager to read one of these – sounds like a fun series!
Secret Agents Jack and Max Stalwart: The Fate of the Irish Treasure AND The Race for Gold Rush Treasure – Books 3 and 4 in the Jack and Max Stalwart series about brothers who are secret agents and travel around the world.
Discover How to Pray AND Discover How to Read the Bible – Two impressive books for kids. One talks about prayer and includes Bible stories and places for kids to write their own prayers. The other talks about the structure and content of the Bible and contains stories from 30 personalities found in its pages. These look like terrific resources! Both are 96 pages long, so these are meaty resources for kids and families.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

A Good Kind of Trouble – A junior high student who just wants to get through 7th grade with her relationships intact gets involved in the Black Lives Matter movement and  sees what happens in her community when people start taking sides. This one has gotten a LOT of positive buzz!
Lucy, Speak Out! – A new Peanuts collection, focused on classic Lucy-centric strips.
Mostly the Honest Truth – When her dad goes back into rehab, Jane heads to a new foster home. I adore positive foster care stories. This is on my list for this week!
What is the Stanley Cup? AND What Was Stonewall?
Amy’s Diary: Space Alien… Almost? – A girl trying to find her place in the universe notices love springing up all around her, starting with her widowed mother. Graphic Novel
Meet Me in Outer Space – A college student with auditory processing disorder has managed her learning issues just fine so far, but her fourth semester of French, with an uncooperative professor, threatens to derail her. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Shout – A poetry memoir from Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the ground-breaking book about sexual assault, Speak.

Books for Adults

Me for You (Hardcover) – A widower starts working as the piano player in a Nordstrom and meets a potential love interest. When the police decide to take a second look at his role in his wife’s death all the positive things happening in his life are at risk. This sounds fascinating.
Something Read, Something Dead (March 13, Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. A bride-to-be’s extended family descends en masse and threatens to derail the quiet, simple wedding she had planned. When one of the relatives dies, Lucy will dust off her sleuthing skills to keep her friend from being falsely arrested for murder. Sounds great! I have the first book in this series on my TBR shelves.
Trouble on the Books (March 13, Hardcover) – First in the Castle Bookshop series about a former book editor turned bookshop owner drawn into solving a murder. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
2-Ingredient Miracle Dough Cookbook: Easy Lower-Carb Recipes for Flatbreads, Bagels, Desserts and More (Paperback) – I am fascinated by the idea of a two-ingredient cookbook. I’m on the look for this one this week.
Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals (Hardcover) – The latest from best-selling author Rachel Hollis (Girl, Wash Your Face) which encourages women to own who they are and go after what they want.
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others (Hardcover) – The latest from Barbara Brown Taylor (An Altar in the World, Leaving Church) focuses on the evolution of her faith in God through her work with students and people of other faiths.
Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A Handbook for Harmony and Transformation (Trade Paperback) – For those who have started their journey with the Enneagram and are asking “What’s next?” I have this on my list for this week, too.

BOOK NEWS: March 5, 2019

BOOK NEWS: March 5, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy March!! There are SOOOO many great books coming out this week, I had to divide up some of the categories. Take a look:

Books for Kids

Arrr Mustache Baby – The Mustache Baby picture books are some of my all time favorites. I can’t wait to see what this new one is like!
Because – A new picture book from Mo Willems.
Cake – Cake has been invited to his very first birthday party, but it doesn’t go quite the way he expected. This looks hysterical! I can’t wait to read this one.
Cavekid Birthday – A cavekid twist on the Gift of the Magi. This looks adorable.
Circle – The final book in the Shape Trilogy by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.
Just Read! – A celebration of reading.
Not Your Nest! – As Bird builds a nest, an interloper is always swooping in to take it over – until Bird says no more! I’m eager to see this one in person.
Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck – A chicken takes over a pirate ship. This looks delightfully weird.
Some Days – Explores a range of emotions experienced by two children. Sounds lovely.
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug – When his best friend needs a hug, Tiny tries to figure out how to give his friend what he needs, even with his tiny arms. Adorable!
What Makes a Hero – A picture book focused on the female heroes of Marvel.
Maria Montessori (Little People, Big Dreams) – Picture book biography of Maria Montessori, the early childhood education expert.
Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank – Dr. King and Anne Frank were born in the same year, but in very different parts of the world. Both faced prejudice with love and hope. This book looks at the parallels in their lives.
Case of the Disappearing Doll (Leveled Reader)- Disney Junior’s Fancy Nancy and her best friend Bree are detectives, looking for Nancy’s missing doll.
Chicken in Charge (Leveled Reader) – When the farmer is away, Zoey the chicken thinks she knows what it takes to take care of the lambs on the farm.
Unhappy Birthday, Grumpy Cat (Leveled Reader) – Grumpy is ready for her unhappy birthday.
The Big Book of Disney’s Top 10s: Fun Facts and Cool Trivia – Disney trivia for kids
Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid – Book 2 in the Ben Braver early chapter book series. Ben still doesn’t fit in at his secret school for kids with special powers, and as his friends get more powerful, he’s afraid his secret will be discovered. I have book one from the library so I can check this series out.
Terror in the Tunnel – Imagination Station book 23. The kids are on the train with Abraham Lincoln on the way to his first inauguration, but there are assassins on the way as well, hoping to end his presidency before it begins. This series reminds me of Magic Tree House, but with a faith-based foundation.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

A Crystal of Time – The School for Good and Evil, book 5. A false king takes the throne, leaving the real king’s betrothed to play a dangerous game to rescue her friends.
Far Away – CJ’s aunt has always used her psychic gifts to let CJ talk to her mom who died shortly after CJ was born. But when that connection is threatened, CJ and a friend head off on a quest to find something that will give her more of a permanent connection to her mom.
The Griffins of Castle Cary – Three kids off to England to visit their aunt find more than they expected on their vacation – ghosts!
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane – First in a new series. A girl whose dad disappeared and whose mom seems too busy to parent finds herself at a boarding school in England. Some treasures from home hint at the fact that her father might have been connected to the school’s secret society.
Nikki on the Line – All Nikki wants is to be a basketball star, but her new team is so good, she wonders where she even fits anymore. Changes with her friends and stress from home pile on as well. Can Nikki overcome all of these challenges, or will she have to settle for less on the court than she dreams?
The North Star – Gemini Mysteries book 1. Four teens are on the case of a missing necklace. I love mysteries, so this one is on my list for this week.
The Revenge of Magic – First in a new series. When books of magic are found around the world next to piles of dragon bones, only kids are able to use the magic. I have a review copy of this one on my pile right now.
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe – First in a new series about Hispanic/Latino mythology from Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint.
Secret Mission Guam – Soldier Dogs, book 3. This one is set in 1944 during WWII on the island of Guam which is under Japanese control.
The Secret of Zoone – Zoone is the Grand Central Station of the universe, full of portals to everywhere imaginable. When the door back to Earth explodes, Ozzie is in for an adventure as he tries to get home again. This sounds right up my alley.
Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy – When a school in orbit of Jupiter is attacked, a student discovers his science teacher father created a warp drive and this is a perfect time to try it out. While the school is rescued from the original attack, the jump lands the kids in the clutches of the first race of aliens humans have ever encountered. I’m hoping this new sci-fi series is just as fun as the Randoms series by David Liss. This is on my library list.
Wished – Book 5 in the Fairy Tale Reform School series. The villains are on the run and everyone is bracing for their next attack, but Maxine asks a genie to make everyone happy. Now all of Fairy Tale Reform School is more focused on putting on a musical than saving their family and friends.
Boss the Bestseller List Like JK Rowling AND Run the Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey (Work It, Girl) – Chapter book biographies of women with gorgeous paper-pieced illustrations. The visuals in these books are stunning.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Chrysalis – The third and final book in the Project Nemesis series. The kids in Fire Lake’s sophomore class have survived the first two phases of the program, but as they move forward, still trying to secure their ultimate survival, old grudges are hard to give up. And it’s likely they will need to set those grudges aside – if they can – and work together if they hope to stay alive. I have the first book on my library list.
The Everlasting Rose – Sequel to The Belles. Camille is determined to fight her nemesis Sophia and protect her people, but in a world of masks and secrets, who can she really trust and how far is she willing to go?
The Fairest Kind of Love – Windy City Magic, book 3. Amber uses her family magic as a matchmaker, but while she can see everyone else’s match, she can’t see her own. On a quest to find her own match, and figure out why her powers are on the fritz, Amber will find herself in the middle of a magical war that might force her to team up with the last person she wants to seek out for help. I bought the first book in this series because the whole things sounds perfect for me!
Field Notes on Love – The latest teen romance from Jennifer E. Smith. Two strangers experiencing major disappointments team up on a cross country train trip to escape their everyday lives. I love the author’s previous books, so this is definitely on my list for this week.
If You’re Out There – At first it seems as though her best friend just dumped her when she moved across the country. But a hidden clue in her social media might actually be a sign that she’s in desperate trouble. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
The Last 8 – When aliens invade Earth and destroy everything, Clover thinks she’s the only survivor. But a message sends her to Area 51 where she discovers other survivors, but she’s not certain she can trust them. Yep, I’ll need to read this one soon.
The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project – A character living in Trope Town is sent to therapy after going off script. This sounds so weird, it could be perfect. This is on my list for this week, too.
Opposite of Always – A Groundhog Day-esque story of a guy who meets the perfect girl. When the girl dies, the guy is sent back in time to the moment when they met. I absolutely have to read this one!
A Question of Holmes – The fourth and final book in the Charlotte Holmes series. This time, Charlotte and Jamie stumble across a cold case of a missing girl at Oxford in the theater department. I haven’t kept up with the series, but this story sounds fascinating!
The Quiet You Carry – A girl kicked out of her house on the eve of her senior year tries to put the pieces of her life back together while maintaining her secrets. But she can’t shake her worries about her stepsister, alone in the house with her father. I feel like this is going to go to a dark place, but I am intrigued to see how all the pieces of the story come together.
Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow – Padmé has stepped down from her role as queen, but now she has been asked to serve as senator. This will require her to navigate the treacherous halls of the galactic senate and to discover a new identity for herself beyond that of queen. I can’t wait to read this one!
Within These Lines – The latest from Blink YA. The fact that an Italian-American girl has fallen in love with the son of Japanese immigrants is a big deal in 1941 California. Inter-racial marriage is illegal, but the two are committed to one another. But when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, their love faces even greater obstacles.
The Year I Didn’t Eat – Max keeps a journal where he writes his true feelings to “Ana” as in anorexia, his eating disorder. But when Max stores his journal in a geo-cache box, someone else finds it and starts writing back to Max. I am fascinated by the whole idea of this one.
You Owe Me a Murder – Kim was only venting when she told a stranger about her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend and how having to endure their relationship on a class trip makes her wish he was dead. She was sure the stranger was only joking when she said they should swap murders. But when Kim’s ex dies unexpectedly, the stranger wants Kim to live up to her end of their deal. Strangers on a Train meets contemporary YA literature!
Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House – Previously untold stories of some of the young women who worked in the Obama White House.

Books for Adults

Almost Home (Trade Paperback) – The group of people at an Alabama boarding house during World War II have the chance to solve a mystery about the house’s past as they are all processing their own issues from the past.
Chocolate à la Murder (March 8 – Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one in April.
Death by Dog Show (Trade Paperback) – Book one in the Creature Comforts Mystery series. I’d love to try this one out!
How the Light Gets In (Trade Paperback) – A woman and her daughters and mother-in-law travel to Wisconsin to bury her husband after he and her father-in-law were killed doing relief work. The family joins the Mennonite community there and start to rebuild their lives. But what will happen to their fresh start if it turns out her husband isn’t dead after all?
Mahimata (Trade Paperback) – Asiana, Book 2. Knife-wielding female assassins. Murder, love, vengeance, secrets and war. Yep, I have book one in this series on my list!
The Quintland Sisters (Trade Paperback) – Based on the true story of the Dionne Quintuplets, a set of five girls born in Canada and eventually removed from their home and turned into a tourist attraction by the government. The real story sounds fascinating. I’m curious to see what the fictionalized version, told from the perspective of a nurse who cared for the girls, is like.
The Women’s War (Hardcover) – A feminist tale of patriarchy and the women who come to wield magic that will change the balance of power. This is on my list, too.
Bible Commentary (Joyce Meyer), Ephesians AND James (Hardcover) – I’m curious to check out these new Bible commentaries from Bible teacher Joyce Meyer.
Hungry Girl Simply 6: All-Natural Recipes with 6 Ingredients or Less (Paperback) – Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien provides clean-eating recipes with 6 ingredients or fewer. That’s my kind of cooking!
Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness (Hardcover) – The latest from Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project) focuses on simplyfying and decluttering.
The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe (Hardcover) – The latest from Richard Rohr looks at expanding the concept of “Christ” beyond the physical person of Jesus. I’ll be reviewing this one this week.