Category: Book News

BOOK NEWS: October 17, 2017

BOOK NEWS: October 17, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

We’re half way through October, and the holiday season is quickly approaching. I’m feeling ready for sweatshirt weather, soup, and crunchy leaves! Here are some new books releasing this week to enjoy as the season turns colder.

Books for Kids

Doctor Tenth: Christmas Surprise! – A Christmas story about Donna and the Tenth Doctor. I have yet to see this line in person, but I think the idea is adorable.
Malala’s Magic Pencil – Activist, Malala Yousafzai releases her story in picture book format to reach younger readers. This is going to be a powerful story! This would work in classroom settings, libraries and at home.
Merry Christmas, Peanut! – One of the things I love about this time of year is that Christmas books start releasing. In this book, a peanut has a yummy-looking adventure on his way to visit family for the holidays. The illustrations in these books are fantastic and clever. This is sure to be a hit!
Thanksgiving in the Woods – Based on the true story of a family who hosted their Thanksgiving celebration in the woods. As a teacher, I had a hard time finding great Thanksgiving stories to read in November. I would add this one to my repertoire if I was still teaching.
The Doctors Time and Space Collection – A collection of the first 8 books in this line (Includes Doctors 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12). Includes a poster. This is a great gift idea for Doctor Who fans who are also kids at heart!
Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Tales of Hope & Courage – Maz Kanata’s journal records the stories of 6 heroines of the Star Wars Saga.
Miss Tracy Is Spacey! – Book 9 in the My Weirdest School series by Dan Gutman. My students loved these short chapter books about a group of elementary school kids and their wacky school staff.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe – Book 12 in this super popular middle grade series with a diary format. This time, Nikki has a dilemma when a new boy has a crush on her.
Frank Einstein and the Bio-Action Gizmo – Book 5 in this great science fiction series starring fun, smart kids and quirky robots.
Harry Potter: A Journey through the History of Magic – Based on the new exhibition at the British Library. I can’t wait to see this one in person!
Kid Sherlock – Graphic novel about new kid, John Watson (who happens to be a dog) and Sherlock Holmes. This looks adorable!
The Legend of Shadow High – The kids of Monster High meet the ones from Ever After High in this new book by Shannon Hale. I’ll be reviewing this one on Thursday this week.
Open If You Dare – Three friends find a box labeled “Open if you dare” and now they are solving a forty-year-old mystery. This sounds right up my alley.
Paper Chains – Two friends from very different family situations work their way through strains at home and in their friendship. This sounds absolutely lovely. It is at the top of my wish list for this week!
The Phantom of the Opera (Muppets) – The Muppets put their special spin on the classic story, The Phantom of the Opera. I’d love to see this in person to see what the Muppet influence is on the story.
The Summer of Owen Todd – Owen and Sean have been best friends for ages, so it’s no surprise when Sean opens up to Owen about things going on with the new babysitter Sean’s mom hired to look after him for the summer.  The question becomes what Owen should do – does he stay quiet like Sean asks him to? Or is this too big to keep to himself? This sounds like a younger kids version of A List of Cages (which is one of my favorite books of 2017). This is going to be a difficult but important book to read. This is also at the top of my list for this week.
The Magic Storm – Book 6 in the Phoebe and her Unicorn series. I LOVE this quirky comic series about a girl and her unicorn best friend. I pre-ordered this MONTHS ago, and I will be stalking the mail carrier on Tuesday, waiting for my copy.
Who Is Ralph Lauren? – Latest in the Who Was series of biographies
36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You – Two kids join a psychology study at their university to see if love can be engineered. Told in IMs, sketches and texts, this sounds like a fun read for teens and young adults. This is on my wish list for the library.
Dear Martin – A young African American journals to Dr. King, wondering if his teachings still hold up today when the young man is caught in an altercation with a white police officer. This is a timely story which has received a LOT of positive buzz leading up to the release. This is on my library list, too.
What Was That All About? – A 20-year look at the Duncan family from the Zits comic strip. As the mom of a teenager, I adore this comic. I have this book on my Christmas list!

Books for Adults

Cold as Ice – Book 6 in the Country Club Murders series about an amateur sleuth socialite. The covers for this series are appealing to me, so I have this whole series on my library list.
Planet Hulk – Prose novel based on the comic series about the Incredible Hulk on the planet Sakaar where he is sold into slavery. The Hulk is one of my favorite Marvel characters, so this is on my Christmas list.
Thor Ragnarok Prelude – Graphic novel prelude to the movie releasing in November. Collects Prelude 1-4, Thor (1966) 361, and Hulk (2000) 95.
30 Days to Joy – A one month creative journal including quotes and prompts. Could be a great gift idea, or something to structure my desire to be crafty when I don’t know what I want to do.
Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff – For fans of the show Fixer Upper comes this book by Chip Gaines about some of the antics and ideas he has pursued and the things he has learned along the way.
Chasing Light – As a visual person, I am a sucker for a fantastic photograph. When our family toured the White House several years ago, I was struck by the gorgeous pictures that lined the walls. This looks like a lovely collection of photos of one of our First Ladies.
Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It – If you are trying to make more healthy choices in your diet, this book could be a resource to motivate you, looking at the impact of processed food on our health. This is on my library list.
Seeing the Unseen – A 90-day devotional by Randy Alcorn with a focus on eternity. Includes scripture references as well as quotes from Christian leaders.
Why the Vote Wasn’t Enough for Selma – Examines the impact of the right to vote on African Americans in the south, specifically in Selma, with regard to economic justice and true “citizenship.”

BOOK NEWS: October 10, 2017

BOOK NEWS: October 10, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Peanuts! John Green! Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Schools around here are kicking off the fall break season. Some kids even get two whole weeks off this month to rest up for the second quarter of the school year! That’s a perfect time to pick up a new book or two to help fill the time. Here are some of the titles debuting this week:

Books for Kids

Everything Is Mama – Companion book to Jimmy Fallon’s Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada.
Last Laughs: Prehistoric  Epitaphs – Pithy poems about the demise of prehistoric creatures.
Me and Mr. Fluffernutter –  Her cat is her best friend, but what happens when a girl and her cat want to do different things? This looks adorable!
Ninja Claus! – A young ninja tries to catch a glimpse of Santa
The Wolf, The Duck and the Mouse – A mouse is eaten by a wolf and discovers a duck living comfortably in the wolf’s stomach. This is the latest from the team of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Thor vs Hulk (Leveled Reader) – I don’t know that I have been this excited about a Marvel movie since the first Avengers came out. I can’t wait to see Thor Ragnarok in November.
Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package – This is the latest early chapter book in the Deckawoo Drive series. I loved the Mercy Watson books that started this series. And the book before this, Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?, is my absolute favorite. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
Louie in a Spin – Book 3 in the Unicorn in New York series about a unicorn who can’t dance but ends up in a dance competition.
Rabbit & Robot and Ribbit – Sequel to Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover. Now, two friends become three which leads to hurt feelings. This sounds cute.
Super Turbo Protects the World – The hamster sidekick from Captain Awesome tells his own story in this spin-off series.
Tug-of-War – Book 2 in the Chocolate Lab series. I read book one and it was adorable.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

Dog Day After School – Book 3 in the Crimebiters series about a group of crime-fighting kids and their pets. I read the first book in this delightful series a couple years ago. I’d love to read this one!
The Downward Spiral – Book two in the Lock and Key series which re-imagines the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. I’d love to read this series!
Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Famous Writers – This explores the childhoods of popular authors like JK Rowling and Stan Lee.
The Kids Who Knew Too Little – Book 3 in the League of Unexceptional Children series about a pair of completely average kids who get to be spies. I have book 1 on my TBR list.
Laura Ingalls Is Ruining My Life – A girl’s family moves to Walnut Grove because her Laura Ingalls-obsessed mom is convinced the environment will help her write a book. I’m not even that into Little House, but I can’t wait to read this book!
The Magical Match – Book 4 in the Fairytale Matchmaker series. I read the first book in this series, and it’s a lot of fun. This is from the author of the Wide-Awake Princess series, which is one of my favorites.
Molly in the Middle – The latest in the MIX line from Aladdin is this story about a girl who is tired of always being in the middle so she decides to stand out. I love this line of books! This one sounds great.
Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race – Book three in the awesome Mr. Lemoncello series. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
The Silver Mask – Book 4 in the Magisterium series about kids with magic powers and a magician who has hijacked the life of a young man. I read the first book in this series, and it was fascinating!
Snow and Rose – Snow White and Rose Red, reimagined.
Spy School Secret Service – Book 5 in the spy school series. I have these on my reading wish list. I love the graphic covers for this series. This time, Ben is assigned to stop a presidential assassination.
Thor Ragnarok Junior Novel – A kids’ introduction to the new Thor movie releasing in November.
What Are the Ten Commandments?
What Was the Ice Age?
What’s Wrong Dog Lips? – A collection of Snoopy comics
Gatekeepers – A trio of teens react to the suicide of a peer and to their own pressures and doubts. This is high on my list for this week, too.
Into the Garden – Earlier this year I reviewed a terrific YA book called Dividing Eden. This novella, set decades before the events of that book, releases this week for Kindle and other ebooks. I’ve already requested this one from the library!
Librarian of Auschwitz – Based on real-life people and events, this story focuses on a teen in Auschwitz who is the keeper of the 8 books the prisoners were able to sneak into the camp.
Turtles All the Way Down – John Green’s latest story is about a teen investigating the mystery of a fugitive billionaire. I am #42 on the waiting list at my local library. This one is going to be huge.

Books for Adults

Death Overdue – The first book in a new Haunted Library mystery series. A man who says he has information about a 15 year old cold case keels over at a library event. The events librarian will partner with the library ghost to solve the mystery.
Homicide For the Holidays – Book 2 in the Viv and Charlie mystery series is a holiday mystery set around a radio actress and private detective. I love the creative premise of this. This is on my list.
Perilous Poetry – Book 3 in the Book Barn Princess series. In this one, a new book app  brings a famous author to the Book Barn and a murder to the community. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Running Out of Time – Book 3 in the Dodie O’Dell  mystery series about a restaurant manager who finds a body at an adaptation of Our Town.
Twelve Slays of Christmas – The first book in a Christmas Tree farm mystery series. This sounds perfect – great cozy mystery and a Christmas story. This is the time of year I love to start reading holiday stories.
Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together – Journalist Van Jones weighs in on our current political culture in America. I have enjoyed some of Jones’ work over the last year and I’m looking forward to reading this.
Grant – Ron Chernow, renowned author of the Alexander Hamilton biography that led to the Broadway show, looks at the life of Ulysses S. Grant.
My Time with God – A new devotional from Christian speaker and Bible teacher, Joyce Meyer.
Norbert’s Little Lessons for a Big Life – Lessons from an adorable therapy dog.
Only Dead on the Inside – Twitter sensation, James Breakwell’s first book about surviving the zombie apocalypse with your family. Our whole family enjoys Breakwell’s humor on social media. I can’t wait to see what the book is like.

BOOK NEWS: October 3, 2017

BOOK NEWS: October 3, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Star Wars. Humpty Dumpty. Harry Potter. Stick Cat. More Star Wars! The first Tuesday of the month always means a huge crop of new books! In fact, there are so many middle grade books, they get their own section this week! Here are some that I am looking at this week.

Books for Kids

 

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) – Tells the story of what happens AFTER Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall. I cannot wait to read this! I love Dan Santat’s artwork and I’ve been hearing about this story for months. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Alfie (The Turtle that Disappeared) – When Nia’s turtle, Alfie, goes missing, the story changes to Alfie’s point of view. This looks adorable, and I can’t wait to read it.
Dough Knights and Dragons – A knight and a dragon bond over a common passion, but discover they have to fight each other. This looks darling!
God’s Great Love for You – From the author of The Purpose Driven Life comes this picture book about God’s love being with us wherever we go. The cover really grabbed my attention on this one. The artwork looks terrific.
The Great Puppy Invasion – In a town where cuteness is forbidden, puppies appear. This sounds like a hoot!
I Am Gandhi AND I Am Sacagawea – From the Ordinary People Change the World series by Brad Meltzer. This has been a great series of picture book biographies that focus on the character qualities of the subject. Two new books in the series release this week.
Pigeon P.I. – A kids’ first “noir” detective book. I love the whole idea of this. Can’t wait to read it in person.
Pup and Bear – A lost wolf pup is raised by a polar bear. The cover of this one calls to me. This looks and sounds absolutely lovely.
Remembering Vera – A dog, found by some men in the Coast Guard, becomes a hero. This true story sounds perfect for every animal fan you know.
Roaring Rockets – My son ADORED the books in this things-that-go series when he was a toddler. Now they are available as board books!
That Is My Dream – An illustrated picture book of Langston Hughes’ poem, “Dream Variation.”
Amelia Bedelia on the Move – Early Reader Level 1 starring Amelia Bedelia. Now the earliest of readers can read along with Amelia Bedelia.
Heroes Who Risked Everything for Freedom: Civil War – Early Reader Level 3 acquaints kids with the heroes of the Civil War
Pinkalicious and the Babysitter – Early Reader Level 1 starring Pinkalicious and her little brother, Peter
How to Catch a Dino Thief – Book 4 in the Dino Riders series for kids branching out into chapter books. This series looks fantastic!
Star Wars Coding – Kids can learn and practice coding skills while enjoying their favorite characters from Star Wars

Middle Grade/Books for Older Kids

 

Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic (Timeless) – First book in a new fantasy series where the past, present and future collide.
Flash: Hocus Focus – Fans of the Flash TV show can enjoy an original story in the timeline where Flashpoint never took place. Our family loves the TV show; I hope the book lives up to that legacy.
Greetings from Witness Protection – This book was beyond fantastic, and I will be reviewing it on Thursday. Be sure you come back to read all about it!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Book 3 in the Harry Potter series is now illustrated. This is my favorite book in the series, and I am so excited to see what they have done with the illustrations for this.
Inferno in Tokyo – Book 20 in the Imagination Station series which is like a Christian take on Magic Tree House.
Max Tilt: Fire the Depths – First book in a new series that stars the great-great-great grandson of Jules Verne who finds an unpublished manuscript and clues that Verne’s science fiction writing was actually based on science FACT. This sounds like a terrific new adventure series!
The Midnight Peacock (October 5) – I’m not sure how I missed this series before now, but this is book 4 in a middle grade historical mystery series about two girls who solve mysteries at a departments store, a couple of balls, and one about a missing painting.
Mistress of All Evil – Part of the Villains series, this looks at the story of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Great for Disney fans, especially those who love the villains.
Ms. Marvel’s Fists of Fury – Ms Marvel teams up with Thor to handle an inhuman bird infestation. Sounds great for kids who love original Marvel stories.
Mustaches for Maddie – A girl with a brain tumor faces bullying, the school play, and her medical issues with strength and bravery. This sounds amazing. This is definitely on my list.
Pashmina – A new graphic novel about a girl with questions about her culture and her family who finds a magical pashmina.
Past Times at Super Hero High – In the fourth graphic novel starring the kids from Super Hero High, time travel and one jealous choice change everything for the worse. I read this over the weekend. It’s a fun story.
Predator vs Prey – Book 2 in the Going Wild series about a group of kids with magical bracelets that give them the powers of animals. I have book 1 on my wish list right now.
Serpent’s Shadow GN – The final book in Rick Riordan’s Egyptian Mythology series gets the graphic novel treatment this week. While the graphic novels condense Riordan’s work in a lot of cases, the stories are still enjoyable in this visual format.
Ship of the Dead – Book 3 in the Magnus Chase series about Norse mythology. This is the book where Magnus meets Percy Jackson! For that reason alone, we will be reading this one at our house!
Sled Dog School – A boy who is struggling at school sets up a school for training sled dogs. That cover is adorable. I’m curious to check out this series.
Sven Carter & the Trashmouth Effect – The latest MAX book from the folks at Aladdin is about Sven Carter, a boy who is also part robot. Only, Sven didn’t know that about himself. He also didn’t know he’s part of a plot to destroy the human race.
The Perfect Score – When I was teaching, I fell in love with the Mr. Terupt series by Rob Buyea. This is the latest book by Buyea, the start of a new series. And it’s terrific! You can read my review here.
The Touchdown Kid – The latest from Tim Green is about a kid who gets a chance at a better life for himself thanks to his talent with a football. I enjoy these kinds of sports books by both Green and Mike Lupica. Check this one out for the sports lover in your life.
Two Catch a Thief – Book 3 in the Stick Cat series by the awesome Tom Watson. In this book, Stick Cat and Edith discover a burglar.
The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City – The gorgeous cover of this book gets me every time I see it! This book has been compared to Charlotte’s Web. It’s the story of a girl who lives in the city and tries to find a home for a rescued piglet.
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street – The Vanderbeekers are in danger of losing their home on 141st Street. They have 11 days to convince their landlord to let them stay. The cover of this one is lovely, too. It calls to me to pick it up and dive right in.
The War I Finally Won – Sequel to the highly praised The War that Saved My Life about World War II. I don’t readily read much historical fiction, but several of my friends have recommended book one to me.
Wizards of Once – From the author of How to Train Your Dragon (the book series, not the movies) comes this new fantasy series about a kingdom of wizards and warriors at war. I’m eager to read this one!
Jesus Always for Kids – The bestselling author of Jesus Calling releases a new devotional for kids focusing on joy.
Master Chef Junior Cookbook: Bold Recipes and Essential Techniques to Inspire Young Cooks – Great first cook book for aspiring chefs.
Who Was Alexander Hamilton? AND Who Was Lewis Carroll? – The latest in the Who Was series.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Everything Must Go – A girl gives up her city/prep school life for a “hippie” farm experience all for a guy – who doesn’t show up. I would love to read this one and find out how she picks up the pieces after her expectations were destroyed.
Remember Me Always – A girl who suffered through a major car accident enters treatment for anxiety that takes her memories of the accident away. But she starts to feel as though she lost something more.
Select – Romeo and Juliet with a supernatural twist. Yes, please! Looking forward to reading this one!
NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Teen Girls – Lovely new coloring Bible for teens.

Books for Adults

     

Death on Tap – First in a new series by Ellie Alexander about a woman about brewing beer. I have the novella where the main character for this book meets the main character of the Bakeshop mystery series. I’m looking forward to reading that teaser and then checking out this new series.
Fatal Masquerade – Book 4 in this Kindle series. In this book there is a death at a masked ball. While I don’t generally seek out historical mysteries, I love the covers of these.
Fixing to Die – Book 4 in the Southern Ladies mystery series is a ghost story. I’ll be reviewing this one on Wednesday this week!
The Force Doth Awaken – The 7th Star Wars movie gets the Shakespeare treatment. I love these!
Lydia, Woman of Philippi – A fictionalized account of the woman, Lydia, from the Bible (Acts 16). I have done some work on this passage of scripture and have loved her story every since. I’d like to see what the author did with this story.
Merry and Bright – The latest from Debbie Macomber focuses on a young woman whose family sets her up for an online dating service. Her best match turns out to the be last person she wanted it to be. I LOVE to read holiday stories at this time of year, so this is on my library list.
A Room with a Brew – Book 3 in the Brewing Trouble series about a brewpub owner who solves mysteries.
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck – The author of steamy romance novels becomes a Christian, but she is still under contract to write books that would make the church folks blush. I absolutely HAVE to read this book. I hope it lives up to my expectations because I think this sounds terrific.
Star Wars from a Certain Point of View – Forty short stories about iconic Star Wars scenes, told from the perspective of a secondary character. Our whole family is looking forward to reading this one! All proceeds from this book support the charity, First Book.
Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces that Make Up a Life – The fourth book from author Melanie Shankle tackles the subject of the small, seemingly insignificant parts of our days that truly make up the core of our lives. I have read a little of her work before and found her writing style to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to this one.
The Daily Question – A five-year journal with a spiritual flavor, this book poses a question every day for you to answer. Then you can look back at what you wrote in previous years. I am looking at getting this book when my current five-year journal wraps up.
Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful – One woman’s story can inspire readers to see God as good in all the ups and downs of life. Sounds amazing.
Divine Encounter with the Holy Spirit – This book digs into the person of the Holy Spirit. This looks great!
Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not About You. – If you are looking for a bigger life that than the one you are living that centers on you and you alone, check this book out.
A Life Beyond Amazing: 9 Decisions that Will Transform Your Life Today – Titles like this get me every time. What are the 9 decisions? How many have I made?! I will have to check this one out to be sure I’m not missing out!
The Midlife Kitchen: Health-Boosting Recipes for Midlife and Beyond – The older I get, the more I wonder about the long term impact of what my family is eating. I’d love to check this one out.
A Moment to Breathe – A delightful devotional from the folks at (in)courage. I will be posting a BONUS review tomorrow morning of this book.
Real American – From the author of How to Raise an Adult (which is awesome) comes this memoir about being a bi-racial black woman in America. Considering the current culture in our country, and how much I loved the author’s first book, this is on my list.
Shalom Sistas: Living Wholeheartedly in a Brokenhearted World – Peace-making strategies for Christ-followers. Sign me up for this one. I think this would make a great group discussion book.

So many books – what will you add to your TBR this week? 

BOOK NEWS: September 26, 2017

BOOK NEWS: September 26, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Christmas books, biographies, mysteries and a chicken! It’s the final week of September. Here are some of the new books coming this week.

Books for Kids

Bruce’s Big Move – The stars of Mother Bruce and Hotel Bruce are back! I adore these characters and can’t wait to read this!
The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes – Part of the Amazing Scientists line of books. This is a picture book biography of Dr. Patricia Bath, a scientist who developed a revolutionary treatment for cataracts.
I Want to Go First – From the author of This Book Just Ate My Dog! comes this book about a little elephant who is tired of always going last.
Pig the Elf – Pig the Pug gets a Christmas story! This series is adorable and I can’t wait to read this Christmas story.
Tyrannosaurus Rex Vs Edna The Very First Chicken – It’s T Rex vs. Chicken in this new picture book. I want to read this one so badly! It looks awesome.
Christmas in Cooperstown – A second special edition from the Ballpark Mystery series, this Christmas book takes place at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Awesome for baseball fans! Great early chapter book series.
The Last Firehawk: The Ember Stone – A new Branches series kicks off with this book about three small friends trying to defeat an evil vulture who wants to conquer the world with dark magic.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Day Dreams and Movie Screens – Book 2 in the Faithgirlz series Lena in the Spotlight. You can see my review of book one here. In this book, Lena’s movie debuts, and she has to deal with her new found fame.
Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying (Sept 30) – This is one of my favorite books in 2017! I will be reviewing this mystery tomorrow here on the blog. Come back and read all about it.
Nutcracked – A magical take on the story of the Nutcracker! Perfect for the holiday season.
Ordinary Mishaps and Incredible Catastrophes – Book 2 in the Frazzled graphic novel series about navigating middle school.
Pick the Plot – Book 4 in the Story Thieves series. I really need to bump this series up on my TBR list because every time a new book releases, I remember how much I want to read it!
Who Killed Darius Drake? – A bully and a genius orphan team up to to find the truth behind the mystery of a long-lost diamond necklace. I love a great middle grade mystery so this is on my list.
Wishtree – Katherine Applegate is the author of The One and Only Ivan and Crenshaw. Her new book, about a tree that sees the wishes of the people in its neighborhood, is getting a LOT of buzz.
The Short History of the Girl Next Door – A teen can’t seem to  tell his best friend how he really feels about her. Real life is just not like the movies. And when tragedy strikes, Matt is left reeling. I have already requested this one from the library.

Books for Adults

Barking Up the Wrong Tree – Book 2 in a romance trio by mystery great, Jenn McKinlay. You can read my review of book one here. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Dead and Ganache – Book 4 in the Chocolate Whisperer Mystery series. They had me at chocolate on this one. I have this series on my TBR list!
Death by Eggnog – Book 5 in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. I haven’t read any of these, but the whole series looks darling. This is on my TBR, too.
Dial Meow for Murder – Book 2 in the Lucky Paws Mystery series. You can read my review of book one here. I really enjoyed the first book, so I want to be sure to read this one.
Holly and Ivy – A lonely widow meets a young girl with a great gift in this holiday story. I can’t get enough of Christmas books in the fall. This is definitely on my list for this year’s reading.
Mousse, Moscato & Murder – Book 3 in the Willa Friday Food and Wine Cozy Mystery series. I haven’t read the other books in this series yet, but the cover of this one grabbed my attention.
The Persian Always Meows Twice – This is the first book in the Cat Groomer mystery series about a cat groomer who gets caught up in a murder. A second book is scheduled for a spring 2018 release.
Purring Around the Christmas Tree – Book 6 in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series about the owner of an organic pet food store. I love the idea of this series and the fact that this particular one has a Christmas slant to it. I hope to get to this one this fall.
Sleep Like a Baby – Book 10 in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series. I haven’t read any of these, but I have enjoyed the movies on the Hallmark Channel. I’d like to try one of the books to see how it holds up with the the movies.
Star Trek Discovery: Desperate Hours – An original novel based on the new CBS All Access show. Of all the fandoms I adore, Star Trek is at the top of my list. I have high hopes for the new series, but I am not sure if we will subscribe in order to check it out.  I may just read the book instead. The book’s author is a long-time Star Trek author, so I have a lot of confidence that the story will be terrific.
Star Trek Deep Space 9 Gamma: Original Sin – Captain Sisko and the crew of the USS Robinson are exploring the Gamma Quadrant. This book picks up 3 months into their mission when they encounter their first alien species.
Sugar Pine Trail – Book 7 in the Haven Point series. A librarian finds herself taking care of two young boys at Christmas time. And her handsome neighbor pitches in. This is on my list of holiday books to read this fall!
Binge Parenting – The Baby Blues series of comics are hilarious. While this book would work for kids, some of the content would be much funnier for parents. One of the authors also does work on the Zits comic strip.
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies – This biography looks at a World War I and World War II code breaker, Elizebeth Smith. This is a story I’ve never heard before and it sounds fascinating!

BOOK NEWS: September 19, 2017

BOOK NEWS: September 19, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Blogiversary to me!

One year ago this week, I kicked off The Neverending TBR, and I’ve had so much fun tracking new releases and reviewing amazing books. I hope you have found some great treasures as you spent time here in the last year.

On to the new releases for this week!

Books for Kids

Her Right Foot – This ingenious nonfiction book looks at the Statue of Liberty from the perspective of her foot, sculpted in motion. I can’t wait to read this one!
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk – The Jack in this story has NO interest in following the narrator’s instructions to sell his cow and climb a beanstalk! This time Jack is taking his story into his own hands. This reminds me of one of my favorite fractured fairy tales, Don’t Read this Book! I can’t wait to check this one out!
Read! Read! Read! – Twenty-three poems about reading!
JoJo and Daddy Bake a Cake – Fancy Nancy’s little sister gets her own Early Readers, including this story about baking with her dad.
Beatrice Zinker Upside Down Thinker – This early chapter book stars Beatrice Zinker, a girl who has a unique perspective on the world – she prefers to look at it upside down. This makes her a very creative thinker. I’ll be reviewing this book tomorrow!
Jada Jones Rock Star AND Jada Jones Class Act – New transitional chapter book series. Book one focuses on Jada’s love of science and rocks and minerals, as well as some social issues at school. Book two focuses on her desire to be class representative and her fear of public speaking. This looks like a darling series!
Lark and the Diamond Caper – Book 2 in this series starring junior detectives searching for a missing pair of diamond earrings. I love mysteries for any age reader!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Falcon Wild – A girl who longs to be a certified falconer has to use all of her knowledge and skill to survive an accident and get help for her injured and trapped family.
No Place Like Home – A girl who has lived most of her life on the move with her dad for his job gets the chance to settle in for a little while, go to public school, and make some friends. Figuring they will be moving on soon, though, she decides to take some risks instead of playing everything safe. I love the whole line of MIX books from Aladdin, and this book sounds like my style of story.
Quests for Glory – Book 4 in the School for Good and Evil series. The students embark on their required fourth year quests where some are trying to return Camelot to its former glory and others find themselves in over their heads. Fans of this series will love to hear that there’s a fourth book to devour!
Renegades – Book 3 in the Randoms series. Poor Zeke seems to be in more trouble than ever. Whatever he does to save the galaxy (and get the girl) only seems to get him in more trouble. And this time, he doesn’t have any of his usual allies to help him. Our whole family has enjoyed the first two books in this series, and we will most definitely be reading book 3!
Saving Marty – A boy adopts a runty pig as his pet. The pig thinks he’s a dog, and acts accordingly, but when he reaches 350 lbs, it’s hard to pretend he’s a normal pet. This is described as “heart-wrenching” which makes me nervous about the pig’s future, but I HAVE to know what happens in this story.
The Way to Bea – A girl facing monumental changes writes haiku in invisible ink in a secret spot. Then someone writes back. I have wanted to read this since I first saw the cover. This is exactly the sort of book that I love!
Trolled – Book 3 in the Enchanted Files. Ned the Troll knows he is supposed to despise humans. But Ned just can’t do that; his heart is full of LOVE. This sounds fantastic! I will be putting the first two books on my library list asap so I can check out this fun fantasy series.
Rainy Day Unicorn Fun – A puzzle book from the Phoebe and her Unicorn folks. I ADORE the graphic novel books in this series – in fact the next one releases in October. I’m looking forward to checking out this activity book. It might be just what I need to keep in the car or in my purse for when I am waiting for an appointment, and I don’t want to bring along a book.
Jane Unlimited – A grieving teen accepts an invitation to the mysterious island Tu Reviens where she will have the chance to make different choices for her life. This author wrote the wildly popular Graceling (which of course is on my TBR shelves), so this is getting a lot of buzz.
Moxie: A Novel – A high schooler, fed up with the double standard, starts a feminist zine that becomes more popular than she could have ever imagined. This is probably at the top of my wish list for the week. This sounds like a terrific, girl-power sort of story, and I love to read those.
Murder, Magic and What We Wore – A young woman discovers her father is dead and his money is missing so she becomes a spy and learns that she has a magical affinity for sewing glamours. This is a hard story to summarize. Come back on Thursday when I will be reviewing this one and you can find out a little more. It’s terrific!
One Dark Throne – EEEEK! Okay, I was wrong – THIS will be top of my list for the week (Moxie is a close second). I absolutely loved Three Dark Crowns last fall – you can read my review here. After a long wait, the sequel is arriving this week. By the time I get it from the library, I hope to have re-read book one so I am fresh and ready to enjoy book 2.
The Victoria in My Head – A girl daydreams of being a rock star, but her very real life and insecurities make that dream almost impossible. I love this idea of throwing caution to the wind and just running after your dream. I do not have that sort of personality, so I am happy to enjoy it vicariously through books.

Books for Adults

13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do – Morin takes her original premise from 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do and applies it this time to parenting. I have her first book, and would love to read this one as well!
Bean to Bar Chocolate – I have no idea what the “American craft chocolate revolution” is, but I don’t even care. This is about chocolate. I’d love to read it. Includes recipes.
Becoming MomStrong: How to Fight with All That’s In You for Your Family and Your Faith – Helping moms grow strong in their faith and their identity in Christ so they can pass that strength onto their children. If I wasn’t so overloaded on Bible Studies and self-improvement books right now, I would have this on my list immediately. I love the whole idea of this – especially the Bible Study piece. This is one I may revisit in another season of life.
Becoming MomStrong Bible Study – Six week Bible study based on the book. There’s also a matching journal so you can keep your notes and thoughts together as you go through the material.
Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans: How to Decode their Behavior, Develop Unshakable Trust, and Raise a Respectable Adult – Parenting a teen is hard work. I am always in the market for a book that will give me new insights and strategies to make these the best years as a family. This isn’t just for parents, either. This works for any adult committed to a strong relationship with a teen – youth workers, mentors, teachers, pastors.
Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything – If you find personality differences and types and strengths and such fascinating – and I DO! – you’ll want to check this one out.
Sally’s Cookie Addiction – I’m not much for cooking. It seems like standing in the kitchen forever for something my family will finish in less than 20 minutes. I could use that time to read! But I generally enjoy baking. So a book like this – with lots of baking suggestions – would be a lot of fun for me. Cookies are great treats – small, easy to share, and they make great gifts for teachers, friends, pitch-ins, etc.
Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years – Former speechwriter for President Obama shares stories of his time in the White House.

BOOK NEWS: September 12, 2017

BOOK NEWS: September 12, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s Patriot Day in the United States today. If you are looking for books for kids/teens that talk about the events of September 11, 2001, I can recommend America Is Under Attack; Nine, Ten; and All We Have Left. You can also find more suggestions here.

There are lots of great books releasing this week. Let’s take a look:

Books for Kids

  

The Nutcracker: A BabyLit Dance Primer – I love that classic books and other works are being turned into board books for the youngest readers. This one comes out just in time for the holiday season.
Book of Gold – A boy looks for a special book that turns to gold and contains the answers to every question. I’m curious about this one.
Fly Guy’s Big Family – Book 17 in the Fly Guy series. I loved having these in the library at school because they were great stories that students enjoyed that were written at a fairly simple reading level.
His Royal Highness King Baby: A Terrible True Story – This sibling rivalry tale takes a royal spin when the main character, who considers herself the princess in the family, loses her prime role to a new baby.
Imagine That: How Dr. Seuss Wrote the Cat in the Hat – A picture book biography of Dr. Seuss that specifically looks at the journey to publication for The Cat in the Hat. Two fabulous authors/illustrators put this one together; I think it will be excellent.
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library – A picture book biography about Arturo Schomburg, a man with a passion for African-American history whose personal book collection was the cornerstone of what has become the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. How cool! I can’t wait to read this one!
The Disastrous Magical Wishes of Classroom 13 – Book 2 in the Classroom 13 series. An unlucky teacher finds a genie in a lamp, and the genie offers each student one wish. What could go wrong with that?
The Great Troll Quest – Book 5 in the Ella and Owen series about twin dragons. These early chapter books are darling!
Hero Dog! – A new series from Branches based on a true story. These are written by a young girl who is a reporter in real life and the books are based on stories she wrote as a reporter. I am so excited about this new series!
Judy Moody Tooth Fairy – I am a huge Judy Moody fan. I love these full color short chapter books for young readers who aren’t yet ready for Judy and her brother Stink’s full books – or who just want shorter adventures with their favorite characters.
Just Dance – A girl takes over a newspaper column for the summer where she is supposed to report about anything exciting going on in town. This sounds like a sweet story.
Roar of the Thunder Dragon – Book 8 in the Dragon Masters series from Branches. Branches books are my favorite things to recommend for young readers branching out into short chapter books.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Abby in Wonderland – Book 9 in the Whatever After series about Abby and her brother who have a habit of falling into fairy tales and changing the story. This is a cute series!
Caleb and Kit – A boy with cystic fibrosis meets a mysterious girl who changes his life but it’s not clear if she is changing it for the better or for the worse. This sounds terrific.
The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole – A girl’s friendship with a lonely black hole helps her see her own loneliness. This is a unique premise, but the heart of the story sounds right up my alley. This is on my list.
Deadzone – Horizon, book 2. This particular book is by the spectacular Jennifer Nielsen. This series is about a group of kids who crash in what should be the arctic, but instead they find themselves in a secret jungle. This is the sort of series that has an overarching story arc, but each book is written by a different author. These have been super popular. The 39 Clues, Infinity Ring, The Voyagers series,  work like this. Very fun.
The Dragon of Fortune – First there was Geronimo Stilton, a mouse reporter. Then there were themed books like Journey Through Time and Cavemice . Then there was the Kingdom of Fantasy series. This is the second “Special Edition” in that series. My students couldn’t get enough of these books when I was teaching.
The Exact Location of Home – The latest from Kate Messner is a treat! I am reviewing this one tomorrow.
The Explorer – A group of kids must survive in the Amazon after their plane crashes. Books like this tend to stress me out, but my students always loved them. If you have kids who love survival/adventure novels, check this one out.
The Great Hibernation – All of the adults in a community fall into a deep sleep, and the kids are left to fend for themselves. This book was initially on my list because I love the author, Tara Dairman’s All Four Stars series. But the premise of this one is too good to pass up. This is high on my list for this week.
The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match – Book 2 in the Great Shelby Holmes series. I discovered I not only had a copy of book one on my TBR shelves, but I actually had two! I really, really wanted to read that book. I have popped this one up to the top of my pile. I’m really eager to check it out. I love middle grade mysteries.
In the Deep Blue Sea – Book 2 in the Jack and the Geniuses series about three foster kids who work with a scientist. Two of the kids are brilliantly smart. Jack is more street smart than book smart, and this time he is trying to solve a mysterious sabotage at an electricity plant that harvests energy from the ocean. I loved book one! Great for kids who love science!
The Journey Home – Book 2 in the Wilder Boys series. I wrote about book one last month. After traveling across the country to find their father, now the boys are trying to get home. This sounds like a terrific adventure series. It’s a reprint of a previously released book, now under the MAX line. I’d love to read both of these books.
Swing It Sunny – Sequel to Sunny Side Up. In this graphic novel, Sunny is back home after a summer with her grandfather in Florida, but nothing back at home is what she expected. I really enjoyed book one. Looking forward to this one.
Z on Location – From the folks at American Girl comes book 2 in the Z Yang series about an aspiring film maker. I missed book one, but this looks really cute. I know so many kids who want to do their own videos and films. A timely series.
Where is Easter Island?
Where is the Mississippi River?
The Final Spark – The 7th and final book in the Michael Vey series about a kid with electrical powers. I have book 1 on my TBR shelves. I need to get caught up on this one.
Lone Stars – A football coach who used to play for the Dallas Cowboys starts to show the side effects of numerous concussions, and his prize player wants to help him. I tear up just reading the description. I will definitely be reading this.
Slider – A kid decides to compete in a pizza-eating competition to win money to pay off what he put on his mom’s credit card. There are extra nuances to this story with an autistic younger brother and some friend issues. This is an older-middle grade/teen story that sounds great.
Warcross – Warcross is a video game that has become a way of life. A teen hacker works as a bounty hunter to find those who illegally bet on the game. She’s so good at what she does, she is invited to be a spy in this year’s international championships. Of course there is more going on in the game than anyone expects. This book has been at the top of my September wish list since I first heard about it. I have several Marie Lu books on my TBR shelves, but this one will likely get read before I even tackle any of her previous series. I have already requested this from the library.

Books for Adults

Asking for Truffle – First in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series! Chocolate is definitely a “must buy” trigger for me. This book is on my wish list.
Body on Baker Street – Book 2 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries. I have book one on my wish list – anything with a book store is automatically going to be on my reading list!
Cat Got Your Secrets – Book 3 in the Kitty Couture Mystery series about a pet boutique. I would love to try one of these soon.
Death at the Seaside – Book 8 an the Kate Shackleton mystery series. The covers of these books always catch my eye! I haven’t read any of the books, but I would love to try one out. These take place in 1920s England. If you are fan of English mysteries or historical mysteries, check this series out!
Doom with a View – Book 2 in the Merry Ghost Inn series about a woman and her grandmother who open a bed and breakfast with a ghost. I will be reviewing this book later this week.
Who Is the Black Panther? – A new novel based on the comic series from 2005. I prefer novels to comics (although, I do love comics), so I am looking forward to reading this one. Marvel is producing more of these (Planet Hulk will come out in October). I don’t know if the stories will line up with the new movies this fall/winter or if they are just capitalizing on popular characters due to the movies.
Anxious for Nothing – This is the cornerstone piece of Max Lucado’s latest batch of products, this time addressing anxiety, focusing specifically on Philippians 4:6-7. I love Lucado’s work, but on this particular topic, I am hesitant. I don’t know if this is looking at a more generalized anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time or if it is meant to address a clinical level of anxiety. I’d like to see this one in person.
Back and Forth: Using an Editor’s Mindset to Improve Student Writing – For writing teachers.
Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone – The latest by Brené Brown, author of Daring Greatly and Rising Strong, focuses on what it means to truly belong in our current culture. This is an author I buy automatically. I have pre-ordered this one, and I’m looking forward to digging into it.
Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done – My philosophy is that if Jon Acuff wrote it, I need to read it. I follow his social media, all of his many newsletters, and I have even gone to another state to see him at a signing. I have given up on most of the other “personalities” I followed because they seemed to only want to sell me something. Jon seems to want to help me. He provides a lot of free content that I can use. Then, when he does have something to sell, I am happy to shell out my money. I pre-ordered this one weeks ago (Jon offers lots of pre-order incentives), so I just have to wait by my mailbox for this one!
The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles that Reveal How to Make Your Life Better – This is the latest book from Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project). Since I enjoy her work and LOVE anything about personality type, this one is on my list.
Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety – As I mentioned, Max Lucado has a new book and other materials out this week that look at anxiety. I am curious to see this particular piece – a “pass along booklet” – in person.
Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel (September 15th) – We are big Stan Lee fans in my family! We even met him several years ago at a convention. This is the sort of biography that our whole family would read.
Star Wars Cross Stitch – I used to do cross stitch quite a bit, but I have gotten away from that the last few years. But these fun patterns could get me to pick up a needle again.
Unshakable Trust: Finding the Joy of Trusting God at All Times in All Things – New from Joyce Meyer is a book on trust. I love Joyce’s teaching, but the last book I tried was not a good fit for me. I prefer the books that are a Bible study to the ones that are just anecdotes and general “self-help.” I’ll be checking this one out in person.

BOOK NEWS: September 5, 2017

BOOK NEWS: September 5, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Disney Animation! Property Brothers! Mo Willems! It’s a great week for reading.

Happy Labor Day! Hope you and your family are getting to enjoy some relaxation over this long weekend. Here are the books coming out this week:

Books for Kids

     

Come with Me – A girl wonders what she can do to help when it seems the world is full of hurt and fear. Sounds like a timely story.
A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale – A young chef bakes some fairy tale components like an apple and a handful of beans into something yummy. I’ve been waiting for this one for awhile.
Give Me Back My Book – Friends fight over a book. I’m curious to see this one in person and see what happens.
Joey and the Shining Star/Twitch and the Invisible Wind – The Owlegories Christian video series now has books that look at how nature teaches us about God.
The King of Too Many Things – This is the sort of book that catches my attention with the illustrations, but keeps it with a great title and premise. I long to be more of a minimalist, but I am more like this king. I can’t wait to read this one.
La Princesa and the Pea – A Latino twist on the classic tale of the Princess and the Pea. This is definitely the week for some great fractured fairy tales! Keep on reading for several more.
The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABCs (the Hard Way) – Poor little red cat gets chased all the way through the alphabet in this darling picture book.
Pickwick’s Picnic – I can’t wait to see this counting book in person. Doesn’t it look adorable?!
The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully Bully Shark – The Pout-Pout Fish series takes on the subject of bullying. This sounds like a great way to talk about bullying with younger kids.
Sam, the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole Universe – Companion book to the outstanding Leonardo the Terrible Monster. I have been waiting for this book for months! I am so glad it’s finally time for its release.
Twinderella, A Fractioned Fairy Tale – A twist on Cinderella from the fabulous author of The Three Ninja Pigs.
Pete and the Lost Tooth – Early Reader for fans of Pete the Cat
Showdown in Space – A new DC Super Hero Girls Early Reader/Leveled Reader about Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Miss Martian on an outer space adventure.
Little Legends: The Magic Looking Glass – Book 4 in this fractured fairy tale transitional chapter book series.
Phone-Y Friends – Book 4 in the Project Droid series about a boy and his robot “cousin.” These are written by the author of the Magic Bone series, which I adored. I’d like to check out one of these early chapter books for younger elementary school readers.
Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate – Book 5 in the amazing Princess in Black series. This time, the princess is on a playdate when a monster strikes. I can’t wait to read this one. I adore this early chapter book series.
Audrey Hepburn/Rosa Parks (Sept 7) – Little People Big Dreams series  of biographies. The illustrations for these immediately grabbed my attention.
We Are in an Art-ivity Book – Activity book for kids starring Piggie and Gerald.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

Adventurer’s Guide to Dragons (And Why They Keep Biting Me) – Book 2 in the Adventurer’s Guide series about adventurers who get a new quest to kill the Dragon Queen – except they don’t want to kill her at all! This sounds like an awesome series; I’d like to check out the first book and see what it’s like.
Alex Rider Scorpia Graphic Novel – A graphic novel version of the Alex Rider story, Scorpia.
All’s Faire in Middle School – New graphic novel from the author of Roller Girl about a girl who transitions from homeschool to public school where her Renaissance Faire upbringing gets her more attention than she bargained for. I love stories like this and will certainly be checking this one out.
Assassin’s Curse – Book 3 in the Blackthorn Key series about an apothecary’s apprentice who solves puzzles and codes. I have book one on my TBR shelves.
Click’d – A girl’s coding project goes viral, but then she finds a dangerous glitch. This sounds so fun! This is on my list for sure.
Elsie Mae Has Something to Say – A girl hopes to save her home in the Okefenokee Swamp by sending a letter to President Roosevelt and stopping local bandits, but her cousin may ruin all her plans.
The Glass Town Game – The Brontë sisters have invented a game called Glass Town and one day when they are expecting the worst for their family, the four girls are whisked away to their imaginary town. This seems like a mix of fantasy and history (Napoleon).
Halfway Normal – A young cancer survivor tries to settle back into middle school. I have a feeling this will be both emotional and inspirational. It’s on my list!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus – A girl without arms moves with her family to a rundown theme park in Arizona where she finds not only a friend who really understands her, but also a mystery. This book has been wildly popular among early readers on Twitter.
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King – Book 2 in this graphic novel series that’s a twist on Jack and the Beanstalk. This time, Jack’s autistic little sister has been taken by an ogre and he’s off to get her back.
Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Won’t-Walk-the-Dog Cure – Book 2 in this series that is an updated re-boot of the classic Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series I read as a kid.
One Mixed-Up Night – Best friends run away to spend the night in IKEA. This has the feel of The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler to it. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon –  Rapunzel is back at the castle after the adventures of Tangled. Now, she and a lady-in-waiting stumble on a mystery together. This sounds terrific.
Shadow of a Pug – Book 2 in the  Howard Wallace PI series. I loved book one in this series, and I am looking forward to reading book 2.
The Book of Massively Epic Engineering Disasters – A book of “great” engineering disasters. This would be a fun addition to a science classroom or school library.
Harley Quinn’s Brain Squeezers – An activity book for fans of the DC Super Hero Girls
Genuine Fraud – A new story from the supremely popular author of We Were Liars. This was a dark story, and the format is unusual – it starts at the present and then works backwards. A very interesting way to tell a story.
Girls Made of Snow and Glass – This re-imagining of Snow White has a young woman with a glass heart and her step-daughter who was magicked out of snow. I love re-worked fairy tales! This sounds terrific.
I Hate Everyone But You – Best friends exchange emails and texts as they head to different colleges for their freshman year.
If There’s No Tomorrow – One moment changes everything for a girl who was looking forward to her senior year. I have no idea what happens to change things – which means I’ll have to read this to find out!
Nothing – A girl who is convinced that real life is nothing like the books she reads decides to write down the things that happen to her during her sophomore year and finds it’s not so different after all.
Running Full Tilt – A young man turns to cross country and running to escape a difficult family situation with his out of control brother. I’m going to max out my library wish list this week!
They Both Die at the End – Two boys meet through an app that puts you in touch with others who are going to die on the same day. What a fascinating idea! A little dark, but I am curious to see what happens.
The Thing with Feathers – Emily goes from homeschooling with her mom and her seizure therapy dog to high school. She lives in fear that she will have a seizure at school.
Tower of Dawn – The next book in the Throne of Glass series. I would love to read this series some time soon. [So many books, so little time]
Wild Bird – A girl spends 8 weeks at a survivalist/wilderness therapy camp. This sounds fantastic. I have this on my list.

Books for Adults

    

Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard – I have the James T. Kirk autobiography, but I haven’t had a chance to read it. I am even more eager to read this one as Jean-Luc was “my” captain.
Bringing Maggie Home – An elderly woman carries the guilt of a lost sister for 70 years. Can her granddaughter, a cold-case agent, help her solve the mystery and ease the guilt that has impacted the family for generations.
A Christmas Peril – First in a new mystery series staring a former cop managing a community theater group. I enjoyed this one; I’ll be reviewing it in a couple weeks.
Conspiracy in Belgravia -Book 2 in the Lady Sherlock Historical Mystery series. I haven’t gotten to book one yet, but I am eager to check out this series.
Dead in the Water – Denise Swanson has launched a new series set in Scumble River and starring Skye Denison. I read many books from the earlier series and enjoyed them.
Essence of Malice – Book 4 of the Amory Ames Mystery series, this one about a perfumier in Paris. I haven’t read any of these, but the covers are gorgeous and catch my eye every time. I’d love to read one.
March of Crime – Book 11 in the Murder-By-Month series. I read the first couple books in this series, but I’ve fallen behind. I’d like to pick back up on this one.
Pudding Up with Murder – Book 3 in the Undercover Dish Mystery series about secret chef who cooks amazing casseroles that her clients can pass off as their own. I have yet to read one of the books, but they are definitely on my list. But I’d like to know where I can find a service like this in my town!
Tale of Two Kitties – Book 9 in the Magical Cats mystery series. I have several of the early books on my TBR shelves. I love mysteries with cats in them – dogs, too.
Trouble is Brewing – An ebook novella that bridges the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander with her new series about a brewmaster. I have already pre-ordered this one. This seems like a brilliant way to introduce your fans to your new series. I can’t wait to read this.
Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy – A new look at spiritual warfare.
Art of Star Trek The Next Generation – 178 posters featuring art for my favorite iteration of Star Trek, The Next Generation.
Blood Sweat and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made – My teen would probably love this one as video games are a big part of his life. I know many adults who would find this interesting, too. Sounds like a great history of technology book.
Education à la Carte – Dr. Kevin Lehman’s (The Birth Order Book) new book looks at the educational options available to families today and offers advice for navigating your choices. I’m looking forward to this one. I love Lehman’s work.
Forever Letter: Writing What We Believe for Those We Love – A guide book for writing letters that pass on your real treasures – your values, beliefs and love.
Ink and Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation – Get the behind-the-scenes story on the women who worked for Disney Animation.
It Takes Two – The Property Brothers tell their own story in this memoir. I love watching these guys on TV. Hopefully their terrific chemistry will translate well in book form.
The Last Arrow – How to live a life that leaves nothing undone at the end. This sounds inspiring. It’s on my library wish list.
Picturing Heaven – Adult coloring book for fans of Randy Alcorn’s writing. I tend to start adult coloring books but never finish them. But I am excited to see this one up close. I am interested in the devotions that go with the pictures.
The Suffragents (Sept 1) – Looks at the men who were part of the movement to get women the right to vote. This sounds like a terrific look at history.

BOOK NEWS: August 29, 2017

BOOK NEWS: August 29, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

Star Wars! Wonder Woman! Cookies! Dr Who! Dog Man! Just in time for the upcoming long holiday weekend, we have TONS of new books coming out this week! Let’s take a look:

Books for Kids

Dr. Ninth – I love the look of this adorable series for young – and older – Doctor Who fans.
Bad Seed – This seed has been bad for as long as he can remember – bad attitude, bad temper, and bad manners. I can’t wait to read this one and find out about this bad seed.
BB-8 on the Run – BB-8’s journey across Jakku after he is separated from Poe. You can tell that the Star Wars folks are really amping up for the fall with all the releases this week!
Little Elliot, Fall Friends – Two friends vacation in the countryside for fall.
Mary McScarey – Mary loves to scare everyone, but the one person she can’t scare – her cousin Harry – is the one she wants to scare the most.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures – A picture book biography of Dr. Temple Grandin, an amazing scientist diagnosed with autism as a child.
God’s Very Good Idea – A book about diversity and how all people are valuable to God.
What if You Had Animal Eyes? – The latest in a fantastic series of nonfiction books about animals!
A Leader Named Leia – An Early Reader about Princess Leia
Adventures of Caveboy/Caveboy is Bored – The first two books in a new series about a Caveboy. Part of the Read and Bloom line of early chapter books.
The Bad Guys in the Attack of the Zittens – Book 4 in the Bad Guys series. I haven’t been able to read one of these yet, but they look fantastic!
Tales of Two Kitties – Book 3 in the Dog Man series by the author of Captain Underpants. I haven’t read one of these yet, but they are wildly popular.
King and Kayla and the Case of the Mysterious Mouse – Book 2 in this series about a girl and her dog who solve mysteries.
Long Way Home – Book 2 of the Adventures of Henry Whiskers early chapter book series about a mouse family that lives in Queen Mary’s dollhouse at Windsor Castle. This sounds – and looks – so fun!
Stone Cold Age – Book 2 in the Lucy and Andy Neanderthal series about cave kids – from the author of the original Jedi Academy series. Great graphic novel series.
Science Comics: Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield – I love this nonfiction graphic novel series that explores science for kids.
Art of Coloring Journey to Star Wars  The Last Jedi – I really enjoy this style of art for Star Wars. This looks like a darling coloring book for kids and adults alike.
Star Wars Made Easy – A friend of ours recently confessed that he has never seen a Star Wars movie. This would be the perfect book for him to get an introduction to the series. Everything a novice might want to know about Star Wars can be found here.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

                           

Angel – Book 46 in the Puppy Place series.
Auma’s Long Run – A girl in a Kenyan village is an amazing runner. Her skills could get her out of her village, but her father comes down with a new illness that is sweeping the village – AIDS – and Auma is torn between responsibility to her family and home and her hopes to find answers about this disease. This sounds like a heavy story, but an important one, too.
Ban this Book – A quiet fourth grader fights back when her favorite book is banned at school. This is at the top of my list!
Big Nate Good Old-Fashioned Wedgie – The latest Big Nate comics collection. My students adored these!
Boy Seeking Band (Sept 1) – When 8th grade bass player, Terence, moves from a performing arts school to a regular public school, he tries to put together a rock band as a way to make friends.
Emma Moves In – Book 1 in the American Girls Like Sisters series. Emma’s family is moving into an old family home with their relatives to start a bed and breakfast. While Emma is excited to be with her cousins, she’s not sure she is ready for all the changes coming with the move.
Guardians of Gryphon’s Claw – I’ll be reviewing this fun adventure about mythological creatures here on the blog tomorrow. Come check it out!
I Survived the American Revolution – Book 15 in this hugely popular historical fiction series for kids. Every one of these I have read was a winner!
Laugh out Loud – A kid starts a book company for kids run BY kids. This sounds fantastic and I love Chris Grabenstein’s work. I have this on my list.
Patina – Book 2 in Jason Reynolds’ middle grade Track series about four kids chosen for an elite track team. I enjoyed the first book in the series. Great addition for homes and classrooms looking to add stories with diverse characters.
The Secret Sheriff of 6th Grade – A boy carries a toy sheriff’s badge from his father as a reminder to try to make school a better place for everyone. This has been getting a lot of positive response on Twitter this summer. I can’t wait to read this!
Super Max and the Mystery of Thornwood’s Revenge – An electronics whiz in a souped-up wheelchair takes on a haunted house and an online campaign against her grandfather. I want to read this one because of the cool protagonist. She sounds awesome and spunky!
Star Wars The Force Awakens Graphic Novel – Back in April I posted about a graphic novel that covered all three of the Star Wars prequels. Now we have a stand alone for The Force Awakens. I absolutely adore the art style in these. If you have Star Wars fans in your home or your classroom or library, I think these would be great fun for them. Terrific birthday or holiday gifts, too.
Tumble and Blue – A magic gator, rumored to bring good luck to anyone who finds him, meets two people at once and the luck is split. Some descendants enjoy great luck while others are devastated by bad luck. Two kids in those families are determined to change their luck by finding the gator again. This isn’t my usual style of book, but there’s something about this that reminds me of Holes, and I am curious to see how the story turns out.
The Van Gogh Deception – A boy is found in the National Gallery, and no one has any idea who he is or where he came from. I can’t wait to tell you about this awesome mystery that includes some cool information and features about art. I’l be reviewing it next week.
Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories – A book on writing for the middle grade crowd. If I was still teaching, I would have put a copy of this in the library. It looks like a great resource for kids who love to write.
All Rights Reserved – New dystopian about a society that charges people for every word spoken or gesture made and a girl who chooses to remain silent. This sounds fascinating and maybe a little on the dark side. I’ll be putting this one on my library list to check out.
The Big F – When Danielle fails senior English, she loses her one college acceptance, too. Now she’s off to reclaim her trajectory by heading to community college. This sounds so fun, I’ve already requested it from the library!
Dazzling Heights – Book 2 in the Thousandth Floor series about 22nd century New York and a thousand-story super tower and five teenagers who call it home. I have had book one on my library wish list for awhile now. At least now when I get around to reading it, I can jump right two book two when I finish.
Wonder Woman Warbringer – Did you see the Wonder Woman movie this summer? I loved the character! This new YA novel is first in the DC Icons series (Don’t even get me started on the Batman book, Nightwalker! I am so excited! I don’t usually even like Batman.) starring Diana as a young woman who breaks Amazon law to rescue someone (not Steve Trevor yet) and the fall out from her choices. This one is getting a lot of positive buzz already. It’s on my list for certain.
You Don’t Know Me But I Know You – A girl who knows she is adopted, but who doesn’t feel ready to read a letter from her birth mother finds herself pregnant. This sounds fantastic.

Books for Adults

Assaulted Caramel – First book in the new Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Yeah! Another mystery that will make me hungry! I love Amanda Flower’s work, and I am excited to be reviewing this book here on the blog later this week.
A Catered Costume Party – It seems fitting that #13 in the Mystery with Recipes series be a Halloween themed book! In this book, the catering sisters are hired by the deceased to find out what happened to him. What a great twist right from the start! This makes me want to check out the whole series. I’ve requested this one from the library just on that fun, twisty, premise.
A Knit Before Dying – Book 2 in the Tangled Web Mystery series. This seems to be the week for crafty cozy mysteries! This series stars the owner of a yarn shop, and in this book she discovers another shop owner murdered. I’d like to check out the first book in this series, Yarned and Dangerous.
Macrame Murder – Book 3 of the Cora Crafts Mystery series. This book has the crew at a craft retreat at the beach. If I need a vacation this fall, I might just settle for this book and imagine I am at this crafting retreat myself – minus the murder, of course.
Murder Wears Mittens – First book in the new Seaside Knitters Society series. I’m so looking forward to this fall story about a group of crafters who band together to help two seemingly-abandoned kids as well as solve a crime. I am sad that many publishers have started to shift their new series to hardcover instead of mass market paperback. I know it is a good business decision for them in many ways, but I can get more bang for my buck when I get paperbacks. This one is on my library list for now.
Oh, Fudge – Book 5 in the Candy-Coated Mystery series. This is the sort of series that makes me crave our local candy shop. I’ve read the first couple books in the series and really enjoyed them.
Rubies in the Roses (kindle) – This kindle mystery is the second in the Cornish Castle Mystery series. I have book 1, Death Plays a Part, on my Kindle and I’m eager to read it. It looks terrific.
The Silver Gun – First in the Art Deco Mystery series, this sounds great for fans of historical fiction and mysteries. This series centers on an assistant to Mayor LaGuardia in New York City, 1936, and a past that is catching up to her.
Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars The Last Jedi: Phasma (September 1) – Captain Phasma of the First Order was a key character in the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Now we get to find out more of her story! I met Delilah Dawson at Phoenix ComicCon several years ago. I loved her personality, but I had a hard time finding a book of hers to try that would fit my style as a reader. This is the book I have been waiting for! There’s lots of buzz and excitement around this one.  Our whole family is planning to read this!
Mom Set Free: Find Relief from the Pressure to Get it All Right – Wow, what a timely book. I don’t know about other moms out there, but my friend group struggles with this pressure all the time. We second guess our choices – or spend months trying to make a choice – because we feel the weight of this pressure to get things right for our children. This one is on my list, too.
The Perfect Cookie – Yum. What more needs to be said – a cookbook about cookies!
Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed -In a world that posts the smallest minutiae of life on the internet for all to see, so much of the nitty gritty – the real things of life – are left unseen. But maybe that is the way God meant it to be – so He would be the one to see and know us in all those real life details. I have this one on my list. It seems timely for some of the work God seems to be pointing me to lately.

BOOK NEWS: August 22, 2017

BOOK NEWS: August 22, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

August is always a weird month here because while it is still technically summer, school has started, so it feels like summer is over. Thankfully, there are plenty of new books out this week to keep you busy whether you are still enjoying summer or you are back into school mode!

Books for Kids

 

Anne of Green Gables – Part of the Baby Lit line of board books, focusing on the people and places of Anne of Green Gables.
I’m Scared – Book 4 in this comic book/board book series by the creators of Babymouse. I have yet to see one of these in person, but I am on the look out because I love the art style of these!
Danza – This picture book biography focuses on dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández. This is a perfect book to add to your collection of books about diverse individuals in history or for Hispanic Heritage month (September 15-October 15).
Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo! – Best friends Duck and Goose are back in a new Halloween story. I have adored their previous books, first as a parent and then as a teacher/librarian. They are great fun to read aloud. I’m eager to read this new one.
Mermaid – The latest book from Jan Brett, the story is a unique version of Goldilocks. I loved using Jan Brett’s books in my fairy tale unit when I was teaching. This would have been a perfect addition to my collection!
Welcome to Super Hero High – This Early Reader focuses on the characters from Super Hero High including Wonder Woman. Great way to introduce younger kids to the characters so they can enjoy the other books as they develop as readers.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

American Girl – Growing Up with Aloha/Hula for the Home Front/Prints in the Sand – Three stories starring Nanea, the newest American Girl. The books take place around the events of Pearl Harbor and WWII. Prints in the Sand is a choose your own ending-style story.
Beast & Crown – A new middle grade fantasy about a boy trying to find a new life for himself and his friends by attending a magical ritual. I love middle grade fantasy! I’m going to be checking this one out.
First Rule of Punk – A girl tries to stay true to herself and gather other “misfits” to help them all find their place at school. I’m looking forward to this one.
Friendship Code – Book 1 in the Girls Who Code series. I can’t wait to read this series about a group of girls working on computers together. I started another series about coding for kids, and I found the first book disappointing. There wasn’t enough story to balance out the coding. I have HIGH hopes for this series to balance the STEM message with solid story telling!
Gregory and the Gargoyles – A boy is sent back in time to the 17th century when gargoyles and sorcerers and magical beings lived in harmony. Sounds like a fun new fantasy series.
Kat Green Comes Clean – A girl faces a boy-crazy best friend, the school play and her mom’s worsening OCD. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Sidetracked – I loved this story about a boy with ADD and some anxiety who joins the cross country team at his school. I’ll be posting my review tomorrow, and I hope you will check it out!
Things that Surprise You – A girl entering middle school deals with a changing family, changing friends, and a sister battling an eating disorder. I love books like this that look at kids dealing with the transitions that come as they grow up. This one sounds great.
Vanished – Book 2 in the TOAST series by James Ponti. I reviewed this last week (I loved it!), and you can read my review here.
Warrior Princess of Pennyroyal Academy – Book 3 in the Pennyroyal Academy series about a training academy for princesses and knights that is under attack by witches and evil forces. I have the first book in my TBR pile.
Wedgie and Gizmo – It’s eager, barky dog vs evil genius guinea pig in this story about rival pets and schemes to take over the world. Sign me up for this one!
A Smart Girls Guide: Digital World – From the folks at American Girl, this shows upper elementary and middle school girls how to negotiate the online world including social media, cyber bullying, and online safety.
What Is Rock and Roll? – Covers the history and major influences in the development of Rock and Roll.
Who Was Fidel Castro? – biography
Going Viral – Third and final book in the Potion Diaries series. I enjoyed the first two books in the series – you can see my review here – and I’m excited to see where the story goes next!

Books for Adults

Y Is for Yesterday – Book 25 in the Kinsey Millhone mystery series. I read the first few of these but didn’t keep up with it. I’m curious to see how the author moves into these last couple letters of the alphabet and what that means for her characters. This book looks at a case of assault at a private prep school 10 years earlier.
Real Food Heals – I am fascinated (but overwhelmed) by the research of what real, whole foods can do for our health. I’m eager to take a look at this book and see if it is simple enough for everyday use.
Slow Down – A celebration of motherhood from Christian singer, Nichole Nordeman. Includes quotes from other writers as well as journaling space and practical tips.

BOOK NEWS: August 15, 2017

BOOK NEWS: August 15, 2017

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s a slow book release week for me, but what we lack in numbers we make up for in quality. Take a look at some great books coming out this week:

Books for Kids

 

Alexander Graham Bell Answers the Call – A new picture book biography of Alexander Graham Bell. I love that this one includes the things in Bell’s life that inspired his curiosity about sound and eventually led to the invention of the telephone.
Creepy Pair of Underwear – From the pair who brought us Creepy Carrots (a fun, slightly creepy story about vegetables) comes this slightly creepy story about glow-in-the-dark underwear.
The X-Files: Earth Children are Weird – Scully and Mulder (The X-Files) are kids in this picture book that wants to introduce the characters to a new, younger audience. My husband adores The X-Files, so we are pretty excited about seeing this book in person.
Crafty Cat and the Crafty Camp Crisis – Book 2 in the Crafty Cat series. I’ve not read these, but the books look adorable, and I love crafting characters. I’d love to read these.
The Mouse House – The 11th book in the Adventures of Sophie Mouse series, a delightful early chapter book series starring a darling little mouse. I loved these when I was buying books for my students who were just venturing into chapter books.
Sydney and Simon: To the Moon – Book 3 in the Sydney and Simon series by Paul and Peter Reynolds. I adore Peter H. Reynolds‘ work so this grabbed my attention immediately. This is a STEAM story to help kids get excited about science, technology, engineering, etc.
Iggy Peck’s Big Project Book for Amazing Architects – I love the Iggy Peck/Ada Twist/Rosie Revere books and I’m thrilled that the author has put together some activity books for her readers. This one includes over 40 design/STEAM projects for kids to try themselves. SO cool! This would easily work for older readers, too, who are interested in design or STEAM.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Best. Night. Ever. – Seven authors tell the story of a middle school dance from the perspective of seven different kids. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Lucy and the Rocket Dog – A dog is accidentally launched into space in a craft made by her owner, Lucy, a young scientist. Both Lucy and her dog, Laika, tell the story of this adventure and Lucy’s efforts to rescue her best friend. This sounds great.
Star Wars Adventures in Wild Space:  The Darkness – Book four of six in this Star Wars series that takes place after Revenge of the Sith.
The Wild Ones: Great Escape – Book 3 in this series starring a raccoon hero. This time the animals are trying to break their friends out of the local zoo.
Percy Jackson Coloring Book – Adult coloring books are still on trend, and publishers continue to release books for different pop culture properties that are popular. My family is looking forward to this one.
The Voice, The Revolution and the Key – Book 7 in the Epic Order of the Seven series. This story centers on Patrick Henry and George Washington and the roles they will play in the creation of the United States. A great Christian fiction series for teens.

Books for Adults

Dog Dish of Doom – Book 1 in the Agent to the Paws series about a woman who is an agent for animals that work in show business. This is top of my wish list for this week!
Awaken: 90 Days with the God Who Speaks – Apparently this released a couple weeks ago and I had it on my list for this week instead. But I don’t want to miss talking about this, so I kept it in the list for this week. I don’t have a devotional I am doing right now. I’m just reading through different sections of the Bible. I don’t have a great track record with keeping up with daily devotionals. But I would like to take a closer look at this one because I like the author, Priscilla Shirer, so much.
Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks (Bible Study Book) – Looks like this might be a re-print of the author’s older material, but I have just recently started reading her work, so for me this is new material. I am looking forward to reading this one. I’m always on the look out for new study material, and this is an author I trust (Shirer, again).
Passionate Readers: The Art of Reaching and Engaging Every Child – I may not be teaching right now, but I am still passionate about education. I have followed the author, Pernille Ripp, online for awhile now, and I love her philosophy and her approach to education. This would be on my professional development TBR if I was still teaching.
The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore – From a journalist who covered the 2016 election cycle, this book looks at not just the election itself, but also the polarizing of our country in recent years that led to the election season we experienced. I have become more interested in politics and the news over the last 18 months, and this book sounds like an interesting look at the things going on in our nation.
Text, Don’t Call: An Illustrated Guide to the Introverted Life – A comic-style exploration of introversion. This looks like a fun read, even for an extrovert like me.
What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You – While focusing primarily on clutter in your physical space, this also addresses clutter in relationships and personal life and habits. I’m curious what my clutter – which I have been trying to tackle off and on for the last year – wants to tell me!

What are you adding to your TBR this week?