Tag: August New releases

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Cone Cat – Jeremy the cat becomes Cone Cat when a trip to the vet leave him stuck with a cone around his head. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Spirit: Riding Academy Race – Book 3 in the Spirit Riding Free series. When the kids at the riding academy start bickering, the headmaster sets up a scavenger hunt and puts them in teams to work through their differences.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

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Batgirl: A League of Her Own (1992-1995) (Graphic Novel) – Collects Batgirl comics inspired by Batman: The Animated Series.
The Haunted Mansion: Frights of Fancy – First in a new Haunted Mansion series. A new ghost at the Haunted Mansion has to learn to scare guests and deal with the resident mean girl ghost.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero (ages 8-10) – A young middle grade story about a boy inspired by his dad’s journals and stories of a superhero.
Mask (The League of Secret Heroes) – Book 2 in the League of Secret Heroes series. An alternate history starring three young girls who find objects that give them the power to take down evil. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Nerviest Girl in the World – When her brothers get jobs doing stunts in silent movies, Pearl stumbles into the chance to be a stunt person, too.
Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid – Middle grade memoir by a girl who started learning about bees to combat her fear of them. She started selling lemonade to give money to bee conservation efforts, and now she sells her lemonade around the country.
All Eyes on Her – When two teens go into the woods for a picnic, but only the girl returns, everyone has a theory about what really happened. And everyone, but Tabby herself, is eager to tell their story.
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From – Liliana lives a carefully crafted life, negotiating the shift from her inner-city neighborhood to her mostly-white suburban school. But when secrets about her family come out and racial tensions at school escalate, Liliana will have to decide how she will use her voice to take a stand.
Raybearer – A young woman raised to compete to be one of the Council of 11 for the prince is also magically compelled to kill the prince when she gets close enough to him. Is she strong enough to resist the path set before her and choose her own way?
Six Angry Girls – Two teens whose lives aren’t going at all the way they planned team up to start a rival Mock Trial team at school and smash the patriarchy. I’m looking forward to reading this one.

Books for Adults

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Booked for Murder (e-book) – Book 1 in the Vigilante Magical Librarians series. After getting hurt in her life as a bodyguard to the rich and dangerous, Janette decides to use her skills to disappear. In her new life, as a librarian, no one wants her magic – just her knowledge. But when someone from her old life is killed on the steps of her library, Janette teams up with her new co-workers to find a killer. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dead Ends Don’t Talk (e-book) – Book 1 in the Small-Town Mystery with Style series. When someone is found dead right after one of Dee’s salon services, everyone thinks her new-fangled products are to blame. But Dee knows it wasn’t her fault, so she’s on the trail of a killer. At the time of this writing, Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free as part of the program.
Death at High Tide (Hardcover) – First in the new Island Sisters Mystery series. When Evie’s husband dies and it seems she might have inherited an old castle she knows nothing about, her sister Margot insists they go visit the place in the Isles of Scilly. Nothing at the old hotel is as it seems, especially the odd characters working around the property. But when people start dying, and the two foreigners seem like the best suspects, the sisters decide it is time to solve the murders themselves.
Loathe at First Sight (Trade Paperback) – A new adult romance from the author of The Perfect Escape. As a joke, Melody creates an app starring male strippers in a survival game, but it quickly becomes her company’s hottest new project, and she’s running the whole thing. Her new intern, Nolan, the boss’ nephew, turns out to be more useful – and sexy – than she would have guessed, but when everything that can go wrong does right before the app launch, she has to wonder if Nolan can help her salvage her work life and her personal life.
Star Trek Picard: Countdown (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel of the events leading up to the Star Trek: Picard series.
War of the Noses (e-book) – Book 3 in the Nora Black Midlife Psychic series about a psychic with scent-induced abilities (which is such a novel idea!). Nora is off to a Spa Convention for her birthday with her best friend and a surprise visit from her fella. But her nemesis, and a murderer, seem determined to ruin Nora’s vacation. I have this series on my wish list. The first two books in the series are free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
Who’s That Earl (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Love and Let Spy series. A reclusive author hiding from those who would have her silenced encounters an old flame when he inherits the castle where she is hiding out. I won this one in a Goodreads giveaway; I can’t wait to read it!
Easy Dutch Oven Cooking: Classic and Contemporary Recipes in Five Steps or Less (Paperback) – Includes 100 recipes. At the time of this writing, Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free as part of the program.
Reaganland: America’s Right Turn 1976-1980 (Hardcover) – From the author of Nixonland and The Invisible Bridge. In 1976, Ronald Reagan ran against Gerald Ford, a sitting president, for the Republican nomination. He lost, and then so did Ford. Blamed for this, Reagan might have drifted off the political scene, but instead he made a comeback thanks to a perfect storm of factors highlighted in this book. Great for history fans!

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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Girl Versus Squirrel – When a squirrel chases off the birds and eats the nuts she put out for them, a girl gets creative in her efforts to discourage the squirrel. This looks adorable!
Share Your Rainbow: 18 Artists Draw their Hope for the Future – 18 scenes of hope with hidden rainbows. All of the net proceeds from this book go to help World Central Kitchen.
H is for Honey Bee (August 15) – The latest from my favorite line of alphabet books. Readers can learn about all the ways we need honey bees in our world, and what they can do to help bees.
Splat the Cat and the Cat in the Moon – In this new leveled reader starring Splat the Cat, Splat and his friend Plank use a telescope to find out what the moon is made out of.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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A Place at the Table (Older Middle Grade) – Two sixth graders taking a South Asian cooking class develop a tentative friendship – and plans to create a dish to earn them a spot on a TV show – despite their different backgrounds (Pakistani-American and Jewish). I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Fighting Words (Older Middle Grade) – When the older of two sisters who have been through a considerable amount of trauma tries to commit suicide, the younger sister thinks it might be time to make some noise about what they are going through.
Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge (Graphic Novel) – Lois is hoping to take her video channel viral this summer and create an amazing #FriendshipChallenge with her best friend. But nothing this summer is going like she planned. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Science Comics: Rocks & Minerals (Graphic Novel) – The latest Science Comics.
What Is the Story of Dracula? – The history of the character Dracula.
All Our Worst Ideas – The story of two very different teens who find each other through their jobs at a local record store.
Chasing Starlight – A society teen moves to Hollywood in 1938 and finds herself caught up in a murder at her grandfather’s mansion.
Cut Off – Four teens sign up for a virtual reality survival show, but find themselves stranded when all the safety measures fail and contact with the outside world goes down.
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything – Three years after ICE raids led to her mom’s deportation/disappearance, a space ship crashes in front of Sia’s car – and her mom is inside. That was NOT where I thought this story was going to go!
Star Daughter – When her starfire flares, Sheetal, the daughter of a star and a mortal, must go to the celestial court to find her mother, or another full star, to help heal her father. But her trip to the court places her in a competition she will have to win if she ever wants to return to Earth.

Books for Adults

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Behind the Frame (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Shepherd Sisters Mystery series after the terrific Out of the Picture (♥♥♥♥½). This time, Savanna is planning an Art in the Park event when someone from her planning committee is murdered. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Booked for Death (Hardcover) – The first book in a new Booklover’s B&B Mystery series from the author of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. Charlotte has spent the last year learning to run the B&B she inherited from her great-aunt, but none of her preparations have prepared her for a murder on the property – or for being the prime suspect. This sounds terrific!
Cold to the Bone (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Nicole Cobain Mystery series. Montana sheriff Nicole Cobain has her hands full with the murder of a young girl in her county. She certainly does not need her ex – with criminal connections – in town, much less as a suspect in the death.
Eighty Days to Elsewhere (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Ex Libris Adventure series. ExLibris Expeditions plans trips to recreate literary adventures, and Romy applies for a job there to earn some money to help her uncles protect their bookshop. She’s given an internship assignment – plan a trip to mimic Around the World in 80 Days for a client. And her competition for the task – and the job – is the nephew of the man making trouble for the bookshop.
Key Lime Crime (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series. Hayley is on the scene to report on a pie contest in Key West during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. With her abrasive mother-in-law in town, she doesn’t need to stumble over a dead body while they are out sight-seeing.
Kiss My Cupcake (Trade Paperback) – When neighboring businesses, a cupcake-and-cocktails shop and a sports bar, open on the same day, hi-jinks ensue as the two business owners try to one up one another to gain customers. This sounds so fun!
Mums and Mayhem (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Magic Garden Mystery series from Amanda Flower. This time Fiona is regretting her agreement to help with a concert when the star is found dead, and his murder seems linked to her father.
No Offense (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Little Bridge Island series by Meg Cabot. The children’s librarian in Little Bridge and the sheriff have a difference of opinion when it comes to whether the person who left a newborn in the library bathroom is a criminal.
Paw and Order (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Dog Club Mystery series. When a billionaire is killed, Lilly ends up fostering his poodle, but when someone tries to steal the dog, Lilly thinks it might have something to do with the murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Peachy Scream (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Georgia B&B Mystery series. When Nina hosts a Shakespearean troupe at her B&B she is surprised to find their leader is her nemesis, the man who thinks her home should have been his. But when one of the troupe is murdered, she’ll need the help of her old rival to find the truth. (At the time of this writing, you can get the e-book of the first book, Peach Clobbered, for $2.99.)
Plotted for Murder (e-book) – Book 4 in the St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. Harvey is pulled into a new mystery when her old running coach is murdered.
Shadow Commission (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Dark Arts alternate history series. This time, it’s 1963 and the mages are hunting down the ones who orchestrated the Kennedy assassination as well as investigating a series of murders of magicians. I have this series on my wish list.
Star Trek: More Beautiful Than Death (Trade Paperback) – A new novel set in the Kelvin timeline. The Enterprise is hosting Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan on a mission to a planet that appears under attack from demons. And someone in the ambassador’s entourage seems inclined to kill Spock.
To Love a Prince (e-book) – First in the new True Blue Royal series from Rachel Hauck. Daffy grew up around the royal family, but everything changed when she stumbled on a royal secret. Eighteen years later she comes across her former best friend, Prince Augustus. Gus has been dumped by two fiancées, so he’s hiding away from royal life. When he runs into Daffy, she convinces him his country needs him. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy (Hardcover) – The authors assert there are four major threats to American democracy: political polarization, racism and nativism, economic inequality, and excessive executive power. These are the factors – alone or in some combination – that have threatened the country in the past. And in the present, we have all four at play at once. This sounds fascinating for both history lovers and those watching the current political landscape.

Happy August! Here are some of the new books releasing this week to kick off the back-to-school-somehow season.

Books for Kids

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Quantum Physics for Smart Kids (Board Book) – A young scientist and her cat shrink down to discover the secrets of quantum physics.
The Best Worst Poet Ever – Cat and Pug get into a spat as they each try to have a poem-writing day.
Fussy Flamingo (August 7) – A young flamingo is eager for her pink feathers to come in, but she doesn’t want to eat shrimp.
LEGO A Not-So-Scary Monster – The mini-figure kid from I’m Fun, Too! is back with some LEGO monster friends.
No Fuzzball! – Fuzzball thinks her name is “No Fuzzball,” and when her family goes away for the weekend, she wonders if she should cause less trouble around the house. This looks darling!
Three Squeezes – A picture book about family
Eva in the Spotlight – Book 13 in the popular Owl Diaries series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Eva is disappointed when she isn’t chosen for the lead in the school play.
Grumpy Unicorn Hits the Road (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Grumpy Unicorn series. When Grumpy Unicorn gets bored, he decides to go on a road trip to find adventure.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty Star Showers – Book 4 in the series after The Puppy Prince (♥♥♥♥). A star shower is a once-in-a-lifetime event where people can wish on a star, but this time something goes wrong, and the wishes get mixed up.
Layla and the Bots Built for Speed – Book 2 in this new series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Layla and the bots help re-configure a go kart for a girl who uses a wheelchair.
The Snoring Princess – Book 4 in the Once Upon a Fairy Tale series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Kara and Zed have to find a missing princess before the 100 year old curse on her castle resets and starts over.
Sparks!: Double Dog Dare (Graphic Novel) – The sequel to Sparks! (♥♥♥♥½) The two cats who operate the robot superhero Sparks run into unexpected trouble when a look-alike dog starts making a bad name for Sparks.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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13 and 3/4 – Book 4 in the Friendship list series. Two friends create a bucket list for their first summer apart at different camps. This will be the final book in the series.
Avengers Assembly: Orientation – Ms Marvel, Spider-Man (Miles Morales), and Squirrel Girl team up in the first book of this new series from Marvel. Kamala is the new kid at the Avengers Institute and she’s eager to make her place by winning the academic decathlon with her new friends. This one is on my list for this week .
Cleopatra in Space: Queen of the Nile (Graphic Novel) – The 6th and final book in this great graphic novel series. It’s time for Cleo to fulfill her prophecy.
A Dog-Friendly Town – When a jewel-covered dog collar goes missing at his family’s bed and breakfast, Epic is on the case. This is on my list, too.
The Magic in Changing Your Stars – A special pair of tap shoes transports a boy to 1930s Harlem where he has a chance to help his own grandfather who is struggling in similar ways in his own time.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears – New from Rick Riordan Presents. Ignoring her mother’s legends about a ghost woman prowling around the Gila River, Paola plans to meet friends at the river to do some star gazing, but one of her friends goes missing.
The Revenge of the Werepenguin – Sequel to The Curse of the Werepenguin. Adjusting to life as a werepenguin, Bolt is called on to help a friend defeat another werepenguin who has imprisoned his friend’s father.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure – Book 2 in Rowley’s spin off series from The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.
Teen Titans Go! to Camp – The Teen Titans are heading to summer camp. And their competition in the camp games are familiar foes.
That Time I Got Kidnapped (Older Middle Grade) – Sequel to How to Rob a Bank. Jacob has been chosen to be in the next Marvel movie, but on the bus across the country to his big break, he meets Jennifer who is on the run from a guy known as “the Cowboy” and is desperately guarding a mysterious package. This sounds fascinating!
Athletes Who Made a Difference: Colin Kaepernick – One of four books launching this graphic novel biography series this week. Other books focus on Serena Williams, Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson. These would be great classroom additions.
Who Was Celia Cruz? – The biography of a performer who was also a Cuban exile in America during Fidel Castro’s years in power.
Wonder Woman: The Way of the Amazons – An interactive history of Wonder Woman’s people, the Amazons.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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The Black Kids – As Ashley and her friends enjoy the final weeks of their senior year in the spring of 1992, four police officers are acquitted after beating Rodney King. The city of Los Angeles ignites while Ashely watches the ways it changes her community, her family, and her life as one of the “Black kids.” I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Bookish and the Beast – Book 3 in the Once Upon a Con series after the fantastic Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl (♥♥♥♥½). Vance Reigns, Hollywood royalty, is hiding from a tabloid scandal in a small town. Rosie lives in that small town, and when she and Vance cross paths and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself having to work off the debt. She also finds out that Vance is a jerk. Beauty and the Beast, anyone? This is at the top of my list for the week.
The Game – Described as a mash-up of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders and Riverdale. The seniors at Lincoln High always play assassin. But this year, the deaths are all too real. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Good for Nothings – A ragtag group of prisoners sets off to find missing treasure rumored to grant immortality in order to expunge their leader’s criminal record. There’s definitely a Guardians of the Galaxy feel to this one, so obviously it’s on my list.
How to Live on the Edge – A young woman is living life on the edge in defiance of her family history of early death. She’s not even sure she wants to watch the videos her mother made for her before she died. But when her aunt, who has been a mother figure to her, has to prepare for a mastectomy, it raises questions about what it means to truly live. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
More Than Just a Pretty Face – As Danyal prepares for his school’s Renaissance Man competition, he wants to prove to his crush, and her family, that he is the right guy for her. But the more time he spends with Bisma, who is helping him prepare for the competition, he starts to wonder if love is actually closer than he thinks. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Salvation – The third and final book in the Sanctuary series about super-powered criminal teens who hold hostage a prison guard in training, but then have to partner with her when their space station is attacked by monstrous aliens with their sights set ultimately on Earth. This is definitely a series to read in order.
The Scam List – A new con novel from the author of Don’t Get Caught. A teen and his ex-girlfriend team up to save their parents’ business, one con at a time. I love con stories, so this is on my list.
Set Fire to the Gods – When Ash’s revenge plot pushes the fire and earth gods into a war that can only be resolved through gladiator games, Madoc’s ancient and unusual powers might be just what she needs, but he refuses to put his family in jeopardy by helping her.
Star Wars: Poe Dameron Free Fall – A novel about a young Poe Dameron, telling a story hinted at in The Rise of Skywalker. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
They Wish They Were Us – During Jill’s freshman year, her best friend was killed. The girl’s boyfriend confessed, and the case was closed. Three years later, when Jill is ready for the epic senior year she always dreamed of, she starts getting texts that her friend’s killer was not the boyfriend who confessed.

Books for Adults

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Acceptable Risk (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Danger Never Sleeps series after Collateral Damage (which is on my TBR shelves). A military journalist and the Army Ranger who once saved her when she was taken hostage team up to get to the truth after her brother mysterious commits suicide. Yep, I would absolutely read that.
Chaos in Little Leaf Creek (e-book, August 6) – Book 1 in the Little Leaf Creek Mystery series. A grieving widow moves to find a fresh start and instead finds herself a murder suspect. At the time of this writing, this book is part of the Kindle Unlimited program which means subscribers can read it for free.
Deadly Drama (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Britton Bay Mystery series. Molly is on the case again when the community theater director is murdered.
The Eighth Detective (Hardcover) – A math professor who once wrote a book of “perfect” detective stories is stunned to find an editor 30 years later who wants to re-publish his book. But as the editor digs into the stories to prepare them for republication, she notices inconsistencies that might be more than just mistakes. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Falcon Always Wings Twice (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the fabulous Meg Langslow Mystery series. This time, Meg’s grandmother is hosting a Renaissance Faire where Meg’s grandfather ends up a murder suspect when one of the actors – who mistreated a rare falcon her grandfather was protecting – is found dead. Meg Langslow PLUS a Renaissance Faire? Sign. Me. Up. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. There is also a Christmas book scheduled for later this year – The Gift of the Magpie – that is also on my reading list for 2020.
The Friendship List (Hardcover) – Two women who feel they might be “stuck” in life agree to check items off a bucket list that is supposed to help them live their best lives. I have this on my list for this week, too.
The Last Mrs. Summers (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the terrific Royal Spyness Mystery series. I’m way behind on this series, but I used to get these from the library all the time. This time, Georgiana is helping a friend inspect a cottage she inherited when there’s a murder at the estate where they are staying. This sounds like a twisty story!
The Lions of Fifth Avenue (Hardcover) – In 1913, a young wife and mother discovers a “radical” women’s group which leads her to question her life and the ways she assumed she had to fulfill her roles. In 1993, the young wife and mother’s granddaughter is struggling with her own questions as she stumbles across family secrets. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Love Scam (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Danger series after Danger, Sweetheart. A wealthy bachelor wakes up hungover, thousands of miles from home with no memory of how he got there, no wallet, and an empty bank account. What he does have is a stranger claiming to be his long-lost daughter. If only the gorgeous woman who brought this “daughter” his way would help him figure out what is going on. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Mockingbird’s Song (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series. A grieving widow and her grieving mother struggle to recover from their tragic losses while their family greenhouse is under attack.
Murder in the East End (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Below Stairs Mystery series which kicks off with Below Stairs (♥♥♥♥). Kat, a young cook, is sleuthing again when she learns that children from the local foundling hospital are disappearing and one of the nurses there has been murdered,
Penned In (e-book) – Book 5 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. A team-building lock-in at a spooky old penitentiary turns into a real-life murder mystery for Angie and her friends.
Space Between Worlds (Hardcover) – It is possible to travel to a parallel universe as long as you don’t already exist in the place where you travel. A young woman whose other selves have a habit of dying young becomes the perfect multiverse traveler. But when another of her doubles dies on her world, this Cara is pulled into a plot that could put the entire multiverse in danger. This one is on my list for this week, too.
Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop (Trade Paperback) – A young woman who has the power to see the future in tea leaves jumps at the chance to flee from her gifts and find a change of scenery, but her move to Paris only takes her deeper into her gifts. This sounds fascinating.
The Vinyl Detective: Low Action (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Vinyl Detective series. The Vinyl Detective is back, trying to figure out who wants the guitar player from a punk band dead. The suspect list is long and includes every person from the band’s past, except the bass player. Because she is already dead. I haven’t read any of these, but this one sounds spectacular!
You Had Me at Hola (Trade Paperback) – The new stars of a bilingual romantic comedy bring plenty of baggage to their onscreen – and off-screen – relationship. This sounds interesting, too.
Slow Cooker Soups: A Cookbook of Comforting Recipes You Can Prep and Forget (Paperback) – Just in time for fall soup season. “Prep and forget” are some of my favorite words when it comes to cooking. At the time of this writing, this book is part of the Kindle Unlimited program which means subscribers can read it for free.
What’s Your Enneatype? An Essential Guide to the Enneagram: Understanding the Nine Personality Types for Personal Growth and Strengthened Relationships (Paperback) – I loved this new Enneagram resource! You can see my full review here.

August has zoomed by and here we are – the last week. Here are some of the books releasing this week to close out the month.

Books for Kids

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Once Upon a Goat – A king and queen ask their fairy godmother for a “kid” to start their family. And that is precisely what they get. This reminds me of the delightful book, The Princess and the Pig. I can’t wait to read this new one!
Oscar the Octopus: A Book About the Months of the Year – This picture book with flaps introduces preschoolers to the months of the year as well as marine life.
Spencer’s New Pet – Looks like this is a wordless picture book about a boy and his “dog.” This looks darling!
This Book of Mine – A celebration of books and readers. I can’t wait to see this one in person.
You Should Meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Get to know this Supreme Court Justice.
Arnold and Louise: Happy Fell – Book 3 in the Arnold and Louise series of early chapter books. When two friends have different ideas of how to spend a perfect fall day, what can they do?

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Battle – Book 2 in the Gauntlet steam-punk series. Ahmad is battling the evil Architect once again when a new virtual reality game causes time in New York City to stop. I didn’t get to read the first book, but these sound fun. I’ll have to add them to my list.
Beauty and the Dreaded Sea Beast AND Private Eye Princess and the Emerald Pea AND Rapunzel vs. Frankenstein AND Thumbelina, Wrestling Champ (September 1 – Graphic Novels) – When I was a librarian I discovered a line of graphic novels from Capstone/Stone Arch books called Far Out Fairy Tales. I loved them and so did my students. Four new books in the series release this week.
Best Friends (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Real Friends series. If you have a reader who can’t get enough of Raina Telgemeier’s books (Smile, Sisters, etc.), and they need something to keep them busy until her new book releases in September, steer them toward Shannon Hale’s graphic novels. The first was terrific, and I’m excited to dig into this new one. I already have it on hold at the library.
Count Me In (Older Middle Grade) – I have been hearing rave reviews all summer about this book! An Indian-American girl and her grandfather are targeted in an assault. While her grandfather recovers, the girl uses her social media accounts to bring attention to the attack. I am eager to read this one. This is one of a subset of middle grade books that are written for kids in the older, 10-14 age range.
The Good Thieves – A middle grade heist novel about a girl determined to right the wrongs done to her grandfather when he is conned out of his home and possessions.
Gryffindor – A small gift book celebrating Gryffindor House with pictures from the Harry Potter movies. There is a companion book for Slytherin.
Hoax for Hire – The latest from Laura Martin. A boy’s family members are legendary hoaxers – people who fake Bigfoot sightings and the like. When two members of his family go missing right when they are supposed to be pulling their biggest job, the boy and his brother have to save the day.
Last Meeting of the Gorilla Club (Older Middle Grade) – A boy starting at a new school tries to escape the imaginary friend he had at his last school – the one his parents say he is far too old for. But Big Brother is back – and a kid at the new school seems to see one of Big Brother’s friends. This is an unusual sounding story – an older take on the delightful Crenshaw. I am curious about this one. Another book for older middle grade readers (10-14).
My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich (Older Middle Grade) – A girl raised by her grandfather – the first black engineer at NASA – in Huntsville spends time with her father in Harlem, not sure if she could ever fit in there. I am eager to read this one, too. I have it on hold at the library. This is also for readers 10-14.
Taming of the Shoe – Book 3 in a second-generation fairy tale series. Araminta is stuck at a new school, and she’s staying with her mother’s step-sisters (you know, the awful ones from Cinderella) while her parents travel for work. All she wants are some new friends and a ticket to Theo Downy’s concert. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Code This! – Puzzles, games and coding challenges for kids.
Pumpkin Heads – A graphic novel for teens from Rainbow Rowell. Deja and Josiah are friends only when they work together in the fall at the pumpkin patch. Now that they are seniors, they are eager to wrap up their last season, and their last shift together, with a bang. I’m curious about this one. If my library hold list wasn’t already full, I’d have this one on hold.

Books for Adults

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The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice (Trade Paperback) – The cover of this screams FALL!!! I’m ready for the coziness of the next few months. Includes three short romances set around a Halloween Parade.
The Blacksmith Queen (Trade Paperback) – A prophecy about a rising queen to replace the recently dead king angers his sons who want no part of anything that would force them to give up the throne. When it looks like the new queen will be her younger sister, a blacksmith gathers supporters to help her defend her family. I have requested this one from the library!
Crypt Suzette (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series about a hit-and-run that kills a guest at the new bookstore in town.
Death by Cafe Mocha (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. The main characters leave their usual setting and head to a convention of coffee lovers where someone is murdered. I’d love to dig into this series. Book one is Death by Coffee.
Death by Jack-o’-Lantern (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Abby McCree Mystery series about the murder of a pumpkin farmer. It is officially fall in publishing circles!
Decades: Marvel in the 10s – Legends and Legacy (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A celebration of Marvel comics in this decade.
Flour in the Attic (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Bread Shop Mystery series. This one focuses on the death of a local whose body washes up on the beach.
Jealousy Filled Donuts (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. A firecracker hidden in a stack of donuts kills someone at the Fourth of July picnic.
Molded 4 Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. When a retiree in Sun City West Arizona is found dead with Phee’s mother’s name on a paper in his hand, she is investigating once again to be sure her mom hasn’t been targeted by a murderer.
Mulberry Mischief (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Berry Basket Mystery series, another fall title for this week centered around a health fair, an eccentric woman, and a murder.
Sidelined (Trade Paperback) – From the author of Trouble Brewing (which connects with this novel, although the series hasn’t been given a name that I can find). When a woman is chosen as the new high school football coach, she and the offensive coordinator clash as he expected to get the job. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Silent Night, Deadly Night (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Merry is hosting a reunion of her mother’s college friends when murder strikes. I love stories that include reunions, so I might have to check this one out!
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire (Hardcover) – A book designed to give backstory to Disney’s new Star Wars expansion at the parks – the planet Batuu. A rebellion spy is on Batuu looking for resources when the First Order arrives looking for her. I’ll certainly be giving this one a try!
Tilling the Truth (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Garden Squad Mystery series starring a group of spunky retirees who investigate the murder of a local who kept thwarting the sale of a piece of beachside property.
Wishful Thinking (Trade Paperback) – First in the new How to Be the Best Damn Faery Godmother in the World (or Die Trying) series. This urban fantasy stars a fairy who gets her big chance to join the fairy godpersons, but discovers there are more problems in the department than anyone wants to say. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, too.
Wonton Terror (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. I have the first book on my TBR shelves, waiting. This time, murder strikes during the Asian Night Market when a food truck run by friends of Lana’s parents explodes during the festival.
How to Have Your Life Not Suck: Becoming Today Who You Want to Be Tomorrow (Trade Paperback) – Bianca Juarez Olthoff is one of my favorite Christian speakers from the collection of women who have spoken at If: Gathering events. Her new book looks at steps to becoming the person you want to be. The book centers around the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. This one is on my list. (Her first book, Play with Fire, is available right now on Kindle Unlimited)
Live Big Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea and a Whole Lotta Jesus (August 30 – Trade Paperback) – Christian blogger and mom of 6, the author writes about embracing imperfection with examples from her life and from a week-long road trip she took with her family. This is on my list, too.
See Jane Win: The Inspiring Story of the Women Changing American Politics (Hardcover) – The story of women, inspired by the 2016 election, who decided to run for political office, focusing specifically on 4 candidates through the whole process from decision to Election Day. This is on my list, too.
Sex and the Enneagram: A Guide to Passionate Relationships for the 9 Personality Types (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Enneagram and Eating. This book focuses on the 9 Enneagram types and their most intimate relationships. I’m holding off on this one until I read some more reviews.
Write on, Sisters!: Voice, Courage, and Claiming Your Place at the Table (Trade Paperback) – An examination of the trials women face in publishing circles today and support to overcome them.

School has started here at my house, and we are trying to get back to a school-year state of mind. I think a new book – or two – might help! Here are some of the books out this week.

Books for Kids

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Arithmechicks Add Up – A friendship story that includes mathematical strategies and a glossary of terms. I’m excited to see this one in person!
SumoKitty – A cat brought in to deal with mice discovers how to train like a wrestler. I can’t wait to read this one.
Mary Blair’s Unique Flair: The Girl Who Became One of the Disney Legends – A stunning picture book biography about artist Mary Blair and her work with Disney. I adore the illustrations in this. Can’t wait to read the whole thing.
Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou – A picture book biography of the fascinating life of Maya Angelou.
Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls – Book 7 in the wildly popular Dog Man graphic novel series.
Remy and Ruby’s Rescue Ranch: Can’t We Be Friends (and four other titles) – A new early chapter book series set at a ranch/wildlife refuge. In this book a tortoise comes to the ranch but doesn’t get along with the family’s dog. I’m eager to check this one out in person.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Flash: Crossover Crisis – Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot – First in a new trilogy starring the Flash with crossovers planned from Oliver Queen, Supergirl and the Legends of Tomorrow. In this book, Oliver and Barry team up to help one another when disaster strikes Star City and then Central City.
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson – Graphic Novel) – The final book in the original Percy Jackson series gets the graphic novel treatment. We’ve been looking forward to this one all summer!
Stolen from the Studio – Book 2 in the Case Closed pick-your-path series. Carlos and his friends are trying to find a missing TV star from the set of Teen Witch while keeping their sleuthing a secret from Carlos’ mom.
Habitats (Science in Infographics – August 15) – One of six books releasing this week in this science series. In addition to Habitats, there’s Forces, Light and Sound, Living Things, Materials, and Plants.
Science Comics: Cats – Nature and Nurture – Graphic novel exploration of cats, from house cats to lions and cheetahs.
What Is the Story of Frankenstein? AND What Is the Story of Wonder Woman? – The latest in the What Is the Story Of line from the Who Was folks. Includes the origin story of the characters and their history in print, films, and television
Curse of the Evil Librarian – Book 3 in the Evil Librarian series for teens. A demonic librarian thought to be destroyed escapes to seek revenge on those who tried to destroy it. This sounds so bizarre I think I might have to try it.
Gut Check – A teen hoping to bond with his older brother on the football field before he leaves for college has to decide if he is going to keep his big brother’s secrets.
The Silence Between Us – A teen’s move across the country before her senior year is complicated when she switches from a Deaf school to a mainstream one. When the student body president learns sign to communicate with her, she wonders what his angle is. But it’s also nice to have someone making the effort for her. I have this one on my list for this week.
Start Here – Two teens try to figure out the next steps for their post-graduation sailing trip when the third person in their group has passed away. Is their friendship strong enough to survive the trip without Finley? I like the idea of this take on the “road” trip story.

Books for Adults

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And Then They Were Doomed (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Little Library Mystery series focuses on a death at an Agatha Christie symposium. I have been wanting to read this series for ages (the hardcover price tag has been a roadblock), but this emphasis on my favorite Christie – And Then There Were None – could be what gets me to give one a read.
Claws of Action (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cat Lady Mystery series. While the cat shelter is preparing to open a reading room where kids can read to cats, a health inspector wants to shut the whole place down because they serve snacks, making it a “cat café.” When the inspector is found dead, Lara and her aunt become murder suspects.
A Killer Edition (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Booktown Mystery series. In the midst of some personal challenges, Tricia heads to the local romance bookshop for a new read, but instead discovers a heated argument. When one party is found dead and the other is accused of murder, Tricia is sleuthing once again.
Playing House (e-book) – First in a new series. A guy on a home tour runs into a longtime acquaintance who pretends he is her boyfriend to discourage an admirer. He’s only too happy to play along. Soon their fake romance starts to feel more real. This is a trope I love! I already pre-ordered this one.
Pride, Prejudice and Poison (Hardcover) – First in the new Jane Austen Society Mystery series. A used bookstore in England is home to the Jane Austen Society’s monthly meetings. When the Society president is poisoned and another member is almost killed, the proprietor of the bookstore agrees to look into the case.
Star Trek The Original Series: The Antares Maelstrom (Trade Paperback) – Set during the original five-year mission. The crew of the Enterprise are called in to help when a “gold rush” like race to mine a rare energy source threatens the peace and security of the surrounding sector.
The Swallows (Hardcover) – A new teacher at Stonebridge Academy upsets the school’s equilibrium when her assignments lead the female students to question and challenge the school’s “boys will be boys” attitude and push back against the things the school has been keeping secret. I have already requested this one from the library.
The Wallflower Wager (Mass Market Paperback) – A woman with a soft heart for animals runs afoul of her ill-tempered neighbor who insists she clear out her menagerie. So she sets a challenge – if he can find all of them good homes, she will clear them out. I have requested this one, too.
How to Be An Antiracist (Hardcover) – Part memoir and part call to move from recognizing racist thoughts to taking anti-racist action. This is on my list of nonfiction books to dig into.
The Immoral Majority: Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values (Hardcover) – A conservative believer takes a long look at the evolution of the Christian Right as a political movement, including questions of how they reconcile their religious standards with their support of the current president. This one is high on my reading wish list.
Teaching U. S. History Through Sports (Hardcover) – Using sports and events in sporting history as a glimpse at culture and social/economic developments in America. I think this is such a cool way to engage learners.

Happy August! School is in session – or it will be soon if you are one of the lucky ones who still has a couple weeks of summer to go. And that means it’s a great time to consider a new book! Here are some of the books releasing this week – there are a BUNCH to choose from.

Books for Kids

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Would You Ever Pet a Platypus? (Board Book) – Board book celebrating the animals God made.
The Buddy Bench – A fictionalized example of a Buddy Bench designed so that when kids sit there it is a sign for other kids to reach out to that child and include him/her in play. This sound sweet!
The Evil Princess vs. The Brave Knight – Familiar sibling squabbles play out between the “evil” princess and the “brave” knight. The sample pages look fantastic! I can’t wait to read this one! From the pair behind the Babymouse graphic novels.
Just in Case You Ever Wonder – A picture book offering readers assurance of God’s love through the ups and downs of life. By Max Lucado.
The Pencil Eater – A teacher on the perpetual quest to track down her missing classroom pencils wrote this new book about a pencil eating monster.
Penny and Penelope – Two girls on a playdate struggle to play together with their very different dolls – one a princess and the other a secret agent.
Fabio, The World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: The Case of the Missing Hippo – A flamingo detective named Fabio? Sign me up for this new chapter book series! Fabio is asked to judge a talent contest, but when one of the contestants goes missing, he is on the case. A second book releases next spring.
Jigsaw Jones: The Case of the Bear Scare AND The Case of the Hat Burglar AND The Case of the Haunted Scarecrow AND The Case of the Golden Key AND The Case of the Vanishing Painting – When my teen was learning to read, the Jigsaw Jones mysteries were some of our favorite stories. These five titles appear to be new additions to this classic, and well-loved series.
Super Turbo and the Fountain of Doom – Book 9 in the Super Turbo series. The superpets have figured out how to get water without having to deal with the Rat Pack every time, but once they’ve all tried out the water fountain, they notice the water won’t stop flowing.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Cape – Book 1 in the League of Secret Heroes series. Set during World War II in an alternate timeline where superheroes exist, a girl longs for a way to make a difference in the world, but many dismiss her because she is a girl. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
Dear Justice League – Justice League heroes answer mail from their biggest fans. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month as well.
Double Cross – Book 3 in the Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls series. At a prep school competition, the kids find out their nemesis is using the competition site as a launch point for his next attack. This series looks so great. It’s on my list.
Each Tiny Spark – As a girl watches her father try to piece his life back together after deployment, her community starts to fall apart, and some of her classmates are caught in the middle. There’s been a lot of talk online lately about the need for “older middle grade” books that bridge the gap between middle grade and YA. This book is targeted for kids 10 and up. It’s on my list for this week.
Rise of the Dragon Moon – A new middle grade fantasy about a princess and her friends who trek to Dragon Mountain to rescue her mother the queen. This sounds great!
Star Wars Ahsoka: A Star Wars Rebels Cinestory – A graphic novel presentation of Ahsoka’s story in the Star Wars Rebels TV show.
Star Wars Myths and Fables – Original fairy tales and myths from the Star Wars universe.
The 47 People You’ll Meet in Middle School – An older sister gives her younger sister the scoop on middle school now that she has finished her first year there. From the author of Annie’s Life in Lists. I’ve requested this from the library just based on the author’s previous work which I adored!
Who Is R. L. Stine?
Hello Girls – Two teens meet outside a police station, each wondering if it is finally time to report their families. When both girls realize they can’t just wait for graduation to take charge of their own lives, they pair up to make a run from their midwestern small town to a big city for a fresh start. This is also on my list for this week.
I’m Not Dying with You Tonight – Two teens – one Black, one White – find themselves tossed together when a rivalry football game turns violent and sets a city already on edge aflame. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Let’s Call It a Doomsday – From the author of Heretics Anonymous. Two girls meet at their therapist’s office. One is caught up in all the possible ways the world could end. The other has had a “premonition” of when the apocalypse will occur. As the girls work together to prepare for the worst, they wonder if anyone will believe them. This is another I will read solely because I have enjoyed the author’s other work.
#MurderFunding – Sequel to #MurderTrending. The latest reality show craze is Who Wants to Be a Painiac?, the show that’s looking for the next great serial killer. One contestant is there to find out what really happened to her mom. She thought she was just your typical suburban soccer mom, but someone else says her mom was one of the serial killers at Alcatraz 2.0. I read the first book this summer; it was the one recommended to me by my teen. It was not a good fit for me as a reader (too gory and the premise felt a few steps farther than even The Hunger Games). But I know the rest of my family will be picking this one up for sure.
Postcards for a Songbird – A teen starts to expect everyone to leave her after her mom leaves, then her sister and her best friend. But a house-bound neighbor might finally be someone who will stick around. But a guy in driver’s ed and postcards from her sister leave the girl with more questions than ever before. At the time of this writing, this book is available on Kindle Unlimited (free for subscribers).
Star Wars: A Crash of Fate (Galaxy’s Edge) – Childhood friends on Batuu find themselves with vastly different lives as young adults. She is a smuggler, on her own after the death of her parents. He is a farmer who never left Batuu. Rekindling their relationship leaves both of them questioning if they have a chance at love when they live such different lives. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Swipe Right for Murder – A teen on his own for a night in New York City is looking for a hook up but finds a dead body instead. The latest from James Patterson’s publishing imprint.
Radiant: His Light Your Life for Teen Girls and Young Women – A candid conversation about identity with author Priscilla Shirer (Prince Warriors series, Fervent).

 

Books for Adults

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A Bias for Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop mystery series. The quilters are hired to make quilts for a new B&B by the owner, a woman who inherited the property when her brother died. But when his cause of death goes from heart attack to murder, the sister is the number one suspect.
Bursts of Fire (Hardcover) – First in the new Addicted to Heaven political fantasy series. Magic, gods and war abound in this series opener that sees three sisters scattered to the wilds determined to regain their legacy. This sounds great!
Enchanted Ever After (e-book) – Book 9 in the Enchanted, Inc. series which I have adored since the first book. While Katie and Owen are trying to get the plans for their wedding finalized, someone is trying to expose the magical world to the general public.
Life and Other Inconveniences (Trade Paperback) – A generational story that spans from grandmother (who lost her husband and a son) to granddaughter (who lost her mother and whose father dumped her on his mother’s doorstep). When she got pregnant, Emma’s grandmother kicked her out. But she has pushed through the hard times. And Emma and her daughter have made a good life for themselves. But Emma can’t fathom why, after all their history, her grandmother would call HER for help. This is on my list for this week, too.
Love and Death Among the Cheetah (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Royal Spyness Mystery series, a fun historical fiction series. When Georgie and Darcy are on their honeymoon in Kenya, Georgie starts to suspect Darcy is there on a mission. What starts as the hunt for a thief turns into a hunt for a murderer.
The Perfect Wife (Hardcover) – A woman awakens with no memory next to a man who describes her as the perfect wife who was in an accident five years earlier and has, thanks to a technological breakthrough, just been revived. It’s not long before she starts to question if she can trust the story he’s told her.
Reticence (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Custard Protocol steampunk series, a spinoff of the author’s Parasol Protectorate series which I enjoyed. The brother of one of the globe-travelling women flying the Spotted Custard airship is the focus of this entry in the series. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the original series. I might need to pick them up from the library for a re-read.
The Right Swipe (Trade Paperback) – A dating app creator is not looking for love when she meets a former pro football player. But after one night he disappears and she’s left to guard her heart again. But when he drops into her life again, he’s counting on a second chance at love, but his business relationship with a rival developer could kill their relationship before it even starts. I’ll be reviewing this later this month.
Terns of Endearment (Hardcover) – Book 25 in the always delightful Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews. Meg and several members of her family are on board a cruise ship when her grandfather is asked to provide part of the ship’s educational programming for the voyage. The ship breaks down in the Bermuda Triangle, some passengers go missing, and Meg’s dad is ready to use the confinement of the passengers to investigate the missing persons cases. This series is a must read for me – I have already requested this one and the new Christmas book (Owl Be Home for Christmas – October) from the library!
The Time for Murder Is Meow (August 8 – Trade Paperback) – First in the new Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery series. A former actress takes over her late aunt’s pet shop. She’s looking forward to getting involved in the community like sharing some of her aunt’s Cary Grant posters with the local museum. But when a board member vetoes the plan and then ends up dead, she becomes the prime suspect in the murder. I’m looking forward to checking this one out.
Love at First Like (Trade Paperback) – A jewelry shop owner uploads a picture of her wearing a diamond engagement ring accidentally and reaps a publicity bonanza. Now she’s off to find a fake fiancé to help her keep up the ruse and improve the business’ bottom line.
Say You Still Love Me (Trade Paperback) – A VP at a multibillion-dollar business recognizes the new security guy as her first love. Can two people from vastly different backgrounds make love work?
Best Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes: Quick and Easy Dinners, Casseroles, Soups, Stews and More (Paperback Cookbook) – Includes a section just on wings and another on five-ingredients-or-less recipes.
Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God’s Best for Your Next (Trade Paperback) – Practical ideas for surviving and thriving this next stage of life.
The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System – And How to Fix It (Hardcover) – Digs into the impact of decontextualizing reading comprehension skills in elementary classrooms. I’m curious to read this one.
Middle School Matters: The Ten Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – And How Parents Can Help (Trade Paperback) – An exploration of skills to help kids transition to adolescence.
Raise Them Up: Praying God’s Word Over Your Kids (Trade Paperback) – Prayer guide for parents
Red State Christians: Understanding the Voters Who Elected Donald Trump (Hardcover) – I can’t know without reading what the author’s bias might be, but I am curious to read this one.
The View From Rock Bottom: Discovering God’s Embrace in our Pain (Trade Paperback) – The author shares her experience of finding Jesus in the midst of her pain.

As August comes to a close, we have a LOT of new books to check out for this week!

Books for Kids

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Hello Knights AND Hello Ninjas (board books) – Two spectacular new rhyming books for the youngest set of readers. I have seen a handful of pages of each of these are they are outstanding! I can’t wait to see the real thing. I’ll have to find some little readers so I can buy these for them.
When Your Monkeys Won’t Go to Bed (board book) – A new going to bed book starring some mischievous monkeys. This is another adorable new board book!
The Day You Begin – A lovely new picture book from poet extraordinaire, Jacqueline Woodson. This one focuses on being yourself even when you are in places where you seem to be alone. I can’t wait to read the whole thing; the pages I have seen are delightful.
Delivery Bear (Sept 1) – A bear wants to work as a delivery bear, but all the other delivery animals are cute bunnies. Maybe if he looked more like a bunny, his customers wouldn’t be afraid of him. This looks cute, too.
Eduardo Guadardo, Elite Sheep (Sept 1) – A sheep about to graduate from the Fairytale Bureau of Investigations (FBI) goes undercover to protect Mary from Wolf, Troll and Witch. This retelling of Mary Had a Little Lamb sounds right up my alley! I have this one in my Amazon cart right now.
Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude – A story of the two lion statues outside the New York Public Library. This one is in my Amazon cart, too!
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein – A picture book biography of Mary Shelley. The story sounds fascinating! I could see this being popular in upper elementary classrooms.
Maximillian Villainous – A monster who doesn’t have the heart to be scary has to figure out a way to become a villain or his new pet bunny will have to find another home. I can’t wait to read this one!
The Harlem Globetrotters Present the Points Behind Basketball (The Science of Fun Stuff) – A perfect addition to your nonfiction collection! I love this whole series.
You Should Meet Lin-Manuel Miranda – A kids biography of the composer of Hamilton: An American Musical. Looking forward to reading this one myself.
Bad Guys: Do-You-Think-He-Saurus? – After their last adventure, the Bad Guys have traveled through time to the age of the dinosaurs. I have GOT to try one of these books. They look like so much fun for the early chapter book crowd. I’ve put the whole series in my library wish list.
Eva’s Big Sleepover – Book 9 in the Owl Diaries series from Branches. I adore this whole series!
Grumpy Goblins – Book 9 in the Ella and Owen series about a set of twin dragons
Lord of the Fleas – Book 5 in the DogMan series. I have these in my library wish list, too.
Mac Undercover – Book 1 in the Mac B Kid Spy series. I have an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this that I hope to read soon.
Stealing the Sword – Book 1 in a new Branches series called The Time Jumpers by Wendy Mass. I’ve already ordered this one from Scholastic Book Clubs (where you can get great deals, early releases and help a teacher get books for his/her classroom!!).

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Harbor Me – Six kids meet together in a space where for the first time they can be completely honest about the things they are facing. This has gotten a lot of positive buzz already. This makes two Jacqueline Woodson books out this week.
Hero Pup of World War I – A stray dog is taken in by a group of soldiers and then finds himself on the front lines of World War I. Book 2 in the G.I.Dogs series.
If This Were a Story – A story of growing up. This looks lovely. This is on my list for this week.
Lucky Luna – Two girls learn the meaning of “Blood is thicker than water.”
Monster Mayhem (Graphic Novel) – This new graphic novel is from the terrific illustrator of the Ordinary People Change the World series, Chris Eliopoulos. I adore his art style. In this book, a science-minded girl finds herself in the middle of a monster movie. I have this one in my Amazon cart, too!
Quid Pro Quo – A kid who’s learned a lot about the law from attending night school with his mom finds himself in the middle of a mess when his mom goes missing. I’ll be reviewing this one here tomorrow.
Resistance – For fans of A Night Divided, or other Jennifer Nielsen books (The False Prince is my favorite) comes her latest World War II story about Nazi-occupied Poland and a girl in a resistance cell. This is another one I ordered early from Scholastic Book Clubs.
Sheets (Graphic Novel) – A girl trying to hold her life together meets the ghost that has taken up residence in her family’s laundromat.
The Story Collector – Book 1 in a new mystery series about a girl raised in the New York Public Library. Yes, please!
Wonderland – The latest book by Barbara O’Connor focuses on two girls looking for friendship and understanding, and  a stray dog looking for a new home. This will be a must read for me!
Access Restricted – A sequel to All Rights Reserved about a world that forces people to pay for the words they use. I still have to read the first book before I can dive into this one.
Hidden Pieces – A girl with a secret is being blackmailed. I have the author’s first book on my wish list; I love twisty, suspenseful stories like this. This will be on my list, too.
Mirage – A girl is kidnapped to serve as a body double for a despised princess. Yep, this is on my list, too!
The Second Life of Ava Rivers – When a missing girl returns after 12 years away, her family looks to repair the fractures in their relationships while wondering where the girl was for all those years. This sounds fantastic!
That’s Not What Happened – Three years after a school shooting, a girl wonders if she should tell the truth about what really happened that day. This is at the top of my list for the week; I already ordered this one early from Scholastic Book Clubs, too.
Towering Sky – The third and final book in The Thousandth Floor series. I need to catch up on this series, too.

Books for Adults

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Climate Changeling – Book 2 in the Flash novel series based on the CW television show. The Weather Wizard returns and he’s hunting down Joe West and The Flash. My family has enjoyed these novels based on the CW series; they’ll be thrilled to know there is a new one. (Mass Market Paperback)
Come Back to Me – Book 6 in the Blessings Georgia series. High school sweethearts torn apart by a devastating fire have another chance at love – if they can get past the 19-year-old secret Phoebe has been keeping. This sounds like a great story. I haven’t read any of the others in the series, but I plan to give this one a try.  (Mass Market Paperback)
Died in the Wool – Book 2 in the Knit and Nibble mystery series about a crafting group caught up in a murder at the annual town festival. I have book one on my TBR shelves already. (Mass Market Paperback)
Dim Sum of All Fears – Book 2 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series about a young woman managing her family’s restaurant when the newlyweds in the shop next door are found murdered. I have book one of this series on my TBR shelves, too. (Mass Market Paperback)
Goodbye Cruller World – Book 2 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series about a donut shop owner whose treats are used to commit murder. I don’t have book one yet, but it’s on my list. (Trade Paperback)
Marigolds for Malice – Book 3 in the Enchanted Garden Mystery series about a perfume shop owner, a time capsule and a dead body. I haven’t tried this series out yet. (Mass Market Paperback)
Shattered at Sea – Book 5 in the Webb’s Glass Shop mystery series about a glassblower performing on a cruise ship where a passenger goes missing. This is another series on my reading wish list. (Mass Market Paperback)
Stabbed in the Baklava – Book 2 in the Kabob Kitchen Mystery series where the best man at a wedding is killed and the caterer’s new head chef is the primary suspect. I have book one on my TBR shelves for this series also. (Mass Market Paperback)
The Trouble with Truth – Book 2 in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series. You can read my review of book one here. I loved it! This time Colbie and her cat Trouble are harboring a fugitive when her part time chef is accused of murder. I’m looking forward to reading this one! (Trade Paperback)
Trust Me – The latest suspense story from Hank Phillippi Ryan. I met her once, several years ago at a conference and she was a delight. I have this one on my library wish list. (Hardcover)
Letters to the Church (Sept. 1) – The latest from Francis Chan focuses on calling Christians back to the Church depicted in the Bible. I’m looking forward to reading this one. (Trade paperback)
Teacher Training with Jesus: 10 Lessons from the Master (Sept. 1) – Teaching strategies and practices for Christian teachers (in public or private schools as well as Sunday school, etc.) I’m curious to check this one out in person. (Trade Paperback)
Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House (Sept 1) – April Ryan has had some interesting interactions with the President, and I am  curious to read about them in her own words. (Hardcover)

It’s a light week for new books, but quantity isn’t the same as quality. Some great new stories to explore this week – here they are!

Books for Kids

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Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies – A beautiful pony is tricked by a jealous Queenie and becomes lost. Can the Seven Miniature Ponies help her find her way home? The illustrations for this are lovely. This looks like a fun, horse-y twist on the classic Snow White story.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Flip the Silver Switch – Book 2 in the Crimson Five series about a group of kid inventors in the future. Sounds like a fun series. I have book 1 on my library list.
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish – After a fight at school, Marcus’ mom takes him and his brother to Puerto Rico to see extended family, but all Marcus can think about is the fact that the father he hasn’t seen in ten years is somewhere on the island, too.
The Phantom Tower – A pair of twins discover a portal to a parallel world in their new home. This sounds great. I have this on my list.
The Potion Problem – Just Add Magic, book 2 from the MIX line for middle grade readers. The girls lose their magical cook book, but it mysteriously finds its way back to them. The girls will have their hands full figuring out the mystery of their special book as well as saving their favorite bake shop. The whole series sounds delightful.
Trees: Kings of the Forest – The latest from Science Comics
Giant Days – A novelization of the comic book series about three college students. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
The State of Grace – An autistic girl tries to make sense of her world when things start to change after a kiss. Early reviews of this one are glowing.
To Be Honest – A high school senior tries to deal with her sister’s departure for college, her own college dreams, and her mom’s diet obsession. I am curious about this one.
The Truth Lies Here – An aspiring journalist and her friends go looking for the girls father, a conspiracy theorist who has gone missing. This one sounds terrific!
We Regret to Inform You – When the perfect college applicant is rejected by all of her college choices, including her “safety” school, she launches an investigation to see how that could have happened. I requested this one from the library weeks ago. Tomorrow morning it will be mine!

Books for Adults

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The Fated Sky – Book 2 in the Lady Astronaut series about an alternate history where mankind is already set up on the moon in the 1960s, so now they look to Mars. With that fascinating premise, book one is on my library wish list.
The Stars Now Unclaimed – Book one in a new space opera series. This is on my library wish list, too.
Vox – A dystopian story of a society where women are forbidden to speak more than 100 words per day and their other freedoms are growing more restricted. One woman says No More. I will be reviewing this one in September. I’ve been excited about reading this all summer!
American Cookie: The Snaps, Drops, Jumbles, Tea Cakes, Bars and Brownies that We Have Loved for Generations – A journey through American baking history – with recipes. Sounds terrific! Fun AND educational.
One Pan, Whole Family: More than 70 Compete Weeknight Meals – I can’t wait to see this one in person.
Star Trek Lost Scenes – Previously unseen and fully restored stills from the original Star Trek series. This looks fantastic!

School districts around here are up and running. These are the days when I look forward to losing myself in a good book as a reward for getting all the things done throughout the day. Here are some new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Loretta’s Gift – A little girl wants to find the perfect gift for her new cousin. This looks sweet.
The Sloth that Slowed Us Down – A busy, hurry-scurry family takes in a sloth as a pet who shows them how to slow down. This sounds fantastic!
Bear Country: Bearly a Misadventure – Book 6 in the hilarious Chicken Squad early chapter book series. This time, the mystery-solving chicks are looking for their missing caretaker. I love this funny series.
Bigfoot Goes Back in Time – Where’s Waldo with Big Foot. A fun new activity book, perfect for long car rides.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Finding Esme – A girl finds dinosaur bones on the family farm. This sounds terrific!
Finding Langston – After the death of his mom, a boy and his father move to Chicago as part of the Great Migration (1946). There the boy discovers a library that welcomes everyone and the poet who inspired his mother so much she named her son after him. This sounds lovely.
(Illustrated Percy Jackson) The Lightning Thief – The Harry Potter books have done it and now it is Percy Jackson’s turn. I can’t wait to see what this looks like in person.
Mystery in the Mansion – Book 1 in the Case Closed choose-your-own-adventure mystery series. This is a format I loved as a kid and it still captures kids’ imaginations! I’m looking forward to trying this one.
Ocean Renegades: Journey through the Paleozoic Era – Book 2 in the Earth Before Us series about a kid who travels in time to see what the Earth was like before humans were around.
Rules of the Ruff – A girl in need of a summer diversion begs a local dog walker to take her on as his assistant. He agrees but only if she learns the Rules of Ruff. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
So Done – After a summer apart, two friends find their interests and priorities changing. I’m curious to see what sets this book apart from others with a similar premise.
Winter War (August 15) – The Prince Warriors series continues. I have not read these yet, but they are on my wish list. There aren’t a lot of middle grade books being published by Christian publishers.
Worth a Thousand Words – A girl used to hiding behind her camera to find lost things is recruited by the class clown to help him find his dad. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Fresh Ink – A new anthology of short stories for teens
The Looking Glass – A missing older sister and a mysterious list in a book send a teen off to see if she can find her sister. This sounds fascinating.
Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America – A new addition to the growing collection of social justice action books for teens.

Books for Adults

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Pinnacle City: A Superhero Noir – A former supervillain minion and a newly minted Pinnacle City Guardian team up to address a case no one else wants. I love superhero stories, but this promises to be a different twist on the usual fare. And I love the idea of that! I’ll be checking this one out! (Trade paperback)
100 Days of Real Food on a Budget – I enjoyed the original 100 Days of Real Food and I’m eager to take a look at this one that keeps those general principles but helps families eat right without breaking the bank.
Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow: Quick Recipes for Hangry Athletes – No thank you on the “Run Fast” part, but I am all about the “cook fast.”

Happy August! Around here, August means back to school, so we are enjoying our last couple days of summer break before kicking back into our school routine. For me, that still includes books! I can’t read as much during the school year as I do during the summer, but there are tons of books for me to look forward to to kick this school year off right!

Books for Kids

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Attack of the 50-foot Fluffy – A little girl and her stuffed bunny try to deal with a day when everything goes wrong. I have seen a few pages of this and it looks outstanding! I can’t wait to read the entire thing. If the humor and story live up to the sample pages, this will be a must buy.
Hurricane in Texas (Magic Tree House) – The latest transitional chapter book from the Magic Tree House series. This is numbered as book 30, although I know there was already a book 30 when she wrote the Merlin Missions. So maybe they have restarted the counting and set those stories off to the side. But if your kid is a fan of this series, you won’t want to miss the latest book!
The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess – A new transitional chapter book series about a princess and a not-a-princess who struggle to get along in their third grade class. I’ll be reviewing this one in a couple weeks.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Dollar Kids – A kid looking for a fresh start after the shooting death of his friend finds a town selling homes for $1. But the homes are in pretty rough shape and the community is less than welcoming. Maybe they’ve traded one set of problems for another. I am looking forward to reading this one!
The Girl with the Dragon Heart (Aug 9) – Book 2 in the Tales from the Chocolate Heart series. A girl with a gift for storytelling (and a dragon as a best friend) is asked to spy on the fairy royal family, but she has reasons of her own for not trusting them. I have both books in this series on my TBR list!
Out of the Bottle (GN) – Book 5 in the DC Super Hero Girls graphic novel series which focuses on Harley Quinn. I’m looking forward to reviewing this one later this fall!
Royal Crown – Book 4 in the From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess series by Meg Cabot. I loved the first couple books in this series about Princess Mia’s younger half sister. This time Princess Olivia is looking forward to Mia’s coronation, but her cousins are plotting to take the throne.
Wish Upon a Sleepover – A girl looking to fit in with the popular crowd ends up with her DO NOT invite list coming to her sleepover. I am so looking forward to reading this one! I enjoy the author’s work so much. I’ll be reviewing this one later this fall.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Fighter for Justice: Her Impact on the Civil Rights Movement, the White House, and the World  – New nonfiction for middle grade readers about First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I am fascinated by the Roosevelt family and am looking forward to reading this one.
Fearless Faith – A devotional for girls from author Melanie Shankle. Includes fun activities and places to make notes. This looks delightful. I can’t wait to see it in person.
Who Was Selena? AND Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? – The latest from the Who Was series.
#MurderTrending – Dystopian novel for teens about a world where criminal executions are broadcast live online. The premise of this is fascinating, so this is at the top of my list for this week.
Catwoman: Soulstealer – Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn have teamed up to cause problems for Gotham while Batman is away. This one is also at the top of my TBR list for the week.
The Forest Queen – A female Robin Hood story. A young woman frustrated by her brother’s mistreatment of the locals around their estate runs away to the woods to join others who want to right wrongs and look out for the folks in need. Sounds great!
Heretics Anonymous – An atheist is the newest student at a strict Catholic school where he meets up with the other outcasts – the girl who wants to be a priest, the pagan, and the boy who is Jewish and gay – who want to challenge the hypocrisy in their school. This appeals to my oppositional streak, so I have already requested this one from the library.
The Last Best Story – Two teens who may have missed their opportunity for romance together get one last chance. This sounds AWESOME! I’ve requested this one, too.
Nine – In an alternate universe humans have nine lives. Each new life is a mental and physical upgrade and the government incentivizes death to control overpopulation. One teen who is reluctant to burn through his lives discovers some flaws in the system. What a fascinating premise! This is on the list (The list is LONG.)
The Other Side of Lost – A girl who confesses the lies in her online existence and suffers the backlash goes on a hike of the John Muir Trail (Sierra Nevada Mountain Range) in search of herself. Sounds great.
Smothered – A story told in text messages, journal entries, etc. of a college graduate who has to move home while she finds a job and the mom who wants her to stay. Yep, that’s my third library request of the week.
These Rebel Waves – Two lands at war – one ruled by magic and the other by religion. Three  key figures trying to ferret out the truth from the lies that will determine the future for both countries. This sounds like the sort of story that I love. This is on the list, too.  (I wonder if Amazon has a limit on how many items you can have in one wish list….)
Girls Resist: A Guide to Activism, Leadership and Starting a Revolution – A social justice and activism manual geared to teens.

Books for Adults

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Alternate Routes – Alternate worlds, phantom freeways, and a former secret service agent being hunted for a secret he learned while on the job. You’ll just have to go to Goodreads for the full description because it is too intricate to summarize in a sentence or two. But this sounds just weird enough to be something I will enjoy. This is on my list. (*Hardcover)
Fletch – Looks like this is a reissue of the first book of the Fletch mystery series. Yes, the Chevy Chase movie, Fletch. I am eager to read this one and see how it measures up to the movie. (*Trade Paperback)
Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding – Book 12 in the Royal Spyness mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first few books in this series back when they first came out, but I haven’t been able to keep up with it. If you love historical mysteries, you should try this series. This particular story sounds so terrific, I might have to jump back into this series. (*Hardcover)
The Hope Jar – First in a new Prayer Jars series from Wanda Brunstetter. A young woman assumes the identity of a long lost Amish girl, but when the lies grow out of control she doesn’t know how to get out of them without hurting the family she has grown to love. This sounds delightful! (*Trade Paperback)
Our House – A woman comes home to find strangers moving into her house. She and her estranged husband had been taking turns living in the home with their children, but now he and the children are gone. I have this one on hold already at the library – I’m not sure I am going to be able to juggle all of my requests and holds if I’m not careful. There are just too many books out this week that I want to read! (*Hardcover)
Prisoner in the Castle – Book 8 in the Maggie Hope mystery series. I loved the first book and have the rest on my TBR shelves. In this one, Maggie is in prison because she knows too many secrets. When the prisoners around her start dropping dead, Maggie knows she needs to find out what is truly going on before she is next. (*Hardcover)
To Catch a Witch – Book  8 in the Wishcraft mystery series. A friend of Darcy’s is killed the morning of the annual Wicked Mad Dash and Darcy must investigate. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week. (*Hardcover)
Toucan Keep a Secret – Book 23 in the Meg Langslow series. I adore this series, and the latest book was a treat. Meg discovers a body in the church crypt while she is helping look after things for their priest who is on maternity leave. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month. (*Hardcover)
Eat at Home Tonight: 101 Simple Busy-Family Recipes for your Slow-Cooker, Sheet Pan, Insta Pot and More – I am all about simple meals for our family! (*Paperback)
The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning – Husband of author Shauna Niequist, Aaron Niequist, brings this book about spiritual practices. Fans of his wife should give this one a look. (*Hardcover at a Trade paperback price)
The Great Grilled Cheese Book: Grown-Up Recipes for a Childhood Classic – The title says it all! (*Hardcover at a Trade paperback price)
In the Name of the Father: Family, Football and the Manning Dynasty – A biography of the football family of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning (*Hardcover)
The Legend of Me: An Epic Do-It-Yourself Autobiography – A guided journal for recording the details of your life.(*Hardcover at a Trade paperback price)
Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God – The latest from Max Lucado looks at twelve of God’s promises. There is also a study guide and a prayer book for the series. (*Hardcover)

 

*I’ve noticed that publishers have shifted some of their new mystery series to Trade paperback (full size paperback with a sale price around $15 or $16) or hardcover (with a sale price around $25) instead of Mass Market paperback which runs around $8. When I think of it, I’ll try to note the format so readers can plan their book budgets – and trips to the library – accordingly.