Tag: September New Releases

Tomorrow is the first release day in September 2020. Let’s see what books we have to look forward to this week! There are TONS of choices.

Books for Kids – Picture Books

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Catkwondo – Kitten wants to break a board, but she has to be patient in her training.
Every Night Is Pizza Night – Pipo thinks pizza is the best food, but her tastes are expanded when she cooks with her friends.
I Am Every Good Thing – A Black boy celebrates all the great things he is.
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog – The third book in this excellent series sees Madeline and Star volunteering at an assisted living facility as Star trains to be a therapy dog. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man – A Little Golden Book about Miles Morales.
Rocket Says Clean Up! – When Rocket visits her grandparents, she is shocked at the volume of trash at the beach. And when she finds a turtle trapped in a net, she decides something must be done.
Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock! – When Pete shows his latest artwork to his friends, they don’t react like he expected.
Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie – A Thanksgiving celebration can be tricky for particular eaters like Peyton. I so get Peyton!
Short & Sweet – Book 4 in the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series. When Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast become worried that they are going stale, Professor Biscotti tries to help but ends up turning them into toddlers.
Sweet Child O’Mine – A picture book based on the lyrics of the Guns N’ Roses classic.
Wonder Woman: Christmas Comes to Paradise Island – Wonder Woman celebrates Christmas.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

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Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! AND Zip, Zoom! – The first two books in a new Early Reader series.
BunBun & BonBon: Fancy Friends (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A lonely bunny becomes friends with a fancy piece of candy. This I have to see for myself!
The Critter Club: Amy the Puppy Whisperer – Book 21 in the Critter Club series. A girl with a talent for training puppies does such a good job she soon as more customers than she has time or energy for.
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (Graphic Novel) – Book 9 in this uber-popular graphic novel series.
Fairylight Friends: A Magic Spark – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Three fairy friends discover their special powers.
Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Fox siblings try to get ready for bed.
I Survived the California Wildfires 2018 – Book 20 in the I Survived series focuses on the California Wildfires of 2018.
Mac B, Kid Spy: The Sound of Danger – Book 5 in the Mac B, Kid Spy series. This time Mac is searching for a stolen violin.
Owly: Just a Little Blue (Graphic Novel) – Owly and Wormy try to help a family of bluebirds living in a damaged tree.
Pawtriot Dogs: Save the Sanctuary AND Everything’s Bigger in Texas – The first two books in this new series about a team of dogs who take on various missions. These two books look at a case to save an animal shelter and a case of kidnapped puppies.
Squidding Around: Fish Feud! (Graphic Novel) – The first book in this new series. Squizzard and Toothy are best friends, but Squizzard’s bossiness when they play games pushes Toothy too far. This looks adorable!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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Alpaca My Bags – Part of the WISH line of middle grade novels. When an anxious girl moves from homeschooling to a public school, she finds comfort working with alpacas. But when a prank goes wrong and puts the alpacas in danger, she will step up to save the place that has been a sanctuary for her. This looks great!
Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector – The fourth and final book in the Coin Slot Chronicles series from Christian publisher Zonderkidz and former NFL running back Rashad Jennings. Arcade and Zoe travel through time to the top and bottom of the world.
Battle for the Crystal Castle – Book 13 in the Kingdom of Fantasy series.
Before and Ever After (Older Middle Grade) – The latest from National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson looks at ZJ, the son of a former pro football player, and what happens to his family when his dad starts experiencing personality and memory issues because of head injuries during his career.
The Candy Mafia – The story of a private detective in a world where sweets are forbidden who stumbles onto a shady underworld of sweet smugglers. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
DC Super Hero Girls Midterms (Graphic Novel) – The latest Super Hero Girls graphic novel focuses on Bumblebee, Lois Lane, and Harley Quinn when midterms will determine who is the best in their Metropolis High class. You can read my review of other books in the DC at Metropolis High here as well as reviews of the Super Hero High series here.
Forget Me Nat (Graphic Novel) – Sequel to the delightful Nat Enough. Nat’s crush tells her he just wants to be friends, and the rejection throws Nat into self-doubt. I am looking forward to this one.
The Gerbil Ate My Homework – Book 23 in this comics collection starring Big Nate.
Jayla Jumps In – Jayla tries Double Dutch as a way to stand out in her family.
The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the Worst Olympic Athlete – Book 5 in the Long-Lost Secret Diary series. A boy living in Greece gets to help an Olympic athlete, but when his athlete falls sick, Alexander has to find out why. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Max Einstein: Save the Future (Older Middle Grade) – Max is still on the run from The Corporation when she and her friends receive their next challenge – eliminate childhood hunger.
Millionaires for the Month – The latest from author Stacy McAnulty. When two boys find a wallet and one “borrows” $20 because the owner is a famous billionaire who can afford it, she challenges them to spend over $5 million to learn the value of money. There’s a Brewster’s Millions feel to this, and I am 100% here for it. I am so excited to read this! I will be reviewing this one soon.
Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters – When Lizbeth switches to a new school mid-year and gets stuck with the “weirdos,” she finds herself becoming friends with them as they prepare to participate in the required school talent show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life – Another WISH book releases this week. Nadine and Daniel have been best friends for most of their lives, but just as Nadine realizes her feelings for Daniel are a little more than just friendship, he falls for the new girl at school.
Real Pigeons Nest Hard – Book 3 in this silly and fun graphic novel series. This time, the pigeons put their detective skills to work looking for a missing family while dodging a vulture. I got a kick out of the first book in this series.
Tune It Out (Older Middle Grade) – From the author of Roll With It. A girl with a sensory processing disorder adjusts to a lot of change when child services places her with her aunt and uncle. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Graphic Novel) – Book 12 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series, a hilarious comics collection starring Phoebe and her best friend Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. I adore this series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Who HQ Now: Who Is Greta Thunberg? AND Who Was Kobe Bryant? – A new line from the folks at Who HQ which will focus on “trending topics.” The first two books in the line focus on environmentalist Greta Thunberg and the late Kobe Bryant.

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

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As the Shadow Rises – Book 2 in the Age of Darkness series. Forces of light and darkness collide as prophecies comes to pass and the end of the world approaches. I have both books on my library list.
Cemetery Boys (LGBTQ+) – A trans boy determined to prove himself to his family conjures a ghost with unfinished business. At first, he can’t get the ghost to leave; after awhile, he’s not sure he wants him to leave after all.
Fable – Book 1 in a proposed duology.  Grieving her mother and abandoned by her father, Fable enlists the help of a trader who isn’t who he seems to help her get back to her father and the life she lost when he left her four years ago.
Flyy Girls: Lux AND Micah – The first two books in this new series about four Harlem highschoolers. The Flyy girls are a trio of girls who seem to have it all together – just the sorts of girls Lux  should hang out with to help her stay out of trouble. Then Micah’s world is upended when her perfect older brother dies.
Greythorne – Book 2 in the Bloodleaf Trilogy. A princess on the run because of her magical abilities flees to her friend’s family mansion. But it holds secrets that might mean she isn’t as safe there as she hoped. This series sounds great! I have both books in this series on my library list.
The Inheritance Games – First in a new series by the fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes! When Avery inherits a mansion and fortune from a man she never met, there are plenty of puzzles to solve as she moves into his old home – with the four grandsons he disinherited when he left all his money to her. I have had this pre-ordered for weeks. This is my top pick for the week.
The Insomniacs – A competitive diver with insomnia after a fall spends her waking nights with her neighbor/crush, trying to put her memory of that day back together.
Love & Other Detours – Book 3 in the Love & series. Lina is desperate to leave Italy and time with the father she never knew until she receives a journal her mother kept when she was alive. Through the journal, Lina sees Italy in a new way – and discovers a secret that will change everything.
Majesty – Book 2 in the American Royals alternate history series about an America ruled by royalty instead of democracy. As Princess Beatrice prepares to become the country’s first Queen, her siblings and their friends wrestle with their own secrets and choices.
Punching the Air – A novel in verse about a teen convicted of a crime he didn’t commit who finds refuge in words.
Queen of Volts – The third and final book of the Shadow Game series. Enne and Levi are forced into a dangerous final game where they will have to decide if they are partners or rivals.
Recommended for You – The employee who sells the most books at Once Upon will receive a holiday bonus. And Shoshanna needs that money. But new hire, Jake, who doesn’t even read, is starting to outsell her. So Shoshanna is just going to have to take him down. I will be reviewing this one soon – I can’t wait to read it!
Sanctuary – A near-future dystopian story where everyone is chipped and tracked, which makes it extra hard to survive as an undocumented immigrant. When Vali’s mother’s status is discovered, Vali has to get herself and her brother to the sanctuary state of California before it’s too late.
Save Steve – Billed as “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels meets The Fault in Our Stars.” Steve is a jerk – a cancer patient, boyfriend of the most perfect girl, Kaia, and a jerk. But when Kaia asks Cam to help her pull off a fundraiser for Steve’s experimental treatment, he agrees, hoping it will show Kaia that he is really the guy for her, not Steve. But Steve sees through Cam’s plan and is determined to make Cam’s life miserable. This is already on my library list.
The Somebody People – Sequel to The Nobody People. Fahima’s old friend has been manipulating those who gained superpowers after the Pulse and building an army to fight anyone who would oppose him. This leaves Fahima to rely on unproven allies to help her fight for everyone’s freedom.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Graphic Novel) – A sequel of sorts to Teen Titans: Raven, although she doesn’t make an appearance in this book. This is Gar Logan’s origin story. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Unbirthday – Book 10 in the Twisted Tale series of fractured fairy tales. The characters Alice met in Wonderland are appearing in photographs she takes around town. I’m not a Wonderland fan, but the premise of this one sounds fascinating.
We Are Not Free – The story of a group of 14 Japanese-American teens who are sent to internment camps during World War II.
Better Than Life – Teen Girls’ Bible Study Book: How to Study the Bible and Like It – A nine-session study of Psalm 63. (Videos included in leader’s guide.)
The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai AND Michelle Obama – Leveled readers for English Language Learners.

Books for Adults

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Avengers Extinction Key (Trade Paperback) – A prequel to the Marvel’s Avengers game. An ancient group of heroes once assembled to fight the Zodiac, a group of foes who used a Key to channel their powers. When the Key was lost, the Zodiac went into hiding. Now they are returning, and the Avengers are answering the call to fight once again. But if they are to have any hope of winning, they will need to find the Key.
A Case of Cat and Mouse (Hardcover) – Book 12 in the Magical Cats series. Kathleen is using her skills as a librarian to advise a reality baking show that is filming in town. When one of the judges is killed, Kathleen and her very special cats, Hercules and Owen, are on the case.
The Christmas Swap (Trade Paperback) – Since Emma has no chance of getting her dream White Christmas in Arizona, she signs up for a house swap in Colorado. When Tyler catches a glimpse of her, he decides not to leave after all. Tyler hopes to keep his identity as a famous musician and songwriter a secret, but Emma’s friend finds out and decides she wants him for herself. I could see this as a Hallmark movie, easily!
Gored of the Rings (e-book) – Book 1 in the Matchmaker Marriage Mysteries series, a spin off from the Matchmaker Mysteries by Elise Sax. Gladie is married now, and after three years of wedded bliss, there have been no dead bodies or murders to solve. Frankly, Gladie is a little bored. Her Grandma Zelda has decided to expand their matchmaking business into wedding planning and put Gladie in charge. When a member of the wedding party is killed during the festivities Gladie planned, she’s on the case. I have picked up a prequel for the original series – Road to Matchmaker – to try it out.
Off With Their Heads (e-book) – Book 1 in the Wonderland Library Mystery series. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.) Wonderland, Alabama embraces their ties to the classic stories with an annual Tumbledown Festival. But when a guest is killed at the festival, and her mentor bizarrely confesses, librarian Emerson Bloom starts investigating.
One for the Books (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Library Lovers Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. As Lindsey and her friends scout out a location for her upcoming wedding, they stumble across a body – the justice of the peace who was supposed to perform her wedding. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Rogue of Ones Own (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the League of Extraordinary Women series. Lucie and her suffragettes have enough money to take over a publishing house to advance their agenda, but the last obstacle, Lord Ballentine, sets an outrageous condition – a night in her bed.
Seven Ways to Kill a King (e-book) – A princess is out to kill the seven murderous kings who destroyed her life. I’ve pre-ordered this one.
Star Wars: Thrawn: Chaos Rising (Harcover) – Book 1 in the Ascendancy Trilogy which will explore Thrawn’s origins and the home of the Chiss Ascendancy.  I haven’t read any of the Thrawn books so far (my husband has enjoyed them), but this one sounds amazing!
The Way Out (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Forbidden Minds series. Natural pregnancy has been deemed an unnecessary risk when artificial means have been developed. But a reporter investigating the new technology and subsequent laws discovers that some natural-born children have developed supernatural powers. She teams up with a former Marine whose son has some of those powers, and both women become targets for those who want them silenced. This sounds fascinating.
When No One Is Watching (Trade Paperback) – A thriller from the author of the Reluctant Royals series. As Sydney’s neighborhood starts changing, she notices her long-time neighbors disappearing. Sydney turns her frustration into something fruitful by digging into the history of the neighborhood with one of the new residents. But what they discover is truly disturbing.
Yours to Keep (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Man of the Year series by the author of the Central Park Pact series. A sidelined shortstop heads home to recover and to attend his high school reunion. But things don’t go the way he expects them to.  This sounds fun. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)
28-Day Prayer Journey: A Daily Guide to Conversations with God (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Christian writer Chrystal Evans Hurst. Includes three daily prompts, space for writing, as well as prayer and praise prompts.
Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage in the Face of Fear (Hardcover) – The latest from Joyce Meyer. Recognize, confront and conquer fear.
Is God Speaking To Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction (Booklet) – A 64 page booklet from author Lysa TerKeurst about learning to recognize God’s voice.
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio (Hardcover Graphic Novel – September 4) – A 50th Anniversary look at the Kent State shooting when National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students, and wounded several others, protesting the Vietnam War.
The Primal Gourmet Cookbook: Whole 30 Endorsed: It’s Not a Diet If It’s Delicious (Hardcover) – 100+ gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free recipes.
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation As an Exercise in Hope (Trade Paperback) – The author, a New Testament scholar, posits that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition helps address the issues of our times. He also explores how the Bible speaks to topics often ignored by white interpreters such as ethnicity, policing, slavery, and political protest. This is also at the top of my list for this week.
Seeking the Lord: A 30 Day Start to Your Journey  (Trade Paperback) – A 30 day devotional exploring the lives of 22 people from the Bible who sought and found God. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)    
Star Trek: Quibbles with Tribbles (Puzzle book) – A puzzle book for Trek fans.
Who Will Be a Witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance (Trade Paperback) – A call to action for the Church to respond to the need for justice in our times. This is on my September list, too.

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

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

Books for Kids

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

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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

Books for Adults

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

Here are some of the books coming out this week!

Books for Kids

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

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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

Books for Adults

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

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

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

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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

Books for Adults

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

 

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

Books for Kids – Board Books

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

Books for Kids – Picture Books

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

Books for Kids – Leveled Readers and Chapter Books

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

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

Books for Older Kids/Teens

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

Books for Teens/Young Adults

 

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

Books for Adults – Fiction

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

Books for Adults – Non-Fiction

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

Happy October! I hope the beginning of the fall season is treating you right. There are a LOT of books releasing this week. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye:

Books for Kids

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Builder Brothers: Big Plans – The Property Brothers now have a picture book!
Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton – A picture book biography about Eliza Hamilton. There are several books about Eliza releasing this fall. Be sure to check them out. Her story is fascinating.
I Am Human – A celebration of the possibilities in life and being our best selves and caring for others. With illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds.
Jane Goodall AND L. M. Montgomery (Little People, Big Dreams) – The latest picture book biographies from the Little People, Big Dreams series. I love the illustrations for this series. I’d especially like to read these two new books.
Max and the Superheroes – Max and his friends love superheroes. Max’s favorite is Megapower, but his friends aren’t sure a girl superhero could really be that super. Max knows she is because Megapower is his mom. This one is on my list.
Octopus Escapes – Security guard vs Octopus escapee. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library – 8×8 paperback book starring Pete the Cat
Potato Pants – From the fabulous author of Arnie the Doughnut and The Scrambled States of America comes this book about a potato, his eggplant nemesis and a sale on pants. I HAVE to read this one and get the scoop on this crazy story!
The Wall in the Middle of the Book – A knight is certain that his side of the wall in the middle of the book is the safest.
I Lost My Tooth – The first book in the Unlimited Squirrels series by Mo Willems. A squirrel loses a tooth and his friends try to help him find it.
Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters – The fantastic picture book series by Andrea Beaty has expanded into an early chapter book series called The Questioneers! There is a lot of positive buzz about this book online. I can’t wait to read it for myself.
Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference – A book just for early chapter book readers on activism and making a difference in the world.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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9 From the Nine Worlds – More stories starring the cast of the Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan.
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Graphic Novel) – Book 4 in the fabulous original Percy Jackson series gets the graphic novel treatment. My teen and I have enjoyed the graphic novel versions of this terrific series!
The Bookshop Girl – The Jones family has won a humongous bookshop in a contest, but the former owner seems to be hiding something. I am so looking forward to reading this one!
Clash of Beasts – Book 3 in the Going Wild series from the author of the Unwanteds series. Three kids are trying to stop a villain who wants to turn all of humanity into monstrous beasts.
Definitely Daphne – To cope with their recent move and her mom’s upcoming deployment, Annabelle agrees to vlog as a way to step out of her comfort zone. When she’s onscreen as Daphne, she can say how she really feels. I’ll be reviewing this one next week – it was terrific!
Dog Days in the City – Sequel to The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City. I have both of these on my TBR list. This time Josie is trying to find homes for 7 puppies.
Harry Potter Creatures – A laser-cut pop up book.
Lando’s Luck (Star Wars) – An original story starring Lando Calrissian (and the Millennium Falcon)
Misfits – A spin off from the Fairy Tale Reform School series by Jen Calonita. This series focuses on the Royal Academy and a princess trying to find her place in Enchantasia. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
The Reckless Club – The Breakfast Club meets The Golden Girls. Five teens who made questionable choices at the end of 8th grade find themselves spending the last Saturday of their summer “volunteering” at an old folks home for their punishment. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow – I loved it!
The Right Hook of Devin Velma – From the author of last year’s spectacular Greetings from Witness Protection comes this story about a boy who longs to be internet famous so he can pay for his dad’s medical treatment and his best friend who prefers the background but ends up in the limelight instead. I already pre-ordered this one based on how much I adored Greetings last year.
Search for Atlantis (DC Super Hero Girls Graphic Novel) – The kids at DC Super Hero High are back in this adventure where they are looking for the stolen underwater city of Atlantis. I will be reviewing this later this year, but I’ll tell you now that I loved this one. I think this series gets better and better with each book. The addition of Raven and Mera in this story line was fantastic.
Spy School Goes South – Book 6 in the Spy School series. When a captured spy offers intelligence that can help the CIA take down SPYDER, Ben is pretty sure the plan is too good to be true. And he’s absolutely right. This is a series I haven’t read but have on my TBR list.
Squint – Flint, nicknamed”Squint,” is a kid losing his eyesight who loves to draw comics. McKell is the new girl at school who wonders if Flint could be the friend who sees her for who she really is. I’ve requested this one from the library, too.
The Tornado Twins (The Flash) – Book 3 in the Flash series based on the CW series, but without Flashpoint. I enjoyed the first book in this series – this will be a hit with kids who love the TV show or kids who love superhero stories.
The Truth About Martians – A kid and his friends investigate the crash of a space ship near the boy’s Roswell, New Mexico home. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Who Is Bono? AND Who Is Judy Blume?
Be More Vader: Assertive Thinking from the Dark Side AND Be More Yoda: Mindful Thinking from a Galaxy Far Far Away – Hilarious small gift books that answer the question “What would Darth Vader or Yoda do?” These work for teens and adults. From the samples I have seen, these could be great for graduation gifts. I want to buy these for someone for Christmas just so I can read them, too.
Damsel – It’s always been this way – the king dies and his son heads off to slay a dragon and rescue a damsel. But when Ama, the damsel in question, wakes up after her rescue, she feels like things aren’t exactly as the old stories would have everyone believe. I’ve requested this one from the library, too.
Dry – From the author of the excellent Scythe series. A young woman finds herself alone and desperate to protect herself and her brother when the latest California drought hits catastrophic levels and the taps run dry. This sounds fascinating!
The Geography of Lost Things – When a girl inherits a classic car from her estranged father, she just wants to sell it so she can save her childhood home. But she’ll need her ex to drive it for her (it’s a manual transmission) which means she’s in for an awkward road trip. Yes! This sounds great.
The Infinite Pieces of Us – When a girl’s family hides out in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico to avoid her past, her new friends help her hit the road to pursue the truth. Another road trip book – and I am here for both of them!
The Perfect Candidate – A Capital Hill intern finds himself in the “perfect” position to help the FBI investigate the murder of a fellow staffer. Yes, please!
Swing – Two teens are trying to find their place in both school and their community. The plot for this one is pretty intricate. I’m eager to read this one.
What They Don’t Know – Told through journal entries, this is the story of two girls, one who withdraws after an “unspeakable act” and the other who longs to save her. I’ll be looking for this one, too.
(Don’t) Call Me Crazy – Thirty-three entries (essays, lists, comics, etc) to start a conversation about mental health. I’d like to check this one out, too.

Books for Adults

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Alaskan Holiday (small-sized hardcover)- This year’s Christmas book from Debbie Macomber heads to Alaska where a Seattle sous-chef takes a summer gig but gets stuck in Alaska as winter sets in. I know my local library has already got this one on order.
Dead Air (e-book – October 3) – Serial Box is a new service that offers an e-book/audio book combo for stories that are released like a TV series, with one episode a week for a certain number of weeks. Dead Air is one of their newest stories, and the whole thing is now available in one chunk. This one is about a college radio show host who looks into a cold case murder. I haven’t taken the plunge to try Serial Box yet, but this particular story really grabbed my attention. I’ll be reading this one for sure.
An Easy Death (Hardcover) – Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse, Aurora Teagarden) kicks off a new series starring a gunslinger named Rose in an alternate United States after the assassination of FDR where magic is real but mistrusted. I requested this one from the library weeks ago, so I should be reading it soon!
End of Days (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Chronicles of Brothers series. The series starts with three archangels – Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer – and the fall of one. By book 3 the focus shifts to three brothers and events on earth that are leading to the End of Days. I’d read a series like this; I enjoy Christian fantasy.
The Kennedy Debutante (Hardcover) – London, 1938. Oft forgotten Kennedy daughter, Kathleen, or “Kick,” is swept off her feet by the Duke of Devonshire, but their love is forbidden as she is Catholic and he is Protestant. The whole idea of this fascinates me. I’m putting this one on my list.
Kill the Queen (Trade Paperback) – First in the Crown of Shards series. When the queen is killed and the royal family is attacked, Evie (17th in line for the throne) survives because of a secret she is keeping. She goes into hiding, training with a group of gladiators, waiting to make her move on the cousin who tried to kill her. This looks and sounds amazing. I already requested this one from the library, too. The question is which book I will read first, this one or An Easy Death?
The Pint of No Return (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Sloan Krause mystery series from the author of the Bakeshop Mysteries. Local brewmaster Sloan investigates the death of a movie star in Leavenworth, Washington. I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I did read a teaser the author wrote where Sloan meets the main character of the Bakeshop series.
Anne Frank’s Diary (Graphic Novel – Hardcover) –  A graphic novel adaptation of the classic.
It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time (Hardcover) – This book from Sheila Walsh focuses on picking up the pieces and accepting ourselves as we are.
Preach to Yourself: When Your Inner Critic Comes Calling, Talk Back with Truth (Trade Paperback) – Renew your mind to renew your life – less “try harder” and more “believe better.” This could be powerful!
The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy (Hardcover) – A look at the life of Jonah from the Bible. I’m fascinated by the story of Jonah – especially the ending which is left out of most children’s versions of the story. This is on my list.
Remember God (Paperback) – There are already over 200 reviews of this book on Amazon – apparently there was a free audio book offered for those who pre-ordered – and almost every one is five-stars! I’ve not read a book from Annie F. Downs yet, but I have heard her speak and I really like her work. This book, which focuses on the goodness and kindness of God, is on my list.
The Sparkle Effect: Step into the Radiance of Your True Identity (Paperback) – Another book on finding your identity in Christ. I love books like this – such an important topic.
Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice (Hardcover) – A challenge to the Church to Be Aware, Be Redemptive and Be Active. I will be buying this one for certain.

September is coming to a close. One more Tuesday release day for this month – and it is chock full of reading goodness! Take a look at some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

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This Little Scientist (Board Book) – Board book highlighting scientists like Isaac Newton and Jane Goodall. This looks delightful.
An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin & Noah Webster’s Spelling Revolution – A history of language and spelling in America. I’ve seen a few sample pages of this, but I’d love to read the whole story. It’s fascinating!
Benji, the Bad Day and Me – A boy and his autistic younger brother are both having a bad day. This looks sweet. I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
Giraffe Problems – Along the lines of its predecessor, Penguin Problems, comes this book about a giraffe who is self-conscious about his long neck.
King Alice – A girl writes a story when her family is snowed in for the day. Adorable!
Quiet Wyatt – A shy and quiet boy is paired with a loud know-it-all for the school field trip. This looks terrific.
The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal – A fun and factual book about the sun. Looks like a great resource for space-loving kids and for classroom use.
Take Your Octopus to School Day – From the author of Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten? (which I loved) comes this story of a kid who wants to “win” Show and Tell. I can’t wait to read this one!
What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan – This picture book biography would be fantastic for middle school history classrooms (and upper elementary ones) as well as school libraries.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s in my Garage – Book 2 in the History Pals series for readers ready for chapter books. This series looks SO fun, and I love anything about the Roosevelts.
The Princess in Black in the Science Fair Scare – The Princess in Black gets a little help battling a monster at the science fair. I love this series!
Shine of the Silver Dragon – Book 11 in the BRANCHES Dragon Masters series
Tornado Hits! – Book 5 in the BRANCHES series Hilde Cracks the Case. I thought the third book was great. I’m happy to see the series continue!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 – Book 17 in this terrific series.
It’s the End When I Say It’s the End – The 7th and final book in the Timmy Failure series that looks like the Wimpy Kid books, but this series focuses on Timmy and his polar bear partner in crime-solving.
Little Red Rodent Hood – Book 6 in the fun Hamster Princess series of fractured fairy tales.
A Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem: A Dastardly Plot – A new alternate history series (about an Inventor’s Guild in 1883) by Christopher Healy, author of the terrific Hero’s Guide series. I’m excited about this one!
The Second Story – Magic Misfits book 2 by Neil Patrick Harris. I enjoyed book one and I’m looking forward to reading the second one.
Trapped! – Book 3 in the fantastic mystery series by James Ponti. This time, Florian and Margaret are trying to clear their FBI handler of a crime. Part of this one takes place at the Library of Congress. I am SO excited to read this! This is at the top of my list for this week.
Two Cats and a Baby – Book 4 in the Stick Cat series, by the same author as the Stick Dog books. Cute series that looks like Wimpy Kid in style. In this book, the cats are trying to watch the baby when the sitter gets stuck in the bathroom.
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden – Book 2 in the Vanderbeekers series which has received RAVE reviews. In this book, the kids decide to build a garden to help their neighbor. I have book one on my wishlist for the library.
You Don’t Know Everything Jilly P! – Jilly P learns that life is different for her Black friends and her Deaf friends. I’m curious to read this one because it sounds like Jilly stumbles through her interactions like I’m always afraid I will. I think I can learn some things from Jilly – and kids can learn from her, too.
500 Words or Less – To salvage her reputation at school, a high school senior starts writing college admissions essays for her peers. I’m eager to read this one.
A Blade So Black – An urban fantasy version of Alice in Wonderland. In general, I don’t like Alice in Wonderland. And I’ve not had a ton of luck with retellings of the story either. But that cover has been taunting me all summer long. I think I will try this one from the library and see if it can redeem the Alice story for me.
Olympian Heritage (ebook – Sept. 29) – Sequel to the terrific Olympian Challenger. In this book Hope is on a quest for the gods to find the Fountain of Youth. I felt like the first book was a teen version of Percy Jackson with some elements of The Hunger Games thrown in. I am looking forward to reading this one!
Unstoppable Moses – A prank gone horribly wrong leaves Moses with one chance to have his record expunged by volunteering as a camp counselor. I am curious to read this and find out just what Moses did and if he is able to redeem himself.
The War Outside – In 1944 a German teen and a Japanese teen find themselves in a family internment camp in Texas, wondering what the future holds for them and who they can trust. Sounds like a fascinating premise for fans of historical fiction!
The Lego Architecture Idea Book: 1001 Ideas for Brickwork, Siding, Windows, Columns, Roofing, and Much, Much More – The latest Lego building book for Master Builders.

Books for Adults

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An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (Hardcover) – The fiction debut of Hank Green (brother of John Green) focuses on huge Transformer-like statues in samurai armor that appear overnight around the world. This has been getting a lot of buzz since it was first announced.
The Amish Christmas Letters (Trade Paperback) – A collection of three Amish Christmas stories. This is the time of year when I get in the mood for Christmas fiction. There are several new books out this week that are on my Christmas reading wish list.
Assault and Beadery (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cora Crafts mystery series about a craft retreat business and the woman who runs it. This time, Cora  is trying to prove her friend innocent of the murder of the local theater director.
A Catered Cat Wedding (Hardcover) – Book 14 in this mystery series with recipes. This time the crime is focused around a wedding for a pair of cats. This premise is unusual enough to get me to jump into a series in the middle just to find out what happens.
Christmas by Accident (small Hardcover) – A car accident throws together an insurance adjuster who doesn’t like Christmas and a bookseller who loves it in this book that sounds like the premise for a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Christmas Cake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 23 in the Hannah Swensen mystery series.
The Christmas Sisters (Trade Paperback) – Three adopted daughters head home for Christmas, each carrying her own burdens and secrets. I’m looking forward to this one.
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge (Hardcover) – Book 16 in the Jaine Austen mystery series about a freelance writer. I might have read book one when it first came out, but it’s been so long I’m just not sure. This sounds like a series I would enjoy.
Final Roasting Place (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cook Off Mystery series. This time a TV personality is killed just after Sherry wins their cooking contest. I haven’t read the first one, but this one sounds terrific! This is on my list!
Forever Fudge! (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Candy-Coated mystery series. This time there’s a murder while a film crew is in town filming a new TV mystery pilot.
Just in Time (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Dodie O’Dell mystery series. You can read my review of book one here. In this book,  the theater is putting on their first musical – Bye Bye Birdie – when their accompanist is murdered.
One in a Million (Trade Paperback) – Annie accepts a challenge to make a stranger Instagram-famous in just thirty days, but her subject is a social media-hating historian. Annie has her hands full. A contemporary take on My Fair Lady. I love stories like this!
The Peppermint Mocha Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Chocolate Whisperer mystery series. I am several books behind on this series, but I love the premise. This is on my TBR list.
Premeditated Peppermint (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Amish Candy Shop mystery series by Amanda Flower. I have loved both of the previous books and pre-ordered this one back in March. Looking forward to reading it. Can’t go wrong with a peppermint-themed mystery!
Sadie (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Amish Fairytale Retellings series by Sarah Price. I’ll be reviewing this one next week, but I’ll say right now that it is just as fantastic as the first two!
Vengeful (Hardcover) – Sequel to Villains by V.E. Schwab. I am waiting for book one from the library right now. This superhero fantasy series sounds right up my alley!
The Walking Bread (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bread Shop mystery series about a Mexican bakery. I’m looking forward to reading this one, but I know it will make me hungry!
Jesus Calling for Christmas (small Hardcover) – 50 holiday season devotions from Jesus Calling  by Sarah Young.
This Is the Day: Reclaim Your Dream. Ignite Your Passion. Live Your Purpose. (Hardcover) –  The latest from Tim Tebow focuses on inspiration and encouragement for those feeling “stuck” in their lives.

How is it that we are already half-way through September?! The official start of Fall is upon us. Happy Pumpkin Spice season to one and all. Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

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Crash, Splash, or Moo! – A new picture book from the author of Ballet Cat. It’s a game show where readers guess if the action stunt will end in a “crash,” “splash,” or “moo.” I can not wait to read this one!
Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas – A Christmas picture book starring Pete the Cat.
Beatrice Zinker: Incognito – Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker is back in her second chapter book which is a continuation of Operation Upside.
Go Mo Go: Monster Mountain Chase AND Dinosaur Dash – Go Mo Go is a new transitional chapter book series about a group of kids who run everywhere, even running into Bigfoot and running backwards into the past. A third book is also out this week – Seaside Sprint.
Ra the Mighty Cat Detective – Pharaoh’s beloved cat and a scarab beetle investigate a missing amulet. I am so excited to read this series starter!
Snazzy Cat Capers – A famous cat burglar is sent to steal a diamond, but her new partner is a little fishy. This looks adorable! This is on my list for the week.
Spy Penguins – Two penguins long to join the FBI – The Frosty Bureau of Investigation. Yep, I’ll be reading this one, too.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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The Eleventh Trade – A boy trying to recover something precious stolen from his grandfather wonders if he can trade enough things to get the money he needs. This looks really interesting.
Friday Night Stage Lights – A ballet-loving girl finds herself in football-loving Texas, trying to figure out where she fits in. I have already pre-ordered this one. I LOVE books in the MIX line from Aladdin.
A Nancy Drew Christmas – Book 18 in the latest Nancy Drew series finds Nancy at a Montana ski resort where she breaks her leg while a series of accidents takes place.
Property of the Rebel Librarian – A girl’s parents decide one of her school library books is inappropriate and they decide to take action. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow, so be sure to come back!
The Storm Runner – Book one in a new series from the Rick Riordan imprint of mythology stories, this time a Latin American story. A boy’s destiny is tied to a Mayan god imprisoned in a volcano.
Thundercluck! – A Norse mythology series kicks off with this book about a superhero chicken. No, I’m not kidding. I have to read this one!
Time Castaways: The Mona Lisa Key – The author of the awesome Fairly True Tales series (Rump, Red, Jack, Grump) kicks off a new series about three kids who get on the wrong subway car and end up on a ship in 1911. I’m really looking forward to this new series!
The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler – A new nonfiction book for older middle grade readers (middle school) focuses on the life of Bonhoeffer, a German pastor in World War II. I’m eager to read this one!
Our Place in Space (GN) – The latest Science Comic
Where Is Area 51? AND Where Is the Tower of London? – The latest from the Who Was series.
The Deepest Roots – Girls born in a Kansas town all have a special Talent, but they don’t always help in ways the girls really need – or help at all. I am fascinated by the whole idea of this. This is on my list.
Here to Stay – A Middle Eastern student wants to be recognized for who he really is and his gifts, not to be the target of Islamophobic bullies in his school. A timely story.
Pride – Pride and Prejudice gets a fresh twist with characters of color. I’m not a fan of the original but I might give this one a shot.
Unclaimed Baggage – Three teens spend their summer working at a store where they catalog and sell the contents of unclaimed luggage. I love the unusual setting for this one. I’m looking forward to reading this!
Wildcard – The sequel to Warcross where Emika has a bounty on her head after the events of book one.
Coffee Shop Devos: Daily Devotional Pick-Me-Ups for Teen Girls

Books for Adults

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The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (Hardcover) – Aiden has eight days to discover Evelyn’s killer, and eight suspects to inhabit over those eight days to figure it out. What a clever concept!! I have to check this one out.
I Know You Know (Trade Paperback) – A man whose two childhood friends were murdered starts a podcast to record his findings as he digs into the twenty-year-old case. This sounds SO twisty!
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds (Hardcover)- A novella collection from Brandon Sanderson. Stephen Leeds is a genius, but in order to manage all of the information in his brain, he creates hallucinatory personalities or “aspects.” It looks like maybe the first two stories were previously published and the third is new. They are all new to me, and I’d like to try this one out.
A Willing Murder (Hardcover) – Romance author Jude Deveraux releases her first mystery about a retired romance author and her niece and a boarder who team up to solve a mystery no one else in town seems to want solved. I would absolutely try this one out!
The Cookie Book: Decadent Bites for Every Occasion 
Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton (Hardcover)- I’m a little disappointed in the subtitle which might leave readers feeling like Eliza is only worth reading about because of her husband, but otherwise I am eager to check this one out. As I’ve mentioned before, the Hamilton musical has left me curious to know more about Eliza.
Leadership: In Turbulent Times (Hardcover) – A Pulitzer Prize-winning author looks at the development of leadership through the lives of four presidents (Lincoln, Truman and both Roosevelts). I’m curious about this one, too. I love reading about the Roosevelts.
Math with Bad Drawings: Illuminating the Ideas that Shape Our Reality (Hardcover) – A celebration of math for everyone. I really want to see this one in person.
This Book Changed Everything: The Bible’s Amazing Impact on Our World (Hardcover) – Looking forward to this one.
Women Who Write Are Dangerous (Hardcover) – A celebration of women writers and the impact they have had.

It’s a week of remembrance as we honor Patriot Day tomorrow. September 11th, 2001 is a day that changed our nation forever. We will never forget.

Here are the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

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Delores Thesaurus – A picture book celebrating language
Douglas, You’re a Genius! – The second Douglas book after Douglas, You Need Glasses! These look adorable.
I Am Neil Armstrong – The 16th book in this outstanding picture book biography series.
Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise – Sequel to the fantastic Interrupting Chicken. Can not wait to read this one!
Paul Writes (a Letter) – A picture book that looks at the writings of the Apostle Paul. I am so excited to see this one.
Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party – Book 14 in the Judy Moody chapter book series where Judy is convinced she is related to the Queen of England. I’ll be reviewing this one later this fall.
Spirit – Book 50 in the Puppy Place series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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Dactyl Hill Squad – First in a new series about an alternate history where there are still dinosaurs in the days of the Civil War. I have an ARC of this one and I can’t wait to dig into it!
The Golden Tower – Book 5 in the Magisterium series (final book). A pawn in a magical battle faces the end of his training. I really enjoyed the first book, but didn’t keep up with the series. Now that they are all out, I could push through the whole series at once.
Mascot – A boy who was paralyzed in a car accident that killed his father struggles with his new reality. This is on my list.
Merci Suárez Changes Gears – Things at home and at school are changing for Merci and she struggles to find her way through the challenges. This sounds great!
The Monster Detector – Book 2 in the Big Foot and Little Foot series about a boy and a Sasquatch. In this book, the Sasquatch is using a Monster Detector and finds something and the boy decides he wants to go to Sasquatch school. This sounds cute.
Naomis Too – A sequel to Two Naomis. The two Naomis are now step-sisters, and they are dealing with the ups and downs of middle school while adjusting to things at home. I have to go back and read the first book; I missed that one.
No Fixed Address – A boy and his mom are living in their van, and he can’t tell anyone or he could end up in foster care. These stories always break my heart (Crenshaw!!), but I also love reading them. This is on my list for this week.
Saving Winslow – A boy who is missing his older brother who is in the military takes on the care of sickly baby donkey. Yep, this is on my list, too.
Upside Down Magic: Weather or Not – Book 5 in the fun Upside Down Magic series. I have been with this one since the beginning, and I love it. I ordered my copy of this from a Scholastic order back in August. I am eager to see what happens next.
Imposters – Scott Westerfeld returns to the world of Uglies and Pretties with a new story about a teen and her killer body double.
Rule – Another teen royalty book, and I am absolutely here for it. I LOVE books like this! In this one, three girls discover they are the illegitimate daughters of a dying king with no other living heir. I have already requested this one from the library!
We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide – A YA adaptation of the author’s book White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide. I’ve requested the adult version from the library. The author releases an adult book this week called One Person, No Vote.

Books for Adults

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A Borrowing of Bones (Hardcover) – First in a new series. A former soldier and her dead fiancé’s bomb-sniffing dog are trying to recover from their wounds and losses when the dog sniffs out explosives and they find an abandoned baby. I already have this one on hold from the library!
Hitting the Books (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Library Lover’s Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week!
If the Coffin Fits (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Funeral Parlor Mystery series. I LOVED the first book, so this is high on my list for this week! Desiree’s investigation of a recent death puts her business at risk. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
In Cold Chocolate (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series. Charity tries to defend the person who has threatened to ruin her business. I’ve missed out on this series since it started in hardcover – I can lose track of those in the wait for them to transition to paperback. I’d like to try out the first book which is under $2 for Kindle at the time of this writing.
In Want of a Knife (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Little Library Mystery series. Jenny is looking into a death and a missing girl when new neighbors move in from Chicago with lots of money to spend. I’ve yet to try one of these either.
Star Trek: A Cultural History (Sept. 15) (Hardcover) – Explores the Star Trek franchise in light of its place in history and culture. I’d love to check this one out when the price comes down some more.

Happy Labor Day for those of you in the United States. I hope you are finding some rest from your labors today, even if you had to go in to work. To help with that rest, check out the books releasing this week. Maybe you’ll find just the thing for your next long weekend.

Books for Kids

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But Not the Armadillo – The long-awaited board book sequel to Sandra Boynton’s classic But Not the Hippopotamus. I am entirely too excited about this book for a person who does not have board book readers in the house!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Part of the Pop Classics series of picture books, perfect for fans of the TV show.
Cookiesaurus Christmas – September kicks off the season of Christmas books and there are two Christmas picture books on the list today. This first one features the star of Cookiesaurus Rex who wants to be the only cookie on Santa’s plate this year, but he may not make the cut. This looks darling! I’m looking forward to reading both the original and the sequel.
Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian – A librarian superhero story? YES, PLEASE! This has been in my Amazon cart for months. Can’t wait to read this one!
Me, Myselfie, & I: A Cautionary Tale – The family gets Mom a new cell phone and pretty soon she’s obsessed with self-documentation. I’ve enjoyed Jamie Lee Curtis’ previous picture books.
No Peacocks! – Inspired by the real-life birds at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Devine, this story is about a of a trio of peacocks who want a chance to try a famous mac and cheese recipe. This looks adorable and I love peacocks, so this is on my list!
Professor Astro Cat’s Space Rockets – A nonfiction picture book about rockets. This looks fantastic!
Santa Bruce – Santa Bruce, book 4 in the Bruce series by Ryan T. Higgins is at the top of my wish list for this week!
T. Rex Time Machine – Two T. Rexs come to the future and find so many treats, they’ll never want to leave. Adorable!
Eliza Hamilton, Founding Mother – Ever since I first heard the soundtrack for Hamilton, I have been intrigued by the story of Eliza Hamilton and the things she did after her husband died. I am looking forward to reading this Early Reader to see how they cover her story.
The Missing Donut (Big Words, Small Stories) – A collection of stories about a boy and his cat with a side plot about a fairy who sprinkles one big word into each story. This is a fun idea; I’m looking forward to seeing how it works in person.
A Fall for Friendship – The third Orchard Novel by Megan Atwood about four friends and a New England apple orchard. In this book, one of the kids is out to prove that ghosts don’t exist. This looks like a cute transitional chapter book series.
The Race to Chimney Rock – Book one in a new choose-your-own-adventure chapter book series focused on history.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

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12 Before 13 – Book 2 in the Friendship List series. Two middle school girls have a list of 12 goals to reach before they turn 13.
24 Hours In Nowhere – Four kids hunt for treasure in the desert to pay off a bully. The latest book from the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, a book that has received rave reviews. I have both books on my library wish list.
After Zero – A girl tracks the number of words she says each day. A zero word day is the best because that means she didn’t say something silly in class or something embarrassing to another student. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
The Bands of Bravery – Book 1 in the Knights Club choose-your-own-adventure graphic novel series. This is a clever idea but the execution has received mixed reviews. I’ll be reviewing this one later this fall.
Cats vs. Robots: This Is War – Book 1 in a new series about two warring planets that bring their disagreement to Earth. I’m reading this one now and will be reviewing it later this fall.
The Hotel Between – A couple of kids and a magic hotel with doors that lead all over the world are at the center of this new novel.
Isle of the Lost Graphic Novel – A graphic novel adaptation of the book by the same name starring the characters from the Disney movie Descendants about the kids of famous Disney villains.
Planet Grief – A moving story about a group of kids at a weekend grief workshop. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Sabotage Stage Left – Book 3 in the Howard Wallace PI series. I loved book one and book 2 just came out in paperback, so I scooped that one up for my TBR shelves. In book 3, Howard and Ivy work a case at the school theater.
The Third Mushroom – Sequel to the fantastic The Fourteenth Goldfish about a science-minded girl and her grandfather who has made himself a teenager again through a science experiment. This time they are testing the influence of a special axolotl on other organisms with surprising results.  I’ll be reviewing this later this fall, but I’ll tell you now that I loved it just as much as the first one!
Unbelievably Boring Bart – The latest from James Patterson stars a kid who secretly created an amazing new app. Now, he can either use it against the bullies or tell everyone he’s the creator and be super popular.
Wedgie and Gizmo vs the Great Outdoors – Book three in the excellent Wedgie and Gizmo series. I thoroughly enjoy the humor in this series, and I think it works for both a transitional chapter book AND a middle grade book depending on the reader. In book 3,  the family is going on a camping trip and Wedgie and Gizmo get to go along. If this lives up to the first two books in the series, this will be fantastic! This is on my wish list for this week.
First Generation – Middle grade nonfiction focused on trailblazing immigrants and refugees.
Lego Star Wars Ideas Book – Lego is publishing a lot of idea books this fall. These are terrific if you have a Lego lover in your home who has a large collection of bricks that can be used for any sort of building project.
Start with a Dot – September 15th is International Dot day, inspired by the book by Peter H. Reynolds. It’s one of my favorites about creativity. In this guided journal for kids, teens and adults, users are invited to “make their mark and see where it takes them.” I am excited about this one! This could make a great Christmas gift.
Ignite the Stars – A notorious outlaw is actually a 17 year old girl. When she is captured by the Commonwealth, they force her to work for them to show that no one can resist them. I’m looking forward to this one!
Part of Your World – The latest Twisted Tale from Liz Braswell focuses on the story of the Little Mermaid and asks the question what if Ursula had won? Yep, this is absolutely on my list!
People Kill People – One gun, six teenagers. Who will be the one to pull the trigger? This is the second book in as many weeks (last week’s That’s Not What Happened)  to look at mass shootings and our gun culture. This is on my library list.
Ten After Closing – Two teens stuck at a cafe after closing find themselves taken hostage. This sounds fascinating. Definitely on my list for this week.
Two Dark Reigns – Book three in the stunning Three Dark Crowns series about triplet queens who compete to see who can survive long enough to be crowned. The first two books, and the two novellas, have been terrific. And I got to read the prologue for this book online last week and it was amazing. I requested the book from the library months ago and I am first on the hold list for tomorrow. I skimmed back through all the previous books from the library last week so I am completely ready for whatever Two Dark Reigns holds!
Uncharted – A teen who feels responsible for her mother’s death travels with her father to a mysterious estate where he goes missing. Yep, this is on the library list for this week. Sounds good and suspenseful.
Steal this Country: A Handbook for Resistance, Persistence, and Fixing Almost Everything  – The latest in a collection of activism books for teens.

Books for Adults

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An Act of Villainy (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Amory Ames mystery series about an actress who receives death threats and a cast full of people who despise her. I’ve never read any of the books in this series, but I’m eager to give them a try.
The Cats Came Back (Hardcover) – Book 10 in the Magical Cats series about a crime solving librarian and her cats, this time involving a murder around a music festival. I have several of these on my TBR shelves. I love librarian stories.
Die Me a River (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series starring school psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd who is wrapping up her maternity leave after the birth of her twins when an explosion rocks Scumble River and a body is found. I read several of the books in the original series, but I haven’t picked up the new one yet.
Light of Kahless (Star Trek Discovery)(Paperback graphic novel) – Based on Star Trek Discovery, part of CBS’s streaming service, set a decade before the original series. This graphic novel focuses on the Klingon Empire, one of my favorite races in the Star Trek Universe.
Wuthering Kites (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Kite Shop Mystery series about a kite shop owner who investigates a murder in Rock Point. This is another series I have on my TBR shelves.
Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life (Trade paperback) – The first of two books about reading on this week’s list. This one advocates the development of a reading lifestyle and includes book lists. I will be looking for this one in person.
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure (Hardcover) – College campuses are experiencing a more volatile tone and higher levels of mental health needs. The authors focus on three ideas they feel have led to this problem we are seeing in our young adults. I will absolutely be reading this one!
Copycat Cooking with Six Sisters’ Stuff: 100+ Popular Restaurant Meals You Can Make at Home (Large format Paperback) – I love the whole idea of this, but I’m curious to see how fussy the recipes are. If they are too intricate, I’d rather just let the experts make them. Includes appetizers, main dishes, desserts and drinks.
Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the Seven Greatest Challenges That No One Expects and Everyone Experiences (Hardcover) –  Tackle the issues of cynicism, compromise, irrelevance, pride, burnout and two other challenges with help from this Christian self-help book.
I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life (Hardcover) – This second book about reading is by Anne Bogel, Christian author and podcaster (What Should I Read Next?), and includes thoughts for book lovers. This one is high on my list!
Keep Christianity Weird: Embracing the Disciple of Being Different (Paperback) – Encourages Christians to become more comfortable with the idea of standing out rather than being shaped by the culture around us.
Live Long and …: What I Learned Along the Way (Hardcover) – The latest memoir from William Shatner inspired by a health scare he had in 2016.
The Man I Never Met – A memoir from ESPN personality Adam Schefter about marrying a woman who lost her husband on 9/11 and how they live life day after day and year after year. My husband was the first one to tell me about this one. I know we will be buying this book this week.
The Message Devotional Bible (Hardcover and Paperback) – Includes commentary, reflection questions and 52 meditations.
Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free (Hardcover) – I was in college and newly married when the purity culture took root, so I missed a lot of this, but I’m familiar with it from the outside. I am curious about this one and would like to read it and hear for myself what the author took away from this time in her life.
Slave Stealers: True Accounts of Slave Rescues Then and Now (Hardcover) – Two stories of rescued slaves – one from the 1800s and one from 2009. This will be fascinating and hopefully inspiring!