Kelly Jensen's Blog, page 33

This Week at Book Riot (& Elsewhere!)

 

Over on Book Riot this week…

A bill in the Florida House and Florida Senate would make banning books easy — and put teachers and librarians in fear of felony charges for providing them.

 

Depression poems to help you better understand the illness.

 

Eric and I have a new episode of Hey YA up this week, all about adaptations in YA and what our spring TBRs look like.

 

I produced two episodes of Recommended this season, and the first episode is up. I had the immense pleasure of talking with Laurie Halse Anderson and Mikki Kendall about their favorite books. Tune in here!

 

 

Elsewhere…

 

I was really excited to revisit and update a piece I wrote for School Library Journal back in 2013 about horror. You can read it here — Teen Screams: YA Horror For Every Type Of Reader.

The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta

Set in a magical Italian-inspired land, Capetta’s high fantasy tackles gender identity and family loyalty. Teodora DiSangro is the daughter of a powerful man who controls a large swath of Vinalia. Vinalia is made up of five loosely connected lands each controlled by a member of the Five Families. The Capo, a man quickly rising to power in Vinalia, wants to join the disparate lands under one rule: his. He sends poisoned letters to the leaders of the five families, which kills most of them and gravely wounds Teo’s father. The Capo demands that a male representative of each family travel to his palace, where he will likely demand their fealty.

Rather than send the eldest boy in the family, Teo’s stepmother (not of the evil variety) elects to send Teo’s younger brother as representative, knowing that the elder is cruel and unsuitable for wielding power. But these plans go awry, and Teo finds herself needing to be the representative herself. Luckily for her, she is a strega: a witch/sorcerer/magic user. Most Vinalians believe streghe don’t exist, but Teo has been using her particular ability to change people into other objects – a punishment for those who cross her father – without anyone’s knowledge for years. And now Teo must perform an even greater change: transforming herself into a boy so she can fool the Capo, find the antidote for the poison, save her father’s life, and somehow prevent the Capo from taking over all of Vinalia.

Luckily, Teo befriends Cielo, a non-binary strega who can change their sex at will. Cielo teaches Teo how to change her body so it will pass as a boy’s in front of the Capo, and that’s when the adventure really gets rolling. Capetta herself identifies as non-binary, so it’s no surprise she has a deft touch with the gender identity issues she explores within the characters of Cielo, who has always seen themselves to be non-binary, and Teo, who comes to appreciate both aspects of her identity and both versions of her body. There’s romance between the two teens as well, which develops slowly and sweetly and authentically. I recommend reading Capetta’s interview with her partner, Cori McCarthy, at the B&N Teen Blog for more detail about the gender identity aspects of her story.

Beyond the gender identity exploration, though, Capetta’s plot also includes intricate political machinations, lies and betrayals, dangerous magic, and the explosive secret behind the “brilliant death” itself. It’s full of excitement, action, twists, and a decent amount of introspection and heartbreak as well. Her characters are well-drawn, and teens will easily empathize with Teo and want her to succeed despite the impossible situation she finds herself in.

Narrator Carlotta Brendan does a great Italian accent (at least to my non-Italian ears) and slightly voices each of the characters, adding to the texture of the story and helping it to come alive. I don’t think I’ve read another YA fantasy that feels this Italian. Capetta’s family is from Italy and she researched for five years, which shows in the details and believability of the world-building. This is a first recommendation for teens who love high fantasy and might want something a bit different from the usual fare.

“For Fans of THE HANDMAID’S TALE” Is This Year’s YA Marketing Darling

Every year, it seems, there is a book or a movie that a number of new books find themselves compared to. For a long time, we were seeing everything compared to John Green or Rainbow Rowell. That’s certainly waned — and it feels even weirdly dated when it does pop up.

Fortunately, 2019 has a new popular catchphrase for YA books. They’re all being compared to The Handmaid’s Tale. More specifically, books featuring a compelling female lead (see: “strong female character”) is being thusly named as great for fans of Atwood’s classic. The rise in the show’s popularity makes this no surprise, but it is becoming not only overwhelming to see on book after book, but it’s becoming meaningless, too. Do people genuinely become fans of the book or are they intrigued/disgusted/frustrated by the realities it showcases?

I’ve pulled together all of the books I’ve seen so far either compared to The Handmaid’s Tale in official marketing — press releases, ARC jackets, descriptions — or in their “meets” pitches from official marketing. These are 2019 books only. I know there are more out there, so if you know another one or two getting that billing this year, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Descriptions from Amazon. Not all of these descriptions, which are publisher descriptions, contain the comp, but many of them do.

 

Eve of Man by Giovanna Fletcher and Tom Fletcher (June 18)

Scythe meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this gripping new dystopian trilogy written by UK-bestselling authors Tom and Giovanna Fletcher.

On the first day, no one really noticed. All those babies wrapped in blue blankets–not a pink one in sight. On the third day, people were scared–a statistic-defying abundance of blue. Not just entire hospitals, not only entire countries, but the entire world. Boys. Only boys.

Until Eve. The only girl born in fifty years. The savior of mankind. Kept protected, towering above a ruined world under a glass dome of safety until she is ready to renew the human race.

But when the time comes to find a suitor, Eve and Bram–a young man whose job is to prepare Eve for this moment–begin to question the plan they’ve known all along. Eve doesn’t only want safety, and she doesn’t only want protection. She wants the truth. She wants freedom.

 

Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this start to a thrilling, subversive near future series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young about a girls-only private high school that is far more than it appears to be.

Some of the prettiest flowers have the sharpest thorns.

The Girls of Innovations Academy are beautiful and well-behaved—it says so on their report cards. Under the watchful gaze of their Guardian, they receive a well-rounded education that promises to make them better. Obedient girls, free from arrogance or defiance. Free from troublesome opinions or individual interests.

But the girls’ carefully controlled existence may not be quite as it appears. As Mena and her friends uncover the dark secrets of what’s actually happening there—and who they really are—the girls of Innovations Academy will learn to fight back.

Bringing the trademark plot twists and high-octane drama that made The Program a bestselling and award-winning series, Suzanne Young launches a new series that confronts some of today’s most pressing ethical questions.

 

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis (No cover or release date yet)

Good Luck Girls was pitched as “The Handmaid’s Tale meets Thelma and Louise in an alternate Wild West setting.” The novel, which is slated for fall 2019, follows five girls who, Hellegers explained, “escape from the ‘welcome house’ that owns them and embark on a dangerous journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge.”

 

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart (out in paperback this year, with a sequel to come in July)

Bold, brutal, and beautiful–a must-read fantasy full of fierce sisterhood, action, and political intrigue for fans of The Selection series, Caraval, and The Handmaid’s Tale .

Serina Tessaro has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace–someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. It’s her chance to secure a better life for her family, and to keep her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, out of trouble. But when Nomi catches the Heir’s eye instead, Serina is the one who takes the fall for the dangerous secret her sister has been hiding.

Trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one option: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to save Serina. But this is easier said than done…. A traitor walks the halls of the palazzo, and deception lurks in every corner.

Meanwhile Serina is running out of time. Imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive, surrounded by women stronger than she is, one wrong move could cost her everything. There is no room for weakness on Mount Ruin, especially weaknesses of the heart.

Thrilling and captivating, Grace and Fury is a story of fierce sisterhood, and of survival in a world that’s determined to break you.

 

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (September 17)

A speculative thriller in the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power. Optioned by Universal and Elizabeth Banks to be a major motion picture!

No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.

Girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life―a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for their chance to grab one of the girls in order to make their fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.

With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.

 

Internment by Samira Ahmed

Rebellions are built on hope.

 
Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.

With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp’s Director and his guards.

Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today.


The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren (June 25)

A compelling novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free — perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Tara Westover’s Educated.

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she’s forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a Matrimony, she’s thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife and they can finally start their life together.

But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else, she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question not only the rules that Daniel has set in place, but also what it is she believes in, and where she truly belongs.

Alongside unexpected allies, Miriam fights to learn–and challenge–the truth behind the only way of life she’s ever known, even if it means straying from the path of Righteousness.

 

We Set The Dark On Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

In this daring and romantic fantasy debut perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Taleand Latinx authors Zoraida Córdova and Anna-Marie McLemore, society wife-in-training Dani has a great awakening after being recruited by rebel spies and falling for her biggest rival.

At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized society. Depending on her specialization, a graduate will one day run a husband’s household or raise his children. Both paths promise a life of comfort and luxury, far from the frequent political uprisings of the lower class.

Daniela Vargas is the school’s top student, but her pedigree is a lie. She must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society.

And school couldn’t prepare her for the difficult choices she must make after graduation, especially when she is asked to spy for a resistance group desperately fighting to bring equality to Medio.

Will Dani cling to the privilege her parents fought to win for her, or will she give up everything she’s strived for in pursuit of a free Medio—and a chance at a forbidden love?

 

This Week at Book Riot

 

Over on Book Riot this week…

 

21 gorgeous Mary Oliver quote prints to decorate your walls.

 

A peek at some of the incredible bookish art you can enjoy from the Art Institute of Chicago’s databases.

 

I also cohosted this week’s episode of “All The Books” with Liberty, wherein I raved about four excellent books that hit shelves this week, including two memoirs, a YA novel, and an adult nonfiction book. Tune in here!

Rule by Ellen Goodlett

Goodlett brings teens a fast-paced high fantasy thriller about three girls from very different backgrounds within the fictional country of Kolonya: a Traveler (similar in description to the Romany people), a palace maid with higher aspirations, and a girl from a far-flung and almost forgotten section of the kingdom who is desperate to escape her abusive father. All three are brought to the King’s court in to learn that they are his illegitimate daughters and, now that the king’s only heir has died, must compete to earn the right to inherit the throne.

It’s a tremendous shock for all three, of course. At least one of the girls thought she knew her biological father already. But this is no ordinary story of competition a la The Hunger Games. Each girl has a deep, dark secret, and each begins receiving threatening messages – some in blood – soon after they arrive at the palace. The secrets are dark indeed, involving a copious amount of betrayal, death, and blood magic. The blood magic is an interesting world-building choice: all magic is done by cutting oneself to “tithe” blood, and some of it is done frequently and is a part of everyday life in Kolonya. But some blood magic is forbidden because of its effects, and it’s this blood magic that is most relevant and interesting. Initially a bit confusing, particularly the good magic vs. the bad magic, the magic system grows clearer as the novel progresses.

Rather than fall into the easy trope of having the girls willingly pit themselves against each other, Goodlett refreshingly has her characters do the opposite: join forces and work together to ferret out the blackmailer. Told in alternating close third person points of view, each girl’s voice is distinct and their predicaments sympathetic. Their interactions with each other – one girl’s assumptions of another, for example – illuminate how each is perceived by the public at large, often in a very different light from how we as readers first see them during their own close POVs. It’s a handy writing technique that reinforces the notion that people are, of course, more than what appears on the surface. Once the girls realize this about each other, they become a force to be reckoned with.

I listened to the audiobook version, and it’s a pretty good production with three narrators: Bahni Turpin, Lisa Flanagan, and Soneela Nankani. Turpin’s voice is always a standout, but I did have trouble distinguishing Flanagan’s and Nankani’s from each other. However, Goodlett’s mastery of her characters’ voices is good enough that I could pick up on the POV quickly anyway.

While many readers (including myself) may be frustrated by the ending, which resolves close to nothing, the story is gripping throughout. A planned duology, wise readers may want to wait to pick up this volume until the concluding volume is released in June (less than a year after the first book’s publication, much to my delight). This is a good pick for fans of Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns, which never stays on the shelf for long at my library.

February #RiotGrams Round-up

One of my favorite projects for my job at Book Riot is running the tri-annual #RiotGrams Instagram challenge. Three times a year for one month, I develop a series of daily prompts that encourage sharing and highlighting favorite books and reading-related habits. Over the course of doing this now for a few years, I’ve found so many great new books and made some excellent connections with other book lovers, both during the challenge and well after, with roundups like this one.

I did a bit of traveling in February this year, so I implemented a new method that I think worked even better than taking the photos for each of the prompts on the same day. It can be overwhelming and cause creative burnout to take 28 unique photos in a single day. This time, I took them a week at a time, when I had the time and creative zest. That made traveling easier, too, since I had everything on my phone already to upload and share. As you’ll see, too, I found ways to incorporate that very travel into #Riotgrams.

If you’ve always wanted to take part in a fun Instagram book challenge like this, keep your eyes peeled. There will be another one come June. Captions for the images note the prompt theme of the day.

 

View this post on Instagram

#riotgrams are back for February! Today’s prompt is shelfie and I’m being real: these are my main shelves and yes, they’re a mess. I’m updating this room and will eventually tidy up the books but honestly? They won’t look too much different.

This Week at Book Riot

I was in California last week with my coworkers for a retreat and completely spaced on linking last week’s goods. Enjoy an extra helping of links from Book Riot this week…

 

One of my favorite pieces in a long time: How does generation z read? I talked with some of the experts — teenagers themselves.

 

A host of awesome YA books will be hitting shelves in paperback this spring.

 

10 powerful quotes from Laurie Halse Anderson’s memoir SHOUT that will make you pick up the book ASAP.

 

I found you some sweet bookish goods.

 

Take this quiz to discover which YA book you should read next.

 

There’s also a new episode of Hey YA up. Tune in and listen to Eric and I talk about the YA books we’ve read that no one else has read and we highlight a range of excellent books perfect for Women’s History Month.

Booklist: Hugs are Hard

Life is tough in picture books. If you’re not in imminent danger of being devoured, you might be weathering the challenges of finding a good hug. While hugs from loved ones are something most kids take for granted (for the kids who appreciate hugs, at least), hugs can be a trickier proposition if you’re a hedgehog. Or a cactus. Or a snake. Or a tyrannosaurus rex. Luckily, in all of the picture book examples below, the animals (or plants) persevere, and a happy ending is found for each that celebrates their own special characteristics.

Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Betton

Everyone needs hugs, even if they’re prickly. When Hedgehog wakes up feeling down in the snout and droopy in the prickles, he knows a hug will make him feel better. But none of his friends are eager to wrap their arms around Hedgehog’s prickles, and he’s too smart to fall for Fox’s sly offer. Then Hedgehog gets a surprise: Another animal in the forest is feeling exactly the same way. Luckily, both are kind and brave enough for the perfect hug.

 

I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey

‘I need a hug. Will you cuddle me, Lou?’ ‘What? With those spikes? Get away from me! Shoo!’ All this little porcupine wants is a hug. But with such prickly spikes, will she ever get the cuddle she craves?

 

 

 

Hug Me by Simona Ciraolo

Ever feel like you need a hug, a really big hug from someone? That’s how Felipe the young cactus feels, but his family just isn’t the touchy-feely kind. Cactuses can be quite prickly sometimes you know . . . and so can Felipe. But he’ll be darned if this one pointy issue will hold him back, so one day Felipe sets off on his own to find a friend and just maybe, that long awaited hug. In her debut picture book, Simona Ciraola creates an endearing tale of friendship, beautifully illustrated with buoyant wit and the perfect story to share.

 

Huggy the Python Hugs Too Hard by Ame Dyckman

Huggy the Python loves to hug. The only problem is, he hugs WAY too hard. WAIT! Can you show Huggy how to give a gentle hug? Wee Beasties is a new board book series from New York Times bestselling author, Ame Dyckman, featuring silly animals doing the things they love just a little TOO much. In this first book about Huggy the Python and all the things he loves, little ones will learn how to give a big gentle hug.

 

Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich

Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed. He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs. But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely. So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

 

How Do You Hug a Porcupine? by Laurie Isop

Can you imagine hugging a porcupine? Sure, it’s easy to picture hugging a bunny or even a billy goat, but where would you begin to try to hug a porcupine? After seeing all his friends hug their favorite animals, one brave boy works up the courage to hug a porcupine, but the porcupine isn’t so sure he wants to be hugged! The latest contest winner Laurie Isop and illustrator Gwen Millward aren’t afraid to ask the pointed questions!

 

 

Wally Wants to Hug by Barbara Joosse

Hugging’s the way to start the day, but Wally’s friends are scared of his hugs! Wally is a young boa constrictor who loves hugs. His parents give him hugs to begin and end the day, and he hugs them back just as tightly. However, Wally’s classmates at school don’t seem to love hugs as much as he does and are scared of getting hugs from Wally, since boa constrictors squeeze so hard! How can Wally show them that his friendly hugs are nothing to be afraid of?

 

Sloppy Wants a Hug by Sean Julian

Sloppy the tree dragon wants a hug, but Dewdrop the sprite isn’t going to give him one, for a very good reason.

 

 

 

 

The Hug by Eoin McLaughlin

In this clever flipbook, both a hedgehog and a tortoise are looking for a hug. They ask all the other animals they come across but for some reason no one will hug them. Until a wise owl explains: Hedgehog is too spiky; Tortoise is too bony. And that’s when they find each other!

 

 

 

Hugs From Pearl by Paul Schmid

This is Pearl. Pearl loves to hug. Hugs are nice . . . except when they come from a porcupine. Pearl tries and tries to solve her problem and finally fixes it in her very own way. From the author-artist of A Pet for Petunia comes a prickly new character with a great big heart. Paul Schmid paints Pearl’s world with soft and dreamy colors that reflect just how sweet she is beneath her sharp-quilled porcupine exterior.

 

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman

Tiny T. Rex has a HUGE problem. His friend Pointy needs cheering up and only a hug will do. But with his short stature and teeny T. Rex arms, is a hug impossible? Not if Tiny has anything to say about it! Join this plucky little dinosaur in his very first adventure—a warm and funny tale that proves the best hugs come from the biggest hearts. Introducing an unforgettable character on the picture book scene, Tiny T. Rex will stomp into the hearts of readers in this winning new series.

 

No Hugs for Porcupine by Zoe Waring

Poor Porcupine just cannot be hugged-his quills are too spikey! Each night, before settling down to sleep, all of Porcupine’s forest friends hug each other goodnight. All except Porcupine, who feels left out-and grumpy! But when Armadillo shows him what a warm, fuzzy “kiss” is (even for a porcupine!), Porcupine is delighted and cannot wait to show his friends. With adorable art, Zoe Waring’s story of making the most out of your physical limitations is sure to win hearts.

 

Slug Needs a Hug by Jeanne Willis

When it begins to bug slug that his mummy doesn’t hug him, he leaves home to find out why. Kitten suggests he should be furrier, so he puts on a woolly hat, while Bird suggests he needs a beak. Soon, Slug has a new look, will his mummy hug him now?

Kids On Bikes: A Middle Grade Cover Trend (Or Staple?)

I enjoyed the first season of Stranger Things for most of the ride. I have a hard time investing in much when it comes to television or movies, unless it’s horror or short-length comedy, so I didn’t make it past the first season. It was not because the show was bad; it was me. In fact, Stranger Things managed to make me like a lot of things I generally don’t like in my stories. A big one? It’s set in the 1980s. Perhaps because the main characters in the show are younger, rather than teenagers, or perhaps because it really leaned into the aesthetic and cultural aspects of the 80s, something about the setting worked.

And one of the biggest things I liked is a relatively small thing, but something I’ve been thinking about a lot when it comes to middle grade book covers.

 

 

It’s the fact these characters ride their bikes to get around Hawkins. It’s small-town, it’s nostalgic but not cloying, and it is a nice throwback to so many of the shows and movies set in the same time period which utilize the bike as a big part of the how of younger characters getting around and having their own (mostly) parent-free stories.

See: ET, among others.

Although set earlier than the 1980s, bikes play a huge role in one of my favorite films, Now & Then. The girls travel through their small Indiana town (what is it about small Indiana towns?) on bike and it’s their bikes which allow them the chance to get out of town and to get around town when they’d otherwise be stuck at home or walking.

 

 

Bikes, of course, have had a comeback in the last decade or so as much cities implement bike lanes and encourage bike use for transportation. But it’s always been one of those items associated with childhood and life before one earns a driver’s license. In small towns, without public transportation, bikes are a crucial component of getting around and having a sense of freedom.

Bikes might be a staple in youth culture for many, but it wasn’t until recently I noticed an uptick in the number of middle grade books featuring bikes or kids on bikes. It’s hard not to point a finger at Stranger Things and its popularity as a reason why this trend has picked up. But is it a trend? Or is it an homage to something that’s always been a staple and has reemerged as a symbol of youth, of perceived freedom, and of adventure? It’s hard to say, but this is a pretty great trend, and it’s one that I think not only resonates with young readers, but it also serves up a hearty dose of nostalgia for adults, whether they’re reading the books for themselves or picking them up for their own young readers.

Let’s take a peek at some of the bikes on middle grade covers over the last year or so, along with some that are coming up. Book descriptions are from Goodreads.

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Merci Suarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don’t have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna’s jealousy. Things aren’t going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately — forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in her family will tell Merci what’s going on, so she’s left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school. In a coming-of-age tale full of humor and wisdom, award-winning author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school — and the steadfast connection that defines family.

 

 

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It’s waiting for Candice Miller.

When Candice finds the letter, she isn’t sure she should read it. It’s addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.

So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert’s history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter’s promise before the summer ends?

 

The Boy From Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis

Josie and Alec both live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room, but they’ve never laid eyes on each other. They are twelve years old but a hundred years apart.

The children meet through a handpainted spirit board—Josie in 1915, Alec in 2015—and form a friendship across the century that separates them. But a chain of events leave Josie and her little sister Cass trapped in the house and afraid for their safety, and Alec must find out what’s going to happen to them. Can he help them change their future when it’s already past?

The Boy from Tomorrow is a tribute to classic English fantasy novels like Tom’s Midnight Garden and A Traveller in Time. Through their impossible friendship, Alec and Josie learn that life can offer only what they ask of it.

 

 

Wonderland by Barbara O’Connor

Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent–which means finding herself a best friend.

Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy–and find someone who really understands her.

Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort–and doesn’t know where to look for them.

When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect–and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.

 

Where The Heart Is by Jo Knowles (April 2)

It’s the first day of summer and Rachel’s thirteenth birthday. She can’t wait to head to the lake with her best friend, Micah! But as summer unfolds, every day seems to get more complicated. Her “fun” new job taking care of the neighbors’ farm animals quickly becomes a challenge, whether she’s being pecked by chickens or having to dodge a charging pig at feeding time. At home, her parents are more worried about money than usual, and their arguments over bills intensify. Fortunately, Rachel can count on Micah to help her cope with all the stress. But Micah seems to want their relationship to go beyond friendship, and though Rachel almost wishes for that, too, she can’t force herself to feel “that way” about him. In fact, she isn’t sure she can feel that way about any boy — or what that means.

 

 

 

 

The Miraculous by Jess Redman (July 30)

Eleven-year-old Wunder Ellis is a miracologist. In a journal he calls The Miraculous, he records stories of the inexplicable and the extraordinary. These miracles fill Wunder with the feeling that he is not alone, that the world is magical, that he is part of something brighter than he can imagine.

But then his newborn sister dies, at only eight days old. If that can happen, then miracles don’t exist. So Wunder gets rid of The Miraculous. And he stops believing.

Then Wunder meets Faye—a cape-wearing, outspoken girl with losses of her own. Together, they find an abandoned house by the cemetery and the old woman who lives there—and who might be a witch. The old woman asks for Wunder and Faye’s help. She asks them to go through graveyards and forests, to townhalls and police stations, by bike and by train. She asks them to believe. And together, they go on a journey that leads them to friendship, to healing—and to miracles.

 

 

Spy Runner by Eugene Yelchin

An illustrated middle grade novel set in the 1950s in which 12-year-old Jake gets caught in Red Scare paranoia when his mother takes in a peculiar lodger who may or may not be a Russian spy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers by Shauna Holyoak (April 23)

Packed with high stakes mystery and tons of heart, this first installment in a new series introduces Kazu Jones-a spunky, scrappy detective who’s this generation’s Harriet the Spy.

When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can’t stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors’ beloved pet is taken because of her gigantic mistake.

With the help of her gang-including her best friend and expert hacker, March; and her ginormous, socially anxious pup, Genki-Kazu uncovers evidence that suggests the dognapping ring is bigger than she ever imagined. But the more she digs, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. The dognappers are getting bolder, and Genki could be next.

 

 

 

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews (June 11)

It’s the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river. Legend has it that after drifting out of sight, they’ll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into brilliant stars, but could that actually be true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out where those lanterns really go, and to ensure success in their mission, they’ve made a pact with two simple rules: No one turns for home. No one looks back.

The plan is to follow the river on their bikes for as long as it takes to learn the truth, but it isn’t long before the pact is broken by all except for Ben and (much to Ben’s disappointment) Nathaniel, the one kid who just doesn’t seem to fit in.

Together, Nathaniel and Ben will travel farther than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship*.

*And a talking bear.

 

Doc and the Detective in: Graveyard Treasure by Tim Tingle (October 15)

Timmy loves reading stories about great detectives, and soon he begins to spy mysteries all around his small Oklahoma town.

Why was his next-door neighbor, the distinguished Dr. Moore, standing outside with a knife at midnight? Who’s sneaking around their house, shining flashlights in the windows? And where did Mrs. Newberry’s diamond necklace go? As Timmy and Doc work together to unmask the thief, Timmy also comes to understand the challenges Doc and his family face with his developing dementia, and discovers that a real detective needs a good heart as well as a sharp brain.

 

 

 

 

Shred Girls: Lindsay’s Joyride by Molly Hurford (May 7)

It’s time to ride and save the day!

Lindsay can’t wait to spend her summer break reading comics and watching superhero movies–until she finds out she’ll be moving in with her weird older cousin Phoebe instead. And Phoebe has big plans for Lindsay: a BMX class at her bike park with cool-girl Jen and perfectionist Ali.

Lindsay’s summer of learning awesome BMX tricks with new friends and a new bike turns out to be more epic than any comic book–and it’s all leading up to a jumping competition.

But some of the biker boys don’t think girls should be allowed to compete in BMX. Now it’s up to Lindsay, Jen, and Ali to win the competition and prove that anyone can be great at BMX.

 

 

All Of Me by Chris Baron (June 11)

Ari has body-image issues. After a move across the country, his parents work selling and promoting his mother’s paintings and sculptures. Ari’s bohemian mother needs space to create, and his father is gone for long stretches of time on “sales” trips.

Meanwhile, Ari makes new friends: Pick, the gamer; the artsy Jorge, and the troubled Lisa. He is also relentlessly bullied because he’s overweight, but he can’t tell his parents—they’re simply not around enough to listen.

After an upsetting incident, Ari’s mom suggests he go on a diet, and she gives him a book to help. But the book—and the diet—can’t fix everything. As Ari faces the demise of his parents’ marriage, he also feels himself changing, both emotionally and physically. Here is a much-needed story about accepting the imperfect in oneself and in life.

 

 

 

Can you think of any others from 2018 or 2019 that fit the bill? I’d love to hear about them!

 

Booklist: Children Make Tasty Snacks

 

In kidlit, the gallows humor begins early.

While most of us are likely familiar with Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back, he is not the only nor the first picture book author to write about kids and kid-like animals being devoured by other animals. It’s a fact that wild animals eat other animals as a matter of course; most humans do too. These picture books put a funny twist on this circle of life, though human kids are usually saved from being eaten by fast talking and a bit of cleverness. The anthropomorphized animals, though, as in Klassen’s book, often aren’t as lucky. It’s “death by dinner,” if you will.

The books on this list range from fairly innocuous to potentially traumatizing, depending on the temperament of the child reader. Reader beware: here there be dragons (and bears and lions and sharks and dinosaurs and monsters, and they’re all very hungry).

All descriptions are from Goodreads. What’s your favorite book about animal-on-child murder?

Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman

The filming of an underwater TV show goes awry when the crew gets interrupted by a… SHARRRK! Poor Shark, he wasn’t trying to scare them, he’s just misunderstood! Then he’s accused of trying to eat a fish. Will Shark ever catch a break? After all, he wasn’t going to eat the fish, he was just showing it his new tooth! Or was he? Explosively funny, extraordinarily clever, and even full of fun shark facts, this surprisingly endearing story gets to the heart of what it feels like to be misunderstood by the people around you. With a surprise twist ending, our Misunderstood Shark will have kids rolling with laughter!

 

Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends by Ame Dyckman

This hilarious follow-up to Misunderstood Shark by New York Times bestselling duo Ame Dyckman and Scott Magoon tackles what it really means to be a good friend. Bob is already irate that Shark has eaten him, but when Shark doesn’t admit to eating him, Bob is so mad he declares that the ocean isn’t big enough for both of them! Friends Don’t Eat Friends is exploding with over-the-top humor and awesome marine facts! For example, when Shark overdoses on Finilla Ice Cream after fighting with Bob, we learn that shark teeth are coated with fluoride. Lucky for Shark, he can’t get cavities! Join Shark and the gang for another story and find out if Shark learns his lesson about friendship, or if he really is just misunderstood — again!

 

Bears Don’t Eat Egg Sandwiches by Julie Fulton

Jack has a rather grizzly visitor arrive for lunch but they don’t want to eat any of Jack’s egg sandwiches. So what do bears eat for lunch? Through quirky illustrations and funny dialogue, the bear tells Jack all about his lunchtime plans, until they’re unexpectedly foiled.

 

 

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

It’s the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all. . . .

 

Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Eric Kaplan

Dad has warned Henry and Eve: If you whine too much, monsters will eat you. Henry and Eve don’t listen, of course. The only problem is, when the monster comes, he can’t find the right recipe for whiny children—and neither can his monster friends! A whiny child salad doesn’t work because there’s paprika in the dressing. A whiny child cake won’t do because the flour spills all over the floor. And whiny child burgers are out of the question because the grill is too hard to light up. Arguments and hilarity ensue. And just when our persnickety monsters decide on the perfect dish…the worst thing of all happens….

 

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor– and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

 

I Will Not Eat You by Adam Lehrhaupt

From the award-winning author of Warning: Do Not Open This Book! and Please, Open This Book! comes a suspenseful and darkly funny new picture book about Theodore, who resists the urge to eat the animals that wander into his cave…at least for now! Theodore thinks everything is a potential meal. Lucky for the bird, wolf, and tiger, who pass by his cave, Theodore isn’t hungry…yet. But then something new approaches. A boy. Has Theodore found a new favorite food? Or something more?

 

I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon

I just ate my friend. He was a good friend. But now he is gone. Would you be my friend? This beautiful, innovate picture book from an enormously talented new creator will make you laugh out loud. The search for a true friend is something everyone can relate to – from the very young to the very old. A hilarious story about the search for friendship and belonging… and maybe a little bit about the importance of impulse control… from an amazing new creator.

 

Eat Pete! by Michael Rex

Pete couldn’t be more thrilled when a monster shows up in his bedroom. Now Pete has someone to play with! And the hungry monster couldn’t be more thrilled to be there, either. Now he can . . . EAT PETE! But Pete has other ideas. And they are all good fun and quite distracting–things like playing cars and pirates. Well, we all know the course of playing together nicely never did run smoothly. So how much longer will the monster have to wait before he can . . . EAT PETE?

 

Don’t Eat That by Drew Sheneman

Bear is hungry. Gertie wants to help. But finding the perfect snack is harder than it looks. Will Gertie and Bear silence Bear’s tummy grumbles before hunger gets the best of them? Expressive characters and funny dialogue lead the way in this pitch-perfect story about patience and teamwork, by nationally-syndicated cartoonist Drew Sheneman.

 

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith

Little Red sets off to visit her auntie who is poorly. A Very Hungry Lion approaches Little Red, wanting to gobble her up. But despite all the cunning plans by Lion, Little Red outsmarts him and soon has him saying sorry and eating doughnuts instead. A classic fairy tale with a twist by the bestselling Alex T. Smith.