The Tween ARC Party: The Tween an friends look at some upcoming 2015 book releases
The other day I was getting ARCs organized for 2015 when The Tween and her Bestie were over. We had an impromptu ARC party where the tweens went through each physical arc I had on the premises and sorted them into Oh My Goodness I Want to Read piles and the Meh ones. They’re looking at covers, reading back covers, and of course we have to take into account their personal reading preferences (which leans toward speculative). And yes, I totally use every tween and teen that comes into my house as an information resource. I’m not even ashamed.
This is the pile we began with . . .
The stack on the left is January 2015 titles, which you can see I have the most of (probably from a combination of TLA and ALA).
Their favorite cover was this . . .
They liked the combination of music and space. Unmade is the second book and conclusion to Entangled by author Amy Rose Capetta.
Unmade Publisher’s Description: The galaxy-spanning conclusion to Amy Rose Capetta’s acclaimed sci-fi debut, Entangled.
Cadence is in a race against time and space to save her family and friends from the Unmakers, who are tracking the last vestiges of humanity across the cosmos. As the epic battle begins, Cade learns that letting people in also means letting them go. The universe spins out of control and Cade alone must face the music in the page-turning conclusion to Entangled. Coming January 13th from HMH Books for Young Readers. (YA)
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The Tween actually has already read this book, interestingly enough. The week before winter break was the school Scholastic Book Fair and The Tween had chosen 3 books to purchase at the preview: The Spider Ring, The Land of Stories book 3, and The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke. She purchased and read both The Spider Ring and The Neptune Project within 2 days. She highly recommends both. The Neptune Project is out now and The Spider Ring comes out in January and is about a girl who inherits a ring to control spiders.
The Spider Ring Publisher’s Description: A powerful ring. A dangerous web.
When Maria inherits a strange, spider-shaped ring from her grandmother, she doesn’t realize she’s also inheriting a strange power — the power to control spiders and have them do whatever she wants. This is a pretty cool thing when it comes to fetching objects from another room . . . or if Maria wants to use the spiders to get back at some mean kids in her class.
But the power comes with a price. Maria has attracted the attention of the Black Widow — who is trying to collect all the spider magic for herself. The Black Widow is not going to let anything stand in her way — especially not Maria.
The story of the ring is being woven like a web — and Maria is going to have to do everything she can to not get trapped within it. Coming January 27th from Scholastic Press (though if your school has a Scholastic Book Fair you can buy it now). Author Andrew Harwell. (MG)
In 2013 my family listened to and loved Pie by Sarah Weeks, so The Tween was very excited to see Honey. Also, she is a huge dog person so it gets bonus points for the dog on the cover. This is another ARC she read in a day and raved about.
Publisher’s Description: For a girl like Melody and a dog like Mo, life can be both sticky and sweet.
Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It’s been just her and her father, and she’s been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone Honey — and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It’s up to Melody and her best friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden.
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn’t remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he’s sure, will change everything.
In HONEY, Sarah Weeks introduces two characters — one a girl, one a dog– who are reaching back further than their memories in order to figure out where they came from and where they’re going. It’s a total treat from beginning to end.
Coming January 2015 from Scholastic Press (MG)
As you can see from the picture above, The Tween is a huge Paris fanatic. She even dressed up one year as the Eiffel Tower and you can see the remnants from that homemade costume on the wall. Plus, she got awesome Paris pajamas for Christmas that she can sit back and read this upcoming Lisa Schroeder title, My Secret Guide to Paris.
Publisher’s Description: From the author of the Charmed Life and It’s Raining Cupcakes series comes a novel of family, friends, and a Paris adventure that readers will never forget!
Nora has always wanted to see Paris, thanks to her Grandma Sylvia’s stories. But when Sylvia suddenly passes away just months before their planned trip, Nora thinks she’s lost everything.
Nora still dreams of Paris–and when she finds her own name on a set of clues to a Parisian scavenger hunt packed away in her grandmother’s room, along with plane tickets, Nora knows that Sylvia still wants her to go, too.
At last, Nora sets off on the adventure–and mystery–of a lifetime. What did Grandma Sylvia want her to find in Paris? Why do all the clues insist that Nora’s mother be with her? And could the key to healing and forgiveness be found at the top of the Eiffel Tower? Coming February 24th from Scholastic Press (MG)
As you can see, they put a lot of books in their TBR pile. The Bestie (on the left) felt like she was most interested in Vivian Apple at the End of the World. The Tween seemed particularly interested in Hell Hole by Gina Damico as her next read.
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Vivan Apple at the End of the World Publisher’s Description: Seventeen-year-old Vivian Apple never believed in the evangelical Church of America, unlike her recently devout parents. But when Vivian returns home the night after the supposed “Rapture,” all that’s left of her parents are two holes in the roof. Suddenly, she doesn’t know who or what to believe. With her best friend Harp and a mysterious ally, Peter, Vivian embarks on a desperate cross-country roadtrip through a paranoid and panic-stricken America to find answers. Because at the end of the world, Vivan Apple isn’t looking for a savior. She’s looking for the truth. Coming January 8th from HMH Books for Young Readers. Written by Katie Coyle. (YA)
Hellhole Publisher’s Description: A devil is a bad influence . . .
There was a time when geeky, squeaky-clean Max Kilgore would never lie or steal or even think about murder. Then he accidentally unearths a devil, and Max’s choices are no longer his own. The big red guy has a penchant for couch surfing and junk food—and you should never underestimate evil on a sugar high.
With the help of Lore, a former goth girl who knows a thing or two about the dark side, Max is racing against the clock to get rid of the houseguest from hell before time, and all the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos this side of the fiery abyss, run out. Coming January 6th from HMH Books for Young Readers. Author Gina Dimaco. (YA)
As they read, I’ll have them check in with us all and share their thoughts. Let me know what’s on your 2015 TBR in the comments, I want to make sure I’m not missing something I need to be reading.
Filed under: Coming Soon
About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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Eden says
I loved ENTANGLED by Amy Rose Capetta! Really looking forward to UNMADE. And I agree, they both have beautiful covers! The guitar on the cover really makes it stand out.
Karen Jensen, TLT says
The Tween and friend haven’t read Entangled, so they’ll need to read it first. Glad to know that you liked it.