Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Spring 2018 Showcase and Giveaway

Beyond the people I work with and the people this blog has led me to get to know, by far the best aspect of blogging for TLT is the constant influx of books. All of the books I get end up going back out the door in some fashion—to teen readers I know, to classroom libraries of friends, to my own school, or in giveaways. I can’t read/review every book I get, but it’s fun to be able to sift through boxes and see what grabs my attention, and to see what books will find loving new homes with the right reader.

Today I’m sharing with you titles from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All annotations are from the publisher. I’m also doing a giveaway for some of these ARCs. Enter via the Rafflecopter or by retweeting this post on Twitter (I’m @CiteSomething) between now and December 31st. I’ll pick two winners (1 through Rafflecopter and 1 from Twitter), which each winner getting three books. U.S. only!

The Heat Is On by Charise Mericle Harper, Aurelie Blard-Quintard (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9780544980280 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 02/13/2018 Series: Next Best Junior Chef Series #2)

The competition heats up in episode two of this zesty series for fans of MasterChef Jr. and Kids Cook-off!   With this episode’s theme of family and tradition, from a diner challenge to a quinceañera to the farmer’s market, the junior chefs will have to sauté their way through the chewiest challenges yet. They’re the best in the nation, but can they handle the twists and turnovers week two has in store, on- and off-camera? Which junior chefs can stand the heat? And which one will need to get out of the kitchen? We are one episode closer to discovering just who will earn the title of Next Best Junior Chef. Bonus: Includes real cooking techniques for the aspiring young chef!

The Spinner Prince by Matt Laney (ISBN-13: 9781328707260 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 03/06/2018)

I am Leo, Prince of Singara, and I am about to die. . .

Prince Leo is next in line for the throne of Singara, a land ruled by super-evolved felines. Like every thirteen-year-old, Leo must prove his worth by hunting a deadly beast called a slaycon. But killing a slaycon is the least of Leo’s problems. The enemy beyond the Great Wall is rising up. Inside the wall, Singara is being torn apart by Leo’s rebellious cousin. Worst of all, Leo is a Spinner, cursed with a dangerous and forbidden power he can’t control.
The future of Singara is in Leo’s hands. Can he conceal his curse, claim the throne, and protect his realm? Or will he embrace his power and discover a far greater destiny . . . for himself and for his world?

An unforgettable adventure, this first book in the Pride Wars series by debut author Matt Laney introduces a world where honor and duty, ferocity and faith, are tested by an unexpected hero.

Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau (ISBN-13: 9780544416703 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 03/13/2018)

Seven students trapped in their school after a bomb goes off must fight to survive while also discovering who among them is the bomber in this provocative new thriller from the author of the New York Times bestselling Testing Trilogy. Perfect for fans of This Is Where It Ends.  
A congressman’s daughter who has to be perfect. A star quarterback with a secret. A guy who’s tired of being ignored. A clarinet player who’s done trying to fit in. An orphaned rebel who wants to teach someone a lesson. A guy who wants people to see him, not his religion.

They couldn’t be more different, but before the morning’s over, they’ll all be trapped in a school that’s been rocked by a bombing. When they hear that someone inside is the bomber, they’ll also be looking to one another for answers.

Told from multiple perspectives, Time Bomb will keep readers guessing about who the bomber could be—and what motivated such drastic action.

Miles Away from You by A.B. Rutledge (ISBN-13: 9781328852335 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 03/20/2018)

From debut voice A.B. Rutledge comes a quirky and completely fresh story of young love, loss, and the drastic distances we sometimes have to travel in order to move on, perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Jandy Nelson. Explores gender nonconformity and the spectrum of sexual preference in an authentic way.

It’s been three years since Miles fell for Vivian, a talented and dazzling transgender girl. Eighteen months since a suicide attempt left Vivian on life support. Now Miles isn’t sure who he is without her, but knows it’s time to figure out how to say goodbye.

He books a solo trip to Iceland but then has a hard time leaving the refuge of his hotel room. After a little push from Oskar, a local who is equal parts endearing and aloof, Miles decides to honor Vivian’s life by photographing her treasured Doc Martens standing empty against the surreal landscapes. With each step he takes, Miles finds his heart healing—even as he must accept that Vivian, still in a coma, will never recover.

Told through a series of instant messages to Vivian, this quirky and completely fresh novel explores love, loss, and the drastic distances we sometimes have to travel in order to move on.

The Stone Girl’s Story by Sarah Beth Durst (ISBN-13: 9781328729453 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 04/03/2018)

Exploring the power of stories and storytelling, Sarah Beth Durst presents the mesmerizing adventure of a girl made of living stone who braves unforeseen dangers and magical consequences on a crucial quest to save her family.

Mayka and her stone family were brought to life by the stories etched into their bodies. Now time is eroding these vital marks, and Mayka must find a stonemason to recarve them. But the search is more complex than she had imagined, and Mayka uncovers a scheme endangering all stone creatures. Only someone who casts stories into stone can help—but whom can Mayka trust? Where is the stonemason who will save them?

Action and insight combine in this magical coming-of-age novel as the young heroine realizes the savior she’s been searching for is herself.

Class Action by Steven B. Frank (ISBN-13: 9781328799203 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 04/03/2018)

One sixth grader takes his battle against homework all the way to the Supreme Court! Hoot for the over-homeworked generation. 
Sixth-grader Sam Warren is sick of stressing over assignments, and that’s exactly what he tells his teacher: NO. MORE. HOMEWORK!

Suspended from school, Sam recruits his elderly neighbor and ex-attorney Mr. Kalman to the cause. He’s ready to file a class action suit on behalf of all the children in Los Angeles—and eventually the country. Their argument? Homework is unconstitutional.
With his sister Sadie, Mr. Kalman, and his besties, Sam takes his case to Washington DC and the highest court in the land. Will Sam’s case pay off and allow him and his friends some time to grow and play, or will he just look like the laziest kid in America?

Hiding by Henry Turner (ISBN-13: 9780544284777 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 04/03/2018)

When a teen boy who excels at being unseen finds himself hiding in his ex-girlfriend’s house, he uncovers carefully concealed truths—about her, her family, and himself—in a twisty mystery with a shocking surprise.
One night, a lovelorn teen boy “accidentally” slips into the home of his ex-girlfriend, Laura, and ends up hiding in her basement, trapped in the house by its alarm system. How long can he stay hidden? What will happen if he is found? What will he learn about Laura—and himself—in this house? And what is his true motive for being there?

Turner’s affinity for observant outsiders—and teens who share a desire to hide from nosy adults and judgmental peers—shines in a psychological thriller in which the slow burn of tension keeps readers turning pages to a sudden twist that changes everything.

Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier (ISBN-13: 9780544968578 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 04/10/2018)

Eighteen years ago, two princes vanished. Now a riddle hidden on a mysterious map could chart a course towards the truth . . . and the missing royals in this historical fantasy that’s perfect for fans of And I Darken and Grave Mercy.
Nineteen-year-old Elias, a royal mapmaker and friend of the newly crowned king, is eager to explore uncharted waters. But when two maps surface, each with the same riddle, Elias must put aside his next voyage to solve a mystery that has plagued the kingdom for eighteen years—what happened to their two young princes, both kidnapped on one tragic day? Following the hidden clues, Elias uncovers long-held secrets and unimaginable betrayals.

This fantasy adventure is full of intrigue and schemes, romance and friendship, and fearless explorers searching for the truth.

Road Trip with Max and His Mom by Linda Urban, Katie Kath (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9780544809123 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 04/17/2018)

In this sweet and funny companion to Weekends with Max and His Dad by acclaimed author Linda Urban, Max and his mom embark on a road trip as they adjust to their new understanding of family.

Third-grader Max is heading off on a road trip with Mom. With miles to travel, cousins to meet, and a tall roller coaster to ride (maybe), it will be an adventure! But Max always spends weekends with Dad; will Dad be okay if he’s left behind? And will Max be brave enough for all the new explorations ahead of him?

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne (ISBN-13: 9781328948939 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 05/01/2018)

A romantic, cinematic, richly-imagined retelling of the classic Jane Eyre set in space, about seventeen-year-old Stella Ainsley, a mechanic who takes a governess job on board the private ship, the Rochester and falls in the love with the ship’s mysterious and troubled captain. For Marissa Meyer and Kiera Cass fans.  
Seventeen-year-old Stella Ainsley wants just one thing: to go somewhere—anywhere—else. Her home is a floundering spaceship that offers few prospects, having been orbiting an ice-encased Earth for two hundred years. When a private ship hires her as a governess, Stella jumps at the chance. The captain of the Rochester, nineteen-year-old Hugo Fairfax, is notorious throughout the fleet for being a moody recluse and a drunk. But with Stella he’s kind.

But the Rochester harbors secrets: Stella is certain someone is trying to kill Hugo, and the more she discovers, the more questions she has about his role in a conspiracy threatening the fleet.

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake (ISBN-13: 9781328778239 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 05/15/2018)

For readers of Girl in Pieces and The Way I Used to Be comes an emotionally gripping story about facing hard truths in the aftermath of sexual assault.

Mara and Owen are as close as twins can get, so when Mara’s friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape, Mara doesn’t know what to think. Can her brother really be guilty of such a violent act? Torn between her family and her sense of right and wrong, Mara feels lost, and it doesn’t help that things are strained with her ex-girlfriend, Charlie. As Mara, Hannah, and Charlie come together in the aftermath of this terrible crime, Mara must face a trauma from her own past and decide where Charlie fits into her future. With sensitivity and openness, this timely novel confronts the difficult questions surrounding consent, victim blaming, and sexual assault.

Junior Ninja Champion: The Competition Begins by Catherine Hapka (ISBN-13: 9781328710581 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 06/05/2018)

For fans of the wildly popular TV competition American Ninja Warrior, this action-packed adventure series brings five unlikely friends together to compete in the first ever Junior Ninja competition.

Izzy, Ty, Kevin, JJ, and Mackenzie don’t have a lot in common. But they have all seen the reality TV obstacle competition National Ninja Champion.

When news breaks that there’s going to be a kids’ version of the show?and tryouts are just a few miles away?all five find themselves drawn to the obstacle course at Fit Kidz Gym. Before they know it, they’ve become a team?training together and helping one another overcome all kinds of obstacles as they compete for the title of Junior Ninja Champion. With lots of heart and edge-of-your-seat excitement, Junior Ninja Champion packs in the action of the competition along with all the ups and downs on the journey to making it.

Who will secure a spot in the finals, and who will be named Junior Ninja Champion?

Unsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World Champion by Jessica Long (ISBN-13: 9781328707253 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 06/05/2018)

The top Paralympic swimmer in the world, Jessica Long delivers an inspirational photographic memoir.

Born in Siberia with fibular hemimelia, Jessica Long was adopted from a Russian orphanage at thirteen months old and has since become the second most decorated U.S. Paralympic athlete of all time. Now, Jessica shares all the moments in her life—big and small, heartbreaking and uplifting—that led to her domination in the Paralympic swimming world. This photographic memoir, filled with photographs, sidebars, quotes, and more, will thrill her fans and inspire those who are hearing her story for the first time.

Chemistry Lessons by Meredith Goldstein (ISBN-13: 9781328764645 Publisher HMH Books for Young Readers Publication date: 06/19/2018)

Lost! by Terry Lynn Johnson (ISBN-13: 9780544971189 Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Publication date: 07/03/2018)

The Winner Is…by Charise Mericle Harper, Aurelie Blard-Quintard (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 978-0544991446 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication date: 02/13/2018 Series: Next Best Junior Chef Series #3)

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell (ISBN-13: 9780544888197 Publisher: Clarion Books Publication date: 08/07/2018)

Elephant Secret by Eric Walters (ISBN-13: 9781328796172 Publisher: Clarion Books Publication date: 08/28/2018)

We Bought a Zoo meets Jurassic Park in a gripping story featuring the evergreen appeal of human-animal friendships and set in an elephant sanctuary, about a thirteen-year-old girl, a cast of elephants, and a surprising new arrival—a woolly mammoth.

Sam was born and raised in an elephant sanctuary. When a beloved elephant dies giving birth, Sam develops a connection with baby Woolly—who isn’t actually an elephant but was cloned from woolly mammoth DNA. And the billionaire genius behind the cloning experiment will stop at nothing to protect his investment. Smart, determined, and loving, Sam stands up to this powerful adversary to protect the sanctuary and her herd. In the best tradition of child-animal friendship stories, Elephant Secret explores the strong and complex bond between Sam and her elephants while offering a fascinating, authentic glimpse into elephant—and human—behavior.

Filed under: Uncategorized