Book Mail: June Edition
Here are 18 new and forthcoming titles to help you build your TBR for the rest of the year!
All descriptions from the publishers.
Meesh the Bad Demon #1 by Michelle Lam (ISBN-13: 9780593372876 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 03/21/2023, Ages 8-12)
A tale of unlikely heroes and myths is made real in this debut graphic novel series about a “bad” demon trying to find her place in the underworld. But she’ll have to save it first!
Meesh is a bad demon. “Bad” in that she always sees the good in those around her—which isn’t how a demon is meant to feel or act.
Bullied by the other demons, twelve-year-old Meesh is more likely to be found reading magazines from Plumeria City—the fairy realm—and fangirling about the fairy princesses.
But when disaster strikes and all of demon-kind is threatened, Meesh must journey to other worlds in search of help.
As luck would have it, she meets a fairy princess right away. Things in the fairy realm aren’t so perfect either, though. As Meesh makes surprising new friends and unites a band of outcasts, she learns there’s much more to being a demon than she ever realized. And learning to love herself might just uncover the secret to saving her home.
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Dancing in the Storm by Amie Darnell Specht, Shannon Hitchcock (ISBN-13: 9780593619469 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 02/06/2024, Ages 8-12)
In the tradition of Out of My Mind and Rules, and inspired by the co-author’s own life, this is a heartfelt, candid, and illuminating story of a girl learning to live fully with a rare genetic disorder.
Kate’s life in Baton Rouge, full of friends and family, gymnastics and Girl Scouts, is just plain great. But then, at the age of twelve, she suddenly develops a mysterious shoulder pain that won’t go away . . . and that will change her life forever. It turns out that Kate has one of the rarest genetic disorders in the world, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. FOP causes bone to form in places in the body where it shouldn’t, and there’s no cure yet. Kate will need to learn how to live with this difficult new reality, helped by those close to her and by a new pen pal named Amie, who has been living with FOP for years.
Drawing upon much of Amie Specht’s own experiences with FOP, she and esteemed novelist Shannon Hitchcock have created a poignant, eye-opening, and uplifting story of finding courage and joy in the face of adversity.
Fake Chinese Sounds by Jing Jing Tsong (ISBN-13: 9780525553427 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 04/30/2024, Ages 9-12)
A middle-grade graphic novel about a Taiwanese American girl navigating identity, bullying, and the messy process of learning to be comfortable in her skin.
Between homework, studying, and Chinese school, Měi Yīng’s summer is shaping up to be a boring one. Her only bright spots are practice with her soccer team, the Divas, and the time spent with her năi nai, who is visiting from Taiwan. Although Měi Yīng’s Mandarin isn’t the best and Năi Nai doesn’t speak English, they find other ways to connect, like cooking guōtiē together and doing tai chi in the mornings.
By the end of the summer, Měi Yīng is sad to see Năi Nai go—she’s the complete opposite of Měi Yīng serious professor mother—but excited to start fifth grade. Until new kid Sid starts making her the butt of racist jokes. Her best friend, Kirra, says to ignore him, but does everyone else’s silence about the harassment mean they’re also ignoring Sid . . . or her? As Sid’s bullying fuels Měi Yīng’s feelings of invisibility, she must learn to reclaim her identity and her voice.
Perfect for fans of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor, Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, and The New Kid by Jerry Craft.
Hearts of Fire and Snow by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall (ISBN-13: 9781547610044 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Publication date: 06/11/2024, Ages 13-17)
Award-winning authors David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall reimagine a beloved Aztec tale of star-crossed lovers with one last chance to reunite.
Blanca Montes wants to make a difference in the world, to do more than her wealthy godfather and spoiled boyfriend think her capable of. So when Greg Chan shows up as a new student at her Nevada school, she is more than intrigued by this handsome, brilliant stranger.
But Greg and Blanca are drawn to each other by something stronger—their fates entwined centuries ago. In his first life, Greg was Captain Popoca, and Blanca is the reincarnation of Princess Iztac, who took her own life after believing her beloved Popoca was sent to his death in battle. Greg has spent a thousand years searching for his lost love, and now the fates have given them one more chance to reunite. Will their hearts finally beat as one?
This swoony contemporary fantasy is perfect for fans of These Violent Delights and This Poison Heart.
Mermedusa by Thomas Taylor, Tom Booth (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781536227727 Publisher: Candlewick Press Publication date: 06/18/2024 Series: Legends of Eerie-on-Sea Series #5, Ages 8-12)
In this fifth and final tale, the arrival of a team of cryptozoologists sets off a series of events that could reveal the deepest secrets of Eerie-on-Sea—and the truth about shipwrecked orphan Herbert Lemon.
It’s Midwinter again in Eerie-on-Sea, when legend claims the terrifying Malamander emerges to hunt—and search for its long-lost mate. It’s the anniversary of daring Violet Parma’s arrival in Eerie; a year later, she still hasn’t found her missing parents, just as anxious Herbert Lemon has learned little else about why he washed up on the shore in a crate of lemons. What’s more, the creators of the Anomalous Phenomena podcast have dropped anchor in town and are fishing around for Eerie secrets. Keeping ahead of the podcasters, Herbie and Violet set sail for the dangerous “Treasure Island,” where villain Sebastian Eel’s own sister mysteriously vanished years ago. Will they discover the heart of Eerie-on-Sea’s mysteries, or will Herbie and Violet be the next to disappear? Like a visit to an old boardwalk arcade, this conclusion to the spooky, fantastical series will leave readers shivering with fright and delight.
The Science of Ghosts by Lilah Sturges, El Garing (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781681160863 Publisher: Legendary Comics Publication date: 06/18/2024, Ages 15+)
She’ll take ghosts over solving her own problems any day.
While navigating the mysteries of the afterlife, Joy Ravenna – a transgender parapsychologist, must also deal with the very real challenges of her past and present. Her first post-transition relationship, a hostile ex-wife, and clues to murder long forgotten will test her at every twist and turn. For Joy, working with ghosts is way easier than dealing with the living.
Markless by C.G. Malburi (ISBN-13: 9781646143771 Publisher: Levine Querido Publication date: 06/25/2024, Ages 12-18)
Ruti is Markless. In a society where worth is determined by the mark on your palm and the magic it grants you, this also deems her worthless. Except she’s also a hardened survivor, a protector of the Markless…and the most powerful witch in Somanchi. With a single song, she can pray to the many gods for unimaginable powers.
Dekala’s Mark is strong, a Mark fit for the future queen of Somanchi, but it’s also unstable. She knows the only solution is to be bonded, but she also knows that this would mean relinquishing control over her throne and kingdom. So when she is witness to Ruti’s power, Dekala offers the witch a deal: She can be prosecuted for her crimes…or she can help Dekala ascend to the throne, unbonded.
Dekala is cold and brutal and cares only about getting her way. She is also determined, intelligent, and compassionate. Ruti is torn between wanting her to fail or to emerge victorious. But as the gods are defied, new alliances are forged, and unexpected feelings are unearthed, Ruti realizes the fate of the kingdom––and the survival of the Markless––lies in her unmarked hands.
Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron (ISBN-13: 9781547609765 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Publication date: 06/25/2024, Ages 13+)
Cinderella is dead, but Snow White fights on . . .
New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron makes her highly anticipated return to the realm of fairy tales with this thrilling twist on the classic story of Snow White.
Princess Eve was raised with one purpose: to destroy the Knight. Far too many of subjects of Queen’s Bridge have been devastated by this evil sorcerer’s trickery. Eve’s own unique magic—the ability to conjure weapons from nature—makes her a worthy adversary.
As she approaches her seventeenth birthday, Eve is ready to battle. But her mother, Queen Regina, has been acting bizarrely, talking to a strange mirror alone every night. Then a young man claiming to be the Knight’s messenger appears and shares a shocking truth about Eve’s past. Unsure of who to trust, Eve must find the courage to do what she’s always done: fight. But will it be enough to save her family and her queendom?
Ready or Not by Andi Porretta (ISBN-13: 9781665907033 Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Publication date: 07/02/2024, Ages 14-18)
An anxious teen hopes that a summer of adventure and offbeat dares will keep her friend group together after graduation in this luminous coming-of-age graphic novel with the feel-good vibes of Booksmart and Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone.
With senior year finally behind them, Cassie and her three best friends are on their way to what’s next. Like their parents, the crew has always been inseparable: there’s Marcy, the artist, for whom style is self-expression and sarcasm is a love language; Aaron, the future lawyer, whose good humor balances out his competitive streak; Nico, the musician, whose flirtatiousness, obliviousness, and recent interest in a rising senior are becoming increasingly unbearable to Cassie; and of course, Cassie herself, the only one who doesn’t have her future all figured out.
This summer is their last chance to make memories together in New York City before everyone but Cassie scatters across the globe for college—and she’s determined to make the most of it. Her plan? They’ll spend August playing the game of dares and risks they invented as kids! From adventurous to outrageous, these dares will definitely make for an unforgettable summer. Even better, Cassie is hopeful they’ll help the group stay friends no matter what…because she is not ready for a future without them.
Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin (ISBN-13: 9781665938440 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers Publication date: 07/09/2024, Ages 14-18)
Two Muslim teens in Texas fight for access to abortion while one harbors a painful secret in this funny and heartfelt near-future speculative novel perfect for fans of Unpregnant.
In a not-too-distant America, abortions are prosecuted and the right to choose is no longer an option. But best friends Laylah and Noor want to change the world. After graduating high school, they’ll become an OBGYN and a journalist, but in the meantime, they’re working on an illegal guide to abortion in Texas.
In response to the unfair laws, underground networks of clinics have sprung up, but the good fight has gotten even more precarious as it becomes harder to secure safe medication and supplies. Both Layla and Noor are passionate about getting their guide completed so it can help those in need, but Laylah treats their project with an urgency Noor doesn’t understand—that may have something to do with the strange goings-on between their mosque and a local politician.
Fighting for what they believe in may involve even more obstacles than they bargained for, but the two best friends will continue as they always have: together.
Trick or Treat on Scary Street by Lance Bass, Roland Garrigue (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781454952176 Publisher: Union Square Kids Publication date: 07/23/2024, Ages 4-8)
From musical superstar Lance Bass, this quirky and surprising Halloween story is perfect for trick-or-treaters who love extra tricks and treats.
Come one.
Come all.
Come follow thirteen trick-or-treaters down Scary Street. Dare to stop at the vampire’s lair? Tempted to take a bite of the witch’s delight? How about a peek inside a ghostly haunt? Who will make it to the end. . . and what last trick (or treat) awaits?
Celebrate the thrills and chills of the season with this unforgettable trip down Scary Street!
Drown Me with Dreams by Gabi Burton (ISBN-13: 9781547610419 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Publication date: 08/20/2024, Ages 14-18)
In book two of this dark and seductive YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and These Violent Delights, a siren assassin must decide between saving her kingdom and betraying the man she loves.
Wanted. Hunted. Banished.
Wanted: Now that everyone knows she’s both a siren and an assassin, Saoirse is the most wanted fugitive in Keirdre.
Hunted: Framed for the old king’s death, every powerful fae in the kingdom is calling for her execution.
Banished: To keep her safe, the newly crowned King Hayes asks her to cross the magical barrier that separates Keirdre from its enemies. There’s only one problem: if she doesn’t find a way to bring the barrier down, she can never come back.
As Hayes is forced to make compromises and Saoirse uncovers plots that threaten the entire kingdom, she’s forced to question: Is Hayes the best future for Keirdre? And if not…. is she willing to turn against him?
39 Clues: One False Note: A Graphic Novel (39 Clues Graphic Novel #2) by Gordon Korman, Hannah Templer (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781339026480 Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Publication date: 09/03/2024, Ages 8-12)
The second installment in the mega-bestselling The 39 Clues series, now in graphic novel form!
Amy and Dan made the choice of a lifetime when they gave up a million dollars in favor of a Clue and joined a competition unlike any the world has ever seen. After barely escaping Paris with their lives, now they’re in Vienna to discover the truth about their famous ancestor, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the long-buried secrets connected to his equally talented but overlooked sister, Nannerl.
But with their enemies closing in, Amy and Dan must decide how much they’re willing to risk to find the clues, and who they’re willing to betray in the process…
How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic by Carla Naumburg, Letizia Rizzo (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781523518241 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company Publication date: 09/10/2024, Ages 10+)
ARE YOU READY TO BECOME CALM, COOL, AND CONFIDENT?
Bestselling author Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW, presents the ultimate guide to help middle grade readers manage big emotions.
Within these pages, readers will learn what a freak out is (and isn’t), discover why people flip out when they’re stressed, practice keeping cool in the most chaotic moments, and choose one of many strategies for calming down when things are totally overwhelming.
Along the way, there are:
• Quizzes! What’s your freak out style?
• Truth Bombs! You don’t have to be perfect.
• Freak Out Facts! There are more nerve cells in your body than there are stars in the Milky Way.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER: You can—and will—have big, intense, unpleasant feelings. The trick is knowing how to manage them.
Uniquely designed to meet readers ages 10 and up, this book is filled with techniques, tools and most importantly, understanding, to guide readers through all the twists and turns on the roller coaster called LIFE.
Wishbone by Justine Pucella Winans (ISBN-13: 9781547612574 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Publication date: 09/17/2024, Ages 8-12)
Coraline meets Ghost Squad in this terrifying story about what happens when you aren’t careful what you wish for.
Ollie Di Costa wishes things could be different.
He wishes the bullies at school would leave him alone. He wishes his parents would stop fighting. He wishes his sister Mia didn’t have to worry about things like paying for college. But most of all, he wishes he wasn’t so angry about all of this. When he and Mia find a two-tailed cat they name Wishbone, Ollie takes comfort in telling him everything he wishes would change-then suddenly, it does. Everything Ollie and Mia wish for comes true, and it’s like all of their problems are solved. But magic comes at a price. Whatever they wish for is not simply given to them, but taken from others. And to make matters worse, a mysterious shadow man called The Mage is after Wishbone and his power. With each wish, darkness takes over more and more of their world, and worst of all, it threatens to take over Ollie, too. But can he let go of everything he’s ever wanted?
Justine Pucella Winans, author of the Stonewall Honor book The Otherwoods, brings us another bone-chilling middle grade horror, urging readers to not only be careful what you wish for, but beware of who you may become if you aren’t.
When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson (ISBN-13: 9780525429098 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 09/24/2024, Ages 14-18)
An explosive new novel brimming with love, secrets, and enchantment by Jandy Nelson, Printz Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author of I’ll Give You the Sun
The Fall siblings live in hot Northern California wine country, where the sun pours out of the sky, and the devil winds blow so hard they whip the sense right out of your head.
Years ago, the Fall kids’ father mysteriously disappeared, cracking the family into pieces. Now Dizzy Fall, age twelve, bakes cakes, sees spirits, and wishes she were a heroine of a romance novel. Miles Fall, seventeen, brainiac, athlete, and dog-whisperer, is a raving beauty, but also lost, and desperate to meet the kind of guy he dreams of. And Wynton Fall, nineteen, who raises the temperature of a room just by entering it, is a virtuoso violinist set on a crash course for fame . . . or self-destruction.
Then an enigmatic rainbow-haired girl shows up, tipping the Falls’ world over. She might be an angel. Or a saint. Or an ordinary girl. Somehow, she is vital to each of them. But before anyone can figure out who she is, catastrophe strikes, leaving the Falls more broken than ever. And more desperate to be whole.
With road trips, rivalries, family curses, love stories within love stories within love stories, and sorrows and joys passed from generation to generation, this is the intricate, luminous tale of a family’s complicated past and present. And only in telling their stories can they hope to rewrite their futures.
The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb (ISBN-13: 9781646144563 Publisher: Levine Querido Publication date: 10/01/2024, Ages 12-18)
Dybbuks.
Illegal printing.
A genderqueer lesbian with a knife.
Set against a backdrop of literary censorship and growing Jewish political consciousness, Sydney Taylor and Stonewall award-winning Sacha Lamb’s sophomore novel is a soaring exploration of identity, survival, and ultimately, hope.
On the night before her wedding, 17-year-old Sorel leaps from a window and runs away from her life. To keep from being discovered, she takes on the male identity of Isser Jacobs — but it soon becomes clear that there is a real Isser Jacobs, and people want him dead. Her mistaken identity takes Sorel into the dark underworld of her small city in the Pale of Settlement, where smugglers, forgers, and wicked angels fight for control of the Jewish community. In order to make it out, Sorel must discover who Isser Jacobs really is — and who she wants to be.
Answers to Dog by Pete Hautman (ISBN-13: 9781536234886 Publisher: Candlewick Press Publication date: 10/01/2024, Ages 9-12)
National Book Award winner Pete Hautman explores a friendship like no other—and the universal truth that dogs make life better, especially for underdogs.
Evan doesn’t seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie—a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy—starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan’s simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman’s books for middle-grade readers—and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers.
Filed under: new books
About Amanda MacGregor
Amanda MacGregor works in an elementary library, loves dogs, and can be found on Twitter @CiteSomething.
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