Blight
By Kelly Williams Brown
HarperCollins Publishers (August 1, 2017)) 17.99
Ages: 13+
BISAC: Literature & Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-0971923805
Inspired by current environmental issues, specifically the genetic adjustment of seeds to resist blight and the risks of not allowing natural seed diversity, this is an action-adventure story.
Tell the Story to Its End
By Simon P. Clark
St. Martin's Press, 2015, $18.99
Age: 14+
Genre: Magically Haunting Fiction
Be the One
By Byron Pitts
Simon and Schuster
Age: 13-18
BISAC: Short Stories, True Stories, Hope, Believe
ISBN-13: 978-1442483828
None of these should be realities for anyone, much less a young person. But for some it is the only reality they have ever known. In these dark circumstances, six teens needed someone to “be the one” for them—the hero to help them back into the light. For Tania, Mason, Pappy, Michaela, Ryan, and Tyton, that hero was themselves. Through stirring interviews and his award-winning storytelling, Byron Pitts brings the struggles and triumphs of these everyday heroes to teens just like them, encouraging all of us to be the source of inspiration in our own lives and to appreciate the lives of others around us
The launching of a new imprint is always exciting, and the Spring 2017 launch of Elsewhere Editions is one that definitely caught my eye. Devoted to translations of visionary picture books from all corners of the world, I imagine there must have been incredible, in-house excitement over this launch. Elsewhere Editions is a new children's imprint from Archipelago Books (Penguin Random House). Two that I especially love are Questions Asked and You Can't Be Too Careful!, winner of the 2014 Hans Christian Anderson Award. Genre-bending, thought-provoking, both are works of art that can be enjoyed by children of all ages as well as adults reading aloud. Both have beautiful artwork which will definitely be appreciated by art aficionados. I love the philosophical questions posed in Questions Asked, and believe every, single person thinks about these things at some time. And I absolutely love the artwork in You Can't be Too Careful! Every page is interactive. You could read this a hundred times and still find something new in its artwork.
Questions Asked
By Jostein Gaarder
Elsewhere Editions (May 9, 2017)) $9.79
Age: 3 - 7 years
Genre: Children's Books, Growing Up & Facts of Life
A picture book with fundamental philosophical questions, posed in a way only Jostein Gaarder is capable of. The illustrator has made an independent visual narrative that underscores the existential aspect of eacl question. Questions Asked shows confidence in a child's capacity to think deeply and read between the lines. This book explores life and death in a way will show how these questions are common to everyone. Emotional and moving with the subtle suggestion that the boy in the character has lost a twin. Though the idea is presented, it's open to interpretation.
Gracious: A Practical Primer on Charm, Tact, and Unsinkable Strength
By Alexandra Duncan
Rodale (April 4, 2017)) 22.99
Ages:Teens+
Genre: Etiquette, Cummunications & Social Skills
Graciousness is practicing the arts of kindness, thoughtfulness, good manners, humanity, and basic decency. As a bonus, it makes your life and even the world (or at least the room you're in) much lovelier.
Vincent's Starry Night and Other Stories
By Michael Bird,
Illustrated by Kate Evans
Laurence King Publish, 2016, $29.95
Genre: Stars, Juvenile Literature, Short Stories, Art, History of Art
ISBN 13: 9781780676159
Summary: A collection of stories involving the history of art, and great artists.
Page designed and created by Brayden Probst.
The Hearts We Sold
By Emily Lloyd Jones
Little Brown
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Sci-Fi, Horror fantasy, Romance, Juvenile fiction
ISBN-13: 978-0316314596
Dee Moreno is out of options. Her home life sucks (to put it mildly), and she's about to get booted from her boarding school--the only place she's ever felt free--for lack of funds. But this is a world where demons exist,
and the demons are there to make deals: one human body part in exchange for one wish come true.The demon
who Dee approaches doesn't trade in the usual arms and legs, however. He's only interested in her heart. And
what comes after Dee makes her deal is a nightmare far bigger, far more monstrous than anything she ever
could have imagined. Reality is turned on its head, and Dee has only her fellow "heartless," the charming
but secretive James Lancer, to keep her grounded. As something like love grows between them amid an otherworldly ordeal, Dee begins to wonder: Can she give James her heart when it's no longer hers to give?
An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes
By Randy Ribay
Merit Press
Age: 13-18
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction, Struggle, Friends, Coming out story, Coming of Age Story
ISBN-13: 978-1440588143
Four friends from wildly different backgrounds have bonded over Dungeons & Dragons since the sixth grade. Now they're facing senior year and a major shift in their own universes. Math whiz Archie is struggling with his parents' divorce after his dad comes out as gay. Mari is terrified of her adoptive mother's life-altering news. Dante is carrying around a huge secret that is proving impossible to keep hidden. And when Sam gets dumped by the love of his life, everyone is ready to join him on a cross-country quest to win her back. The four quickly discover that the road is not forgiving, and that real life is no game. They must face a test of friendship where the stakes are more than just a roll of the dice--they are life and death.
Moon Shadow
By Eric Downing
Alladin
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction, Coming of age, Growing Up
ISBN-13: 978-1481475211
Lucia was born during a lunar eclipse. Though her mom has always told her eclipses are magical, Lucia doesn't buy into New Age nonsense. Magic involving shadows, dreams, and moonstones... she doesn't have time for any of that stuff. All she wants is to figure out how to get her best friend back back and cope with her parents' divorce.
The Infographic Guide to College: A Visual Reference for Everything You Need to Know
By Adams Media
Simon and Schuster (July 4, 2017) $16.99
Age: 10+
Genre: Children's Books, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Spine-Chilling Horror
For fans of the popular Show Me How series, this illustrated guide to college life has everything a student
needs to excel in their first year, from tips on getting involved around campus to advice about applying for
loans and studying for exams.
Cool Books For Fall 2017
The Launching of An Imprint: Elsewhere Editions
Notables
Learning to Love the Girl in the Mirror
By Helena Grace Donald
Torch Flame Media LLC
Age:13-18
BISAC: Self Help, Teen Girls, True Story
This book is for every girl who has ever looked in the mirror and criticized her own reflection; for every girl who has ever compared herself negatively to others; for every girl who has ever thought of dieting; and for every girl who is already struggling with negative body image issues and unhealthy eating habits.
Welcome to the Dark House
By Laurie Faria Stolarz
Hyperion (June 23, 2015) $9.99
Ages:14+
Genre: Horror
Dot Journaling—A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-Do List, and Diary That'll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together
By Rachel Wilkerson Miller
The Experiment (July 31, 2017) $10.42
Age: Teenss
Genre: Crafts, Hobbies & Home, Scrapbooking
It’s a planner, to-do list, and diary for every aspect of your life: work, home, relationships, hobbies, everything.
The Line We Cross
By Randa Abdel-Fattah
Scholastic, Inc (May 9, 2017)) 18.99
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Growing Up & Facts of Life
Michael likes to hang out with his friends and play with the latest graphic design software. His parents drag him to rallies held by their anti-immigrant group, which rails against the tide of refugees flooding the country. And it all makes sense to Michael.
Sparrow
By Sarah Moon
Arthur A. Levine Books
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction, Coming of age, Growing Up
ISBN-13: 978-1467703406
Sparrow has always had a difficult time making friends. She would always rather have stayed home on the weekends with her mother, an affluent IT Executive at a Manhattan bank, reading, or watching the birds, than playing with other kids. And that's made school a lonely experience for her. It's made LIFE a lonely experience.
Waste of Space
By Gina Damico
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 17.99
July, 2017
Ages:14-17
Genre : YA Fiction, humor, contemporary realistic
Cram ten hormonal teens into a spaceship and blast off: that’s the premise for the ill-conceived reality show Waste of Space.
The kids who are cast know everything about drama—and nothing about the fact that the production is fake. Hidden in a desert warehouse, their spaceship replica is equipped with state-of-the-art special effects dreamed up by the scientists partnering with the shady cable network airing the show.
Serafina and the Black Cloak
By Robert Beatty
Disney-Hyperion (July 2015) $16.99
Ages: 9-12
Genre: Middle grade fantasy,
mystery
Young Adults
You Can't Be Too Careful!
By Roger Mello
Elsewhere Editions (April 4, 2017) $16.85
Age: 5-8 years
Genre: Children's Books, Activities, Facts & Games
With a playful lightness of touch, Mello explores serious questions about the importance of kindness and the dangers of greed. Mello's illustrations will inspire his young readers, providing them with familiar and approachable images while encouraging imagination to fill in the narrative gaps, as he captures the mysteries of childhood through rich, vibrant imagery. -from publisher
One last word
By Nikki Grimes
Bloomsbury
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Poetry, New, Classic
ISBN-13: 978-1619635548
In this emotional and thought-provoking book of poetry, Nikki Grimes finds inspiration from poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Moved by the evocation verse of Legendary writers, Grimes has composed gorgeous new poetry with timely themes for todays readers.
Fall &Winter Books
Far From The Tree
By Robin Benway
Harper Collins
Age 13-18
BISAC: Family, Adoption, Coming of age story, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-0062330628
But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—
Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties.
Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods:
20 Chilling Tales from the Wilderness
By Hal Johnson Illustrated by Tom Mead
Workman (2015) $14.95
Age: 9-12
Genre: Creepy American Folklore
Waste of Space
By Gina Damico
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt(July 11, 2017)) 17.99
Ages: 14-17
BISAC: Literature & Fiction
Cram ten hormonal teens into a spaceship and blast off: that’s the premise for the ill-conceived reality show Waste of Space.
The kids who are cast know everything about drama—and nothing about the fact that the production is fake. Hidden in a desert warehouse, their spaceship replica is equipped with state-of-the-art special effects dreamed up by the scientists partnering with the shady cable network airing the show.
Why Wont You Apologize?
By Harriet Lerner, PH.D.
Touchstone
Age: 13-18
BISAC: Psychology, Apologies, People, Short Stories, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1501129599
Dr. Harriet Lerner has been studying apologies—and why some people won’t give them—for more than two decades. Now she offers compelling stories and solid theory that bring home how much the simple apology matters and what is required for healing when the hurt we’ve inflicted (or received) is far from simple. Readers will learn how to craft a deeply meaningful “I’m sorry” and avoid apologies that only deepen the original injury.
School of Awake
By Kidada Jones
New World Library
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Girls, Guide, Coming of age, Growing Up
ISBN-13: 978-1608684588
Kidada Jones invites you to join School of Awake, where you will explore our amazing world while getting to know and love your authentic self.
Stop, Breathe, Chill
By Beth Stebner
Adams Media
Age:13-18
BISAC: Psychology, Poeple, Growing Up
Anyone But Ivy Pocket
By Caleb Krisp
Greenwillow Books
(April 21, 2015) $17.99
Age: 8-12
Genre: Humor, Spine-Chilling Horror,
Science Fiction, Fantasy
This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years
By Jaquelle Crowe
Crossway, March 17, 2017) $11.30
Age: Teens
Genre: Teen, Young Adult, Religion & Spirituality
This book will help you see how the truth about God changes everything—our relationships, our time, our sin, our habits,
and more—freeing us to live joyful, obedient, and Christ-exalting lives, even while we’re young.
Stop. Breathe. Chill. These mindfulness exercises will teach you how to focus on the present and stop freaking out about the future. Each entry tackles the sort of stuff life throws at you every day. Whether it's a situation with friends, issues with family, or the pressures of school, you'll learn how to live in the moment and stop stressing out.
Life is like a musical
By Tim Federle
Running Press
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Guide, Life, Living
ISBN-13: 978-0762462643
Before Tim Federle became a bestselling author and a Broadway playwright, he worked as a back-up dancer at the Super Bowl, a polar bear at Radio City, and a card-carrying chorus boy on Broadway. Life is Life a Musical features 50 tips learned backstage, onstage, and in between gigs, with chapters such as "Dance Like Everyone's Watching" and "Save the Drama for the Stage." This charming and clever guide will appeal to all ages and inspire readers to step into the lead role of their own life, even if they're not a recovering theater major.
Project Semicolon
By Amy Bleuel
Harper Collins
Ages: 12-17
BISAC: Preventing Suicide, Guide, Hope, True Stories
ISBN-13: 978-0062466525
Project Semicolon: Your Story Isn't Over reveals dozens of new portraits and stories from people of all ages talking about what they have endured and what they want for their futures. This represents a new step in the movement and a new awareness around those who struggle with mental illness and those who support them. At once heartfelt, unflinchingly honest, and eternally hopeful, this collection tells a story of choice: every day you choose to live and let your story continue on.