the story spinner
posted by: Kim comments:
By Becky Wallace
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Price: $17.99
Ages: 14 and up
YA fantasy, magic and murder
The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are seeking a supposedly dead princess to place her on the throne and end political turmoil, but girls who look like the princess are being murdered and Johann Von Arlo, forced to work for Lord Rafael DeSilva after her father’s suspicious death, is a dead ringer.
the after-room
posted by: Kim comments:
Written by Maile Melony, illustrated by Ian Schoenherr
Penguin Group, Price: $17.99
Ages: 10 and up
Adventurous fiction, fantasy
The poe estate
posted by: Kim comments:
By Polly Shulman
Penguin Random House, Price: $16.99
Ages: 10 and up
Supernatural Fiction, ghosts and haunted houses
Sukie braves the twists and turns of spooky Poe Annex at the New-York Circulating Material Repository to untangle ancient family secrets, hide hidden treasure and help the ghost who are haunting her house.
Minrs
posted by: Kim comments:
by Kevin Sylvester, Illustrated by Dominic Harmon
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Price: $16.99
Ages: 8-12
Middle grade, action/adventure, scary story, dystopian, sci-fi
Winger
posted by: Kim comments:
by Andrew Smith
Candlewick Press, $16.99
YA, humor, rugby, Ages 12+
Fourteen-year-old Ryan skipped ahead and entered an elitist boarding school—two years younger than his classmates. Though selected to play wing on the Varsity rugby team, Ryan is labelled a troublemaker because of his unavoidable placement in the dorm for troublemakers. But when Ryan faces life with his bullying (terrifying) new dorm mates, he may end live up to his label.
EXplore 360: Pompeii
posted by: Kim comments:
by Peter Chrisp; with contributions from Dr. Hannah Plats
Barron’s, $18.99
Nonfiction book, interactive CD, virtual tour
Coolest series ever! Seriously though, great graphics perfect for kids of the techno-generation. The included CD takes kids (and their parents and teachers) through an interactive, animated, 3D tour of Pompeii, the famous city buried under the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. Other books in series: Explore Titanic
The war that saved my life
posted by: Kim comments:
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Dial, $16.00
Reviewed by my good friend and colleague, Kathy Taber, with Kids Ink Children’s Bookstore in Indianapolis.
“War usually tears families apart and causes heartache, but for Ada, World War II saved her life. Born with a club foot, Ada suffered abuse and ridicule. When she and he bother were sent to the countryside to wait out the war, Ada had to learn to deal with her new life, including how to receive uncondiioal love. Ada’s stoy is a moving and poignant tale of acceptace and how change can be rewarding.
-Kathy Taber
Kim Bradley was in my writer’s group in Indy! Go Kim!
the worst class trip ever
posted by: Kim comments:
by Dave Barry, illustrated by John Cannell
Disney, Price $13.99
Middle grade, school fiction
When eighth grade civics class of Miami’s Culver Middle School goes on a trip to Washington D.C., Wyatt Palmer find himself in deep trouble before the plane even lands because his best friend, Matt has decided that the men sitting behind them are terrorists and it is up to the boys to stop them.
National Geographic Kids Guide to Photography
06.22.15 posted by: Kim comments:
By National Geographic Photographer Annie Griffiths and Nancy Honovic
National Geographic Books
Release date: Agust 4, 2015, Ages 8-12
This photography guide is an excellent introduction to photography for young photographers ages 5-100. With vivid photographs that kids will love and will spark ideas. It's actually quite comprehensive and reader friendly, and covers every facet of photography and equipment, plus how to use smartphone cameras and point-and-shoot. Perfect for children who show an interest in photography, hobbyists who want to learn more, and even professionals, for fun ideas of photographing with kid
Other Notable Books
dirty Gert
09.05.15 posted by: Kim comments:
By Todd Arnold
Holiday House, $16.95
Picture book, Ages Pre-K to 6
Ever since she was a little “squirt,” Gert loved to play in dirt, including eating it! One day while snacking on mud in the rain, Gert grows roots! When Hollywood goes haywire over Gert’s earthy transformation, her parents come to her aid. Rollicking rhyme and running commentary made by earthworms add to the humor.
Adult Interest
Where’s waldo? the sticker book
posted by: Kim comments:
By Martin Handford
Candlewick Press, Price $12.99
Ages: 5-9
Children’s fiction, activity book
uprooted
posted by: Kim comments:
By Naomi Novik
Random House, Price: $25.00
YA, fantasy, folk tales and legends
Spring & Summer Reading
half a man
posted by: Kim comments:
by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Gemma O’Callaghan
Candlewick Press, $16.99
Historical fiction, war, physical and mental scars, family, ages 12+
Welcome to The dark house
posted by: Kim comments:
by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Hyperion, Price: $9.99
Ages: 12-18
YA, scary story, horror, suspense
an ember in the ashes
posted by: Kim comments:
By Sabaa Tahir
Penguin Random House, Price: $19.95
YA, action/adventure, fantasy, historical saga, internal and political conflict
Mug Meals: delicious microwave recipes
posted by: Kim comments:
by Dina Cheney
The Taunton Press, $16.95
Cookbook, adult interest
The glass sentence
06.22.15 posted by: Kim comments:
By S.E. Grove
Penguin Group, Price: $8.99
Fantasy
In 1891, in a world transformed by 1799’s Great Disruption-when all of the continents were flung into different time periods-thirteen-year-old Sophia Tims and her friend Theo go in search of Sophia’s uncle, Shadrack Elli, Boston’s foremost cartologer, who has been kidnapped.
Shaun the sheep movie: timmy in the city
posted by: Kim comments:
by Candlewick Press, illustrated by Aardman Animations Ltd.
Candlewick Entertainment, Price $7.99
Children’s Fiction, Ages 2-5
Shaun the Sheep and the rest of the Flock are in the Big City for the first time, and little Timmy couldn’t be more excited. So many surprises!
we will be crashing shortly
posted by: Kim comments:
By Hollis Gillespie
Merit Press, Price: $17.99
YA Fiction
A trilling sequel to the hit novel Unaccompanied Minor where April Mae Manning is backing in trouble, but this time she’s running out of chances.
My life in dioramas
posted by: Kim comments:
by Tara Altebrando, illustrated by T.L. Bonaddio
Running Press Kids, $14.95
(On Sale: May 2015)
Contemporary realistic fiction, coming-of-age, moving, friendship, Ages 8-12
Blood And Salt
posted by: Kim comments:
By Kim Liggett
Penguin Group, Price: $17.99
Ages: 14 and up
YA, supernatural fiction, love, immortality and the relationship between mothers and daughters, scary story
Seventeen-year-old Ash Larkin finds out her family is involved with a centuries-old saga of love and murder, alchemy and immorality when she follows her mother to an isolated settlement in the cornfields of Kansas.
Action movie kid
posted by: Kim comments:
by Daniel Hashimoto and Mandy Richardville, illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti
Keywords Press, $14.99 May 5, 2015
Meet Action Movie Kid, with superpowers limited only by his vast imagination. Known as James to his parents, he’s a science genius with x-ray vision, an animal lover with enough strength to lift an elephant! Though sometimes he needs help, like when aliens come from another dimension through a porthole in their washing machine. But no fear, because Action Movie Kid comes from an Action Movie Family! A must-read for all children and their parents! Created by authors who met at DreamWorks Animation, tightly-written, fast-action adventure with perfect comic-book/cartoon illustrations that further the fun story.
ruthless
posted by: Kim comments:
By Carolyn Lee Adams
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Price $17.99
Ages: 14 and up
Fictional story about surviving in the midst of death, scary story
When Ruth is kidnapped, she is determined not to become this serial killers next trophy. After she’s able to escape, the captor begins stalking her through the wilderness.