Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 5 Books, 2 Settings

It's is soooo weird but many of the books I read in late October and early November had connections to the Caribbean and involve people who are not exactly who they appear to be on the surface.

The crossovers have been totally coincidental--I had no idea of the setting of some of them before I started reading--and this has led to some confusing moments. As in, "Wait! What island am I on? What year?"

For example, Trinity (which I reviewed earlier this month), has a section that takes place at Oppenheimer's Virgin Island home, and Winter in Paradise has a scene in which the characters are in a boat and motor on by Oppenheimer's beach.

The unnamed young wife in The Winters grew up in the Caymans, is comfortable on boats, and is an orphan; one of the main characters in Winter in Paradise is around the same age, is also an orphan, and is also comfortable on boats, though she lives in St. John. A novel I edited in October takes place in Nassau in the past, and the last audiobook I reviewed for Audio File magazine takes place in Nassau in the present.

You would think that after those books I'd race for new and different settings, wouldn't you? Well, yes I did, but the next two books I read both took place in Paris! I think I've broken the cycle though because the book I'm currently listening to is a collection of science fiction short stories: very few real-life settings here. Phew!

The Winters by Lisa Gabriele (Viking, October 16): I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this retelling of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. I loved the reimagining of the characters and situation in a modern setting and thought it was clever to change Dani from creepy maid to bratty, unstable teenager. The isolated estate, called Asherley, is located on an a small island off the Hamptons, and instead of a forbidden boathouse, we have a forbidden greenhouse. The dead Rebecca is, of course, perfect and beautiful and loved by everyone. Max is a New York state senator, so his duties often call him away from home, leaving his young (unnamed) fiancee alone. The soon to be second Mrs. Winters was raised in the Caymens and is now orphaned, so she has no one to turn to when she begins to feel uncomfortable--and the tension and sense of foreboding are definitely there. Even though I pretty much knew where the story was going (because this is, after all, a retelling of the classic), there were still some surprises, and I was completely engrossed, especially at the end, wanting to know how the new twists were going to play out. I think you can safely read and enjoy Gabriele's contemporary story, even if you haven't read the classic, but being familiar with the original will add depth. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown, October 9): In a departure from Hilderbrand's normal books, there is only one brief passing mention of her beloved Nantucket. The book starts in the Midwest but takes place mostly in St. John, where a mother and her two grown sons reunite just after the new year. Each of them is in the middle of a personal crisis, but before they can talk about their own problems, they're hit hard by a devastating family tragedy: Irene's husband and the boys' father died in a helicopter accident over the ocean. That would be horrible all in and of itself, but Russell hadn't told his family that he was going to be in the Caribbean; he was supposed to be on a boring business trip. Thus the family trip to the island is not for pleasure, and as they piece together the puzzles and surprises Russell left behind, the family discovers they didn't know him at all. Meanwhile, the brothers meet a beautiful young woman (a rivalry ensues), and Irene meets a a man who offers her kindness and understanding. I can always count on Hiderbrand to give me great characters, a tight plot, and a good mystery. This is the start of new series, and I really like the characters and St. John setting. I think I kind of know where the story is going, so the ending, which sets up the next installment, was not altogether unexpected. I wasn't a fan of the abrupt ending, but I'm looking forward to the second book. I listened to the unabridged audiobook edition of Winter in Paradise (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 11 min), read by Erin Bennett, who has narrated almost all of Hilderbrand books. Bennett is always a pleasure to listen to, and I enjoy her characterizations and the way she captures the essence of Hilderbrand's writing. (audiobook review copy provided by the publisher)

Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, June 2018): The only thing I knew about this debut novel before I started it was that it had won a number of awards and dealt with real-life issues. Sixteen-year-old Indira was raised by her loving, but strict grandmother in the Bahamas. She has spent most of her life trying to prove that she is nothing like her mother, who is known for her drug addition and loose reputation. Granny believes in Indy and wants to give her a better life and chance to climb out of poverty, so she sends her to live with her son's family in Nassau and attend a private high school. What Indy finds in the city is an aunt who thinks she's poor trash, an older male cousin who disrespects her and abuses her, and a distant uncle. She is teased at school, and her same-age female cousin runs hot and cold. This is an all-too-real and heartbreaking story of a young girl who tries her best to be good but who is thwarted and divested of power at every turn. After a chance meeting of the owners of a yoga retreat, Indy slowly learns to trust but finds it hard to overcome her self-shame until she realizes only she can save herself and others from the fate of her mother. My heart went out to Indy, and I loved her voice. Mather presents Indy's situation with honesty and respect, and I'm pretty sure this book will have a place on my top-ten of the year list. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Dreamscape Media, 9 hr, 18 min), read by Chrystal Bethell. This is my first time with Bethell, but I'm looking forward to more of her work. Her sensitive narration captured Indy's pain, and her accents were believable, while avoiding stereotypes. Indy's internal dialogue sometimes verges on free verse, which Bethell delivered with aplomb. Read or listen, but don't miss this book. (review copy for a freelance assignment)

Love a la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm (Disney-Hyperion; November 27): After so many heavy books, I needed a palate cleanser, which I found in this delightful novel, perfect for food lovers. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Henry Yi and Rosie Radeke, both of whom were accepted into a young chef's academy in Paris. Henry grew up in the kitchen of his father's Chicago restaurant, whereas Rosie is a home baker from Ohio. Their backgrounds, talents, and ethnicities are very different, but they share the dream of becoming professionals in the culinary world. This contemporary young adult rom-com is so much fun. We meet the other (diverse) teen students and the demanding chef teacher. We enter the kitchens and feel for the teens' struggle to perfect their cooking and baking techniques while also meeting their academic requirements. There is romance drama, mean girl drama, and kitchen drama. Love a la Mode was the perfect escape novel for me, combining humor, a love story, cooking, and Paris in one package. There's nothing high-brow here, but I enjoyed meeting Rosie, Henry, and their friends. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 9 hr, 35 min) read by the author. You know how I usually feel about author-read audiobooks, but Strohm was great. Her French pronunciations seemed fine to me, and she (as one would hope) captured the personalities of her characters beautifully. This audiobook would be the perfect accompaniment to your holiday cooking. Too much fun to miss. (audiobook review copy provided by the publisher)

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay (St. Martin's Press; October 30): I had high hopes for de Rosnay's latest novel, which promised a dysfunctional family and a Paris setting. The novel does indeed provide both and was particularly interesting in light of last winter's flooding of the city. Most of the book is told from the viewpoint of Linden Malegarde, a world-famous photographer who returns to his native France to attend his father's 70th birthday celebration. His mother, American by birth, decided to hold the gathering in Paris with just the original family; no in-laws or grandchildren are invited. Paul, the patriarch, is a renown arborist, who seems to like his trees better than people, but his wife hopes the gathering will be a success. The party weekend coincides with the worst flooding of the Seine in a century, and the events that follow (including family illnesses) are complicated by the rising water. While I enjoy de Rosnay's writing style, I didn't think this was her strongest novel. The flow of Linden's story is interrupted by sections from Paul's diary, in which he describes a traumatic event of his own childhood. That story is, indeed, disturbing, but it's never really tied into the main narrative, and I ended up wondering why it was included in the novel. I also found the number of big things this family faced to be slightly over the top: one or more of them were dealing with LGBTQ issues, alcoholism, bad marriage, affairs, suicide, unrequited love, distant parents, self-doubt, PTSD, bullying, rape, and medical problems. While I know that many of us are juggling several significant simultaneous problems, it seemed unbelievable in The Rain Watcher. I think de Rosnay had several good ideas here, including thoughts on the changing environment, but she didn't quite pull them off in the novel. I am, however, looking forward to her next book. (review copy provided by the publisher)

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Review and Giveaway: The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider

Do you love Halloween and Halloween reading as much as I do? I'm not a huge fan of spooky, but spooky mixed with humor and geared to middle grade readers is a little hard to resist. So when Disney Book Group gave me the opportunity to read a copy of Mary Winn Heider's The Mortification of Fovea Munson, I didn't hesitate.

Here's what it's all about. Despite her protests, 12-year-old Fovea ends up agreeing to work at the front desk of her parents' research lab. All she has to do is greet people, accept packages, and keep the sales people away.

Sounds okay, except this is no ordinary facility. Behind the employees-only blue doors, scientists conducted their experiments on . . . dead bodies. Yes, Fovea's parents had a cadaver lab. Fovea didn't want to know what happened beyond the front lobby.

Although she has to put up with morbid jokes from her classmates, Fovea's situation is not all that bad. Until one day, when she thinks she's alone, she hears people talking inside the lab. Against her better judgment, she takes a peek, and sees three talking heads . . . literally. Three heads, no bodies, having a bickering conversation. Yikes!

From there Fovea's summer begins to spin out of control. A search for a missing specimen, messed-up orders, a blackmailing bad guy, a goofy grandmother, and an erstwhile friend add to the spooky good fun. The story is told from Fovea's perspective, and her humor and spunk shine through.

Despite the setting and the talking (& singing!) body-less heads, there is more humor and madcap adventure then there is scary. Heider's The Mortification of Fovea Munson is definitely middle grade appropriate and the puns and escapades will have the whole family either groaning or laughing.

Thanks again to Disney Book Group for the chance to get to know Fovea (though I received a review copy of the novel, my thoughts are my honest opinion).

The Giveaway

If you're looking to get into the Halloween mood, search no more. Thanks to Disney Book Group, I'm able to offer one my readers (with a USA mailing address) a fabulous bookish Halloween prize pack.

Not only will one of you get a copy of Mary Winn Heider's The Mortification of Fovea Munson but you'll also get three more great books from the Disney Book Group (I've read two of them, so I know they're good).

• First is the graphic novel eidition Melissa de la Cruz's The Isle of the Lost adapted by Robert Venditti and illustrated by Kat Fajardo. This is a fun story starring the children of famous fairy tale characters. 
• Next is Jonathan Stroud's The Screaming Staircase, which is the first in a series set in a haunted London. In these stories, ghost-seeing teens solve mysteries and help save the city. 
• Finally is Alexandra Bracken's The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding, which is about a boy who thinks he's the only ordinary member of his family. Then one day he discovers the demon living within him.

Check out the fabulous book covers:

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win all four books is to have a USA mailing address and to fill out the following form. On October 24, I'll pick a winner using a random number generator. Once the winner has been confirmed, I'll send his or her address along to the publisher, who will send out the prize pack. At that time, I'll also erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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8 April Novels to Diversify Your Reading

I’ve often talked about the difficulty of defining what it means to diversify your reading. Some people look for books written by people of color, and others are searching for stories featuring non-Christian/Catholic or non-white characters. I consider books in translation as diverse reading because they expand my perspective beyond the English-speaking world. You may be looking for novels that include LBGTQ+ themes or focus on medical issues or another less common topic. The 8 books in this week’s roundup will diversify your reading list on one of these levels. (Book descriptions taken from the publishers’ summaries.)

Adult Reading

The Magnificent Esme Wells by Adrienne Sharp (Harper; April 10). Genre: historical fiction; diversity themes: Jewish

Esme Silver has always taken care of her charming ne’er do well father, Ike Silver, a small-time crook with dreams of making it big with Bugsy Siegel. Devoted to her daddy, Esme is often his “date” at the racetrack. . . . In awe of her mother, Dina Wells, Esme is more than happy to be the foil that gets the beautiful Dina into meetings and screen tests with some of Hollywood’s greats. When Ike gets an opportunity to move to Vegas . . . to help the man she knows as “Benny” open the Flamingo hotel, life takes an unexpected turn for Esme. A stunner like her mother, the young girl catches the attention of Nate Silver, one of the Strip’s most powerful men. Narrated by the twenty-year-old Esme, the story moves between pre-WWII Hollywood and post-war Las Vegas—a golden age when Jewish gangsters and movie moguls were often indistinguishable in looks and behavior.

Gateway to the Moon by Mary Morris (Nan A. Talese; April 10). Genre: historical fiction, family saga; diversity themes: Jewish, Latino (religious tolerance)

In 1492, the Jewish and Muslim populations of Spain were expelled, and Columbus set sail for America. Luis de Torres, a Spanish Jew, accompanies Columbus as his interpreter. His journey is only the beginning of a long migration, across many generations. Over the centuries, de Torres’ descendants travel from Spain and Portugal to Mexico, finally settling in the hills of New Mexico. Five hundred years later, it is in these same hills that Miguel Torres, a young amateur astronomer, finds himself trying to understand the mystery that surrounds him and the town he grew up in. Entrada de la Luna is a place that holds a profound secret—one that its residents cannot even imagine.

Flying at Night by Rebecca L. Brown (Berkley; April 10). Genre: literary fiction; diversity themes: autism

While she was growing up, Piper’s father, Lance “the Silver Eagle” Whitman, became a national hero piloting a plane through an emergency landing. But at home, he was a controlling and overbearing presence in her life, raining emotional and verbal abuse upon the entire family. It’s no surprise, then, that as an adult, Piper has poured all of her energy into creating a warm and loving home for her own family, while catering to her son Fred’s ever-growing idiosyncrasies. Then Lance has a heart attack, leaving him with a brain injury—and dependent upon Piper for his care—just before tests confirm Piper’s suspicions that Fred is on the autism spectrum.

Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman (Harper; April 3). Genre: mystery; diversity themes: Native American

Hillerman brings together modern mystery, Navajo traditions, and the evocative landscape of the desert Southwest. When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at an outdoor character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo experience due back hours before, has just returned and is traumatized. Gently questioning the girl, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon a human skeleton on her trek. . . . While Bernie searches for answers in her case, her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, juggles trouble closer to home. A vengeful man he sent to prison for domestic violence is back—and involved with Bernie’s sister Darleen. Their relationship creates a dilemma that puts Chee in uncomfortable emotional territory that challenges him as family man, a police officer, and as a one-time medicine man in training.

Family Reading

The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding (Sky Pony Press; April 3). Audience: YA; diversity themes: LBGTQ, Latino, plus size bodies

Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby’s been happy to focus on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a great internship at her favorite boutique, she’s thrilled to take the first step toward her dream career. Then she falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Hard. And now she’s competing against the girl she’s kissing to win the coveted paid job at the end of the internship.

Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert (Disney Hyperion; April 10). Audience: YA; diversity themes: Asian American, LGBTQ+ (immigration)

Danny Cheng has been an artist for as long as he can remember and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family’s blessing to pursue the career he’s always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry and Danny’s lives are deeply intertwined and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can’t stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray, April 3). Audience YA; diversity themes: African American, Native American (race issues)

Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Civil War–era America—derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children to attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. . . . But that’s not a life Jane wants. . . . When families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

Love Double Dutch! by Doreen Spicer-Dannelly (Random House BYR; April 3). Audience: MG; diversity themes: African American, author is a POC (race, class)

Brooklyn middle-schooler MaKayla can only think about one thing—taking her double Dutch team all the way to the National Jump-off at Madison Square Garden. That is, until her mother breaks the news. Kayla has to spend the summer at her aunt’s house in North Carolina while her parents work out their problems . . . or decide to call it quits. Kayla does not feel at home in the South, and she certainly doesn’t get along with her snooty cousin Sally. It looks like her Jump-off dreams are over. Hold the phone! Turns out, double Dutch is huge in the South. She and Sally just need to find two more kids for a team. And a routine. And the confidence to stand up to the double Dutch divas who used to be Sally’s BFFs. Time to show those Southern belles some Brooklyn attitude!

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 3 Good Books

My eye is on the start of spring, which is coming up in a few days. I'm going to ignore the temperatures and the snow flurries and pretend that deck season is right around the corner.

My busy work time is slowing down, and I plan to take advantage of my break by getting in some long walks and reading more in the evenings.

Other than that, nothing much going on around here. We're catching up with Homeland on Showtime and the new David Letterman show (My Next Guest Needs No Introduction) on Netflix.

What I read last week

Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth (Harper, Feb. 6): Put this book on your must-read or must-listen list right now. Set in rural Australia in the 1880s, this is the story of two brothers caught up in something they are too young and too unprepared to understand. Tommy (15 years old) and Billy (16) turn to their unscrupulous neighbor for help in the aftermath of a family tragedy; he gives the boys help but not without a price. From the haunting descriptions of the stark Australian landscape to the fully realized characters and heartbreaking, horrifying action, this book took over my life right from the first sentences:

They stalked the ruined scrubland, searching for something to kill. Two boys, not quite men, tiny in a landscape withered by drought and drenched in unbroken sun.

I know the novel has been described as a kind of western, which might throw some of you off. It’s really a coming-of-age story, and although there is plenty of action, it’s a very character-driven story. My heart went out to the boys, especially Tommy, and I understood their different reactions to what they witnessed and what they did. The unfolding of Only Killers and Thieves will be stronger if you go into the book blind. Try to avoid reading the summary or spoilery reviews. The unabridged audiobook (Harper Audio; 11 hr, 29 min) read by David Linski is so, so good. Linski embodied the characters and helped bring them alive for me. His varied pacing and volume matched the text perfectly, and I was completely won over by his performance. In print (which was my husband’s choice) or in audio, this book will be on many best-of 2018 list. Don’t miss out.

Conspiracy in Death by J. D. Robb (Brilliance Audio; 12 hr, 27 min) read by Susan Ericksen. Seeing as this is the 8th entry in the long series (I think Robb’s up to book 46 now), I don’t have much new to say about these futuristic sci-fi, police procedural, romance mashups except that I really like them. In this outing our homicide detective hero, Eve Dallas, is searching for who or what is behind a series of murders involving organ harvesting. The technology of Dallas’s world is always fascinating, and this book focuses on medical issues as well as a unique lie-detector test. Although the In Death books are gritty, Robb always manages to keep Dallas’s marriage steamy, and the main characters continue to grow and change. The audiobooks are always a treat and are short enough to squeeze in between more recently published books.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (Disney Hyperion; March 27): If you’re a Rick Riordan fan, you’ll love this new Pandava series, published under his imprint, Rick Riordan Presents. The style of Aru Shah is very much in line with the Percy Jackson books, but this time the story is set in the Hindu universe: the tales, the ancient books, and the gods are Indian and so is our heroine. Twelve-year-old Aru Shah lives on the grounds of a cultural museum in Atlanta, Georgia, where her archaeologist mother is the curator. Aru has free run of the museum, but is told never, ever to light the Lamp of Bharata—if she does, the world will end. Of course, on a dare from snotty classmates, Aru lights the lamp. The world doesn’t end right away, but time freezes. This is when Aru learns who she really is: a reincarnated Pandava warrior and thus a demi-god. With help of Mini (a sister Pandava) and a talking pigeon sidekick, Aru must solve riddles, find the keys to the land of death, fight off demons, and save the world. Humor, fast action, great characters, and tricky puzzles make this a lot of fun to read. Aru and Mini are flawed and sometimes scared; they bicker a little but are ultimately loyal. In the end, they find their inner strengths. Highly recommended for middle grade readers and for diversifying your reading list. I really loved meeting Aru and can’t wait for her next adventures.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 2 Great Audiobooks and a Book in Print

The joys of getting a new computer spilled over in other improvements. I now have a second monitor (swoon, why did I wait so long to do this?) and new computer speakers. I think that's going to be it on acquisitions for the office for a while.

In other news, we're starting to feel the hints of fall, with cooler weather and some changing leaves. The garden is winding down as well, though I'm keeping the annuals on the deck well watered, so they should last until the first frost. We took advantage of the beautiful Saturday afternoon to hike at a local nature preserve.

As I write this, we're looking forward to watching Ken Burns's newest PBS series on the Vietnam War, which premiered last night. I hope it's as good as the behind-the-scenes video.

What I Read Last Week

A Column of Fire by Ken Follett (Viking, Sept. 12). If you like really well written and well researched historical fiction with characters you can fall in love in with, then you really need to read Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series. The first two books were set primarily in England in the 1100s and the 1300s, respectively, and this installment takes us to Elizabethan times, where we see how the town and cathedral have fared over the centuries. Follett seems to know his history, and I love the details of daily life. The intertwining of local families through love and hate, cooperation and competition plus the seesaw of Protestant, Catholic, Protestant trends (including the violence of the St. Bartholomew massacre and the failed Gunpowder Plot) drive the many-layered novel. From Bloody Mary through James I, English family fortunes and prospects hinged on the monarch's religion and level of tolerance, often influenced by the politics of Europe. If you're an audiobook fan, then you must spend 30+ hours with John Lee (Penguin Random House Audio). His consistent accents, solid characterizations, and impeccable sense of timing bring the book alive. I fully recommend this book in whatever medium you pick. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone (Disney-Hyperion, Sept. 5). This contemporary middle grade novel is about a young girl who attends a summer educational camp, where she develops a friendship app while perfecting her coding skills. Impressed with Allie's creativity and initial success, the judges of a teen coding competition invite her to enter the contest. While preparing for the competition, Allie decides to test her app during the first week of middle school by encouraging her classmates to download the game, which promises to find each player ten perfectly matched friends. The app takes off like wildfire, until a damaging flaw threatens to reveal private photos from participants' phones. Can Allie fix the code before she's barred from the contest and loses her best buddies? I enjoyed getting to know Allie and found the lessons she learned about friendship, asking for help, and facing setbacks to be nicely presented. The geeky girls were well-rounded: they were smart and capable but still giggled about their early teen crushes. I'm not quite sure the technological details of the app are realistic, but I still wanted to see if Allie was able to set things back on track. Middle grade readers will like this book more than adults. (review copy provided by the publisher)

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore (Knopf Books for Young Readers, Sept. 19). I don't claim to be any expert in what it's like to live in Harlem, but Moore's debut novel for older middle grade and young adult readers left me with a deeper understanding. At just 12 years old, Lolly has already experienced a lot of life's harshest realities: his older brother was killed as a result of gang violence; his parents are divorced; he's afraid to walk along certain streets, even in his own neighborhood; and he and his mother live in the projects, complete with broken elevator, urine-scented stairways, and unexplained power outages. The story begins at Christmas, just six weeks after Lolly's brother's murder, and follows the boy as he comes to terms with his grief and makes choices that will either pull him deep into gang life or offer him a way out of the projects. The characters speak in dialect, and the level of help (or not) that Lolly receives seems to be realistic. My heart went out to him, and I hoped the young boy would find a safe path. Other themes are friendship, creativity, LGBTQ, learning disabilities, and coming of age. This is a powerful story with wide appeal across the generations. Moore, who spent some time in Harlem as an adult, writes with authority and frankness. The audiobook (Listening Library; 6 hr, 19 min) was brilliantly read by Nile Bullock. His youthful voice and respectful rendition of Harlem dialect pull the listener into the story, and the emotional impact of his performance makes this a must-hear audiobook. (review copy provided by the publisher)

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5 Books to Put on Your Wish List (BookExpo 2017: Part 1)

As many of you know, I was in New York last week to attend this year's Book Expo (formally known as BEA) to learn about all the new and exciting books that will soon be in the stores and libraries and in your hands and on your wish lists.

I walked the convention floor many times over looking for both the hot titles everyone wants as well as the lesser-know books that you might well miss. Instead of my usual coverage of panels and events, this year I'm going to write a series of three or four roundup posts that highlight some of the books I'm most excited about.

Pay attention to the publishers and the publishing dates: one of the following is available right now, but the others won't come out until fall. It's never too early to preorder or to get on that library waiting list, right?

• The End of the World Running Club by Adrian Walker (Sourcebooks, September): Who doesn't love a good dystopian novel, especially one that involves family and the burning need to find each other across a great distance in a world turned upside down. This story takes place in the UK, after an asteroid makes a direct hit with earth. Our hero is about to be tested both physically and mentally.
• The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken (Disney Hyperion, September): I kind of feel I need not say much more than urban fantasy, middle grade, and Alexandra Bracken! This start of a new series introduces us to demons and a troubled family. There are bad guys and good guys and few curses. The novel is set in Salem, MA, so can I expect witches too?
• As Lie Is to Grin by Simeon Marsalis (Catapult, October): I'm not really sure what to expect from this novel, but I think it is going to offer a mix of perspectives on modern-day life as a young (adult) black America. Old and new collide as history is rewritten, or at least filtered, by what one finds on the Internet. I met the author, who was warm and friendly; I wish him all the best with his debut novel. 
• The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Marta McDowell (Timber Press, September): There were several Laura Ingalls Wilder books and totes at BEA this year, and I was happy I was able to get a copy of this beautifully illustrated book that enriches the Little House world by focusing on the natural landscape that called to Pa and informed Laura's writing. I've already preordered a finished copy.
• Grocery by Michael Ruhlman (Abrams, May): I can't wait to start reading this well-researched (and well edited) look at the rise of the American grocery store, with its standardized layout, and how it reflects the country's culture, economics, and eating patterns. Ruhlman did more than an armchair investigation; he traveled the country, meeting people and even gaining firsthand experience as a supermarket bagger. 

Up next will be a few of the books I discovered from some smaller presses, and I'll finish with one or two posts from the big four publishers.

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6 Young Adult Novels to Read This Spring

This week is the 98th annual Children's Book Week, and I'm celebrating the event by featuring books geared to young adult and middle grade readers that were (or will be) published in March, April, and May of 2017. Last week, I recommended 8 books that included a little magic or fantasy, and on Monday I featured 6 contemporary novels for young readers. Today, I finish up with 6 more novels set in the modern world.

• The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Clarion; March): A young teen who's always been content with his lot in life--white boy adopted by a gay Mexican American man and loved by his extended family--reaches the age of wanting to know his biological history and questioning who he really is. Everyone has loved this sensitively written novel that explores self-identity, family, friendship, and LGBTQ issues.
• Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohn (Disney Hyperion; May): This novel, set in a small desert town in California, takes young readers on a crazy two-day graduation party to end all graduation parties. A diverse cast of characters indulge in teen antics; expect mildly mature content.
• Piper Perish by Kayla Cagan (Chronicle; March): An artistic high schooler dreams of leaving Texas for New York City, but as senior year comes to an end will she be brave enough to follow her passion? This book contains themes of family, ambition, friendship, sexual identity, mental illness, and independence.

• Enemy Exposure by Meghan Rogers (Philomel; March): Fans of action-packed thrillers starring tough young women will like this story about a Korean teen who is acting as a double agent for the United States. In this second installment in the Raven Files series, our hero, Jocelyn, must rescue an old friend, but can she save herself as well?
• Get It Together, Delilah! by Erin Gough (Chronicle; April): Set in Australia, this is the story of a teen who juggles school, work, and social pressures while dreaming of the girl she hopes will like her back. This award-winning novel presents an authentic, nonstereotypical look at teen relationships and family issues and will appeal to a diverse range of readers.
• Big & Little Questions (According to Wren Jo Byrd) by Julie Bowe (Kathy Dawson Books; March): The protagonist in this book for middle grade readers is Wren Jo Byrd, who is having trouble adjusting to her parents' divorce and idea of shared custody. After befriending the new girl at school, Wren learns she isn't the only one who's had to get used to a new life because of family problems.

Note: Books featured for Children's Book Week represent only those titles that came to my attention through a variety of avenues. They are also books I've had a chance to look through or read (print, audio, or ebook). I'm grateful to the publishers and other agencies that provided copies of these books for my honest opinion in a review or feature.

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8 Magical Books for Children's Book Week

Next week is the 98th annual Children's Book Week, and I'm celebrating by featuring books geared to young adult and middle grade readers that were (or will be) published in March, April, and May 2017.

I have so many great books to talk about, I'm starting early with today's post, which concentrates on fantasy and on novels that include a bit of magic or other worldliness. Next week, I'll look at contemporary stories, graphic novels, and thrillers.

Note: Books featured for Children's Book Week represent only those titles that came to my attention through a variety of avenues. They are also books I've had a chance to look through or read (print, audio, or ebook). I'm grateful to the publishers and other agencies that provided copies of these books for my honest opinion in a review or feature.

• Dream Magic by Joshua Khan (Disney Hyperion; April): This standalone novel is set in the Shadow Magic universe. Lilith Shadow, the young queen of Gehenna, faces a host of problems: trolls are on the march, the dead are awakening, and her citizens are mysteriously disappearing. The story combines several familiar fantasy and mystery elements in new ways and introduces us to unique creatures, including a giant bat. The book has won praise from the likes of Rick Riordan and Jonathan Stroud.
• Carmer and Grit by Sasrah Jean Horwitz (Algonquin Young Readers; April): Young readers will be won over by this fresh mix of fantasy and steampunk. A disabled faerie princess teams up with a magician's apprentice to save their world from destruction by evil mechanical creatures. Great themes of friendship, good versus evil, being true to one's own dreams, and solving mysteries. Don't miss this action-packed first installment of a new series.
• The Lost Staff of Wonders by Raymond Arroyo (Crown Books for Young Readers; March): Set in the late-1800s, this second book in the Will Wilder series takes place in a familiar world, except for the little problem of ancient demons. When, 12-year-old Will is wrongfully accused of stealing Moses's staff from the local museum, he must use his magical powers to find the real thief and protect his town from being destroyed by the seven plagues. Action, adventure, and biblical tales come true make this a gripping read.
• Xander and the Dream Thief by Margaret Dilloway (Disney Hyperion; April): This fairy tale retelling takes young readers out of Western traditions by focusing on Japanese myths and legends. In this second book in the Momotaro series, Xander, our biracial warrior hero, is still getting used to his new fighter status and how to use his powers. When his bumbling takes hope away from his family, Xander must find the strength and courage to face the evils that have stolen their dreams. The novel includes themes of self-confidence, learning from mistakes, love of family, and personal fortitude.

• The Shadows We Know by Heart Jennifer Park (Simon Pulse; March): This debut combo of romance and fantasy is set in contemporary Texas. Every night Leah escapes her dysfunctional family by secretly leaving food for three creatures who live in the woods behind her house. One evening she sees a human boy with the Bigfoot trio and she begins to fall in love. Besides the love story, this novel explores grief, family issues, and alcoholism. A coming-of-age story for teens and adults.
• The Door in the Alley by Adrienne Kress (Delacorte Books for Young Readers; April): Middle grade readers will love this new action / adventure series, which begins with a tiny pig in a tiny hat that leads to a mystery, a curious boy, a girl in need of help, and a secret society. The whole family will find it hard to resist the witty dialogue, groan-inducing puns, charming black and white drawings, funny footnotes, and fantastic characters.
• Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk (Dutton Books for Young Readers; May): Early in the last century, on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, a baby was rescued from the ocean. Now 12-years-old, Crow begins to question her origins, which sets her on a dangerous journey of self-discovery on several levels. Strong female role models and lessons about the meaning of family round out this compelling and haunting novel.
• Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder (Waldon Pond Press; May): Nine children live on a utopian island, where all their needs are met, the weather is perfect, and there is always plenty to eat. Their world is unbroken except when a mysterious boat arrives once a year to take away the oldest child, leaving another to take his or her place as the youngest in the group. When Jinny's best friend is taken away, she becomes the eldest orphan. As she begins to teach new child the rules of the island, Jinny starts to question her universe. A beautifully conceived look at the transition from childhood to adolescence.

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Giveaway: Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud

Are you ready for Halloween and the spooky time of year? Do you and your family like a little supernatural fun and young heroes saving the day? If so (with thanks to Disney-Hyperion), have I got the books for you: the Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud.

I've only just started this creepy series about the hoard of ghosts, specters, and other evil spirits that has descended on London. Of course, everyone wants the city to be free of the otherworldly beings, but it seems that humanity can be saved only by the young, who have the power to see their foes.

Among the many ghost-busting agencies that have sprung up around the London, is Lockwood & Co., a completely youth-run operation manned by Lucy, Anthony, and George. The trio takes up a variety of spooky cases that are part exorcism, part mystery, and always creepy. The kids have to outsmart the ghouls and rival agencies, while they learn from their mistakes and their relationships grow and change.

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion, you too can get to know the Lockwood gang through Jonathan Stroud's books. Here's a brief look at what they're all about:

• In book 1, The Screaming Staircase (published in 2013), we meet our heroes as they are tapped to investigate a haunted house.
• In book 2, The Whispering Skull (published in 2014), Lockwood & Co. comes into conflict with the rival Fittes agents while investigating a possible grave robbery.
• In book 3, The Hollow Boy (published in 2015), the team gains a new member while they investigate a murder.
• The newest book, which was just released, is The Creeping Shadow, which focuses on Lucy and her involvement with taming a legendary cannibal.

One thing I really love about Stroud is his sense of humor and how he uses it as a foil for the scary bits. To get a sense of both his style and the artwork that introduces each chapter, take a look at this scan of the first page of The Creeping Shadow (click the image to enlarge; to read the whole first chapter, click the link):

To learn more about Jonathan Stroud and the Lockwood books, visit the official Lockwood website, follow Disney-Hyperion on Twitter and Instagram, and follow hashtag #LockwoodandCo on all your social media.

Giveaway Details

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion I can offer one of my readers with a USA mailing address the following awesome prize pack. Not only will the winner receive all four Lockwood & Co. books by Jonathan Stroud but he or she will also get this really cool pumpkin carving kit, complete with carving tools and a design book.

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win this fantastic prize pack is to fill out the following form with your USA mailing address. I'll pick a winner using a random number generator on October 27. After the winner has been confirmed and the address has been passed along to Disney, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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Giveaway: Return to Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz

Last year I had the great opportunity to interview author Melissa de la Cruz on the publication of her then-new Descendants series, which imagines the lives of second-generation fairy tale characters.

What would it be like to be the daughter of Maleficent or the son of Beauty and the Beast? That's where de la Cruz's series starts. I really enjoyed the first book in which the children of the evil fairy tale characters meet the children of the good guys, with some surprising results.

I haven't yet read Return to the Isle of the Lost, the second installment, but I'm looking forward to seeing what transpires as the evil parents start to regain their power. What will the teens do?

Based partly on Disney-Hyperion's summary, here's what to expect in Return to Isle of the Lost:

When Mal (daughter of Maleficent) and her friends left the Isle of the Lost (aka the home of the exiled evil characters) to attend school in Auradon (the kingdom of the good characters), they began shed their "villainous roots." They've settled in well, and in fact, Mal is dating the young king.

Unfortunately, it looks like the evil characters, who had been stripped of their powers, are growing strong again. And now the teens, "Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay, know they have to sneak back to the [Isle of the Lost] and get to the bottom of it. . . . Will the kids be able to beat the evil bubbling at the Isle's wicked core, or will the plot to destroy Auradon succeed?"

For more information check out the Return to the Isle of the Lost website. It promises to be a fun summer read for the whole family. If you like fairy tale retellings, you'll love the Descendant series from Melissa de la Cruz.

If you want to keep up with all the Descendant series news, follow Disney Books on Twitter and Instagram and search for #DisneyDescendants on all your social media sites.

The Giveaway: Have I caught your attention? I hope so because thanks to the nice people at Disney-Hyperion I can offer one my readers (with a USA mailing address) a copy of both books in Melissa de la Cruz's Descendant series!

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win the first two books in the Descendant series--that's both The Isle of the Lost and Return to the Isle of the Lost--is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner using a random number generator on June 9. Once the winner has been confirmed, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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Today's Read and Giveaway: The Trials of Apollo: Book One by Rick Riordan

Imagine you are an all-powerful Greek god. You fly across the sky in your chariot, warming the earth with the sun. You drink wine, you play music, and you are immortal. Now think how you would feel if you were suddenly a regular human, stripped of your godliness. Poor Apollo is about to find out--firsthand.

My name is Apollo. I used to be a god.

In my four thousand six hundred and twelve years, I have done many things. I inflicted a plague on the Greeks who besieged Troy. I blessed Babe Ruth with three home runs in game four of the 1926 World Series. I visited my wrath upon Britney Spears at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

But in all my immortal life, I never before crash-landed in a Dumpster.

—The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion, 2016, p. 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: modern times, New York City, Camp Half-Blood, and beyond
• Circumstances: Apollo, god of the sun, renown musician and archer, guardian of the Oracle at Delphi, is on the outs with his father, Zeus. As punishment, Apollo is transformed into a teenage boy, without any godly powers. If he has any hope of surviving and getting back in his father's good graces, he'll need a little help from his friends, especially from Percy Jackson.
• Genre & audience: middle grade fantasy with deep roots in mythology.
• Characters: Apollo, the god turned boy; Percy Jackson, a demi-god and son of Poseidon; Meg McCaffrey, a demi-god who befriends Apollow but who also needs help; familiar characters from the Percy Jackson universe and new people, gods, and creatures
• Thoughts: There are no ARCs (at least not for me), so I don't know much about the book. But if the excerpt is anything to go on, The Trials of Apollo promises to be full of Riordan magic.
• If you need more: You can download a very fun activity kit; follow Rick Riordan on Twitter; and search your social media sites for #TrialsofApollo (the official hashtag). 

The Giveaway

To celebrate today's publication of The Trials of Apollo, Disney-Hyperion is releasing five special editions, each with a unique extra, available only at specific retailers (see the scan; click to enlarge). The special inserts are a letter from Apollo to Zeus, an illustrated map, a bumper sticker; a bookmark, and a poster. Each is available only at the indicated store.

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion I can offer one of my readers (with a USA mailing address) a copy of one of these special editions. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner via a random number generator on May 16. Once the winner has been confirmed and his or her address has been passed along to the publisher, I'll delete all personal information from my computer. Which exclusive edition the winner will receive is a surprise! Good luck!

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Review & Giveaway: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan

As you know, I've been celebrating the tenth anniversary of the first of the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan. But this month I'm taking a sidetrack to introduce you to Riordan's brand new series starring a brand new demigod.

Although Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer, was released just this week, I was lucky enough to have had a chance to listen to an advanced copy of the audiobook. I'm trilled to tell all you Percy Jackson fans that Rick Riordan has done it again.

Magnus and Percy share a few common traits: both are demigods, neither of them knew it until they were teens, and each was raised by a single mother. But there's where most of the similarities end. Magnus is a whole new character and the Gods of Asgard series is not simply a reworking of a familiar story.

Magnus is a sixteen-year-old who has been taking care of himself for a couple of years. He has a sarcastic sense of humor and is more than a little streetwise. The Norse gods have distinct personalities and their universe is vast, spanning nine worlds and embracing a number of species, such as dwarfs, elves, and giants.

I don't want to say too much about the story, because it's so much fun to watch the action and puzzles unfold and to meet the characters on their own ground. Instead, here are ten things I love about Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard:

1. The plot: All the action and humor and great characters that you'd expect from Rick Riordan.
2. Magnus Chase: Smart and resourceful; a survivor; a good friend; and dead (which we learn on page 1)
3. Valhalla: not what you've imagined; and you do want the key to the minibar
4. The Norns: the three women who determine the fate of gods and humans -- oh how I like their cryptic prophesies (see photo at right; click to enlarge)
5. Samirah: junior Valkyrie who loves to fly, who wears a magical hijab, and who attends private high school in Boston
6. Blitzen: the dwarf who wants to design fashionable chain mail clothing because who doesn't want to look good when heading off to battle
7. Hearthstone: the elf who is determined to bring back the almost lost art of rune magic; he was born deaf but can read lips and uses sign language
8. The Norse gods: Odin, Loki, Frey, and more -- some of whom may be walking among us (well, at least on the streets of Boston)
9. The wolves: don't ask, just run
10. Jack: the talking sword, who can be deadly but is also a good friend

I've always had a thing for Vikings and the Norse myths, and the new Magnus Chase series lets me see the gods in a whole new light. When I was young (nerd alert!) I loved writing in runes, so I was excited to find a PBS website that will transcribe your name into Norse runes. Here's Beth Fish Reads:

If you want to see what your own name or that of your blog looks like in runes, check out the Nova site.

The Giveaway. Because I can't wait for you to meet Magnus (click the image to learn more about him) and all his friends, I'm sending my thanks to Disney-Hyperion, who is offering one of my readers with a US mailing address a copy of Rick Riordan's new book, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer.

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner via random number generator on October 15. Once the winner has been confirmed and his or her address has been passed along to the publisher, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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Review and Giveaway: Diva and Flea by Mo Willems with Tony DiTerlizzi

Are you a homebody or a wanderer? No matter which lifestyle more closely resembles your own, you and your young readers will love visiting Paris through the charming story Diva and Flea by Mo Willems with its beautiful illustrations by Tony DiTerlizzi.

Little Diva has always been queen of her front garden, watching the world go by outside her fence and always, always running away from The Feet, which seem to come in pairs. Big, scrappy Flea is a Paris flâneur, who wanders the city just to see what he can see, always, always avoiding The Broom, which seems to live inside buildings. This is the story of what happens when Flea meets Diva.

I loved this sweet story of two unlikely friends who have something to teach each other about ways to see the world and ways to be brave. No matter how different you may seem from others and no matter whether you're little or big, a traveler or settled you--like Diva and Flea--can find common ground and mutual respect.

Willems (or his wife; see the video) was very smart to have thought of DiTerlizzi to help bring the characters and the city of Paris alive on the page. One look at the artwork makes it clear that DiTerlizzi truly understands Diva and Flea; he has perfectly captured their personalities in his illustrations.

Share Mo Willems's Diva and Flea with a youngster or read it yourself. Then make space on your shelves for this beautifully illustrated book; it's destined to be a children's classic.

For more on the story and the collaboration between Willems and DiTerlizzi (and to see some of the illustrations) take a look at this short video.

The Giveaway: Thanks to Disney Publishing, I'm able to offer one of readers, young or old, his or her very own copy of Diva and Flea. And to encourage your youngster's wandering spirit (perhaps she too can be a Paris flâneur), the publishing company is including a child's rolling suitcase to start her on her way. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to have U.S. mailing address and to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner via random number generator on October 15. Once the winner has been confirmed and the mailing address sent along to the publisher, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!



To learn more and to stay on top of the news

• Check out the Diva and Flea page on the Disney Publishing website
• Follow Mo Willems on Twitter
• Follow Tony DiTerlizzi on Twitter and Instagram
• Follow the hashtag #DivaandFlea on all your social media

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Celebration & Giveaway: Percy Jackson's Birthday and Newest Book

Did you know that August is a special month for Percy Jackson, a modern-day demi-god and hero? Just this week, August 18 to be exact, Percy turned twenty-two years old. Yikes! How'd he get to be a young man already? August 18 is also the publication date of Percy's newest book, which is all about the Greek heroes.

Do you remember your Greek mythology? If you're like most of us, you remember the basics (Charon ferried people over the River Styx; Medusa turned people into stone) but are fuzzier on the details. Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan is the perfect way to brush up on your knowledge of the heroes, such as Jason, Psyche, and Hercules.

There are so many things I really love about this book, starting with the fun, light conversational style. The stories are told from Percy Jackson's point of view, and so the language is modern, funny, and immediately accessible. I love Percy's sense of humor and it really shines in this book.

I also like the way the stories of the heroes are tied into the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books. The references to Percy's adventures help us understand the myths from a modern-day perspective. Finally, I am pleased to see that Percy (and Riordan) has included women heroes too. We learn about the Amazons and Cyrene along with Theseus and Phaethon.

Whether you're thirteen or thirty, Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes is a delightful way to get to know Greek mythology. And fans (like me!) of the original Percy Jackson books will love getting to spend a little more time with our favorite demi-god.

Wait there's more! The Disney-Hyperion group has put together a fun activity kit for Greek Heroes (click the link for the PDF). The full-color printable kit includes puzzles, quizzes, games, and party ideas all tied into the latest Percy Jackson book. One of quizzes helps you discover which of the heroes you're most similar to. I got Atalanta! Which hero do you relate to?

Ten Things I Love About The Titan's Curse

As you know, I've been celebrating ten years of Percy Jackson adventures by rereading the original Olympian series. This month, I give you ten things I love about Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse:

1. The opening sentence: "The Friday before winter break, my mom packed me an overnight bag and a few deadly weapons and took me to a new boarding school."
2. Getting to better understand Thalia (daughter of Zeus).
3. Blackjack! I wish I could ride him one day.
4. Realizing that Apollo is kind of a cool dude!
5. Percy is growing up: do we sense a little hint of a romance to come?
6. Bessie, the Ophiotaraus: mooooooo!
7. Cute little saber-tooth kitties.
8. The intrigue of Nico and what his parentage may do to the balance of power
9. Atlas as a bad guy.
10. Percy finally starting to know his father better and the promise of a closer relationship with him.

Don't forget to scroll down and enter the very cool giveaway. And stay tuned for more Percy news and my thoughts on The Battle of the Labyrinth, coming up in September.

To get more Percy Jackson anniversary news, follow hashtag #ReadRiordan across your social media sites and to keep up with author Rick Riordan follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Giveaway: As part of this year's tenth-anniversary celebrations, I have a great giveaway for you. Thanks to Disney-Hyperion, I'm able to offer one of my readers (with a U.S. mailing address) a special Percy Jackson backpack and a copy of Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes.

This is one giveaway you don't want to miss. The backpack is nicely made, with several compartments, a water-bottle pocket, and comfortable straps. It's big enough to be used as book bag and is also perfect for stowing lunch, a book or two, and a towel when you hit the beach or for a snack and jacket when you go for a walk. Plus you get a copy of the beautifully illustrated and fun to read Greek Heroes book!

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to have a U.S. mailing address and to fill out the form. I'll pick the winner on August 28 using a random number generator. Once the winner has been confirmed and his or her address has been passed along to Disney-Hyperion, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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