"If you think you know what a library is, this marvellously idiosyncratic book will make you think again." —The Sydney Morning Herald Libraries are much more than mere collections of volumes. The best are magical, fabled places whose fame has become part of the cultural wealth they are designed to preserve. Some still … Continue reading THE LIBRARY, by Stuart Kells, Counterpoint/Perseus/Hachette Book Group
Tweens
THORNHILL, By Pam Smy, Roaring Book Press/Mackids.com
Parallel stories set in different times, one told in prose and one in pictures, converge as Ella unravels the mystery of the girl next door. 1982: Mary is a lonely orphan at the Thornhill Institute For Children at the very moment that it's shutting its doors. When her few friends are all adopted or … Continue reading THORNHILL, By Pam Smy, Roaring Book Press/Mackids.com
A NEARER MOON, By Melanie Crowder, Simon & Schuster/Kids
In a small river village where the water is cursed, a girl’s bravery—and the existence of magic—could mean the difference between life and death in this elegant, luminous tale from the author of Parched and Audacity. Along a lively river, in a village raised on stilts, lives a girl named Luna. All her life she … Continue reading A NEARER MOON, By Melanie Crowder, Simon & Schuster/Kids
LOST CHILDREN OF THE FAR ISLANDS, By Emily Raabe, Random House Kids
Twins Gus and Leo and their little sister, Ila, live a quiet life in Maine—until their mother falls ill, and it becomes clear her strength is fading because she is protecting them from a terrible evil. Soon the children are swept off to a secret island far in the sea, where they discover a hidden … Continue reading LOST CHILDREN OF THE FAR ISLANDS, By Emily Raabe, Random House Kids
TORN, by Rowenna Miller, Orbit Books/Hachette Book Group
TORN is the first book in an enchanting debut fantasy series featuring a seamstress who stitches magic into clothing, and the mounting political uprising that forces her to choose between her family and her ambitions, for fans of The Queen of the Tearling. Sophie is a dressmaker who has managed to open her own shop … Continue reading TORN, by Rowenna Miller, Orbit Books/Hachette Book Group
MARY’S MONSTER, by Lita Judge, Roaring Brook Press
A young adult biography of Frankenstein's profound young author, Mary Shelley, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of its publication, told through free verse and 300+ full-bleed illustrations.Mary Shelley first began penning Frankenstein as part of a dare to write a ghost story, but the seeds of that story were planted long before that night. Mary, … Continue reading MARY’S MONSTER, by Lita Judge, Roaring Brook Press
TESS OF THE ROAD, by Rachel Hartman, Penguin Teen, Penguin Random House
In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can't make a scene at your sister's wedding and break a relative's nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer … Continue reading TESS OF THE ROAD, by Rachel Hartman, Penguin Teen, Penguin Random House
A FAR, FAR BETTER THING TO DO, A Lit Lover’s Activity Book, by Joelle Herr, Illustrated by Lindsey Spinks, Running Press
Nothing captures the imagination quite like classic literature -- the warmth of Little Women, the mystery of Dracula, and the heart-racing suspense of Moby Dick have inspired generations of readers. A Far, Far Better Thing to Do pairs these treasured books with a witty, light-hearted sensibility, giving lit lovers 65 engaging activities to tease their … Continue reading A FAR, FAR BETTER THING TO DO, A Lit Lover’s Activity Book, by Joelle Herr, Illustrated by Lindsey Spinks, Running Press
THE ALTERED HISTORY OF WILLOW SPARKS, by Tara O’Connor, ONI Press
What happens when you can finally get everything you ever wanted? Willow Sparks and her best friend Georgia Pratt are at the bottom of the social ladder at Twin Pines High School, just trying to get through each day relatively unscathed. But when Willow finds a mysterious book that allows her to literally change her … Continue reading THE ALTERED HISTORY OF WILLOW SPARKS, by Tara O’Connor, ONI Press
FISH GIRL, by Wiesner & Napoli, Clarion Books
Who is Fish Girl? What is Fish Girl? She lives in a tank in a boardwalk aquarium. She is the main attraction, though visitors never get more than a glimpse of her. She has a tail. She can't walk. She can't speak. But she can make friends with Livia, an ordinary girl, and yearn for … Continue reading FISH GIRL, by Wiesner & Napoli, Clarion Books
