Thank you Macmillan/Fierce Reads, Entangled Teen, Harper Teen, Bloomsbury, Wunderkind, Disney, Simon & Schuster, Inkyard Press, and Beyond Words!

 

I’ve been super lucky again and I’ve received quite a few books from publishers lately.  Some arcs and some finished.  I am so very thankful for everything sent to me.

 

Macmillan/Fierce Reads:

 

Review of The Beast by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs (physical arc)

 

This is a book two.  There will be spoilers from book one in the synopsis and review.

 

 

 

The Beast by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs

Nico, Opal, Tyler, Emma, and Logan survived their worst fears come to life, and saved their tiny Pacific Northwest town of Timbers from a monstrous figment invasion. Now they just want to keep their heads down, enjoy Halloween, and explore the secrets of their mysterious houseboat clubhouse. And also figure out their new Torchbearer responsibilities as keepers of the Darkdeep, an ancient whirlpool hidden in Still Cove that can make both dreams and nightmares into reality.

But when a dangerous new breed of figments starts appearing on their own, and the very environment around them begins to spiral out of control, the friends realize they have no idea what they are doing-or how they’re supposed to restrain the Darkdeep. They must uncover the pool’s origins, as well as those of the freaky Thing in a Jar, a seemingly lifeless green creature Opal believes is communicating with her. To make matters worse, a trashy YouTube series has rolled into town intent on finding the Beast, the legendary local sea monster suddenly stirring up the countryside.

As threats rapidly close in around them, the friends must fight to protect their secrets, defeat new enemies, and save Timbers and all that they love.

Told from alternating points of view, this chilling sequel from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs will once again have readers sleeping with the lights on.

Review of Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson (physical arc)

 

 

 

Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson

 

Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores a family’s relationships and Harlem—its history, culture, arts, and people.

All Amara wants is to visit her father’s family in Harlem. Her wish comes true when her dad decides to bring her along on a business trip. She can’t wait to finally meet her extended family and stay in the brownstone where her dad grew up. Plus, she wants to visit every landmark from the Apollo to Langston Hughes’s home.

But her family, and even the city, is not quite what Amara thought. Her dad doesn’t speak to her grandpa, and the crowded streets can be suffocating as well as inspiring. But as she learns more and more about Harlem—and her father’s history—Amara realizes how, in some ways more than others, she can connect with this other home and family.

This is a powerful story about family, the places that make us who we are, and how we find ways to connect to our history across time and distance.

Thank you Simon Teen, Little Brown, Albert Whitman, Bloomsbury Kids & Macmillan/Henry Holt

 

I’ve received some amazing book mail from publishers recently, and I wanted to publicly thank them.  Every single book I receive means the world to me.  I can’t even explain the excitement when I open a package, especially not knowing what it is.  Some of these were requested and others were surprises.

 

Thank you Simon Pulse!  

Review of Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer (physical arc)

 

 

Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

 

When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship…

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

Thank you Bloomsbury and Albert Whitman & Co.

 

I thought after my last big arc haul that I wouldn’t get anything else this month.  But I was surprised by three more packages last week and I want to thank those publishers.

 

From Bloomsbury:

 

 

Bloomsbury has acquired Leah Thomas’s YA novel, Wild and Crooked. The book stars Kalyn, a killer’s daughter, and Gus, a victim’s son, small-town teens who develop a powerful friendship despite a brutal murder that has long since divided their families.

Review of Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan (physical arc)

 

 

Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan

 

Jasmine and Chelsea are sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women’s Rights Club. They post everything online—poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine’s response to the racial macroaggressions she experiences—and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by online trolls. When things escalate, the principal shuts the club down. Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices—and those of other young women—to be heard.

Thank you Bloomsbury, Epic Reads, and Mindy McGinnis!

 

I received some great book mail and wanted to post a big thank you!

 

Thank you Epic Reads for my arc of This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story!