So how has your summer been so far? Visiting any new and exciting places here or abroad? Whether you’re having a "stay-cation" or are impatiently waiting for your trip to start, what better (and much more inexpensive) way to travel than with a good book? This week’s new releases include THE EDUCATION OF BET, a story of a brother-and sister-swap and their adventures living in each other’s shoes; the mysterious 7 SOULS, where our heroine, Mary, attempts to uncover the causes of her death through the eyes of seven different people; the humorous and buoyant HOW TO BE A ZOMBIE --- because you know you’ve always wanted to know how; and the witty and satirical sequel to VAMPIRE HIGH, VAMPIRE HIGH: SOPHOMORE YEAR.
THE EDUCATION OF BET by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children)
When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now 16, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But all is not well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home and her education is limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed --- forced, in his case --- to go to school. Neither is happy.
So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.
ghostgirl: LOVESICK by Tonya Hurley (Little, Brown Books for Young)
Before she can rest in peace, Charlotte Usher must return to the tragic site of her death: high school. Once there, her assignment is to help a designated teen solve a personal problem in time for the all-important prom. But no one explained what happens if you fall in love with your class project. Charlotte would die (again) for love but facing the all-too-familiar feeling of invisibility may be too much for her to swallow.
- Click here to read Tonya Hurley's guest post, and to watch the ghostgirl: LOVESICK book trailer.
New Releases for July 13th
Hardcover
7 SOULS by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Mary expected her 17th birthday to be a blowout to remember, courtesy of her best friends, fellow New York City prepsters Amy and Joon, and her doting boyfriend, Trick. Instead, the day starts badly and gets worse. After waking up in a mortifying place with a massive, unexplainable hangover, Mary soon discovers that nobody at school is even aware that it's her birthday. As evening approaches, paranoia sets in. Mary just can't shake the feeling that someone is out to get her --- and, as it turns out, she's right. Before the night is over, she's been killed in cold blood.
But murder is just the beginning of Mary's ordeal. Her soul gets trapped in a strange limbo, and she must relive the day of her death through the eyes of seven people --- each of whom, she finds, had plenty of reasons to hate her. As Mary explores the mysteries of her world, discovering secrets that were hidden in plain sight while she was alive, she clings desperately to the hope that she can solve her own murder, change the past and --- just maybe --- save her own life.
HOW TO BE A ZOMBIE: A Hands-on Guide for Anyone with Brains by Serena Valentino (Candlewick Press)
So you’re a zombie. What now? Slow down --- and flesh out the life of the mindless with this essential guide for the newly undead.
Adjusting to "life" as a zombie takes a little getting used to: the vacant stare, the shambling gait and the sense that you’re falling apart. And what’s with the sudden obsession with brains? It’s time to get your outstretched hands on this comprehensive handbook spelling out all things z-o-m-b-i-e.
* identify your zombie archetype, figure out if you’re dating a zombie and savor the joy of brains (or alternative foods when necessary)
* learn how to "pass" among the living, brush up on zombie fashion and etiquette, discover decor for the decaying and check out some awesome tunes to eat brains by
* explore zombies in literature, films and novels --- and learn the truth about rumored celebrity zombies
* attention span getting shorter? Enjoy mini graphic novels on how to evade zombie hunters, take a zombie road trip and "who do that voodoo"
* and much, much more guaranteed to make a trendy --- if creepy and vacuous --- creature proud!
SLEEPLESS by Cyn Balog (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.
But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her…
Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?
WILL by Maria Boyd (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
THE CRIME
It all started when Will mooned the girls' school bus. It wasn't his finest moment. And it's the last time William Armstrong will sully the St. Andrew's community, says Principal Waddlehead-er, Waverton.
THE PUNISHMENT
That's when a teacher worried about Will's home situation comes up with an idea. Why not let Will, a talented guitarist, give back to the school in a progressive manner? Why not have him play in…THE SCHOOL MUSICAL?
THE MUSICAL
Now Will is stuck in the school production of “The Boy Friend”. He's a laughingstock, and he has to give up his weekends for a show set at a girls' finishing school.
THE PLAYERS
There's the trombone-playing seventh grader who proclaims himself Will's best friend and refuses to leave his side. Then there's the undeniably attractive leading lady, although she might be in love with her costar, the new football hero (and dazzling singer!).
Sharp-witted, funny, and poignant all at once, this is the story of a boy going through a difficult time who, in a most unlikely way, discovers the person he truly wants to be.
X-ISLE by Steve Augarde (David Fickling Books)
Ever since the floods came and washed the world away, survivors have been desperate to win a place on X-Isle, the island where life is rumored to be easier than on what's left of the mainland. Only young boys stand a chance of getting in, the smaller and lighter the better. Baz and Ray are two of the lucky few to be chosen, but they soon discover that X-Isle is a far cry from paradise. Ruled by Preacher John, a dangerous religious fanatic, it's a violent, unpredictable place, where terrible things can happen at any moment. The boys hatch an extraordinary plan in order to protect themselves-the construction of a mighty weapon of defense. But can they complete this weapon in time, and are they really prepared to use it to secure their freedom?
VAMPIRE HIGH: SOPHOMORE YEAR by Douglas Rees (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
In the satiric and funny sequel to the witty VAMPIRE HIGH, Cody's hopes for a great sophomore year at Vlad Dracul are dashed when his train wreck of a cousin, Turk Stone, moves in and messes with his life.
Turk's a brilliant teen artist and goth with a sky-high ego. Her attitude infuriates the vampire (jenti) students, especially the dark, brooding Gregor. But something changes in Turk when she stumbles on the abandoned nineteenth-century mill in the forgotten district of Crossfield and immediately claims it as her new arts center project.
Though Cody resents his cousin at first, he has his own reasons for helping make Turk's dream come true. But Crossfield has many secrets and a mysterious vampire army called the Mercians will do anything to make sure they stay hidden. And when he takes on the Mercians, everything Cody has learned about courage and determination his freshman year at Vampire High will be tested.
