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Equels and Sequels and Adaptations, Oh My!
Ah, February. The sun is shining, it's warmer than usual...and news that Philip Pullman is releasing a companion trilogy to His Dark Materials --- aka my favorite book series, ever, was shared last week! Pullman explained that the series will be neither a "sequel nor prequel, but an 'equel,'" adding, “It doesn’t stand before or after His Dark Materials, but beside it." The announcement arrived the day before I was scheduled to get a tattoo of one of Pullman's drawings from THE GOLDEN COMPASS. You can see a gratuitous photo of my tattoo above.
Now that my fangirling is (mostly) out of the way, let's talk about some of the other great book news from this month. Up first, we have a Special Feature for LIFEBLOOD, the second book in Gena Showalter's Everlife series. If you, like me, have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up to FIRSTLIFE, rest assured that LIFEBLOOD does not disappoint. Now that Ten has chosen her realm, she must busy herself with learning its history and completing her first mission --- all while dealing with a dangerous crush...no pressure, right?
We also have a featured review of DREAMLAND BURNING, a gripping mystery with a timeline that alternates between present-day and the Tulsa race riot of 1921. I'm a total sucker for good historical fiction, so I made sure to read this one and was really impressed by the realistic portrayal of the 1920s and the outstanding cast of characters. You can read our review below, and click here to read more about the characters.
Another one of our featured titles for the month is THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ, a book that I love-love-loved! Margot is a pretty, smart young girl living in the Bronx, where her family's grocery stores are treasured by the community. But when Margot makes some terrible choices to impress her new, wealthy friends, she learns that there is much more to life than having the prettiest purses and ignoring the consequences of her actions. Make sure you check out our review below, along with the gorgeous cover --- it's giving me major hair-envy.
In books on screen news, we have trailers for both Everything, Everything, the film adaptation of Nicola Yoon's bestselling book, and "13 Reasons Why," Netflix's series adaptation of Jay Asher's breakout hit. We also learned that Meg Medina's beloved creation, Yaqui Delgado, will be coming to a TV screen near you via Hulu. You can read more about the news here.
After sending this newsletter, I'll be heading downtown to Tor's offices for a meet and greet with authors Susan Dennard, Erika Lewis, Kim Liggett and Victoria Schwab (you can see some of their books above). After Teen Board member Taylor F. raved about meeting Dennard back in May at YALLFest, I've been dying for the chance to see her in person myself. Don't worry, you'll have my full report on this event in our next newsletter.
Last, but certainly not least, be sure to let us know how you feel about libraries in this month’s poll, which ends tomorrow at noon, where we ask how often you visit your local library.
Happy reading,
--- Rebecca Munro (rebecca@bookreporter.com)
Special Feature: LIFEBLOOD by Gena Showalter
Last year, readers were introduced to Gena Showalter's FIRSTLIFE, a book set in a world where life begins after death. The star of the book, Tenley "Ten" Lockwood, is only 17, but has spent the last year of her life in an insane asylum --- not because of a mental instability, but because she has refused to allow her parents to choose where she will live after she dies. In the Everlife, your Firstlife is only a dress rehearsal for what comes after, and Ten is caught in the middle of a deadly battle for her soul. With two powerful, but deadly realms fighting over her, Ten must stay alive long enough to make the right choice.
Now, Showalter returns with LIFEBLOOD, the explosive sequel where we reunite with Ten, who must learn about her chosen realm from the ground up --- all while struggling to launch her first mission. You can learn more about LIFEBLOOD through our Special Feature, which includes an excerpt with a review and interview coming soon.
Click here to read more about the book.
Click here to read the excerpt.
Featured Review: DREAMLAND BURNING by Jennifer Latham
DREAMLAND BURNING by Jennifer Latham (Historical Fiction)
When 17-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family's property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past … and the present. Nearly one hundred years earlier, a misguided violent encounter propels 17-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self-discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what's right the night Tulsa burns. Reviewed by Bryn D., Teen Board Member.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Featured Review: EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IS NOT RUINED by Danielle Younge-Ullman
EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IS NOT RUINED by Danielle Younge-Ullman (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Phoebe Strole.
Then. Ingrid traveled all over Europe with her opera star mother, Margot-Sophia. Life was beautiful and bright, and every day soared with music. Now. Ingrid is on a summertime wilderness survival trek for at-risk teens: addicts, runaways, and her. She’s fighting to survive crushing humiliations, physical challenges that push her to her limits, and mind games that threaten to break her. Then. When the curtain fell on Margot-Sophia’s singing career, they buried the past and settled into a small, painfully normal life. But Ingrid longed to let the music soar again. Reviewed by Ashley D., Teen Board Member.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Featured Review: THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ by Lilliam Rivera
THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ by Lilliam Rivera (Fiction)
After “borrowing” her father’s credit card to finance a more stylish wardrobe, Margot Sanchez suddenly finds herself grounded. And by grounded, she means working as an indentured servant in her family’s struggling grocery store to pay off her debts. With each order of deli meat she slices, Margot can feel her carefully cultivated prep school reputation slipping through her fingers, and she’s willing to do anything to get out of this punishment. Lie, cheat and maybe even steal…Reviewed by Kaela N., Teen Board Member.
- Click here to read more about the book.
Books to Add to Your Guy-Brary Bookshelf
We're bringing you our January/February Guy-Brary feature, which focuses on boy-friendly books that released in these two months. Whether you're looking for a fun winter read, a hard-hitting story full of drama, or yes, even a romance where the focus is on the guy getting the girl, you're sure to find something great on our "Books to Add to Your Guy-brary" Bookshelf.
Monthly Question: As February comes to a close, we share the replies when we asked our Teen Board members a few questions about book boyfriends & girlfriends, dream dates, romance novels and OTPs. Since we have 50 Teen Board members, we have split up their answers into two parts. Click here to see Part 1 that ran earlier this month, and click here for the newly published Part 2!
Blog: TEEN HYDE vs. Jekyll and Hyde the Musical --- Guest Post by Teen Board Member Ashley D. --- Teen Board member Ashley D. recently reviewed a retelling of DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE called TEEN HYDE: High School Horror for Teenreads. Read this post to learn the special reason this topic appealed to Ashley.
DISRUPTOR (Seeker, Book 3) by Arwen Elys Dayton (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, narrated by Katherine McEwan.
Quin has spent her life as her father’s pawn. She was trained to kill and manipulated to guarantee her family’s power. And now that she’s broken free of that life, she’s found herself trapped again, hostage to a plot that has been centuries in the making. It’s taken generations for the pieces to come together, and finally all is in place. Her best friend Shinobu’s mind has been corrupted, the Young Dread has aligned with her enemy John, and the bloodthirsty Watchers are being awakened and gathered. Reviewed by Jeremy H., Teen Board Member.
ONES AND ZEROES (Mirador) by Dan Wells (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Roxanne Hernandez.
Overworld. It’s more than just the world’s most popular e-sport --- for thousands of VR teams around the globe, Overworld is life. It means fame and fortune, or maybe it’s a ticket out of obscurity or poverty. If you have a connection to the internet and four friends you trust with your life, anything is possible. Marisa Carneseca is on the hunt for a mysterious hacker named Grendel when she receives word that her amateur Overworld team has been invited to Forward Motion, one of the most exclusive tournaments of the year. Reviewed by Rachel D., Teen Board Member.
THE DRAGON'S PRICE (A Transference Novel) by Bethany Wiggins (Fantasy)
When two warring kingdoms unified against a deadly menace laying waste to both their lands, they had to make a choice: vow to marry their heirs to one another, or forfeit their lives to the dragon. Centuries later, everyone expects the sheltered princess Sorrowlynn to choose the barbarian prince over the fire-breathing beast --- everyone, that is, except Sorrow, who is determined to control her own destiny or die trying. As she is lowered into the dragon’s chamber, she assumes her life is over until Golmarr, the young prince she just spurned, follows her with the hopes of being her hero and slaying the dragon. Reviewed by Rachel R., Teen Board Member.
OPTIMISTS DIE FIRST by Susin Nielsen (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Julia Whelan.
Sixteen-year-old Petula de Wilde is anything but wild. A former crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula shut herself off from the world after a family tragedy. She sees danger in all the ordinary things, like crossing the street, a bug bite, or a germy handshake. She knows: life is out to get you. The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class with a small group of fellow misfits. Then a new boy, Jacob, appears at school and in her therapy group. He seems so normal and confident, though he has a prosthetic arm; and soon he teams up with Petula on a hilarious project. Reviewed by Rebecca D., Teen Board Member.
HOW NOT TO DISAPPEAR by Clare Furniss (Fiction)
Hattie’s summer is not going according to plan. Her two best friends have abandoned her: Reuben has run off to Europe to “find himself” and Kat is in Edinburgh with her new girlfriend. Meanwhile Hattie is stuck babysitting her twin siblings and dealing with the endless drama surrounding her mother’s wedding. And she’s also just discovered that she’s pregnant with Reuben’s baby. Then Gloria --- Hattie’s great-aunt who no one even knew existed --- comes crashing into her life. Gloria’s fiercely independent, rather too fond of a gin sling, and is in the early stages of dementia. Reviewed by Grace P., Teen Board Member.
RONIT & JAMIL by Pamela L. Laskin (Romance)
Audiobook available, narrated by Nira Amiel, Assaf Cohen and Aylam Orian.
Ronit, an Israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. Jamil, a Palestinian boy, lives on the other side. Only miles apart but separated by generations of conflict --- much more than just the concrete blockade between them. Their fathers, however, work in a distrusting but mutually beneficial business arrangement, a relationship that brings Ronit and Jamil together. And lightning strikes. The kind of lightning that transcends barrier fences, war, and hatred. The teenage lovers fall desperately into the throes of forbidden love, one that would create an irreparable rift between their families if it were discovered. Reviewed by Wren L., Teen Board Member.
AGAINST ALL SILENCE by E.C. Myers (Thriller)
After being a key figure in the exposing of government corruption, Max Stein has spent a quiet semester abroad in Paris, studying, staying off the Internet, and looking for his long-lost mother. But just as he is about to fly back to the United States for the holidays, trouble manages to find him once again. Reviewed by Danielle F., Teen Board Member.
THE BEAST IS AN ANIMAL by Peternelle van Arsdale (Fantasy)
Audiobook available, narrated by Candace Thaxton.
Alys was seven when the soul eaters came to her village. These soul eaters, twin sisters who were abandoned by their father and slowly morphed into something not quite human, devour human souls. Alys, and all the other children, were spared --- and they were sent to live in a neighboring village. There the devout people created a strict world where good and evil are as fundamental as the nursery rhymes children sing. Fear of the soul eaters --- and of the Beast they believe guides them --- rule village life. But the Beast is not what they think it is. And neither is Alys. Reviewed by Alyssa L., Teen Board Member.
10 THINGS I CAN SEE FROM HERE by Carrie Mac (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Susannah Jones.
Maeve has heard it all before. She’s been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it’s not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom --- the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through --- is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver. Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about anything. Reviewed by Aliza M., Teen Board Member.
VELOCITY by Chris Wooding (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Brittany Pressley.
Cassica and Shiara are best friends. They couldn't be more different, but their differences work to their advantage --- especially when they're drag racing. Cassica is fearless and determined, making her the perfect driver for daring, photo-finish victories. Shiara is intelligent and creative, able to build cars out of scrap and formulate daring strategies from the passenger's seat. Now they've set their sights on the Widowmaker --- the biggest, most anticipated and most dangerous race of the year. The winners get a pass to a life of luxury and fame. Reviewed by Alyssa L., Teen Board Member.
LOVING VS. VIRGINIA: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case by Patricia Hruby Powell and Shadra Strickland (Nonfiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Adenrele Ojo.
In 1955, in Caroline County, Virginia, amidst segregation and prejudice, injustice and cruelty, two teenagers fell in love. Their life together broke the law, but their determination would change it. Richard and Mildred Loving were at the heart of a Supreme Court case that legalized marriage between races, and a story of the devoted couple who faced discrimination, fought it, and won. Reviewed by Harleen K., Teen Board Member.
HERE WE ARE: Feminism for the Real World edited by Kelly Jensen (Nonfiction)
HERE WE ARE is a response to lively discussions about the true meaning of feminism on social media and across popular culture and is an invitation to one of the most important, life-changing, and exciting parties around. Reviewed by Ryan H., Teen Board Member.
STRANGER THAN FANFICTION by Chris Colfer (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Chris Colfer.
Cash Carter is the young, world famous lead actor of the hit television show Wiz Kids. When four fans jokingly invite him on a cross-country road trip, they are shocked that he actually takes them up on it. Chased by paparazzi and hounded by reporters, this unlikely crew takes off on a journey of a lifetime --- but along the way they discover that the star they love has deep secrets he's been keeping. What they come to learn about the life of the mysterious person they thought they knew will teach them about the power of empathy and the unbreakable bond of true friendship. Reviewed by Emma B., Teen Board Member.
STARFALL by Melissa Landers (Science Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Amanda Dolan.
When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family's complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is. Reviewed by Grace P., Teen Board Member.
FLOWER by Elizabeth Craft and Shea Olsen (Fiction)
Audiobook available, narrated by Em Eldridge.
I’ve always wanted to get the top grades in my class and make my grandmother proud. And most of all, proof that I could succeed where the rest of my family had not: a Stanford acceptance letter, early admission. My mother and my sister were obsessed with boys and love and sex. So obsessed that they lost sight of their futures, of what they wanted. And in the end, they lost everything. I’ll never let a boy distract me. I promised myself that, but that was before Tate. Reviewed by Janine Chouinard.
IGNITE YOUR SPARK: Discovering Who You Are from the Inside Out by Patricia Wooster (Nonfiction)
It’s no secret that your teen years can be tumultuous, confusing, and even sucky, but that doesn’t mean you can’t light a fire in your life. Covering topics from relationships, self-image, and school to goals, failures, and willpower, IGNITE YOUR SPARK features thought-provoking quizzes, “Ignite Your Life” activities, and profiles of kids and adults alike who have ignited their own spark to accomplish extraordinary things. Reviewed by Ryan H., Teen Board Member.
February Poll: Last Chance to Weigh In; Poll Ends Wednesday at Noon ET
Happy National Library Lovers' Month, Teenreaders! In addition to being great resources for learning about books, libraries can also be great places to meet fellow booklovers and hang out. How often do you visit your local library?
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I typically visit my local library once a week.
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I visit the library at least once a month, sometimes more.
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I only visit the library for special projects or events.
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I visit the library over the summer or during long breaks from school.
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I never visit my local library.
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