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Early July 2016

I can't believe it's already July --- or, as I like to call it, Harry Potter month! We've been totally buzzing about reuniting with our favorite wizard, but that also made me think about the joys of binge-reading a series and getting totally swept up in a new world full of exciting characters. I know some of you may not be the biggest Harry Potter fans (muggles, the lot of you), so I decided to create a little list of other binge-worthy series for your summer reading.

Editorial Content for Secrets, Lies, and Scandals

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Maggie L., Teen Board Member

In Amanda K. Morgan's SECRETS, LIES, AND SCANDALS, five teens are sent on a wild chase for the truth following a shocking tragedy. Read More

Teaser

Ivy used to be on top of the social ladder, until her ex made that all go away. Tyler has always been a bad boy, but lately he’s been running low on second chances. Kinley wouldn’t describe herself as perfect, though everyone else would. Mattie is only in town for the summer. He wasn’t looking to make friends, and he definitely wasn’t looking to be involved in a murder. Cade couldn’t care less about the body, or about the pact to keep the secret. With the police hot on the case, they don’t have much time to figure out how to trust each other.

Promo

Ivy used to be on top of the social ladder, until her ex made that all go away. Tyler has always been a bad boy, but lately he’s been running low on second chances. Kinley wouldn’t describe herself as perfect, though everyone else would. Mattie is only in town for the summer. He wasn’t looking to make friends, and he definitely wasn’t looking to be involved in a murder. Cade couldn’t care less about the body, or about the pact to keep the secret. With the police hot on the case, they don’t have much time to figure out how to trust each other.

About the Book

In the tradition of I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER and "How to Get Away with Murder," five teens must overcome their paranoia in order to keep their teacher’s death a secret in this fast-paced suspense thriller.

Nothing ruins summer vacation like a secret…especially when it involves a dead teacher.

Ivy used to be on top of the social ladder, until her ex made that all go away. She has a chance to be Queen Bee again, but only if the rest of the group can keep quiet.

Tyler has always been a bad boy, but lately he’s been running low on second chances. There’s no way he’s going to lose everything because someone couldn’t keep their mouth shut.

Kinley wouldn’t describe herself as perfect, though everyone else would. But perfection comes at a price, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her perfect record --- one that doesn’t include murder charges.

Mattie is only in town for the summer. He wasn’t looking to make friends, and he definitely wasn’t looking to be involved in a murder. He’s also not looking to be riddled with guilt for the rest of his life…but to prevent that he’ll have to turn them all in.

Cade couldn’t care less about the body, or about the pact to keep the secret. The only way to be innocent is for someone else to be found guilty. Now he just has to decide who that someone will be.

With the police hot on the case, they don’t have much time to figure out how to trust each other. But in order to take the lead, you have to be first in line…and that’s the quickest way to get stabbed in the back.

Editorial Content for Lucky Strikes

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Bryn D., Teen Board Member

“I don’t know nothing ‘bout --- ‘bout feeling. All I know is fighting. And holding on. At the end of the day, I don’t got much left for nothing else.”

Depression-era Virginia. Read More

Teaser

 

With her mama recently dead and her pa sight unseen since birth, Amelia is suddenly in charge of her younger brother and sister --- and of the family gas station. Harley Blevins, local king and emperor of Standard Oil, is in hot pursuit to clinch his fuel monopoly. To keep him at bay and keep her family out of foster care, Melia must come up with a father --- and fast. And so when a hobo rolls out of a passing truck, Melia grabs opportunity by its beard

Promo

With her mama recently dead and her pa sight unseen since birth, Amelia is suddenly in charge of her younger brother and sister --- and of the family gas station. Harley Blevins, local king and emperor of Standard Oil, is in hot pursuit to clinch his fuel monopoly. To keep him at bay and keep her family out of foster care, Melia must come up with a father --- and fast. And so when a hobo rolls out of a passing truck, Melia grabs opportunity by its beard

About the Book

With her mama recently dead and her pa sight unseen since birth, Amelia is suddenly in charge of her younger brother and sister --- and of the family gas station. Harley Blevins, local king and emperor of Standard Oil, is in hot pursuit to clinch his fuel monopoly. To keep him at bay and keep her family out of foster care, Melia must come up with a father --- and fast. And so when a hobo rolls out of a passing truck, Melia grabs opportunity by its beard. Can she hold off the hounds till she comes of age?

Editorial Content for The Voyage to Magical North

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Matthew Burbridge

Claire Fayers’s new novel, THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH, has a steady opening that introduces a pair of desperate children, Peter and Brine. These two desperate kids make one daring escape that leads them on one of the best swashbuckling adventures this reviewer has read in a long while. The opening really emphasizes the dull lives these children lead, making the jump into adventure that much greater of a leap --- similar to the switch from black and white to color in The Wizard of Oz film. Read More

Teaser

 

Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, Brinne Seabourne has spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter. When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say "pieces of eight," they're up to their necks in the pirates' quest to find Magical North.

Promo

Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, Brinne Seabourne has spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter. When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say "pieces of eight," they're up to their necks in the pirates' quest to find Magical North.

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Brine Seaborne is a girl with a past --- if only she could remember what it is. Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, she's spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter.
When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say "pieces of eight," they're up to their necks in the pirates' quest to find Magical North, a place so shrouded in secrets and myth that most people don't even think it exists. If Brine is lucky, she’ll find her place in the world. And if she's unlucky, everyone on the ship will be eaten by sea monsters. It could really go either way.

Editorial Content for The Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sofia Flores

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Grace P., Teen Board Member

Danielle Vega is the pen name of Danielle Rollins. Daniel is the author of the YA horror novels THE MERCILESS and THE MERCILESS II.

Sofia is still reeling from the terrifying events that occurred when she and three friends performed an exorcism that changed their lives forever. Ever since then, Sofia has been haunted by bloody and demonic visions. Even though her therapist says they’re all in her head, they feel all too real. Sofia just wants to start fresh somewhere else. But when her mother dies suddenly, Sofia realizes that her wish might not be what she really wanted. Read More

Teaser

Sofia is still processing the horrific truth of what happened when she and three friends performed an exorcism that spiraled horribly out of control. Ever since that night, Sofia has been haunted by bloody and demonic visions. Her therapist says they’re all in her head, but to Sofia they feel chillingly real. She just wants to get out of town, start fresh someplace else...until her mother dies suddenly, and Sofia gets her wish.

Promo

Sofia is still processing the horrific truth of what happened when she and three friends performed an exorcism that spiraled horribly out of control. Ever since that night, Sofia has been haunted by bloody and demonic visions. Her therapist says they’re all in her head, but to Sofia they feel chillingly real. She just wants to get out of town, start fresh someplace else...until her mother dies suddenly, and Sofia gets her wish.

About the Book

Sofia is still processing the horrific truth of what happened when she and three friends performed an exorcism that spiraled horribly out of control. Ever since that night, Sofia has been haunted by bloody and demonic visions. Her therapist says they’re all in her head, but to Sofia they feel chillingly real. She just wants to get out of town, start fresh someplace else...until her mother dies suddenly, and Sofia gets her wish.

Sofia is sent to St. Mary’s, a creepy Catholic boarding school in Mississippi. There, seemingly everyone is doing penance for something, most of all the mysterious Jude, for whom Sofia can’t help feeling an unshakeable attraction. But when Sofia and Jude confide in each other about their pasts, something flips in him. He becomes convinced that Sofia is possessed by the devil...Is an exorcism the only way to save her eternal soul?

Readers won’t be able to look away from this terrifying read full of twists and turns that will leave them wondering, Is there evil in all of us?

Editorial Content for supergirl at Super Hero High (DC Super Hero Girls)

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Katherine Szabo

Lisa Yee’s SUPERGIRL AT SUPERHERO HIGH has much to offer young readers. After Supergirl’s planet, Krypton, is destroyed she finds herself rescued and adopted by the Kent family --- the same family who adopted Superman. Her incredible powers develop quickly and in order to control them she is sent to Super Hero High, the aptly named school for young heroes. There she meets some of the universe’s most powerful teens and learns how to make friends, defeat villains and use her powers for good. Read More

Teaser

Supergirl is the new girl in school --- and she just also happens to be the most powerful teenager in the galaxy! After losing her home planet of Krypton and everyone she knows, Supergirl has made a new home on Earth, but she’s isn’t so sure that Super Hero High School is the right place for her. Wonder Woman, other new friends and a kindly librarian make her feel welcome, but breached inter-dimensional portals, invading alien armies and bad dreams shake her confidence. It’s not easy being a super hero and a high school student all at once!

Promo

Supergirl is the new girl in school --- and she just also happens to be the most powerful teenager in the galaxy! After losing her home planet of Krypton and everyone she knows, Supergirl has made a new home on Earth, but she’s isn’t so sure that Super Hero High School is the right place for her. Wonder Woman, other new friends and a kindly librarian make her feel welcome, but breached inter-dimensional portals, invading alien armies and bad dreams shake her confidence. It’s not easy being a super hero and a high school student all at once!

About the Book

Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls™ --- the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman™, Supergirl™, Batgirl™, and some of the world’s most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers!
 
Supergirl is the new girl in school --- and she just also happens to be the most powerful teenager in the galaxy!
 
After losing her home planet of Krypton and everyone she knows, Supergirl has made a new home on Earth, but she’s isn’t so sure that Super Hero High School is the right place for her. Wonder Woman, other new friends and a kindly librarian make her feel welcome, but breached inter-dimensional portals, invading alien armies and bad dreams shake her confidence. It’s not easy being a super hero and a high school student all at once!
 
Award-winning author Lisa Yee brings mystery, thrills and laughs to this groundbreaking series that follows DC Comics’ most iconic female Super Heroes and Super-Villains. Move over Batman™ and Superman™—the DC Super Hero Girls are ready to save the day and have fun doing it!

Editorial Content for Soar

Book

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Liz Sauchelli

It’s a familiar plot: a child’s parent dies and that grieving child goes on a quest to accomplish something the deceased parent would be proud of. What makes SOAR by Tracy Edward Wymer stand out, however, is the makeup of each character --- one has Tourette’s, another is learning English, others are struggling with poverty --- and the elements of science that are worked into the plot. Read More

Teaser

Eddie learned everything there is to know about birding from his dad, including the legend of the Golden Eagle. But when Eddie was in 6th grade, Dad "flew away" for good. Now Eddie is starting 7th grade and trying to impress Gabriella, the new girl. The annual 7th grade Science Symposium (which Dad famously won) is looming, and Eddie is determined to claim the blue ribbon for himself. With Mr. Dover, the science teacher, seemingly against him, and with Mouton, the class bully, making his life miserable on all fronts, Eddie is determined to overcome everything and live up to Dad's memory.

Promo

Eddie learned everything there is to know about birding from his dad, including the legend of the Golden Eagle. But when Eddie was in 6th grade, Dad "flew away" for good. Now Eddie is starting 7th grade and trying to impress Gabriella, the new girl. The annual 7th grade Science Symposium (which Dad famously won) is looming, and Eddie is determined to claim the blue ribbon for himself. With Mr. Dover, the science teacher, seemingly against him, and with Mouton, the class bully, making his life miserable on all fronts, Eddie is determined to overcome everything and live up to Dad's memory.

About the Book

Seventh grader Eddie is determined to honor his father's legacy and win the school science fair in this fun and quirky debut novel.

Eddie learned everything there is to know about birding from his dad, including the legend of the Golden Eagle, which Dad claimed he saw once down near Miss Dorothy's pond. According to his dad, the Golden Eagle had wings wider than a creek and talons the size of bulldozer claws. But when Eddie was in 6th grade, Dad "flew away" for good, leaving Eddie on his own to await the return of the elusive raptor.

Now Eddie is starting 7th grade and trying to impress Gabriella, the new girl in town. The annual 7th grade Science Symposium (which Dad famously won) is looming, and Eddie is determined to claim the blue ribbon for himself. With Mr. Dover, the science teacher who was Dad's birding rival, seemingly against him, and with Mouton, the class bully, making his life miserable on all fronts, Eddie is determined to overcome everything and live up to Dad's memory. Can Eddie soar and make his dream take flight?

Julia Child

A party without cake is just a meeting.

Attribution

Julia Child

All the Time in the World by Caroline Angell

For fans of Jojo Moyes and Jonathan Tropper, ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD is an unforgettable debut about a young woman's choice between the future she's always imagined and the people she's come to love.

Charlotte, a gifted and superbly trained young musician, has been blindsided by a shocking betrayal in her promising career when she takes a babysitting job with the McLeans, a glamorous Upper East Side Manhattan family. At first, the nanny gig is just a way of tiding herself over until she has licked her wounds and figured out her next move as a composer in New York. But, as it turns out, Charlotte is naturally good with children and becomes as deeply fond of the two little boys as they are of her.

Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery

With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year: Their Mother's.