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BRC Summer Reading 160x600 (20SR)

BRC Summer Reading (20SR)

Editorial Content for The Firefly Code

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Sarah Rachel Egelman
THE FIREFLY CODE by Megan Frazer Blakemore is the story of Mori and her friends growing up in an unbelievable world, struggling to be wholly themselves and true to their own dreams. The town of Old Harmonie is a utopia. The adults have challenging and interesting jobs and the children always feel safe and are rarely sick. Thanks to the research, experimentation, dreams and ideals of an earlier generation, the residents in the small and physically isolated town enjoy having their lives improved by genetic enhancements and designs.
 

Teaser

 

Mori and her friends live a normal life on Firefly Lane in their utopian community, Old Harmonie. In a world this safe and perfect, they've never had to question anything . . . never had to wonder about how their lives came to be. Until a new girl named Ilana moves in. She's so perfect that Mori and her friends are curious . . . Where exactly did Ilana come from, and why does she act so strange sometimes?

Promo

Mori and her friends live a normal life on Firefly Lane in their utopian community, Old Harmonie. In a world this safe and perfect, they've never had to question anything . . . never had to wonder about how their lives came to be. Until a new girl named Ilana moves in. She's so perfect that Mori and her friends are curious . . . Where exactly did Ilana come from, and why does she act so strange sometimes?

About the Book

Mori and her friends live a normal life on Firefly Lane in their utopian community, Old Harmonie. In a world this safe and perfect, they've never had to question anything . . . never had to wonder about how their lives came to be. Until a new girl named Ilana moves in. She's so perfect that Mori and her friends are curious . . . Where exactly did Ilana come from, and why does she act so strange sometimes? When Ilana's secret is revealed, the kids on Firefly Lane must decide: is it finally time to start questioning the only world they've ever known?
 
In a stunningly imaginative story, critically acclaimed author Megan Frazer Blakemore takes readers on a journey with five friends --- new and old --- that will have everyone talking about not just what makes people human, but what makes them true friends

May 17, 2016

This Bookreporter.com Special Newsletter spotlights a book that we think is a great summer reading selection. Read more about it, and enter our Summer Reading Contest by Wednesday, May 18th at 11:59am ET for a chance to win one of five copies of THE WEEKENDERS by Mary Kay Andrews, which is now available. Please note that each contest is only open for 24 hours, so you will need to act quickly!

Editorial Content for The Outliers

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Maggie L., Teen Board Member

New from bestselling author Kimberly McCreight comes THE OUTLIERS, the start of a new series full of mystery, thrills and danger. Read More

Teaser

It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help. Wylie hasn’t heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn’t matter. Cassie is in trouble, so Wylie decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself. This time it’s different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn’t feel right, but Wylie has no choice but to ignore her gut instinct and go with him. But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast.

Promo

It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help. Wylie hasn’t heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn’t matter. Cassie is in trouble, so Wylie decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself. This time it’s different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn’t feel right, but Wylie has no choice but to ignore her gut instinct and go with him. But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast.

About the Book

From the New York Times bestselling author of RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA comes a fast-paced teen series where one girl learns that in a world of intrigue, betrayal and deeply buried secrets, it is vital to trust your instincts.

It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help. Wylie hasn’t heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn’t matter. Cassie’s in trouble, so Wylie decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself.

This time it’s different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn’t feel right, but Wylie has no choice but to ignore her gut instinct and go with him.

But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast. As Wylie and Jasper head farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine, Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong. What isn’t Cassie telling them? And could finding her be only the beginning?

In this breakneck tale, New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight brilliantly chronicles a fateful journey that begins with a single decision --- and ends up changing everything.

May 17, 2016

Even though temps have been Kevin-Hart-at-a-concert low in NYC this week (maybe that burn will warm you up, you’re welcome), summer is just around the corner --- or so we hear. Let’s call in Leo to explain global warming to us one more time. No complaints here, though; we love ourselves some good casual jacket weather. But with Memorial Day on the horizon, we’re making room in our bellies for all the corn, watermelon and Firecracker ice pops money can buy. It’s hard to imagine right now, but soon enough we’ll be showing off our awkward tan lines and desperately searching for respite from the city heat by checking out the blockbuster hits of the season.

Editorial Content for What Elephants Know

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Angela Warsinke
In the colorful, vivid setting of the Nepalese Borderlands, between China and India, readers of Eric Dinerstein’s WHAT ELEPHANTS KNOW can go on many adventures and meet characters in a culture they never knew existed. Written with the expertise of Dinerstein, who holds a PhD in Wildlife Studies, one can follow 12-year-old Nandu as he grows up in the king’s elephant stable.
 

Teaser

 

Abandoned in the jungle of the Nepalese Borderlands, two-year-old Nandu is found living under the protective watch of a pack of wild dogs. From his mysterious beginnings, fate delivers him to the King's elephant stable, where he is raised by unlikely parents-the wise head of the stable, Subba-sahib, and Devi Kali, a fierce and affectionate female elephant.

Promo

Abandoned in the jungle of the Nepalese Borderlands, two-year-old Nandu is found living under the protective watch of a pack of wild dogs. From his mysterious beginnings, fate delivers him to the King's elephant stable, where he is raised by unlikely parents-the wise head of the stable, Subba-sahib, and Devi Kali, a fierce and affectionate female elephant.

About the Book

Abandoned in the jungle of the Nepalese Borderlands, two-year-old Nandu is found living under the protective watch of a pack of wild dogs. From his mysterious beginnings, fate delivers him to the King's elephant stable, where he is raised by unlikely parents-the wise head of the stable, Subba-sahib, and Devi Kali, a fierce and affectionate female elephant.

When the king's government threatens to close the stable, Nandu, now 12, searches for a way to save his family and community. A risky plan could be the answer. But to succeed, they'll need a great tusker. The future is in Nandu's hands as he sets out to find a bull elephant and bring him back to the Borderlands.

In simple poetic prose, author Eric Dinerstein brings to life Nepal's breathtaking jungle wildlife and rural culture, as seen through the eyes of a young outcast, struggling to find his place in the world.

Editorial Content for Wandmaker

Book

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Reviewer (text)

Margret Wiggins
Even though 11-year-old Henry Leach the Eighth is descended from a powerful line of wandmakers, he cannot get his wand to work. Just when Henry is starting to understand how to use his wand --- graciously given to him by the Grand Wand Master Coralis --- not only does he accidentally turn his younger sister, Brianna, into a hedgehog, he learns he’s the key to stopping the evil wandmaker Dai She from destroying the world.
 

Teaser

Magic is real --- and it runs in the family --- in this charming fantasy adventure about a boy who must balance his magical education with the demands of big-brotherhood, perfect for fans of Jenny Nimmo and Angie Sage. Henry Leach the Eighth doesn't know it yet, but he's descended from a long line of wandmakers. That means he has inherited mysterious powers, a trunk full of strange artifacts...and a whole host of problems. His biggest problem at the moment, however, is his little sister, Brianna. And she takes troublemaking to new heights when she's caught in the crossfire of Henry's first major spell!

Promo

Magic is real --- and it runs in the family --- in this charming fantasy adventure about a boy who must balance his magical education with the demands of big-brotherhood, perfect for fans of Jenny Nimmo and Angie Sage. Henry Leach the Eighth doesn't know it yet, but he's descended from a long line of wandmakers. That means he has inherited mysterious powers, a trunk full of strange artifacts...and a whole host of problems. His biggest problem at the moment, however, is his little sister, Brianna. And she takes troublemaking to new heights when she's caught in the crossfire of Henry's first major spell! 

About the Book

Magic is real --- and it runs in the family --- in this charming fantasy adventure about a boy who must balance his magical education with the demands of big-brotherhood, perfect for fans of Jenny Nimmo and Angie Sage.
 
Henry Leach the Eighth doesn't know it yet, but he's descended from a long line of wandmakers. That means he has inherited mysterious powers, a trunk full of strange artifacts...and a whole host of problems.
 
His biggest problem at the moment, however, is his little sister, Brianna. She's always had a special talent for getting in his way. And she takes troublemaking to new heights when she's caught in the crossfire of Henry's first major spell!
 
Heartfelt, funny, and imaginative, WANDMAKERS is sure to leave young readers spellbound.

Editorial Content for Whoosh!

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Christine M. Irvin
Lonnie Johnson grew up in Mobile, Alabama with his parents and five siblings. As a kid, he enjoyed taking things apart to figure out how they worked. He collected odds and ends and made new things out of them. One of the things he liked to make most was rockets --- but when he tried making rocket fuel, it caught on fire in his mom's kitchen. Instead of scolding him, she simply told him to work on his idea outside and not in the house.
 

Teaser

 

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults.

Promo

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults.

About the Book

A cool idea with a big splash.
 
You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of top 20 toys of all time. And it was invented entirely by accident. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, impressive inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.
 
A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults.

Editorial Content for How it Feels to Fly

Contributors

Reviewer (text)

Chloe Durante

HOW IT FEELS TO FLY by Kathryn Holmes is more than just a story about a girl with body dysmorphia, it is a statement about the epidemic of our body shaming culture.  Read More

Teaser

A struggle with body dysmorphia forces one girl to decide if letting go of her insecurity also means turning her back on her dreams. Sam has always known she’d be a professional dancer --- but that was before her body betrayed her, developing unmanageable curves in all the wrong places. Lately, the girl staring back at Sam in the mirror is unrecognizable. Dieting doesn’t work, ignoring the whispers is pointless and her overbearing mother just makes it worse. This compelling story from Kathryn Holmes examines one girl’s efforts to overcome her worst enemy: herself.

Promo

A struggle with body dysmorphia forces one girl to decide if letting go of her insecurity also means turning her back on her dreams. Sam has always known she’d be a professional dancer --- but that was before her body betrayed her, developing unmanageable curves in all the wrong places. Lately, the girl staring back at Sam in the mirror is unrecognizable. Dieting doesn’t work, ignoring the whispers is pointless and her overbearing mother just makes it worse. This compelling story from Kathryn Holmes examines one girl’s efforts to overcome her worst enemy: herself.

About the Book

A struggle with body dysmorphia forces one girl to decide if letting go of her insecurity also means turning her back on her dreams.
 
Sam has always known she’d be a professional dancer --- but that was before her body betrayed her, developing unmanageable curves in all the wrong places. Lately, the girl staring back at Sam in the mirror is unrecognizable. Dieting doesn’t work, ignoring the whispers is pointless and her overbearing mother just makes it worse.
 
Following a series of crippling anxiety attacks, Sam is sent to a treatment camp for teens struggling with mental and emotional obstacles. Forced to open up to complete strangers, Sam must get through the program if she wants to attend a crucial ballet intensive later in the summer. It seems hopeless until she starts confiding in a camp counselor who sparks a confidence she was sure she’d never feel again. But when she’s faced with disappointing setbacks, will Sam succumb to the insecurity that imprisons her?
 
This compelling story from Kathryn Holmes examines one girl’s efforts to overcome her worst enemy: herself.