Tonight’s December thirty-first,
Something is about to burst.
The clock is crouching, dark and small,
Like a time bomb in the hall.
Hark, it's midnight, children dear.
Duck! Here comes another year!
This month’s Cool and New roundup includes PASSENGER by Alexandra Bracken, the first book in a series of the same name that follows Etta, a talented violinist, and Nicholas, a sea captain, on a time-traveling trip in search of a precious object; FRONT LINES by Michael Grant, which explores an alternate World War II in which women were eligible for the draft; and
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Evie follows her mother’s letters in a P.S. I LOVE YOU fashion, which leads her to Oxford to uncover secrets she never could have imagined. At Oxford, she is immediately enveloped in a circle of friends that includes Edmund, the prince. Despite his royal status, he takes a fancy toward Evie and together, they unravel the secrets Evie’s mother kept from her. Read More
Teaser
In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.
Promo
In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.
About the Book
Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.
In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.
Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong reasons.
Reviewer (text)
Hasnah Farraj
Robin Epstein, best known for co-writing the Worst-Case Scenario series and writing some books in the Groovy Girls Sleepover Club series, comes us to us with a new YA novel, HEAR.
In Epstein’s latest novel, a girl name Kassandra Black is expelled from high school shortly before graduation, and, as a result, her acceptance to Colombia is taken away. Her father arranges for her to work in her great uncle Brian’s lab --- Henley Engineering Anomalies Research (HEAR) --- at Henley University, and hopes that if she does well, she can enroll as a student. Read More
Teaser
Kassandra Black's future depends on behaving herself for the summer at Henley University under the watchful eye of her great-uncle Brian. If she successfully assists him in his HEAR program (Henley Engineering Anomalies Research) and if he puts in a good word for her, she can at least go to college somewhere.
As Kass gets to know the four other HEAR students, she realizes that she overlooked the “Anomalies” part of their acronym. They’ve all been recruited to help Brian run experiments that gauge Extrasensory Perception --- including, to her astonishment, Kass herself. But Kass would know if she were psychic; right?
Promo
Kassandra Black's future depends on behaving herself for the summer at Henley University under the watchful eye of her great-uncle Brian. If she successfully assists him in his HEAR program (Henley Engineering Anomalies Research) and if he puts in a good word for her, she can at least go to college somewhere.
As Kass gets to know the four other HEAR students, she realizes that she overlooked the “Anomalies” part of their acronym. They’ve all been recruited to help Brian run experiments that gauge Extrasensory Perception --- including, to her astonishment, Kass herself. But Kass would know if she were psychic; right?
About the Book
Kassandra Black used to get away with things. She was her high school’s anonymous vigilante, exposing bullies and predators. But when she’s expelled for breaking into another student’s car just weeks before graduation, her acceptance to Columbia is revoked.
Now her future depends on behaving herself for the summer at Henley University under the watchful eye of her great-uncle Brian. If she successfully assists him in his HEAR program (Henley Engineering Anomalies Research) and if he puts in a good word for her, she can at least go to college somewhere.
As Kass gets to know the four other HEAR students, she realizes that she overlooked the “Anomalies” part of their acronym. They’ve all been recruited to help Brian run experiments that gauge Extrasensory Perception --- including, to her astonishment, Kass herself. But Kass would know if she were psychic; right?
Reviewer (text)
Harleen K.
Amanda has been living a life of loneliness and despair ever since her brother, Jonathan, got behind the wheel drunk. She still loves him though, and now that he's being released from prison a year later, she needs to decide whether or not she will let will let him destroy her life along with his. Read More
Teaser
A year and a half ago, Amanda Tart’s brother got behind the wheel drunk, killed his best friend and paralyzed his girlfriend. Today, he’s coming home from prison.
Amanda’s been the one living with the fallout, made worse by her brother’s recent unapologetic TV interview. People think he’s a monster. Still, she loves him. It’s her dark secret, until she starts getting close to Henry again --- whose sister is paralyzed from the accident.
A year and a half ago, her brother destroyed his life. Now Amanda has to decide if she’ll let his choice destroy hers.
Promo
A year and a half ago, Amanda Tart’s brother got behind the wheel drunk, killed his best friend and paralyzed his girlfriend. Today, he’s coming home from prison.
Amanda’s been the one living with the fallout, made worse by her brother’s recent unapologetic TV interview. People think he’s a monster. Still, she loves him. It’s her dark secret, until she starts getting close to Henry again --- whose sister is paralyzed from the accident.
A year and a half ago, her brother destroyed his life. Now Amanda has to decide if she’ll let his choice destroy hers.
About the Book
From Alexis Bass, author of LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES, comes her heartbreakingly beautiful second novel, perfect for fans of Gayle Forman and of Robyn Schneider’s THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING.
A year and a half ago, Amanda Tart’s brother got behind the wheel drunk, killed his best friend and paralyzed his girlfriend. Today, he’s coming home from prison.
Amanda’s been the one living with the fallout, made worse by her brother’s recent unapologetic TV interview. People think he’s a monster. Still, she loves him. It’s her dark secret, until she starts getting close to Henry again --- whose sister is paralyzed from the accident.
A year and a half ago, her brother destroyed his life. Now Amanda has to decide if she’ll let his choice destroy hers.
Reviewer (text)
Alyssa L., Teen Board member
Imagine waking up with a large scar running down the left side of your face with no recollection of how it got there and what occurred the night before. In Barnabas Miller’s third novel, THE GIRL WITH THE WRONG NAME, that’s exactly what occurs to our main character Theo Lane. The night in question is always in Theo’s mind but, as school starts once again, it seems as though everyone ignores it and tries to move on as if it weren’t there. Even though they act normal, everything seems different for Theo. Read More
Teaser
Ever since The Night in Question left her with a hideous scar and no memory of what happened, Theo Lane has been using a hidden button cam to keep the world at bay. She spends the entire summer in a Manhattan café, secretly documenting random “subjects.”Her most interesting subject is the Lost Boy, a stranger who comes in every day at the same time. When she finally gets up the courage to talk to him she discovers why: the Lost Boy, Andy, is waiting for someone who said she’d meet him there…four days ago. Intoxicated by Andy’s love for this mystery girl, Theo agrees to help him find her, and her unhealthy obsession pulls her into a perilous, mind-bending journey. But is it really Andy’s world she’s investigating? Or is it her own?
Promo
Ever since The Night in Question left her with a hideous scar and no memory of what happened, Theo Lane has been using a hidden button cam to keep the world at bay. She spends the entire summer in a Manhattan café, secretly documenting random “subjects.”Her most interesting subject is the Lost Boy, a stranger who comes in every day at the same time. When she finally gets up the courage to talk to him she discovers why: the Lost Boy, Andy, is waiting for someone who said she’d meet him there…four days ago. Intoxicated by Andy’s love for this mystery girl, Theo agrees to help him find her, and her unhealthy obsession pulls her into a perilous, mind-bending journey. But is it really Andy’s world she’s investigating? Or is it her own?
About the Book
Ever since The Night in Question left her with a hideous scar and no memory of what happened, Theo Lane has been hiding. An aspiring filmmaker, she uses a hidden button cam to keep the world at bay. She spends the entire summer in a Manhattan café, secretly documenting random “subjects.”
Once school starts, Theo finds her best friend has morphed into a flirtatious, short-skirt-clad stranger. Everyone ignores the scar. As if that will make it go away. The café remains her lunchtime refuge.
Her most interesting subject is the Lost Boy, a stranger who comes in every day at the same time. When she finally gets up the courage to talk to him she discovers why: the Lost Boy, Andy, is waiting for someone who said she’d meet him there…four days ago. Intoxicated by Andy’s love for this mystery girl, Theo agrees to help him find her, and her unhealthy obsession pulls her into a perilous, mind-bending journey. But is it really Andy’s world she’s investigating? Or is it her own?
The trick to not growing old is to: Stay curious. Keep your teeth. Stay hopeful. Do everything gracefully, yet kick when you have to.
Attribution
Carew Papritz
