New Release Round-Up: March 16-22, 2015

Young Adult


Under a Painted Sky
by Stacey Lee

Release date: March 17, 2015
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 384
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Suggested tags: young adult, historical fiction, 19th century



From Goodreads:

"A powerful story of friendship and sacrifice, for fans of Code Name Verity

Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.

This beautifully written debut is an exciting adventure and heart-wrenching survival tale. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship."

The Wrong Side of Right
by Jenn Marie Thorne

Release date: March 17, 2015
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 400
Publisher: Dial Books
Suggested tags: young adult, realistic fiction, romance



From Goodreads:

"Fans of Sarah Dessen and Huntley Fitzpatrick will enjoy this smart debut young adult novel, equal parts My Life Next Door and The Princess Diaries—plus a dash of Aaron Sorkin.

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be. "

Other YA new releases for this week:

Middle Grade


Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions
by Sheila Grau & Joe Sutphin

Release date: March 17, 2015
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 288
Publisher: Amulet Books
Suggested tags: middle grade, fantasy



First in the Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions series. From Goodreads:

"Welcome to Dr. Critchlore’s School for Minions, the premier trainer of minions for Evil Overlords everywhere. No student is prouder to be at Dr. Critchlore’s than Runt Higgins, a twelve-year-old werewolf. (At least he thinks he’s twelve. He was abandoned at the school as a baby, so he can’t say for sure.) Runt loves everything about Dr. Critchlore’s. He loves his classes—like History of Henchmen and Introduction to Explosives. He loves his friends—like Darthin the gargoyle and Syke the tree nymph. And he loves his foster family, who took him in when his wolf pack couldn’t.

But not everyone loves Dr. Critchlore’s as much as Runt. After a series of disasters, each worse than the next, it’s clear that someone is trying to shut the school down. It’s up to Runt, who knows the place better than anybody, to figure out who’s behind the attacks . . . and to save his home, and Dr. Critchlore himself, from total destruction."

If You Find This
by Matthew Baker

Release date: March 17, 2015
Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 368
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Suggested tags: middle grade, adventure



From Goodreads:

"Mixing mystery and adventure in the tradition of Louis Sachar, Avi, and E.L. Konigsburg, If You Find This is the story of unlikely friendships, unexpected bravery and eleven-year-old Nicholas Funes's quest to prove his grandfather's treasure is real.

Nicholas is a math and music genius with no friends and a huge problem: His father has lost his job, and they'll have to sell their house, which holds the only memory Nicholas has of his younger brother. Just in time, Nicholas's senile grandfather arrives, filled with tales of priceless treasure he has hidden somewhere in town--but where?

With the help of misfit classmates, two grandfathers, a ghosthouse, hidden messages, séances, and an uncanny mind for numbers, Nicholas stages a nursing home breakout, tangles with high schoolers in smugglers' tunnels, and gets swept up in a duel with the biggest bullies in the neighborhood. Will it be enough to find the treasure and save his house?"

Other Middle Grade new releases for this week:

Review: The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place
by Julie Berry

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 351
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication date: September 23, 2014
Suggested tags: middle grade, historical fiction, 19th century, England



From Goodreads:

"There's a murderer on the loose—but that doesn't stop the girls of St. Etheldreda's from attempting to hide the death of their headmistress in this rollicking farce.

The students of St. Etheldreda's School for Girls face a bothersome dilemma. Their irascible headmistress, Mrs. Plackett, and her surly brother, Mr. Godding, have been most inconveniently poisoned at Sunday dinner. Now the school will almost certainly be closed and the girls sent home—unless these seven very proper young ladies can hide the murders and convince their neighbors that nothing is wrong.

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place is a smart, hilarious Victorian romp, full of outrageous plot twists, mistaken identities, and mysterious happenings."

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place called to me as soon as I discovered it on Goodreads. It's described as a "rollicking farce" and a "Victorian romp" with "plot twists," "mistaken identities, and mysterious happenings," all commencing with the seven girls at St. Etheldreda's boarding school discovering that their headmistress and her brother have been "most inconveniently poisoned." Hello, charming synopsis, please do add my name to the list of dear readers who just fell in love with you.

The seven girls -  Smooth Kitty, Stout Alice, Dour Elinor, Dear Roberta, Disgraceful Mary Jane, Dull Martha, and Pocked Louise - realize that if their headmistress's murder is discovered, they will all be sent home. And they simply cannot allow that to happen. So, naturally, they hide the bodies and cover up the deaths, going so far as to impersonate their headmistress in order to convince the town that she is still alive and well. I loved it - they have to take their deceptions to such a ridiculous level, you just know it's all going to fall apart spectacularly. And the mystery of the poisoner's identity is there throughout it all, as the girls try to figure out who actually did murder their headmistress, because it couldn't have been one of them... could it?

There were some side stories I enjoyed also, such as poor young Julian, Martha and the neighbor boy, Alice's struggle over playing their headmistress when the young man of her affections was present... However, when each girl began to get paired up with a boy, I found myself losing a little interest. Do they all really need a love match? I thought we were doing fine with the girls themselves, and the two or three genuine budding romances. I felt like the other boys were kind of shoehorned in there, when the sisterhood was doing just fine without them. But that's just me, and it's quite a minor nitpick.

The reveal of the poisoner and the subsequent chapters detailing what will happen to the girls and the school now that the headmistress is gone really made the book for me. I devoured those pages - I just couldn't read fast enough to see how it would all turn out. I've seen a few reviews saying this might be a bit morbid for young readers - and I suppose I could agree with that, if said young readers are uncomfortable with death or hiding/burying bodies. However, I remember being fascinated with darker things like death and ghosts and such when I was younger, so I think I would have enjoyed this one just as much then as I did now. (Although, older "now" me probably appreciated the Victorian farce side of it more than younger me would have.)

Overall, The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place left me charmed, delighted, and scouring the internet to find out if this is the start of a series. Oh, how I would love to see these seven young ladies again!


Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself since I will probably be rereading it. I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place book trailer }

{ Favorite quotes from The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place }

      " 'A toast,' Smooth Kitty cried, feeling almost giddy, 'to self-government. Saint Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies will be run by young ladies from this point forward. Hear, hear!' Great applause.
     'To independence!' added Pocked Louise. 'No fussy old widows telling us when not to speak, and how to set the spoons when an Earl's niece comes to supper. And telling us to leave scientific experiment to the men.' Teacup toasts in support of Louise.
     'To freedom!' chimed in Disgraceful Mary Jane. 'No curfews and evil eyes and lectures on morals and propriety.' Loud, if nervous, cheering.
     'To womankind,' proclaimed Stout Alice. 'Each of us girls free to be what she wishes to be, without glum and crotchety Placketts trying to make us into what we're not.' Tremendous excitement.
     'To sisterhood,' said Dear Roberta, and standing by each other, no matter what.' "

{ More about Julie Berry }

Julie Berry's Goodreads profile
Julie Berry's website
Follow Julie Berry on Twitter
Follow Julie Berry on Facebook

Friday Freebies: July 13, 2012

Click on each title to go to the Amazon Kindle edition listing. Be sure to double-check the price before you download!



Alias Dragonfly
by Jane Singer

Available as: paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 178 (Kindle edition)
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Publication date: November 11, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, historical fiction, 19th century



From Amazon:

"Fifteen years old. Wanted:Dead or Alive

"Don't love a spy," warns fifteen year old Pinkerton agent Maddie Bradford, a lonely, rebellious outsider with a mind on fire and a photographic memory. It is 1861, the Civil War has just started and this motherless teen must move with her soldier-father from New Hampshire to Washington, DC; a city at war, packed cheek by jowl with soldiers, Rebel spies, slave catchers, and traitors of all stripes bent on waging a war of destruction against the Union, and President Lincoln himself.

Maddie's journal, written in secret, of course, begins with her arrival at her aunt's DC boardinghouse through the first year of the Civil War, a time as Maddie puts it, "full of dips and dangers," when she becomes a fearless Union spy. And then there is the mysterious, maddening Jake Whitestone, a young man who awakens something equally dangerous in Maddie: Love in a time of terror.

Civil War historian, author, and lecturer Jane Singer brings her unique voice to Alias Dragonfly."

Change
by Soraya Lane

Available as: Kindle edition
Pages: 193
Publisher: Soraya Lane
Publication date: July 6, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, shapeshifters



From Amazon:

"When her twin sister dies of a mysterious heart condition, Riley King is sent to her grandma’s ranch. But instead of the isolation she’s been aching for, she learns of a family secret that’s been deliberately kept from her, until now.

As if finding out she’s actually a leopard wasn't enough shock for one vacation, Riley meets Hunter Logan … the guy she’s promised to. For life. But Riley has no intention of being told what to do by anyone, certainly not some stubborn, dominant shifter. Even if he can make her purr, her claws are slicing out. Until Riley realizes that not fulfilling her destiny would commit her sister to a life on the other side without her."

Notes to Self
by Avery Sawyer

Available as: Kindle edition
Pages: 158
Publisher: unknown
Publication date: November 20, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, realistic fiction, contemporary



From Amazon:

"Two climbed up. Two fell down.

One woke up.

Robin Saunders is a high school sophomore with an awesome best friend, a hard-working single mom, and a complicated relationship with a sweet guy named Reno. She's coasting along, trying to get through yet another tedious year of high school, when Em suggests something daring. They live in Florida-- tourist central--and Emily wants to sneak into a theme park after midnight and see what they're made of.

When things get out of control, Robin wakes up in a hospital bed and Emily doesn't wake up at all. Just getting dressed becomes an ordeal as Robin tries to heal and piece together the details of that terrible night. Racing to remember everything in the hopes of saving Emily, Robin writes a series of notes to herself to discover the truth.

Gr. 8-12. Adult language."

The Sea King's Daughter
by Miranda Simon

Available as: Kindle edition
Pages: 110
Publisher: unknown
Publication date: July 5, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, fairy tales, retellings



From Amazon:

"What would you sacrifice for love? Nyx, the sea king's youngest daughter, detests her underwater palace; she yearns for the sunlit world above the waves. After the young mermaid rescues a human from drowning, she is determined to be with him at any cost. But life on land is not at all as she dreamed, and the price of happiness may be higher than she ever imagined. Love and heartbreak intertwine in this breathtakingly romantic retelling of 'The Little Mermaid' -- a classic story that comes to life in 'The Sea King's Daughter'."

In My Mailbox #7

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren as a way to highlight the books you receive every week (or so). A full explanation and rules can be found here.




From Goodreads First Reads:


Tiger Lily
by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release date: July 3, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, fantasy, retellings



A retelling of Peter Pan, focusing on Tiger Lily? Oh my goodness. SWOON.

From Goodreads:

"Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart."

From the bookstore:

Cleopatra's Daughter
by Michelle Moran

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 448
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Publication date: July 13, 2010
Suggested tags: young adult, historical fiction, Egypt



Not sure if this is YA or Adult historical fiction, but it is indeed historical fiction, in Egypt, around the time of Cleopatra, so either way I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it.

From Goodreads:

"The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts."

Moloka'i
by Alan Brennert

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 384
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication date: October 4, 2004
Suggested tags: young adult, historical fiction, 19th century



Also not sure if this is actually YA or Adult, but it's been on my to-read list for a long time, and I got it on sale. :D

From Goodreads:

"This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai'i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place---and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end---but instead she discovers it is only just beginning."

From the library:

Entwined
by Heather Dixon

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 480
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication date: March 29, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, fairy tales, retellings



A retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses that I got on CD for my commute to work. So far, I'm torn - great writing, weak plot.

From Goodreads:

"Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it’s taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late."

Friday Finds #7

Friday Finds is hosted by Should Be Reading. Each Friday, you share the great books you heard about or discovered over the past week: "books you were told about, books you discovered while browsing blogs/bookstores online, or books that you actually purchased."




Halflings
by Heather Burch

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 287
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Publication date: January 17, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, angels



First in the Halflings series. From Goodreads:

"After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world."

Replay
by Keira Lea

Available as: Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 168
Publisher: Keira Lea Books
Publication date: April 12, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal



From Goodreads:

"Kelsee Lewis has a new school, a prima donna best friend, and one week to write a hit play. Throw in a self-obsessed mom and an absent executive dad, and it’s no wonder she has panic attacks—complete with time-warp special effects. When Kelsee meets comic book maven Quinn, she realizes the attacks give her the ability to rewind time.

Replaying life seems like the best way to erase mistakes. But will second chances leave Kelsee flailing in the orchestra pit alone?"

Silver
by Rhiannon Held

Available as: paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 320
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Release date: June 5, 2012
Suggested tags: young adult, paranormal, werewolves



From Goodreads:

"Andrew Dare is a werewolf. He’s the enforcer for the Roanoke pack, and responsible for capturing or killing any Were intruders in Roanoke’s territory. But the lone Were he’s tracking doesn’t smell or act like anyone he’s ever encountered. And when he catches her, it doesn’t get any better. She’s beautiful, she’s crazy, and someone has tortured her by injecting silver into her veins. She says her name is Silver, and that she’s lost her wild self and can’t shift any more.

The packs in North America have a live-and-let-live attitude, and try not to overlap with each other. But Silver represents a terrible threat to every Were on the continent.

Andrew and Silver will join forces to track down this menace while discovering their own power and their passion for each other."

The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed
by Heather Vogel Frederick

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 224
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 28, 2002
Suggested tags: middle grade, adventure, historical fiction, 19th century



From Goodreads:

"October 1835. Patience Goodspeed, almost thirteen years old, departs from Nantucket aboard her father's whaling ship. Between kitchen duty and whale blubber stench, this voyage is far from a pleasure cruise. At least Papa lets Patience assist the ship's navigator since she's so good at calculations. But the smooth sailing doesn't last long. Mutinous mates maroon most of the crew, including Patience's father and brother, on a deserted island. Can Patience rescue everyone before it's too late?"