A couple of new series launch, others continue — and many, many delightful new stand-alone books. All in time for summer reading purchases and your library hold lists. Here we go:
The Education of Ivy Blake by Ellen Airgood
Ivy has loved living with her best friend, Prairie, and being part of Prairie’s lively, happy family. But now Ivy’s mom has decided to take her back. Ivy tries to pretend everything is fine, but her mom’s neglect and embarrassing public tantrums often make Ivy feel ashamed and alone. Fortunately, Ivy is able to find solace in art, in movies, and from the pleasure she finds in observing and appreciating life’s small, beautiful moments. And when things with her mom reach the tipping point, this ability gives her the strength and power to push on and shape her own future.
The Dungeoneers by John David Anderson
In an effort to help make ends meet, Colm uses his natural gift for pickpocketing to pilfer a pile of gold from the richer residents of town, but his actions place him at the mercy of a mysterious man named Finn Argos, a gilded-toothed, smooth-tongued rogue who gives Colm a choice: he can be punished for his thievery, or he can become a member of Thwodin’s Legions, a guild of dungeoneers who take what they want and live as they will.
Of Enemies and Endings by Shelby Bach
Conclusion to the Ever After series. The whole fairy-tale world is on high alert. The Snow Queen and her minions are targeting Characters, and Ever After School is the only safe refuge left. Rory Landon knows a final confrontation is inevitable, and she worries about the safety of her family and friends–particularly Chase, who has been acting very strange lately. Will Rory be able to count on Chase when she needs him most? Can she put an end to the Snow Queen’s terrible reign once and for all? It’s time for Rory to find out if her tale ends in happily-ever-after.
Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Eleven-year-old Ruby Danes is about to start middle school, and only her aunt knows her deepest, darkest, most secret secret: her mother is in prison. Then Margalit Tipps moves into Ruby’s condo complex, and the two immediately hit it off. Ruby thinks she’s found her first true-blue friend–but can she tell Margalit the truth about her mom? Maybe not. Because it turns out that Margalit’s family history seems closely connected to the very event that put her mother in prison, and if Ruby comes clean, she could lose everything she cares about most.
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn t approve, Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other the Man Who Bends Light. Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. The Circus is real. And the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather. The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn’t want to keep his promise. And now it’s up to Micah to get the miracle he came for.
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it’s the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. When Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book that might have a copy of the new game, they , which they rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold’s new game–before those who attacked Griswold come after them, too.
The Wand & the Sea by Claire M. Caterer
Holly and Ben are back, hoping to again join Everett and return to Anglielle, the land ruled by a ruthless king and sorcerer who have outlawed magic.
But when they arrive, Anglielle is not what they expect: Their friends are imprisoned and the alliance is scattered. Ruthless King Reynard and the sorcerer Raethius are determined to find the very Adepts they exiled in the first place. But why? It’s up to Holly and the boys to sail to the Isle of Exile and find the Adepts first, but that means enlisting the help of the Water Elementals–and a pirate captain with a secret agenda.
I Text Dead People by Rose Cooper
Annabel Craven’s worried she’ll be friendless and phoneless at the Academy. But when she finds a mysterious phone in the woods near the cemetery, one of her problems is solved . . . and another one is just beginning. Someone won’t stop texting her. And that someone seems . . . dead. How is Annabel supposed to make friends when her phone keeps blowing up with messages from the afterlife? And what will happen if she doesn’t text back?
Raising Rufus by David Fulk
Martin stumbles across an egg, which is remarkable in itself … but then a week later he finds himself taking care of a Tyrannosaurus rex. As the summer unfolds, Martin finds it harder and harder to keep Rufus hidden from rest of the world. Can Martin save Rufus from his parents, his neighbors, and most importantly, the owner of the town carnival? With the help of his best friend, Audrey, and his science teacher, Mr. Ekhart, Martin must uncover his inner hero and find Rufus a home, even if it means losing the one thing he’s come to really care about.
Mothman’s Curse by Christine Hayes
Josie may live in the most haunted town in America, but the only strange thing she ever sees is the parade of oddball customers that comes through her family’s auction house each week. When she and her brothers discover a Polaroid camera that prints pictures of the ghost of local recluse John Goodrich, they are drawn into a mystery dating back over a hundred years. A desperate spirit, cursed jewelry, natural disasters, and the horrible specter of Mothman all weave in and out of the puzzle that Josie must solve to break the curse and save her own life.
The Sign of the Cat by Lynne Jonell
Duncan is very smart. He also has a most unusual gift. So why does his mother encourage him to be perfectly average and insist he only get mediocre grades ? His special talent is the ability to talk to cats–but Duncan longs more than anything for academic success. When Duncan rebels and gets a perfect test score, people start taking notice of him. And it turns out that some of those people may not have the best intentions . . . not by a long shot.
Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson
Tabitha Crum, who never goes anywhere without her pet mouse Pemberley, receives one of six invitations to the country estate of wealthy Countess Camilla DeMoss. Upon the children’s arrival at the sprawling (and possibly haunted) mansion, it turns out the countess has a very big secret–one that will change their lives forever. When children beginning disappearing, one by one. Tabitha takes a cue from her favorite detective novels and, with Pemberley by her side, takes on the case to rescue the other children, who might just be her first real friends.
The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt
Kidnapped, Mabel is forced to serve aboard “The Feroshus Maggot” with the strangest crew you ll ever meet. And the captain an odious wolf named Idryss Ebenezer Split won t let her go until she helps the pirates unlock the treasure they seek.
Mabel’s voyage takes her across the Greasy Pole of Certain Death, into the belly of a whale, and underground to a decrepit crypt. And she does it all in pajamas
Just My Rotten Luck by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
In this seventh Middle School episode, Rafe heads back to the place his misadventures began: the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, where he’s now being forced to take “special” classes and ends up on the school’s football team–alongside his main tormenter, Miller the Killer. Rafe has grand plans for a better year, including a super-secret art project. And he may just have to deal with something completely new: popularity.
Spacejackers by Huw Powell
As a baby, Jake Cutler was separated from his family and left on the planet Remota, deep in the seventh solar system. Eleven years later and Jake isn’t like other boys-he has purple eyes and carries a secret within himself that could change the entire universe. When Remota is attacked by ruthless space pirates on the hunt for Jake, he manages to escape. But now he’s on the run with a bounty hunter and the suspicious-looking crew of a spaceship called the “Dark Horse.” Forced to contend with zero-gravity, shipwrecks, black holes, and countless enemies, Jake must discover the truth about his past before he is hunted down and caught.
Crown of Three by J.D. Rinehart
First in series. Toronia, a kingdom composed of three realms, is wracked with civil war. King Brutan rules with an iron fist. Cruelty and suffering abound. The kingdom’s only hope is a prophecy that the king will have triplets who will one day rebel and take over the throne. Separated at birth and scattered throughout the realms, the triplets face a desperate fight to secure their destiny. Will they survive long enough to rule?
Woundabout by Lev Rosen
Siblings Connor and Cordelia and their pet capybara are sent to the precariously perched town of Woundabout to live with their eccentric aunt. Woundabout is a place where the mayor has declared that routine rules above all, and no one is allowed to as questions–because they should already know the answers. But Connor and Cordelia can’t help their curiosity when they discover a mysterious crank that fits into certain parts of the town, and by winding the crank, places are transformed into something beautiful. When the townspeople see this transformation, they don’t see beauty–they only see change. And change, the mayor says, is something to fear. With the mayor hot on their trail, can Connor and Cordelia find a way to wind Woundabout back to life?
Cassidy’s Guide to Everyday Etiquette (and Obfuscation) by Sue Stauffacher
Eleven-year-old Cassidy has just inherited a gift from her late great-grandmother. Unfortunately, that gift turns out to be a summer trapped in etiquette school. What good are manners, anyway, for a girl who dreams of living life on the road as a hobo er, knight of the road ? As if trying to remember to keep her elbows off the table isn t bad enough, Cassidy’s best friend, Jack, suddenly seems more interested in doing chores for the new teenage girl who’s moved in next door than in fishing with Cassidy down by the river. Not even her classic epic pranks seem to be saving Cassidy from having her worst summer ever. It’s time to face facts: growing up stinks.
Attack of the Alien Horde by Robert Venditti
When twelve-year-old Miles Taylor unexpectedly inherits a golden cape that gives him amazing superpowers, his life instantly changes: he becomes a superhero. For real. With some help from a new friend named Henry, Miles does his best to protect his city. But his skills and courage are about to be put to the ultimate test–an alien horde is working its way toward Earth, with their sights set on the golden cape…and total domination. An adventure story with humor — and comics.
Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White
It’s easy to be brave when your eight-year-old sister, Billie, looks up to you as her protector. Twelve-year-old Liberty feels it’s her job to look after Billie once they are sent to live with their father, whom they haven’t seen since they were very young. Dad is unpredictable on his best days, but when he abandons the girls at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, Liberty’s courage is truly put to the test.
Descriptions and book cover images from IndieBound.
Robert Frost who many young readers enjoy but wanted a woman poet and after a bit of searching remembered Poisoned Apples by Christine Hepperman, a collection of poems based on the Grimm’s fairy tales and exploring the toxicity of the beauty culture for young women—perfect for sparking lots of important conversations between a mom and daughter and spot on for middle school.
