What's New? Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Hop on over there to ogle what other bloggers got this week.

For review:
I recently attended the Penguin Random House spring/summer preview and brought these home with me. Laura Marx Fitzgerald was the special guest and spoke about the inspiration for the book and her love of research. 

The Gallery by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. 336 p. Dial Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Young Readers Group, June 14, 2016. 9780525428657.

Publisher synopsis: A riveting historical art mystery for fans of Chasing Vermeer and The Westing Game, set in the Roaring Twenties!

It's 1929, and twelve-year-old Martha has no choice but to work as a maid in the New York City mansion of the wealthy Sewell family. But, despite the Gatsby-like parties and trimmings of success, she suspects something might be deeply wrong in the household—specifically with Rose Sewell, the formerly vivacious lady of the house who now refuses to leave her room. The other servants say Rose is crazy, but scrappy, strong-willed Martha thinks there’s more to the story—and that the paintings in the Sewell’s gallery contain a hidden message detailing the truth. But in a house filled with secrets, nothing is quite what it seems, and no one is who they say. Can Martha follow the clues, decipher the code, and solve the mystery of what’s really going on with Rose Sewell?

Inspired by true events described in a fascinating author’s note, The Gallery is a 1920s caper told with humor and spunk that readers today will love.

The Inside of Out by Jenn Marie Thorne. 400 p. Dial Books/ Penguin Random House LLC, May 31, 2016. 9780803740587.

Publisher synopsis: For fans of Stephanie Perkins, Meg Cabot, and Glee comes a hilarious, romantic, whip smart young adult novel about your best friend finding love before you do, and the lines you’ll cross to stay part of her life.
 
When her best friend Hannah comes out the day before junior year, Daisy is all set to let her ally flag fly. Before you can spell LGBTQIA, she’s leading the charge to end their school’s antiquated ban on same-sex dates at dances—starting with homecoming. And if people assume Daisy herself is gay? Meh, so what. It’s all for Hannah, right? It’s all for the cause. What Daisy doesn’t expect is for “the cause” to blow up—thanks to Adam, the cute college journalist whose interview with Daisy for his college newspaper goes viral, catching fire in the national media. With the story spinning out of control, protesters gathering, Hannah left in the dust of Daisy’s good intentions, and Daisy’s attraction to Adam practically written in lights, Daisy finds herself caught between her bold plans, her bad decisions, and her big fat mouth.
 
A Clueless or Emma for the modern age, this is a breezy, charming, incisive tale of growing up, getting wise, and realizing every story needs a hero—sometimes it's just not you.
Purchased:
My overseas purchase was delivered. Once I discovered that Morris Gleitzman's Felix and Zelda series had additional titles, I had to have them. Unfortunately, they were only available as ebook purchases or audio here. (I purchased the audios and have already read them - reviews to come.)The books are paperbacks, but that's better than nothing for the author's young fans at my school.

After by Morris Gleitzman. 208 p. Puffin/ Penguin Books Ltd, August, 2012. 9780141343136.

Publisher synopsis: "After" is the fourth shocking, funny and heartbreaking book in Morris Gleitzman's "Second World War" series. After - The Nazis took my parents I was scared. After - They killed my best friend I was angry. After - They ruined my thirteenth birthday I was determined to get to the forest, to join forces with Gabriek and Yuli, to be a family, to defeat the Nazis after all. 

Soon by Morris Gleitzman. 196 p. Puffin/ Penguin Random House UK, August, 2015. 9780141362793.

Publisher synopsis: The Second World War has officially ended, but the streets are still a battleground - for food, for shelter, for protection...Felix is in hiding to stay safe, but finds he has been left holding the baby - literally. An orphaned infant has been left in his care and he will do everything he can to protect the child, in the way a few incredible people did for him during the Holocaust. This powerfully moving addition to Morris Gleitzman's bestselling series about Felix and Zelda takes place in 1945, following the story told in After. This intensely affecting story will move readers of all ages. It will be welcomed by the many Holocaust educators who use Once, Now, Then and After to teach upper primary and lower secondary children and embraced by any reader who loves passionate, moving and brilliant stories.