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:

Mayday by Karen Harrington. 342 p. Little, Brown and Company, May 24, 2016. 9780316298001.

Publisher synopsis: Wayne Kovok lives in a world of After. After his uncle in the army was killed overseas. After Wayne and his mother survived a plane crash while coming back from the funeral. After he lost his voice.

Wayne has always used his love of facts to communicate ("Did you know more people die each year from shaking a vending machine than from shark attacks?"). Without his voice, how will he wow the prettiest girl in school? How will he stand up to his drill-sergeant grandfather? And how will he share his hopes with his deadbeat dad? It's not until Wayne loses his voice completely that he realizes how much he doesn't say.

Filled with Karen Harrington's signature heart and humor, Mayday tackles an unforgettable journey of family and friendship.
Man, did I fall in love with Karen Harrington's debut, Sure Signs of Crazy! Her sophomore offering, Courage for Beginners cemented her in my "automatic purchase" category. I am so looking forward to this!

Not if I See You First by Eric Lindstrom. 310 p. Little, Brown and Company, December 1, 2015. 9780316259859.

Publisher synopsis: The Rules:

Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.

Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.

Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter.

Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.

When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened—both with Scott, and her dad—the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

Combining a fiercely engaging voice with true heart, debut author Eric Lindstrom's Not If I See You First illuminates those blind spots that we all have in life, whether visually impaired or not.

I learned about this at the SLJ SummerTeen a few weeks ago and am very excited to read this!

Waiting on Wednesday: Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles we can't wait to release.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series #3. 464 p. Quirk Publishing, September 22, 2015. 

Publisher synopsis: Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They’ll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. . . . Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be? This action-packed adventure features more than 50 all-new Peculiar photographs.

I recently read the first two installments with my ears. While, admittedly, a I lost a bit by not being able to see the photographs, I must say, the performance of book #2 by Kirby Heyborne was absolutely stunning. Not sure how I will read book three but I am so on board, and, kind of glad I don't have to wait. #benefitsofwaiting

Non-Fiction Monday: Egg: nature's perfect package by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Egg: nature's perfect package by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. unpgd. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, March, 2015. 9780547959092. (Purchased)

Eggs may be the perfect protein but they are also the perfect package. Jenkins and Page are back with a gorgeous volume that looks at and explains eggs of all sorts - how big they are; what they look like; how parents protect their potential offspring; and how they are incubated (not all eggs are warmed by parental bodies). As usual, the facts are cogent and interesting and the collage illustrations are gorgeous. Report writers can also consult the backmatter, where thumbnail reproductions of the illustrations are accompanied by additional facts.

Really, spend some time poring over this one. There's so much to absorb and the presentation is so appealing. Books by this husband and wife team are automatic purchases for me and should be for school and public libraries. 

Friday Memes: Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly. 334 p. Kathy Dawson Books/ Penguin Books (USA) LLC, August, 2015. 9780525428404.

Publisher synopsis: Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in this story of a wisecracking girl who meets a weird but brilliant boy and their roller-coaster of a semester that’s one part awkward, three parts thrilling, and five parts awesome

When Philip Digby first shows up on her doorstep, Zoe Webster is not impressed. He's rude and he treats her like a book he's already read and knows the ending to. But before she knows it, Digby—annoying, brilliant and somehow attractive?—has dragged her into a series of hilarious and dangerous situations all related to an investigation into the kidnapping of a local teenage girl. A kidnapping that may be connected to the tragic disappearance of his own sister eight years ago.

When it comes to Digby, Zoe just can't say no. Digby gets her, even though she barely gets herself. But is Digby a hero, or is his manic quest an indication of a desperate attempt to repair his broken family and exercise his own obsessive compulsive tendencies? 

A romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a crime novel where catching the crook isn't the only hook, a friendship story where they aren't even sure they like each other—this is a contemporary debut with razor-sharp dialogue, ridiculously funny action, and the most charismatic dynamic duo you've ever met. 

First Line(s): Of course I didn't like Digby when I first met him. No one does. He's rude, he doesn't ever take no for an answer, and he treats you like a book he's already read and knows the ending to even if you yourself didn't yet.

Page 56: "Okay-gotta go." Digby grabbed his tray and got up.
     "Where are you going?"
     "Take care of some business. I'll pick you up at your place."
     "I'm not going with you," I said.
     "Okay, great, see you at eight," he said.

Can't remember where I found out about this quirky, funny, suspenseful novel, but I am enjoying it so far.

Blog Tour: That's (Not) Mine by Anna Kang

That's (Not) Mine by Anna Kang. Illustrated by Christopher Weyant. Unpgd. Two Lions/ Amazon Children's Publishing, September 1, 2015. 9781477826393. (Finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media for review.)

One of the hardest, most fundamental of early childhood lessons to learn is the concept of sharing. This hilariously simple book conveys this lesson ingeniously and humorously. The same adorable pair of creatures that starred in the author/ illustrator team's Geisel Award-winning debut, You are (Not) Small, return. Big bear is settled into a comfy chair knitting when little bear announces that the chair is "Mine!" 

Little bear asserts that he had been sitting in the chair before as proof of ownership. Big bear blithely announces, "I'm sitting in it now." Little Bear comes up with creative but ultimately disastrous solution and the situation escalates until they apologize to each other and decide to play outside together, whereupon a third creature announces, "That's mine!"

This familiar argument is humorously and energetically illustrated with minimal yet expressive body language and facial expressions. It's sure to be a story-time/ bed-time hit with repeated requests for rereads. It's ingenious in its beautiful simplicity, which perfectly captures the drama but gently imparts the message. Perfectly relatable to all age groups and a valuable addition to elementary and public libraries. Don't miss this gem!

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:

Pete Milano's Guide to Being a Movie Star by Tommy Greenwald. Illustrated by Rebecca Roher. 249 p. Roaring Brook Press, February 16, 2016. 9781626721678.

Publisher synopsis: Pete Milano has always been the class clown and proud of it. What's the point of having friends if you can't make them laugh, right? Even if doing so does have the unfortunate side effect of constantly getting him into trouble. But, for once, Pete's tricks have led him to just the right place at just the right time. Now he's about to become famous, because he's been asked to audition for the hottest new indie movie with the hottest girl costar. But balancing real life with life on set is way harder than it sounds. Will Pete's newfound fame mean losing his girlfriend and all his friends?

You Can't See the Elephants by Susan Kreller. Translated by Elizabeth Gaffney. 179 p. G. P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Young Readers Group, October 13, 2015. 9780399172090.

Publisher synopsis: One brave girl takes an extreme step to protect two abused children.

When thirteen-year-old Mascha is sent to her grandparents' for the summer, she spends her days bored and lonely at a nearby playground. There she meets Julia and Max, two young siblings who are incredibly shy and withdrawn. Mascha soon begins to suspect that they are being physically abused by their father, a prominent member of their small community. She tells her grandparents and the authorities, but they all refuse to believe her.

Mascha can’t let the abuse go on, so she takes matters into her own hands. Already an international award winner, this beautifully written novel is a haunting and timely tale.

That's what's new with me. What's new with you?

Friday Memes: Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly. 334 p. Kathy Dawson Books/ Penguin Group (USA) LLC. August, 2015. 9780525428404.

Publisher synopsis: Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in this story of a wisecracking girl who meets a weird but brilliant boy and their roller-coaster of a semester that’s one part awkward, three parts thrilling, and five parts awesome

When Philip Digby first shows up on her doorstep, Zoe Webster is not impressed. He's rude and he treats her like a book he's already read and knows the ending to. But before she knows it, Digby—annoying, brilliant and somehow attractive?—has dragged her into a series of hilarious and dangerous situations all related to an investigation into the kidnapping of a local teenage girl. A kidnapping that may be connected to the tragic disappearance of his own sister eight years ago.

When it comes to Digby, Zoe just can't say no. Digby gets her, even though she barely gets herself. But is Digby a hero, or is his manic quest an indication of a desperate attempt to repair his broken family and exercise his own obsessive compulsive tendencies? 

A romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a crime novel where catching the crook isn't the only hook, a friendship story where they aren't even sure they like each other—this is a contemporary debut with razor-sharp dialogue, ridiculously funny action, and the most charismatic dynamic duo you've ever met. 

First Line(s): Of course I didn't like Digby when I first met him. No one does. He's rude, he doesn't ever take no for an answer, and he treats you like a book he's already read and knows the ending to even if you yourself didn't yet.

Page 56: What are the chances he;ll give me an F if I complain to the principal?
     Like, a hundred percent. Bur you might as well since he's gonna fail you anyway because you're partners with me."
     "That's just great. So what about my computer?"
     Dominic let Felix looking meserable.
     "Yeah, this is definitely something else." Digby said. "Oh, and...I was about to tell you this morning, when the Children of the Corn jumped us. I read Shell's records. Guess What? Marina saw him right before she disappeared."

I already love this book based just upon the cover/ author jacket info alone. The author photo mimics the cover and the back cover shows a boy in a suit holding binoculars with a female silhouette in the lens. Very cool.