What's New? Stacking the Shelves - ALA - Box 2

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

The second and third boxes I shipped from ALA arrived earlier this week. I am drowning in books and haven't been reading much because I had three days of PD this week and little energy. I'll post the contents of box 3 next week.

Sophomores and Other Oxymorons by David Lubar. 432 p. Penguin Young Readers Group, August 18, 2015. 9780525429708.

Publisher synopsis: Scott Hudson has somehow managed to survive Freshman year. But with a new baby brother in the house and a whole host of adventures awaiting him at school, Sophomore year promises to be anything but boring.

An honest and funny follow-up to the popular Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, award-winning author David Lubar pens a tale that perfectly captures the ridiculous, tumultuous, and sometimes heartbreaking truths about high school.

Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing, Sort Of by L. Pichon. Tom Gates series #3. 416 p. Candlewick Press, September 8, 2015. 9780763674731.

Publisher synopsis: Things are looking up for Tom Gates. The school dance is coming up, and his birthday, too! What could possibly put him in a bad mood? Well, the words math lesson, for one thing. And that annoying twit Marcus Meldrew at school. And Granny Mavis threatening to bake Tom’s birthday cake (carrots!). And the fact that nobody seems to be noticing the long list of birthday presents Tom has prominently displayed. Worst of all, can it be true that Tom’s dad has volunteered to deejay the school dance wearing the wacky costume from his new job?

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel. 256 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, October 6, 2015. 9781481432320.

Publisher synopsis: Steve just wants to save his baby brother—but what will he lose in the bargain? This is a haunting gothic tale for fans of Coraline, from acclaimed author Kenneth Oppel (Silverwing, The Boundless) with illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.

For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.

All he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?

Celebrated author Kenneth Oppel creates an eerie masterpiece in this compelling story that explores disability and diversity, fears and dreams, and what ultimately makes a family. Includes illustrations from celebrated artist Jon Klassen.

The Fall by James Preller. 208 p. Feiwel & Friends, September 28, 2015. 9780312643010.

Publisher synopsis: The summer before school starts, Sam's friend and classmate Morgan Mallen kills herself. Morgan had been bullied. Maybe she kissed the wrong boy. Or said the wrong thing. What about that selfie that made the rounds? Morgan was this, and Morgan was that. But who really knows what happened?

As Sam explores the events leading up to the tragedy, he must face a difficult and life-changing question: Why did he keep his friendship with Morgan a secret? And could he have done something-anything-to prevent her final actions?

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. 192 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, October 6, 2015. 9780544462229.

Publisher synopsis: Jack, 12, tells the gripping story of Joseph, 14, who joins his family as a foster child. Damaged in prison, Joseph wants nothing more than to find his baby daughter, Jupiter, whom he has never seen. When Joseph has begun to believe he’ll have a future, he is confronted by demons from his past that force a tragic sacrifice.

The Terrible Two Get Worse by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. The Terrible Two #2. 224 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, January, 2016. 9781419716805.

Publisher synopsis: On their own, pranksters Miles and Niles were pretty devious. Now that they’ve formed a pranking duo, they’re terrible! But their powers will be tested when their favorite nemesis, Principal Barkin, is replaced by his stern and cunning father, Former Principal Barkin. Now Miles and Niles will do just about anything to get their old antagonist back—including pranking alongside him.

Milo Speck, Accidental Agent by Linda Urban. 272 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 1, 2015. 9780544419513.

Publisher synopsis: Milo’s just a regular kid from Downriver. So what can he possibly do about all the startling events that unfold when he finds himself in a crazy place called Ogregon? An imaginative and comic fantasy-adventure from acclaimed author Linda Urban.

Won: (!) To top off my embarrassment of riches, I won this from a Simon & Schuster giveaway!

A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder. 146 p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, September 8, 2015. 9781481445764. 

Publisher synopsis: In a small river village where the water is cursed, a girl’s bravery could mean the difference between life and death in this lilting, luminous tale from the author of Parched and Audacity.

Along a lively river, in a village raised on stilts, lives a girl named Luna. All her life she has heard tales of the time before the dam appeared, when sprites danced in the currents and no one got the mysterious wasting illness from a mouthful of river water. These are just stories, though—no sensible person would believe in such things.

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