Saturday, July 4, 2020

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:
Image: Scholastic Inc.

The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg. 396 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., September 1, 2020. 9781338325058.

Publisher synopsis: 
Aaron and Tillie don't know each other, but they are both feeling suicidal, and arrive at the George Washington Bridge at the same time, intending to jump. Aaron is a gay misfit struggling with depression and loneliness. Tillie isn't sure what her problem is — only that she will never be good enough.
On the bridge, there are four things that could happen:

Aaron jumps and Tillie doesn't.

Tillie jumps and Aaron doesn't.


They both jump.

Neither of them jumps.

Or maybe all four things happen, in this astonishing and insightful novel from Bill Konigsberg.


My crazy shepherd goes nuts barking at anything - the dogs across the way, the mail person (we had to move our mailbox to the curb), anyone strolling in my cul de sac and most especially any delivery person - UPS, FedEx, AZ, you name it. Packages are usually for my shopaholic hubby; but last Saturday afternoon it was for me! Made my day! Coincidentally, I had just finished reading The Music of What Happens with my ears. I am a huge fan. I cannot wait to dive into this one. 

Purchased: Spending the last of my AZ gift cards.


Image: RHGraphic
Stepping Stones (Peapod Farms #1) by Lucy Knisley. Colored by Whitney Coger. 218 p. RH Graphic/ Random House Childrens Books/ Penguin Random House, May, 2020. 9781984896841.

Publisher synopsis: This contemporary middle-grade graphic novel about family and belonging from New York Times bestselling author Lucy Knisley is a perfect read for fans of Awkward and Be Prepared.

Jen is used to not getting what she wants. So suddenly moving the country and getting new stepsisters shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Jen did not want to leave the city. She did not want to move to a farm with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend, Walter. She did not want to leave her friends and her dad.

Most of all, Jen did not want to get new "sisters," Andy and Reese.

As if learning new chores on Peapod Farm wasn't hard enough, having to deal with perfect-at-everything Andy might be the last straw for Jen. Besides cleaning the chicken coop, trying to keep up with the customers at the local farmers' market, and missing her old life, Jen has to deal with her own insecurities about this new family . . . and where she fits in.



Image: Firefly Books
The Plastic Problem by Rachel Salt. 80 p. Firefly Books Ltd. September, 2020. 9780228102311.

Publisher synopsis: The shocking truth of plastic's impact on our planet — and what we can do about it.

The data is in and it's bad. We create and throw away too much plastic, and it is killing our planet. However, too many people have very little idea about just how far this problem reaches, and those who do know feel helpless with the enormity of the task at hand.

To fill this void and provide some hope is Rachel Salt's simple and transformative book, The Plastic Problem.

As a producer for the award-winning and wildly popular YouTube channel AsapSCIENCE, Salt is accustomed to taking big, complicated concepts and translating them into entertaining and easy-to-understand segments. She applies the same methodology to The Plastic Problem. The result is a critically important book that will change the lives of those who read it. Never before has the problem been presented in such an impactful way. Readers of any age will emerge from this book with a thorough understanding of the problem, its individual and global impacts, and — most importantly — hope for the future.

I have read and reviewed this already.


Image: Penguin Random House
Layoverland by Gabby Noone. 302 p. Razorbill/ Penguin Young Readers Group/ Penguin Random House, January, 2020. 9781984836120.

Publisher synopsis: Beatrice Fox deserves to go straight to hell.

At least, that's what she believes. Her last day on Earth, she ruined the life of the person she loves most—her little sister, Emmy. So when Bea awakens from a fatal car accident to find herself on an airplane headed who knows where, she's confused, to say the least.

Once on the ground, Bea receives some truly harrowing news: she's in purgatory. If she ever wants to catch a flight to heaven, she'll have to help five thousand souls figure out what's keeping them from moving on.

But one of Bea's first assignments is Caleb, the boy who caused her accident, and the last person Bea would ever want to send to the pearly gates. And as much as Bea would love to see Caleb suffer for dooming her to a seemingly endless future of eating bad airport food and listening to other people's problems, she can't help but notice that he's kind of cute, and sort of sweet, and that maybe, despite her best efforts, she's totally falling for him.

From debut author Gabby Noone comes a darkly hilarious and heartfelt twist on the afterlife about finding second chances, first loves, and new friendships in the most unlikely places.



Image: HarperCollins Publishers
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles. 392 p. HarperTeen/ HarperCollins Publishers, January, 2020. 9780062349194.

Publisher synopsis: In his first contemporary teen novel, critically acclaimed author and two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles spotlights the consequences of societal pressure, confronts toxic masculinity, and explores the complexity of what it means to be a “real man.”

Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.

His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed.

With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?


If you leave a comment, leave the link to your stack. I will pop by and to check out your stack!

2 comments:

  1. The Bridge sounds like it will be amazing. Such a serious topic and from the blurb I really want to know how it all turns out. My daughter is really into middle grade graphic novels right now, so I'll have to look into Lucy Knisley. It sounds right up her alley. Not So Pure and Simple also sounds good. I hope you enjoy all of these when you read them! Have a great weekend. Stay safe and well.

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