Waiting on Wednesday: The Sun and the Star: a Nico DiAngelo Adventure by Rick Riordan and Rick Oshiro.

Image: Disney 

The Sun and the Star: a Nico DiAngelo Adventure by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro. 480 p. Disney Hyperion, May 2, 2023. 9781368081153. 

Waiting on Wednesday features The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro. I had totally forgotten that there were plans to develop the romance between Nico and Will! Yay" The book will release on May 2. Here's the publisher synopsis: 

Demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace must endure the terrors of Tartarus to rescue an old friend in this thrilling adventure co-written by New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan and award-winning author Mark Oshiro.

Percy Jackson fans, rejoice! Nico and Will have a book of their own!

As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life–literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. Together the two demigods can overcome any obstacle or foe. At least, that’s been the case so far . . .

Now Nico is being plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. He thinks he knows who it is: a reformed Titan named Bob whom Percy and Annabeth had to leave behind when they escaped Hades’s realm. Nico’s dreams and Rachel Dare’s latest prophecy leave little doubt in Nico’s mind that Bob is in some kind of trouble. Nico has to go on this quest, whether Mr. D and Chiron like it or not. And of course Will insists on coming with. But can a being made of light survive in the darkest part of the world? and what does the prophecy mean that Nico will have to “leave something of equal value behind?”

Nico will have to face demons both internal and external as his relationship with Will is tested to the core in this standalone adventure featuring two of the most popular characters in the Percy Jackson saga.

Teen Tuesday: Unraveller by Frances Hardinge

Image: Abrams Books

Unraveller by Frances Hardinge. 432 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, January, 2023. 9781419759314. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Fifteen-year-old Kellen is blunt, off-putting and easily irritated. He also has a singular talent that the residents of Raddith find useful. He's an unraveller and there are quite a number of residents who need their curses unravelled, including Kellen's traveling companion, Nettle, who was cursed into a heron's body and was unravelled by Kellen. She is now his traveling companion. 

Curses spring from curse eggs and can appear at any time, but is usually brought on by intense hatred. There is a government department, the Chancery, devoted to rounding up the cursers and separating them from society. Cursers are remanded to the Red Hospital, presumably for treatment, but it's little more than a prison. The unravelled also tend to suffer from PTSD and are never the same. 

There is a quiet revolution afoot. Someone is releasing captive cursers and there may a traitor among the Chancery! Kellen and Nettle receive an invitation from a mysterious one-eyed man who drives a carriage pulled by a marsh horse. But as they venture deeper into the Wilds, Kellen and Nettle no longer know whom they can trust. 

This was absolutely exquisite. I wanted to swallow it whole due to the suspense and mystery, but slowed to savor the absolutely lovely writing, flawed and complex characters and vivid world building. It's definitely a book I would reread! Highly recommended!

Middle Grade Monday: Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas and illustrated by Bonaia Rosado. 272 p. Extraordinary Leon #1. Graphix/ Scholastic, October, 2022. 9781338744163. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! I am back to school after a week-long February break. It wasn't as productive as I wanted, but I got some of the chores done, attended a yoga class each day and took Boo for plenty of walks. The big news at school this morning is the anticipated snow day. Apparently, our area is bracing for six to eight inches! We'll see.

Middle Grade Monday features Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas and illustrated by Bonaia Rosado. Middle school student Leon doesn't have two things he desires - a cell phone and superpowers. He lives in a city where superheroes and villains coexist and where all of his classmates have cell phones. He lives in an apartment with his single mom, who is a nurse and his best friend lives one floor down. Leon has fashioned a green super hero outfit complete with cape and a utility belt despite being teased as a loser by his ex-friend Clementine, who is a shape-shifter and heads the hall monitor squad. Leon is an upstander, one who is quick to defend his classmates against bullies. After Clementine humiliates Leon at her birthday party, her parents ground her and take away the cell phone she was to receive as a present. The following day at school, Leon notices that all the kids seem glued to their phones in a zombie-like state except for Clementine and him. He reluctantly teams up with her to get to the bottom of the zombie apocalypse.

The action is brisk in this brightly painted graphic novel and series beginner. There's plenty of humor as well as realistic school drama from weird lunches to weird classmates. Leon the Extraordinary is Mr. Nicholas' debut. I'm looking forward to being entertained in the next installment. 

What's New?

"Stacking the Shelves" was a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It seems the blog is gone though, so I will just continue to post a "What's New? post whenever I receive new books. 

For Review: nothing

Purchased: I spent some AZ gift card money for these:

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery based on the novel by Anne M. Martin with art by Cynthia Yuan Cheng. The Babysitters Club #13. 176 p. Graphix/ Scholastic Inc., December, 2022. 9781338616101.

Publisher synopsis: Mary Anne should never have thrown away that chain letter she got in the mail. Ever since she did, bad things have been happening to everyone in the Baby-sitters Club. With Halloween coming up, Mary Anne's even more worried -- what kind of spooky thing will happen next?

Then Mary Anne finds a new note in her mailbox: Wear this bad-luck charm, it says. OR ELSE. Mary Anne has to follow the note's instructions. But who sent the charm? And why did they send it to Mary Anne?

The BSC might never see an end to their bad luck if they don't solve this mystery soon!

Image: Simon & Schuster

Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs. 320 p. FunJungle series #8. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, February, 2023. 9781534499317.

Publisher synopsis: In the eighth novel in New York Times bestselling Stuart Gibbs’s FunJungle series, Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle’s resident sleuth to find the culprits behind a blown-up whale and a string of beach sand thefts.

After an escaped kangaroo starts a fire that burns down his house, Teddy Fitzroy accepts an invitation to go to Malibu with his girlfriend, Summer, and her mother, Kandace. He’s hoping to spend some time relaxing on the beach, but wherever Teddy goes, trouble isn’t far behind.

First, a massive dead whale has washed up on the beach—and before anyone can determine what killed it, it explodes. Doc, the head vet from FunJungle, suspects something fishy is going on and ropes Teddy and Summer into helping him investigate.

Then, Teddy stumbles upon yet another mystery involving tons of stolen sand. And the paparazzi start spreading rumors about Summer dating a celebrity, leading Teddy to question their relationship.

Without Summer as his trusted partner, can Teddy navigate the rough waters of this glitzy world and uncover what’s going on?

I will read them and add them to my school library collection. There are many fans of both series at my school. 

What's new on your pile?

Fact Friday: A Leopard Diary: My Journey into the Hidden World of a Mother and Her Cubs by Suzi Eszterhas

Image: Owlkids 

A Leopard Diary: My Journey into the Hidden World of a Mother and Her Cubs by Suzi Eszterhas. 40 p. Owlkids Books, November, 2022. 978-1771474917. Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.

Happy Friday! Well, I made it! My February break starts at 3:10 today! I am so ready. Nothing is planned for the week except lots of walks with Boo, yoga daily and whatever chores strike my fancy. Oh, and reading. 

Fact Friday features A Leopard Diary: My Journey into the Hidden World of a Mother and Her Cubs by Suzi Eszterhas. I've featured books by Ms. Eszterhas before. She's an uber-talented wildlife photographer whose photoessays are as charming as they are informative. In A Leopard Diary, she traveled to an animal refuge in Botswana to attempt to chronicle how a leopard mothers her cubs. She had the help of an expert guide named Kambango, who successfully tracked the trio as Mama constantly changed den locations. The writing, in diary format, is engaging and the author's enthusiasm and passion for her work is evident. The accompanying photos are crisp and varied as readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a young leopard family.

This stunner won't be a shelf sitter. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs

Image: Simon & Schuster

Spy School: Goes North by Stuart Gibbs. 304 p. Spy School series #11. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, October 4, 2023. 9781665934763.

Waiting on Wednesday features Spy School: Goes North by Stuart Gibbs. The eleventh book in this popular series releases on October 3, 2023. Here's the publisher synopsis: Ben Ripley goes on a rescue mission when one of his own is abducted from a remote Alaskan training facility.

Ben Ripley and his friends are training in Alaska when Cyrus Hale is kidnapped by his old Russian nemesis. Ben, Erica, and the others mount a rescue mission, but events quickly spiral out of control in a plot involving the secret history of US-Russian relations, a young KGB agent with skills to rival Erica’s—and lots and lots of bears.

I might have mentioned this once or twice, but the only time the shelves containing any of the Gibbs books are full is at the beginning and end of the school year. He is enormously popular at my school across grade levels. 

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowen

Image: Penguin Random House

Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowman. Of Mermaids and Orisa series #2. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~11 hours. Read by Betide Badaki. Books on Tape/ Listening Library, September, 2022. (Review of e-audio borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowman. This sequel to Skin of the Sea picks right up and, to avoid any spoilers, I will be vague. The mermaid Simidele has made a promise in order to save the ones she loves and leaves them without explanation. She is now bound to the god Olokun, who in turn made a promise to release Esu, but he reneges on that promise. Without Esu forever binding the ajogun, these malevolent beings begin wreaking havoc on land and in the sea, threatening the entire world.

Both of these books are steeped in West African mythology and the world building is lush, vivid and cinematic. I continue to prefer reading books like these with my ears for the melodic delivery and proper pronunciation. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

Image: Hachette/ Little, Brown

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~4 hours. Read by Kobna Holbrook-Smith. Hachette Audio/ Hachette, September, 2022. 978

Happy Monday. I hope you had a terrific weekend. Mine was again not as productive as I would've hoped. Middle Grade Monday features The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander. Eleven-year-old Kofi Offin has a pretty good life in Upper Kwanta. He is anticipating his manhood ceremony, is gently teased by his older brother, doted on by his mother and loves his grandfather's stories. He is a strong swimmer, loves nothing more than swimming in the river near his home and is determined to beat his overbearing, bullying cousin in a race. At school, he's learning the Queen's English and is punished when his school master overhears him speaking his tribal language. He also has a best mate and a crush on Ama. His idyllic life is turned upside down when his brother inadvertently kills an opponent from Lower Kwanta in an annual wrestling match. The victim was the king's nephew, and he demands retribution. When the courts decide that it was an accident, the king threatens revenge.

Revenge comes when Kofi and his brother are kidnapped and brought to the coast of western Africa. Mr. Alexander's historical verse novel, the first of a planned trilogy is utterly riveting from page one. The rich language evokes a myriad of emotion from warmth to humor to terror to despair as Kofi faces the door of no return. This important novel about the Middle Passage belongs in every school, public and classroom library. It is outstanding and I cannot wait for the next installment. I loved reading this one with my ears because the narrator was outstanding.

#tbt: Zeus: King of the Gods by George O'Connor

Image: Macmillan

Zeus: King of Gods by George O'Connor. Olympians #1. 80 p. First: Second/ Macmillan, January, 2010. 9781596434318. (Own.)

Happy Thursday! #tbt features Zeus: King of Gods by George O'Connor. In book one of an ambitious twelve-book series featuring the twelve gods of ancient Greece, Mr. O'Connor begins by depicting the ancients' view of the beginning of the cosmos. The Titan Kronos ate each of his children to prevent a prophecy from coming true. Unfortunately for Kronos, Zeus did not stay eaten.

The artwork is gorgeous. There's extra information in the back matter as well as a family tree of the ancient Greeks. This series is quite popular at my school and my students were psyched to learn about the author/ illustrator's upcoming new series beginning with Odin.

Waiting on Wednesday: Odin by George O'Connor

Image: Macmillan

Odin by George O'Connor. Asgardians #1. 96 p. First Second/ Macmillan, November 14, 2023. 9781250760760.

Happy Wednesday! Waiting on Wednesday features some good news for my student fans of George O'Connor's graphic novel series, "The Olympians." It seems he has turned his talents to retelling Norse mythology. Odin is set to release on November 14, 2023!

Here's the publisher synopsis: Welcome to the Nine Worlds, home of Gods, Valkyries, Dwarves, Jotnar, and more! Travel the burning rainbow bridge to Asgard where Odin, king of the Aesir, surveys his realm. His thirst for knowledge drives him ever onward, but nothing is learned without sacrifice...

In Asgardians, George O’Connor’s highly kinetic illustrations bring these gritty and astonishing tales of war, betrayal, and the quest for enlightenment at any cost to vivid and startling life and provide the perfect companion to his Olympians series.

Middle Grade Monday: Booked by Kwame Alexander

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Happy Monday! Middle Grade Monday features Booked by Kwame Alexander. Eighth grader Nick is soccer obsessed. Books, reading and school? Not so much. His linguistics professor dad expects him to read the dictionary each day to improve his vocabulary. Nick wants his dad to improve his own marital relationship. His mom is considering moving out. At school, he's menaced by twin bullies and the only bright spots are getting to see his crush, April and Mr. Mac., the school librarian, who raps and is determined to get Nick to like reading by slipping him books he can relate to.

This 2016 publication followed The Crossover and is equally engaging with vivid soccer scenes, popping rhymes and plenty of humor. A graphic novel adaptation was released last August. 

Fact Friday: Infinity: Figuring Out Forever by Sarah C. Campbell

Image: Astra Publishing House

Infinity: Figuring Out Forever by Sarah C. Campbell. Photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. 32 p. Astra Young Readers/ Astra Publishing House, August, 2022. 9781629798752. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Friday TMS Readers! I hope you dress for the weather today because it's cold and windy out there! Fact Friday features Infinity: Figuring Out Forever by Sarah C. Campbell with photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. The rather abstract concept of infinity is explained here using fairly simple language and interesting photographs. When approached concretely, it is easy to understand that no matter how high one counts, there is always a larger number. The philosophical approach is a bit mind-blowing. The astrophysics? Whoa! This attractively designed book is really fun!

Waiting on Wednesday: Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Image: Penguin Random House

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken. 496 p. Knopf Books for Young Readers/ Random House Children's Books, April 4, 2023. 9780593481653.

Happy Wednesday! Waiting on Wednesday features Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken. I have enjoyed everything I've read by Ms. Bracken so far and I really love stories that touch on or retell Arthurian legend. This sounds amazing. It's due out on April 4. Isn't that cover gorgeous?

Publisher synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . .