2018 Debuts

January (1)
1. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacey McNultey (MG)(Read in 2017)*

February (0)

March (2)
2. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (3/3)**
3. Lucy and the String by Vanessa Roeder (3/10)* (author debut)

April (2)
4. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (4/13)*
5. Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell (4/26)

May (1)
6. Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (5/26)*

June (0)

July (3)
7. Front Desk by Kelly Yang (7/26)
8. Surprise! By Caroline Hadilaksono (7/29)
9. Perfect by Max Amato (7/29)* (2019 debut)

August (2)
10. Thank You, Omu! By Oge Mora (8/6)
11. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (MG debut) (8/19)

September (2)
12. Speechless by Adam P. Schmitt (9/8)
13. Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry (9/17)*

October (1)
14. The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller (10/13)*

November (7)
15. Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake (11/3)* (MG debut)
16. Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier (11/5)
17. Just Like Jackie by Lindsay Stoddard (11/18)
18. If This Were a Story by Beth Turley (11/9)
19. Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl (11/24)
20. P. S. I Still Miss You by Jen Petro-Roy (11/25)
21. Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman (co-author debut) (11/25)*

December (5)
22. Like Vanessa by Tami Charles (12/3)*
23. The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden (12/9)*
24. The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz (12/8)
25. Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (12/21)*
26. Love Like Sky by Leslie C. Youngblood (12/ 29)

Fact Friday: Flying Deep: climb inside deep-sea submersible ALVIN by Michelle Cusolito

Flying Deep: climb inside deep-sea submersible ALVIN by Michelle Cusolito. Illustrated by Nicole Wong unpgd. Charlesbridge, March, 2018. 9781580898119. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.) 

Fact Friday Features Flying Deep: Climb inside deep-sea submersible ALVIN by Michelle Cusolito. Work inside ALVIN is not for the claustrophobic. The tiny vessel barely fits three scientists and does its work miles under the sea where it is very cold and very dark. Luscious language in a log-book style give readers a "you are there" vibe. The digitally rendered illustrations provide a feast for the eyes.

Even though photographic illustrations are becoming more common in informational literature, there is something to be said for artistic rendering. The art here is lush and atmospheric. The need to turn the book perpendicularly to view and read adds to the feeling of deep diving. 

The backmatter is terrific. There's a very detailed and interesting author's note, an illustrator's note, some additional ALVIN facts, a glossary, an explanation of some of the organisms featured in the book, four books, a film and some websites, including the author's Pinterest Board. 

Flying Deep is a great book to introduce any number of STEM lessons and sure to inspire budding oceanographers! This is the author's picture book debut and I'm looking forward to reading more. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, 313 minutes. Read by Jennifer Kim. Listening Library, March, 2018. 9780525525707. 

Middle Grade Monday features The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller. This first-person narration is seventh grader Natalie Napoli's "Wonder Notebook," as her hashtag-loving, overly enthusiastic science teacher likes to call it. Natalie used to love science, especially botany and she adored spending time with her vivacious botanist mother in her lab at the university. For weeks now, her mother has virtually disappeared into her bedroom and Natalie wants her back. She doesn't want to join two classmates in an egg-drop competition until she learns the prize for winning is $500. Enough money to bring her mom on a trip to find a rare blue orchid. Maybe this will bring her mother back.

Along the way, Natalie learns a lot about herself as well as a desire to connect with her Korean grandmother and culture, something her bi-racial father has always avoided. She also connects with her two lab partners in unexpected ways. There's a lot to like in this debut. The pace is brisk. The tone is introspective. The characters are unique and complex. There's a smart, science-loving girl and a complicated family situation. Jennifer Kim's narration brings Natalie to life but have the book handy, as it is illustrated. 

The Science of Breakable Things is a wonderful addition to the collection.

Teen Tuesday: Like Vanessa by Tami Charles

Like Vanessa by Tami Charles. 284 p. Charlesbridge Publishing, March, 2018. 9781580897778. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Teen Tuesday features Like Vanessa by Tami Charles. On the heels of Vanessa Williams' historic winning of the 1983 Miss America Pageant, thirteen-year-old Nessy confides her own dreams of entering a pageant in Darlene, her diary. But Nessy is realistic, she's big-boned and dark. Besides, her stern and aloof father would never let her. But when her school decides to host a pageant and the new music teacher encourages her to audition, her beloved grandfather, Pop-Pop signs her permission slip and her creative cousin TJ promises to design her wardrobe. Readers will fall in love with Nessy on page one and root for her through the ups and downs of life in Newark, New Jersey as she discovers her strength and learns a family secret or two. This semi-autobiographical novel is the author's debut.

That's what went on the morning announcements and is, by necessity, brief. I just loved this book and can't wait for my students to meet Nessy. She's so interesting and complicated. She's a good student who sees education as her way out of Newark and her neighborhood, which has drugs and gangs; but she's not sure how. Nessy strives to be invisible both at school and at home with her father, who seems angry all the time. She adores, Pop-Pop but worries about his drinking even though he sobers up each weekend to attend church. And she wishes her cousin TJ could be safe enough to be himself. This first-person narrative is achingly beautiful and filled with yearning.

The eighties, pageant preparation and Newark come to vivid life in this remarkable debut. I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Charles. 

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. Unabridged audiobook on nine compact discs. ~11 hours. Performed by the authors, Jenni Barber, Noah Galvin, Michael Crouch, Kivilighan de Montebello and Candace Thaxton. Simon & Schuster Audio, 2018. 9781508263081. (Review of audio cd borrowed from public library. Own hc.)

Teen Tuesday features Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. This gripping novel is told in present tense from multiple perspectives and takes place in a scarily possible near future in southern California. Water shortages have caused farms to fail and lawns and pools to go dry; but one day, without warning, it stops flowing. At first, residents take it in stride and pile into their cars for a trip to Costco. But when seemingly plentiful cartons of bottled water can't be obtained, ordinary people, when desperate do despicable things. And, that is only the beginning. Not only will reading this make you terribly thirsty, you may want to start hoarding bottles of water the way that the book, Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer made the reader want to stock up on canned goods. As the copy asks, what would you do for the last drop of water?

This was a seat-of-your-pants read! One which, if you are reading with your eyes, you might read in one tense sitting. If you are reading with your ears, as I was, it made a marathon raking session fly by. The audio performances were fantastic. The five points-of-view weave seamlessly with each other and occasional "snapshots," narrated by the authors. Boy, does Michael Crouch have that creepy guy vibe nailed.

Dry is a must-read! Recommend it to everyone possible. Definitely hand it to teens to love apocalyptic stories like Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It series. It's timely and oh so possible.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry. Unabridged downloaded audiobook. Read by Michael Crouch. 9 hours, 4 minutes. HarperAudio, August, 2018. (Review from downloadable audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Michael's father has broken his promise and he is furious. His rather emotionally distant father has a penchant for moving the family whenever there is a possibility of a raise or a promotion. He had promised there wouldn't be a move until Michael finished high school. Now, Michael, a devout atheist  finds himself, not only moving, but attending a Catholic high school. He's not into the school uniform, his stern principal, his teachers, most of whom are nuns or his classmates, many of whom come off as pious and judgmental He fears he is destined to sit alone at lunch until he hears Lucy engage Sister in a discourse about saints, feminism, and religious patriarchy. Intrigued and hoping to have found someone to sit with, Michael rather creepily follows Lucy until she turns and confronts him. Reluctantly, she invites him to sit together at lunch where she introduces him to her bestie, Avi, who is Jewish. Eventually, he is inducted into Heretics Anonymous, a secret society. The other two members are Max, a Korean American who is a bit obsessed with capes and may be autistic and Eden, a Wiccan. Has Michael found his people?

Boy, do I love a smart novel dealing with religion and belief! This debut is impressive from its catchy title, irresistible cover somewhat evocative of "grilled cheesus" from the second season of Glee, to the voice of its narrator, Michael. Michael's bitterness is palpable and understandable. While he's a bit self-absorbed, he's also inquisitive and intelligent. Every character is interesting, including the zealously devout, his father and his teachers. They are not one-dimensional cardboard figures. 

Fave narrator, Michael Crouch turns in another great performance. I've listened to enough audiobooks narrated by him to amend my early impression that he is a chameleon. That said, he sounds appropriately youthful, imbues his character, Michael with humor and paces his narrations well. 

Heretics Anonymous is so appealing. Hand to your thoughtful teens who enjoy laughing and want a smart romance. I am eager to read more from Katie Henry and hope the Morris Committee is reading.

FNG Review: Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora. Unpgd. Little, Brown and Company, October 2, 2018. 978031643218. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher via SLJ Basecamp.)

There is a note to the reader on the front end-pages that explains the pronunciation of "Omu," (AH-moo) and the fact that it is the Igbo term for queen. Take a closer look at the collage of a neighborhood and you see that the story actually begins there. A ribbon wafts out of a window at the top floor of a building. The title page shows a white-haired lady toting shopping bags in front of a building where a black pot sits in a top floor window. 

Omu is making red stew. When she tastes it, she proclaims it the best she ever had. With the aroma of her stew drifting out the window, she goes to read a book while the stew simmers and thickens.

Someone knocks on the door. She opens it to find a little neighbor boy drawn by the delicious smell. She shares it with him. Once he is on his way, she returns to her book only to hear another knock at her door. It is a police officer. The stew is large, so she shares. And shares. And shares as one neighbor after another knocks.

At dinnertime, Omu finds her stew pot empty. But then there is another knock at her door.

This exuberant debut is sure to be a favorite read aloud. It's sort of a reverse Stone Soup. The crisp collages help propel the story of a generous soul. There's a lot to like here from the multicultural cast of neighbors to the small details in the collage work to the heartwarming story. Thank you, Omu! is not to be missed!

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Speechless by Adam P. Schmitt

Speechless by Adam P. Schmitt. 304 p. Candlewick Press, November 6, 2018. 9781536200928. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday TMS Readers! Middle Grade Monday features one of the oddest, but most unique and intense debuts I have ever read. In Speechless, our narrator, Jimmy is attending his first wake and funeral. He's uncomfortable because he's wearing last year's suit with a waistband so tight he fears the button will not hold and he can't find his only belt. He's uncomfortable because funeral rituals are strange and sometimes scary. He is uncomfortable and terrified because his mother has just told him that he has to deliver the eulogy. 

You see, the wake and funeral are for his cousin, Patrick.  Jimmy petrified of public speaking; but that's not the only reason why he does not want to speak at Patrick's funeral. He couldn't stand Patrick. They were constantly thrown together because their moms are twins and very close. Jimmy and Patrick were not. Something was wrong with Patrick and none of the adults around him could do much to control him. Time spent with Patrick meant Jimmy's day would be ruined - by getting hurt, by having something stolen or ruined or by one of Jimmy's famous meltdowns. How can he speak honestly at Patrick's funeral? 

The story takes place in about twenty-four hours at the funeral home and at the church; but much of the story consists of flashbacks as Jimmy considers his highly dysfunctional extended family. Jimmy wants to do the right thing but wonders what that is. Does he get up there and lie about what a great kid Patrick was or tell the truth? 

Speechless is not for everyone. It's layered and sophisticated and while there are humorous moments to lighten the mood, there is tragedy in this story and it's not just because a young person has died. I am a bit stumped as to what sort of reader I would recommend it to; not because it isn't superb but because of all the emotions it evoked in me. I am having a hard time envisioning how a young reader would engage with it. As I got to know Jimmy, my rage at his parents grew and grew. First, that they would even just bring their son to his first wake and funeral without preparing him for what would happen and then the expectation that he would, in less than twenty-four hours come up with a eulogy - without the least amount of parental support or guidance! Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they did nothing to protect Jimmy from Patrick.

Schmitt's portrayal of this dysfunctional, co-dependent family is masterful. Jimmy is a sympathetic character that readers will want to protect. I hope Speechless finds its readers and am looking forward to reading more from Adam P. Schmitt. Impressive debut. 

Blog Tour/ Interview: Lucy and the String by Vanessa Roeder

Lucy and the String by Vanessa Roeder. unpgd. Dial Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Young Readers Group, August 7, 2018. 9780735230491.

I was lucky enough to receive an fng of this delightful book and reviewed it here back in March. When I was part of an email chain asking for blog tour participants, I was thrilled to revisit Lucy and Hank. 

The finished book is lovely. The red string is slightly embossed on the wraparound cover. The pages have heft and will stand up to the multiple readings I predicted in my review. 

Lucy and the String is Author/ illustrator Vanessa Roeder's author debut and she was kind enough to answer three questions from me:

1. Do you knit? 
I actually don’t knit, though I did have a short-lived sewing obsession. My poor daughter had to suffer the shame of wearing some of my creations, one of which was made out of a curtain. She’s probably very thankful I didn’t take up knitting.

2. What were you like at Lucy's age?                                                                          
I was a pretty resourceful kid, like Lucy. I grew up in a very small town where there wasn’t a lot to do, so my imagination became the captain of many adventures. I would do things like build forts out of old billboard scraps, or construct makeshift roller coasters in our horse barn, or convert my brother’s room into a news studio to report our own version of the headlines. These escapades didn’t always work out, like when a rope I strung from the barn rafters snapped mid swing, or when the roller coaster came crashing down under the weight of four kids. I was a problem solver though, so when an old rope snapped, I just started over with my dad’s good lasso.

3. Your other books are so colorful. What about this story said, three colors only?

When I first started writing Lucy and the String, I had planned to use my colorful collage style. But after making several samples, I realized that the saturated palette took away from one part of the story that really needed to shine… the string. The story itself is simple, and I wanted a style that mirrored that simplicity. Once I pared down the palette to black, white, and poppy red, it just fit. I love the limited palette and simplified style so much that I’m now trying to weave it into future books. 

Thank you, Vanessa for taking the time to answer my questions! If you are looking for a delightful read aloud, Lucy and the String will be available August 7. Happy book birthday!

Bio: Vanessa Roeder is an author and illustrator whose work has been featured in Highlights magazine and on Apartment Therapy. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three kids.

Be sure to visit the other stops of the Lucy and the String Blog Tour!
July 30 – Read. Learn. Repeat – Q&A + Review
July 31 – Picture Book Playdate – Creative Instagram Picture
August 1 – Tuesday Stiches – Creative Instagram Picture
August 2 – Proseandkahn – Q&A
August 3 – Mundie Kids Book – Review + Creative Instagram Picture

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. Unabridged digital recording. 10 hours. Read by Rebecca Soler. Macmillan Young Listeners, 2018. 9781427293541. (Review from audiobook borrowed from ebccls.)

This went on the announcements this morning: Teen Tuesday features The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. This 2018 urban fairy tale is the author's debut and also on the summer reading list for rising freshmen (!)*, so heads up eighth graders. 

Seventeen-year-old Alice Proserpine has spent all of her life on the run from bad luck with her mother, Ella. Ella has recently married and the two live in luxury in Manhattan. Alice isn't terribly happy about this and is obsessed with a book of fairy tales that her estranged grandmother wrote - a book her mother has forbidden her to read. This is a creepy read with hints of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a variety of fairy tale motifs.

Review: The Hazel Wood got a couple of starred reviews and a number of impressive blurbs. I read it because it was on the GR Newbery discussion group. I think it mostly lives up to the hype. Although Newbery criteria goes up to age fourteen, I think this is a bit YA for Newbery and hope that the Printz committee is taking a look. The Odyssey committee should take a look at the audiobook, which was how I read it. Rebecca Soler is one of my favorite narrators and she did a superb job. She has a nice range of distinct voices. 

I will admit to feeling at times there were parts that were overwritten. That said, there were also times when I wished I were reading with my eyes to go back to reread and savor the writing. I enjoyed the grittiness of the Hinterlands and the depiction of life in New York City. Some commenters have complained that Alice is a difficult character to like but I found her compelling. This is definitely not Disney sanitized fairy tales, so caution your readers. Readers who like their fantasy/ fairy tale world dark and twisty will love The Hazel Wood. It's a worthy addition to any YA collection.

(!)*I am rather thrilled that such a contemporary novel appears on the summer reading list. When my sons attended this high school, the summer reading lists were mostly dusty and dull. 

Teen Tuesday and Review: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Unabridged audiobook on 3 compact discs. 3.5 hours. Read by the author. HarperAudio, March, 2018. 9781538500231. (Review from audiobook borrowed from public library.)

(This went on our broadcast this morning)Teen Tuesday features The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Sixteen-year-old Xiomara Batista tries to follow her mother’s strict rules; but at six-feet tall, it’s hard to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. She has learned to fight with her fists and pours her heart out in a leather notebook her twin brother gave her for their birthday. Sophomore year brings X a language arts teacher who sees the poet in her and Aman, her biology lab partner with whom she shares her love of music and whom her mother must never know about. This debut is gritty and raw. Readers will root for X as she struggles to find her voice.

Review: The Poet X is one impressive debut! I loved X's voice from the first line. I also loved the author's performance. My heart ached for Xiomara, who is up against a lot - the catcalls and leers her curves elicit in her Harlem neighborhood and at school and her religious mother's assumption that she will succumb to those catcalls, all the while yearning for an education that will get her out of Harlem. She loves her twin fiercely but is upset that he doesn't stand up for himself against the bullying his gentle, nerdy self attracts. She's also a tad jealous that he's smart enough for a fancy magnet school that puts him that much closer to escape. X is fierce but caves to the discipline of her mother. She's a nuanced and complicated teen whom readers will relate to as she comes of age.

Not to be missed for teen collections.

Teen Tuesday and Arc Review: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. Orïsha Legacy Series #1. 600 p. Henry Holt and Company, March 6, 2018. 9781250170972. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy book birthday Tomi Adeyemi and Children of Blood and Bone!

This arc landed in my mailbox back in December but another very busy month would pass by before I could crack it. I fell in love with the cover immediately and the premise definitely intrigued. When I finally started it, I made it my "bedside stand book," meaning it was the book I read the last thing each night, one that I sip instead of devour. I needed to keep it on the bedside stand to savor the incredible world-building and lovely language but I definitely wanted to dive in and devour. And, I definitely want to reread this one with my ears to hear the proper pronunciation of the names and places.* 

I was unaware of the hype surrounding this debut. I'm glad I was since I usually have a knee-jerk reaction to hype. Believe it. Folks, this debut is impressive. The characters are brilliant and memorable. This world is immersive. I simply cannot wait to return to it.

Zélie Adebola remembers the night the magic disappeared from Orïsha, a fictional kingdom in Nigeria. That night all the adult maji were rounded up by the king's forces and massacred. Her own mother was beaten and hung from a tree, leaving behind a bereft husband, Zélie and her brother, Tzain. Marked with the white hair of a diviner, but having no magic, Zélie trains with Mama Agba to learn the art of combat. She's brash and headstrong and prone to getting in trouble with the guards whose usurious ways keep Zélie's family and village on the brink of survival.

She rashly decides to shelter a runaway noble and is stunned to discover that this trembling rich girl is none other that the king's daughter. Amani has fled the palace with a magic scroll and now she is hunted by her own father's army led by her brother, the prince and heir to the kingdom or Orïsha. Could this scroll be the key to awakening the magic? Zélie and her brother agree to protect Amani and the three set out to find an ancient temple to learn more about awakening the magic. They are doggedly pursues by Inan, who is hiding a terrible secret of his own.

It is no surprise that the book has already been optioned for a movie. This superb debut is sweeping and cinematic, featuring brilliantly flawed and complicated characters, brutal violence, betrayal and nail-biting suspense. This is a first-purchase for all teen collections. Give it to your patrons with stamina and maturity who love high fantasy and brilliant writing.

*I was thrilled to learn that the audiobook will release at the same time as the book and was narrated by the incredible Bahni Turpin. Can. Not. Wait. To. Reread. This. With. My. Ears!

Middle Grade Monday: Arc Review: The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta

The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani DasGupta. Illustrated by Vivienne To. Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1. 368 p.Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., February 27, 2018. (Review of arc received courtesy of publisher)

Twelve-year-old Kiranmala goes to sixth grade in Parsippany, New Jersey, has the misfortune of having Halloween as her birthday, and is regularly embarrassed by her immigrant parents, who insist on loudly discussing her fiber intake and insists that she is really an Indian princess. When she returns home from school on Halloween expecting to celebrate her birthday, she finds her parents are missing. They have left a curious birthday card though. It contains foreign money and some sort of map along with instructions not to try to find them. She settles in to an evening of handing out candy to trick-or-treaters when two boys about her age ring the bell. She's confused when they call her princess and seem to think she should know them. They want her to come with them. She just wants to find her parents. She's convinced to go with them when a giant, snot-spewing monster destroys her house and tries to eat her.

It seems Kiranmala really is an Indian princess and her twelfth birthday was the expiration date of the spell protecting her from her father, the Serpent King. She travels to a parallel universe with the two princes and finds she needs to rely on her wits as well as the many Bengali folktales her parents plied her with throughout her childhood. 

This debut and series starter hits the ground running and doesn't let up. A kick-ass heroine + epic world-building + snarky and hilarious dialogue = one memorable ride! Fresh, funny and relatable, give this to your Percy Jackson fans whom you want to branch out to other mythologies. I have quite a few fans of Sarwat Chadda's Ash Mistry trilogy who will love this. Really, any reader looking for fast-paced adventure and laughter will gobble this whole.

Friday Memes: The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta

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

The Serpent's Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta. Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1 368 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., February 27, 2018. 9781338185706.

Publisher synopsis: Meet Kiranmala: Interdimensional Demon Slayer (Only she doesn't know it yet.)

On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey...until her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents' fantastical stories - like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess and how she comes from a secret place not of this world. Gripping and hilarious, The Serpent's Secret is a magical journey to a land inspired by Indian mythology, with would building as vibrant as the characters themselves. 

First line: The day my parents got stalled by a rakkhosh and whisked away to another galactic dimension was a pretty crap-tastic day. The fact that it was actually my twelfth birthday made it all that much worse.

Page 56: "I'm sorry guys, I can't do this anymore." My voice shook and I swiped furiously at my nose. "I mean, killer demons? Different dimensions? Black holes? I'm just an ordinary kid from New Jersey. I can't deal with all this!"
     Lal's face softened and he looked like he was going to say something nice, but his brother cut him off with a furious exclamation. "Don't be such a 2-D!"
     I whipped around. "What did you call me?"
     "A flatfoot, a ruler, a 2-D!" Neel ground out the words like they were curses.

**********

Ever since I read Sarwat Chadda's Ash Mistry trilogy, I've been eager to read more books featuring Indian mythology and folklore. I am so happy to have received this arc!