New Release Spotlight – August 6, 2024

Last week’s list was light on middle grades, but this week’s list makes up for it! Check out new titles from Maureen Johnson, Mary E. Roach, Deborah Ellis, Hena Khan, Tracey Baptiste, and Tehlor Kay Mejia.

My top picks:

• Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson (YA)
• The Outsmarters by Deborah Ellis (middle grades)
• How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger (middle grades)

PRESENTATION LINKS:

All three presentations are in Canva and editable! Just click below, then go to File-Make a Copy in your Canva account. If you do not have a Canva account, you can get a free educator account here (must be verified).

I will add titles to the Canva presentations throughout August 2024. By the end of August, each presentation will have around 20 titles on it. So great to play on a loop in the library!

YA Presentation Link – Grades 7+

Middle Grades Presentation Link – Grades 3-8

Picture Book Presentation Link – PreS-Grade 5+

This week’s Spotlight titles are #4216 – #4231 on The Ginormous Booklist.

 

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Lucy Preston just wants to go on vacation. But being the daughter of a famous private detective means that sometimes, your beach vacay goes off the rails a bit. Think: a clandestine meeting at an abandoned amusement park—except instead of a meeting, Lucy and her mom find a body. Because of course they do.

As Lucy’s mom is swept into top-secret detective stuff, Lucy sets out to investigate her mom’s mysterious connection with this town. Lucy’s snooping sets her on a collision course with Audrey Nelson, the mysterious girl on the motorcycle who was there the night they found the body. Lucy has questions, and Audrey has answers, but there’s this tiny problem: Lucy’s mom is investigating Audrey’s mom . . . for murder.

Everyone has something to hide, and if Lucy and Audrey can’t work together to uncover secrets that go back generations, there will likely be another body found at the base of the old roller coaster. And this time it might just be Lucy’s.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

A dance to the death. A girl who’s just as monstrous as H.H. Holmes. A hallway that’s constantly changing―and hungry. All of these stories exist in the same place―within the frame of a particular house that isn’t bound by the laws of time and space.

Following in the footsteps of dark/horror-filled YA anthologies like His Hideous Heart and Slasher Girls and Monster Boys, and Netflix’s ground-breaking adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House, this YA speculative fiction anthology explores how the permanence of a home can become a space of transition and change for both the inhabitants and the creatures who haunt them.

Each story in the anthology will focus on a different room in the house and feature unique takes on monsters from a wide array of cultural traditions. Whether it’s a demonic Trickster, a water-loving Rusalka, or a horrifying, baby-imitating Tiyanak, there’s bound to be something sinister lurking in the shadows.

This book only has one professional review right now (Kirkus), so it doesn’t technically fit my criteria for the Spotlight. But I love the summary and think this would be so easy to booktalk. We live in such a politically-charged climate and books that bring that to a personal level for teens are always welcome.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Olive and Gabe ― her older brother’s best friend ― are deeply in love. They want nothing more than to make a home and family together, especially after the overdose death of Olive’s brother, Chris.

It won’t be easy. Gabe works three jobs, and Olive still needs to finish high school, but their future together feels certain and right.

But when Samir Paudel moves into the house across the street, Olive’s and Gabe’s lives are disrupted. The Paudel house is overfull with family and friends, and they play loud music at all hours. Yet Olive is drawn to them, particularly to Samir’s little nephew, Bhim, and his grandfather, Hajurba.

Yet Samir’s very presence seems to awaken in Gabe an intense anger ― toward immigrants he believes are taking resources from White Americans ― resources that would have saved Chris and his own father, who has lost his job and is now struggling with ill health and alcoholism.

When Olive realizes that Gabe and his family are the source of escalating aggressions toward the Paudels, she no longer recognizes the loyal, loving boy she fell in love with.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Jalissa and Kim Vasquez are cousins who move to the city of Los Aguaceros together. Kim dreams of becoming a famous model and fashion designer, while Jalissa is just trying to hold herself together after a breakdown the year before.

When a curious incident on the beach leaves them with supernatural powers and monsters start attacking the city, Kim decides that using their powers to stop them is the perfect way for them to become famous.

But being heroes isn’t as easy as it seems–and Los Aquaceros is in more danger than they imagine.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Welcome to Florence, 1517, a world of intrigue and opulence, murder and betrayal.

Seventeen-year-old conwoman Rosa Cellini arrives in the city the same day that the Medici Pope, Leo X, returns to take up the reins of power. This is not a coincidence. The new Pope is extorting a mountain of indulgence money from the people of Florence to bolster his power and standing, and Rosa has a plan to take it back.

To pull off the Renaissance’s greatest robbery, she’ll recruit a team of specially-chosen, highly-skilled misfits: Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo, the irrepressible master of disguise. To top it all off, and to smooth their entrance into the fortress-like Palazzo Medici, Rosa even enlists the reluctant help of the famed artist Michelangelo.

But as the authorities draw closer and the Medici’s noose pulls tighter around the land, old secrets resurface and tensions in the group start to flare.

What began as a robbery could be the key to saving the city itself―if Rosa and company don’t destroy each other first.

Could this be a 2025 Newbery contender? Author Deborah Ellis has been writing books for children for over 20 years, and The Breadwinner even has an animated movie. While Ellis has won loads of awards over the years, she has yet to win a Newbery. Maybe this will be the book?

Twelve-year old protagonist Kate reminds me of Gilly in Katherine Paterson’s Newbery Honor winner The Great Gilly Hopkins (1978) and Carly in Betsy Byars’ The Pinballs (1977). Despite their age, both books are still in print and available in libraries. I know I have recommended The Pinballs to middle graders throughout my library career, and it still resonates with today’s young readers.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Suspended from school and prone to rages, twelve-year-old Kate finds her own way to get on with her life, despite the messed-up adults around her.

Her gran, for one, is stubborn and aloof ― not unlike Kate herself, who has no friends, and who’s been expelled for “behavioral issues,” like the meltdowns she has had ever since her mom dumped her with her grandmother three years ago.

Kate dreams that one day her mother will return for her. When that happens, they’ll need money, so Kate sets out to make some.

Gran nixes her idea to sell psychiatric advice like Lucy in Peanuts (“You’re not a psychiatrist. You’ll get sued.”), so Kate decides to open a philosophy booth to provide answers to life’s big and small questions.

She soon learns that adults have plenty of problems and secrets of their own, including Gran.

When she finds that her grandmother has been lying to her about her mother, the two have a huge fight, and Gran says she can’t wait for Kate to finish high school so she’ll be rid of her at last.

Kate decides to take matters into her own hands and discovers that to get what she wants, she may have to reach out to some unexpected people, and find a way to lay down her own anger.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Thirteen-year-old Tara lives inside the nonstop adventure of her imagination. It’s far more entertaining than dull, everyday life.

But when she’s bumped from seventh grade directly to high school, she gets a dramatic jolt to reality.

Now Tara is part of a future she doesn’t feel at all ready for. She’s not ready to watch the racy shows the high school kids like, or to listen to the angsty music, or to stop playing make-believe with her younger brother.

She’s not ready to change for PE in front of everyone, or for the chaos of the hallways, or for the anarchy of an English class that’s overrun with fourteen-year-old boys.

But then there’s Libby.

Tara doesn’t know whether she’s ready for Libby. She can’t even explain who Libby is to her because she doesn’t know yet. She just knows that everything’s more fun when she and her new classmate are together. But what will happen next? How will it all end?

Students watching the Olympics this week have seen athletes competing in hijab uniforms. This graphic novel is about a female basketball team in Wisconsin that causes a local stir when they play in hijab uniforms.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and everything feels different than Florida. The Islamic school is bigger, the city is colder, and her new basketball team is…well, they stink.

Aliya’s still excited to have teammates (although the team’s captain, Noura, isn’t really Aliya’s biggest fan), and their new coach really understands basketball (even if she doesn’t know much about being Muslim).

This season should be a blast…if they could just start to win. As they strengthen their skills on the court, Aliya and the Peace Academy team discover that it takes more than talent to be great–it’s teamwork and self-confidence that defines true success.

This middle grade graphic novel looks perfect for school libraries with makerspaces! The characters are diverse, including one boy in a wheelchair and all characters cuing Southeast Asian. A great choice for any upper-elementary or middle school library!

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Join the Makers Club, where art and science come together! This graphic novel contains two stories in one. In the first story, readers meet Nadia and Priya, who are paired up for a science fair project.

With Nadia’s art and Priya’s coding skills, they make a video game that’s sure to impress, but soon learn there’s more to teamwork than just having the individual skills.

In the second story, old friends Aqilah and Yong Qiang reconnect at their new school. As they both try to pursue their passions in fashion design and engineering, they’ll soon find that trying to do everything and please everyone catches up to you eventually.

Readers will love this colorful graphic novel that’s all about friendship, crafting, and coming up with creative solutions.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Twelve-year-old Misty and her mother have just moved from Trinidad to Brooklyn, New York, in time for the annual carnival celebrations over Labor Day weekend. Misty has plenty to deal with getting used to living with her cousins Aiden and Brooke in her new surroundings. On top of that, her mom is too busy trying to find a job and her aunts and uncles are too preoccupied with carnival preparations to pay any attention to her.

Then really strange things begin to happen. A ball of feathers in the basement turns into a creature that squeaks and rolls around. When Misty and her cousins eat pieces of mango anchar, flames shoot out of their mouths. Most disturbing of all, Misty begins to see visions of the future–scary visions that soon come true.

Misty discovers that she and her cousins come from a long line of mokos, people who have special powers meant to help them protect their community.

Misty can see impending danger, Aiden can heal, and Brooke has crazy physical strength. The trio is just learning about their skills when Misty senses something watching her. And then each of the carnival events is disrupted by a different disaster. Some kind of evil force is clearly trying to stop the festivities. But why? And will moko magic be enough to save the day?

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Sadie Rivera has been haunted all her life by a vengeful ghost—a ghost that doesn’t want her to make any friends. The moment she tries? Cue exploding lightbulbs, chilling gusts of wind, and slamming doors.

Last year, Sadie got fed up. Last year, she made a best friend, Anna. So when the ghost caused an accident that killed her best friend, Sadie knew it was all her fault.

Which is why she’s not going to make any friends this year at her new school. At least until mysterious cool girl Mal shows up, and the ghost doesn’t bother her for once. But Mal wants Sadie all to herself—and she’ll do anything to make sure it stays that way.

Gorgeous illustrations! This is on my Caldecott Award and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award nominees list!

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

For so many of us, the first introduction to Black history begins with lessons about slavery.

While slavery is a crucial part of African-American history, it is not the beginning. In fact, there is a rich history tied to the continent of Africa that deserves to be told and to be marveled at– which is exactly what Maisha Oso does in Before the Ships.

With sparse yet moving text, Maisha takes us back in time to before the advent of the Transatlantic slave trade. We see the grandness of African royalty, the bravery of warriors like the Queen of Kush, and stories being told in song with griots and drums.

Candice Bradley’s gorgeous and reflective illustrations illuminate the strength of Black history and Black joy, reminding readers about the power within us all.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

One morning, so early that fog still sleeps on the surface of the river, a young boy accompanies his yeye seven miles north to the grassy field behind their home to cut satintail to feed the livestock.

But when a massive gale scatters the hay—and a whole day’s work—important lessons will need to be learned about endurance, impermanence, and how to let go and weather the storm in a world that can often feel overwhelming and uncontrollable.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

It is Día de Muertos—the Day of the Dead—and the family ofrenda is at the center of the celebration!

Inspired by the popular nursery rhyme “The House That Jack Built,” The Ofrenda That We Built invites readers to join in the building of a colorful ofrenda, a home altar full of symbols and meaning, one special element at a time.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY

Sometimes you want to eat a juicy red plum at the top of a tree, but it seems so hard. What if you start the climb and a strong wind blows and the tree shakes? What if it rains and you slip and FALL?

But those sweet-smelling, juicy, ripe purple plums up there look so tasty, and best of all, Mama is waiting for you with words of encouragement…

PREVIOUS NEW RELEASE SPOTLIGHTS

       

ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT

The New Release Spotlight began in May 2016 as a way to help librarians keep up with the many new children’s and YA books that are released each week.

Each week, school librarian Leigh Collazo compiles the New Release Spotlight using a combination of Follett’s Titlewave, Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. Recommended grade levels represent the range of grade levels recommended by professional book reviewers. See the full selection criteria here.

Inevitably, there are far more books that meet my criteria than can make it on the Spotlight. When I have to make the tough decisions on what to include, I just use my “librarian judgment.” Would I buy this book for my own library? Would my students want to read this book? Is the cover appealing? Does it fill a need?