Several 15ers will be at Main Point Books Young Adult Extravaganza in Bryn Mawr, PA, on Sunday, Nov. 15th from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Authors include: Cordelia Jensen, Skyscraping; I.W. Gregorio, None of the Above; Marcy Beller Paul, Underneath Everything; Randy Ribay, An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes; and Sharon Huss Roat, Between the Notes.
Romancing the Dark in the City of Light by Ann Jacobus has lovely reviews from Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist. From PW:
In her debut novel, Jacobus explores difficult topics including depression, alcoholism, death, and the reckless behavior that can accompany them. As Summer struggles with alcohol dependency and contemplates suicide, readers will grit their teeth in the hope that Moony will win the romantic tug-of-war with Kurt in time to help Summer see the light at the end of the tunnel.
AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES by Randy Ribay, and Mary Beller Paul’s UNDERNEATH EVERYTHING made Barnes & Noble Teen’s top 20 October YA releases list!
Natasha Sinel’s THE FIX was featured in VerveGirl Canada’s Books We Love section of their Back to School Fall Issue: “If you loved Looking For Alaska, check out…The Fix.” It also made Paste Magazine’s 21 of the Best New YA Books in September!
Virginia Zimmerman’s THE ROSEMARY SPELL has great reviews from Publishers Weekly (starred!), Kirkus, and Boolist. Says Kirkus:
Zimmerman invites readers into a layered and magical mystery across generations of literature. She deftly weaves the difficulty of loss into a tale of triumph, Rosemary’s strength of character keeping her buoyed through the emotional tumult she must navigate to save her friend.
Laurie McKay’s second book in her Last Dragon Charmer series, QUEST MAKER, has a lovely Kirkus review:
Zimmerman invites readers into a layered and magical mystery across generations of literature. She deftly weaves the difficulty of loss into a tale of triumph, Rosemary’s strength of character keeping her buoyed through the emotional tumult she must navigate to save her friend.
Tessa Elwood designs sites, breathes da:i, & haunts highways in her dusty baby. Her YA, INHERIT THE STARS, arrives 12/2015 from Running Press.
Michelle H. Nagler and Jenna Lettice at Random House have aquired Susan Adrian’s NUTCRACKED, about a girl cast as the lead in the Nutcracker ballet, who is transported to a magical world every time she dances with an antique Nutcracker. Publication is set for fall 2017; Kate Schafer Testerman at KT Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Fonda Lee sold her next YA science fiction novel to Scholastic for publication in spring 2017!
Jody Corbett at Scholastic has bought Fonda Lee’s untitled YA novel about a bio-enhanced teen soldier who must struggle for his freedom and the safety of the planet when he is taken hostage by an extremist group intent on overthrowing alien governance of Earth. Publication is set for spring 2017; Jim McCarthy at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Cindy L. Rodriguez’s WHEN REASON BREAKS was featured in “Under the Covers,” a blog for the Hartford Public Library! And on Des Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children.
Randy Ribay has an awesome infinite playlist for his AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES.
Summer can be bright-eyed and hopeful, her thoughts and dialogue funny, at times, despite the stubborn curtain of despair that hangs over her every move. As Summer struggles with alcohol dependency and contemplates suicide, readers will grit their teeth in the hope that Moony will win the romantic tug-of-war with Kurt in time to help Summer see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Angelica R. Jackson released A Compendium of the Faer Folke, an illustrated sampling of the Crow’s Rest world. It’s available on her blog to read and download for free!
Read an except of THE FIX by Natasha Sinel over at Divergent Gryffindor. Head over to Goodreads before the 18th to win your very own copy!
An arc of INHERIT THE STARS is also up for grabs at Forever Young Adult, just leave a comment with your favorite sci-fi technology before Aug 26th.
Win a copy of THE BODY INSTITUTE by Carol Riggs over at Goodreads until Aug 31st.
Ronald L. Smith’s HOODOO was well regarded by Booklist:
Hoodoo’s first-person narrative, which flows beautifully, has an appealing natural cadence, punctuated with the tagline “if you didn’t know” whenever he describes something that might be unfamiliar to the reader. Through his protagonist, Smith demonstrates an eye for detail and a knack for evocative imagery as well as for telling a riveting story with a dollop of southern gothic appeal.
CLAYTON STONE, AT YOUR SERVICE by Ena Jones has a shiny Booklist review:
Meet Clayton Stone: average seventh-grade student, above-average lacrosse player. Set in the moneyed suburbs of Northern Virginia, this book combines family and school drama with Nancy Drew–style precocious sleuthing.” And “. . . most will recognize his conflicts as he tries to incorporate the responsibilities of his new secret life with his responsibilities to his team and friends. Hand to readers who loved Stuart Gibbs’ Spy School series.
Tessa Elwood designs sites & haunts various highways in her four-wheeled baby. Her YA, INHERIT THE STARS, arrives 12/2015 from Running Press.
UNUSUAL CHICKENS also received a starred review from Shelf Awareness:
Jones takes readers into Sophie’s world with a series of funny, insightful letters. . .Readers will hope for more from irrepressible Sophie and this talented author.
Tessa Elwood designs sites & haunts various highways in her four-wheeled baby. Her YA, INHERIT THE STARS, arrives 12/2015 from Running Press.
Latina magazine featured 7 Summer Beach Reads By Latino Authors, including WHEN REASON BREAKS by Cindy L. Rodriguez, SHUTTER by Courtney Alameda, MORE HAPPY THAN NOT by Adam Silvera, and THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT by Melissa Grey.
Ena Jones’s CLAYTON STONE, AT YOUR SERVICE has a lovely review from Kirkus review:
Clayton’s endearing senses of loyalty to and responsibility for both family and friends is the undercurrent that gives this story depth and sets it apart from the rest.
Sheila Grau’s next two books in the DR. CRITCHLORE’S SCHOOL FOR MINIONS series, following the continuing adventures of Runt Higgins as he searches for his true parents while training to be an ideal minion for Evil Overlords in need, again to Erica Finkel at Amulet, in a two-book deal, by Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency (World English).
DR. CRITCHLORE’S SCHOOL FOR MINIONS author Sheila Grau’s THE BOY WITH SEVENTEEN SENSES, a reboot of Jack and the Beanstalk featuring a resourceful boy, a greedy neighbor, and a planet where every single inhabitant has synesthesia, to Erica Finkel at Amulet, by Molly Ker Hawn at The Bent Agency (World English).
THE FIX by Natasha Sinel @YA Highway DARKNESS BRUTAL by Rachel A. Marks @That Rachel
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s BOOK SCAVENGER made several lists, including: — Indie Next Kids’ Top Ten Pick for Summer/Fall 2015
— Indies Introduce New Voice Finalist
— Publisher Weekly Best Summer Reads 2015 selection
— Scholastic Instructor 50 Best Books for the Summer list
Full of heart and replete with challenging ciphers for readers to decode, Bertman’s debut is literary cousin to classic puzzlers like The Westing Game, and a story that values books and reading above other pursuits.
Stop by and meet debut authors HOLLY BODGER (5 to 1), SONA CHARAIPORTA & DHONIELLE CLAYTON (Tiny Pretty Things), I.W. GREGORIO (None Of The Above), LAUREN GIBALDI (The Night We Said Yes), CORDELIA JENSEN (Skyscraping), SHARON HUSS ROAT (Between the Notes), and RACHEL SHANE (Alice in Wonderland High) as they share their first novels with Books of Wonder! Your teen readers won’t want to miss this fantastic, talent-packed event with these 8 wonderful up-and-coming authors!
BREAKING THE ICE author Gail Nall’s OUT OF TUNE, about a girl who aspires to win a spot on Nashville’s newest country music reality show, but whose parents sell their house and move the family into an RV to travel the country, leading her to hatch a plan to find her own way home in time for auditions, to Amy Cloud at Aladdin, for publication in 2016, by Julia Alexandra Weber at J. A. Weber Literary Agency (World).
THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING by Krista Van Dolzer, MONSTROUS by MarcyKate Connolly and CONVICTION by Kelly Loy Gilbert are Junior Library Guild selections for 2015.
Fonda Lee was also on ALA MW’s Dark Fantasy & Science Fiction panel.
VOYA called Fonda Lee’s ZEROBOXER “an intense, smart, and action-packed read,” while Kirkus says:
More interestingly, the book focuses on ethical issues such as the genetic modifications humans undertook to begin living on Mars and promotes social awareness, focusing on Carr’s humble beginnings and his still-impoverished young friend, Enzo. It all adds up to a superior sci-fi outing that doesn’t need mad scientists to provide suspense.
Kelly Jones’ UNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER received starred reviews from both Kirkus and the School Library Journal. Kirkus notes:
A delightful protagonist, interesting fowl of various breeds and a cast of appealing second-string characters make this a top pick for young readers, poultry fanciers or not.
Running means the world to inseparable friends Jake and Sam—until September 11th opens the gulf between them…Two boys have maturity thrust upon them in this deeply engaging and thoughtful book.
Tessa Elwood designs sites, breathes da:i, & haunts highways in her dusty baby. Her YA, INHERIT THE STARS, arrives 12/2015 from Running Press.
Ena Jones has a 
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones is making all kinds of lists, including the 
— Indie Next Kids’ Top Ten Pick for Summer/Fall 2015
Gail Nall and K.E. Ormsbee will be at the 
2015 YA & MG Debut Authors 