Point Last Seen by Christina Todd In this romantic thriller, Adam Ramsdell, whose art is reflected in his painful past, pulls a half-frozen body for the surf on a California beach. Elle has no memory of the events that lead to her being left on the beach nor does she even know her name. Together, can they unlock the truth quickly enough?
Review: publishersweekly.com/9781335679918
The Fortunes of Jaded Women: A Novel by Carolyn Huynh
This domestic fiction book follows the lives of the Duong sisters, known by all to be cursed. Their aunt seeks guidance and receives an unexpected prediction for her family. This multi-narrative book is “brimming with levity and candor” as it follows this family as they mourn, meddle, celebrate and heal together as a family.
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/carolyn- huynh/fortunes-jaded- women
Downton Shabby by Hopwood DePree After losing his father and grandfather in a oneyear span, Fill producer DePree finds solace in tracing the genealogy of his family. During his research, he finds the reallife, 600-year-old castle that was part of his family’s stories and decides to dedicate his life to the renovation of the castle. Share in DePree’s adventure as he navigates challenges while being entertained as he experiences “wonderment following some unexpected help from the community that makes this DIY fairytale a true delight.”
Review: publishersweekly.com/9780063080850
Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin Photographer Unwin takes readers on a tour of 80 species of birds from around the world, from songbirds to predators, in this inspiring and beautiful book.. Each of the stories shared in this book “sheds a light on our relationships with the natural world and reveals just how deeply birds matter to all of us.”
Review: publishersweekly.com/9780857828958
YOUNG ADULT
How to Date a Superhero (and Not Die Trying) by Cristina Fernandez
Astrid isn't a superhero, not like the ones she sees on the news, but she has something she thinks of as a small superpower: she has a perfect sense of time. And she's not going to waste a single second. Her plan for college is clear — friends, classes, and extra-curriculars — all carefully selected to get her into medical school. Until Max Martin, a nerdy boy from high school, crashes back into her life. Things with Max were never simple, and he doesn't keep to her schedule. But when a supervillain breaks into her bedroom one night, Astrid has to face the facts: Max is a superhero. Double-majoring as a pre-med was hard, but now Astrid will have to balance a double-life.
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/cristina- fernandez/how-todate- a-superhero-andnot- die-trying
This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey The year is 1998, and like any other teenager, Jess Flynn is just trying to survive high school. Between a crush on her childhood best friend, overprotective parents and her sister's worsening health, the only constant is her hometown of Swickley, which feels smaller by the day. Jess is resigned to her smalltown life, until the day she discovers a mysterious device with an apple logo, causing her to question everything and everyone she's ever known. As more cracks appear in Jess's world, she faces a choice: can she live the rest of her life knowing it's a lie, or should she risk everything for the truth? Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/annacarey/ not-jess-show
Love and Olives by Jenna Evans Welch Liv Varanakis doesn't have a lot of fond memories of her father since he fled to Greece when she was eight. What Liv does remember, though, is their shared love for Greek myths and the lost city of Atlantis. So when Liv receives a postcard from her father explaining that National Geographic is funding a documentary about his theories on Atlantis, Liv jumps at the opportunity to fly out to Greece and help. But when she arrives in Santorini, things are awkward. There are so many questions, so many emotions, after seeing her father for the first time in years. And not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because, as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jennaevans- welch/love-olives
The Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee
Plagued by the voices of Avatars before her, Yangchen has not yet earned the respect felt for her predecessor. When Yangchen travels to Bin-Er in the Earth Kingdom on political business, a chance encounter with an informant named Kavik leads to a wary partnership. Bin-Er is a city ruled by corrupt Shang merchants who have become resentful of the mercurial Earth King. To extract themselves from his influence, the Shangs have a solution: a mysterious weapon of mass destruction. As Yangchen and Kavik seek to thwart the Shangs' plan, their unlikely friendship deepens. But for Yangchen to chart her course as a singularly powerful Avatar, she must learn to rely on her own wisdom above all else.
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/fcyee/ avatar-the-last-airbender CHILDREN’S
The Power of Her Pen by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by John Parra Meet Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991), a child of Chicago whose parents and teachers encouraged her love affair with words. During the Great Depression, chances were few for young women and especially young women of color. Ethel’s Chicago high school would not let a black student work on the newspaper, but Ethel got it to publish her first story. Eventually, Ethel became a correspondent in Tokyo after WWII, and became the first black woman journalist in the White House Briefing Room. Younger readers, ages 6-9, will enjoy this picture book biography.
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lesacline- ransome/the-power- of-her-pen
Black Hole Chasers by Anna Crowley Redding Journalist Anna Redding focuses on the Event Horizon Telescope Project (2019) as scientists work to capture definitive data about and photographs of black holes. Redding documents the history of black holes and the compelling story of how American astrophysicist Sheperd Doeleman and German radio astronomer Heino Falcke created a global team to investigate the existence of Black Holes. Redding breaks down difficult vocabulary and concepts such as gravitational collapse and offers examples by comparing the spacetime fabric to the surface of a trampoline. The book includes short biographies of notable scientists and contributors to the project, highlighting its history, diversity, scope and complexity. Dramatic photographs and diagrams break down the anatomy of black holes and illustrate the project’s scale for ages 9–12.
Review: slj.com/review/black-hole-chasers-theamazing- true-story-ofan- astronomical-breakthrough
The White Mountains by John Christopher Long ago, the Tripods — huge, three-legged machines — descended upon Earth and took control. People now no longer understand automation or machines and unquestioningly accept the Tripods' power.
But for a time in each person's life — in their childhood — they are not a slave. Will and his companions still have time to escape!
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/johnchristopher/ the-whitemountains
Heart to Heart by Lois Ehlert Lois Ehlert, award winning author and illustrator, offers a bright simple picture book for the younger audience. Alphabet letters and bold, graphic images of fruits and vegetables come together in this book of pun-filled rebuses about love and friendship.
Review: kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/loisehlert/ heart-to-heartehlert
