We'll start with this week's YA releases:
  | Never Ever (Sara Saedi) This sounds like an interesting modern-day version of Peter Pan. The night before her brother goes to juvie, 17-year old Wylie meets--and falls for--Phinn at a party. Phinn teaches her how to fly and whisks Wylie and her brothers away to an island off the coast of New York. Life is a constant party on the island, and Wylie is thrilled that her brother can dodge juvie there. But the island and Phinn are not all that they seem. Retelling, fantasy. |
  | The Vanishing Throne (Elizabeth May) Sequel to: The Falconer. Aileana is a Falconer, one who can sense deadly fae that feed on unsuspecting humans. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Steampunk, paranormal, fantasy. |
  | Summer in the Invisible City (Juliana Romano) Seventeen-year old Sadie Bell has big plans for the summer. She's going to win over the popular girls, bond with her absent father, and finally get over Noah. She's not counting on Sam, a funny, free-thinking boy who makes her question all of it. Contemporary romance, realistic fiction. |
  | Me You Us (Aaron Karo) This one is promoted as one for John Green fans. I am just happy to see another male narrator for a contemporary romance. Shane is his school's resident matchmaker for the guys. What Shane doesn't know is that love is about to find him. Contemporary romance, realistic fiction. |
  | Unplugged (Donna Freitas) This one could be really unique or just really weird. There's an app world, for wealthy people, and a real world, for poor people. Skye's family in the real world manages to send Skye to the app world, giving Skye a chance at a better future. But Skye doesn't fit into the app world. She just wants to unplug and see her mother and sister again. Dystopia, science fiction. |
Middle grade new releases:
  | Ms. Bixby's Last Day (John David Anderson) When their beloved teacher, Ms. Bixby, suddenly announces she is sick and cannot finish the school year, three boys come up with a plan. Told by the three boys, readers discover why Ms. Bixby is so special to each of them. Lots of early praise for this title. Realistic fiction. |
  | School of the Dead (Avi) Tony is thrilled when his Uncle Charlie comes to stay with his family, and he is devastated when Uncle Charlie dies unexpectedly. Soon after, Tony starts seeing his uncle's ghost everywhere--what is Uncle Charlie trying to tell him? Mystery, missing person, grief. |
  | The Secret Fire (Whitaker Ringwald) Third and final book in the Secret Box trilogy. The villain in this one is Epimetheus, brother to fire-bringer, Prometheus. I had not previously heard of this trilogy--it's middle grade, which isn't so much my thing--but it looks cute. The first book, The Secret Box was a Junior Library Guild selection. Greek mythology, adventure, mystery. |