October is filled with amazing new YA titles by new authors and some of your favorites! Here's a sneak peek of what to expect this month!
Orbiting Jupiter
By: Gary D. Schmidt
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Clarion Books
Audience: Middle Grade/Teens - Grades 7 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he’s placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.
Although Schmidt’s latest novel is marketed for teens, it is a massively important book that will deeply affect every reader. Short at 194 pages and told in the sparse, first person narrative of twelve-year-old Jack, it manages to pack a punch so powerful that it will have readers ugly crying for days. At its core this is a book about second chances and the devastating truth that not everyone gets one. With additional thematic elements of growth, love, and loss, Joseph Brook is a character that will go down in literary history and Schmidt proves himself, once again, as an expert storyteller and an author who is not afraid to take chances. As a librarian and an avid reader, I have never been so moved by a story before and, to be perfectly honest, I still tear up just thinking about this book.
By: Gary D. Schmidt
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Clarion Books
Audience: Middle Grade/Teens - Grades 7 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he’s placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.
Although Schmidt’s latest novel is marketed for teens, it is a massively important book that will deeply affect every reader. Short at 194 pages and told in the sparse, first person narrative of twelve-year-old Jack, it manages to pack a punch so powerful that it will have readers ugly crying for days. At its core this is a book about second chances and the devastating truth that not everyone gets one. With additional thematic elements of growth, love, and loss, Joseph Brook is a character that will go down in literary history and Schmidt proves himself, once again, as an expert storyteller and an author who is not afraid to take chances. As a librarian and an avid reader, I have never been so moved by a story before and, to be perfectly honest, I still tear up just thinking about this book.
First & Then
By: Emma Mills
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Audience: Teens - Grades 9 & Up
*DAZZLING DEBUT!*
Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive jock, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them--first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life. With wit, heart, and humor to spare, First & Then is a contemporary novel about falling in love--with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.
It's clear that Mills has a deep appreciation for Jane Austen and this fresh, smart, and utterly delightful debut makes the works of Austen accessible to today's teen. Devon is a character that everyone can relate to and she has a voice that readers will quickly find not only entertaining, but endearing. While Mills could have delved a bit deeper and fleshed out some of the more serious issues, particularly those pertaining to Ezra's past and Foster's estranged relationship with his mother after the death of his father, it didn't take away from what was an undeniably sweet love story starring a heroine whose witty observations of the typical American high school force us to recognize the snap judgments that we are all guilty of and compels us to consider the fact that truth can be subjective when you don't know the whole story. Overall, "Pride and Prejudice" meets "Friday Night Lights" is certainly an apt description for this impressive debut that will attract both avid and reluctant readers alike.
By: Emma Mills
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Audience: Teens - Grades 9 & Up
*DAZZLING DEBUT!*
Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive jock, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them--first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life. With wit, heart, and humor to spare, First & Then is a contemporary novel about falling in love--with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.
It's clear that Mills has a deep appreciation for Jane Austen and this fresh, smart, and utterly delightful debut makes the works of Austen accessible to today's teen. Devon is a character that everyone can relate to and she has a voice that readers will quickly find not only entertaining, but endearing. While Mills could have delved a bit deeper and fleshed out some of the more serious issues, particularly those pertaining to Ezra's past and Foster's estranged relationship with his mother after the death of his father, it didn't take away from what was an undeniably sweet love story starring a heroine whose witty observations of the typical American high school force us to recognize the snap judgments that we are all guilty of and compels us to consider the fact that truth can be subjective when you don't know the whole story. Overall, "Pride and Prejudice" meets "Friday Night Lights" is certainly an apt description for this impressive debut that will attract both avid and reluctant readers alike.
Wendy Darling
By: Colleen Oaks
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: SparkPress
Audience: Teens - Grades 9 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
Wendy Darling has a perfectly agreeable life with her parents and brothers in wealthy London, as well as a budding romance with Booth, the neighborhood bookseller's son. But one night, while their parents are at a ball, the charmingly beautiful Peter Pan comes to the Darling children's nursery, and—dazzled by this flying boy with god-like powers—they follow him out of the window and straight on to morning into Neverland, an intoxicating island of freedom. As time passes in Neverland, Wendy realizes that this Lost Boy's paradise of turquoise seas, mermaids, and pirates holds terrible secrets rooted in blood and greed. As Peter's grasp on her heart tightens, she struggles to remember where she came from—and begins to suspect that this island of dreams, and the boy who desires her, have the potential to transform into an everlasting nightmare.
Throw out everything you know about Peter Pan, Tink, Wendy, John, Michael, and all the rest because if you don’t, this book will go ahead and do it for you. While Peter Pan re-tellings aren’t anything new, particularly ones that fall on the darker side of the spectrum, there was something undeniably unique to Oakes version that created a reading experience that was both haunting and disturbing in the best possible way. Was it because it was told from the perspective of Wendy, the only female amongst a horde of lost boys? Was it because this novel presents an interesting look into the darker sides of sibling rivalry? Or maybe it was the distinctive characterization of Peter himself – a psychotic man child with a sad history who hides his violent, abusive, and manipulative nature with handsome good looks and a wry smile? Or is it all of these things and more? Ultimately, it is impossible to pinpoint just one specific aspect of this book that made it so compelling. Rather it is all of these things and Oakes deft storytelling, pacing and characterization that provided a reading experience that won’t easily be forgotten. Overall, this is an excellent addition to any collection regardless of whether or not re-tellings are popular. Additionally, teens that are fascinated by the original Grimm’s Fairy Tales will enjoy the fact that Oakes went back to these roots with this novel’s darker undertones and ominous mood. Ooh! Seriously, still have chills!
By: Colleen Oaks
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: SparkPress
Audience: Teens - Grades 9 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
Wendy Darling has a perfectly agreeable life with her parents and brothers in wealthy London, as well as a budding romance with Booth, the neighborhood bookseller's son. But one night, while their parents are at a ball, the charmingly beautiful Peter Pan comes to the Darling children's nursery, and—dazzled by this flying boy with god-like powers—they follow him out of the window and straight on to morning into Neverland, an intoxicating island of freedom. As time passes in Neverland, Wendy realizes that this Lost Boy's paradise of turquoise seas, mermaids, and pirates holds terrible secrets rooted in blood and greed. As Peter's grasp on her heart tightens, she struggles to remember where she came from—and begins to suspect that this island of dreams, and the boy who desires her, have the potential to transform into an everlasting nightmare.
Throw out everything you know about Peter Pan, Tink, Wendy, John, Michael, and all the rest because if you don’t, this book will go ahead and do it for you. While Peter Pan re-tellings aren’t anything new, particularly ones that fall on the darker side of the spectrum, there was something undeniably unique to Oakes version that created a reading experience that was both haunting and disturbing in the best possible way. Was it because it was told from the perspective of Wendy, the only female amongst a horde of lost boys? Was it because this novel presents an interesting look into the darker sides of sibling rivalry? Or maybe it was the distinctive characterization of Peter himself – a psychotic man child with a sad history who hides his violent, abusive, and manipulative nature with handsome good looks and a wry smile? Or is it all of these things and more? Ultimately, it is impossible to pinpoint just one specific aspect of this book that made it so compelling. Rather it is all of these things and Oakes deft storytelling, pacing and characterization that provided a reading experience that won’t easily be forgotten. Overall, this is an excellent addition to any collection regardless of whether or not re-tellings are popular. Additionally, teens that are fascinated by the original Grimm’s Fairy Tales will enjoy the fact that Oakes went back to these roots with this novel’s darker undertones and ominous mood. Ooh! Seriously, still have chills!
Illuminae [The Illuminae Files #1]
By: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Audience: Teens - Grades 7 & Up
*AUTHORS WE LOVE!*
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra--who are barely even talking to each other--are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
Initially, this book is rather daunting and difficult to get into due to the complex nature of the storytelling. Told in multiple formats, such as instant messages, interviews, flight records, articles, images, and more it can come across a bit convoluted as readers try to discern exactly what is going on, creating a reading experience that can be a bit overwhelming and disorienting. Additionally, reading this on an iPhone, is probably not the best idea. That beings said, stick with it because it is totally worth it! Once readers adjust to the unique storytelling the action steadily builds creating tension that will have readers constantly saying “Just one more page. . . “ Where this novel is the weakest, however, is in the romance department. Separately, Kady and Ezra are fascinating characters, especially Kady who is a strong, independent, savvy, and intelligent heroine. What is difficult to understand is what exactly Kady and Ezra see in one another. They are incredibly dysfunctional and while this frequently still works in novels, their relationship was underdeveloped creating moments that had the tendency to air on the side of cheesy rather than tender. While the romance is an important component to the story it does not make or break the chilling action sequences and no matter how the reader feels about Ezra and Kady personally, you can’t help but root for them as they face challenge after challenge. Overall, this visually stunning novel is an excellent addition to any collection and will attract reluctant readers through its unique format, action and suspense.
By: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Audience: Teens - Grades 7 & Up
*AUTHORS WE LOVE!*
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra--who are barely even talking to each other--are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
Initially, this book is rather daunting and difficult to get into due to the complex nature of the storytelling. Told in multiple formats, such as instant messages, interviews, flight records, articles, images, and more it can come across a bit convoluted as readers try to discern exactly what is going on, creating a reading experience that can be a bit overwhelming and disorienting. Additionally, reading this on an iPhone, is probably not the best idea. That beings said, stick with it because it is totally worth it! Once readers adjust to the unique storytelling the action steadily builds creating tension that will have readers constantly saying “Just one more page. . . “ Where this novel is the weakest, however, is in the romance department. Separately, Kady and Ezra are fascinating characters, especially Kady who is a strong, independent, savvy, and intelligent heroine. What is difficult to understand is what exactly Kady and Ezra see in one another. They are incredibly dysfunctional and while this frequently still works in novels, their relationship was underdeveloped creating moments that had the tendency to air on the side of cheesy rather than tender. While the romance is an important component to the story it does not make or break the chilling action sequences and no matter how the reader feels about Ezra and Kady personally, you can’t help but root for them as they face challenge after challenge. Overall, this visually stunning novel is an excellent addition to any collection and will attract reluctant readers through its unique format, action and suspense.
These Shallow Graves
By: Jennifer Donnelly
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Audience: Teens - Grades 9 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly. Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead, apparently, by his own hand. The more Jo hears about her father’s death, the more something feels wrong. Suicide is the only logical explanation, and of course people have started talking, but Jo’s father would never have resorted to that. And then she meets Eddie—a young, smart, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. But now it might be too late to stop. The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo could ever have imagined, and this time the truth is the dirtiest part of all.
One of the most amazing things about Jennifer Donnelly is her ability to create believably strong female protagonists, the type of character that every teen girl can not only admire but relate to, even when the context of that character’s life takes place in a historical setting. Jo Montfort is no exception and is a perfect example of the type of female heroine that every librarian wants his/her teen patrons reading about. While Jo is strong-willed, determined, ambitious, she is also naïve and flawed, making her growth throughout the story that much more meaningful because all of these things are portrayed in a manner that is authentic rather than contrived. In addition to the awesome power of Jo, Donnelly has written a fast-paced crime thriller that plunges readers straight into the Gilded Age of New York City as Jo is thrown into the sordid underworld of investigative journalism and her own family’s dark secrets. There is never a dull moment and readers are continuously rewarded with the twists and turns of a good mystery, a sweet but forbidden romance, and a historical setting that is equal parts intriguing and compelling. Overall, this is a novel that will attract a wide range of readers as well as facilitate a fascinating discussion.
By: Jennifer Donnelly
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Audience: Teens - Grades 9 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly. Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead, apparently, by his own hand. The more Jo hears about her father’s death, the more something feels wrong. Suicide is the only logical explanation, and of course people have started talking, but Jo’s father would never have resorted to that. And then she meets Eddie—a young, smart, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. But now it might be too late to stop. The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo could ever have imagined, and this time the truth is the dirtiest part of all.
One of the most amazing things about Jennifer Donnelly is her ability to create believably strong female protagonists, the type of character that every teen girl can not only admire but relate to, even when the context of that character’s life takes place in a historical setting. Jo Montfort is no exception and is a perfect example of the type of female heroine that every librarian wants his/her teen patrons reading about. While Jo is strong-willed, determined, ambitious, she is also naïve and flawed, making her growth throughout the story that much more meaningful because all of these things are portrayed in a manner that is authentic rather than contrived. In addition to the awesome power of Jo, Donnelly has written a fast-paced crime thriller that plunges readers straight into the Gilded Age of New York City as Jo is thrown into the sordid underworld of investigative journalism and her own family’s dark secrets. There is never a dull moment and readers are continuously rewarded with the twists and turns of a good mystery, a sweet but forbidden romance, and a historical setting that is equal parts intriguing and compelling. Overall, this is a novel that will attract a wide range of readers as well as facilitate a fascinating discussion.
Placebo Junkies
By: J.C. Carleson
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Audience: Teens - Grades 10 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
Meet Audie: Professional lab rat. Guinea pig. Serial human test subject. For Audie and her friends, “volunteering” for pharmaceutical drug trials means a quick fix and easy cash.
Sure, there’s the occasional nasty side effect, but Audie’s got things under control. If Monday’s pill causes a rash, Tuesday’s ointment usually clears it right up. Wednesday’s injection soothes the sting from Tuesday’s “cure,” and Thursday’s procedure makes her forget all about Wednesday’s headache. By the time Friday rolls around, there’s plenty of cash in hand and perhaps even a slot in a government-funded psilocybin study, because WEEKEND! But the best fix of all is her boyfriend, Dylan, whose terminal illness just makes them even more compatible. He’s turning eighteen soon, so Audie is saving up to take Dylan on the vacation he's dreamed of ever since he got sick. That means more drug trials than ever before, but Dylan is worth it. No pain, no gain, Audie tells herself as the pills wear away at her body and mind. No pain, no gain, she repeats as her grip on reality starts to slide. .
This book is certainly not for the faint of heart. Carelson’s frank depiction of the side effects that accompany drug testing trials is raw, grotesque, and deeply unsettling. That being said, this honesty is completely necessary in order to understand the gravity of the pharmaceutical drug testing industry and what those who willingly participate and offer themselves as guinea pigs endure. Additionally, it presents an amazing discussion opportunity for teens regarding medicine, ethics, the true cost of the big breakthroughs, and mental health issues. This is such an all-encompassing novel in terms of the thematic elements it presents, but it never feels overwhelming. While Audie is clearly an unreliable narrator, the challenges that she faces are undeniably real making this an important and necessary read. Overall, Audie is a well-developed character and this story, while incredibly sad, serious, and grotesque at times, is balanced nicely with scenes that are poignant, clever and funny, in a twisted sort of way. This is certainly a unique and thought-provoking story that deserves attention and discussion as well as a place on library shelves.
By: J.C. Carleson
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Audience: Teens - Grades 10 & Up
*AUTHOR WE LOVE!*
Meet Audie: Professional lab rat. Guinea pig. Serial human test subject. For Audie and her friends, “volunteering” for pharmaceutical drug trials means a quick fix and easy cash.
Sure, there’s the occasional nasty side effect, but Audie’s got things under control. If Monday’s pill causes a rash, Tuesday’s ointment usually clears it right up. Wednesday’s injection soothes the sting from Tuesday’s “cure,” and Thursday’s procedure makes her forget all about Wednesday’s headache. By the time Friday rolls around, there’s plenty of cash in hand and perhaps even a slot in a government-funded psilocybin study, because WEEKEND! But the best fix of all is her boyfriend, Dylan, whose terminal illness just makes them even more compatible. He’s turning eighteen soon, so Audie is saving up to take Dylan on the vacation he's dreamed of ever since he got sick. That means more drug trials than ever before, but Dylan is worth it. No pain, no gain, Audie tells herself as the pills wear away at her body and mind. No pain, no gain, she repeats as her grip on reality starts to slide. .
This book is certainly not for the faint of heart. Carelson’s frank depiction of the side effects that accompany drug testing trials is raw, grotesque, and deeply unsettling. That being said, this honesty is completely necessary in order to understand the gravity of the pharmaceutical drug testing industry and what those who willingly participate and offer themselves as guinea pigs endure. Additionally, it presents an amazing discussion opportunity for teens regarding medicine, ethics, the true cost of the big breakthroughs, and mental health issues. This is such an all-encompassing novel in terms of the thematic elements it presents, but it never feels overwhelming. While Audie is clearly an unreliable narrator, the challenges that she faces are undeniably real making this an important and necessary read. Overall, Audie is a well-developed character and this story, while incredibly sad, serious, and grotesque at times, is balanced nicely with scenes that are poignant, clever and funny, in a twisted sort of way. This is certainly a unique and thought-provoking story that deserves attention and discussion as well as a place on library shelves.