Some of the big titles hitting shelves this month include an artistic bunch of squids who leave their creative pieces in people's homes; a determined group of girls working to change their school’s oppressive dress code; a teenage girl who faces a startling revelation regarding the death of her mother; and more.
Picture Books
Jonathan Fenske. Penguin Workshop, $12.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5247-9308-1. Ages 4–8.
When the clock strikes midnight, a squad of squids creep out of the ocean to leave their inky artistic mark in people’s homes.
Lawrence Schimel, illus. by Thiago Lopes. Beaming, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5064-6525-8. Ages 3–8.
Antonio wants someone to read with him, but nobody seems to have any time. It’s only when he looks in an unexpected place that he discovers the perfect reading partner, and a chance to make a new friend.
Ryan T. Higgins. Disney-Hyperion, $17.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-368-05959-6. Ages 3–5.
In this sequel to We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, Penelope the T. rex likes to rock out on guitar, and with the school talent show coming up, she can’t wait to perform for her classmates. But sharing who you are can be scary, especially when it’s not what people expect. See our q&a with Higgins here.
Middle Grade
Carrie Firestone. Putnam, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-984816-43-6. Ages 10–up.
Eighth grader Molly is fed up with the unfair dress code at her middle school. So she decides to start a podcast where girls can tell their stories and protest the unfair enforcement, sparking a revolution. The book earned a starred review from PW.
Allison Rushby. Candlewick, $19.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-536-20761-3. Ages 9–12.
Immy and her family have run away from their problems to a tiny village in Cambridgeshire, England. But her new home has an ancient mulberry tree with a haunting legend, which Immy thinks it’s ridiculous—until she starts to hear a strange song in her head.
Lisa Moore Ramée, illus. by Bre Indigo. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-283671-7. Ages 8–12
Jenae doesn’t have any friends and is fine being invisible at school. But when a new student shows up, Jenae begins to get used to having him around. The only problem is Jenae hates speaking in front of an audience and her new friend is desperate to earn a spot on the debate team with her. See our q&a with Ramée here.
Hilary McKay. S&S/McElderry, $17.99 (240p) ISBN 978-1-5344-6276-2. Ages 8–12.
When Abi’s father marries Max and Louis’s mom, Abi suddenly finds herself the middle child and moving into an eerie house. As strange things start to happen, these new siblings must uncover the secrets of their new home. The book received a starred review from PW.
Young Adult
Alex Richards. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0358-9. Ages 13–up.
Johanna’s life has been filled with more than enough trauma—losing her mother in a car accident as a baby and her father going AWOL. But when her father returns and shares some startling news about her mother’s death, Johanna must come to terms with the knowledge.
Sarah Crossan. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (416p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0329-9. Ages 12–up.
After running away from an abusive home, Allison finds herself taking shelter in a shed behind an abandoned house only to find the house isn’t so empty after all. Soon she finds herself in an unexpected friendship with an elderly woman suffering from dementia. The book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with Crossan here.
Corey Ann Haydu. Simon Pulse, $18.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-5344-3703-6. Ages 14–up.
When Eden’s curse sets in on her 13th birthday, the princesses of Ever are given the opportunity to break the curse. But in order to do that they must confront the one who cast the spell—a young witch who might not be the villain they thought she was. The book received a starred review from PW.
A Peculiar Peril (The Misadventures of Jonathan Lambshead #1)
Jeff VanderMeer. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $19.99 (656p) ISBN 978-0-374-30886-5. Ages 12–up.
After Johnathan’s grandfather dies, the orphaned teenager inherits the family mansion and its contents. When he discovers portals in the basement, Johnathan learns of his destiny to protect our world from an alt-Earth called Aurora.
Brandy Colbert. Disney-Hyperion, $18.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-368-05329-7. Ages 12–up.
When teen Marva sees fellow first-time voter Duke turned away from the polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. Thus begins their whirlwind day rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. The book received a starred review from PW.
