Sequels hitting shelves this month include the highly anticipated Twilight companion; the conclusion to a long-fought war; the return of a quirky group of astronaut squirrels; and more.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Digital Disaster
by Drew Brockington (Little, Brown, Aug. 4, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-316-45132-1)
In the sixth CatStronauts graphic novel, the elite team gets invited to test the first-ever space hotel. When the cats and kittens arrive, they’re greeted by AVA, an AI programmed to handle hotel operations. Upon seeing Cat-Stro-Bot and his ability to go anywhere, AVA becomes obsessed with gaining her own freedom.
Grumpy Unicorn Hits the Road
by Joey Spiotto (Graphix, Aug. 4, $8.99, paper, ISBN 978-1-338-66604-5)
The titular creature returns in his first graphic novel. Grumpy Unicorn is really bored. And what's a unicorn to do when the town he lives in has nothing fun to do?
Sun and Moon Together
by Ethan Long (Holt, Aug. 11, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-19174-8)
The second Happy County book features scientific subjects connected to the Sun and Moon presented in simple terms for a young audience. See our In Conversation with author Long and editor Christy Ottaviano.
Mr. Nogginbody and the Childish Child
by David Shannon (Norton Young Readers, Aug. 25 $17.95 ISBN 978-1-324-00463-9)
In this sequel to Mr. Nogginbody Gets a Hammer, which earned a starred review from PW, Mr. Nogginbody thinks babysitting will be easy. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
Novels
13 and 3/4
by Lisa Greenwald (HarperCollins, Aug. 4, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-06-287527-3)
In the fourth installment in the Friendship List series, best friends Ari and Kaylan aren’t sure how they’re going to survive their first summer apart. As Ari returns to Camp Silver and Kaylan heads off to comedy camp, they come up with a new list of 13 and 3/4 ways to keep their friendship strong.
Bookish and the Beast
by Ashley Poston (Quirk, Aug. 4, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-68369-193-8)
In the third in the Once Upon a Con series, a tale as old as time is remade in this geeky retelling of Beauty and the Beast. When small-town girl Rosie and Hollywood royalty Vance’s paths collide, a rare book is accidentally destroyed and they must now work together to repay the debt. While most Starfield fans would jump at the chance to work closely with Vance, Rosie can’t stand how much of a jerk he is—and the feeling is mutual.
Court of Lions
by Somaiya Daud (Flatiron, Aug. 4, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-12645-0)
The final installment in the Mirage duology finds Amani forced into isolation and torn from the boy she loves in order to protect her family. Alone and desperate, Amani is thrust into the center of the court, navigating the dangerous factions on the princess’s behalf. A risky plan grows in her mind but every choice she makes comes with a cost.
Igniting Darkness
by Robin LaFevers (HMH, Aug. 4, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-544-99109-5)
Two killers will risk everything to save the people and country they love in the Courting Darkness finale, set in the world of His Fair Assassin. Sybella is still reeling from her God’s own passing. But having already drawn the ire of the French regent, she is unable to depend on her sister as much as she hoped. Still, Death always finds a way, even if it’s not what one expects.
Midnight Sun
by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown, Aug. 4 $27.99, ISBN 978-0-316-70704-6)
The highly anticipated companion book in the Twilight series, told through Edward Cullen’s eyes, takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event Edward has experienced in all his years as a vampire. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure
by Jeff Kinney (Abrams/Amulet, Aug. 4, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4197-4909-4)
In this Diary of a Wimpy Kid spin-off, Roland and his best friend, Garg the Barbarian, leave the safety of their village and embark on a quest to save Roland’s mom from the White Warlock. Kinney is currently embarking on an in-person, socially distanced tour for the book.
Salvation
by Caryn Lix (Simon Pulse, Aug. 4, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-5643-3)
When Kenzie and her friends find themselves trapped on a strange planet, they must risk everything to save themselves and Earth, in this final book of the Sanctuary trilogy.
We Are Famous
by Derek Anderson (Penguin Workshop, Aug. 4, paper, $6.99, ISBN 978-0-593-09342-9)
Benny and the shark are back, and they’re about to find out what happens when a shark becomes a celebrity. When a video of Benny’s shark friend Mr. Chompers goes viral, they both bask in the glow of stardom. But soon the downsides of fame find their way to the duo.
The Challenger
by Taran Matharu (Feiwel and Friends, Aug. 11, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-250-13872-9)
The stakes are higher than ever in this second installment of the Contender trilogy. Cade Carter and his classmates are fighting for their lives in a strange world. Who is watching them, and why were they chosen for this cruel game?
Island in the Stars
by Natalie Lloyd (HarperCollins/Tegen, Aug. 11, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-06-242827-1)
Mystery and mayhem abound in the series finale as the Problim siblings board a pirate ship to rescue their missing Mama and baby brother from the villainous Cheesebreath.
Scorched Earth
by Tommy Wallach (S&S, Aug. 11, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-4814-6845-9)
In the conclusion to the Anchor & Sophia trilogy, the great war has finally begun. The Descendancy must fight for its survival against not only the Sophian army, but a Wesah nation newly galvanized by the Black Wagon Massacre. And four young people will once again find themselves at the center of the maelstrom.
Race for the Dragon Heartstone
by K.D. Halbrook, illus. by Ilse Gort (Holt, Aug. 18, $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18109-1)
Silver Batal and her beloved water dragon Hiyyan have narrowly escaped the clutches of Queen Imea in the second installment of the Middle Eastern-inspired Silver Batal series. But while on the run they face new dangers, after Hiyyan suffers an injury at the hands of a deadly screw-claw.
Darius the Great Deserves Better
by Adib Khorram (Dial, Aug. 25, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-593-10823-9)
In this companion to the award-winning novel Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Darius suddenly has it all: his first boyfriend, varsity soccer practice, and an internship at his favorite tea shop. But Darius begins to wonder if maybe okay isn’t good enough. See our Flying Starts interview with Khorram.
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket
by Chris Grabenstein (Random House, Aug. 25, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-64774-4)
In the fifth book in the Mr. Lemoncello series, game maker Luigi Lemoncello is building something new. Something secret. And he’s about to let the world see it. See our interview with Grabenstein here.
The Nemesis
by S.J. Kincaid (Simon & Schuster, Aug. 25, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-0995-8; $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-0995-8)
In the conclusion to the Diabolic series, the Empire teeters on the edge of destruction as rumors spread that Nemesis is still alive and that she will rise and rally the people to topple the man who was once her truest love—and is now her fiercest enemy.
Rise of the Slugs
by Paul Gilligan (Holt, Aug. 25, $13.99, ISBN 978-1-250-17136-8)
Book two in the King of the Mole People series shows Doug, King of the Mole People, struggling to balance chaos in school and in the underworld. When Doug decides to step down as king, the only thing standing between him and normality is the creaky old mansion surrounded by gravestones he calls home.
The Water Planet
by Jon Scieszka, illus. by Steven Weinberg (Chronicle, Aug. 25, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4521-7120-3)
The AstroNuts are back in a new mission: they have to find a planet fit for human life after Earth has been made unliveable. After they splash-land on the Water Planet, they find a world that seems too good to be true.
Max Einstein Saves the Future
by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (LB/Patterson, Aug. 31, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-316-48821-1)
Under constant danger of being kidnapped by the shadowy Corporation, Max is back and on the run from New York to London and beyond. But soon the call comes for the Change Maker kids’ next mission: make sure no kid ever goes hungry again. See our q&a with Patterson on the Max Einstein series.
