Posted in Award Winners, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

The Wicked Deep

TheWickedDeepIf you loved Maggie Siefvater’s Scorpio Races, I think you’ll love The Wicked Deep (Simon Pulse, 2018) by Shea Ernshaw. Both books are eerie.
Two centuries ago, in the small town of Sparrow, three teen girls were drowned in the harbor for being witches. Each June since, they return and take possession of teen girls’ bodies. The locals call it the Swan season after the dead girls. And each season at least three boys will be drowned for revenge. Sometimes it is local boys and sometimes tourists.
Our main character is seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot who lives on Lumiere Island with her grief-stricken mother. A boy comes to town looking for work and Penny gets involved with him. Can she save him from the three sisters?
This books has unexpected twists and turns, flashbacks to the past, and keeps one turning the pages. I highly recommend it.
This is author Shea Ernshaw’s debut and it quickly became a NY Times Best Seller. Netflix won the screen rights to the book–I hope they make the movie! Though I might not be able to watch it alone…
Read Shea’s bio here. I’m looking forward to her next book. Read this tweet about it.

Posted in Award Winners, PB, So Many Good Books

No More Noisy Nights

Perfect Picture Book Friday
NoMoreNoisyNightsNo More Noisy Nights (Flashlight Press, 2017) by Holly L. Niner and illustrated by Guy Wolek is a fun book I think both kids and adults will enjoy.
Jackson has just moved into his new house and settled down to sleep when he discovers he has a noisy neighbor. He comes up with a creative idea to keep his neighbor quiet so he can sleep. But then he learns he has another noisy neighbor. He solves that problem. The third night it happens again. Finally, Jackson can sleep peacefully.
You can hear the book read aloud on the author’s site here plus see Holly’s other books.
Awards for this book include: Mom’s Choice Award Gold Winner; Mississippi Magnolia Children’s Choice Award PreK-2 List, 2019; and Scholastic Book Club Selection.
See a variety of the illustrator’s work here and read about Guy here.

Posted in Award Winners, PB, So Many Good Books

Hammer and Nails

Perfect Picture Book Friday
HammerandNailsHammer and Nails (Flashlight Press, 2016) by Josh Bledsoe and illustrated by Jessica Warrick is a darling picture book. It’s especially perfect for Daddy’s with girls to read to their daughters.
Darcy has plans to play with her best friend, but now the friend is sick so Darcy’s day is ruined. Or so she thinks. Daddy suggests they have a Darcy-Daddy Day doing one thing from her list and one thing from his. She doesn’t think he’ll like what’s on her list, but he asks her to give him a chance.
Like Darcy, I think you’ll be smiling.
Click here to see some of the awards for this book.
The illustrations are cute, funny, and really add to the story. You can check out illustrator Jessica Warrick’s books here and her illustrations here.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an author website.

Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

truthastoldThe Truth as Told by Mason Buttle (Katherine Tegen Books, 2018) by Leslie Connor has such a sympathetic character. I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened.
Mason is the biggest, tallest kid in seventh grade. He also has a sweating problem. And writing is extremely difficult for him. Of course, that means he’s bullied. But Ms. Blinny believes he has stories in him and lets him use a computer that translates his spoken words into text. Maybe Lieutenant Baird can read those printouts and will believe Mason’s oft-told story of what he knows about his friend Benny’s death.
Life gets better with a new funny friend, Calvin. But when Calvin goes missing, the Lieutenant suspects Mason for this too.
The book is a National Book Award Finalist and is on a number of “Best Book” lists for 2018.
Read more about the author here.
I’ve recommended another of her books here.

Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Someday Birds

SomedayBirdscoverThe Someday Birds (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2017) by Sally J. Pla is a moving and amazing story. I would have chosen this book as the Newbery winner if they’d let me.
Charlie likes routine. He’s also fascinated by birds. His younger twin brothers and older sister are not so patient with his routines or interests. With Dad in the hospital and not able to speak due to a brain injury from his time as a war journalist in Afghanistan, Gram is staying with them. None of them like the fact that Charlie speaks too directly about Dad’s condition. But life is about to change drastically for all of them, including a lady who might be a spy, a road trip, and of course for Charlie, birds.
I love how the chapter headings are related to birds in some way. I also love this story being in Charlie’s viewpoint and how he deals with his OCD/sensitivity/autism spectrum issues.
This award-winning book is the author’s debut. Read more about her here and about her other books here. And you should definitely read this blog post about what it was like for her as a child and how a teacher made a difference.
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