Comic from Nobrow!

Fish by Bianca Bagnarelli

After the death of his parents, Milo sees death everywhere. He is at once compelled and disgusted by it, trying to come to terms with his place in the delicate balance of life and death. The pink and purple palette imbues the work with the warmth and long shadows of late summer, while bringing to mind the blood and bruises Milo can't hide. A poignant comic that begs to be reread and pondered. 

You can check out some interiors on Comics&Cola. 

Thanks to Tucker Stone for sending me a copy. 

A strange and surreal novel from Patrick Ness

More Than This by Patrick Ness 

Candlewick Press, September 2013

 

When Seth kills himself, he's surprised to wake up in his family's old house in England. How is this possible? And why is no one else there? And why does he have vivid memories when he dreams? A chilling story of death, life, catastrophe, and connection, More Than This asks questions of what life means and if we can ever have more than what we experience. Like the cold sea, this book pulled me in and wouldn't let me go.

Another slim, emotional novel from Patricia MacLachlan

The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan

 

Robbie's grandma Maddie has her own special truth, animals trust her. Staying with Maddie, Robbie learns he has to find his own truth, his own special understanding of himself. The special truth about Patricia MacLachlan's books are that they are simple, poetic, and emotionally true; each one will leave you changed.

Algonquin Young Readers: Somebody Up There Hates You

Somebody Up There Hates You by Hollis Seamon 

Richard Casey is in hospice, in a place people only go when they're going to die. Down the hall is Sylvie, another teen whose bulletin board shows her in her pre-sickness life, beautiful, surrounded by friends...completely different from Richard, pre-sickness. Sylvia is still beautiful in Richard's eyes and romance blossoms. But how can two sick teens, overseen by nurses and families 24-7, ever really be together? Well, with death literally next door, drastic measures can't hurt. Throw in a crazy uncle and already bereft parents for the full range of drama and comedy. Though Richard knows he's going to die, he's going to do a bit of living first. This debut novel made me laugh and cry. Readers who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars should pick this up. While the premise may be similar, Richard's voice is engaging and wholly original.

I procrastinated by reading Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl...

 * And yes, the cover is illustrated by the creator of "Nimona," Noelle Stevenson. If you don't know Nimona, go check it out!

 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cather's completely different from her twin sister Wren. While Wren parties and tries new things at college, Cather doesn't want to leave her dorm room and her comfort zone. Besides, she needs to stay in and write the latest chapter of her Simon Snow (think Harry Potter) Fanfic as thousands of fans are waiting for her post. But Cather's upperclassman roommate and her ex-boyfriend both fall for Cather's nerdy quiet, pushing her to try something (anything) new. Meanwhile, Wren's lifestyle is catching up with her, Cather's mother, who's been absent 10 years, is trying to establish contact and her dad isn't adjusting to an empty nest. With empathy and balance Rainbow Rowell writes of the realistic problems, revelations, and sweet moments of a college freshman in a novel that will hook anyone who grew up with Harry Potter mid-night release parties.

New from Patricia MacLachlan

White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan
Zoe's mother rescues Great Pyrenees dogs, caring for them until a new home can be found. Across the street, Philip is moving in with his aunt and uncle. Philip is doesn't speak and no one knows why. Up until now, Zoe's family has been rescuing dogs. This time, it may be the dogs who do the rescuing. This simple, poetic story of trust and friendship will steal your heart. A line from the book perfectly describes Patricia's writing: "[she] always tells the truth...even if it is fiction."

Beginning Reader Branches Book

The Notebook of Doom #1: Rise of the Balloon Goons by Troy CummingsWhen Alexander moves to a new town, he's certain something is wrong. He's right to be frightened. Tires deflate, balloons appear to launch menacing attacks...and he's found a notebook containing, well, creatures that bring certain DOOM! Troy Cummings' new series strikes a perfect balance of silly and scary. Recent readers will feel assured by the balance of text and illustration in Branches books and excited when they're able to read an entire series of chapter books alone.

Fact-paced, exciting, and humorous, The Notebook of Doom will have even reluctant readers excited for the next installment.

Astonishing.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

It's evident that Eleanor doesn't fit in from the moment she steps on the school bus and while Park know it's social suicide to share his seat with her, he does anyway. This small gesture grows to sharing music, comic books, and kisses. Park is Eleanor's escape from her home, from the struggle that is living in a poor, abused family. Park's life isn't perfect, but seen through Eleanor's eyes, it's more than anyone could hope for. These realistic details rocket Rainbow Rowell's book from a beautiful story of love to one that considers heartbreaking realities; the result is stunning. Rainbow Rowell's novel will have readers sobbing as they press the book into their best friend's hands. Remember when we told you you'd love The Fault in Our Stars? This is what you need to read next.

Adorable dog picturebook

Charley's First Night by Amy Hest, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Charley is Henry's new puppy and on his first day home, Henry shows Charley every room in the house. Henry's parents also lay down the rules of when and where Charley will be walked and fed and go to sleep. But on Charley's first night, sleeping alone in the kitchen may be too difficult and Henry will have to help him through his first night. Amy Hest and Helen Oxenbury are the perfect pair for this sweet story.

Toppling

by Sally Murphy 

Candlewick, August 14th, 2012

John loves arranging long, intricate domino runs, and then toppling them. When his best friend Dominic gets sick in class and doesn't return to school, John makes domino runs instead of worrying. But then it turns out that Dom isn't just sick, he has cancer. John tells his story in chapters of poetry, the lines lining up like a domino run. But while he'll topple dominoes, John and his friends will support Dom in every way they can, so that that cancer doesn't topple him. Sally Murphy has a gift for dealing with difficult emotions in poetic form, and Toppling is a good book it have around for the right someone who needs it.

From the author/illustrator of Smile...

 

Drama by Raina Telgemeier 

Graphix, Scholastic, September 1st, 2012

Fuchsia-haired Callie loves theatre. She can't sing so she puts her energy into designing sets and working stage crew. But drama kids tend to create drama. This year Callie's good friend is ignoring her after she kissed his brother, there are two cute twins in town, oh, and Callie has to figure out how to create a working cannon (okay, confetti instead of flames) before the show opens. Of course, there are additional bumps along the way, but no matter what, the show must go on. With Drama, Rania has shown (yet again) her ability to write funny, dramatic, and emotionally truthful graphic novels that tap into the middle school experience; I can't wait to see what she does next.

Realistic coming of age novel

 

Fish in the Sky by Fridrik Erlings

Candlewick, September 11th, 2012

When Josh turns thirteen, his father sends him a stuffed falcon. Besides his aunt's pear tart, it is the only good thing that happens. His seventeen-year-old female cousin moves into the storage room connected to his room, he thinks he's in love, his best friend seems babyish, and his body begins changing-- making school unbearable. So Josh stops going to school. He wanders, trying to figure out who this terrible person is that he's becoming. Erling portrays Josh's emotions with brutal honestly, capturing the confusion of becoming a teen with realistic detail. Young teens will see a reflection of themselves in Josh while their parents (who should be required to read the book) will be reminded of the difficulties of coming-of-age.

Fabulous, flavorful, middle grade

 

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage 

Dial, Penguin, May 10th, 2012

Mo (or Moses) LoBeau received her name when she was rescued from a river after a hurricane. The Colonel who rescued her lost his memory in the storm and his past and Mo's are shrouded in mystery. Since then, Mo has been trying to find her upstream mom-- when she's not helping Miss Lana out at the Colonel's cafe or running about with her best friend Dale. But when a local man shows up dead, Mo decides to tackle a mystery besides her past. With delightful Southern flavor and just the right amount of quirkiness, Three Times Lucky is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery that will have readers guessing right up to the end. Shelia Turnage's voice brings the tale to life, her accent transporting the listener directly to the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC. A great choice for readers who enjoyed Pie by Sarah Weeks or The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford.

New novel from Rebecca Stead

 

Liar & Spy 

Wendy Lamb Books, Random House, August 7th, 2012

When Georges (named after the painter Georges Seurat) moves from his house to a new apartment, he meets Safer, a strange, Sherlockian boy, who inducts him into a spy club. Safer is obsessed with the upstairs neighbor, Mr. X, and convinces Georges that Mr. X is up to something sinister. But Georges already has his own problems. His father is trying to start new business after losing his job, his mother is never home, and two boys are bullying him at school. Safer's spy activities are getting more and more serious, and they have Georges worried- can he stop spying and risk losing his only friend? Only the advice of his namesake- stepping back to look at the larger picture- will help Georges solve his problems.

A New York City setting, quirky yet believable characters, and true friendship make Liar & Spy a great read for those who have enjoyed Stead's Newbery Award winner or RJ Palacio's Wonder. Like When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy ends with a twist and a turn you won't see coming; it'll make you want to read it all over again.

Even though I'm not an animal person...

Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts

Candlewick, August 14, 2012

Kizzy Ann Stamps speaks her mind. So when she's asked to send a letter to her new teacher at the formerly white school, Kizzy expresses her concerns at being one of the students integrating the school. But what starts as letters evolves into an extensive journal when school begins. With her teacher's encouragement, Kizzy pours her thoughts, problems, and puzzles onto the page. In addition to navigating the shifting social order at school, Kizzy worries about the glances her scar attracts, the neighbor boy who hangs around, and her collie, Shag. While writing gives her a chance to process the changes in her life, training Shag to be a herder gives her a purpose and the chance to make new friends. Jeri Watts has created a strong protagonist whose questions about race and friendship will inspire readers to consider the world around them. When you finish, you'll wish you had your own Shag to walk with you through life.

An emotional novel set in the near future

Safekeeping by Karen Hesse

Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), September 18th, 2012

Radley has been volunteering at an orphanage in Hati, but when she hears that the President of the United States has been assassinated, she hops on the next plane back home. Phone access is spotty in Hati, so she doesn't get through to her parents before leaving. This doesn't worry Radley; her parents are always there to take care of her, to pick her up, to give her whatever she needs. But no one is at the airport. Her cell phone and credit card don't work, and she doesn't have a necessary paper work to cross state borders and head home to Vermont. So she walks, avoiding other people and the police, and scrounging for food. Radley arrives at an empty house. Fearful and starving, she decides to join the many walkers on the road and begins her journey to Canada. It isn't until she meets Celia and her dog that Radley realizes how lonely her life has become, and how much Celia needs her if she's to get to safety.

This could happen in a few months. Here, in the United States. Hesse's use of a possible future so close to the present makes her story terrifying. You don't need to see killings, or even need a main character to kill, in order for a book to be frighting. You just need a pinch of fear, a lack of food, and a few frightening things that people really go through. Hesse's photographs accompany the text and help carry the mood of the novel. Readers crazed by the dystopian frenzy will swallow this emotional, realistic, and deeply personal novel of a future that is closer than you might think.

Stunning realistic novel

See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles
Candlewick, May 2012
With three siblings, Fern feels overlooked. Her three-year old brother Charlie is the light of their parent's life and the only one who doesn't find her father's attempts to promote the family restaurant embarrassing. Fern's older brother is concerned about riding the bus to school and his new boyfriend. Her older sister is annoyed at being at home while all her friends are at college. No one except her best friend Ran has any time for her- except Charlie, and his attention tends to be sticky and bothersome. When disaster strikes the family, everyone feels alone, stranded in personal grief and blame. Will anything pull them back together again?

Jo Knowles weaves the difficult issues of coming out, bullying, death, grief, and blame into her narrative. Readers will be swept along by the character's emotions, crying when they do and grabbing on to the moments of hope that break through. At once heart-breaking and uplifting, See You at Harry's is a stunning realistic novel. Ages 12+

Fun Summer Read (with aspiring roller girls)

The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford
Scholastic, April 2012

Minty (roller girl name Minty Fresh) and her best friend Paz (or Pax A. Punch) plan on spending the summer hanging out on the block and practicing roller derby moves. But the Mean Boys are monopolizing the street, Paz's little sister is concerned about the Bat-Man, there's unfinished business at the witch house on the other side of the woods, and someone has placed a curse on Paz. Minty's problems escalate when Paz starts hanging out with some older girls and ignores Minty. When Minty stumbles upon a tree full of people's secrets in the woods, she is draw back, as is Raymond, a mysterious new boy in the neighborhood. Together, Minty and Raymond set out to match the secrets with their writers, and maybe solve their mysteries in the process.

Standiford spins an intriguing summer mystery that explores the importance of a neighborhood. Minty is a strong, well-rounded character whose love of roller derby will introduce a new generation to the sport. Cute and quirky, fun and current- with a twist of Maryland flavor- this is a stellar summer novel.

A Novel in Photographs

Chopsticks by Jessica and Rodrigo Crorral
Razorbill, Penguin, February 2012

There's no denying that we live in an increasingly visual culture, but so many of the visuals we're bombarded with are moving at a frenzied pace. Chopsticks is a visual novel, but not a graphic novel. It is a novel in photos and letters, moments captured and still on a page. When Glory, a teen piano prodigy, breaks down and plays Chopsticks at a concert, she's sent away to recover- that is until she disappears completely. Prior to her breakdown, Glory had been moving moments of her life away from music, starting to have a relationship with Francisco, a boy trying to adjust to high school in the US. Through photos, playlists, drawings, and letters, Francisco and Glory's relationship unfolds, revealing some hints as to the nature of Glory's disappearance. Chopsticks is an intimate look at a teen romance, complete with suggestions for musical accompaniment while you linger over the images.

The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac

by Kris D'Agostino
Algonquin, March 20, 2012

As a 24 year old, I must say that I have a number of friends who identify as lost, annoyed, and deeply in debt. And regardless of the educational experiences of all of us, the job situation is less than good. One might go as far to say that it truly horrible. Due to this, I think The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac is certain to have an eager audience- especially in college towns.

Like many of my generation, Calvin Moretti thinks his life sucks, but it's actually more than that. Calvin's family members are all facing their own unique problems- from Calvin's father's cancer to his high school sister's unplanned pregnancy to his mother's financial woes. While this story is about Calvin, told from his point of view, it is a family saga more than anything. What makes it unique is the the humor, characters, and the current nature of the story; it just might be the book to link that person living in the basement with the middle-life crisis pair living upstairs.