What's Coming in July!

I actually had a day free from reviews today (Yippee! and Wow!) Yes, it does get crazy when I try to put up a review almost every single day (leaving weekends as free as possible). And I've always hoped to somehow find time to squeeze in a 'What's Coming!' post. Why? Because there are so many books I can't wait to share with you, and I wish I could get you as excited about these as I always am. (Some awesome books are coming up!)

But, alas, it's never worked out.

Until today.

So, here's some of the goodies you can expect to see this month here on Bookworm for Kids...
(and no, this isn't the entire list, just a tiny taste)

And notice the diversity! I didn't even realize how many different cultures are hitting this blog until I did this post. Amazing!

10 Things I Hate About Pinky

Written by bestselling author, Sandhya Menon, this is the highly anticipated, third book in the Dimple and Rishi series. It has romance. It has diversity. It has a fake boyfriend. And oh-so-much more!

Coming July 21st, we'll have this one up here tomorrow, July 1st, so you can get an early peek into my thoughts.

YA Romance

Bubble Kisses

Vanessa Williams? Yes, this is from THE Vanessa Williams that so many already know and love—actress, singer, dancer, and now... author!

This one came out May 5th, but you can see my thoughts on it on July 2nd.

Picture Book, ages 4 to 8

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything 

Science Fiction meets the very modern theme of immigration and ICE in this middle grade novel, which I'm really looking forward to diving into. It releases on August 4th, but you can already hear my thoughts about it on July 7th.


Middle Grade Science Fiction, ages 8 to 12

The Sisters of Straygarden Place

And it's time for some mystery mixed with fantasy! This novel comes from an author, who grew up in Africa and promises chills and surprises. It's release date is planned for September 15th, but take a peek with me already on July 13th (and nope, that's not a Friday this month. Oh well)


Middle Grade Mystery/Spooky, ages 8 to 12

The Little Kitten

I'm LOVED the first book in this series and was super excited when I was asked to review this one. It's not fall yet, but it's never, ever, ever too early to dream. Coming out on July 21st, you'll see my review here on July 15th.



Picture Book, ages 4 to 8

The Invention of Sophie Carter

It's rare that I peek into a book more than a week or so before I post a review here, but I was so tempted by this one, that I already have read the first few chapters. And...I'm hooked! This already shows so much promise that I can't wait to drown myself in these pages. Coming July 14th, you'll have to wait until the 17th before I get this review up.

Young Adult Historical Romance

The Jade Rebellion

Science Fiction collides with magic to form a tale about rebellion, artificial intelligence, greed and slams it into dystopian form. I'm always up for a bit of action-packed science fiction, an I'm hoping this one fits the bill. My thoughts will be up on July 23rd.


Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy

Believe

This tale is set in the 1980's and revolves around more meaningful topics such as learning to trust oneself, dealing with the loss of a loved one, and carrying on. I'm expecting a lot of emotions and magical moments in this one, but we'll see. It's release date is scheduled for August 4th, but you'll get a glimpse at my thoughts on July 21st.

Middle Grade Contemporary (maybe, a little historical?)

Picture of Dorianna

I happened across this one by accident but fell in love with the surmise—so mysterious! It comes out from Konjur Road Press on October 23, but I'll have my thoughts up already on July 24th.


Young Adult Paranormal

Trust the Grind

And since I love to spice things up and head in other directions than just fiction, I'll be diving into this book about well-known athletes and the stories of how they achieved their goals. This is one for upper middle grade through young adult and, I'm hoping, will make sport fans' hearts' beat faster. I'll be reviewing this one on July 28th.


Non-Fiction





I'd love to list all of the others, too, because I plan on reviewing a total of (at least) 25 reads during July. So, grab that beach chair and a cool drink because there is bound to be something here for your young reader, too.

Review: The Morning Flower by Amanda Hocking

THE MORNING FLOWER

by Amanda Hocking

Wednesday Books

YA Fantasy

352 pages

COMING...

AUGUST 4th!!!

New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking returns to the magical world of the Trylle with The Morning Flower, the second book in the Omte Origins arc.

Nestled along the bluffs of the forested coast lays the secret kingdom of the Omte—a realm filled with wonder... and as many secrets.

When Ulla Tulin took her internship at the Mimirin, the only mystery she thought she'd have to solve was that of her birth parents. After a girl named Eliana gets kidnapped while in her care, Ulla knows she has to find out the truth of who Eliana really is—and the only way to do that means traveling to the Omte capital, the place she suspects her mother is from.

Ulla didn’t expect that when she arrived she would discover the identity of a Skojare man who crossed paths with her mother—a man who could very well be her father. When the head of the Mimirin learns Ulla's father is connected to the Älvolk, a secret society who believes they were tasked with protecting the First City and the only ones who know its location, he sends Ulla and Pan to Sweden where they find him living among the Älvolk. But all is not what it seems with the Älvolk and their urgent quest to find the Lost Bridge to the First City leaves Ulla feeling uneasy—and possibly in danger.

          

MY TIDBITS

Note: This is the second book in a series and needs to be read as such, since it picks up where the first one left off and offers basically no backstory to catch a reader up.

While the first book in the series laid the foundation of the world and characters, this second one shoots off into an ever growing mystery and brings mounting tension just like it should.

Eliana's disappearance and the desire to discover more about her own past has Ulla driving off in search of the impossible—the Lost Bridge to the First City. When she arrives at the Omte tribe, she's not sure what to make of the Queen's inability to answer her questions, but another door opens as she runs across a strange man, who knew her mother and might be her father. Learning that her father supposedly is a part of the secret guard, which protects the mythical city, she's sent to Sweden to live with the guardians there and him. But Ulla has doubts behind the true intentions of her journey and soon finds herself deeper in secrets than is safe.

As in book one, this is an imagination packed world, which gently brushes against modern reality every now and then. The characters are easy to like or hate, and yet, others sit heavily in the gray zone, making it difficult to decipher what their true intentions are. Ulla grows with every book as she struggles not only to uncover more about her own past, but also to come to terms with it. She has a few true friends at her side as well as Pan, the obvious love interest. It's fun to cheer the characters on as they stumble over lie after lie, and discover all sorts of things about this intriguing world.

The plot thickens in this second book, just as it should. There were still a few paragraphs I grazed over, but all in all, it is an engaging read. The romance slides alongside the main plot, adding a little zest without overpowering the story line...which I appreciate. Still, it's a bit too obvious for my liking, although the awkward moments fit well to Ulla's age. The new characters weren't as easy to fall into in these pages, but then, book one excelled in this area and with the increasing tension and mystery, the new characters simply aren't getting the same love as Ulla, Pan and friends.

Fantasy friends who enjoy refreshing takes on fantasy worlds and rich world building are sure to enjoy this one.

Review: Only the Cat Saw by Ashley Wolff

ONLY THE CAT SAW

by Ashley Wolff

Walker Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 3 to 7

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 1st!!!

What does a curious farm cat see when the sun goes down, the stars come out, and everyone else is fast asleep? Find out in this brand new, fully refreshed and repainted edition of Ashley Wolff’s classic Only the Cat Saw.

When night falls, a family eases into supper, bath, and bedtime. But while their day is ending, their farm cat’s adventures have just begun! Only the cat sees the sun set over a flock of sheep, an owl stalking a mouse, a shooting star...and much, much more. This peaceful, visually stunning story explores what happens at night when no one—well, almost no one—is watching.

      

MY TIDBITS

Filled with the warmth of family and simple, daily life, this book shows that there's always something magical happening even when no one is watching.

A family goes through their daily life from evening to the next morning, eating, getting ready for bed and sleeping through the night. While the individual members are busy with their usual activities, the cat witnesses what goes on outside of the house. The wonders of nature are brought to life as the cat alone witnesses each event.

When I picked up this one, I was expecting a little more pizzazz, excitement or, at least, catching moments. Instead, this is a very gentle book, which hits upon the beauty of life. The family consists of a father, mother, older sister and a baby brother. They present a wholesome image as they conduct their meals, getting ready for bed, and then try to sleep through the night...which does have a couple very calm interruptions. The images and atmosphere is very loving, which offers the perfect background for the cat as it goes on its own adventure outside and witnesses sunsets, fireflies and other 'magical' moments.

The illustrations are lovely. While the home scenes carry many familiar things and present the family in a wonderful light, the scenes with the cat are simply beautiful. It flows right along with the text, which is perfect for the intended age group and never ways too heavy.

In these pages, it's shown that while we go about our usual lives, many wonderful things are happening, which we don't even notice. It encourages listeners to take occasional pauses and take a peek outdoors to see what they might miss out on otherwise. It's a calming book, great to read before nap time or bed time. While it might not become a favorite, it's one of those books that can easily be picked up, quickly read, and enjoyed.

Sneak Peek: Why Can't Freshman Summer Be Like Pizza? by Andy V. Roamer with Giveaway!

Why Can’t Freshman

 Summer Be Like Pizza?

by Andy V. Roamer

The Pizza Chronicles #2

June 1st 2020

YA Contemporary

RV, having successfully completed his freshman year at the demanding Boston Latin School, is hoping for a great summer. He’s now fifteen years old and looking forward to sharing many languid summer days with his friend Bobby, who’s told him he has gay feelings too. But life and family and duties for a son of immigrant parents makes it difficult to steal time away with Bobby.
Bobby, too, has pressures. He spends part of the summer away at football camp, and his father pushes him to work a summer job at a friend’s accounting firm. Bobby takes the job grudgingly, wanting to spend any extra time practicing the necessary skills to make Latin’s varsity football team.
On top of everything, RV’s best friend Carole goes away for the summer, jumping at an opportunity to spend it with her father in Paris. Luckily, there is always Mr. Aniso, RV’s Latin teacher, to talk to whenever RV is lonely. He’s also there for RV when he inadvertently spills one of Bobby’s secrets, and Bobby is so angry RV is afraid he is ready to cut off the friendship.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

SNEAK PEEK

Bobby and I sat there for a while, not saying anything, just enjoying being together, feeling like we were watching the whole world but not letting the world see us.
“So? Was this worth the bike ride and the climb?” Bobby finally asked.
“You bet. I love finding special places. Like the place in the woods not far from my house. It’s a good place to think and dream.”
Bobby nodded. “Yeah. I discovered this spot when I came to the park with my folks. They just wanted to sit and relax on the hill, so I went exploring.”
“Yes, exploring is good. Where would we be in life without exploring!”
I laughed and gave Bobby a nudge. He nudged me back. “Now I’ve shown you a good place to think and dream too.”
I nodded, and we sat quietly for a long time, just happy looking out at Boston and being next to each other. Bobby put his hand on mine and it reminded me again of the first time he had touched me in the spring. The crazy, amazing feeling that went through my whole body. I know it’s stupid to say, but it was like I became alive in a new way. Even though that jolt of excitement lasted only a few seconds, I’ll never forget it.
It was great to experience the feeling again. Bobby’s gentle touch on my hand probably didn’t mean much to him, but to me it meant a lot, especially that things were good between us. It was one of those moments in life when everything seems perfect. Just the way it’s supposed to be. I wanted to stay there forever with Bobby’s hand on mine.
Then I remembered something. “Hey, Bobby!” I exclaimed, turning to him.
“What?”
“It’s the summer solstice!”
Bobby looked puzzled.
“The longest day of the year. When the sun is exactly over the Tropic of Cancer. It happens every year between June 20 and 22. And this year it’s today.”
Bobby suddenly laughed. “Oh, RV. You should go on a game show!”
My cheeks were getting hot. Carole calls it the RV Blush. When I’m really embarrassed about something, my face turns bright-red. And I was really embarrassed by my nerd part coming out in front of Bobby of all people.
Bobby was still laughing. “I believe you. I really do.” He put his arm around me and gave me a little hug. “Being with you, I learn all these crazy things. That’s why I like you.”
“Don’t these long days make you feel good?” I said, more quietly. “Summer stretching out ahead. It makes me feel optimistic. Like I’ll have time to live my life, and not just do homework. Or chores. Or other things I’m forced to do. Summer is for us.”



And here he is...

Andy V. Roamer grew up in the Boston area and moved to New York City after college. He worked in book publishing for many years, starting out in the children's and YA books division and then wearing many other hats. WHY CAN'T LIFE BE LIKE PIZZA? is the first novel in THE PIZZA CHRONICLES. The books follow the exploits of RV, the teenage son of immigrants from Lithuania in Eastern Europe, as RV tries to negotiate the four years of his demanding high school, his budding sexuality, and new relationships. To relax, Andy loves to ride his bike, read, watch foreign and independent movies, and travel.

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Review: Tricycle and Friends by Lester Aradi

TRICYCLE AND FRIENDS

by Lester Aradi

Illustrated by Darwin Marfil

Post Hill Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

JULY 10th!!!

Based on a true story, Tricycle and Friends shares the heartfelt tale about a group of rescued animal friends and their journey of serving as therapy animals for children with special needs.

When Tricycle, a rescued, three-legged Golden Retriever arrives at his new home, he gets the attention of the other animals who live there. They want to know what happened to his missing leg, and they wonder if it hurts and if it slows him down.

As Tricycle gets to know the other residents of the farm, he learns there are lots of different creatures who have a wide range of abilities and interests. He enjoys meeting the other animals and loves the peaceful quality of his surroundings.

Based on a true story, Tricycle and Friends shares a story about a group of rescued animal friends and their real-life journey of serving as therapy animals for children with special needs. Through story and pictures, it addresses topics such as adoption, bullying, dealing with physical challenges, death of a companion, and friendship.

       

MY TIDBITS

A dive into these pages brings the reader to a place, where animals finally find a home and children some joy.

This book is based on an existing type of farm, which adopts rescued animals and helps children with needs to spend time with them and develop relationships. While narrated through the eyes of Tricycle, a golden retriever with three-legs who is adopted and finds his way around the farm, the book slides through the various animals and children, illustrating the various problems individuals can face—bullying, friendship, death, physical challenges, and much more.

This book works well as a read-aloud. The text is a bit heavy to be read to the youngest audiences, but it does work nicely for a story time. Those who have a fairly good grip on reading can hit it themselves. It tells the story of Tricycle and how he arrives at his new, adoptive home. The animals there each of their own history or problems, but that doesn't stop them from being kind, open and friendly. It's a place full of hope and that radiates from every page.

While it does follow a light plot, I had the impression that the book does a better job at simply exposing young listeners to a place where these types of animals and children, who have their own problems, come together and support each other. The book doesn't hit only one topic, but slides from one to the next. In some ways, it was quite a stack and made me wonder how many tough issues can be hit upon in one picture book. So, I would recommend using this one only for those children ready to hit such discussions (ages 5+). But the problems aren't the point of this book, either. Instead, this book opens up discussions and simply wakes awareness of the possibilities such a place offers.

The illustrations are well done and fun to experience. As an extra bonus, however, the real life photos of situations mentioned in the book are placed on the last pages. And it's this shove between a story and reality, which makes the book that much easier to connect to.


Tricycle and Friends was presented in an online article with People.com. You can read it and discover more about this book and its authors here!