Just Floating In: New Releases in Children’s, MG and YA Books August 24th 2010

Every Tuesday marks the release of some fantastic new books in the publishing world of Children’s, Middle Grade and Young Adult books. Each week you can stop by to see what new books you need to add to your shelves and also link up any reviews you have for the books listed!

Also, don’t forget to “link-up” your reviews of new releases at the bottom of the post! Feel free to link anything released in Children’s, Middle Grade or Young Adult genres in the last month. And make sure to include the title of the book and your site name!

I would also like to thank Bella from A Girl Reads a Book for the wonderful new “Hot Off the Presses” Image! She did a fantastic job and I immediately fell in love! If you need help with site set up or someone to make buttons/images, you definitely should get in touch with her. Thank you Bella!

Young Adult Books

Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

Published by Egmont USA

Ages/Pages: Young Adult/192

Publishers Summary: It is 1876, the year of the Centennial in Philadelphia. Katherine has lost her twin sister Anna in a tragic skating accident.  One wickedly hot September day, Katherine sets out for the exhibition grounds to cut short the haunted life she no longer wants to live.
Filled with vivid detail that artfully brings the past to life, National Book Award nominee Beth Kepart’s DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is a timeless and finely crafted novel about betrayal and guilt, hope and despair, love, loss, and new beginnings.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Published by Scholastic Press

Ages/Pages: Young Adult/400

Publishers Summary: The third and final chapter of the phenomenal #1 New York Times Best-Selling Hunger Games Trilogy, is coming out August 24, 2010.

The Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott

Published by Hyperion Children’s

Ages/Pages: Young Adult/304

Publishers Summary: Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that’s not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia’s mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just … happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to people, believing this way she can suppress her powers and keep them hidden. When recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy offer her a full scholarship, Dancia fears her days of living under the radar may be over. But Delcroix is a school for diplomats’ kids and child geniuses — why are they treating Dancia like she’s special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome. And then there’s her mysterious new friend Jack, who can’t stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at Delcroix, and he wants Dancia to help him figure out what…But neither Jack or
Dancia could have imagined what’s really going on behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

The Julian Game by Adelle Griffin

Published by Putnam Juvenile (An Imprint of Penguin)

Ages/Pages: Young Adult/208

Publishers Summary: All new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity so she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. It’s a fun and dangerous thrill at first, but Raye hadn’t counted on falling for Julian herself–and igniting Ella’s rage.
As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge, creating an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she’s helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.
Adele Griffin’s riveting novel explores the issues of generation Facebook: the desire to be someone else, real versus online friends, and the pitfalls and fallouts of posting your personal life online for all the world to judge.

Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages: Young Adult/288

Publishers Summary: Lives are in the balance in bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney’s newest young adult thriller, Three Black Swans.
Missy and her cousin Claire are best friends who finish each other’s sentences and practically read each other’s minds. It’s an eerie connection—so eerie that Missy has questions she wants to put to her parents. But she’s afraid to ask. So when Missy hears an expert discussing newborn babies on the radio, it makes her wonder about her family.
Missy just can’t let go of those nagging questions, and decides to use a school project about scientific hoaxes to try to uncover the answers. She enlists Claire to help. As part of the project the girls perform a dramatic scene that is captured on video at school. After the video is posted on YouTube, Missy and Claire realize that they’ve opened Pandora’s box and much more than they ever imagined has come out. Not only are their identities called into question, but so is the future of everyone involved.
In this riveting, heartrending story by thriller author Caroline B. Cooney, the truth changes the lives of three families—as the bonds of blood must withstand the strains of long-hidden secrets that are at last revealed.

The Nightmary’s by Dan Poblocki

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages: Young Adult/336

Publishers Summary: Timothy July has been having nightmares. About his brother, who is in a coma after being wounded in Iraq; about his best friend, Stuart, who is behaving like a jerk; about the old biology specimens in jars lining the walls of his classroom; and about Abigail, the new girl who seems to be a magnet for trouble. Or perhaps she is the cause.
Suddenly Timothy’s nightmares are coming true. His brother, his face decaying, approaches Timothy on the street. Stuart ends up in the hospital, terrified that monsters are stalking him. And the specimen jars are tormenting not only Timothy but his teacher as well.
What is the secret in Abigail’s past that is the key to these horrors? And can Timothy figure it out before his nightmares become a deadly reality?
A follow-up to the well-received Stone Child, Dan Poblocki’s second novel will have his readers mesmerized until the last page—and sleeping with the lights on.

Middle Grade Books (Ages 8-12)

Vordak The Incomprehensible by Vordak T. Incomprehensible

Published by Egmont USA

Ages/Pages: 9-12/208

Publishers Summary: Slip on your acid-free gloves, make sure you have a duplicate copy of How to Grow Up and Rule the World (just in case something should happen to this one) and try to follow along as the incomparable, superior-in-all-ways Vordak the Incomprehensible teaches you a thing or two about villainy.  Now you, too, can try (and fail) to attain Vordak’s level of infamy.
From selecting the most dastardly name, to choosing the ideal henchmen, to engaging in witty repartee with disgustingly chipper superheroes, experienced supervillain Vordak the Incomprehensible guides readers step-by-step toward the ultimate goal of world domination (from his parents’ basement in Trenton, New Jersey).
With chapter titles like “Bringing Out the Evil” and “Building a Top-Notch Evil Organization,” numerous bold illustrations, and detailed quizzes to assess your level of dastardliness, this book provides everything necessary to rise above the masses, and then rub your ascent in their faces.
In return for this wealth of knowledge, Vordak requests nothing more than an honored place in the evil regime of he who achieves control of the world. (And, of course, the opportunity to assume command, should things not work out.)

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen

Published by Wendy Lamb Books

Ages/Pages: 9-12/112

Publishers Summary: “Let’s face facts: We may be the most boring twelve-year-olds on the planet.”
Henry Mosley decides that he and his pals Riley and Reed have got to liven things up. They need to go on some earth-shaking adventures and make a name for themselves. Henry is the mastermind; Riley’s the cautious researcher who’s prepared for anything. And somehow fearful Reed always ends up with the scariest, craziest assignments.
Roped into wacky attempts to break world records, reenact scenes from books, solve a hundred-year-old murder, and carry out Henry’s other inspired ideas, Riley and Reed follow their fearless leader everywhere: into the wilderness (truly terrifying), inside a bull-riding ring, into a haunted house, off the neighbors’ roof, and into a cataclysmic collision with explosive life-forms. Gary Paulsen brings all his trademark humor to this fast-paced novel of fun and disaster.

The Wolf Tree by John Claude Bemis

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages: 9-12/400

Publishers Summary: “Can you imagine eternal Darkness, sir?”
So asks the sickly stranger who staggers into Peg Leg Nel’s birthday party. Before the man dies, he tells Ray and his friends of a Darkness spreading like wildfire across Kansas, turning good people bad and poisoning anyone who tries to escape. It’s clear that though the evil Gog is dead, his devilish machine has survived and is growing stronger.
Now a full-fledged Rambler, Ray leads his friends on a mission into the heart of darkness. Vital to their success is tracking down the legendary Wolf Tree, rumored to be a pathway to the spirit world. Only with one of the tree’s limbs can the Nine Pound Hammer be repaired and the Gog’s terrible machine finally destroyed. The search for the Wolf Tree grows desperate as the Darkness spreads, threatening Ray, his friends, and all of humanity.
The Wolf Tree is the second fantasy adventure book in John Claude Bemis’s series The Clockwork Dark, and adds new layers of myth and magic to Bemis’s original take on American tall tales in The Nine Pound Hammer.

Little Joe by Sandra Neil Wallace

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages:8-10/192

Publishers Summary: It’s a cold December night and Fancy, the Stegner family’s cow, is about to give birth. Out pops Little Joe, a huge bull calf, and with him comes nine-year-old Eli’s first chance to raise an animal to show at next fall’s county fair. Over the next ten months, Eli, and Little Joe, learn some hard lessons about growing up and what it means to take on bigger responsibilities, especially when it comes to taking care of another living thing. But one thing Eli is trying not to think about is what will happen to Little Joe after the fair: it’s auction time, and he’ll have to sell Little Joe!
In this appealing and heartwarming story that’s reminiscent of James Herriot’s books, Eli comes to terms with some of the realities of life on his family’s farm, and in the outside world, as he raises his first bull calf for competition. Told in a straightforward and appealing text, brimming with lush details about the natural world of the farm, and with characters that are sure to appeal to readers, Eli’s story is one that may not be familiar to every kid, but the themes of growing up and learning some difficult lessons will appeal to kids and adults alike.

Children’s Books

Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marchesani and Illustrated by Tommy Hunt
(I seriously want this book and so does my mom!)

Published by Grosset and Dunlap (An imprint of Penguin)

Ages/Pages: 5 and up/144

Publishers Summary: When innocent Dick and Jane meet a creepy, cape-wearing vampire, the unexpected happens: he becomes their friend! Dick and Jane and Vampires borrows from the classic stories and art we all know and love, but adds an of-the-moment twist: a vampire, illustrated in the classic Dick and Jane style.

Disappearing Desmond by Anna Alter

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages: 4-8/40

Publishers Summary: Desmond likes to disappear and hide in the cleverest of places. But when a new student named Gloria arrives at his school, Desmond finds himself being noticed for the first time. Full color.

Honk Honk! Beep Beep! by Daniel Kirk

Published by Hyperion Books for Children

Ages/Pages: 2-5/32

Publishers Summary: Honk, honk! Beep, beep! Father and child love going for a ride around town in their car. Along the way, they’ll see a crew of friendly faces in their own fun vehicles—big rigs, bulldozers, even trains! But everyone has somewhere to be and things to do, so make sure to buckle up! With playful text and bold illustrations, Daniel Kirk captures the fun of a cross-country drive.

In the Wild by David Elliott and Illustrated by Holly Meade

Published by Candlewick Press

Ages/Pages: 4-7/32

Publishers Summary: From the lion standing alone on the African savannah to the panda in a bamboo forest, from the rhinoceros with its boot-like face to the Arctic polar bear disappearing in the snow, the earth is full of curious and wonderful animals, each more extraordinary than the next. David Elliott’s pithy, lyrical verse and Holly Meade’s stunning woodcut and watercolor illustrations reveal a world of remarkable beauty and wonder –and offer an enticing introduction to both favorite animals and poetic forms.

Orlando on a Thursday by Emma Magenta

Published by Candlewick Press

Ages/Pages: 3-5/32

Publishers Summary: Everything is an adventure when Orlando and his mommy spend the day together: drawing a picture, taking a walk, even having a snack. Then comes Thursday –the day Mami has to be busy in town. Remembering this makes Orlando sad, until Papi reminds him about all the super, super things that can happen when they’re together on a Thursday! Emma Magenta’s gently quirky narrative and fresh, charmingly naïve illustrations evoke a true toddler sensibility, while weaving a cocoon of love and security around young Orlando in a story as comforting as a mug of warm, frothy milk. Changes and separations in a young child’s life are less worrisome with the help of playful rituals in this sweet, reassuring picture book.

Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra and Illustrated by J. Otto Seibold

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages: 5-8/40

Publishers Summary: Big Bad Wolf’s first visit to his local library (as related in Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf) was such a success that he returns to tell his version of “The Three Little Pigs.” His outrageous spin on the tale draws skeptical remarks from his audience: “Isn’t that wolf’s nose getting longer?” asks Pinocchio. “It’s a cooked-up, half-baked tale,” snaps the Gingerbread Boy. And “Tell the truth, B.B. Wolf!” squeal the Three Little Pigs. Caught in his own lie, B.B. explains that he is a reformed villain: “Now I’m begging on my knees, Little Pigs, forgive me, please!” How B.B. turns his bad old deed into a good new one provides a happy ending to this fun-to-read fractured fairytale.

The Carnival of the Animals
by Jack Prelutsky, Illustrated by Mary Grandpre and Created by Camille Saint-Saens

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages:6-12/40

Publishers Summary: A great way to introduce children to classical music.
America’s first Children’s Poet Laureate has written all-new verses to accompany the composer Camille Saint-Saëns’s The Carnival of the Animals, and the illustrator of the Harry Potter books has turned these rollicking rhymes into a picture-book fun fest. Included is a CD of the music and of Jack Prelutsky reading the verses. A note to parents and teachers by Judith Bachleitner, head of the music department at the prestigious Rudolf Steiner School in New York City, suggests ways preschoolers can act out the music—tromp like an elephant, hop like a kangaroo, glide like a swan—or, for older children, be creatively inspired by this joyful work.

Dirtball Pete by Eileen Brennan

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Ages/Pages:4-7/32

Publishers Summary: A hilarious read-aloud picture book for boys and girls who just can’t seem to stay clean! (And the parents who love their little dirtballs regardless.)
It’s a fact. Dirtball Pete stinks to high heaven.
His sister, Amanda, says so, and her friend Janine totally agrees. Even with a good scrubbing from his mom, Dirtball Pete usually manages to revert to his dirtball self in no time. But today is no ordinary day—it’s THE FIFTY STATES AND WHY THEY’RE GREAT! day at school, and Dirtball Pete has a speech to recite in the school play.
Will he remember his lines? Will he manage to avoid his dog’s muddy paws? Will the stink of his pet ferret, Eggroll, cling to his Pennsylvania costume? And can Dirtball Pete make his mom proud even if he is a dirtball?
Eileen Brennan’s funny picture book has a refreshingly original voice and style and a lovable new character in Dirtball Pete, who, with his unassuming, carefree ways, will charm kids and adults alike.

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Is there a book missing? Are you a publisher, publicist, author or illustrator with a book coming out soon that you’d like mentioned? Please feel free to contact me via my email address the1stdaughter {at} gmail {dot} com or on my Contact Page.

WOW! What a week! Now it’s your turn! Have you reviewed one of these great new titles? Or one included in the compilation book above? Feel free to also link up any new release reviews from the last month. Just make sure to include the book title and your site name. Link up your review below so that we can all learn more about these great books and hopefully add to our TBR piles!

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